Gilbert West, G. Lyttelton, Christian Revelation 1748
"A Defence of the Christian Revelation, on Two very important Points; As contained, in One Treatise, intituled, Observations on the History and Evidences of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ"; by Gilbert West, Esq; Clerk Extraordinary of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council: "And in Another, intituled, Observations on the Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul", by the Honourable George Lyttelton, Esq; Member of Parliament, and one of the Commissioners of the Treasury. In a letter to Gilbert West, Esq; London: printed by voluntary subscription; in order to be dispersed in His Majesty's colonies and islands in America. MDCCXLVIII [1748].
First Edition being a special edition published for American Colonies.
"We find by our Accounts from America, that great Diligence is us'd by the Enemies of Christianity here, in sending over Infidel Books to our Plantations; which the Clergy there, as Eye and Ear Witnesses, must be more sensible of, than can be at Distance. But our Care of Religion, and Concern for the Preservation of it from such dangerous Infections, is not confined to our own Country: And therefore, by way of Antidote, an Edition of these Two Excellent Treatises has been printed by voluntary Contributions; and they are transmitted thither, in order to be dispersed, in such manner, as may most effectually answer the great and good End they are designed for." [from the "Preface"]
Gilbert West (1703-1756) was a minor English poet, translator, and theologian in the early and middle eighteenth century. Samuel Johnson included him in his Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets. He was educated at Winchester, Eton and Christ Church, Oxford; his father intended a career in the Church for him. However, he was persuaded by his uncle, Lord Cobham to take a commission in the army but soon left to work under Lord Townshend, a prominent Whig. West left this position when it became clear that he had no prospect of advancement in such a career. West was appointed Treasurer of Chelsea Hospital which provided him a modest income. During this period, following dialogue with his cousin George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton he published the essay Observations on the history and evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1747) for which Oxford University awarded him an LLD. In 1749 West published his translations of the odes of Pindar; his translation of Pindar remained the standard version throughout the following century. Only late in his life did West achieve a measure of financial success when he was appointed to a clerkship of the Privy Council in 1752. He died four years later.
George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton, PC (1709-1773), known between 1751 and 1756 as Sir George Lyttelton, 5th Baronet, was a British statesman. As an author himself, he was also the supporter of other writers and as a patron of the arts made an important contribution to the development of 18th century landscape design. Lord Lyttelton was a friend and supporter of Alexander Pope in the 1730s, and of Henry Fielding in the 1750s; the latter dedicated his novel Tom Jones to Lyttelton. He had written his "Epistle to Mr. Pope, from a young gentleman at Rome" while still on European tour, advising him to abandon satire for a patriotic theme more worthy of his greatness. Later on the poem was used to preface editions of Pope's work.
Throughout his life he acted as a friendly patron of poets. James Thomson, for whom Lyttelton eventually arranged a pension, was a frequent visitor to Hagley Hall. Joseph Warton he appointed his domestic chaplain and it was at his suggestion that David Mallet was made undersecretary to the Prince of Wales.
Lyttelton's own poetic reputation was guaranteed continuity by his work being included in the collection of English poets prefaced by Johnson's Lives. Variously annotated and augmented, the collection appeared in succeeding editions into the start of the 19th century. The monody "To the Memory of a Lady lately Deceased," written on the death of his first wife, had an even longer lasting reputation.Despite his long political career, it was as a poet that Lyttelton was chiefly remembered in the 19th century. But he was author also of many works in prose, chiefly historical and theological. Two, however, are distinguished by their humor.
US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ----------$18.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $29.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $40.50
Condition Report: Marble hard boards, 1/3 leather with five raised bands on spine; marbled endpapers, 5” x 8”; the title page show significant amount of soiling and wear, two small holes [see photo]; viii + 246 pages + one page “Books Lately Published”; a little soiling, small bookworm holes start at the page 205 the antique bookworm’s ‘tunnel’ impacts pages from c. page 122 through the 246 [see photo]; good+/ very good condition.
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"A Defence of the Christian Revelation, on Two very important Points; As contained, in One Treatise, intituled, Observations on the History and Evidences of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ"; by Gilbert West, Esq; Clerk Extraordinary of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council: "And in Another, intituled, Observations on the Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul", by the Honourable George Lyttelton, Esq; Member of Parliament, and one of the Commissioners of the Treasury. In a letter to Gilbert West, Esq; London: printed by voluntary subscription; in order to be dispersed in His Majesty's colonies and islands in America. MDCCXLVIII [1748].
First Edition being a special edition published for American Colonies.
"We find by our Accounts from America, that great Diligence is us'd by the Enemies of Christianity here, in sending over Infidel Books to our Plantations; which the Clergy there, as Eye and Ear Witnesses, must be more sensible of, than can be at Distance. But our Care of Religion, and Concern for the Preservation of it from such dangerous Infections, is not confined to our own Country: And therefore, by way of Antidote, an Edition of these Two Excellent Treatises has been printed by voluntary Contributions; and they are transmitted thither, in order to be dispersed, in such manner, as may most effectually answer the great and good End they are designed for." [from the "Preface"]
Gilbert West (1703-1756) was a minor English poet, translator, and theologian in the early and middle eighteenth century. Samuel Johnson included him in his Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets. He was educated at Winchester, Eton and Christ Church, Oxford; his father intended a career in the Church for him. However, he was persuaded by his uncle, Lord Cobham to take a commission in the army but soon left to work under Lord Townshend, a prominent Whig. West left this position when it became clear that he had no prospect of advancement in such a career. West was appointed Treasurer of Chelsea Hospital which provided him a modest income. During this period, following dialogue with his cousin George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton he published the essay Observations on the history and evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1747) for which Oxford University awarded him an LLD. In 1749 West published his translations of the odes of Pindar; his translation of Pindar remained the standard version throughout the following century. Only late in his life did West achieve a measure of financial success when he was appointed to a clerkship of the Privy Council in 1752. He died four years later.
George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton, PC (1709-1773), known between 1751 and 1756 as Sir George Lyttelton, 5th Baronet, was a British statesman. As an author himself, he was also the supporter of other writers and as a patron of the arts made an important contribution to the development of 18th century landscape design. Lord Lyttelton was a friend and supporter of Alexander Pope in the 1730s, and of Henry Fielding in the 1750s; the latter dedicated his novel Tom Jones to Lyttelton. He had written his "Epistle to Mr. Pope, from a young gentleman at Rome" while still on European tour, advising him to abandon satire for a patriotic theme more worthy of his greatness. Later on the poem was used to preface editions of Pope's work.
Throughout his life he acted as a friendly patron of poets. James Thomson, for whom Lyttelton eventually arranged a pension, was a frequent visitor to Hagley Hall. Joseph Warton he appointed his domestic chaplain and it was at his suggestion that David Mallet was made undersecretary to the Prince of Wales.
Lyttelton's own poetic reputation was guaranteed continuity by his work being included in the collection of English poets prefaced by Johnson's Lives. Variously annotated and augmented, the collection appeared in succeeding editions into the start of the 19th century. The monody "To the Memory of a Lady lately Deceased," written on the death of his first wife, had an even longer lasting reputation.Despite his long political career, it was as a poet that Lyttelton was chiefly remembered in the 19th century. But he was author also of many works in prose, chiefly historical and theological. Two, however, are distinguished by their humor.
US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ----------$18.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $29.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $40.50
Condition Report: Marble hard boards, 1/3 leather with five raised bands on spine; marbled endpapers, 5” x 8”; the title page show significant amount of soiling and wear, two small holes [see photo]; viii + 246 pages + one page “Books Lately Published”; a little soiling, small bookworm holes start at the page 205 the antique bookworm’s ‘tunnel’ impacts pages from c. page 122 through the 246 [see photo]; good+/ very good condition.
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