(London: Printed for T. Cadell; C.J.G. and F. Rivington; Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green et al., 1830).

A BEAUTIFULLY BOUND COPY OF THE EDITION. A HIGHLY IMPORTANT HISTORICAL WORK. It is especially unusual to discover a copy so firm and sturdy and in bindings clearly made for a gentleman of import and wealth.
Charles Kendal Adams in his Manual of Historical Literature perhaps best describes this important work, “This work... has enjoyed the rank of a classic in historical literature from the day of its completion to the present time. In point of clearness, elegance, and simplicity of style it has never been surpassed.”
This edition features many corrections by the author. Hume’s original corrections were not so much on factual matters dealing with dates or events but an attempt to soften or correct some seditious Whig sentiments that he had allowed to creep into it. Speaking of his first edition Hume admitted, “I am sensible that [his writings] were too full of those foolish English prejudices which all nations and all ages disavow.”
The work is considered by many to be the first truly great history of England, and that although historically imperfect, of outstanding intellectual conception. Smollett continues it from the Revolution. For Hume, it was not a simple chronicle of events but instead an attempt to trace the many steps leading to the state of England as it was in his present time. He views history not only as a chain of actions and reactions but delves as well into the material and intellectual state of the nation throughout the various points of the time period covered. Smollett carried through in the same vein. Item #34474

4 volumes. A very attractive and rare edition, the second, with the author's last corrections and improvements. With an engraved portrait of Smollett as frontispiece to Vol. I. 8vo, very handsomely bound in full tan goatskin, the covers with multiple gilt fillet borders, both wide and narrow, the inner with ornate corner-pieces, the spines with raised bands gilt tooled and decorated, three compartments gilt decorated and framed between wide gilt tooled raised bands, and with gilt ruled board edges and triple gilt filleted turn-ins and all edges marbled, marbled end-leaves. xii, 582; xii, 554; xi, [1], 521, [1]; vii, [1], 536 pp. A very handsome and very finely bound copy, the bindings strong and sturdy and well preserved with just a touch of expected age evidence, the hinges firm, the text fine and fresh with only a little spotting at the free-flys and to the paper used for the portrait plate. A very pleasing and collectible set of this important work.