Books

First edition of this study of poverty in both England and Scotland, a hybrid of speculative history and empirical data collection typical of the Scottish Enlightenment. The work of Dr John McFarlan (1740-1788), a minister at the Canongate Church, Edinburgh, is a key and oft-cited source for understanding "official" attitudes towards poor relief and labour in the late 18th century. McFarlan's work consists of three inquiries, covering the state of contemporary poverty, the current mitigating initiatives, and his recommendations for more effective future remedies. The Inquiries considers begging, workhouses, charities, and poor laws, while tending towards the ultimate conclusion that indiscriminate distribution of poor relief was encouraging idleness, not remedying it. Octavo (207 x 130 mm), pp. [xx], 494. Contemporary brown reversed calf, spine with low bands and red morocco label, covers with decorative panel in black, edges sprinkled red. Extensive contemporary ink side annotations. Light bumping and wear, slight cracking to joint heads, cosmetic splits to inner hinges, minor browning and foxing to endpapers and content margins: a very good copy. ESTC T90809.