THE PLEASURES OF CONTEMPLATION, BEING AN INVESTIGATION OF THE HARMONIES, BEAUTIES, AND BENEFITS OF NATURE; A JUSTIFICATION OF THE WAYS OF GOD TO MAN; AND A VINDICATION OF THE UNIFORMITY OF ETERNAL TRUTH, CONTRASTED WITH THE DEFORMITY OF POPULAR ERROR. SECOND EDITION. BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE PLEASURES OF DEATH." TO WHICH IS ADDED FIVE CAUSES OF POPULAR POVERTY, &C., &C. BY DR. BLATCHLY, OF N. YORK. THE WHOLE PARTICULAR INTENDED AS THE SECOND PART OF "RIGHTS OF GOD," FIFTH EDITION, PRINTED A.D. 1815

[Branagan, Thomas] and Cornelius Blatchly

Published by Published for S. Eastwick, Philadelphia, 1818

About this Item

276pp, frontispiece illustration of waterspout at entrance of Cape Fear River [North Carolina]. Original calf, gilt lettered red morocco spine label [lettering faded]. Scattered foxing. Ownership stamp on front endpaper. Copies issued with the frontis are uncommon. Very Good. An important early American utopian tract and probably the earliest appearance of Owenism in America. Blatchly, a New York Quaker and apothecary, was founder and moving spirit of the New York Society for Promoting Communities, an important source of utopian ideas and activity for several years preceding Owen's arrival in America. In 1822, Blatchly published "An Essay on Commonwealths," which contained extensive selections from Owen's "New View of Society." A copy was presented to Owen on his arrival in America by Blatchly himself. Ironically, it was this first champion of Owen in America who was largely responsible for injecting a strong dose of religious fervor into Owen's secularism, which became a major obstacle to Owen's success in America. Blatchly's radical ideas are set forth for the first time in the essay on poverty included in this work. In it he quotes from Owen's writings continuously for 15 pages; the essay itself occupies 50 pages, and has its own title page. This must be the earliest appearance of Owen's writings in America, at least in book form, preceding by 5 years the more systematic exposition in the "Essay on Commonwealths." Branagan's book first appeared in 1817 and included the Blatchly essay; this is its second edition. AI 43438.

Seller Inventory # 26041

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE PLEASURES OF CONTEMPLATION, BEING AN INVESTIGATION OF THE HARMONIES, BEAUTIES, AND BENEFITS OF NATURE; A JUSTIFICATION OF THE WAYS OF GOD TO MAN; AND A VINDICATION OF THE UNIFORMITY OF ETERNAL TRUTH, CONTRASTED WITH THE DEFORMITY OF POPULAR ERROR. SECOND EDITION. BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE PLEASURES OF DEATH." TO WHICH IS ADDED FIVE CAUSES OF POPULAR POVERTY, &C., &C. BY DR. BLATCHLY, OF N. YORK. THE WHOLE PARTICULAR INTENDED AS THE SECOND PART OF "RIGHTS OF GOD," FIFTH EDITION, PRINTED A.D. 1815
• Publisher: Published for S. Eastwick, Philadelphia
• Publication Date: 1818
• Seller catalogs:
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