Of the Principles and Duties of Natural Religion: Two Books. To which is added, A Sermon preached at His Funeral, by WILLIAM LLOYD.

WILKINS, John.

Published by Printed for R. Bonwicke W. Freeman and others. London 8vo. 8th. edition, 1722

pp. (iv), vii, (v), 356, (ii), 33, (i) Advertisement. Engraved portrait frontispiece by R. WHITE, separate title to the Sermon dated 1723. Contemporary panelled calf, rebacked, top corners repaired, first few leaves with some marginal spotting else text clean, heraldic book-plate of REVD. RICHARD GERVEYS GRYLLS, book-label of H. G. MAJENDIE, early signature of GEORGE SNOWDON, Trinity College, Oxford, 1734, overall a very good copy. *JOHN WILKINS (1614-1672), was first secretary to the Royal Society and considered by many to have been the central figure in its foundation. His father, a goldsmith, was `a very ingeniose man with a very mechanicall head. He was much for trying of experiments, and his head ran much upon the perpetuall motion.' His son clearly inherited these qualities, for he spent most of his leisure on mathematical and experimental pursuits. His first published work, issued anonymously, attempted to prove that the moon was a habitable world. In a later edition he considered the possibility of reaching the moon by volition. He also wrote a work on cyphers and puzzles, `Mathematical Magic', and an important study of language, his `Essay Towards a Real Character and a Philosophical Language'. The above work, posthumously issued under the supervision of John Tillotson, who married Wilkins's step-daughter, is imbued with the rational tones of a natural philosopher allied to the principles of natural theology later expanded to the full by Bishop Butler in his `Analogy'. For SNOWDON, see Alumni Oxoniensis (1715-1886) volume 4.djvu/105 - SNOWDON, George, s. Richard, of Lodswell, Devon, pleb. Trinity Coll., matric. 8 April, 1731, aged 18 ; B.A. 1734, M.A. 1737. For MAJENDIE -:- Captain H. G. Majendie, The Rifle Brigade, Egyptian Army and Robert's Light Horse, mortally wounded at Dekiel's Drift in February 1900. For GRYLLS -:- probably Rev. Richard Gerveys Grylls III [Rev. Richard Gerveys Grylls (1692-1735) m. Anne Mohun; Richard Gerveys Grylls (1735-1771) m. 1758 Cordelia Glynn (1734-1802); Rev. Richard Gerveys Grylls III (1758-1841) m. 1783 Charity Hill (1761-1849)]. Seller Inventory # 62818

Bibliographic Details

Title: Of the Principles and Duties of Natural ...
Publisher: Printed for R. Bonwicke W. Freeman and others. London 8vo. 8th. edition
Publication Date: 1722