THE HISTORY OF ST. KILDA. Containing A Description of this remarkable Island; The Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants; The Religious and Pagan Antiquities there found; With many other curious and interesting Particulars.

1st Ed. [6],278,[2]p. Folding frontis. map. From the Library of Jerrold Northrop Moore, prelims. lightly foxed, age toning, double gilt rule edged contemporary calf boards, rebacked and recornered in modern calf, double gilt ruling and gilt lettered label to spine. ESTC No.T90614 With a half-title [not present in our volume] and a final advertisement leaf. In 1758 Macaulay visited St Kilda on behalf of the Society in Scotland for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge (SSPCK), and in 1764 he published in London as his own composition [the above work] James Boswell showed the book to Samuel Johnson before their visit to the Hebrides in 1773, and Johnson pronounced it 'very well written, except for some foppery about liberty and slavery' (Boswell, Life, 2.150). The two travellers visited Macaulay on their journey to the Hebrides and from conversation with him came to the conclusion that he could not have written the book. 'There is', Johnson said, 'a combination in it of which Macaulay is not capable' (ibid., 5.119). Johnson may have been influenced in his opinion by a discussion he had on the English clergy with Macaulay, who was by no means respectful towards episcopal claims. Johnson pronounced him a 'bigot to laxness' (ibid., 5.120). Boswell was told that the book had been written by John Macpherson of Skye from materials supplied by Macaulay, but it is now generally accepted that the bulk of the book is Macaulay's own work, with some contributions from Macpherson . ODNB. US$520.…