The Reports of the Society for Bettering the Condition and Increasing the Comforts of the Poor. Vols I and II.

xxiv, 298pp; [8], 368, 4pp. 12mo. Vol. II concludes with 'Process of making bread with all the bran added.', a four-page pamphlet with 'S' in the direction-line on p.1, which was probably intended for issue with this volume. One gathering in Vol. I heavily foxed, otherwise in good clean condition, some browning to e.ps & pastedowns. Contemporary half sprinkled calf, gilt banded spines, red & dark green gilt morocco labels, marbled boards. Ownership name of Henry Wastell, 1800 at head of each titlepage - possibly Henry Wastell, surgeon, a member of the Medical Society of London. v.g. ESTC N55144, 5 copies in the UK; 4 copies in North America, 1 in Germany; ESTC T218747, 6 copies in the UK; 1 copy in America, 1 in Germany. The reports were edited by Sir Thomas Bernard, 1750-1818, one of the originators of the cooperative movement in England, and a noted philanthropist who, with Wilberforce and others, founded in 1796 the Society for Bettering the Condition and increasing the Comforts of the Poor. Among the immediate results of his recommendations was the formation, in 1800, of a school for the indigent blind, and in 1801 of the Fever Institution. He also promoted vaccination, and campaigned for protecting children in cotton mills and as the apprentices of chimney-sweeps. The reports were first issued in separate, and slightly larger format, 1798-1814, and also in this slightly smaller sized 'second edition', which according to a footnote in the preface appear to contain some updated information since their first printing.…