The secret history of the court and cabinet of St. Cloud: in a series of letters from a gentleman at Paris to a nobleman in London, written during the months August, September, and October, 1805

First edition, 12mo, 3 volumes, pp. [2], xx, 362; xiv, 311, [1]; xix, [1], 316; with the final leaf of advertisements in volume III; a fine copy in original blue paper-covered boards, pink paper shelfback, printed paper spine labels on each volume; lightly rubbed else near fine. With the bookplates of Harry H. Blum. Contained in a blue morocco pull-off case, gilt lettering on spine misidentifying the author as "Goldsmith" (see below). A virulent attack on Napoleon and revolutionary France, with letters on censorship and on the French discontent with President Jefferson. The work was very popular but little is known of the possibly pseudonymous "Mr. Stewarton." Owing to a similarity of title with The Secret History [of the Cabinet of Bonaparte], the anti-Revolutionary and anti-Napoleonic works of B. Stewarton have often been falsely attributed to [the journalist Lewis] Goldsmith who ran an English language newspaper in Paris, before disillusionment led to his outspoken writings against France (see DNB). Wolff 6576.…