Principai Cum Juris Universalis Vol 1.; Tum Pr¾cipue Anglicani Editio Secunda, Multum Auata et Castigata. Quibus Accedunt Artis Logicae Compendium et Prudentiae Civilis Praecepta e Clarissimis Scriptoribus. Auctore Capel Lofft, J. C.

LOFFT, Capel.

Published by Printed For W. Owen And E. C. Dilly, 1779, Londini, 1779

About this Item

1779 (Preface dated 1779 along with inscription dated 1779.). 1st Edition. Inscribed by author. Inscribed by the author or F Maseres himself to "F. Maseres" and dated 1779. Description: Full leather binding with 5 ridged spine. Inscription to ffep (by either author of F Maseres) states "F Maseres June 24, 1779" followed by "Et dono auctoris" or 'gift of the author. Language: Latin. Book Condition> Fair: Heavy wear to corners, edges and spine ends. Heavily darkened spine leather with small missing segments to iupper and lower ends. Heavy rubbing to front and rear leather. Cracked endpaper but hinges remain strong. Tanned endpapers with darker margins. Lightly tanned pages. Occasional annotation to text margins. Tears to pages 296 and 297. DJ Condition> Na. Provenance: Inscribed by the author or F Maseres himself to "F. Maseres" and dated 1779. Provenance Background: Francis MaseresÊ(1731 1824) was an English lawyer He is known asÊattorney generalÊof theÊProvince of Quebec, judge, mathematician, historian, member of theÊRoyal Society, andÊcursitor baron of the exchequer. Author: Capel Lofft (1751 1824) was a British lawyer, writer and amateur astronomer He trained as a lawyer at Lincolns Inn, and called to the bar in 1775 Prolific writer on the law and political topics His father was Sarah Churchills personal secretary; his mother was sister to the Shakespeare editor Edward Capell He studied at Eton, Peterhouse College Cambridge, from which in 1770 he moved to Lincolns Inn His legal career was ended by a case in Stanton, Suffolk On the night of 3 October 1799, Sarah Lloyd, a 22 year old servant, was incited by a suitor to steal 40 shillings She was caught, tried, and sentenced to death by hanging Capel Lofft fought strenuously but unsuccessfully for a reprieve Lloyd was to be executed on 23 April 1800 in Bury St Edmunds Lofft accompanied the cart transporting Lloyd on that morning, holding an umbrella over Lloyd to shield her from rain, and remained by her side until she was hanged The authorities took a dim view of Loffts fight on Lloyds behalf, and he was struck off the Roll (list of qualified lawyers) Lofft had an interest in astronomy and is known to have observed several transits and eclipses These include the transits of Mercury on 7 May 1799 and 9 November 1802, the solar eclipses on 16 June 1806 and 19 November 1816, and the lunar eclipses on 4 December 1797 and 10 June 1816 The deaths of Loffts father and uncle in 1811 left him with a large property and family estate A supporter of Napoleon, he wrote letters to the editor of the Morning Chronicle (31 July and 10 August 1815) opposing the Governments decision to send Napoleon to St Helena Lofft attempted to serve a writ of habeas corpus (a legal instrument against wrongful imprisonment) while the captive Napoleon was being held aboard a ship in Plymouth In 1816 Lofft moved to Europe for his daughters education He died in 1824 at Montcalieri, near Turin. PLEASE ASK for additional photographs if required. Seller Inventory # 6765

Bibliographic Details

Title: Principai Cum Juris Universalis Vol 1.; Tum ...

Publisher: Printed For W. Owen And E. C. Dilly, 1779, Londini

Publication Date: 1779

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Fair

Dust Jacket Condition: Na

Signed: Inscribed by author

Edition: 1st Edition.