On the Constitution of the Church and State,
According to the Idea of Each: With Aids Towards a Right Judgement on the Late Catholic Bill.
London: Hurst, Chance, and Co, 1830 Stock Code: 102332
First edition of Coleridge's final prose work, his contribution to the controversy over Catholic emancipation. "The work, remembered particularly for advocating the establishment of a 'clerisy', an educated class between the laity and the ordained clergy that should further the purposes of the church in a Christian society, confutes the supposition that in later life his work was invariably digressive and inconclusive. Drawing on the images of vine and olive, respectively, and recalling the benefits accruing from their cultivation side by side, he argued for preserving an intimate relationship between church and state. The argument, with its relevance to current concerns, was presented clearly and cogently; only the last pages left a ragged effect. A promised appendix entitled 'What is to be done now?', which may have been intended to provide a rounded conclusion, was never in the event added. A second edition was swiftly called for, nevertheless, and although published too late to affect the issue of Catholic emancipation, the legislation for which had been passed during the year, was seen by some readers as a powerful defence of the Anglican establishment" (ODNB).
Description
Octavo. Original buff paper boards, white paper label printed in black to spine. Housed in a brown cloth solander box by J & S Brockman.
Condition
Neat contemporary ownership signature to front pastedown, old bookseller's description (Maggs, 1932, £1 10s) tipped-in. Light loss to spine ends, label a little chipped and scuffed, joints cracked but holding. A very good, unrestored copy.
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