BERKELEY, Bishop George (1685-1753).

The Works of George Berkeley, D.D. late Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland. To which is added an account of his life; and several of his letters to Thomas Prior, Esq. Dean Gervais, Mr. Pope &c. London: printed by J.F. Dove for Richard Priestley, 1820.

3 volumes, octavo (8 7/8 x 5/3/8 inches; 226 x 138mm). Pp. [i-iii], i-lxxv [lxxvi], [1]-411 [412]; [i-vii], [1]-224, "223" [i.e. 225], 226-455 [456]; [i-vi], [1]-476. Half-titles. 1 folding engraved plan "The City of Bermuda Metropolis of the Summer Isles", 1 folding engraved mathematical chart, occasional diagrams in the text. (The plan with a ¼ inch tear to one of the folds not affecting the image area, occasional small tears [no bigger than ¼ inch] to lower blank margins of pp.89-157 in vol.III not affecting the text area, occasional very light spotting to first and last leaves).

Original drab paper-covered boards, expertly re-backed to style, paper title labels to each back-strip, text blocks uncut, inner hinges, all three volumes contained within a black morocco-backed box, the back of the box modeled as three volumes and lettered accordingly in gilt (text volumes with repaired inner hinges, some damage to edges of boards, most significantly to vol.II).

Rare thus: the first London edition of the first collected edition of Berkeley's works uncut in the original boards. The contents are in excellent condition and include a fine plan of the "City of Bermuda Metropolis", the entire text of his important "Proposal for Better supplying of Churches in our Foreign Plantations, and for converting the Savage Americans to Christianity", and a fascinating series of letters from Berkeley concerning his struggles to establish Bermuda as an important seat of learning: had he succeeded Bermuda today may well have had a University to rival Yale or Harvard.

Irish-born George Berkeley was the Dean of Derry when he conceived what was to be the great unrealised landmark in his life. In his "Proposal... " he laid out his plan of establishing a Seminary, College or University in Bermuda (first published in 1725, but see vol.III, pp.211-230 of the present work).

His idea was to ensure the spread of the "right kind" of Christianity throughout North America by training carefully chosen Native American youngsters as missionaries. These young boys of no more than ten were be gathered (by force if necessary) and educated in a school that Berkeley would establish in Bermuda. He noted that ignorance was easier to "cure" than error and noted that "a thorough education in religion and morality, in Divine and human learning, doth not appear to have been ever given to any savage American". His geographic argument for Bermuda rather than the mainland north America was persuasive: it was equi-distant to just about anywhere on the eastern seaboard and close(r) to England than any of the other colonies. As he notes in the "Proposal",  Bermuda, or, the "Summer Islands are situated near the latitude of thirty-three degrees ; no part of the world enjoys a purer air, or a more temperate climate, the great ocean which environs them at once moderating the heat of the south winds, and the severity of the north-west. Such a latitude on the continent might be thought too hot; but the air in Bermuda is perpetually fanned and kept cool by sea-breezes, which render the weather the most healthy and delightful that could be wished, being (as is affirmed by persons who have long lived there) of one equal tenor almost throughout the whole year, like the latter end of a fine May; insomuch that it is resorted to as the Montpelier of America." The island was well supplied from both the constant flow of sea-borne traffic, but also home-grown provisions "there being, besides beef, mutton, and fowl, great abundance of fruits, and garden-stuff of all kinds in perfection : to this, if we add the great plenty and variety of fish, which is every day taken on their coasts, it would seem, that a seminary could no where be supplied with better provisions, or cheaper than here."

The inhabitants are also singled out for praise: "they have withal less vice and expensive folly than their neighbours. They are represented as a contented, plain, innocent sort of people, free from avarice and luxury, as well as the other corruptions that attend those vices. I am also informed, that they are more constant attendants on Divine service, more kind and respectful to their pastor (when they have one), and shew much more humanity to their slaves, and charity to one another, than is observed among the English in the other plantations: one reason of this may be, that condemned criminals, being employed in the manufactures of sugar and tobacco, were never transported thither".

As the attached extract from a letter of recommendation shows, Berkeley had powerful friends. Dean Swift writes, with characteristic wit,  of his friend and protégé: "He shewed me a little tract which he designs to publish, and there your Excellency will see his whole scheme of a life academico-philosophical (I shall make you remember what you were) of a college founded for Indian scholars and missionaries, where he most exorbitantly proposeth a whole hundred pounds a year for himself, forty pounds for a fellow, and ten for a student His heart will break if his deanery be not taken from him, and left to your Excellency's disposal. I discourage him by the coldness of courts and ministers, who will interpret all this as impossible and a vision ; but nothing will do. And therefore I do humbly entreat your Excellency, either to use such persuasions as will keep one of the first men in this kingdom for learning and virtue quite at home, or assist him by your credit to compass his romantic design, which however is very noble and generous, and directly proper for a great person of your excellent education to encourage." (Extract from letter from Dean Swift to Lord Carteret, 3 September 1724, published in this work, vol.I, pp.vii-viii).

On the strength of the support that Berkeley's scheme received at the English court (he understood that it was only a matter of time before the necessary funds became available) and he therefore sailed for Rhode Island in 1729, where he bought a farm which could be used to raise produce to supply the proposed school. He settled down to wait for the government to honour their commitments: but "his projected college in the Bermudas, and all other efforts, were checked, when Walpole [the British first Minister] found means to divert the grant, and discouraged every hope of assistance. Still his short residence of two years in Rhode Island, 1729-31, was no slight encouragement to the rising Church: his private estate which he had purchased there was consigned to Yale College [along with his library], and he continued during his life to confirm his American friends by his correspondence and example. There is much expressed in the wish of Dr. Johnson on his death-bed, that he might resemble his friend Berkeley in his death. " (The British Critic, Quarterly Theological Review and Ecclesiastical Record [London: 1834], vol.XV, p.292). A first hand-hand account of much of Berkeley's attempts to save his ultimately unsuccessful venture are given in a number of the letters at the front of volume I of the present work.

BERKELEY, George  A Miscellany, containing Several Tracts on Various Subjects. By the Bishop of Cloyne. Dublin: George Faulkner, 1752. Duodecimo (163 x 95mm.; 6 7/16 x 3 ¾ inches). 19^th-century half calf.

First edition, second state. The rare first edition, printed in Dublin, is here presented in the second state, as described by Keynes, together with the Table of Contents leaf, which is often missing.  A London edition was published towards the end of the same year by Tonson. This volume contains two works printed for the first time: a revised version of ‘Verses on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America’ and the first printing of ‘Farther Thoughts on Tar-Water’, his last publication on this subject.  The ‘Verses…’ contain the famous stanza “Westward the Course of the Empire takes its Way; The four first Acts already past, A fifth shall close the Drama with the Day; Time’s noblest Offspring is the last.”

In America, Berkeley had learned the use of tar-water and had taken it up with great enthusiasm, prescribing it as a cure for practically everything.  This volume also contains “A Proposal for the better supplying of Churches in our Foreign Plantations, and for converting the Savage Americans to Christianity, by a College to be erected in the Summer-Islands otherwise called the Isles of Bermuda”.

Keynes 140; cf. Rothschild 383 (London edition).

Bermuda & Its Attractions,1887-8. 8 Spruce Street, N.Y.: Railway & General Printing Co., 1887. Octavo (224 x 146mm.; 8 ¾ x 5 ¾ inches). 5 plates (including: “The City of Hamilton”; “Ireland Island”); and 13 black and white illustrations on 3 full separate page in ‘collage form’. Also includes rates for hotels and boarding houses at the time ( $2-$2.50 per day up to $10-$12 per day ). Original gray printed wrappers with mylor covers.

First Edition. Features "A Trip to Bermuda" by F. H. Taylor (12pp.), and promotional information for Caribbean Islands. Broadly covers “Southern Winter Resorts” ( clearly intended for US visitors ). Unrecorded on OCLC.

Bermuda Book Stores (publishers). Birds of the Bermudas [Trees and Plants of the Bermudas]. Great Britain: The Bermuda Book Stores, [n.d.] 2 volumes, Octavo (162 x 105mm.; 6 3/8 x 4 ¼ inches). “Birds of the Bermudas”  contains 23 Plates, 2 colour illustrations. “Trees and Plants” contains 19 black and white plates, 10 colour plates, 5 colour illustrations. Original (cloth?) binding, the two volumes within a single box (original). In Mylor wraps, box very slightly torn but original book bindings in near perfect condition with gold details and titles on spine.

A short guide to the natural history of Bermuda: the “Birds of the Bermudas” is a guide to the resident and seasonal birds of the Bermuda Islands, iIllustrated in colour and giving sufficient description to enable the observer to identify the various species.

The “Trees and Plants” performs the same function for the indigenous biology.

Bermuda Houses & Gardens Magazine. Bermuda: The Garden Club of Bermuda., 1973. Small folio (333 x 230mm.; 11 7/8 x 9 inches). 224 black and white illustrations. Original wrappers.

A locally-printed work, and a valuable historical record of most of the prominent residences on the island.

BERMUDA, Slavery. – Papers presented to Parliament … in explanation of the measures adopted by His Majesty’s Government for giving effect to the Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies. Part III (2) West Indies. Hose of Lords. London: 1836. Folio ( 327 x 210mm.: 13 x 8 ¼ inches). Contemporary calf-backed cloth, spine gilt, original blue paper wrappers bound in.

Fascinating details of the conditions in the West Indies immediately following the abolition of slavery. Includes returns of punishments. Correspondence on Barbados 23pp, Jamaica 48pp, Br Guiana 174pp, Mauritius 58pp, Antigua 56pp, Montserrat 27pp, St Kitts 14pp, Nevis 13pp, Virgin Is 13pp, Dominica 16pp, St Vincent 22pp, Grenada 11pp, Tobago 35pp, Trinidad 49pp, St Lucia 24pp, Br Honduras 6pp, Bahamas 45pp, Bermuda 13pp.

[ This volume contains more than 20pp relating to Governor Sir Stephen Remnant Chapman in Bermuda – see his portrait under section “Oil Paintings – Of Bermuda Interest” ].

BESSE, Joseph. (1683? – 1757).  A Collection of the sufferings of the people called Quakers, for the testimony of a good conscience from the time of their being first being distinguished by that name in the year 1650, to the time of the Act, commonly called the Act of Toleration, granted to Protestant Dissenters in the first year of the Reign of King William the Third and Queen Mary, in the year 1689.  Taken from original records and other authentick accounts. London: L. Hinde, 1753. 2 volume. Folio (320 x 210mm.; 12 ½ x 8 ½ inches). Old calf (rebacked). Provenance: John A. (inscriptions dated 1855); Oxford faculty library (bookplate, library stamps).

The activities of the Quakers in Bermuda are described in vol.II, pp366-370 beginning with those of 1665, and ending with the 1672 case of Elizabeth Carter from Barbados who “disturbed” the services of Mr. Edwards in Devonshire Church, was banished, and returned to be persecuted and banished again.  Vol.II, pp.628-630 has an index of names of the “sufferers” in Bermuda, grouped with those in Nevis, Antigua, Maryland and Jamaica.

BLUNT, Edmund March (1770-1862). The American Coast Pilot: Containing directions for the principal harbors, capes, and the headlands, on the coasts of north and south America: describing the soundings, bearings of the lighthouses and beacons from the rocks, shoals, ledges, &c. With the prevailing winds, setting of the currents, &c. And the latitudes and longitudes of the principal harbors and capes; together with a tide table. New York: Edmund & George W. Blunt, 1837. Octavo ( 225 x 135mm.: 9 x 5 ¼ inches). 11 fold out maps (7 full page maps); illustrations, plates and tables. (Some very slight staining to lower right of approximately one quarter of book-block (burn markings? with some slight paper loss)). Apparently original binding in mottled calf generally in very good condition. Mylor wraps.

The 13th edition of this important work, improved, by E. & G. W. Blunt.

Pages 308 to 310 relate to Bermuda. General instructions for vessels recommended sailing courses for making Bermuda by Thomas Lean.

BURLAND, Brian.  A Fall From Aloft. London: Barrie and Rockliff, 1968. Octavo ( 195 x 130 mm.; 7 ¾ x 5 inches). Original binding and dust jacket in excellent condition.

Mylor wraps.

First edition of this Bermudian-born novelist: “Brian Burland was born in Bermuda in 1931. Largely of seafaring and clerical stock (and a few pirates and rum merchants), and educated at what he calls a “second rate” public school in England and several “mediocre” universities in Canada and the U.S.A. He worked at various jobs in Bermuda, the West Indies and New York (“selling toilets, stevedoring, going to sea and posing as a professor”) and now lives in London.  This is his first novel.  It will certainly not be his last.” (quote from dust-jacket).

CHALKLEY, Thomas. (1675-1741).  A Journal or, Historical Account of the Life, Travels and Experiences, of that Antient, Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ, Thomas Chalklet, Who departed this Life in the Island of Tortola, the fourth Day of the Ninth Month, 1741. London: Luke Hinde, 1751. Octavo (198 x 120mm.; 7 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches). No plates or illustrations. `(Condition of inside generally very good). Old leather re-binding now splitting.  Provenance: Newton Charles Ogle.

Second edition.