The History of the Poor Laws: With Observations

1764. London: H. Woodfall and W. Strahan, 1764.. London: H. Woodfall and W. Strahan, 1764. By the Author of an Important JP Manual Burn, Richard [1709-1785]. The History of the Poor Laws: With Observations. London: Printed by H. Woodfall and W. Strahan for A. Millar, 1764. [iv], 295, [1] pp. Octavo (8-1/2" x 5-1/4"). Recent period-style quarter calf over marbled boards, blind fillets, lettering piece and gilt publication date to spine, endpapers renewed. Light fading to spine, moderate toning to interior, faint spotting to a few leaves, light soiling and moderate edgewear to title page and following two leaves, which are partially detached but secure. $375. * Only edition. The author of the standard English justice of the peace manual of the eighteenth century, Burn was also the author of a law dictionary and important treatises on ecclesiastical and poor law. The History of Poor Laws "is an account of the various proposals made at different periods for the reform of the poor law, and the author's own proposals for the reform both of the poor law and of some other branches of the jurisdiction of the justices of the peace. Like Burn's other works, it is a clear and well-arranged account of the subjects with which it deals; but it is more valuable as a criticism, by an exceptionally competent critic, of the defects of the law in his own day, than as a history.": Holdsworth, A History of English Law XII:338-39. English Short-Title Catalogue T70490.