Difference between revisions of "Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres"
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|pages=viii, 454, [12]
|desc=4to (27 cm.)
}}[[File:BlairLecturesOnRhetoric1784Inscription.jpg|left|thumb|300px|<center>Gift inscription to George Wythe, front free endpaper.</center>]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Blair Hugh Blair] (1718-1800) was born in Edinburgh, the only child to a prominent Presbyterian family.<ref>Richard B. Sher, ["Blair, Hugh (1718–1800)"] in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed November 2, 2013. Subsequent biographical information derives from this article.</ref> He entered the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Edinburgh University of Edinburgh] at age thirteen where he studied moral philosophy and literature. Two years after finishing his university education, Blair became a Presbyterian preacher. Blair achieved various positions of authority within the Church and began publishing his largest work, ''Sermons'', during this time.
}}[[File:BlairLecturesOnRhetoric1784Inscription.jpg|left|thumb|300px|<center>Gift inscription to George Wythe, front free endpaper.</center>]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Blair Hugh Blair] (1718-1800) was born in Edinburgh, the only child of a prominent Presbyterian family.<ref>Richard B. Sher, ["Blair, Hugh (1718–1800)"] in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed November 2, 2013. Subsequent biographical information derives from this article.</ref> He entered the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Edinburgh University of Edinburgh] at age thirteen where he studied moral philosophy and literature. Two years after finishing his university education, Blair became a Presbyterian preacher. Blair achieved various positions of authority within the Church, and began publishing his largest work, ''Sermons'', during this time.
Blair later taught rhetoric and composition at the University of Edinburgh, beginning in 1760. As he approached retirement, Blair published many of his lessons in ''Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres'', perhaps fearful that corrupt manuscripts would circulate. The ''Lectures'' series was first published in 1783 in London and later that year in Edinburgh. Blair's ''Sermons'' had gained some fame in the United States during the early nineteenth century, but the publication of ''Lectures on Rhetoric and Bells Lettres'' firmly cemented Blair's place as a central figure in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Enlightenment Scottish Enlightenment]. Blair based his lectures "on plain common sense, so as to be intelligible to all." As such, the work was especially influential in the United States and became the prevailing guide on rhetoric, composition, and literary criticism.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
Beginning in 1760 Blair taught rhetoric and composition at the University of Edinburgh. As he approached retirement, hepublished many of his lessons in ''Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres'', perhaps fearful that corrupt manuscripts would circulate. The ''Lectures'' series was first published in 1783 in London, and later that same year in Edinburgh. The publication of ''Lectures on Rhetoric and Bells Lettres'' firmly cemented Blair's place as a central figure in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Enlightenment Scottish Enlightenment], and Blair's ''Sermons'' gained some fame in the United States during the early nineteenth century.
Wythe definitely owned this title&mdash;a copy at the College of William & Mary includes the inscription on the front free endpaper: "For the Honorable George Wythe Esquire from his most affectionate friend and obliged humble servant. Thomas Lee Shippen." Signed "George W" below this. Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as ''Blair's lectures. 1st. vol. 4to.'' and given by [[Thomas Jefferson]] to his grandson, [[Thomas Jefferson Randolph]]. Both Brown's Bibliography<ref>Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> and [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on June 28, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe </ref> on LibraryThing list this title.
Wythe definitely owned this title&mdash;a copy at the College of William & Mary includes the inscription on the front free endpaper: "For the Honorable George Wythe Esquire from his most affectionate friend and obliged humble servant. Thomas Lee Shippen." Signed "George W" below this. Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "Blair's lectures. 1st. vol. 4to." and given by [[Thomas Jefferson]] to his grandson, [[Thomas Jefferson Randolph]]. Both Brown's Bibliography<ref>Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> and [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on June 28, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe </ref> on LibraryThing list this title.
{{BookPageBookplate
|imagename=BlairLecturesOnRhetoric1784Bookplate.jpg
by Hugh Blair
Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres
Title page from Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary.
Author Hugh Blair
Published Philadelphia: Printed and sold by Robert Aitken, at Pope's head in Market street
Edition First American
Pages viii, 454, [12]
Desc. 4to (27 cm.)
Gift inscription to George Wythe, front free endpaper.
Hugh Blair (1718-1800) was born in Edinburgh, the only child of a prominent Presbyterian family.[1] He entered the University of Edinburgh at age thirteen where he studied moral philosophy and literature. Two years after finishing his university education, Blair became a Presbyterian preacher. Blair achieved various positions of authority within the Church, and began publishing his largest work, Sermons, during this time.
Beginning in 1760 Blair taught rhetoric and composition at the University of Edinburgh. As he approached retirement, hepublished many of his lessons in Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, perhaps fearful that corrupt manuscripts would circulate. The Lectures series was first published in 1783 in London, and later that same year in Edinburgh. The publication of Lectures on Rhetoric and Bells Lettres firmly cemented Blair's place as a central figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, and Blair's Sermons gained some fame in the United States during the early nineteenth century.
Wythe definitely owned this title—a copy at the College of William & Mary includes the inscription on the front free endpaper: "For the Honorable George Wythe Esquire from his most affectionate friend and obliged humble servant. Thomas Lee Shippen." Signed "George W" below this. Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "Blair's lectures. 1st. vol. 4to." and given by Thomas Jefferson to his grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Both Brown's Bibliography[2] and George Wythe's Library[3] on LibraryThing list this title.
Bookplate of W. K. Bixby, front pastedown.
On permanent loan from the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William & Mary. Bound in the original paper boards. A presentation copy, it is inscribed, "For the Honorable George Wythe Esquire from his most affectionate friend and obliged humble servant. Thomas Lee Shippen." Includes signatures of "George W." (on the front free end paper, below the inscription) and "T. J. Randolph" on the title page. The bookplate of W. K. Bixby is on the front pastedown.
↑ Richard B. Sher, ["Blair, Hugh (1718–1800)"] in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed November 2, 2013. Subsequent biographical information derives from this article.
↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on June 28, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
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