The Freedom of Human Action Explained and Vindicated: In Which the Opinions of Dr. Priestley on the Subject are Particularly Considered.
London: Printed for the Author; and sold by G. Nicol... 1791. First edition. Several ink marks on preliminary blank, a little light foxing, but a very good copy of a rare book. Recent antique-style calf over marbled boards, gilt spine with burgundy morocco label. Octavo. [8, including preliminary blank]. xxvii, [1], 148 pp. Item #14306
William Cockin (1735-1781) was a teacher and mathematician and the author of several books, including The Art of Delivering Written Language, 1775; The Fall of Scepticism and Infidelity Predicted (an epistle of James Beattie), 1788, and A Rational and Practical Treatise of Arithmetic (1766). He also produced an independent scientific publication, The Theory of the Syphon in 1781. In 1777 Cockin corresponded with Joseph Banks regarding “An extraordinary appearance in a mist,” a description of a type of muted rainbow, which was published in the Philosophical Transactions (PTRS, 70, 1780, 157–62) and which attracted the admiration of Joseph Priestley. (See Oxford D.N.B.).
ESTC lists only three copies of this work, two in Britain, and one in America (Northwestern).
Price: $2,500.00