Instructions for a Young Lady, In Every Sphere and Period of Life. Containing I. A Mother's Advice to her Daughters. II. Two Letters to a Lady upon the subject of Religion, by a Clergyman. III. A Letter to a Young Lady on her Marriage. IV. An Epistle upon the Cultivate of Taste. V. Fables for the Female Sex.
Edinburgh: Printed by A. Donaldson…, 1773. Donaldson first published this work by Pennington (d. 1783) in 1770, with other editions appearing in 1772 and 1777. The "Epistle upon the Cultivation of Taste" is addressed to "Miss C---- of E----" (presumably Edinburgh) and is in rhyming couplets and dated "Dumfries, Oct. 30 1757" at the end. Front joint cracked, but sound. Binding extremities lightly worn. A good, clean copy. Contemporary calf, gilt red leather spine label. Twelvemo. [4], 284 pp, Item #15932
Emily Plaskin states in the Oxford DNB that this is "a curious combination of conduct manual and scandalous memoir. In it she states that she was left motherless at nineteen and raised by a distant father who neglected her social education…Pennington's text is first used to defend her conduct and then develops into an advice manual similar to those produced by George Savile, marquis of Halifax (1633-1695), Anne-Thérèse, marquise de Lambert, Hester Chapone and Hannah More."
Price: $650.00