Author: BALDWIN (Samuel):
Title: A Survey of the British Customs; Containing the Rates of Merchandize As established by 12Car.II.C.4, IIGeo.I.C.7, and other Statutes; with Tables of the Net Duties, Drawbacks, Bounties, &c. payable thereon, Under all Circumstances of Importation and Exportation. Also A Distinct and Practical Account of The several Branches of the Revenue called the Customs. With an Appendix, containing an Abstract of all the Laws now in force relative to the Customs. The whole continued to the End of the Session of 9. Geo. III.
Description: London: Printed for J. Nourse..., 1770. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. [iv], ix [x Advertisement], [ii], 228, [ii], 304 [305 - 307 Contents, 308 Errata], 39 [40 blank], recently rebound in quarter calf, raised bands between gilt rules, morocco label, marbled boards; ex-library, with perforations in title-page, library stamp across lower edge, small corner torn from top corner of title-page, several leaves closely trimmed, with occasional loss of page number at top of page. A copy of this work was in Adam Smith's library (Mizuta 111), but he makes no specific reference to it in The Wealth of Nations. It is an impressive collection of data, and he pays tribute in the Preface to the work of his predecessors, Henry Saxby (The British Customs, 1759; Mizuta 1492) and Henry Crouch (A Complete View of the British Customs, 1738; Mizuta 440a). He is becomingly modest about the quality of his work, acknowledging only its quantity: "the Editor has gone through a laborious and difficult Task; in its Nature complex; abounding with Objects as well important as minute, demanding Accuracy and Precision in every Line. The Reward which Authors in general propose to themselves, he cannot hope for; as the Work, upon Inspection, will appear to be only the Result of Drudgery; and Drudgery must not aspire to Praise." But without drudges to precede them, would we have geniuses? Goldsmiths 10661. Kress 6708. ESTC locates 30 copies, of which at least 13 do not have the Appendix, which is present in the above copy (last 39 pages).

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