Author: HERVEY (James):
Title: A Collection of the Letters of the late Reverend James Hervey, A. M. To which is prefixed, An Account of his Life and Death. In Two Volumes. [AND]: Eleven Letters from the late Rev. Mr. Hervey, to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley; Containing An Answer to that Gentleman's Remarks on Theron and Aspasio. Published form the Author's Manuscript, Left in the Possession of his Brother W. Hervey. With A Preface, Shewing the Reason of their now being published.
Description: London Printed by Charles Rivington, For John Rivington..., 1760, 1765. FIRST EDITIONS. 3 volumes. 8vo, pp. xcix [xcx Errata], 326; viii, 439 [440 Errata, 441 - 444 adverts]; xxxviii, 297 [298 blank], O1 in volume 2 in cancelled state, contemporary calf, spines ornately gilt in compartments, red and green morocco labels; lacking the engraved portrait of Hervey found in some issues of volume 1, slight wear to front joint volume 1, one label slightly chipped, tops and bases of spines a little worn, but generally a very good set. James Hervey (1714 - 1758) produced some of the most popular devotional writings of the 18th century: his Meditations and Contemplations (1746 - 1747) was probably reprinted more often in the second half of the 18th century than even Thomson's Seasons. Hervey's Calvinistic, evangelical sympathies did, however, provoke some attacks, which he seems to have been indifferent to. His answer to Wesley's criticism of his popular Theron and Aspasio (1755) was first published without his or his brother's authority in 1764. Although the letters are filled with devotional topics, there are frequent comments on political topics and literary productions of the day, viz., "Thanks for Mr. Mason's Odes. Polished Performances' but not equal, in my Judgement, to his Isis, or his Monody on Pope."

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