The history of the public revenue of the British Empire. by SINCLAIR, Sir John

London: by W and A Strahan, for T Cadell, 1785. Two* parts in one volume, 4to, x + 204 + 130pp, with an early ownership note, dated 1785, in upper margin of title, contemporary half calf over marbled boards, spine gilt and labelled, some wear to joints and spine rather darkened, else a good, crisp, copy from the contemporary library of the Howard family, presumably at Castle Howard, with the armorial bookplate> ('Vertus mille scuta') on front pastedown. First edition. A detailed study of the public revenue, a standard treatise, which was for a long time one of the chief authorities on the subject, by Sir John Sinclair [1754-1835], the first president of the Board of Agriculture. 'The work is full of detail without neglecting general principles, plentifully illustrated with tables, and ample in its treatment of later periods, though rather insufficient, in the light of modern knowledge, for the earliest period. Particular attention is given to the national debt and to Pitt's financial administration' [Palgrave]. * A third part was eventually published in 1790 but is not present here.