BOSWELL, James (1740-1795). A Letter to the People of Scotland, on the Alarming Attempt to Infringe the Articles of the Union... London: Printed for Charles Dilly, 1785.

The first edition, uncut and sewn, as issued. Boswell's second Letter to the People of Scotland, the present work, written to oppose a bill in Parliament for reducing the number of the Lords of Session from fifteen to ten, was notable for ''its exuberance of tone and the wealth of personal allusion''—although in later years Boswell felt that it was perhaps too extravagant (Pottle). Ultimately, the bill was dropped. This copy bears radical politician Benjamin Vaughan's ownership signature. Vaughan was a supporter of the French and American Revolutions and unofficially aided in negotiations between Britain and the United States at the drafting of the Treaty of Paris. A friend of Benjamin Franklin's since university, he later edited his works. Rothschild 455.

Octavo (220 x 130mm). Half-title, uncut and sewn (a couple leaves with a little loss at margins, likely just from careless opening). Custom chemise and quarter morocco clamshell box. Provenance: Benjamin Vaughan, 1751-1835, politician (ownership inscription to upper wrapper) – Sotheby's, 12 July 2007, lot 45.