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AN ESSAY TOWARDS FIXING THE TRUE STANDARDS OF WIT, HUMOUR, RAILLERY, SATIRE, AND RIDICULE by (HUMOR, 18TH CENTURY). [MORRIS, CORBYN] - 1744

by (HUMOR, 18TH CENTURY). [MORRIS, CORBYN]

AN ESSAY TOWARDS FIXING THE TRUE STANDARDS OF WIT, HUMOUR, RAILLERY, SATIRE, AND RIDICULE by (HUMOR, 18TH CENTURY). [MORRIS, CORBYN] - 1744

AN ESSAY TOWARDS FIXING THE TRUE STANDARDS OF WIT, HUMOUR, RAILLERY, SATIRE, AND RIDICULE

by (HUMOR, 18TH CENTURY). [MORRIS, CORBYN]

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London: Printed for J. Roberts, and W. Bickerton, 1744. FIRST EDITION. 206 x 133 mm. (8 1/8 x 5 1/4"). xxxiv, [2] (errata, ads), xxxii, 75, [1] pp.
Contemporary sprinkled calf, covers bordered with double gilt fillet, raised bands flanked by gilt rules, original brown morocco label. Front pastedown with armorial bookplate of "R E H D" engraved by and signed in the plate by G. W. Eve (see below). Joints, spine, and extremities a bit chafed and dried (though much of this successfully masked by refurbishing), covers a bit scratched and with three patches of lost patina from insect activity, one upper corner rather bumped, but the original unrestored rustic binding solid and pleasing, with no serious defect. One leaf with three-inch tear into the text (neatly repaired without loss of legibility, though with slight displacement of letters), otherwise only trivial imperfections internally, THE TEXT REMARKABLY FRESH AND CLEAN and printed within quite ample margins.

This is a (not surprisingly) amusing attempt to differentiate between wit, humor, raillery, satire, and ridicule, written (surprisingly) by an economist and customs inspector. The author begins by defining wit as "the Lustre resulting from the quick Elucidation of one Subject, by a just and unexpected Arrangement of it with another Subject." Morris differentiates humor from wit, describing the former as "any remarkable Oddity or Foible belonging to a Person in real Life," and acknowledges it gives more delight and pleasure than wit. His example here is Falstaff, the embodiment of "Jollity, Mirth, and Good-nature." Our volume ends with a letter on humor in comedy by that master of the Restoration comedy of manners, William Congreve. Corbyn Morris (1710-79) had previously written a series of pamphlets defending the policies of Prime Minister Robert Walpole, and the present work opens with a 34-page dedication to that politician which the normally forgiving DNB deems "extravagant . . . even by contemporary standards." Morris once told David Hume that he wrote "all his books for the sake of the Dedications," and these seemed to be successful instruments in advancing his career, as he was appointed secretary of customs and salt duty for Scotland before subsequently being appointed to the English board of customs. Our copy bears the bookplate of Anglican clergyman and antiquary Rashleigh Edward Hungerford Duke (1855-1932), engraved by G. W. Eve, one of the foremost bookplate designers of the day..
  • Bookseller Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts US (US)
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  • Edition FIRST EDITION
  • Publisher Printed for J. Roberts, and W. Bickerton
  • Place of Publication London
  • Date Published 1744
  • Size 206 x 133 mm. (8 1/8 x 5 1/4").
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An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)

by Morris, Corbyn

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MP3 Audio CD. 14.99 by Morris, Corbyn, 1710-1779; Clifford, James L. (James Lowry), 1901-1978 [Commentator]

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Observations on the past growth and present state of the city of London. To which are annexed, a...
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Observations on the past growth and present state of the city of London. To which are annexed, a complete table of the christnings [sic] and burials ... By the author of A letter from a bystander

by Corbyn Morris

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An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)
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An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)

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An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)
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An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)

by Corbyn Morris

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9789354943225
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An Essay Towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Raillery, Satire, and Ridicule. to...
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An Essay Towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Raillery, Satire, and Ridicule. to Which Is Added, an Analysis of the Characters of an ... by the Author of a Letter from a By-Stander.

by Morris, Corbyn

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An essay towards fixing the true standards of wit, humour, raillery, satire, and ridicule. To...
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An essay towards fixing the true standards of wit, humour, raillery, satire, and ridicule. To which is added, an analysis of the characters of an ... By the author of a letter from a by-stander

by Corbyn Morris

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ISBN 13
9781170470367
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117047036X
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Observations on the Past Growth and Present State of the City of London. to Which Are Annexed, a...
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Observations on the Past Growth and Present State of the City of London. to Which Are Annexed, a Complete Table of the Christnings [sic] and Burials Within This City from 1601 to 1750, ... by the Author of a Letter from a Bystander

by Corbyn Morris

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ISBN 13
9781140907688
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1140907689
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An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)
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An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)

by Corbyn Morris

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Observations on the Past Growth and Present State of the City of London. to Which Are Annexed, a...
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Observations on the Past Growth and Present State of the City of London. to Which Are Annexed, a Complete Table of the Christnings [sic] and Burials Within This City from 1601 to 1750, ... by the Author of a Letter from a Bystander

by Corbyn Morris

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9781140907688
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1140907689
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An Essay Towards Deciding the Important Question, Whether It Be a National Advantage to Britain...
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An Essay Towards Deciding the Important Question, Whether It Be a National Advantage to Britain to Insure the Ships of Her Enemies? Addressed to the Right Honorable Henry Pelham, Esq.

by Corbyn 1710-1779 Morris

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