(LYTTELTON, George) The Court-Secret: a Melancholy Truth. Now first translated from the original Arabic. By an adept in the oriental tongues. Printed for T. Cooper at the Globe. 1742
43, [1]p 8vo. A note is added on titlepage that the work is 'on the death of the E. of Scarborough', and a number of identities of the characters are noted in margins. Sl. foxing & browning, a few notes slightly shaved. Disbound.
¶From the Library of Douglas Grant. ESTC T78373. BL, Liverpool, and NLS only in this country; 6 copies in North America. In verse. First published in 1741, and relating to Richard Lumley, 2nd Earl of Scarborough and his wife, the Duchess of Manchester. The Earl had committed suicide in 1740, and the rumour, fuelled by this popular pamphlet, was that he had revealed a State secret in confidence to his wife which she had betrayed. Other theories abounded, including a mistress, and embarrassment over scandalous accusations concerning his brother.
Stock #52528
£125
46, Great Russell Street - (opp. British Museum) - Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3PA
