Miscellanies

[4], 130, [2], 129, [4], 6-128 p. ; 21 cm. (8vo) "The pupil of nature. By M. de Voltaire. Translated from the French. With notes, historical and critical. By T. Smollett, M.D. and T. Francklin, A.M.", p. [1]-130, [1-2], 2nd and 3rd counts, has separate dated title page with imprint: Philadelphia: Printed by Robert Bell, in Third-Street, M. DCC. LXXVIII [1778]. The French title is "L'ingénu, histoire veritable, tirée des manuscrits du Père Quesnel", first printed [London?], 1767. It tells the story of a Huron called "Child of Nature" who, after having crossed the Atlantic to England, crosses into Brittany, in the 1690s. Upon arrival, a prior notices depictions of his brother and sister-in-law, whom they deduce to be the Huron's parents, making him French. Having grown up outside of European culture, he sees the world in a more 'natural' way, causing him to interpret things directly, unaware of what is customary, leading to comic misinterpretations. After his first confession, he tries to force the priest to confess as well, interpreting a Biblical verse to mean confessions must be made mutually and not exempting the clergy. Not expecting to be baptized in a church, they find the Child of Nature waiting in a stream, as baptisms are depicted in the Bible. The story satirizes religious doctrine, government corruption, and the folly and injustices of French society "The princess of Babylon", p. [1]-129, [1], 4th and 5th counts, has separate dated title page with imprint: Philadelphia: Printed by Robert Bell, in Third-Street, M. DCC. LXXVIII [1778]. It was first printed in Geneva, in 1768 "Zadig; or The book of fate: an oriental history of M. de Voltaire. Translated from the French. With notes, historical and critical. By T. Smollett, M.D. and T. Francklin, A.M.", p. [2-4], 6-128, 5th and 6th counts, has separate dated title page with imprint: Philadelphia: Printed by Robert Bell, in Third-Street, M. DCC. LXXVIII [1778]. It was first printed under the title "Memnon, hi