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Mining.- [Shiers (William)] A Familiar Discourse or Dialogue concerning the Mine-Adventure, 2 parts in 1, first edition, 'An Abstract of the Present State of the Mines of Bwlchyr-Eskir-Hyr' with separate title, contemporary ink inscription on front pastedown "Tho. Husband 1700 Ex dono Sr Humphrey Mackworth" with long explanatory note on the work on versos of title and second title and facing leaves, a little worming to lower margin, light water-staining, mostly marginal but for last few leaves, contemporary panelled sheep, rubbed, upper joint split, lower cover detached, gouge to spine, [Wing S3458], 1700 § Pettus (Sir John) Fodinae Regales. Or the History, Laws and Places of the Chief Mines and Mineral Works..., first edition, lacking engraved portrait but with 2 engraved plates, 2 engraved illustrations in text, corrigenda leaf at end, title soiled and frayed at inner margin (reinforced), marginal water-staining to last two leaves, engraved bookplate of Sir George Beaumont Bart., contemporary sprinkled sheep, spine faded and chipped at head, [Wing P1908], by H.L. and R.B. for Thomas Basset, 1670, both a little worn, 8vo & folio (2) ⁂ The first relates to an early 18th century industrial scandal. Through his wife Sir Humphrey Mackworth had inherited an estate with coal mining rights in Wales. Following the demise of the Society of Mines Royal in 1694 he established the Company of Mine Adventures and began to smelt copper but this was declared bankrupt in 1709 and he was accused of fraud, although with a change of government the charges were dropped. The contemporary note comments that the work was probably written by Mackworth himself, although attributed to his secretary William Shiers "a creature of Sir Humphrey's". The writer continues, "...William Waller, the mineral projector & manager of the company's mines in Cardiganshire appears to have stood high in Sir H's favor [sic], but they afterwards quarrelled" and in 1710 he "published a pamphlet intitled the ''Mine adventure laid open', wherein he endeavoured to blacken the character of Sir Humphrey".

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14553 item(s)/page