The Opinions of Different Authors Upon the Punishment of Death (Two Volumes)

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1816. Two volumes, uniformly bound. Volume I, 1816, is second edition (first edition was 1809), Volume II, 1812, is the first edition. An important and oft-cited book in the literature of crime and punishment. It is a compilation of opinions by prominent persons of the time about capital punishment, selected by a noted jurist who was opposed to it. Includes works by Samuel Johnson, Blackstons, Benjamin Franklin, Goldsmith, Turner, Thomas More, Lord Bacon, Pastoret, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Hume, and others, and includes sections of laws and bills. Folding table at the beginning of volume II. Full diced calf, 22.25 cm x 13.75 cm, gilt lettering and decoration, raised spine bands, vi, [i], 310p. + [i], table, xxvii, 401p., [xxxiv]. Internally near fine with exceptionally clean pages free from chips, tears or markings, and with effectively no foxing. Endpapers in volume I differ from those in volume II. Externally a bit more worn, with a large chip to the head of volume I, much of the gilt worn, joints rubbed, with the front joint of volume I quite weak, but with covers well attached. A sound and handsome set.. Hard Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.