Advice from a Lady of Quality to her Children, in the Last Stage of a Lingering Illness, in a Series of Evening-Conferences on the Most Interesting Subjects. Translated from the French - Louis-Antoine Caraccioli, Samuel Glasse (translator) 1778 - Printed by R. Raikes and Sold by J. F. and C. Rivington, Glocester - First Edition in English An extremely rare first edition of this 18th century ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’, first published in 1769 as ’Les adieux de la Maréchale de *** à ses enfants’. Two pretty little volumes In 18th century full calf bindings.

A popular courtesy book written in a series of twenty one ‘conferences’ held between mother, her daughter and sons. Topics covered during these conferences include Virtue, Pride, Generosity, Female Conduct, Friendship, Love of Truth, Brotherly Love, Study, Pleasure, Ambition, Vanity, Relative Duty, Patriotism, Social Duties.

Unlike most courtesy books, Caraccioli's has the semblance of a plot and reads somewhat like a novel, which ends with the death of the main character.
Advice from a Lady went through numerous later editions in England and America.

The Translator, Samuel Glasse, dedicates this work to Queen Charlotte (1744-1818), consort of King George III of Great Britain.
  Marquis Louis-Antoine Caraccioli (1719-1803) was a prolific French writer, poet, historian, and biographer long considered an "enemy of Philosophy" because of his extensive writings as a religious apologist. Advice from a Lady of Quality to her Children is one of his most studied and collected books.

Caraccioli started his literary career during his travels in Italy. He wrote prolifically on a broad range of subjects. Caraccioli survived the French Revolution, despite his close ties to French aristocracy during the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, but was left financially ruined. In 1795, he was awarded a 2000 franc pension by the National Convention. He died poor in Paris, in 1803, leaving, it is said, only eighty francs behind him.

Samuel Glasse (1735-1812) was was an English cleric and Fellow of the Royal Society. A scholar of Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford.

Provenance: With the contemporary signature of ‘R Kellett’

Two duodecimo volumes (binding size 16.2x10.3cm), pp. [2] [1 (title)] [1] iii-viii (dedication) ix-xiii (’
Advertisement’) xiv-xvii (’Translator’s Preface’) [1 (’Table of Contents’)] [1 (’Errata’)] [1] 190 [4]; [2] [1 (title)] [1] 3-231 [3].
  Finely bound in contemporary sprinkled calf, spines ruled in gilt with red and green morocco labels to the second and third panels lettered and ruled in gilt, board edges decorated in gilt.   Condition: Fine in very good bindings, wear to corners and spine ends, spine of volume I with dry cracks to leather but not affecting hinges.   Ref: 103257   Price: HK$ 11,000