Mirabeau

1789 · rif. 14145 — Dublin: P. Byrne 1789. FIRST IRISH EDITION. Contemporary calf spine and edges lightly worn; generally an excellent copy with a contemporary signature of Juliana Pratt dated 1843 on title. . First edition a variant of a two-volume work published in London with few copies located in America. We do not know the priority of this Irish edition. After a preliminary trip to Berlin in early 1786 Mirabeau was dispatched that July on a mission to the royal court of Prussia. Returning in January he published a full account in his Secret History of the Court of Berlin 1787. This account denounced the Prussian court as scandalous and corrupt described the King of Prussia as weak and overly emotional and labeled Prince Henry of Prussia brother of Frederick the Great and a guest of the French court as narrow-minded and incompetent. The resulting uproar was an extreme embarrassment for the French government which quickly censored the book but could not prevent its widespread notoriety. Mirabeau’s episode provided inspiration to many more radical publishers who came to regard him as a leader of the coming revolution. Even Thomas Jefferson who was serving as the United States Minister to France during this period wrote to Mirabeau complimenting his “writings and talents” and provided him with materials that Jefferson wanted Mirabeau to use in future publications. P. Byrne unknown