Memoir of the Life and Writings of Rev. Jonathan Mayhew, D. D., 1720-1766

Bradford, Alden. Memoir of the Life and Writings of Rev. Jonathan Mayhew, D. D., Pastor of the West Church and Society in Boston, from June, 1747, to July, 1766. Boston: C. C. Little & Co., 1838. First Edition. [11207] Green cloth, elaborately decorated in blind, backstrip faded with the top third relaid to spine, small nick at top corner, 9 5/8 x 6 inches, tight. A presentation copy with several signatures on the end papers, including "To Mr. Alexandre Vattemare with the compliments of the author." 1949 date with one of the signatures. Lithograph portrait as frontispiece, with printed signature and tissue guard. Small oval institutional stamp in blue ink on the title page. iv, 484 pages, foxing; some sections unopened (uncut at top). Small bookseller's slip of a book signed by Mayhew pasted to the rear paste-down. Good. Hardcover. Jonathan Mayhew (1720-1766), “a celebrated American divine, was born at Martha’s Vineyard…He was a descendant of Thomas Mayhew, the first English settler of that island…During his college course at Harvard he was distinguished not only as a fine classical scholar, but also for his skill in dialectics and his attainments in ethical science. He graduated with great honor in 1744. Three years later he received a call from West Church, in Boston, and continued in this station for the remainder of his life…Mr. Mayhew’s liberal opinions were so unpopular in Boston that he was for some time excluded from membership of the Boston Association of Congregational Ministers. In 1750 the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by the University of Aberdeen. His publications excited great interest not only in this country, but also in England…Dr. Mayhew possessed a mind of great acuteness and energy, and in in his principles was a determined republican. He had no little influence in producing the American Revolution.” – M’Clintock & Strong. Mayhew was a leader of the advancing liberal party within the Congregational churches. See James W. Jones, The Shattered Synthesis, pp. 143-164.  The person to whom Bradford signed this book, Alexandre Vattemare (1796-1864), was a renowned ventriloquist, and a friend of famous men of his day, including Goethe, Lamartine, Pushkin, and Sir Walter Scott. He became wealthy and took an interest in public libraries and museums, and from 1839 to 1847 traveled the United States to promote an idea of a cultural exchange system. He inspired the founding of the Boston Public Library, created the American Library of Paris, and was an early donator to the Smithsonian Institution, which followed some of his philosophy. He is credited with being the pioneer of modern library and cultural exchange systems. The oval stamp on the title page of this book, "SYSTÉME D'ECHANGE INTERNATIONAL" with "A. V." in the center indicates that it was intended for his system of exchange, which by 1850 had expanded to 150 libraries around the world. The top of the title page has inscribed, "Bibliotheque Vattemare" in brown ink. Alden Bradford (1765-1843), b. Duxbury, Massachusetts; d. Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at Harvard College, Bradford became a Congregational minister. He was also an accomplished historian, and for 12 years the secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was a direct descendant of William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth Colony.