![Item #37180 MEMOIR Of WILLIAM VAUGHAN, Esq. F.R.S. With Miscellaneous Pieces Relative to Docks, Commerce, Etc. [bound with] REASONS In FAVOUR Of The LONDON - DOCKS. William Vaughan, 1752 - 1850.](https://tavbooks.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/37180.jpg?width=768&height=1000&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1712611871)
MEMOIR Of WILLIAM VAUGHAN, Esq. F.R.S. With Miscellaneous Pieces Relative to Docks, Commerce, Etc. [bound with] REASONS In FAVOUR Of The LONDON - DOCKS.
London: Smith Elder & Co., 1839 / 1796. 1st edition (Goldsmith 31076). INSCRIBED PRESENTATION copy, "Mrs. Goodwin / from the author" viii, 134, [2]; [2], 9, [1 (blank)] pp. Lithograph frontispiece from a drawing by the Revd Daniel Alexander, after a bust of Vaughan by Sir Francis Chantrey [1811]. 8vo. 8-3/4" x 5-3/8". Period dark grey pebbled cloth binding with printed paper title label to spine. Binding shows wear at the extremities with loss at the spine ends, bubbling to the cloth, browning and chipping to the spine label; front joint and hinge cracked, secured with paper repair to the front hinge, rear hinge starting; spotting to the frontispiece and title-page; toning and light spotting to the pamphlet title-page. Withal, a VG copy of a scarce title. Item #37180
Vaughan, a promoter of the London docks, became prominent in mercantile and commercial affairs after a stint in his father's business. In 1783 he was elected a director of the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation, and continued in it, as director, sub-governor, and governor, until 1829.
"In 1791 Vaughan endeavoured to form a society for the promotion of English canals, and, with this end in view, made a collection, in three folio volumes, of plans and descriptions relating to the subject. Failing in his objective, he turned his attention to docks, on which he became one of the first authorities. From 1793 to 1797 he published a series of pamphlets and tracts advocating the construction of docks for the port of London, and on 22 April 1796 he gave evidence before a parliamentary committee in favour of the bill for establishing wet docks. In 1839 he published many of these papers, prefaced by a memoir of his own life. The great development of London as a port must be regarded as partly due to his unceasing exertions." [ODNB].
The Memoir includes sections entitled: State of the Port of London in 1793; Metropolis and Port of London in 1836; Commerce and England; Inland Navigation and Canals; On Ship-building and the Preservation of Timber; Royal Exchange Assurance; Address to British Seamen on the Mutiny at the Nore; Poor Richard exemplified; etc.
Price: $375.00