12mo. vii, [1], 182pp, [2]. With an engraved frontispiece and a terminal leaf of advertisements. Contemporary diced calf, tooled in gilt and blind, marbled edges. Rubbed, upper joint split, some chipping to head and foot of spine. Marbled endpapers, scattered spotting, heavy offset mark to pp.161-175, likely the result of flower pressing. Presentation copy, inked inscription to recto of front blank fly-leaf: 'To Mr. Hersee, / with the author's / best respects'.

The first edition of a collection of chiefly pastoral pieces by minor Dorset poet and East India Company official William Holloway (bap. 1761, d. 1854), exceptions being one commemorating Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, and three decrying slavery: 'The Negro Friends', 'Heccar and Alico. An African tale'; the latter appended with the disclaimer: 'Since the above was written, to the honour of humanity, and the British nation in particular, this diabolical trade has been abolished; in consequence the following Apostrophe was addressed to the Author of the Farmer's Boy', that piece being 'To Robert Bloomfield, on the Abolition of the Slave Trade'.