Baume, Pierre Henri Joseph (1797-1875)

Notes on the Science of Government, co-operative communities, communistic socialism, education of children, social and public hygiene, prostitution, phrenology, etc.: with autobiographic fragments. Partly Author's holograph MS. P. 359 contains two pen-drawings in red and black, in plan and in section, of the author's design for an 'Educational Building circular, pyramidal and general', which he hoped to erect on his land at Islington. On p. 420 is a pen-drawing of a complicated signet-ring invented by the author, which he claimed would be proof against forgery. This extraordinary work fully bears out the use of the word 'eccentricities' applied to the author in the D.N.B. While some of his ideas, especially on public hygiene and, to some extent, on the education of children, seem fairly reasonable and considerably in advance of his times, the whole MS. is permeated by his astonishing persecution-mania, and his frenzied hatred of organized political and religious institutions, public authorities, lawyers, etc. It seems to have been compiled in 1838-40, but some additions on p. 719 are dated 1855. It is mainly written by the hands of various 'copyist boys' (alluded to on p. ii), but there are numerous entries by the author himself, together with many corrections and additions.

1838-1855

1 volume pp. xix + 729. 4to. 221/2 x 141/2 cm. Original half-calf binding. Pp. ix-xix, 560-588 are blank.

Purchased 1931.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).