Law is a bottomless pit: or, the history of John Bull. : Published from a manuscript found in the cabinet of the famous Sir H. Polesworth, in the year 1712. With large explanatory notes..
Arbuthnot, John,1667-1735.
Ferguson, Adam,1723-1816,attributed name.
Hume, David,1711-1776,attributed name.
London: : Printed for M. Cowper, Pater-noster Row.,
1776..
Includes with separate titlepage and pagination but continuous register 'The history of the proceedings in the case of Margaret, commonly called Peg, only awful sister to John Bull, Esq; with a complete key'; the imprint and date are the same as that of 'Law is a bottomless pit'.
Anonymous. By John Arbuthnot.
Includes with separate title page and pagination but continuous register ’The history of the proceedings in the case of Margaret, commonly called Peg, only lawful sister to John Bull, Esq; with a complete key’; the imprint and date are the same as that of ’Law is a bottomless pit’.
’The history’ is a political satire. Attribution is disputed. David Raynor (1982; reissue 2009) suggests David Hume is the author. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry for Hume (2009) explicitly rejects this and restates the more traditional attribution to Adam Ferguson.
"M. Cowper" may be a false bookseller's name chosen to imply that Mary Cooper is the bookseller.
ESTC
England London.