pleasures of human life
Subtitle: investigated cheerfully, elucidated satirically, promulgated explicitly, and discussed philosophically in a dozen dissertations on male, female, and neuter pleasures : interspersed with various anecdotes, and expounded by numerous annotations
By: by Hilaris Benevolus, & Co., Fellows of the "London Literary Society of Lusorists." ; embellished with five illustrative etchings and two head-pieces.
Contributors: Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827; Satchwell, R. William, 1732-1811; M'Creery, John, d. 1825 (printer)
Publisher: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme
Published: 1807
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 223
Subjects: England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Humor
Genres: Humor
Other titles: Mirth versus misery
Notes: Attributed to John Britton.  Cf. Halkett, Samuel and John Laing. Dictionary of anonymous and pseudonymous English literature.

Added stipple-engraved hand-coloured ill. t.p.  At head of title: "Mirth versus misery".

Preliminary stipple engraved plate with upside down image entitled: "A new eclipse for 1807 (not foretold by the sagacious Dr. Moore.). With title: "Melancholy ag! Merryment : "alas!!" "oh!! o!!! oh!!" "The miseries of human life" turned topsy-turvy."  With imprints: "Drawn by W. Satchwell." and "Engraved by W. Bond.".  With some hand-colouring.

Etched plates are with imprint: "Rowlandson del. et Sculp. for the Pleasures of Human Life." or "Drawn and Etched by Rowlandson for the Pleasures of Human Life".  All are hand-coloured.

Etched plates are with imprint: "London; Published by Longman Hurst Rees & Orme Paternoster Row Febuary [sic] 1807." or "London; Published by Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme, Paternoster Row, Feby. 1st. 1807.".

Includes "An analytical and explicatory index; or directory dissertation (xii) on the contents.": p. 211-223.

MASS copy: Bound in half black calf and marbled paper-covered boards with spine tooled in gold; a.e. stained red.