GREEN, William (dates unknown). The Spirit of Information, a Compilation Replete with Correct and Useful Tables, and with a Fund of Curious and Original Intelligence, London, 1823, 8vo, 4 engraved plans, marbled boards (rebacked). [?]FIRST EDITION. RARE.

GREEN, William (dates unknown).  The Spirit of Information, a Compilation Replete with Correct and Useful Tables, and with a Fund of Curious and Original Intelligence. London: "Printed for the Author", 1823. 8vo (175 x 108mm). Half title, 4 engraved maps, tables (lacks all before half title [i.e. a blank]), a few spots, lightly browned). Contemporary marbled boards (rebacked in later buckram). [?]FIRST AND PROBABLY ONLY EDITION of this short and curiously eclectic work which seems to have no discernible overall plan or purpose. The frankly bewildering list of contents at the front includes, "The state of the weather for more than a thousand years", "Calculation of the annual consumption of the necessaries of life in London", "The time a person of a given age may expect to live", "Description of the famous Golenos oak", "It may be thought wonderful, that the population of this kingdom should stand on considerably less than a square mile" and "A curious statement of the interest of a penny from the birth of our Saviour to the year 1816." The first map is a general one of England and Wales; the other three are of the City of London, Westminster and Southwark respectively. Of the author nothing is known apart from the information provided on the title page: "William Green, A.M. of Christ-College, Cambridge; Author of the Plans of Economy, Chronological History of the Reign of George III., and of the Spirit of English History." His somewhat defensive preface reads: "The compiler of this little volume thinks it an awkward circumstance to send it into the world without a preface or introduction. The judgment of the world in general is correct; it seldom approves or disproves without reason: if, therefore, this publication deserves public approbation, it will have it; but if not, the author will not unjustly suffer for his temerity." RARE.