Translation of: The hermit: or, The unparalled [sic] sufferings and surprising adventures of Mr. Philip Quarll, an Englishman. Who was lately discovered by Mr. Dorrington a Bristol merchant, upon an uninhabited Island in the South-Sea; where he has lived above fifty years, without any human assistance, still continues to reside, and will not come away. Containing I. His conferences with those who found him out, to whom he recites the most material circumstances of his life; as, that he was born in the parish of St. Giles, educated by the charitable contribution of a lady, and put 'prentice to a lock-smith. II. How he left his master, and was taken up with a notorious house-breaker, who was hanged; how, after this escape, he went to sea a cabbin-boy, married a famous whore, listed himself a common soldier, turned singing-master, and married three wives, for which he was tried and condemned at the Old-Bailey. III. How he was pardoned by King Charles II. turned merchant, and was ship-wracked on this desolate Island on the coast of Mexico, first printed in London, 1727.

"Preface de l'editeur anglois", p. [5-9], signed P.L.

Signed on p. 368: Edouard Dorrington.

"Stances sur la solitude de Philippe Quarll", p. [11-12], 1st count is a verse in five stanzas.

An English issue of the 1727 edition in the British Museum has the initials P.L. in the title and a dedication, in which the writer claims the authorship of the work, signed Peter Longueville. In the preface (signed P.L.) he denounces the bookseller for having substituted Edward Donrrington's name for his own. For a discussion of the authorship cf. A. Esdaile's "Author and publisher in 1727; The English hermit", in The Library, 4th ser., v. 2, p. 185-192.

Ascribed by some authorities to Alexander Bicknell.

A German translation was printed under the title "Der englische Einsieder" in Nuremberg in the same year.

Signatures: ã⁶ (ã1, ã2 versos blank) A-P¹² (P3 missigned P4) Q⁶

Engraved printer's ornament on title page; head and tail pieces; initials.

Folded map with title "La carte de l'isle de Philippe Quarll" which shows the coast of Mexico to the east is bound to face p. [10], 1st count, and is accompanied by "Explication de la carte" on p. [10]

Gove, P.B. The imaginary voyage in prose fiction, 263.

European Americana 729/147.

John Carter Brown Library copy imperfect: p. 237-238 has a tear and is wanting a part of the foredge of the leaf, without affecting the text.

John Carter Brown Library copy bound in contemporary full mottled calf.

John Carter Brown Library copy acquired with the assistance of the Sophia Augusta Brown Fund.

John Carter Brown Library copy contains ms. marginalia and underlinings in an unknown hand.