Lucina sine Concubitu. A Letter Humbly address'd to the Royal Society; in which is proved by most incontestable Evidence, drawn from Reason and Practice, that a Woman may conceive and be brought to Bed without any Commerce with Man. [bound with] Lucina sine Concubitu. . . The Third Edition. [bound with] [“ROE, RICHARD.”] A Letter to Dr Abraham Johnson, On the Subject of his new Scheme for the Propagation of the human Species. . . by a Fellow. [bound with] Concubitus sine Lucina ou le Plaisir sans Peine. Réponse a la lettre intitulée: Lucina sine Concubitu

Book Description

London: Printed; And Sold by M. Cooper [ditto - Printed for M. Cooper - “a Londres” 1750-1750-1750-”1752”. Together four works in one volume: [ii], 48; [ii], 50; [ii], 54, and 70pp., 8vo, with the last work 18mo. The first work bound without the half-title. The four bound together in twentieth century half blue morocco over marbled boards, spine gilt-lettered; lower joint partly split. An engaging group, comprising the first and third editions of Hill's most enduring and often-reprinted work, perhaps the most outrageous and engaging pseudo-scientific pamphlet of the century, and two contemporary responses to it. Hill’s third edition added an amusing two-page postscript, thanking the many ladies “that have favoured me with their Company at my Lodgings in the Haymaket.” “Richard Roe’s” pamphlet is equal to Hill’s in wit, invoking all manner of literary and scientific theories and personalities in order to come to a proposal for propagating the species that is somewhat more obvious and “more adequate to the Sentiments of the Ladies.” The fourth pamphlet is a French contribution to the pseudo-controversy, but although it is dated 1752 it is clearly a later edition, probably printed around 1830-1840.Hill had wished to join the Royal Society, but was unable to secure the necessary patronage. This pamphlet is Hill's revenge: a marvellous spoof of Society members' scientific methods. He "proves" that foetuses are in fact little air-born "Animalcula," "Minims of Existence" carried on the West Wind, and gives many learned references to mythology and history to support his claim.The joy of Hill's discovery, as he points out in some detail, is that once his proofs are accepted "it will be easy for a Young Lady to lose her Maidenhead without losing her Character," and "another great Benefit... will be the utter Abolition of Matrimony." Samuel Johnson later summed up Hill as "an ingenious man, but had no veracity.

Not sure what some of these terms mean? Look it up in our glossary.