Darwin, Erasmus
A Plan for the Conduct of Female Education in Boarding Schools. Derby: Printed by J. Drewry; For J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church-yard, London, 1797. 4to, contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, spine with contrasting morocco lettering-piece; eng. frontis., lacking half-title; provenance: Richard Aklom (armorial bookplate to upper pastedown). First edition.
Erasmus Darwin is perhaps unfairly remembered more in relation to his famous grandson, but in his time he was a noted figure of the Midlands Enlightenment. A natural philosopher, abolitionist, physiologist, inventor and poet, he was a founding member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham.

Amongst his many controversial causes was the education of women, believing that a happy marriage was best based on a shared - if still differently ordered - education. He advocated a wide-ranging curriculum including physiognomy, mineralogy and an understanding of manufacturing processes. For all his forward thinking he still saw woman as an adjunct and helper to man, educated about the world but not fully participating in it. That said, this was still a major text in support of the rights of women to education beyond simple manners, dress and deportment.

The text may have owed something of its existence to Darwin's support of his illegitimate daughters Susanna and Mary Parker, for whose school it was originally written, and for whose school there is a glowing, thinly-disguised advertisement at the rear.

The difficult position of early reformers is shown in part by a single line at the close of the recommended reading lists. After lists of works of scientific and moral interest he closes the religion list with the caveat that "Books of controversial divinity are not recommended to Ladies."