[Morton, Charles].

comprising a title-page and 240 numbered pages of text for the 'Compendium', illustrated with diagrams and tables throughout, the last page signed "John Coit" and dated 15 April 1710; a contents page; 42 pages beginning 'Of Ethicks and Its End', with subscription on last page dated 29 April to 6 May 1710; 19 leaves of a text by Morton entitled 'Advice to Young Ministers'; and 3 pages of later miscellaneous notes; contemporary vellum over boards, 1709-10, the Compendium lacking 4 leaves, tears to at least 5 leaves with loss (and occasional crude repairs), browning throughout, dampstaining to last few gatherings, wear to extremities, joints splitting at foot

From the many ownership inscriptions on the pastedowns it appears likely that the present manuscript was copied out by a student at Harvard. Certainly by 1710 it had passed from his hands to a Richard Holland in Ipswich [Essex County]. Between at least 1789 and 1925 it was the property of the Orme family, the last owner being Joshua Orme of Swampscott [Massachusetts].

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In 1686 the nonconformist minister and educator Charles Morton (c.1627-1698) emigrated to Boston, having been forced to close his dissenting academy at Newington Green, where pupils included Daniel Defoe and Samuel Wesley. As an aid to teaching, Morton drew up various compendia, the most successful of which was his 'Compendium Physicae', "a summary, with diagrams, of scientific knowledge, which grafted Copernican astronomy, Cartesianism, and some of the investigations of the Royal Society onto an Aristotelian trunk" (Oxford DNB).  In 1697 Morton became vice-president of Harvard College, where he lectured occasionally. Manuscript copies of his 'Compendium Physicae', which was never published, were still used at Harvard until 30 years after his death. The few surviving examples are mostly located in Massachusetts (including Harvard), although the Bodleian holds one copy.