The Laws of Sewers …To which are added, the laws relating to Rumney-Marsh [sic.], and other Marshes and Fens.

Sea Defences, Coastal Drainage and Wetlands. . – William MEARS (publisher).

The Laws of Sewers; or the Office and Authority of Commissioners of Sewers. Containing, I. Their power of enquiry into annoyances and defects of repairs of sea-banks and walls, publick streams and rivers, ditches and marsh-grounds. II. The authority of the Commissioners in making laws and ordinances, and imposing rates and taxes for repairing the walls, banks, and other defences. III. Of their power by law as to distresses, and decreeing lands to be sold to levy charges for repairs, and inflicting punishments, by fine and otherwise. Also the particular offices of bailiffs, surveyors, collectors, and other officers under the Commissioners, and proceedings of a Court of Sewers, orders, warrants, &c. To which are added, the laws relating to Rumney-Marsh [sic.], and other Marshes and Fens.

London: printed by E. & R. Nutt, and R. Gosling for W. Mears, 1726. Octavo (7 ¾ x 4 ¾ inches; 197 x 121mm). Pp. [i-viii]; 1-199 + 1 p. of publisher’s advertisements.Contemporary paneled calf.

Condition: contents excellent; binding with spine chipped,  corners rubbed, joints split.

Provenance: E.J. Curteis (1762-1835, Windmill Place, Hailsham, Sussex, signature, blindstamp to title and following leaf)

First edition of this work on the legal side of land management, with appropriate provenance: Edward Jeremiah Curteis served as a Member of Parliament for Sussex from 1820 to 1830. ‘Land in Romney Marsh came via his marriage to an heiress, and by 1834 he was listed as a major landowner in 12 parishes in the rape of Pevensey. Lord Sheffield recognized his upward mobility in 1820, describing him as ‘a useful country gentleman of a family rather above the yeomanry, very rich’. His contributions to such publications as the Gentleman’s Magazine, usually on topics of antiquarian interest, demonstrated that he had literary pretensions too, and he was fond of parading his classical scholarship’ (History of Parliament Online).

The title is now misleading as the word ‘sewer’ is used here in its original sense,  meaning a watercourse or channel for fresh water and is nothing to do with the disposal of effluent. The main thrust of this work is to provide legal guidance on the law as it related to the establishment and maintenance of sea defences, flood protection, coastal drainage and wetland reclamation. A second edition was published in 1732.

Goldsmiths’, 6437; Hanson, 3576.