The Ladies' Philosophy of Love: A Poem, in Four Cantos. Written in 1774.

Full calf 8vo, 76pp. A Fair but complete copy: front board hanging by a cord, dampstaining to the lower half of the volume, half-inch loss to the spine ends. Ownership signature of Mary Stearns (relation unknown) in the uppermost right corner of (iii) but nearly chipped away--and an inscription/catch phrase, "-e generous," also clipped at the upper corner of the last page. First two text leaves chipped 1/8-inch down the foredge, narrowly missing the title text; old paper repair to the verso of the title page and closed tear at the center affecting the first 30 or so pages, possibly torn before being bound. Sabin 90855; Evans 32876.

Stearns (1753-1826) was a Unitarian minister, born in Leominster and graduated from Harvard. The preface identifies the poem as his response as a young man (over 20 years before publication) to a young woman's observation, "That nothing could be more useful to young Ladies than to know precisely the sentiments of the young Gentlemen concerning them." Suggesting that since young women cannot be kept "in ignorance of love-matters" and their "curiosity will be perverted by the silly Novels, which make a part of circulating libraries," his reply is supposed to enlighten them on "the natural principle of Love," including "the accomplishments of women as amiable objects" and "the means by which they keep men's affections," etc. (iii-iv)