Mémoire historique politique et critique sur les constitutions, la religion, & les droits de la nation belgique, avec des recherches sur l'origine des villes qui doivent leur existence & leur accroissement au clergé séculier & régulier [...].

Large 8vo: 235 [= 135]-[1] pp. (sl. soiling on title, some waterstains).

19th c. half dark blue three-quarter shagreen, marbled paper on boards, gilt filleted spine with raised bands, gilt crowned cypher on the central compartment, marbled edges (sl. rubbed).

First edition of this work exceptionally written in French by the Flemish author and historiographer Verhoeven (1738-1809), cloth merchant in Mechelen. After the Austrian restoration, he disavowed this anti-Josephist and anti-Encyclopedist text, in which he praised the benefits of cloisters and abbeys in the history of the Southern Netherlands.
ref. De Theux 744-745. - Biogr. nat. XXVI:651-653. - Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging II:1766-1768.
Prov. Prince Philippe of Belgium (1837-1905), Count of Flanders, brother of King Leopold II and father of King Albert I (supralibros). - [Goffinet].