London : Printed for the Author; and Sold by W. Flexney, near Gray’s-Inn Gate, Holborn. 1763. 4to, [4], 62pp, 1 leaf, [5], 68-102, 105-126pp, [5], 128-213, [1]pp, [A]2, B-Q2, R2+2, (R2 blank) S-Z2, Aa-Ii2+2, Kk-Zz2, Aaa-Hhh2, four books in one volume, separate title-pages to Books 3 and 4, uncut, cased in antique-style grey paper boards.
All four books are signed and paginated continuously. The separate titlepages to Books 3 and 4 are as follows :- Book III. The Second Edition, with Additions. London. Printed for the Author; and Sold by W. Flexney... 1763, and Book IV. London: Printed for J. Coote... W. Flexney... G. Kearsley... T. Henderson... J. Gardner... and J. Almon... 1763. Book IV is in first edition.
The subject of this satirical poem is the Cock Lane Ghost, a famous fraud in which the ghost of Mrs. Kent was said to have appeared in Cock Lane, Smithfield. Doctor Johnson took an interest in it and is savagely attacked under the name “Pomposo (insolent and loud)” (p.55 et seq.)
Reference: ESTC T74515, N7618, T9714 Courtney & Smith pps 100 & 104