A New Method of teaching the Italian Tongue to Ladies and Gentlemen. Wherein all the Difficulties are explain'd, in such a Manner, that every one, by it, may attain the Italian Tongue to Perfection, with a marvellous Facility, and in a very short Time
London: Printed by E. Everingham at the Author's Expences, and sold by James Round, Joseph Archez, and by the Bookseller in St Tames's Street, 1709. 8vo. [2], iv, [2], 102 pages. Contemporary panelled calf. Provenance: ownership inscription of Edw. Chamberlayne. Slightly browned, marginal wormtrack at the end, touching a few words; several lines scratched out on p. 69, perhaps where the content ('Expressions of Kindness') was deemed inappropriate; else a very good copy, the binding rubbed, joints cracked. Item #409890
First and only edition, very rare, the only publication by Casotti, 'Italian Minister, and Professor', dedicated to Henry Petty, Baron Shelburne, (1675-1751) but printed at the author's expense. A pronunciation guide and simplified grammar is followed by Familiar Words and Phrases (pp. 63-72), fifteen Dialogues (pp. 72-97) and twelve 'pleasant and facetious stories' (pp. 98-102). The Dialogues includes one between and Italian gentleman and an English coachman ('Will you take Eighteen Pence? / Indeed I cannot. 'Tis not enough.); one on how to enquire about news ('There's talk of a Siege. They speak that the Duke of Marlborough has beaten the French Army'); one between two English girls learning Italian ('Is not the Italian tongue very fine? ... / 'Tis very Modish among the Nobility / All the Ladies, in this time learn Italian'; and one between two English travellers, discussing Rome and Venice. A gentleman in one dialogue is studying with Casotti - 'a good Master, a very able Man in his Profession'; and Casotti appears himself in another, discussing the merits of England and her Queen with a pupil.
Henry Petty, son of Sir William Petty, and later first Earl of Shelburne, was apparently a former pupil of Casotti, of whom we can find only scattered record. In 1711 he was advertising in The Spectator for a five-o'clock Sunday service in Italian conducted by him in the Oxenden Chapel near Haymarket. If the New Method proved successful (it clearly did not), Casotti promised here 'another Piece of my Labours' (unspecified) and 'after that a Great Dictionary in two Parts'. Neither were published.
ESTC list two copies only: BL and Christ Church Oxford.
Alston XII, Italian 36.
Price: $3,000.00