Mémoire sur les moyens de corriger les malfaiteurs et fainéans à leur propre avantage et de les rendre utiles à l'Etat, proposé à l'Assemblée des députés [...] & présenté au Corps & Administrations des Etats de Flandres au mois de janvier 1775.

4to: [6]-268 pp.

Contemp. quarter sheep (corners rubbed & bumped), gilt flat spine (joints splitting), brown leather title label. Good copy.

First edition of this very innovative work for the era, by the Viscount Vilain XIIII (Aalst 1712-1777 Wetteren), enlightened economist, mayor of Aalst and Ghent and president of the States of Flanders. Complete with the 4 engr. double-page plates showing groundplans and facades of the early correctional facility in Ghent, the so-called "Rasphuis" (built in 1775). In this book, the author proposes to abolish corporal punishment and suggests the construction of prisons where the inmates are put to work and are trained for a profession, with a view to their release from prison and their return into society. For the architecture of the building, he advocates a radial design, which will greatly influence later French and American prisons.
Ref. Bibl. gant. III:445. - Conlon 75:1743.
Prov. Old ownership entries on title erased, i.a. "Appartient à Madame la Comtesse de Baillet Latour".