JOHN TWEDDELL: PROLUSIONES JUVENILES PRAEMIS ACADEMICIS DIGNATAE. LONDON 1793 First edition, in 8vo, later leather over contemporary boards, text clean and bright, complete title, [8], 248p., additionally 4 CONTEMPORARY MANUSCTIPT LETTERS (dated 1802-1810) tipped in, ownership manuscript inscription on front past down of William St Clair, leading Hellenist, overall in almost fine condition and with fine provenance. Tweddell (1769-1799) is a famous figure in history. Educated in Greek at Cambridge travelled in Greece in the late 1790s and stayed in Athens where he died while documenting the antiquities of the city. He was buried in the Theseion (Θησείο),his grave was a source of great interest for later travelers like Byron. His extensive collection of journals, drawings and maps of Greece disappeared. His family accused Lord Elgin and this sparked a major scandal in the early 19th century. The book is written in Greek, latin and English (most poems in Greek). It consist of elegant poems,essays and orations that won him almost every academic prize available at Cambridge. It showcase the Greek classical perfection expected by a highly educated English. It reflects Enlightenment thinking and a deep passion for Hellenism. The four tipped in manuscripts referred all directly or indirectly to him: An eulogy written in 1802, a second manuscript with mention of the death of Tweddell in 25th of July 1799 in the house of Logotheti, the English agent in Athens, that his belongings were transmitted to Mr Smith in a box signed by Logothetis, Mr Smith and Proffessor Carlyle lived also in Logothetis house, but finally that they remained under the attention of Lord Elgin and further information (this one with date 1810), a third one manuscript note of the time and a forth, a letter possibly from Athens (with contemporary stamp of receipt in England) difficult readable but with mention to Fauvel (the French consul) and other Greek references. There is no doubt that this extraordinary assembly for Tweddell draw the attention of William St Clair, the best specialist on the Elgin marbles of Parthenon in late 20th century. A book reference of Philhellenism coupled with contemporary manuscripts on Tweddell.