An Anglo-Jewish cause célèbre involving the wealthy Anglo-Jewish Portuguese trading dynasty of Mendes Da Costa. The matter being tested at law was a supposed marriage contract between Catherine Da Costa Villa Real, and her first cousin Jacob, alias Philip Mendes Da Costa. Both residents of London, the case involved secret correspondence delivered by servants, the disapproval of Catherine's father, bribery and financial inducements to tradesmen, and a whole catalogue of deception, and broken promises. The court eventually found in Catherine's favour.

It has been suggested that Jacob Mendez da Costa was the inspiration for the Jewish caricature in the second scene of Hogarth's Harlot's Progress (1732).

First edition, 8vo; engraved portrait frontispiece, engraved emblematic vignette of heart and snake to title; scattered light foxing, very minor marginal dampstaining to few first and last pages, contemporary calf neatly rebacked; stamps of the Birmingham Law Society to title and to some of the inner pages, bookplate to front pastedown. [viii], 408 pp.

ESTC T124075; Roth (Bibl. Anglo-Judaica), p. 249, 11.