The fable of the bees, or, Private vices, publick benefits : containing, several discourses, to demonstrate, that human frailties, during the degeneracy of mankind, may be turn'd to the advantage of the civil society, and made to supply the place of moral virtues.

After nearly 60 years of collecting, Sid Lapidus ’59 has presented to the Library more than 2700 volumes representing the fruits of his enthusiasm. Broadly conceived, the collection charts the definition and re-definiton of rights and liberties endemic to Western political traditions. The main focus is texts and documents relating to the American Revolution, its run-up dating back to the Commonwealth men, and coming down to documents of the early Federal government.