A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE HIS EXCELLENCY FRANCIS BERNARD, ESQ; GOVERNOR, HIS HONOR THOMAS HUTCHINSON ESQ; LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, THE HONOURABLE HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL, AND THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETS-BAY IN NEW ENGLAND, MAY 25TH. 1768. BEING THE ANIVERSARY FOR THE ELECTION OF HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL FOR SAID PROVINCE. (INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR)
Boston, Mass: Printed by Richard Draper, Printer to His Excellency the Governor, and the Honorable His Majesty's Council, 1768. First Edition, with misprinted date to title page. Stitched Pamphlet. Election sermon. Sewn as issued. Octavo, 7.75 in. x 5.25 in., pp. [5], 6-70, [2]. Inscribed by the author on the half title. Printer's copyright error to title page. Original half title and double-blank leaf at end. With errata on p. 70. Original wraps with "Mr. Shute's Election-Sermon, May 25. 1768." to half title. Ink stamp (dated 1913) to top of half title and rear cover page. Speckling, vertical tideline, and two-inch closed tear with wrinkles to half title. Embossed impression of Historical Genealogical Society on title page. Presentation card from the Genealogical Society laid in on rear endpaper. Math notes on rear cover. Light spotting through page 8, and light vertical tideline from p. 48 to end. Text is clear and sharp.
Printer Richard Draper made a major typographical error on the title page of this first printing of this 1768 pamphlet. The Roman numerals for the year were printed as MDCCXLVIII (1748) instead of MDCCLXVIII (1768). Subsequent editions were corrected.
Evans 11071. Sabin 80802. Good Plus. Item #100701
The inscription on the half title reads: "Caleb Fuller's / The Gift of the Author." Caleb Fuller may refer to Rev. Caleb Fuller (1735-1815), who lived in Middleton (Connecticut) and Hanover (New Hampshire), and who served as Deacon of the College Church at Dartmouth College.
This sermon was delivered during a period of intense friction between British colonial authorities and Massachusetts colonists, right around the time occupying British troops were being requested and resistance to the Townshend Acts was mounting. Shute’s address pointedly discusses civil liberties, governance, and the mutual duties of rulers and the ruled, famously noting that political happiness relies on just governance and the voluntary participation of society.
Price: $3,000.00