Smith, William:

$400 · Offered by William Reese Company

A SERMON ON THE PRESENT SITUATION OF AMERICAN AFFAIRS. PREACHED IN CHRIST-CHURCH, JUNE 23, 1775. AT THE REQUEST OF THE OFFICERS OF THE THIRD BATTALION OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, AND DISTRICT OF ... The second London edition, following the Philadelphia, 1775, first edition. An important sermon, delivered shortly after the Battle of Bunker Hill. Its author, William Smith (1727-1803), was an Anglican clergyman, teacher, and first provost of the College, Academy, and Charitable School of Philadelphia. Although Smith opposed the Stamp Act and argued strongly for full rights and representation of the American colonies, he did not favor independence - a position that placed him, at the outset of the Revolution, in "an embarrassing predicament" (DAB). The present sermon, preached before Congress at Christ Church, Philadelphia, June 28, 1775, "...created a great sensation. It went through many editions and was translated into several foreign languages. It opposed British measures and awakened patriotism, but in its preface Smith professed himself as 'ardently panting for a return of those Halcyon-days of harmony' and as 'animated with purest zeal for the mutual interests of Great-Britain and the Colonies'" (DAB).Smith's sermon was very popular - AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE lists fifteen issues and editions of this text for 1775.

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