1773 SERMONS TO ASSES. American Revolutionary Satire Owned by "The Fighting Quaker" of the Revolution.

An important pre-Revolutionary American imprint of James Murray's anti-establishment "sermons," aimed at chiding and satirizing the political and religious power establishment of England, especially as it related to their propensity to oppress dissent. This copy of particular interest, bearing the signature of Christopher Marshall [1709-1797], influential Philadelphia leader during the War of the Revolution.

Marshall was an Irish born, emigrating to Philadelphia and becoming an influential local chemist. As the Revolutionary spirit swelled, he, contra most Quakers, felt the cause just enough to warrant military action and joined in, becoming known as "The Fighting Quaker." It may well be the present work that in part helped radicalize him against the oppression of King George and the British.

His war-time diary, first published in 1839, and containing first-hand accounts of George Washington and many significant events of the War, is considered one of the most significant first hand resources of the conflagration. 

[Quaker - American Revolution - Anti-Clerical]. Murray, James. Sermons to Doctors in Divinity; being the Second Volume of Sermons to Asses. Philadelphia. Re-printed, and sold by John Dunlap. in Market-Street. 1773. 144p.

Good + in 20th century buckram, with the signature of Christopher Marshall, minor ex library notations on title, stain to lower corner, not infringing on text. Some light chipping and pages a bit brittle.