The Friend of Peace ... by Philo Pacificus
Boston: West & Richardson; Joseph T. Buckingham; & Cambridge: Hilliard & Metcalf, 1817-1821. Ten issues in all, 8vo, the first two issues with some worming; all else generally very good in original printed blue wrappers. Worcester (1758-1837) was a fifer in the Revolution and later a clergyman who "came to regard war, whether offensive or defensive, as unjustifiable" (see DAB). A pioneer of the American peace movement, in December 1814, he published A Solemn Review of the Custom of War (under the pen-name Philo Pacificus), "still considered one of the best pieces of anti-war literature ever committed to print, and as relevant today as then. In 1815, he founded the Massachusetts Peace Society, serving as its secretary until 1828. From 1819 to 1828 he tirelessly edited The Friend of Peace, a quarterly periodical of the Society, as well as wrote most of its content. In 1828, the Massachusetts Peace Society merged with the newly formed American Peace Society" (Wikipedia). Among the contributors, besides Worcester himself, are Thomas Jefferson and John Jay (each contributing letters), William Cowper (a poem "Pity for Poor Africans"); and extracts from William Penn and Benjamin Franklin, etc. Most inside front wrappers and the back wrappers are generally advertising Worcester's text books (geographies, spellers, gazetteers, etc.), as well as other books published by West & Richardson, Joseph T. Buckingham, and Cummings & Hilliard. Present in this gathering are: Vol. VIII - XII (Boston, 1817-1818); Vol. II, nos. 3-5 (Cambridge, 1819); Vol. II, no. 12 an Vol. III, no. 1 (Cambridge, 1821). Several of the issues bear the ownership signature of the deacon and sawyer Eleazar Spofford, for whom see Wikitree.com. Item #57146
Price: $300.00
