America's Founding Father George Washington Mourned By The Nation -- Dr. Osgood's 1799 Sermon

GEORGE WASHINGTON (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was a Founding Father and the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Prior to his presidency, he led Patriot forces to victory in the nation’s War of Independence. He presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which established the U.S. Constitution and a federal government. Washington has been referred to as Father of His Country for his manifold leadership in the formative days of the new nation. 

Offering a 19 pp, printed period copy of Dr. David Osgood’s Sermon on The Death of General Washington, delivered on December 29, 1799, two weeks after Washington’s death, and printed by Samuel Hall of Boston in 1800. Full title: “A Discourse, delivered December 29, 1799, The Lord’s-Day Immediately Following The Melancholy Tidings Of The Loss Sustained By The Nation In The Death Of Its Most Eminent Citizen, George Washington, Who departed this life on the 14^th Instant, At 68.” The inside cover page notes that the discourse was “published in compliance with a vote of the town [Medford, MA], to furnish each family with a copy, together with the Farewell Address of the late President, in one book.  The farewell address isn’t contained with the discourse as it must have been printed and provided separately.

The sermon begins, “Know ye not there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? You cannot hear these words, my Brethren, without thinking of an event, which, as the tidings of it fly from one messenger to another, from one city to another, and from one state to another, spreads a gloom throughout this widely extended continent, and throws a whole nation into the deepest mourning…Washington is dead. What concern and grief overwhelm the minds of all virtuous citizens!  In our American Israel is fallen a prince…”

Beautifully stitched with period thread.

Foxing, expected soiling, but generally clean pages. Very readable and a phenomenal example of early American history directly relating to America’s Founding Father.

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