The Duties of a Soldier, illustrated and enforced in a Sermon, preached at the Consecration of the Colours of the Somerset Light Dragoons, On Wednesday, the 6th. of August, 1794, in the Church of St. Mary Magdalen, Taunton.

Author: 
Rev. John Gardiner, Curate of the Church of St Mary Magdalen, Taunton, and Rector of Brailsford, &c. in the County of Derby [Somerset Light Dragoons; British Army]
Publication details: 
Published at the Request of the Corps. Taunton: Printed by J. Poole; sold by Him, and E. and S. Hassums; Sold also by Messrs. Rivingtons, St. Paul's Church Yard; Stockdale, Piccadilly; Richardson, Cornhill; and J. Downes, Temple-Bar, London. 1794.
£250.00
SKU: 7411

4to: 37 pp. Unbound. Stitched as issued. Text clear and entire on discoloured paper worn at the extremities. Central closed tears to the last four leaves, the closed tear to the last leaf being repaired with archival tape on the blank reverse. A production over which the author has taken great care, he having added two autograph footnotes, one of three lines and the other of two, on p.34. Note on p.37: 'The extraordinary length of this Discourse, being more than double that of Sermons usually printed, is the reason for its being sold at the additional price of one half. [i.e. 1s 6d]' Full-page 27-line dedication 'To The Right Honourable John Earl Poulett, Viscount Hinton'. 'Advertisement' on pp.iii-iv, beginning 'THE Author is fearful that the following Discourse will lose in the Closet much of that warm approbation with which it was honoured on delivery from the Pulpit.' Letter to the author, p.vi, from William Roberts, Lieutenant and Adjutant, Somerset Light Cavalry, dated 'Taunton, Aug. 10th. 1794.', beginning 'EARL POULLETT and the Officers of the Somerset Light Dragoons desire you to accept their thanks for the very excellent Discourse, which you did them the honour to deliver at their request'. High Tory in tone, as the following indicates: 'Probably many of you, My Brethren, may have heard of a doctrine somewhat dissimilar to this - a doctrine which it was left for Traitors and Infidels to promulgate, and which has been productive of the most calamitous effects - I mean that of liberty and equality.' Long footnote, pp.20-21, following on from a passage in the text describing how France, 'A Nation, once renowned for its high degree of civilization and refinement, has, in deliberate acts of injustice, usurpation and cruelty, surpassed even the wildest and most ferocious Savages.' The footnote attacks Daniel Stuart, 'Mr. Sheridan and several other well-known Friends of the People' and 'that distinguished Partriot and enlightened Philosopher, Mr. Burke'. Scarce: no copy in the British Library and the only copies on COPAC at the Bodleian and the National Library of Scotland (although the latter may be a surrogate).