Here is a wonderful piece of Americana! A 1779 important American Revolutionary unpublished manuscript fast day sermon for the repentance of the nation and the success of the American Military against the British.

Titled in an 18^th Century Hand: “All Day – At Hampton – Public Fast Appointed by ye Continental Congress thro’out Ye States. April 22, 1778.”

Attributed in a small pencil hand on the rear as being by Samuel Langdon of Hampton, N.H. It is largely composed of an imaginative retelling of the entire account of the book of Jonah, with special emphasis on the repentance of the Ninevites and God’s gracious preservation of the nation. This is directly and immediately applied to the plight of the American “States” and the ongoing War with Great Britain. See the extracts below. An exceptional piece of Americana.

Samuel Langdon (1723-1797) was the thirteenth President of Harvard College from October 14, 1774 to August 30, 1780 and presided over the college during the American Revolution. Originally a Congregational clergyman from Boston, Mass, he served first in Portsmouth, N.H., and then as chaplain for the New Hampshire regiment at Louisbourg. He was elected president of Harvard College in 1774. He acted as president for six tense and restless years. Afterward, he served as pastor at Hampton Falls, N.H. In 1788, he was a member of the New Hampshire Convention for ratifying the federal constitution. The present was preached during his tenure as President probably while visiting home and perhaps in preparing for his move to Hampton shortly thereafter.

16.5pp MSs with 13.5pp full.

Text: Jonah 3.5-10 [KJV]

Printed on “Pro Patria” laid paper in ready use in the colonies of the 1770’s and 80’s. It was a Dutch paper imported to the American market under the “Pro Patria” label with variations of the watermark, but usually including the Maid of Dort surrounded by a fence and the text, “Pro Patria.” The present an interesting variant with the addition of a bell below the Maid and fence. It was often imported under violation of the British import licenses and was in high use for the publication of pamphlets of the American Revolution, etc. Benjamin Franklin’s Meredith was printed on the paper as were most of his personal letters, etc.,

EXTRACTS:

“Things have looked dark – but light begins to arise – we have very lately had agreeable tidings from France. It is said they have acknowledged our Independency & opened a free Trade with us & that all the Powers of Europe are friendly. We have likewise intelligence that Britain are about sending commissioners to treaty with us & to press an end to the war provided we relinquish our Independency. But surely we can never be united with Britain again. We can never come under the powers which have treated us thus barbarously.

May God overrule all things for his glory & our best good & may Peace be restored upon honourable terms.”

“Many thing we may gather from it [the account of Nineveh’s fast], very proper to be insisted on upon this Day – On this Day, I saw, wherein after the example of the Ninevites  the whole people of the land, the large extended Continent, by Proclamation of the Congress of these States are met together, ‘To humble ourselves before Almighty God for our manifold sins & to supplicate his Divine Majesty for the Pardon of them & the Preservation of us from the Hans of our Enemies by protecting our Land & giving happy success to our arms, both by sea and land.”

“Let us look to God that He would direct in forming the Government of the State & Settle all affairs necessary relating to it. May God be with those who may be called to this important Trust & by the influences of His Spirit direct all the Counsels & Resolutions for the Glory of His Name & the Safety & Happiness of the State.”