Lot 1218

THOMAS PRENTICE'S THANKSGIVING SERMON FOR THE TAKING OF CAPE BRETON

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THOMAS PRENTICE'S THANKSGIVING SERMON FOR THE TAKING OF CAPE BRETON

Estimate: $300 - $500

Current Bid: $140

(1 Bid)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

THOMAS PRENTICE'S THANKSGIVING SERMON FOR THE TAKING OF CAPE BRETON
Rare imprint: 'A Sermon Preached at Charlestown on a General Thanksgiving, July 18, 1745 for the Reduction of Cape-Breton, by an Army of New-England Volunteers, Under the Command of the Honourable William Pepperell, Esq., Lieutenant-General and Commander in Chief. With the Assistance of a British Squadron, commanded by Peter Warren, Esq...' (Boston: Rogers and Fowle), 1745. 40pp. 8vo., bound in quarter blue leather with gilt title to spine, marbled endpapers. Some surface chipping to edge of spine, otherwise fine. Rev. Thomas Prentice's sermon for the taking of Cape Breton, delivered on July 18, 1745, celebrated the successful New England capture of the French fortress of Louisbourg. In the sermon, Prentice praised the volunteers, viewing the victory as a testament to divine providence and Protestant deliverance. It was preached at Charlestown, Massachusetts, during a day of public thanksgiving ordered by Governor William Shirley following the surrender of the Cape Breton fortress. He specifically honored the army led by Lieutenant-General William Pepperrell, backed by the British squadron under Commodore Peter Warren. Prentice drew heavily on the Old Testament, utilizing verses from 2 Chronicles and Judges (particularly the story of Deborah and Barak) to frame the colonial victory against French 'unrighteous enemies'. He emphasized that human bravery was secondary to the intervention of God, who guided the New England forces to victory against impossible odds.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000