William Currie | A Treatise On the Lawfulness of Defensive War

William Currie

A Treatise On the Lawfulness of Defensive War. In Two Parts. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin and D. Hall, at the New Printing-Office, in Market-Street, MDCCXLVIII (1748)

2 parts in one, 8vo (198 x 124 mm, uncut). Lightly browned, scattered foxing primarily to margins, a few stray spots. Stitched self-wrappers as issued; lower corner of title-page torn not affecting text, title slightly foxed and soiled. Brown cloth slipcase, chemise.

Scarce Franklin imprint of Currie's well-crafted justification of military self-defense, in as-issued condition.

The present work follows a series of publications by Franklin supporting a volunteer association for defense, which began with Plain Truth in 1747. William Currie here argues that war against foreign powers is compatible with Christian teachings in situations of self-defense, in response to the Quaker John Smith's The Doctrine of Christianity ... Vindicated (1748), which preached pacifism on religious grounds. The moral debate came to a head as colonists began to fret over conflict with foreign privateers off the coast of Delaware and indigenous groups along the frontier. Currie broadened the imperative of his perspective in his preface: "The Cause in Debate between us is of very great Consequence; it concerns the whole Christian World in general, and this unhappy Province in particular."

REFERENCES

Miller 436; ESTC W29570; Evans 6120; Hildeburn 1055; Sabin 17999a