Beschreibung:

The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin before an August Assembly, relating to the Repeal of the Stamp-Act, &c. [caption title].
Philadelphia: Hall & Sellers, 1766]. Octavo (8x5 inches, 202x125 mm). Modern morocco-backed marbled paper boards. Condition: Minor foxing and small chips to corners, early ink numerical notation on the first leaf and “Franklin” on the terminal leaf. first edition of the transcript of franklin’s 13 february 1766 testimony before the house of commons which led to the repeal of the stamp act. Edmund Burke later referred to the 170 questions posed to Franklin as the “examination of the master by the schoolboys.” His performance, and this widely-printed though now scarce pamphlet, cemented Franklin's stature as the pre-eminent American patriot. Among the exchanges between the examiners and Franklin: “Q. What used to be the pride of the Americans? A. To indulge in the fashions and manufactures of Great-Britain. Q. What is now their pride? A. To wear their old cloaths over again, till they can make new ones” ( page 16 ). Hall & Sellers received the transcript of Franklin's testimony from William Strahan, the London printer and close friend of Franklin. In a letter to Hall dated 10 May 1766, Strahan writes that he got the transcript from the Clerk of the House “with great difficulty & with some expense” and advises on how it should be published. Hall & Sellers issued the pamphlet without a title page or references to its source (indeed the House of Commons is referred to as the August Assembly) to protect Strahan’s identity and to keep themselves out of trouble for violating copyright or libel laws. Adams, American Independence 31a; Adams, American Controversy 66-25a; Evans 10300; Ford 290; Howes F319; Sabin 25501.