Plain truth; addressed to the inhabitants of America : containing, remarks on a late pamphlet, entitled Common sense: Wherein are shewn, that the scheme of independence is ruinous, delusive, and impracticable: that were the author's asseverations, respecting the power of America, as real as nugatory; reconcilliation on liberal principles with Great Britain, would be exalted policy: and that circumstanced as we are, permanent liberty, and true happiness, can only be obtained by honorable connections, with that kingdom. / written by Candidus.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chalmers, James, 1727?-1806.

Contributor:

Rationalis.

Smith, William, 1727-1803.

Chalmers, George, 1742-1825.

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804.

Dickinson, John, 1732-1808, dedicatee.

Bell, Robert, 1732?-1784, bookseller.

Culture Class Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

American Culture Class Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Politics and government--1775-1783.

United States.

Politics and government.

United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.

History.

Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. Common sense.

Paine, Thomas.

Penn Provenance:

Vroom, Peter D. (Peter Dumont), 1745-1831 (autograph) (Culture Class Collection copy)

Physical Description:

84, that is, 92 pages, 2 unnumbered pages ; 22 cm (8vo)

Fingerprint:

psas hes, o-O- habe (7) 1776 (R)

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia : Printed, and sold, by R. Bell, in Third-street, MDCCLXXVI [1776]

Notes:

Pages 65-72 misnumbered 57-64; p. 81-92 misnumbered as 73-84.

First edition. cf. "Memorandum" on verso of last prelim. leaf. "Only a small number being printed of this first edition ..."

Attributed to James Chalmers. Cf. Bristol.

Erroneously attributed to William Smith, George Chalmers, Alexander Hamilton, and others.--Cf. ESTC.

Ford assigns "Plain truth" to Dr. William Smith, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, because of the extract by "Cato," confessedly his, finding additional evidence in "Oliver Ellsworth's [read Oliver Wolcott's] copy ... now in the Library of Congress", on the t.-p. of which "is noted in the handwriting of its former owner, 'By William Smith'" [read Doct. Smith of Phila.]

A reply to Common sense signed "Rationalis": p. [75]-78. [i.e. 75-86].

"Extract from the second letter to the people of Pennsylvania; being that part of it which relates to independency. By a writer under the signature of "Cato" (pseud. of Rev. William Smith): p. [79]-84 [i.e. 87-92].

Dedicated to John Dickinson.

Four states noted by Adams, who describes an additional three states as issued with "Additions to Plain truth."--Cf. his "Authorship and printing of Plain truth by 'Candidus"'. Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 49 (1955) : 230-248.

Signatures: [A]⁴ B-K⁴ L⁴(-L4) M⁴.

"The printer to the public: on the freedom of the press."--p. [1-2]. With a bookseller's advertisement, p. [2].

Local Notes:

Culture Class Collection copy has ms. autograph of Peter D. Vroom, dated 1777, on title page.

Cited in:

Bristol, B4189

Sabin, 84642

Evans, 15088

Hildeburn, C.R. Pennsylvania, 3345

OCLC:

55699448