The Psalms of David, imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian State and Worship bound with Hymns and Spiritual Songs ... The fortieth edition, corrected, and accommodated to the use of the Church of Christ in America
- 325, [11]pp. 12mo
- Newburyport, MA: Printed and sold by John Mycall, 1781
Newburyport, MA: Printed and sold by John Mycall, 1781. First edition with Mycall's revisions, removing references to Great Britain or the King. 325, [11]pp. 12mo. Bound to style in full calf, spine with raised bands, red morocco lettering piece. Minor dampstaining. First edition with Mycall's revisions, removing references to Great Britain or the King. 325, [11]pp. 12mo. In 1781, following the American victory in Yorktown and with Robert Aitken in Philadelphia publishing the first edition of the Bible in English in the United States, printer John Mycall in Newburyport published an unusual edition of the Watts's Psalms, with all references to Great Britain and the King removed to make it more patable to the nascent United States.
Ezra Stiles noted in his diary: "This year has been published the fortieth Edition of Dr. Watts's Psalms: it was printed at Newburyport in Massachusetts by Mr. Mycall, Printer. He with the Advice & Assist of neighbors ministers & others, has made some Alterations in Psalms where G. Britain is mentioned, & references to the King of Gt. Britain — as in the 75th Psalm. At first it may seem as if these alterations were many: however they really are but few. Thus the Ps. Book is well adapted to the Ch in America" (The Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles [New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1901] vol. II, p. 571).
"One can readily reproduce in imagination the anxious but fervid consultations of Mr. Mycall's committee and the scrutiny by approving eyes throughout New England of the results of their patriotic labors. Their book is indeed a precious memorial of the times. Yet one cannot but find his sense of humor appealed to by this patriotic necessity of getting King George well out of King David's Psalms. Why indeed had he ever got in?" (Benson).
As Stiles noted above, perhaps the most obvious of the changes made by Mycall was to Psalm 75, which had been titled by Watts: "Power and government from God alone. Apply'd to the Glorious Revolution by King WILLIAM, or the Happy Accession of King GEORGE to the Throne." Mycall altered the title to read: "Power and government from God alone. Applied to the glorious revolution in America, July 4th 1776." In addition, the second verse was rewritten as "America was doom'd a slave, / Her frame dissolv'd, her fears were great ; / When God a right'ous council gave, / To bear the pillars of the state."
Other changes include the removal of references to Great Britain in Psalm XXI ("our States"); Psalm XLVII ("These ransom'd States"); Psalm LXVII ("ye rescu'd States"); Psalm LX ("New England"); Psalm LXXV ("America"); and Psalm CXLVII ("Columb'a").
Rare in commerce. Evans 17098; ESTC W4426. See Benson, L. The American revisions of Watts's Psalms (Philadelphia, 1903)
Ezra Stiles noted in his diary: "This year has been published the fortieth Edition of Dr. Watts's Psalms: it was printed at Newburyport in Massachusetts by Mr. Mycall, Printer. He with the Advice & Assist of neighbors ministers & others, has made some Alterations in Psalms where G. Britain is mentioned, & references to the King of Gt. Britain — as in the 75th Psalm. At first it may seem as if these alterations were many: however they really are but few. Thus the Ps. Book is well adapted to the Ch in America" (The Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles [New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1901] vol. II, p. 571).
"One can readily reproduce in imagination the anxious but fervid consultations of Mr. Mycall's committee and the scrutiny by approving eyes throughout New England of the results of their patriotic labors. Their book is indeed a precious memorial of the times. Yet one cannot but find his sense of humor appealed to by this patriotic necessity of getting King George well out of King David's Psalms. Why indeed had he ever got in?" (Benson).
As Stiles noted above, perhaps the most obvious of the changes made by Mycall was to Psalm 75, which had been titled by Watts: "Power and government from God alone. Apply'd to the Glorious Revolution by King WILLIAM, or the Happy Accession of King GEORGE to the Throne." Mycall altered the title to read: "Power and government from God alone. Applied to the glorious revolution in America, July 4th 1776." In addition, the second verse was rewritten as "America was doom'd a slave, / Her frame dissolv'd, her fears were great ; / When God a right'ous council gave, / To bear the pillars of the state."
Other changes include the removal of references to Great Britain in Psalm XXI ("our States"); Psalm XLVII ("These ransom'd States"); Psalm LXVII ("ye rescu'd States"); Psalm LX ("New England"); Psalm LXXV ("America"); and Psalm CXLVII ("Columb'a").
Rare in commerce. Evans 17098; ESTC W4426. See Benson, L. The American revisions of Watts's Psalms (Philadelphia, 1903)