ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE PHILADELPHIA HOSE COMPANY, ON THE 47TH ANNIVERSARY, HELD AT THE COLUMBIA HOUSE, ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 16, 1850.

Philadelphia: 1851. Bound in modern plain wrappers. 19, [1] pp. Light wear and spotting. Cut at page 11 of "the first hose carriage in the United States." Good+.

A detailed discussion of the development of apparatus and associations to combat fire in Philadelphia, with an attractive rendering of the "Original Hose Carriage" and a description of it. Vaux emphasizes the philosophic significance of voluntary associations in the Hose Company's development. "To protect the property of the inhabitants against fire, became an important object, and the public mind was sensitive on the subject. The government formed by the opinions of the colonists, was prevented from all action not expressly prohibited. Too much government had made them Exiles-- the people were to be free, and with that freedom came self-reliance, and that begot individual associations for numerous purposes. It was among the first Americanisms. Voluntary Associations were the creatures of free opinions, among free men, upon free soil."
FIRST EDITION. Not in Sabin, Eberstadt, Decker or, evidently NUC, which records Vaux's 1854 History of the Company. Item #13083

Price: $250.00

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