SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF BISHOP GADSDEN. [Cover and caption title]

New Haven: T.J. Stafford, Printer, 1853. 8vo. 16 pages. Original printed wraps; stitching renewed. 23 x 15 cm. Spine is worn and split at head and tail; large chip, tears, and creases to unprinted rear wrap; shallow chip to final leaf, in no way affecting text; vertical fold throughout. Fair to good only, although complete and fairly clean. Provenance: Presentation inscription on the front wrap and CONTEMPORARY MARGINALIA ON SEVERAL PAGES BY A LADY OF CHARLESTON, Mrs. J.F. Edwards. This was Sarah Amelia Screven Edwards (1822-1855) of Charleston, a close relation of Bishop Gadsden by marriage. Her husband, James F. Edwards (1819-1862) was the nephew of Bishop Gadsden and shared two notable ancestors with him: Charleston mayor, John Edwards, and patriot, Gen. Christopher Gadsden. In one of her marginal notes, Mrs. Edwards outlines some of these family ties. She also mentions Rev. William Bell White Howe (1823-1894), the future Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina, and comments on Bishop Gadsden's daughter ("a very pretty girl, of a lovely character"). FIRST EDITION. This short biography was originally printed in “The Church Review” of the same year. It includes a discussion of Bishop Gadsden's ministry to slaves on plantations in the Lowcountry (p. 12). Christopher Edwards Gadsden (1785-1852) was the fourth Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina (1840-1852). The author of this sketch, Cranmore Wallace (1802-1860), was the minister of St. Stephen's Chapel in Charleston (1848-1860). Turnbull III, p. 175.�