[RUSH, BENJAMIN] Sermons to Gentlemen upon Temperance and Exercise

First edition of the first printed reference to golf in an American book. Though issued anonymously, this pamphlet is widely attributed to Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813), soon to be a signer of the Declaration of Independence and surgeon-general in the Continental Army.

A section on active exercise considers the merits of walking, running, dancing, fencing, swimming, and more. A footnote on page 33 explains the exotic Scottish sport of golf:

"Golf is an exercise which is much used by the Gentlemen in Scotland. A large common in which there are several little holes is chosen for the purpose. It is played with little leather balls stuffed with feathers; and sticks made somewhat in the form of a bandy-wicket. He who puts a ball into a given number of holes, with the fewest strokes, gets the game. The late Dr. M'Kenzie, Author of the essay on Health and Long Life, used to say, that a man would live ten years the longer for using this exercise once or twice a week."

As for running, Rush declares it "too violent to be used often, or continued for any length of time . . . I would recommend it to be used as seldom as possible," but the pamphlet's original owner has added: "All excess is an injury to nature, but running in moderation is truely salutary" (page 31).

A 1772 English edition omits the preface found in this Philadelphia edition. The London edition dates the dedication "Philadelphia, January 2, 1772," suggesting that the Philadelphia edition has precedence.

Donovan & Murdoch, Game of Golf and the Printed Word 440; Evans 12547; Sabin 74240. One other complete copy traced at auction since 1964.