THE HISTORY OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT, From the Settlement of the Colony to the Death of Bishop Seabury (2 volumes)

New York & Boston: Hurd and Houghton / E.P. Dutton and Company, 1865. Book. Very Good. Hard Covers. First Editions.. Octavos -- from 7.75" to 9.75" tall. Published three years apart (the second in 1868), this set is based on a course of lectures given by Beardsley in January of 1864. When finished, the lectures "were carefully revised, broken into chapters, large portions of them entirely rewritten, and much new material added," with hope that they might "serve to excite the churchmen of Connecticut to gratitude for the struggles borne by their forefathers." Volume 1 bears a gift inscription reading thusly: "The Vestry/of St. John's Church, Stamford, Conn. U.S.A./to/Fyler Dibble,/of St. John, N.B.,/a grandson of the Rev. Ebenezer Dibble, D.D./the First Rector of St. John's Parish;/in grateful remembrance/of the labours of his grandfather in/this Parish, and as a token of respect/to his memory./April 18th 1868." Volume 2 bears a much shorter inscription, in the same hand, which reads: "From St. John's Church,/Stamford, Connecticut,--/to Wm. Fyler Dibblee./November 1868." (note the difference in the spelling of Dibble/Dibblee from one volume to the next). Both volumes in patterned boards, quarter leather spines/corners, gilt lettering/rule and raised bands to spines. Volume 1: frontispiece engraving of Christ Church, Stratford, 470 pages (including appendices, List of some of the authors and sources of information consulted or referred to in the preparation of the foregoing work, index). Volume 2: 465 pages (including appendices, index to Volume II). Both volumes w/mild wear to corners/spine ends, light edge and surface wear, dusty edges, a bit of rubbing/scrapes to back covers, mild tanning. All in all a fairly attractive set..