Sam Forman's Blog, page 21
April 18, 2013
Michael McHugh’s Mini Boston Marathon
Today we make a departure from posting primary source documents by and about Dr. Joseph Warren to note a bit of inspiration in the current day. A local runner has established a personal annual observance of the events, personalities, and principles that sparked a revolution. In light of the tragic events of recent days, it [...]
April 16, 2013
The Melancholy Walk of Death – Boston Massacre Oration Excerpts
Date: March 6, 1775 “Approach we then the melancholy walk of death. Hither let me call the gay companion; here let him drop a farewell tear upon that body which so late he saw vigorous and warm with social mirth; hither let me lead the tender mother to weep over her beloved son: come widowed [...]
April 9, 2013
The Mistress we Court is LIBERTY
“Boston, June 15,1774 Sir, – This afternoon was a meeting of a considerable number of the tradesmen of this town; but, after some altercations, they dissolved themselves without coming to any resolutions, for which I am very sorry, as we had some expectations from the meeting. We are industrious to save our country, but not [...]
April 4, 2013
“Naturally Impelled to Acts of Treachery”- Benjamin Church’s 1773 Boston Massacre Oration – Full Text
An ORATION; delivered March 5th, 1773, at the Request of the INHABITANTS of the TOWN of BOSTON; to Commemorate the bloody TRAGEDY of the FIFTH of March, 1770. By Dr. BENJAMIN CHURCH. Impius haec culta novalia miles habebit? Barbarus has segetes? En quo Discordia cives Perduxit miseros? En queis consevimus agros? Virgil. Ecl. I. O [...]
April 2, 2013
The Port Bill Received at Boston
“TOWN MEETING IN BOSTON. Friday, May 13, 1774. On this day there was a numerous and respectable meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of this town, legally warned and assembled at Faneuil Hall, to consider an edict lately passed by the British Parliament, for shutting up the harbor, and otherwise punishing the inhabitants; and [...]
March 26, 2013
1774 Boston Massacre Oration – Full Text
Author: John Hancock Date: March 5, 1774 “Men, Brethren, Fathers, and Fellow-Countrymen: The attentive gravity; the venerable appearance of this crowded audience; the dignity which I behold in the countenances of so many in this great assembly; the solemnity of the occasion upon which we have met together, joined to a consideration of the part [...]
March 21, 2013
Modern Location of Joseph Warren’s North End House
I have received a number of inquiries regarding the present location of Joseph Warren’s home and office in Boston’s North End of 1775 on Hanover Street. There are good reasons for such interest. On the evening of April 18, 1775, Joseph Warren dispatched Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous Midnight Rides and into [...]
March 19, 2013
Massachusetts Spy and Essex Gazette Cooperative Printing
Previous postings here noted the discovery of separate publishers in geographically separated Massachusetts towns apparently sharing a single set-up of moveable type. This kind of cooperation had never been noted in all of English language Colonial and Early Republic newspaper publishing in North America. This earlier posting shows superimposed images of the first page of [...]
March 12, 2013
The Unpropitious Star Ruling Unhappy Britain Disappoints Our Wishes
Date: December 21, 1773 “Joseph Warren to Arthur Lee. Boston, Dec. 21st, 1773. Sir, – My respected friend, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, informs me of the honor he has done me by mentioning my name to you in his letters. I can by no means lose so fair an opportunity of opening a correspondence with one [...]
March 5, 2013
Destroy the Tea For Liberty and Laws?
Author: Anonymous Date: [late December 1773] “Rally Mohawks, and bring your axes And tell King George we’ll pay no taxes on his foreign tea; His threats are vain, and vain to think To force our girls and wives to drink his vile Bohea! Then rally, boys, and hasten on To meet our [...]
