Sam Forman's Blog, page 7

I am Shocked, Shocked, that my First Performance Has Been by Some Applied to his Excellency Gov. Bernard

Date: March 7, 1768 “Messieurs Edes & Gill, Please to insert the following. My first performance, has by a strange kind of compliment, been by some applied to his Excellency Gov. Bernard.  It is not for me to account for the construction put upon it.  Every man has a right to make his own remarks, [...]

A Found Heart is the Life of the Flesh but Envy the Rottenness of the Bones

Author: Observator, a Loyalist pseudonym “I observe in the Boston Gazette of the 29th of Feb. last [a] piece signed a True Patriot; — if scolding without reasoning, or alledging facts without proving them will intitle a man to the appellation of a true Patriot, he is justly intitled to it.  It is much easier [...]

Infamous Detestable Virulent Scrawl

Author: Butler, a pseudonymous Loyalist writer “The scandalous, factious, threatning Piece, – nay the infamous, detestable virulent scrawl in Edes and Gill’s last Monday’s paper – that so truly deserved the censure of the lower – as well as the upper –, I find was explained away by – C—y and – J—t in a [...]

The Devil May Be the Lord’s Anointed

Date: February 29, 1768 “Messieurs Edes & Gi[ll,] Please to insert the following. May it please you –, We have for a long Time known your Enmity to this Province.  We have had full Proof of your Cruelty to a loyal People.  No Age has perhaps furnished a more glaring Instance of obstinate Perseverance in [...]

What Does it Mean to be a Patriot? Who is Entitled to use the Term?

“For the New-York Journal. It appears by the eastern papers, that the public spirited measures, for the encouragement of frugality, industry, and American manufactures, still spread and increase, in all the New-England provinces, notwithstanding the utmost endeavours of some malignant and infamous writers that infest them; among whom, one who stiles himself A True Patriot [...]

Little Jackanips Has Buried Himself in His Own Dirt

To The True Patriot [i.e. to the pseudonymous Boston Evening Gazette writer styling himself A True Patriot of Swanzey], alias, – – creature, If there had been the least spark of modesty in your whole composition, after being publickly detected in the most impudent malicious fals[e]hoods, you would have bid a lasting adieu to scribbling; [...]

All was Hurry and Confusion – At Least in My Head

Date: December 28, 1767 “Friends, countrymen, and fellow-citizens” of Britain!  “A very little time will convince you that my sole motive for addressing you, was the hearty good wishes, and sincere desire I ever shall have of” serving myself.  “At that time I” tho’t “I saw nothing but hurry and confusion taking place” – “many [...]

Trickle Down Economics of the Townshend Duties Good for Americans

“To the Publishers of the Boston Evening-Post. Here stood her Opium, here she nursed her Owls, And here she plann’d the imperial Seat of Fools. Pope. When the True Patriot considers the benevolent dispositions and most respectable characters of the worthy triumvirate that have been pleased to treat him with an inundation of grub-street and [...]

Provincials Are Scarcely Permitted to Vend Egg-shells Beyond Their Boundaries

“Messieurs Edes & Gill, Please to insert the following. I have seen enough of life to make me cautious of trusting to a fair outside; yet when I find a truly good and honest man, be his tenets in religion or philosophy what they may, I regard him as a pearl of great price.  It [...]

Do Not Oppose Men his Majesty May See Fit to Put into Public Employ

Date: September 28, 1767 Messirs. Fleets, Please to insert the following in your next. Its proper Power to hurt each Creature feels, Bulls aim their Horns, and Asses lift their Heels. Pope. Amongst the many great and daring steps lately taken by the pretended Patriots of this province to promote discord, and alienate the minds [...]