Description:

Colonial Boston
Boston, MA, April 23, 1789
1789 Boston Newspaper: 1st Week of HoR Proceedings & Enslaved Man Attempts to Stop a Murder
Newspaper

An issue of a Boston newspaper with reports on recent Acts passed, proceedings of the first week of the first House of Representatives, and more. 4pp of a bifolium, measuring 11.75" x 19.5", Boston, dated April 23, 1789. It appears the paper was taken from a larger bound volume. The subscribers name has been written at the top of the first page. Worn and chipped edges and corners. Scattered foxing and staining throughout. Light toning.

An issue of the "The Independent Chronicle and The Universal Advertiser", Volume XXI, No. 1069. Published by Adams and Nourse. The paper includes two Acts approved by John Hancock, the proceedings of the first House of Representatives (with great involvement by James Madison), and a story of an enslaved man attempting to stop a murder.

Highlights include:

p. 1: "An ACT respecting lost Goods and stray Beasts."

p. 1: "An ACT to prevent Damage by Horses going at large."

p. 1: "At the annual meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Boston, at Faneuil-Hall, on Monday the 10th of March last, and continued by adjournments to the 23d of said March, the Hon. SAMUEL ADAMS, Esq. was chosen Moderator, and the following persons to fill the several offices of the town, for the year ensuing…"

p. 2: "Proceedings of CONGRESS. New-York, April 15. In the House of Representatives of the United States, Thursday, April 9, 1789…Mr. Maddison, in a speech of considerable length, entered into the subject of commerce - its restrictions, &tc with respect to the resolve before the committee, his design was to have proposed a temporary system; he however, perceived gentlemen were much divided; he conceived that very powerful motive existed, to induce the adoption of a plan that should come into immediate operation…"

p. 3: "On Saturday evening last, a most atrocious murder was committed near this place. Hugh McLean, a poor labouring man, and his wife, having been quarrelling through the day, just before dusk, a child of one of the neighbour's, and a negro, came along and discovered her on the outside of the door, with a hoe in her hand, threatening him with it if he came out; he was lying on a bed in the house, with an axe and a hammer by him, swearing he would split her brains out with the axe if she attempted to come in; the negro got the axe from him under pretense of cutting some wood; she afterwards pushed the door open with a hoe, and attempted to go in; when her husband started up from the bed, with a hammer in one hand, and snatching up a knife which lay on a table, with the other, struck her on the head with the hammer, and pushing her backwards, she fell on a pile of earth or hung which lay near the door, where he stabbed her with the knife, which penetrating her thigh a few inches below the groin, cut the principal artery, and in a few minutes put a period to her life…A few years ago, when in the army, he was condemned to death by a court-martial for forgery, and this same wife, by a successful application to General Washington, procured his pardon. - Fatal reward for such a service!"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 11.75" x 19.5"
  • Medium: Newspaper

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