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Boston Newspapers Discuss Increasing Tensions with British and Building a New Government Under the Constitution
Boston Newspapers Discuss Increasing Tensions with British and Building a New Government Under the Constitution
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Description:

Revolutionary War; Bill of Rights
Boston, MA, ca. 1769, 1789
Boston Newspapers Discuss Increasing Tensions with British and Building a New Government Under the Constitution
Newspaper

[REVOLUTIONARY WAR; BILL OF RIGHTS.] Archive of Boston newspapers, 1769, 1789.
- The Boston Evening-Post, October 2, 9, 23, 30, December 11, 1769. Boston: Thomas Fleet and John Fleet. 4 pp. each, for a total of 20 pp., 9.75" x 15.25". Partially disbound; trimmed close at bottom some separations on folds; soiling.
- The Massachusetts Centinel, July 4, September 2, November 25, 1789. Boston: Benjamin Russell. 4 pp. each for a total of 12 pp., 9.5" x 15". Disbound; trimmed very closely at bottom, with loss of a few partial lines; several edge tears; soiling.

These eight issues of two newspapers from Boston in 1769 and 1789 offer rich content on the increasing tensions between the colonies and Great Britain over taxation and include advertisements for the sales of slaves before the Revolutionary War. After the war, the issues pair Congressional debate over the structure of the new federal government and state consideration of proposed amendments to the Constitution with reports of British efforts to abolish the international slave trade and a tribute to African-American poet Phillis Wheatley.

Excerpts
[The Boston Evening-Post, October 2, 1769:]
A British Grenadier named John Riley assaulted Jonathan Winship of Cambridge and when arrested was ordered to pay a fine. After returning the next day to the justice of the peace, Riley "returned for answer, ‘he would not pay it,' whereupon the deponent said to the offender that he must then commit him: Soon after which, while the deponent was writing a Mittimas, the said offender attempted to wrest himself out of the hands of the said officer, then having hold of him in the said office, and in the attempt, very suddenly forced himself, with the officer into the street; after which the deponent going to the door of his office, and seeing the hostile approach of (as he apprehended) about 20 Grenadiers and other soldiers, many if not most of them, armed with cutlasses, swords and other instruments of death, and the same handling in a menacing manner, went to the door of his said office, and commanded the said soldiers to disperse themselves.... The deponent further saith, that the prisoner, John Riley, through the countenance and aid of the said grenadiers, and other of his Majesty's soldiers, was rescued from the hands of Justice, and has ever since been so concealed, that...the officer has not been able to retake him." (p1/c1-2)
"TO BE SOLD A likely Negro Woman, about 36 Years of Age, can do all Sorts of House-Work, and has had the Small-Pox. Enquire of the Printers." (p4/c2)
"TO BE SOLD A likely, healthy strong Negro Boy, about 20 Years of Age, a good Temper, and understands Gardening, Cooking, and all Sorts of Houshold Business. Enquire of the Printers." (p4/c2)

[October 9, 1769:]
Boston: "The Merchants, not only of this Metropolis, but through the Continent, having nobly preferred the public Good to their own private Emolument: And with a view to obtain a Redress of the Grievances so loudly and justly complained of, having almost unanimously engaged to suspend their Importations from Great-Britain: A Measure approved by all Orders, as legal, peaceable, and most likely of all others to effect the salutary Design in view; and which will be regarded by Posterity with Veneration, for the disinterested and truly public Spriit appearing in it." (p1/c1)
"A Philosophical description of COMETS.
"The present remarkable Comet's revolution about the Sun, in all probability, is by this time completely effected, or else its wonderful mass, its prodigious quantity of matter, with its millions of inhabitants and constitution (if it is peopled) must certainly be involved in a most dreadful dissolution. I have carefully attended the Sun, with a telescope suitably prepared, in every opportunity, in order to discover if possible, any circumstantial, or apparent alteration therein: But as nothing unusual has yet appeared, I think we may very reasonably conclude that Providence hath permitted this surprisingly large solid body, or comet, with its scorched inhabitants, to pass the Sun; and that perhaps with reparable and inconsiderable hurt; for, 'tis highly ration to imagine, that he magnificent creator of the amazingly wide extended universe, hat provided every world with inhabitants, and also furnished the inhabitants of every climate, and of every world, with bodies, means and circumstances, in all respects suitably adapted to their destined warmer offices in the heavens." (p2/c1)
The Great Comet of 1769 was first discovered on August 8 by French astronomer Charles Messier (1730-1817) in Paris, and he observed it nightly until September 16, but it reappeared on October 24 and disappeared about a month later. Near the end of his life, Messier published a booklet, connecting the comet to the birth of Napoleon Bonaparte on August 15, 1769.
"We hear that John Hancock, Esq; of this Town, on a Tour to the Southward, has lately received the honorary Degree of Master of Arts at New-Jersey College." (p2/c2)

[October 23, 1769:]
Georgia House of Assembly to King George III:
"Your dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons House of Assembly of Georgia, with the greatest humility, beg leave to represent to your sacred person, the grievance this province labours under, by the late acts of Parliament of Great Britain for raising a revenue in America. Equally attached by interest, principle, and affection, for our mother country, we readily acknowledge a constitutional subordination to its supreme legislature; at the same time, with inexpressible concern, we must lament, that, y the imposition of internal taxes, deprived of the privilege, which, with humble deference, we apprehend to be our indubitable right, that of granting away our own property, and are thereby prevented from a ready compliance with any requisition your Majesty may graciously please to make, and which, to the utmost extent of our small abilities, we have hitherto always most cheerfully obeyed." (p1c3)
"The Philosophical Account of Comets, continued." (p2/c1-2)
New Haven, Connecticut: Report of election of Jonathan Trumbull as governor and Matthew Griswold as deputy governor.
"TO BE SOLD for want of Employ, A healthy NEGRO GIRL, about 17 or 18 Years of Age, who can do all sorts of Houshold Work. Enquire of the Printers." (p3/c3) (repeated in Oct. 30 issue)

[October 30, 1769:]
Thomas Hutchinson, Proclamation for Public Thanksgiving (p1/c1)
Advertisement for An Appeal to the World or a Vindication of the Town of Boston, from Many false and malicious Aspersions (p1/c1)
Savannah: "IT was agreed, that the late acts of Parliament, so fully and unanimously remonstrated against by the Northern Colonies, were in themselves unconstitutional, and the mode of taxation entirely inconsistent with the abilities of the people.
"At a time when we have great reason to believe that healing measures, and a redress of grievances, will be effectually pursued at the next meeting of Parliament, we think it unnecessary to enumerate the whole, further than that, in general, and as far as we know, we approve of, and agree in sentiments with the other provinces." (p2/c2)
"A few Days since died a very valuable Negro belonging to Capt. Jacobson: His Death was occasioned by a Mortification from several Stabs with a Bayonet given him by two Soldiers a short time before, without the least Provocation from the Fellow. Tho' Enquiry has been made, the Soldiers who assaulted him have not yet been discovered." (p3/c1)
"The Publick may be assured, That no Person whatsoever has the Small-Pox in this Town or the Symptoms of the distemper. / By Order of the Select-Men, William Cooper, Town Clerk." (p3/c3)

[December 11, 1769:]
"The Sloop Liberty lately owned by Mr. Hancock, and by way of insult to the merchants, fitted out by the c———rs, at a most enormous expence to the Cr—n, as a guards costa, having for some time past greatly distressed the fair trader, has at length come to an untimely end, in the harbor at New-Port, Rhode-Island, where a number of persons exasperated at the imprudent behaviour of the Captain and some of his people, went on board her as she lay at anchor, cut the cable, let her drift ashore, and then set her on fire. It is unhappy both for the mother country and colonies, that the power of stopping, seizing vessels, &c. in our several harbours, has been committed to the little injudicious officers of petty guarda costas, and that when any have behaved in an illegal & abusive manner, they have been screened from due justice, and continued in his Majesty's service...." (p1/c2-3)
"A LIST of the Names of those who audaciously continue to counteract the united Sentiments of the Body of Merchants throughout North-America; by importing British Goods contrary to the Agreement." Followed by seven names. (p2/c1)
New York: "The General Assembly of this Province, have concurred with the Assembly of Virginia, in their Resolves, entered into the 16th of May last." (p3/c2)
In May 1769, the Virginia House of Burgesses asserted their sole right to tax in Virginia and the right to petition the Crown for redress of grievances, as well as the legality of joining other colonies in such petitions, and the illegality of deporting colonists accused of crimes in Virginia to England for trial there.
"TO BE SOLD, (for want of Employ.) A strong healthy NEGRO BOY, about 18 Years of Age. Enquire of the Printers." (p4/c3)

[The Massachusetts Centinel, July 4, 1789:]
Commentary on proposed amendments to the Constitution
"The people must rejoice to find, that their rulers, of however diversified opinions, are equally anxious for their country's happiness." (p1/c2)
"The first article, pursuing the republican spirit with which the Convention of 1787 designed to animate every part of the Constitution, declares in the most unequivocal terms, that all power is the exclusive right of the people—That from them alone therefore it can be justly derived—that it is granted by them for the promotion of their own benefit, that it can only be exercised to increase and preserve their happiness.... This is indeed the creed of liberty, to which every American will give his unqualified assent." (p1/c2)
Congressional debate over a bill creating the Department of the Treasury (p2/c3)
"The Thirteenth anniversary of the Independence of the United States, will this day be celebrated in this town, with those testimonials of joy and festivity, which the occasion is so well calculated to inspire." (p3/c1)

[September 2, 1789:]
Debate on the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the British House of Commons
"Mr. Wilberforce answered the argument urged against the abolition, on account of the danger of our rivals pursuing the trade, if we gave it up. On that subject, he said, he had no fears at all....
"Mr. Pitt...was satisfied that no argument reconcileable to any idea of justice, could be given for continuing or carrying on the trade in question: It was their duty, and it should be their ambition, to take the lead in a business of so much national importance, and so much national credit....
"Mr. Fox said, he never had heard a debate with more satisfaction than the present, and applauded Mr. Wilberforce, and gave him his thanks for professing to do, what he thought it their duty to do, viz. to completely abolish the traffick in slaves—a traffick, for continuing which on no ground, either a plea of policy or necessity could be urged." (p1/c1)
Proceedings of Congress, including discussion of the permanent location of the federal capital, salaries of executive officers, and the judiciary bill (p2/c3-p3/c2)

[November 25, 1789:]
"The Cruelty which attends SLAVERY," compares harsh southern treatment of slaves to harsh northern treatment of bankrupts. (p1/c1)
"AMENDMENTS. The Legislature of Connecticut, at their late session took up the subject of Amendments to the Constitution, as recommended by the Federal Legislature of the United States, and a Resolve of Ratification of all, except the second article, passed the House of Representatives, by a large majority. The Council voted to postpone their determination upon them until the next session, which was agreed to." (p2/c3)
"To-morrow is assigned by THE PRESIDENT of the United States, to be observed as a day of Publick THANKSGIVING throughout the Union." (p3/c1)
"Mr. Russell, The following tribute to the memory of the celebrated African Genius, who a few years since died in this town, I hope will find an asylum in the poetick department of the Centinel. / Candidus.
Poem "On PHILLIS WHEATLEY." (p4/c1)
Phillis Wheatley (ca. 1753-1784) was the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. Born in West Africa, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a child. She was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston, and after she learned to read and write, they encouraged her talent for poetry. On a 1773 trip to London with the Wheatleys' son, she had her Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral published there. The Wheatleys emancipated her shortly after the publication of her book, and she married free black grocer John Peters.

The Boston Evening-Post (1735-1775) was a weekly newspaper published in Boston by Thomas Fleet (1685-1758) that developed a reputation for being the best in Boston at the time. After his death, Fleet's sons Thomas Fleet (1732-1797) and John Fleet (1734-1806) published the Evening-Post until April 1775, when the Revolutionary War brought it to an end.

Massachusetts Centinel (1784-1790) was a semi-weekly newspaper published in Boston, initially by William Warden and Benjamin Russell to 1786, then by Russell alone. It strongly supported the adoption of the new federal constitution and contained many arguments for ratification. It also supported the administration of George Washington and was often critical of Thomas Jefferson. In June 1790, it became the Columbian Centinel, still published by Russell, and continued under various names until 1840.

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: 9.75" x 15.25"; 9.5" x 15"
  • Medium: Newspaper

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