Land of Liberty, Seat of Virtue, Asylum of the Oppressed, a Name and Praise in the Whole Earth – 1772 Boston Massacre Oration Highlights

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Date: March 5, 1772 “In young and new formed communities, the grand design of this institution is most generally understood, and most strictly regarded; the motives which urged to the social compact, cannot be at once forgotten, and that equality which is remembered to have subsisted so lately among them, prevents those who are clothed […]

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If General Gage Should Lead his Troops into the Country, Great Britain May Take her Leave of New-England and All of America

 [Joseph Warren to Arthur Lee] “Boston, Feb. 20, 1775. Dear Sir, -My friend, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, favored me with the sight of your last letter. I am sincerely glad of your return to England, as I think your assistance was never more wanted there than at present. It is truly astonishing that Administration should have […]

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Certain that Letters to and from Our Friends in England are Intercepted

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 [to Samuel Adams] “Boston, Feb.10, 1775. Dear Sir, – We were this morning alarmed with a report, that a party of soldiers was sent to Cambridge, with design- to disperse the [Massachusetts Provincial] congress. Many here believed it was in consequence of what was yesterday published by their order. I confess I paid so much […]

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I Stand Much in Need of Cash

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 “February 18, 1775 Dear Jack, I would not lead you (although I stand much in need of cash) into any situation from which you could not easily bring yourself, honorably and conveniently. Mr. Greenleaf is not in want of money, but a circumstance is soon likely to take place which makes it proper I should […]

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One Must either Die or Throw Aside Business to Realize any Proportion of the Money

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Author: Dr. John Warren “Salem 29th January 1775 Dear Brother I received your Letter of last Week wherein you propose my giving my Note to Dr Greenleaf for £200 Lawfull Money to be payed in two Years. The Proposal I assure you has given me not a little Uneasiness, for I should however be very […]

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Unable to Collect any Debts at the same Time More than Commonly Call’d upon for Cash

“Boston  January 23, 1775 Dear Jack I am truly pleased to hear you are in agreeable Circumstances as to Business, go in and prosper.  I find Nothing coming in, in this Town I am not able to collect any Debts at the same Time I am more than commonly call’d upon for Cash  your Note […]

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Commodities Between the Several Colonies

To the Gentlemen Selectmen of the Town of Boston Boston, January 4, 1775 Gentlemen, I have the Honor to transmit to you the Copy of an Order of the late provincial Congress with the Doings of the Committee thereon. As one great Design which the Congress had in View was to know what each of […]

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Hast Thee Courage to Ride in the Dark and as Fast as May Be ‘till Thou Comest to Boston Town?

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by Deborah Champion [By internal references, circa 1775-76 Siege of Boston. No date or town of posting.] My Dear Patience: I know that you will think it a weary long time since I have written to you, and indeed I would have answered your last sweet letter long before now, but I have been away […]

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Acquaint Them that their Healths Would be Drunk

Date: December 13, 1773 The brethren of the Ancient and Honorable Society of FREE and ACCEPTED MASONS, are hereby Notified, That the Right Worshipful John Rowe, Esq; Grand Master of North-America, designs to celebrate the Feast of St. JOHN the Evangelist on Monday the 27th of December Instant, at the House of Brother Ingersoll, the […]

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You Will Do What Prudence Directs

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 Boston, December 12, 1774. GENTLEMEN, -We think it our duty to inform you, that one of the [British Navy] transports sailed from this port yesterday, in the afternoon, with several hundred soldiers on board. There are various conjectures concerning her destination; but it is generally believed she is designed for Newport, and that the troops […]

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