The Historical Society recently acquired a 1768 copy of The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser. This historic newspaper from Scotland includes an extract from a letter written in Newport pertaining to the events surrounding the 1765 Stamp Act. In this clip, transcribed below, an effort has been made to preserve the original spelling and punctuation.
Extract of a letter from Newport, Rhode Island dated April 4
“Before the stamp act, America may be said to be politically blind; the imposing that served to give them sight enough to see men as trees walking; but this last has made them see clearly, that nothing will save them from total ruin and slavery, but industry, economy, and manufactures. This spirit of industry seems at present to be universal. Whole towns have entered into mutual covenants to do all that lies in their power to discourage the use of foreign supersluities, and to encourage the raising of wool and flax, and the manufacturing it into cloth. This town, in particular, at a full meeting, have voted nem. con. to purchase no more of the superfluous articles mentioned in the resolves of the town of Boston. And for the encouragement of home manufacturers, the respectable taylors of this town had a meeting lately, when they agreed to work four-pence lawful money per day cheaper in making up the manufactures of this country, than those of Europe. They also received to have twenty-five percent. more than customary for making any garment of velvet, silk, or broadcloth, or above 10s. sterl. per yard.”
Published in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser on Monday 13 June 1768
The letter as it appears in the 1768 newspaper.