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Notable attempt at price controls during the War... Much fine war content...



Item # 658730

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July 15, 1779

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, July 15, 1779  A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781. This is the volume 1, #18 issue.
The entire front page & most of the back page are taken up with what one scholar calls: "...one of the most remarkable debates of the Revolutionary era..." debating the issue of price controls during the war, pitting merchants against the populace.
It is titled: "An Address of the Committee appointed by the Citizens of Philadelphia to regular the Prices of Goods, etc. to the Inhabitants of the United States". The committee called on the city's merchants to reduce their inflated prices to pre-war levels. Hoping to sell flour and other foodstuffs to the French and Continental Armies at high prices, some Philadelphia merchants had begun to hoard these items earlier that summer. As a result, the costs of food and other necessities skyrocketed.
Most of page 2 is taken up with an Address from George Collier & William Tryon to the inhabitants of Connecticut, which is followed a lengthy reply: "To Commodore Sir George Collier, Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's ships...and Major-General William Tryon, commanding his Britannic Majesty's land forces...". The closing sentence speaks to the theme of the response: "...With philosophic fortitude have the people hitherto restrained their resentment: But should your present savage, brutal, inhuman & accursed measures be pursued, you will have no one to blame or censure but yourselves when you feel the calamities of a justly-merited RETALIATION."
Even more fine war content in this issue, too much to note here but portions are visible in the photos.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, wide margins, a few very tiny worm holes do not deter, very nice condition.

Category: Revolutionary War