On the Mass. Circular Letter, and the dissolving of the Mass. Assembly...

Item # 593792

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THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, August, 1768 The entirety of the reverse of the title page is taken up with: "Interesting News from America" which includes letters from the Massachusetts governor and Lord Hillsborough, who was Secretary of State for the American colonies. There is reporting of the growing troubles between England & the colonies & the dissolving of the Mass. Assembly by the governor. And the first 5 1/2 pages of the issue has even more detailed American content, beginning with: "Letters from the Papers Relative to the Dismission of Gen. Amherst from his Government of Virginia", followed by "Letters from the Papers, Relative to the Present Critical Situation of America" which includes in part: "...the late unhappy Stamp Act made here to operate in America was certainly as unconstitutional a measures as King James II's dispensing power. The Americans demonstrated this beyond a doubt; the legislature was convinced, & judiciously gave it up. The Americans never opposed with violence any act of our legislature which was strictly constitutional? If there never was such opposition in America, it is plain the Americans never were rebels; and if not rebels, why should they be treated as such?..." with much more.
Other topics under the American discussion are headed "On the Fall of the Stocks, Occasioned by the Disagreeable News from America" and then a "...Letter which the House of Representatives at Boston Drew up Before their Dissolution, to be Transmitted to the E. of Hillsborough..." with more.
Also in this issue is: "Scheme for an Anemometer" with a nice illustration of it (see), among many other articles.
Near the back is the "Historical Chronicle" with the latest news reports of the day, including over half a page under the heading "Supplement to the American News" which has some discussion of the colonial Circular Letter. The Massachusetts Circular Letter was a statement written by Samuel Adams and passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives in February 1768 in response to the Townshend Acts. Reactions to the letter brought heightened tensions between the British Parliament and Massachusetts, and resulted in the military occupation of Boston by the British Army, which contributed to the coming of the American Revolution.
Included are both plates called for, one a foldout of a "Rolling Cart" (see).
Complete in 48 pages, 5 by 8 inches, full title/contents page featuring an engraving of St. John's Gate. A bit irregular at the spine margin of the titlepg. causes minor loss to portions of a few words on the reverse (see). Otherwise in nice condition.

A very nice magazine from the "mother country" from this troublesome year between the Stamp Act & the Boston Massacre, with a wide range of varied content. This was the first periodical to use the word "magazine" in its title, having begun in 1731 and lasting until 1907.

Category: The 1600's and 1700's