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Last issue published before his presses were destroyed by the Sons of Liberty...
Last issue published before his presses were destroyed by the Sons of Liberty...
Item # 687444
November 23, 1775
RIVINGTON'S NEW-YORK GAZETTEER; or, the CONNECTICUT, HUDSON'S RIVER, NEW-JERSEY, and QUEBEC WEEKLY ADVERTISER, New York, Nov. 23, 1775
* American Revolutionary War
* Extremely rare publication
* James Rivington - spy publisher
James Rivington, the famous printer of this newspaper, had an interesting career.
He began this newspaper in 1773 initially with an impartial stance which shifted as a revolution loomed and public opinion polarized, until by late 1774 he was advocating the restrictive measures of the British government with such great zeal and attacking the patriots so severely, that in 1775 the Whigs of Newport resolved to hold no further communication with him. The Sons of Liberty hanged Rivington in effigy. On May 10, 1775, immediately after the opening of hostilities, the Sons of Liberty gathered and mobbed Rivington’s wife's home and press. Rivington fled to safety while his office & press were destroyed, the lead type converted into bullets. Another mob burned Rivington's house to the ground.
In 1777 once the British occupied New York he returned with a new press and resumed the publication of his paper under the title of Rivington's New York Loyal Gazette, which he changed on 13 December 1777, to The Royal Gazette, with the legend “Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty”.
Note that this was the last issue published by Rivington before his presses were destroyed. It was on November 27 when his printing office was attacked by hte Sons of Liberty. He would soon sail for London, not to return until 1777 when he continued his newspaper under the title of 'Rivington's New York Gazette'.
Page 2 has a letter that includes: "I congratulate you on your happy escape in the late engagements you had with those sons of liberty. I am now beginning to think...that the Americans are a damned set of puritanical rascals;...and if we had not begun with them now, that they would in a very short time have totally shaken off their dependence on 'Great Britain...".
This is followed by a letter that mentions in part: "...I believe the Yankees will repent all their mistaken courage; I suppose they are mad...I think this business will soon be settled...".
Then another letter comments on military events in America.
Fine content continues on pages 2, 3 and 4, too much to detail here but most of which can be seen in the photos. Included is a lengthy letter dated Aug. 24, 1775; a nearly full column letter from the governor of New Jersey to his Assembly which deals with relations with England, signed in type: Wm. Franklin (son of Ben). Then a letter from General Richard Montgomery written from the camp near St. John's Canada, concerning the recent surrender of that garrison to the Americans. Following this is a letter that mentions Colonel Arnold.
The back page has two documents from Congress, one of which mentions: "Whereas the government of Great Britain hath prohibited the exportation of Arms and Ammunition to any of the plantations...Resolved, that for the better furnishing these colonies with the necessary means of defending their rights..." with more. Both are signed in type by the Secretary, Charles Thomson.
Four pages, some professional archival work at the margins, very nice condition.
Category: Revolutionary War
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