“
letters, to ensure the sale of which they took the precaution of tacking to them a new edition of the Farmer’s letters; like
Mezentius who ‘mortua jungebat corpora vivis.’
”
John Dickinson, 1732-1808, statesman, originally published these letters anonymously in the
Pennsylvania Chronicle
. The first published edition was in Boston, 1768. At the time of the Revolution Dickinson was anxious for conciliation and
voted against the Declaration of Independence, though he fought for his country with the Revolutionists.
In 1786, in answering the questions of Soulés [see no. 484] Jefferson wrote of Dickinson: “
. . . but when they proposed to consider us as objects of taxation, all the states took the alarm. yet so little had we attended
to this subject that our advocates did not at first know on what ground to take their stand. mr. Dickinson, a lawyer of more
ingenuity than sound judgment and still more timid than ingenious, not daring to question the authority to regulate commerce
so as best to answer their own purposes, to which we had so long submitted, admitted that authority in it’s utmost extent
. . .
”
After Dickinson’s death, Jefferson wrote to Joseph Bringhurst on February 24, 1808: “
I have to acknolege the reciept of your letter of the 16
th. it gave me the first information of the death of our distinguished fellow citizen John Dickinson. a more estimable man,
or truer patriot, could not have left us. among the first of the advocates for the rights of his country when assailed by
Great Britain, he continued to the last the orthodox advocate of the true principles of our new government, and his name will
be consecrated in history as one of the great worthies of the revolution . . .
”
Richard Henry Lee, mentioned in Jefferson’s letter, was the author of the Preface to this pamphlet. This is the only copy located in any bibliography
consulted.
[3076]
5. [KNOX,
William.]
The Controversy between Great-Britain and her Colonies Reviewed; the Several Pleas of the Colonies. In Support of their Right
to all the Liberties and Privileges of British Subjects, and to Exemption from the Legislative Authority of Parliament, Stated
and Considered; and The Nature of their Connection with, and Dependence on, Great-Britain, shewn upon the Evidence of Historical
Facts and Authentic Records.
Boston: Printed by
Mein and
Fleeming,
m dcc lxix
. [1769]
E211 .K76
Sm. 4to. 50 leaves.
Halkett and Laing I, 428.
Sabin 38180.
Evans 11305.
Unbound. Initialled at sig. I by Jefferson, who has written on the title-page
By George Grenville. In other hands are written:
Mr. Richman and
By Wm. Knox.
William Knox, 1732-1810, statesman, was born in Ireland. From 1757-1761 he lived in America as Provost Marshal of Georgia. On his return
to England he was made agent in Great Britain for Georgia and East Florida, and later became Under Secretary of State for
American Affairs. This pamphlet was in part dictated by George Grenville, the Prime Minister. It was formerly attributed to
Thomas Whately, and to John Mein, the Boston printer and bookseller, whose serious financial complications resulting from
its publication caused him to be imprisoned in the Fleet in London.
[3077]
6.
A short Narrative of The horrid Massacre in Boston, perpetrated in the Evening of the Fifth Day of March, 1770. By Soldiers
of the XXIXth Regiment; which with the XIVth Regiment were then Quartered there: With Some Observations on the State of Things
prior to that Catastrophe.
Printed by Order of the Town of
Boston, And Sold by
Edes and
Gill, in Queen-Street, And
T. & J. Fleet, in Cornhill,
1770.
