1721
(rev. 8/4/97)

Personal: BF was "scarce 15" when he "became a thorough Deist" (A58) from reading his father's books against deism (the Boyle lectures) and later the deists themselves, especially Shaftesbury and Collins (A15). About this time, he studied Edward Cocker's Arithmetic and John Seller's Practical Navigation and Samuel Sturmy's Mariner's Magazine. He read John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding; Antoine Arnauld and Pierre Nichole, Logic: or the Art of Thinking; and Xenophon, Memorable Things of Socrates (A15). After JF started the New England Courant (7 Aug), BF devoted most of his working time to the newspaper: "after having work'd in composing the Types and printing off the Sheets I was employ'd to carry the Papers thro' the Streets to the Customers" (A17). Since BF recorded the authors (to 28 May 1723) in his own file of the NEC (which extended to 16 Sept 1723) and since the NEC importantly influenced him, I list his attributions and briefly annotate the articles.

BF probably composed a carrier's address at the end of the year (c. 30 Dec 1721), and delivered it on New Year's Day (1 Jan 1721/2) for tips. Though he had no doubt also served as the newsboy for the Boston Gazette, it started just before the new year of 1720, so it is unlikely that he composed a carrier's addresses for it.

Business: Although Campbell lists only nine imprints for 1721, JF accomplished the extraordinary feat of publishing twenty-one books and pamphlets, plus, beginning Monday, 7 Aug 1721, his own newspaper, the lively and irreverent New England Courant, the first American newspaper to feature humorous essays and other literary content. JF must have had at least one journeyman printer working for him. Nevertheless, by the end of the year, he frequently advertised items to be published "this week" that did not appear for another week or two. Evidently he was very busy. BF himself, by now sixteen, was no doubt an excellent printer, fast and efficient at all the normal printing tasks.

BF was exposed to the paper money controversy again when his brother printed John Wise's A Word of Comfort to a Melancholy Country, a 62-page octavo advocating paper currency, which appeared in late Jan or early Feb, 1720/1. The title page does not name the printer (all authorities attribute it to JF) or publisher, but the following essays in the paper money controversy suggest that JF printed it for Benjamin Gray. An anonymous pamphlet praising Wise and his position, A Letter to an Eminent Clergy-man, advertised in the 27 Feb 1720/1 BG (printed for the bookseller Benjamin Gray), caused Gray's prosecution by the Council (28 Feb); but the grand jury declined to find a bill against him (2 May). Gray had JF publish an essay from Daniel Defoe's Review, which he entitled News from the Moon (13 March), an 8-page sixteenmo, implicitly applying Defoe's defense of freedom of the press to Massachusetts and satirizing the authorities for their over-sensitivity to criticism.

The bookseller Daniel Henchman commissioned JF to print another reply to Wise: [Thomas Paine], A Discourse Shewing, that the Real First Cause of the Straits and Difficulties of this Province of the Massachusetts Bay, is its Extravagancy & not Paper Money (post 14 March), a 16-page octavo. After a BG author, 20 Feb 1721, attacked Wise's Word of Comfort, JF, on his own venture, printed in reply Wise's A Friendly Check, from a kind Relation (27 Feb). A few weeks later (post 15 March), JF printed for Benjamin Gray, John Wise's The Freeholder's Address to the Honourable House of Representatives, an 8-page octavo. Young BF's connection with John Wise has never been previously noted, but the printer's devil, like his older brother, must have known Wise and no doubt read his earlier works as well as these most recent ones. BF surely studied Wise's engaging and compelling prose style and his proto-democratic ideals. Wise was the hero as well as the philosopher of the "Old Charter" party. Wise believed in the traditional rights and privileges of Americans and denied the right of the English to overturn the charter by which Massachusetts had been governed since 1629. When BF wrote his amazing letter to Thomas Cushing, 24 Dec 1770, declaring that "the charter being a compact between the King and the people of the colony who were out of the realm of Great Britain, there existed nowhere on earth a power to alter it, while its terms were complied with, without the consent of BOTH the contracting parties" (P 17: 308), he was (as he probably remembered) reflecting the opinion of John Wise and other leaders of the Old Charter party.

After JF started his own newspaper, the New England Courant (7 August), he published Thomas Walter's attack on the paper The Little Compton Scourge (14 August). This was the first tract, other than his newspaper, advertised as "Printed and Sold by J. Franklin." The newspaper made him an editor, publisher, and bookseller as well as a printer. Sometime after 7 Sept, JF printed a contribution to a controversy in the Newport, RI, Baptist Church, William Claggett's A Looking-Glass for Elder Clarke and Elder Wightman, a 256-page octavo. The partisans in the argument (John Rhodes, Capt. John Rogers, and William Claggett) no doubt paid for the printing. In Dec, JF brought out several pamphlets on his own venture. John Williams, Several Arguments, Proving That Inoculating the Small Pox Is not contained in the Law of Physick (11 Dec) was "printed and sold by J. Franklin, at his Printing-House in Queen Street." He brought out a second edition of Williams's Several Arguments (18 Dec) and, ante 1 Jan , Williams's An Answer to a late Pamphlet which too was "Printed and sold by J. Franklin." And also at the end of the year, it seems likely that he would have printed a carrier's address (circa 30 Dec).

Three of JF's imprints for 1721 have no specific date. He entered the psalm-singing controversy when, for Samuel Gerrish, he printed John Tufts's A Very Plain and Easy Introduction to the Art of Singing Psalm Tunes, 3rd ed. He also printed for Samuel Gerrish, Thomas Walter's The Grounds and Rules of Musick Explained, or an Introduction to the Art of Singing by Note. For this oblong duodecimo of 46 pages, JF made sixteen pages of wood engravings, thus printing the first music in bars in the colonies. A significant title for BF's intellectual development was Henry Care, English Liberties, or the Free-born Subject's Inheritance; containing Magna Charta ... the Habeas Corpus Act. This compendium of Whig doctrines contained the most important statements in English history and law concerning the individual's rights. When BF later referred to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right (e.g., P 12:416), he knew them from reading Care's English Liberties. (For these three JF imprints see the year-end.)

Boston Background: In May, a smallpox epidemic began in Boston and continued through the year. The first widespread inoculations in the Western world were carried out by Dr. Zabdiel Boylston at the instigation of Cotton Mather. The Boston populace, however, feared that inoculation spread rather than prevented the disease. In a bitter controversy, the NEC published writers who opposed inoculation. We have no evidence for BF's or JF's personal beliefs concerning inoculation at this time, though it has been generally assumed that they opposed it. JF twice, however, said that he would publish articles either for or against inoculation (4 Sept and 4 Dec). Neither the BNL nor the BG would publish anything against inoculation.

Although the Mathers claimed that the Couranteers were the first who ever severely criticized the Massachusetts ministers, JF cited earlier criticisms (4 Dec (b); see also 7 June).

Massachusetts Politics: The General Court for 1720-21 met by prorogation from 15 March to 29 March 1720/1. On 15 March, Gov. Shute asked for a censorship law. The representatives replied, 21 March, that since the governor did not attempt to prosecute Mather and the publisher of News from Robinson Crusoe's Island, he would be biased in enforcing a censorship law and turned him down. Dr. John Clarke, Elisha Cooke, William Clarke, and William Hutchinson were elected representatives from Boston (12 May); and Dr. John Clarke was elected Speaker, 31 May. The Court of 1721 met from 31 May to 20 July, when Shute dissolved it, primarily for publishing a vindication of the former assembly without giving the governor a chance to respond. On 2 Aug, Dr. John Clarke, Elisha Cooke, William Clarke, and William Hutchinson were again elected Boston representatives. At the new Court, 23 Aug, Dr. Clarke was again elected Speaker (23 Aug). The new General Court for 1721-1722 met from 23 Aug to 9 Sept; from 7 to 17 Nov; and from 2 to 27 March, 1721/2.

Elisha Cooke delivered an extraordinary House message on 1 Sept 1721. Governor Shute had charged the House with disloyalty in denying that the governor could negative the speaker. Cooke, on behalf of the House, replied, contradicting both the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations and the opinion of the Attorney General in England. He claimed it was the House's duty to maintain and enjoy all the rights and liberties granted by the Royal Charter. Since the Charter said nothing concerning the election of a Speaker, Cooke argued that it could not be an offence to His Majesty for the House of Representatives "to claim the sole Election, & constituting of a Speaker." The House's direct denial of the Board of Trade's authority and the opinion of the Attorney General was amazing. Even before Cooke made this daring speech, Jeremiah Dummer warned the representatives that some English authorities were charging that the Massachusetts representatives wanted "to be independent of the Crown" (Hutchinson 2:219n). The representatives later retreated from their incipient rebellion when they voted 22 January 1725/6 to accept the Explanatory Charter.

Indian warfare also occasioned a difference between Shute and the Old Charter Party. Elisha Cooke had immense holdings in Maine and naturally favored the settlement of colonists there. The Massachusetts and New Hampshire colonists almost entirely agreed with Cooke. The official English policy was to discourage settlement, keeping an area between the Eastern Indians and the colonists. The Courant sided with the popular party (7 August). In 1722, the Courant would reflect the popular anti-Catholic and anti-French sentiment against the Indians.

The House and Gov. Shute continued their constant bickering. The House punished Shute by continuing to vote him the insulting low (in depreciated continually Massachusetts paper currency) salary of £1000 a year and did not award the first half year's salary until 8 Sept (the second half on 17 Nov).

Chronology:

6 Jan, Friday, BF became 15.

late Jan or early Feb, JF printed "Amicus Patriae" [John Wise], A Word of Comfort to a Melancholy Country ([Boston: J. Franklin], 1721). Campbell X26; Evans 2311; Sabin 104902. Reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial Currency Reprints 2:159-226, with a brief account at 2:224-26 and at 1:61-62. Though the title-page contains neither printer nor publisher, all authorities (Campbell, Evans, Sabin) attribute the work to JF, who evidently printed it for the bookseller Benjamin Gray (see 27 Feb).

14 Feb, Tuesday, American Weekly Mercury (AWM) protested the policy of transporting felons to America. Charles E. Clark, Public Prints 119, called attention to the editorial and celebrated it as "the first American newspaper statement critical of British colonial policy." Clark thought it "must have been the work either of [Andrew] Bradford or of one of his close associates" and said that it was a "rare statement for the first half of the century, if not unique ... preceding by thirty years Benjamin Franklin's famous" satire, "Rattlesnakes for Felons" (9 May 1751). I consider Bradford an unlikely choice because he was neither bold nor a good writer; I suspect that the intrepid Thomas Bordley of Annapolis, MD, who at this time vociferously opposed dumping English convicts in America and who hired Bradford to print several pieces for him, wrote it. BF probably read it. For Bordley, see Lemay, "The Nammierizing of Early American History," VMHB 88 (1980):94-103.

20 Feb, Monday, BG advertisement appeared, dated "N. E. Castle William," attacking Wise's A Word of Comfort to a Melancholy Country. Reprinted by Wise in A Friendly Check; reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:249-50.

23 Feb, Thursday, John Wise, "A Letter from Amicus Patriae, to his son." Printed in A Friendly Check, pp. 5-6; reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2: 248-49.

27 Feb, Monday. In the BG, Benjamin Gray advertised A Letter to an Eminent Clergyman [i.e., to John Wise] (Boston: [J. Franklin?], 1720[/1]). Evans 2230. Reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:227-44. "A Paper Medium is the best Medium; and the only suitable Means in order to your relief: for that it will answer all things, has lately been made so fully and clearly to appear, by a very masterly hand, that more need not be said concerning it." A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:238. Contains a letter attacking the 20 Feb advertisement from "NE. Castle William," Davis 2:241; See 28 Feb. Since JF printed both Wise's Word of Comfort and A Friendly Check, as well as News from the Moon (13 March), it seems likely that he also printed the Letter to an Eminent Clergyman, but the pamphlet has neither printer nor identifying cuts or factotems. The Letter caused Gov. Shute to ask for a censorship law on 15 March.

27 Feb (b). Benjamin Gray also advertised in the BG: "At the same time ["this afternoon"] will be Published an Answer to the N.E. Castle-William Advertisement." [John Wise], A Friendly Check, from a Kind Relation, to the Chief Cannoneer, founded on a late Information. [Boston: J, Franklin], 1720/1. Campbell X25; Evans 2310. See A. M. Davis, Colonial 1:62; 2:224-25, 245-55.

28 Feb, Tuesday. "At a Council Held at the Council Chamber in Boston ... A Letter to an Eminent Clergy-Man [cf. 27 Feb] ... was Read and Considered, and Unanimously Voted, That it contains in it many Vile, Scandalous and very Abusive Expressions which greatly Reflect on his Majesty's Government and People of this Province, and tend to disturb the Public Peace. ... Benj. Gray of Boston, Book-seller ... being sent for, Acknowledged that he had caused the same to be Printed, And that the Original in Manuscript was delivered to him by an unknown Hand upon Saturday the Eighteenth Current, at Nine a Clock at Night. Advised, That the Attorney-General be directed to Prosecute in the Law the said Benj. Gray, or any other Person that may have been concerned in the making or Publishing the said Pamphlet." Since JF printed the proceeding in the BG, 6 March, he indirectly (but boldly, for the time) complained about censorship. Reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:243-44. See Duniway 93-94.

1 March, Wednesday. Sewall: "Privat Meeting at our house. Brother Cole began with Prayer. I read Mr. Manton's 24th Sermon, Rom. 8.16, Spirit. Sung the 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, verses of the 143 Psalm. Brother Franklin set the Tune; Mr. Cooper pray'd, mention Hannah's gradual enlargement; the removal of Capt. Hill, one of this Society. He also Crav'd a Blessing. Return'd Thanks." Diary 2:975. This is Sewall's last mention of Josiah Franklin. See 8 Sept 1708 for the first mention and 22 Jan 1717/8 for the members of the prayer group.

2 March, Thursday. Cotton Mather: "I would endeavour that the Government may interpose to put an effectual Stop to those cursed Pamphlets and Libels, wherewith some wicked Men, are endeavouring to Poison the Country." Diary 2:605. Cf. 15 March.

13 March, Monday. BG: Published John Wise's request of 29 Sept 1719 to the supreme court that his salary be paid in silver or its equivalent. Reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:250-52.

13 March (b). BG: "Just Published, The Mount Hope Packet. And News from the Moon, both to be sold by Benjamin Gray, Bookseller." For the latter, see the next entry. "The Mount Hope Packet" was A Letter from a Gentleman in Mount Hope to his Friend in Treamount [Boston: [J. Franklin?], 1721]. Evans 2228. Reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:257-65. Since JF printed for Benjamin Gray all the currency tracts during these months that can be attributed, it seems likely that he also printed A Letter. It contains no cuts or factotems, only a row of common typographical ornaments on p. 1. The pamphlet discussed the "want of a Sufficient Medium of Trade and Commerce," praised John Wise, condemned Gov. Andros, and asked that the Old Charter patriots be returned next May.

Note: the reference to the people being "Sadled with heavy Bills of Cost" (Davis 2:262) during Andros's regime makes me suspect that A Letter may be the tract advertised ("The Saddle set on the right Horse") at the end of A Letter to an Eminent Clergy-Man; Davis, Colonial 2:242. If so, the two pamphlets may well be by the same author.

13 March (c). BG: "Just Published. [Daniel Defoe,] News from the Moon" [Boston: J. Franklin, 1721]. Campbell X21; Evans 2281; Ford, PMHS 57:340; Davis, PCSM 13:14. As a result of the Council's attempting to prosecute him, Gray had JF print a number of Daniel Defoe's Review, News from the Moon, an 8-page sixteenmo, implicitly applying Defoe's defense of freedom of the press to Massachusetts. Reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:266-70. Chester N. Greenough, "Defoe in Boston," PCSM 28 (1933):461-93, pointed out that the essay implicitly mocked the Council's excessive sensitivity to criticism.

13 March (d). BNL: "Just published, The Second Part of South Sea Stock" (Boston: Henchman, 1721). Evans 2291. Dated at the end 27 Jan. The author advocated hard currency. Reprinted in Davis, Colonial 2:301-33.

14 March, Tuesday. At a Boston town meeting, Josiah Franklin was chosen tythingman. RRC 8: 151; Seybolt, Colonial Officials, 155.

post 14 March "Philopatria" [Thomas Paine], A Discourse Shewing that the real first Cause of the straights and difficulties of this Province of the Massachusetts Bay is its extravagancy and not paper money (Boston: J. Franklin, 1721). Campbell X22; Evans 2283. Dated 14 March in the opening. Reprinted in Davis, Colonial 2:279-300. For Paine, see Sibley 6:201-07. Paine argued that if paper money were necessary, the government should issue it.

15 March, Wednesday. Gov. Shute called for censorship: "I must observe to you, that we have been so unhappy of late, as to have many Factious and Scandalous Papers, Printed and publickly Sold at Boston, highly reflecting upon the Government, and tending to disquiet the minds of His Majesties good Subjects: I therefore make no doubt, that whosoever is a lover of the Privileges, Peace & good Order of this Province, will be very desirous to have a Law made, to prevent this pernicious and dangerous practice for the time to come, and more especially since it is the King my Master's positive Commands, that no book or Paper shall be printed without my License first obtained." Journals 2:359. Cf. 21, 25 and 26 March.

15 March (b). Gov. Shute's speech to the House: "I Received a Message from your House the last Session, relating to my Support, wherein you acquainted me, you thought a Thousand Pounds a year in Province Bills, was a sufficient allowance. I must take the liberty to say, that it cannot be the King my Master's Sentiments, since if you'll make enquiry, you will find there is no Governour appointed by His Majesty in the British Colonies in America, that is so poorly supported as my self, though most of them are less in Extent, not so long Settled, and less capable of Defraying the Expence. I likewise sent down to you His Majesties Instruction, with respect to a settled Salary; you excused your selves from Debating upon it at that time, because the Sessions had been long, and many Members gone home, but you have now another opportunity." Journals 2:359.

post 15 March. [John Wise], The Freeholder's Address to the Honourable House of Representatives (Boston: J. Franklin for B. Gray, [1721]). Bristol 620; Not in Campbell; Evans mp. 39759, an 8-page octavo dated "March 15, 1720[/1]." Sabin 104898 mistakenly dated the pamphlet 1720 rather than 1721. Wise's last publication in support of a paper currency.

16 March, Thursday. House recommended that it join with the Council in proclaiming a public fast "upon the present Grounds and Occasions thereof." Journals 2:361. Cf. 17, 20, and 31 March, and 10 and 20 April.

16 March (b). Cotton Mather: "There is a very wicked Party in this Countrey who fill the Land with Strife and Sin, and who are drawing the People into continual Snares, and into such Actions and Follies, as are a Blemish unto us, and threaten to bring horrible Oppresion and Slavery upon us. And such is our poor Condition, that except the Hand of our glorious Lord, in some wonderful Way deliver the Countrey from two or three Men, who are the very Soul and Staff of the wicked Party, the Countrey must in an ordinary way be ruined, and the Churches of the Lord reduced unto wretched Circumstances, and His Work wherein much of His Glory has appeared, be lost among us. ... Accordingly, bewayling my own manifold impurities, and particularly my own Frowardness under the Provocations of this People, and getting my Soul well-purified from all personal Revenge or Malice against these Men, I carry them unto the Lord, and I earnestly interceded with Him, that the Countrey, which is perishing by their Means, may be delivered from them. Within these few Hours. GOD has in a marvellous Manner, and at a very critical Moment, smitten with an Apoplexy [Dr. Oliver Noyes], one who has been and would still have been the greatest Hinderer of good, and Misleader and Enchanter of the People, that there was in the whole House of Representatives, who are just now come together. Methinks, I see a wonderful Token for good in this Matter: And I go on with my humble Supplications to the Lord." Diary 2:607-08.

16 March (c). Sewall noted: "At night Dr. Mather preaches in the School-House to the young Musicians, from Rev. 14.3.--no man could learn that Song.--House was full, and the Singing extraordinarily Excellent, such as has hardly been heard before in Boston. Sung four times out of Tate and Brady." Diary 2:976. David W. Music, 6, noted this as the first Boston singing school.

17 March, Friday. The Council objected to the House appointing a committee to draw up a proclamation for a fast; claiming it would do so and send it to the House. The House replied that it was "of Opinion that if the Appointment of such Days, has not the Sanction of the whole Court, Persons are not liable to be Punish't if they Work, or Travel thereon, which will tend to great disorder." Journals 2:362. The Council replied that it wanted the "concurrence" of the House, but that the governor with the advice of the council, "and (during the Session of the General Assembly) at the Desire or Motion of the Representatives" issued proclamations. The House denied that it had tried to issue a proclamation, "but Voted a Committee, to Joyn with a Committee of the Honourable Board, to prepare the Draught of such a Proclamation." Journals 2:364. Cf. 20 (b) and 31 March and 10 April.

19 March, Tuesday. The widowed Elizabeth (Franklin) Berry (half sister of BF) married Richard Douse. P 1:lvii.

20 March, Monday. BG: John Wise proclaimed that he was "Amicus Patriae" and repeated his call for "a Lasting Paper Medium of Trade." Reprinted in A. M. Davis, Colonial 2:252-55.

20 March (b). Samuel Shute, A Proclamation for a General Fast, dated March 20; printed in the BNL 3 April; to take place 20 April. Ford, Mass Broadsides, no. 470. Cf. 17 March.

21 March, Tuesday. Refusing to pass a law forbidding anything to be printed without the governor's permission, the House of Representatives mentioned that the governor refused to prosecute [Cotton Mather], News from Robinson Crusoe's Island (see 13 July 1720 and 15 March 1720/1). The representatives said that a law limiting freedom of the press might cause "innumerable inconveniences and dangerous Circumstances." Journals 2:369. Cf. 15 and 27 March. The representatives remembered that Shute had told them they could not publish their reasons for refuting him (cf. 10 Dec 1719) and of course rejected a request which would have legitimized his actions. They also claimed that since the governor had not attempted to prosecute Mather and the publisher of News from Robinson Crusoe's Island, he was biased in what he would censor.

21 March (b). House replied to Gov. Shute's request for more money and for a fixed salary: "we still apprehend the Allowances of this Year to your Excellency, is as much as the Honour and Service of this Government call for." Journals 2:370.

25 March, Saturday. Council sent down to the House a bill entitled: "An Act, for the Preventing of Libels, and Scandelous Pamphlets, and Punishing the Authors, and Publishers hereof." Journals 2:379.

27 March, Monday. The act for preventing libels was read the second time, but the House voted not to read it a third time. Journals 2:381. Thus Gov. Shute's effort to impose censorship failed in the House, as it was to fail with a key segment of the public (2 May). Cf. 15 and 21 March; late April.

31 March, Friday. In his speech dissolving the assembly, Gov. Shute recommended "a Loyal and a Peaceable Behaviour." Naturally the implication that the representatives were disloyal outraged them. Shute's speech appeared in the 3 April BG.

31 March (b). At the end of the Votes for the session, the House added: "That the House have seen a Proclamation for a Publick Fast, wherein it is Inserted, At the Motion of the House of Representatives; the contrary whereof the House have manifested by their Votes. And have therefore Directed the Members, to whom they were Delivered, to carry to their several Towns, to forbear Delivering them at present." Journals 2:389. Cf. 16 March, 10 and 20 April.

10 April, Monday. Cotton Mather: "The very wicked House of Representatives, that satt lately among us, have wickedly encouraged the People to cast Contempt on the Order for the general Fast. And there may be hazard lest some of my Flock be drawn into the Impiety. By what I speak, at the Reading of the Proclamation, I endeavour to save them from it." Diary, 2:611. See 20 April.

20 April, Thursday. The fast day. Hutchinson (2: 186) commented that the day was "observed as usual except that one* [*William Clark] of the representatives of Boston would not attend the public worship but opened his warehouse as upon other days." Cf. 16 and 31 March, and 10 April.

22 April, Saturday. H. M. S. Seahorse arrived in Boston from the West Indies carrying smallpox, which shortly became epidemic.

late April, The Council published, with remarks, "An Act, For the Preventing of Libels, and Scandalous Pamphlets, and Publishing the Authors, and Publishers thereof," which the House had not passed; as well as an act against tumults and riots. Not extant. See 27 March; the 7th instruction of the Boston town meeting, 22 May; and 19 July.

2 May, Tuesday. Grand Jury finds "no bill" against bookseller Benjamin Gray for publishing A letter to an Eminent Clergyman. Duniway 93-94. Cf. the Council, 28 Feb., and Gray's advertisement, 13 March. Thus a segment of the public supported the House (27 March) in refusing to give the authorities censorship powers.

4 May, Thursday. Cotton Mather: "More must be done, to strengthen the Patience of our Governour." Diary 2:616.

8 May, Monday. Boston selectmen at a meeting note that "a Certain Negro man is now Sick of the Smal pox in the Town who came from Tertudos in His Majesties Ship Seahorse" and that "A Certain negro man Servant to Capt. Wentworth Paxton of Boston is now Sick of the Smalpox at his masters House." RRC 13:81.

ante 12 May [Cotton Mather], The Deplorable State of New England, by Reason of a Covetous and Treacherous Governour, and Pusillanimous Counsellors (Reprinted [Boston: S. Kneeland?] 1721). Evans 2214; Holmes, Cotton Mather no. 88. Reprinted in CMHS, 5th ser., vol. 6 (1879). The pamphlet reprinted Cotton Mather's 1708 tract attacking Thomas Dudley. It contained Paul Dudley's infamous letter, 12 Jan 1703/4, saying "This Country will never be worth Living in, for Lawyers and Gentlemen, till the CHARTER IS TAKEN AWAY." Reprinting the pamphlet was Old Charter party propaganda. The pamphlet discredited Cotton Mather by reminding New Englanders of his former opposition to the Dudleys and of the Dudleys's scorn for the Charter. In effect, the pamphlet pointed out that Cotton Mather had changed, for Samuel Shute now advocated many of the Dudleys' former positions. The pamphlet probably appeared before the Boston election of 12 May 1721.

12 May, Friday. Boston Town Meeting. Elisha Cooke was elected moderator. Dr. John Clarke, Elisha Cooke, William Clarke, and William Hutchinson were elected representatives. A committee was "chosen to draw up Instructions for the Representatives." RRC 8:153. See 22 May.

22 May, Monday. Continuation of Boston town meeting. Ten instructions were read and approved: "1. That they Indeavor to maintain all our Civel Rights and Properties against any Incroachments upon them.... 3ly. That they promote the Passing of an Act to Prevent the Destruction and wast of the woods and Timber Growing or Lying on the Lands beloning to the Province not appropriated.... 7ly. That whereas in the late printed remarkes on the Bills against Riots &c. the Town of Boston Seems to be asperced as if they were inclined to Riots & Tumults where as we may presume, that the people of this Town and Province may Justly Claim the title of being as Loyal, Peacable and Desirous of good order as any of his Majesties Subjects whatsoever. It is therefore Recommended that they use their Intrest to prevent the Passing of any Such Bills if they Should be brought forward, and take care to vindicate this People from any unjust aspersions that are or may be cast upon them. 8ly. That in all Elections they chuse those that haue Shown a tender regard for our Charter Priviledges & Prefer the publick before their Privat Intrest." RRC 8:154-55. G. B. Warden, Boston 97-98, said that the infrequent instructions issued previously usually included only matters pertaining directly to Boston, "But the instructions in 1721 ranged over a wide spectrum of issues, including the Maine woods and the House's privileges, which had little to do with Boston directly."

26 May, Friday. Cotton Mather: "The grievous Calamity of the Small-Pox has now entered the Town. The Practice of conveying and suffering the Small-pox by Inoculation, has never been used in America, nor indeed in our Nation. But how many Lives might be saved by it, if it were practised? I will procure a Consult of our Physicians, and lay the matter before them." Diary 620-21.

27 May, Saturday. BNL reported: "There are now eight Persons Sick of the Small-pox in the Town, and no more, according to the best Information: One in Bennet-Street, at the North End of the Town, Three in Treamount, Two in School-Street, one in Battery-March, and one in Winter-Street." BNL 29 May.

31 May, Wednesday. General Court met. For the Boston representatives, see 21 May. Dr. John Clarke, whom Gov. Shute had negatived as a councilman the year before because of his backing of the impost bill, was chosen Speaker. Nathaniel Byfield, who had also been negatived the year before, was again elected a Councillor. Journals 3:3-5.

1 June, Thursday. Gov. Shute to Board of Trade: "The House of Representatives generally consist of persons (better adapted to their farming affairs than to be Representatives of the Province) who are drawn into any measures by the craft and subtilty of a few designing persons who when they are indeavouring to invade the Royal Prerogative make the unthinking part of the Assembly believe, that they only are asserting the just priviledges of the people, and by this false guise these men become the favourites of the Populace who believe them to be the only patriots of their country." CSP, 1720-1721 329.

1 June (b) House thanked Rev. Samuel Moodey for his sermon delivered yesterday. Gov. Shute accepted the speaker and Council members, excepting Nathaniel Byfield, who was negatived, as he had been last year. Because of the smallpox in Boston, the General Court then adjourned to Cambridge, 6 June. Journals 3:6-7. Also Sewall, Diary 2:980.

6 June, Tuesday, Cotton Mather, "An Address to the Physicians of Boston." Printed in [Cotton Mather et al.], A Vindication of the Ministers of Boston, From the Abuses and Scandals Laytely Cast Upon Them (Boston: B. Green for Samuel Gerrish, 1722), 7-8. Holmes, Cotton Mather, no. 430. See also Cotton Mather, Angel of Bethesda, ed. Gordon W. Jones (Barre, Ma.: American Antiquarian Society and Barre Publishers, 1972), 107-12. Mather suggested the Boston physicians use inoculation for smallpox.

7 June, Wednesday. House of Representatives: "Complaint being made against Phillip Tabor, a Member of this House, that he sat down in the House at the time of Prayer, & being asked by the Speaker, the Reason for it, he said he could not joyn with them in Prayer, when they called God our Father. Whereupon the House, Resolved, That Phillip Tabor, be Expelled this House, as not worthy to continue a Member of it." Journals 3:11 (with mistaken date of 8 June).

19 June, Monday. House appointed a committee, chaired by Elisha Cooke, "to Vindicate the Proceedings of that House" against the speech of Gov. Shute, 31 March, on dissolving the former House (31 March). Journals 3: 31.

22 June, Thursday. Elisha Cooke's committee presented its reply to Gov. Shute's speech at the dissolving of the Court. Journals 3:38-40. See 20 July.

22 June (b). Cotton Mather: "I prepare a little Treatise on the Small-Pox; first awakening the Sentiments of Piety, which it calls for; and then exhibiting the best Medicines and Methods, which the world has yett had for the managing of it; and finally, adding the new Discovery, to prevent it in the way of Inoculation. Is it possible, that this Essay may save the Lives, yea, and the Souls of many People. Shall I give it unto the Booksellers?" Diary, 627-28.

23 June, Friday, Cotton Mather: "I write a Letter unto the Physicians, entreating them, to take into consideration the important Affair of preventing the Small-Pox, in the way of Inoculation." Diary 628.

26 June, Monday, Zabdiel Boylston inoculated his son Thomas and two slaves, one grown and one a boy. They recovered by 4 July. Boylston, Historical Account (1726) 2.

27 June, Tuesday. By His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq; ... Governor ... A Proclamation for a General Fast ... from the Small Pox: "It having pleased Almighty GOD, after many gracious Deliverances vouchsafed us from the Small-Pox in the Years past, now in His most Holy and Righteous Providence, for our many and great Provocations to visit the Town of Boston with that dangerous Distemper, and to stretch out His Hand against the whole Province, thereby calling upon us to prepare to meet the LORD in the Way of His Judgments by the deepest Humiliation and most fervent Supplication with Fasting." See 13 July.

3 July, Monday, BNL: "The Inoculation ingrafting or Transplantation of the Small Pox having lately much amused this Country...." Dated Boston, 20 July, signed "W. Philanthropos" [Dr. William Douglass]. Hutchinson wrote of Douglass: "He had been regularly bred in Scotland, was assuming even to arrogance, and in several fugitive pieces, which he published, treated all who differed from him with contempt." Hutchinson, 2:206. Cf. 24 July.

6 July, Thursday. BNL reprinted the King's proclamation against "certain scandalous Clubs or Societies of young Persons, who meet together, and in the most impious and blasphemous manner, insult the most sacred Principles of our Holy Religion, affront Almighty GOD Himself, and corrupt the Minds and morals of one another." The reprinted proclamation inspired Cotton Mather to call the Couranteers the "Hell-Fire Club." Cf. BNL 28 Aug; BG 4 and 15 Jan 1721/2; NEC 22 Jan and 12 Feb 1721/2.

8 July, Saturday. Cotton Mather: "Some under grievous Consternation, from small-Pox now spreading, must be directed and comforted." Diary 630.

13 July, Thursday. Samuel Shute, A Proclamation for a General Fast. Dated 27 June; printed in the BNL 3 July; to take place 13 July. Cotton Mather: "Tis a Day of Humiliation thro' the Province, on the Occasion of the Calamity now upon miserable Boston." Diary 631.

16 July, Sunday. Cotton Mather: "I have instructed our Physicians in the new Method used by the Africans and Asiaticks, to prevent and abate the Dangers of the Small-Pox, and infallibly to save the Lives of those that have it wisely managed upon them. The Destroyer, being enraged at the Proposal of any Thing, that may rescue the Lives of our poor People from him, has taken a strange Possession of the People on this Occasion. They rave, rail, they blaspheme; they talk not only like Ideots but also like Franticks, And not only the Physician who began the Experiment, but I also am an Object of their Fury; their furious Obloquies and Invectives." Diary 631-32.

17 July, Monday, BG: Zabdiel Boylston cited Emmanuel Timonius and Jacobus Pylarinus as his primary authorities for giving smallpox vaccine and noted that all his inoculations thus far had succeeded. Hutchinson (2:206) wrote: "Many sober pious people were struck with horror and were of opinion that, if any of his [Boylston's] patients should die, he ought to be treated as a murderer. The vulgar were enraged to that degree, that his family was hardly safe in his house, and he often met with affronts and insults to the streets."

17 July (b). Joshua Blanchard: "I went out of Boston with my family because of the small pox the 17 day of July 1721 and returned again the 27 of March 1722." A. E. Brown, "Builder" 396.

19 July, Wednesday. Gov. Shute to Board of Trade: "The present House of Representatives have begun a most unreasonable dispute with me by entering into a resolve, that they would not go upon my allowance till I had set my hand to everything that remain'd for me to sign. ... I therefore sent the Secretary down with a message to acquaint them at the last Sessions but one I signed no Act till they had voted my salary, and that so soon as the house had gone through, what was before them, I should leave nothing unfinish'd that depended upon me. ... What is mention'd in the two next paragraphs of the Memoriall concerning the Riot and Pamphlet Bills I think is well answer'd in the printed Reasons of the Council [cf. late April] for passing those bills. ... The last House of Representatives...endeavour'd to wrest H.M. Prerogative out of my hands by taking upon them the appointment of a Publick fast, which is the undoubted right of the Crown and what has never been disputed since the Charter was granted. The reason they give for it ... carries a great contempt for H.M. authority, vizt. 'That if the appointment of such days has not the sanction of the whole General Court, persons are not liable to be punish'd if they work or travell thereon.'" CSP, 1720--1721 372-74.

20 July, Thursday. Gov. Shute dissolved the assembly, giving as a chief reason the publication of Cooke's vindication of the previous assembly in the House's journals before the governor could comment on it. Journals 3:79-81.

21 July, Friday. Dr. Lawrence Dalhonde testified before the Boston Selectmen that horrible consequences had followed inoculations in Italy, Flanders, and Spain. Boylston, Historical Account 58-61. Hutchinson, 2:206-07.

Boston Selectmen, "Statement of Resolve on Inoculation." "That it appears by numerous instances, that inoculation has proved the death of many persons, soon after the operation, and brought distempers upon many others which, in the end, have proved deadly to them. That the natural tendency of infusing such malignant filth in the mass of blood is to corrupt and putrify it, and if there be not a sufficient discharge of that malignity, by the place of incision or elsewhere, it lays a foundation for many dangerous diseases. That the continuing the operation among us is likely to prove of the most dangerous consequence." Hutchinson 2:207. The selectmen (Cooke, et al) voted unanimously against inoculation. Printed in the BNL 24 July and in the BG, 31 July. The vote aligned the selectmen, leaders of the Old Charter Party, against the Boston ministers, led by Cotton Mather.

24 July, Monday, BNL: Writing as "W. Philanthropos," Douglass the essays against inoculation, attacking Dr. Zabdiel Boylston and Cotton Mather. Cf. 3 July.

31 July, Monday: BNL: "By the Order and at the Desire and Direction of the Select Men of the Town of Boston," John Forland told of the horrible results of inoculation in Corfu.

31 July (b) BG: In a 27 July letter, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, Benjamin Colman, Thomas Prince, John Webbe, and William Cooper defended Zabdiel Boylston and inoculation. Holmes, Increase Mather, No. 82-A, pointed out that Benjamin Colman wrote the letter. With its publication, the ministers (according to Douglass) "shut the Press against" the anti-inoculators. Douglass, Inoculation of the Small Pox as Practised in Boston (Boston: J. Franklin, 1722) 20.

1 August, Tuesday. Cotton Mather: "Full of Distress about Sammy; He begs to have his Life saved, by receiving the Small-Pox, in the way of Inoculation, whereof our Neighbourhood has had no less than ten remarkable Experiments; and if he should after all dy by receiving it in the common Way, how can I answer it? On the other Side, our People, who have Satan remarkably filling their Hearts and their Tongues, will go on with infinite Prejudices against me and my Ministry, if I suffer this Operation upon the Child: and be sure, if he should happen to miscarry under it, my Condition would be insupportable."

"His Grandfather advises that I keep the whole Proceeding private, and that I bring the Lad into this Method of Safety." Diary 535. Cf. 15 Aug.

2 August, Wednesday. Boston town meeting at 2pm chose representatives for the General Court (to meet 23 August). Elisha Cooke elected moderator. Dr. John Clarke, Elisha Cook, William Clarke, and William Hutchinson were elected representatives. The meeting voted to draw up instructions for the representatives. RRC 8:155-56, 13:86. See 11 August.

4 Aug, Friday. A Proclamation By His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq; . . . [Imposing] a Quaratine on Ships coming from France or the Mediterranean because of the prevalent Plague in those Parts. Ford 473.

4 Aug (b). Cotton Mather: "I will allow the persecuted Physician [Boylston], to publish my Communications from the Levant, about the Small-Pox, and supply him with some further Armour, to conquer the Dragon." Diary 2:636.

7 August, Monday. JF started his own newspaper, the lively and irreverent New England Courant, first American newspaper to feature humorous essays and other literary content. Campbell *X20; Evans 2268. The imprint read: "Boston: Printed and Sold by J. Franklin, at his Printing House in Queen Street, over against Mr. Sheaf's School, where Advertisements are taken in." He forgot to include the price, but did so in the second number, 14 Aug, adding "Price 4d. single, or 10s a Year." With the 5th NEC, 4 Sept, James lowered the price for a single number to 3 pence; raised it back to 4 pence with the following number, 11 Sept; lowered it on the 25th to 3 pence; raised in on 30 Oct to 4 pence; lowered it on 13 Nov to 3 pence; raised it on 18 Dec. to 6 pence; and lowered it on the 25th to 3 pence. His unprinted justification for the price changes was that he usually charged a higher price for issues of the paper that contained more than two pages. Nevertheless, the frequent changes must have been annoying to prospective customers for a single issue, and JF allowed the price to remain a 3 pence per issue throughout 1722. Then, on 13 May 1723, he raised the price of the paper to "4d single, or 12 s. a Year," making it the most expensive newspaper in early America. The other newspapers remained at 3d single, or 10 s. a year.

Isaiah Thomas judged: "Among the reasons which induced Franklin to publish the Courant, probably one, which was not the least considerable, was grounded on the circumstance of the publisher of the Gazette having taken the printing of it from him, and given it to another printer. He warmly attacked Musgrave, the publisher of the Gazette, in some of the first numbers of the Courant, and endeavored to have him turned out of office." Thomas, History of Printing, ed. McCorison, 234-35. I suspect, however, that JF's main reason was simply that he thought he could produce a better paper than either the BNL or BG. Besides, neither other paper would any longer print further materials against inoculation, so JF had a splendid opportunity to begin a paper by espousing a popular position.

William David Sloan (1991) argued that JF was an Anglican and that he established the paper "as part of a long-term effort to destroy Puritan popularity and establish in its stead the Church of England as the official church in Massachusetts Bay" (109). Sloan claimed that JF was an Anglican, but his only evidence is that a "J. Franklyn" contributed £10 in 1718 for "Building a Gallery, a New Pulpit, and adorning the Kings Chappel in Boston" (133). Sloan repeated the claim in Sloan and Julie Hedgepeth Williams, The Early American Press 27 and 46, n.135.

But there were other "J. Franklyns" in Boston beside Josiah (BF's father) and his sons Josiah, John, and James. (See RRC 9:13, 174, and 222 for a John, Joseph, and John Franklin, respectively, who could have been the "J. Franklyn" in question and who are not related to BF.) Further, JF had just started his printing business in 1718 (no JF imprints are known from any earlier date). In a cancelled passage in the Autobiography (A30), BF reported that JF borrowed the money from their father Josiah to start the business. JF could hardly have had the relatively large sum of £10 to spare for a church donation when he was twenty-one and just begining a business. Moreover, when JF married on 4 Feb 1723/4, the ceremony was performed by the Rev. John Webb at the New North Church, a Congregational church and minister. As far as we know, JF was a Congregationalist in 1721 and remained one. In reply to my query, Bertram Lippincott III, Librarian of the Newport Historical Society, wrote on 18 March 1994: "I have found no evidence that he [JF] or any members of his family were Anglicans (Trinity Church). He was buried at the Common Burial Ground (non-denominational) and his son James's death in 1765 was entered into the records of the Second Congregational Church by Rev. Ezra Stiles."

Several Couranteers were Anglicans because the Anglicans, like JF and Nathaniel Gardner, opposed the Matherian oligarchy (as did some good Puritans like John Wise) and because the other two newspapers followed the Matherian hegemony.

Sloan also believed that Nathaniel Gardner was an Anglican, see below, 4 Sept.

7 Aug (b). The first NEC opened with an essay by "Mr. John Checkley." (All attributions within quotation marks are by BF, from his file of the Courant at the British Library.) It mocked Yankee curiosity and the habit of asking endless questions of strangers. Cf. 19 Oct 1732 and the anecdote of BF and the curiosity of innkeepers (Zall # 72). The brief essay ended with a promise to appear every two weeks (JF at first doubted whether he would have enough material to publish the paper every week) and with a triplet satirizing the Mathers and deriding the inoculation controversy.

7 Aug (c). NEC: "Dr. [William] Douglass" wrote the second column, "A Continuation of the History of Inoculation in Boston." Continued from the BNL. Douglass slandered Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, pointed out that the Select Men of Boston had voted unanimously against inoculation, and attacked the clergy's letter of 31 July. "Six Gentlemen of Piety and Learning, profoundly ignorant of the Matter ... on the Merits of their Characters" recommended innoculation.

7 Aug (d). NEC announced Boston's election returns: "Boston, Aug 2," "John Clarke, Elisha Cook, William Hutchinson Esqrs; and Mr. William Clark Merchant." Neither BG nor BNL carried the news. Perhaps it was the first time a colonial newspaper carried the local election returns.

7 Aug (e). NEC: A news note of "sixty odd Soldiers" sailing for Arowsick Island, Maine, which had recently been attacked by Abnaki Indians, called forth the editorial comment: "Nothing can be more grateful to the poor, affrighted Strangers in those Parts, than this well-timed Expedition, for it cannot be imagin'd with what Horrour and confusion those poor People were seized, when they received the cruel (but unexpected) Menaces of those treacherous Barbarians." The note announced the printer's sympathy with the positions of the House's country members and mocked the fears of the recent immigrants ("Strangers").

11 Aug. Boston town meeting continued (from 2 Aug). After the town voted not to publish its instructions to the representatives at the public expense, Benjamin Gray had them printed at his expense. At a Publick Town Meeting of ... Boston ... on Wednesday Aug Second, and Continued by Adjournment to Fryday the Eleventh of the Said Month, Anno 1721 (Boston: for Benjamin Gray, 1721). Bristol 596; Evans mp 39735; Ford 465. T. H. Breen commented: "Another innovation occurred in 1721 when Boston printed its instructions to the representatives of the lower house. Every literate colonist, whether he attended Boston's town meeting or not, now knew what the city expected of its delegates; and the pressure on these representatives to honor their instructions must have been great." Breen, The Character of the Good Ruler 246.

14 August, Monday. NEC: "Dr. [William] Douglass" wrote the lead essay on inoculation: "A Project for reducing the Eastern Indians by Inoculation." The dream-vision may have influenced BF's Silence Dogood No. 4, the satire on Harvard.

14 Aug (b). NEC: Signing himself "C.A.," "Dr. [George] Steward" sent in a letter to the second Courant, against the "dangerous" practice of inoculation, enclosing an account of a letter from a physician at Marseilles on the epidemic there.

14 Aug (c). NEC advertised, "This Forenoon will be published [Thomas Walter], The Little Compton Scourge: Or, The Anti-Courant" (Boston: Printed and Sold by J. Franklin, [1721]), which assaulted Checkley. Bristol 617; no Campbell; Ford, Massachusetts Broadsides, no. 469. The broadside is the size of a leaf of the Courant and a copy is preserved in Franklin's Courant file in the Burney Collection, British Library. JF's publishing it shows his excellent publisher's instinct.

14 Aug (d). BNL: John Campbell replied to the Courant's insults. Reprinted in I. Thomas, History of Printing 222-23.

15 August, Tuesday. Cotton Mather: "My dear Sammy, is now under the Operation of receiving the Small-Pox in the way of Transplantation. The Success of the Experiment among my Neighbours, as well as abroad in the World, and the urgent Calls of his Grandfather for it, have made me think, that I could not answer it unto God, if I neglected it. ... And it may be hoped, with the more of Efficacy, because his dearest Companion (and his Chamber-fellow at the Colledge,) dies this Day, of the Small-pox taken in the common way." Diary 638. Cf. 1 Aug.

21 August, Monday. NEC: "Jack Dulman [i.e., JF] to John Campbell (on his Satyrical Advertisement in his BNL sendeth Greeting)." Calendar 5. First four-page NEC.

21 Aug. (). NEC featured "The History of Inoculation continued," by "Dr. [William] Douglass."

21 Aug (c). NEC: The physician "Dr. [John] Gibbins" (1688-1760), p. 2, col. 1, replied to Walter's Little Compton Scourge with an ad hominem attack accusing him of being a drunk and threatening to expose other scandals about him.

21 Aug. (d). NEC "Mr. John Checkley's" anonymous essay (p. 2, col. 2) opposed inoculation and savagely replied to Walter. For the brief poem, see Calendar 6. The essay shocked Boston, and a number of the early subscribers (like Increase Mather) to the NEC cancelled their subscription. JF dropped Checkley as a contributor.

23 Aug, Wednesday. "On Wednesday last the 23d Current, the General Assembly of this Province met at the George Tavern near Roxbury." BNL 28 Aug. The General Court met out of town to avoid the smallpox in Boston. Since Shute wrote the Board of Trade of the "levelling tendencies" of Boston's leaders, the Council may also have been trying to avoid their influence (Warden, Boston 98).

23 Aug (b). Election day, the House again chose Dr. John Clarke Speaker. Journals 3: 86-87.

24 August, Thursday. Cotton Mather: "The Town has become almost an Hell upon Earth, a City full of Lies, and Murders, and Blasphemies, as far as Wishes and Speeches can render it so; Satan seems to take a strange Possession of it, in the epidemic Rage, against that notable and powerful and Successful way of saving the Lives of People from the Dangers of the Small-Pox." Diary 639.

25 August, Friday. Cotton Mather: "My dear Sammy, has this Week had a dangerous and threatening Fever come upon him, which is beyond what the Inoculation of the Small-Pox has hitherto brought upon any Subjects of it. In this Distress, I have cried unto the Lord; and He has answered with a Measure of Restraint upon the Fever. The Eruption proceeds, and he proves pretty full, and has not the best sort, and some Degree of the Fever holds him. His Condition is very hazardous." Diary 2:639-40. Cf. 1 and 15 Aug.

28 August, Monday. NEC: The fourth NEC consisted of only three pages, thus leaving a fourth page blank. Publishers rarely wasted a page. An extraordinary news item, like the outbreak of war, might cause a printer to do so, but no exceptional occasion occurred on 28 August. Perhaps JF had set in type a four-page Courant but then, finding that his father Josiah, his minister Ebenezer Pemberton, and other friends thought the last Courant reprehensible, he suppressed one or more vituperative essays (perhaps another contribution by Checkley) from the fourth issue at the last moment. JF apologized for the 21 Aug NEC's contents on 4 Sept and 4 Dec.

28 Aug (b). NEC featured an essay against inoculation by "The Rev. Mr. [Henry] Harris," signed "Frank Scammory."

28 Aug (c). NEC, "Mr. JF" published his poem, p. 2, col. 2, "On the Distress of the Town of Boston, occasioned by the Small Pox." Calendar 7.

28 Aug (d). BNL: "For Publick Use, we desire the favour of you to give this place in your Intelligence, Remembring that some Weeks past, you entertained your Readers with a sad Account of a scandalous Club [6 July], set up in London; to Insult the most sacred Principles of the Christian Religion, tending to Corrupt the Minds and Morals of the People: Against whom the King in Council, gave strict Command and Orders for discovering, prosecuting and severely punishing any that are found guilty of such Impieties."

"And for a Lamentation to our Amazement (notwithstanding of GOD's hand out against us, in His Visitation of the Small-Pox in Boston, and the threatening Aspect of the Wet-Weather,) we find a Notorious, Scandalous Paper, call'd the Courant, full freighted with Nonsence, Unmannerliness, Railery, Prophaneness, Immorality, Arrogancy, Calumnies, Lyes, Contradictions, and what not, all tending to Quarrels and Divisions, and to Debauch and Corrupt the Minds and Manners of New-England. And what likewise troubles us is, That is goes Currant among the People, that the Practitioners of Physick in Boston, who exert themselves in discovering the evil of Inoculation and its Tendancies (several of whom we know to be Gentlemen by Birth, Learning, Education, Probity and good Manners, that abhors any ill Action) are said esteem'd and reputed to be the Authors of that Flagicious and Wicked Paper; who we hope and trust will clear themselves off and from the Imputation, else People will take it for granted, they are a New Club set up in New-England, like to that in our Mother England, whom we sincerely and heartily admonish warn and advise, not only to remember Lots Wife; But also what befell several of that Club in England; (which we forbear to name) lest their Bands be made strong, and a worse thing befall them."

William Douglass, 3 Sept, identified the author as Cotton Mather. Not in Holmes, Cotton Mather; nor in Silverman. Kittridge ("Further Notes," 283-84, and Mather's Several Reasons, 18-19) briefly discussed the piece but made no attribution. Tourtellot 257 said that it "bore all the stylistic and verbal earmarks of Cotton Mather." (Cf. 15 Jan 1722.) I agree with Douglass and Tourtellot that Cotton Mather wrote it.

28 Aug (e). BNL: "J[ohn] C[ampbell]" made an ad hominem reply to the Courant's "Jack Dullman." Reprinted by Isaiah Thomas, History of Printing 223-24.

Aug or Sept?, [Cotton Mather and] Zabdiel Boylston, Some Account of what is said of Inoculating ... the Small Pox By ... Timonius and ... Pylarinus (Boston: Sold by S. Gerrish, 1721). Austin 1231; Evans 2206; Holmes, Cotton Mather, no. 362.

1 Sept, Friday. Elisha Cooke and his committee replied to the governor's speech of 31 March upon dissolving the assembly. Concerning the governor's charge that the House was disloyal in denying that the governor could negative the speaker, Cooke said: "Notwithstanding what the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations have wrote to your Excellency concerning your power of Non-concurring the Choice of a Speaker, and the opinion of the Attorney General in England thereon; We beg leave in all defference to that Board or Mr. Attorney's Opinion, to esteem it our duty to maintain and enjoy all the Rights and Liberties which we claim, or ought to claim by the Royal Charter; or what is the Right of this people, either as English men, or by force and virtue of any Laws made by this Government; and inasmuch as the Charter is wholly silent touching the Election of a Speaker, and the Law of this Province, made in the fourth year of King William and Queen Mary directs that matter; We would humbly presume, that it can in no wise be an offence to His Majesty, or taken as a disrespect or slight upon His Majesty's Instructions, or bearing upon His Royal Prerogative, for the House of Representatives to claim the sole Election, & constituting of a Speaker." Journals 3:107.

4 Sept, Monday. "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner," writing as "Zerubbabel Tindal" (the pseudonym may have alluded to the infamous deist, Matthew Tindal), published his first piece in the NEC, p. 1, col. 1. He complained in a hyperbolic style that the Courant's emphasis upon inoculation bored the town. The club of wits headed by Zerubbabel Tindal could supply the Courant with constant entertainment: "Some of us are Batchellors, and well vers'd in the Theory of Love." The pose of a theoretical lover was charming. It applied the usual satire of the virtuosi to the lover. Others club members included poets, astronomers, philosophers, and politicians. Tindal/Gardner promised, in effect, to send in amusing pieces on all topics.

Sloan claimed that Nathaniel Gardner, as well as JF, was an Anglican, rather than a Congregationalist, but Sloan overlooked the standard article on Gardner by my former student Joseph Fireoved.

4 Sept (b). NEC: "Mr. JF" replied to Gardner as "Timothy Turnstone" (p. 1, cols. 1-2) and mockingly alluded to New England's ballad poet, Tom Law.

4 Sept (c). NEC: "Peter Columbus" replied to Mr. C[ampbel]l's well wishers. Calendar 8.

4 Sept (d). NEC JF, p. 2, col. 2, apologized: "Several Gentlemen in Town believing that this Paper (by what was inserted in No. 3.) was published with a Design to bring the Persons of the Clergy into Contempt, the Publisher thinks himself oblig'd to give Notice, that he has chang'd his Author; and promises, that nothing for the future shall be inserted, anyways reflecting on the Clergy or Government, and nothing but what is innonently [sic] Diverting. N.B. Any short Piece declaring either for or against Inoculation, may be inserted in this Paper, provided it be free from malicious Reflections."

4 Sept (e). NEC advertised: "To be published with all convenient speed, An Essay on the Rash and Dubious Practice of Inoculation; with a short Answer to a late Piece called, Some Account of what is said. Not in Evans; perhaps never published. Guerra lists the advertisement, p. 540; but did not locate the pamphlet.

4 Sept (f). BG: Dr. Douglass, writing as "W. Anti-Inoculator," separated himself and the society of physicians from JF and the NEC. "The Members of the Society of Physicians Anti-Inoculators do not conceal themselves, and if in the least they are guilty as that Blaspheming Hell-fire horrid Club in England, the Authority, for the Good of the Community, ought to oblige the Authors or Publishers of that vile Libel in the Boston News-Letter to make good their Charge that such execrable wickedness may be crushed in Embrio, and the said Men suffer exemplary punishment; or on the other side vindicate New-England from such horrid aspersions, and brand the Authors of the said Libel as infamous Libellers."

7 Sept, Thursday. Cotton Mather finished his pamphlet An Account of the Method and Success of Inoculating the Small-Pox, in Boston, in New England (London: For J. Peele, 1722). Holmes, Cotton Mather, no. 3.

post 7 Sept. William Claggett. A Looking-Glass for Elder Clarke and Elder Wightman, and the Church under their Care. [Boston: JF] for J. Rhodes, J. Rogers, W. Claggett & Co. Campbell X19; Evans 2209. Several portions of the pamphlet are dated; the last date, found both in the preface and on p. 236, is 7 Sept.

8 Sept, Friday. House finally (it was usually done in late June or early July) voted £500 for Gov. Shute's salary. Journals 3:127.

11 Sept, Monday. NEC reprinted Cato's Letter of 10 June from the London Journal. The Couranteers cited Cato's Letters, by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, more than any other single source. The NEC's frequent reprinting of Cato's Letters (e.g., 9, 16, 23 and 30 Oct) revealed its Whiggish ideological tendency, though Massachusetts politics were more complicated than simply the split between Whig and Tory. The Couranteers also found it safer to reprint a London publication than to write an original radical statement that might be judged libelous.

11 Sept (b). NEC original character sketch of a miser by "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner," p. 1, col. 2, was dated from "Sagadahock, Aug. 25" and signed "JETHRO SHAM, Advisor-General." Gardner concluded with a sententiae that Franklin later echoed: "he is not the Happy man, who has abundance, but he who is contented in the Enjoyment of what he has." (Cf. Poor Richard for July, 1735: "Who is rich? He that is content.") The "character" was an old-fashioned genre, which BF used brilliantly in his portrait of the croaker, Samuel Mickel (A60).

11 Sept (c). Boston selectmen ordered that only one bell could be tolled at a funeral "and that but a first and a Second time." RRC 13: 87. Evidently bells tolling the deaths from the smallpox were alarming some persons. Cf. 12 Dec.

18 Sept, Monday. By His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq; ... A Proclamation [18 Sept], for a General Thanksgiving ... for giving so great a Measure of Health within this Province, and Moderating the Mortality of the Small Pox, so that a great Number of Persons are Recovered from that Distemper (Boston: B. Green, 1721). Evans 2240; Ford 475. Thanksgiving day to be held 26 Oct. Since the smallpox peaked in October, with 411 deaths that month, the thanksgiving was premature. Cf. 22 Jan (g) 1721/2.

25 Sept, Monday. NEC: The 25 Sept 1721 paper contained two pieces by "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner." The lead essay, dated "Cambridge, Sep. 22, 1721" derided those who prophesied the exact time of the world's end. Though ridiculing millenarianism and religious charlatans, it ended with a traditional religious conclusion. Fireoved 226-27 has an extended commentary. It seems unlikely, but BF may have recalled it when he wrote the "Ephemera" (20 Sept 1778).

25 Sept (b). NEC: "Mr. JF" wrote a war-of-sexes poem under the pseudonym "Lucilius," p. 1, col. 2. Calendar 9.

25 Sept (c). NEC: In a mock advertisement, "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner," p. 1, col. 2, complained of women sitting down during public prayers and smiling and playing "with their Fans, an Indication of criminal Carelessness, and Unthoughtfulness of the awful Presence they are in." Discussed by Fireoved, 226-27.

2 Oct, Monday. NEC: "Amelia" replied to "Lucilius" (25 Sept). Calendar 10.

9 Oct, Monday, NEC: Reprinted a Cato letter on flattery (cf. 11 Sept).

9 Oct (b). NEC: "Lucilius" replied to "Amelia" (2 Oct). Calendar 11.

9 Oct (c). NEC: "Madame Staples" published a poem over the signature "Renuncles" replying to JF's "Lucilius" (25 Sept). Calendar 12. It is the only known Courant contribution by a woman and the first known publication by a woman in a colonial periodical. I guess at her identity in the biography.

16 Oct, Monday. NEC: Continued the Cato letters on flattery.

16 Oct (b). "Lucilius to Renuncles." Calendar 14.

16 Oct (c). "While in JEHOVAH's Courts I trembling stand." Calendar 15.

18 Oct, Wednesday. Cotton Mather: "My Kinsman at Roxbury [Walter] needs to be advised as well as assisted by me, for the Accomplishment of his desire to suffer and escape the Small-pox, in the Way of inoculation." Diary 2:653.

25 Oct, Wednesday. Cotton Mather: "My kinsman at Roxbury, I will send for him, to lodge at my House, that he may there have the Small-Pox in the way of Inoculation upon him." Diary 2:654.

26 Oct, Thursday. Thanksgiving Day, see 18 Sept.

30 Oct, Monday, NEC: Reprinted another of Cato's Letters (cf. 11 Sept; the 23 and 30 Oct reprints set forth the Whig philosophy and theory of government).

30 Oct (b). BG essay giving "A Faithful Account of what has occurr'd under the late Experiments of the Small-Pox managed and governed in the way of Inoculation." By Cotton Mather. Holmes, Cotton Mather 1:357 (no. 122), citing Kittredge, "Lost Works" 460. Silverman, Cotton Mather, 348-49.

31 Oct, Tuesday. Rev. Thomas Walter inoculated by Dr. Boylston at Cotton Mather's house. Boylston, Historical Account, 20.

1 Nov, Wednesday. Cotton Mather: "I am giving a Reception in my House to my Kinsman T. W[alter] who is come under the Inoculation of the Small-Pox." Diary 2:655.

3 Nov, Friday. Cotton Mather: "This abominable Town, treats me in a most malicious, and murderous Manner, for my doing as CHRIST would have me to do, in saving the Lives of the People from an horrible Death." Diary 2: 655.

4 Nov, Saturday, a meeting of freeholders, "Voted that whosoever Shal come into this Town of Boston from any other Town Presumpteously to bring the Smal Pox on him or her selfe, or be Inoculated, Shal be forthwith Sent to the Hospital or pest house, unles they See cause to depart to their own home or if any Person be found in Town under that operation, which may be an Occasion of Continuing a malignant infection and Increacing it, among us, that they be Removed Imediately Least by alowing this practis the Town be made an Hospital for that which may prove worse then the Smal pox, which has already put So many into mourning." RRC 8: 159. Cotton Mather ignored the vote to care for Thomas Walter.

6 Nov, Monday. NEC: Seemingly inspired by Dr. Douglass's piece in the second Courant, 14 Aug (concerning the three evils of "Sword, Famine and Pestilence"), "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner" referred to the scourge in the lead essay, dated "Westtown, Octob. 20, 1721." Instead of blaming the ministers for spreading the pestilence, Gardner wrote a mock jeremiad. The sins of the land had called forth the smallpox: "the crying Abominations that are found in the midst of us; the Prophaneness and Debauchery; the Pride, Idleness, and Luxury; the Injustice and Oppression; and (to name no more) the too general Contempt of the Glorious Gospel." One might be suspicious about what "Injustice and Oppression" the writer had in mind, but what really turned the tables was a last charge: "the irregular Conduct of too many who make the loftiest Profession" of religion. That seemed to point at the Mathers. Gardner concluded: "And to sum up all, Let us give Glory to God, by acknowledging, that he is righteous in all that he has brought upon us: Let us UNITE in our importunate and incessant Prayers to him, that he would sanctify and remove this Visitation; that he would save us from greater Judgments, which we both fear and deserve: And who knows, but he may hear from Heaven his dwelling Place, and forgive, and heal our Land."

To some readers, it must have seemed that a minister used the Courant to publish his sermon. But the Mathers and others realized that the piece travestied Increase Mather's Heavens Alarm to the World (1681), a jeremiad occasioned by the appearance of the 1680 comet. (Fireoved 221-23 pointed out the resemblances.) Most Courant readers would have discerned that the piece mocked the ministers, especially the Mathers.

6 Nov (B). NEC: A short letter by "Peter Hakins" (whom BF identified as "Mr. John Eyre") pp. 3-4, attacked the ministers. Eyre noted that in "last Monday's Gazette" (30 Oct), a piece by a "Reverend Author" (C. Mather's "Faithful Account") appeared concerning inoculation. After saying that he would not dare disagree with such an authority, Eyre blasted him by citing "Dr. Grumble in Monk's Life." (Thomas Gumble, Life of General Monck, Duke of Albemarle [London, 1671].) "'Doubtless (says the Dr.) a Clergyman, while he keeps within the Sphere of his Duty to God and his People, is an Angel of Heaven; but when he shall degenerate from his own Calling, and fall into the Intrigues of State and Time-Serving, he becomes a Devil; and from a Star in the Firmament of Heaven, he becomes a sooty Coal in the blackest Hell, and receiveth the greatest Damnation.'" Eyre echoed John Colman's statement (19 July and post 19 Dec 1720) that the clergy should stick to theology. Cf. 4 and 19 Sept and 4 Dec 1721.

13 Nov, Monday. Cotton Mather and JF chanced to meet on the street. Mather broke out: "Young Man: You Entertain, and no doubt you think you Edify, the Publick, with a Weekly Paper, called The Courant. The Plain Design of your Paper, is to Banter and Abuse the Ministers of God, and if you can, to defeat all the good Effects of their Ministry on the Minds of the People. You may do well to Remember that it is a Passage, in the Blessing on the Tribe of Levi, Smite Thro' the Loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him. I would have you to know, That the Faithful Ministers of Christ in this Place, are as honest, and useful Men as the Ancient Levites were, and are as Dear to their Glorious Lord as the Ancient Levites were: And if you Resolve to go on in serving their Great Adversary as you do, you must expect the Consequence." Cotton Mather in the 4 Dec NEC.

13 Nov (b). Boston selectmen resolved to prosecute persons who came to Boston to be inoculated or to be treated. RRC 13:90-91.

14 Nov, Tuesday. A grenade was thrown in Cotton Mather's home. See below, 16 and 20 Nov, and Mather's Diary, 657-58. Hutchinson, History, 2:207 noted: "I remember to have seen the shell, which was not filled with powder but a mixture of brimstone with bituminous matter."

16 Nov, Thursday. By His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq; . . . A proclamation offering a reward of £50 for information concerning the person responsible for throwing a grenade into the home of Dr. Cotton Mather. Ford 476. Printed in BNL 20 Nov. 1721.

17 Nov, Friday. House voted £500 for Gov. Shute's salary. Journals 3:127.

20 Nov, Monday. NEC: "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner" in the lead essay, writing as "Hortensius," said the paper intended "to reform the present declining Age, and render it more polite and virtuous." He dwelt upon the difficulty of the task and the paper's impartiality. The conclusion, though, makes it apparent that the author believed authorities, as well as criminals, should be questioned: "Briefly, promote Enquiries after Truth, quicken and rouze the Slothful, animate and inspire the Dull: And however the World has been impos'd on, it will soon appear, that Crimes are not lessen'd and sanctifi'd because committed by Men in High Station, or of Reverend Name; nor are they inhanced because they are perpetrated by the Obscure and Mean."

20 Nov (b). NEC. A short article, ostensibly in favor of inoculation, was, according to BF, by "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner in Imitation of Dr. Mather." Gardner slyly made it seem as if Mather supported and contributed to the NEC. The brief letter "from an unknown Hand, in favour of Inoculation" opened: "Tho' many, very many Useful and Excellent Arts, with which the World was bless'd in former Ages, are, they say, intirely lost; yet Our Age is happily favour'd with a wonderful and rare Discovery, more Worth than all of them: Shall I say, More Worth than a World!" Perry Miller, NE Mind: From Colony to Province 358, observed: "What really stung in this little skit was not only that Mather's eloquence became absurd, but that the whole formula of the jeremiad, with its cosmic threats, was reduced to nonsense." The tobacconist John Williams was among the locals who did not realize that the piece was a burlesque (cf. 11 Dec).

20 Nov (c). All three Boston papers of 20 Nov carried the news of a grenade thrown into Cotton Mather's house, by chance into the room where the Rev. Thomas Walter slept while recovering from inoculation.

post 20 Nov, Monday. Benjamin Colman's Some Observations on the New Method of receiving the Small Pox, by Ingrafting or Inoculating (Boston: B. Green, for S. Gerrish, 1721). Austin 504; Evans 2211. The introduction is dated 20 Nov. Perry Miller, From Colony to Province, 352-53, has an appreciation.

23 Nov, Thursday, Cotton Mather: "I join with my aged Father, in publishing some, Sentiments on the Small-Pox Inoculated." Diary 660. Increase Mather, Several Reasons, proving that Inoculation ... is a lawful Practice. Dated 20 Nov. The verso contains: Cotton Mather, Sentiments on the Small Pox Inoculated (Boston: S. Kneeland for Edwards, 1721). Austin 1233; Evans 2258; Holmes, Cotton Mather, 346a; Holmes, Increase Mather, 120A; Ford, Massachusetts Broadsides, no. 478. Reprinted with a long introduction by George Lyman Kittredge (Cleveland, 1921). Advertised in the 27 Nov NEC as "Just Published," it must have appeared several days before then, for Gardner burlesqued it in the 27 Nov NEC.

27 Nov, Monday. NEC: A poem by "Mr. Matthew Adams." The conventional short religious poem was "occasioned by the melancholy Prospect which the Author had some time since of the present doleful Circumstances of the Place." Calendar 17.

27 Nov (b). NEC: "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner," p. 2, col. 2, burlesqued the Mathers' simple-minded repetitions in Sentiments and Several Reasons (23 Nov), especially Cotton Mather's circular syllogisms. Gardner's first parody: "Argument I. A Method of preventing Death, which I have read is used in Smyrna and Constantinople with Success, is not only lawful but a Duty. But, I have read that at Smyrna and Constantinople, inoculating the Small Pox is practiced with Success. Therefore, 'Tis not only lawful, but also a Duty to practice it." Gardner's third syllogism ridiculed the Mathers' authoritarian approach: "Arg. III. A method of preventing Death, which is approv'd by Magistrates and Ministers, is not only lawful but a Duty. But, Magistrates and Ministers do approve of inoculating the Small Pox. Therefore, it is not only lawful, but a Duty." Gardner deliberately misstated the position of the Boston magistrates, who did not approve of inoculation (see above, 21 July). Gardner's irony underscored his point that appeals to authority had nothing to do with the success or failure of inoculation.

The following silly syllogism ridiculed the Mathers' attacks on their enemies: "Arg. IV. A Method of preventing Death, which the known Children of the Wicked One, are fierce Enemies to, is not only lawful, but a Duty. But, The known Children of the Wicked One, do fiercely oppose Inoculation. Therefore, It is not only lawful, but a Duty." Gardner even named Increase and Cotton Mather: "Arg. VI. A Method of preventing Death, which Dr. I------e M----r and his Son, and several other Ministers say is the right Way, is not only lawful, but a Duty. But, Dr. I------e M----r and his Son, &c. do say, That Inoculation is the right Way. Therefore, Inoculation is not only lawful, but a Duty." Young Franklin, who later delighted in exposing the logical fallacies of his opponents (see Canon, 23, 29, 39, 58, 67, 96-97, 101, 128, 135), must have relished Gardner's travesty. Discussed by Fireoved, 220-21.

30 Nov, Thursday. William Hutchinson, Boston representative, died of smallpox at Cambridge where the General Court had been meeting. Thomas Hutchinson wrote: "In the midst of the dispute, Mr. [William] Hutchinson, one of the members for Boston, was seized with the small pox and died in a few days [30 Nov]. The Speaker, Mr. [Dr. John] Clarke, was one of the most noted physicians in Boston and, notwithstanding all his care to cleanse himself from infection after visiting his patients, it was supposed, brought the distemper to his brother member, which so terrified the court, that after the report of his [Hutchinson's] being seized, it was not possible to keep them together and the governor found it necessary to prorogue them." Hutchinson, History 2:204. See 4 Dec (c).

1 Dec, Friday. Cotton Mather: "Warnings are to be given unto the wicked Printer, and his Accomplices, who every week publish a vile Paper to lessen and blacken the Ministers of the Town, and render their Ministry ineffectual. A Wickedness never parallel'd anywhere upon the Face of the Earth!" Diary 2:663.

4 Dec, Monday. NEC: "Mr. JF," supposedly smarting from Cotton Mather's verbal attack in the chance meeting of 13 Nov, defended his conduct. "The severe Treatment I have met with on account of some late Pieces inserted in this Paper, is known to all who know any thing of the present unhappy Divisions of the Town." He paraphrased Cotton Mather's 13 Nov verbal attack and commented: "This heinous Charge and heavy Curse would have been more surprizing to me, if it had not come from one who is ever as groundless in his Invectives as in his Panegyricks." (The readers recognized JF's references both to Mather's invectives against him and to Mather's accolades for Gov. Shute.) Franklin said that he regretted printing the two pieces in the third Courant, though "my Printing [Thomas Walter's] the Anti-Courant, laid me under some Obligation to publish them." He wrote that Cotton Mather "has endeavour'd to make me an Object of publick Odium, for no other Reason than my publishing an Answer to a Piece in the Gazette of Oct 30. wherein the greatest Part of the Town are represented as unaccountable Lyars and Self-Destroyers, for opposing the Practice of Inoculation."

Then JF republished the answer by "Peter Hakins" (John Eyre, 6 Nov) which cited "Dr. Grumble's" opinion of a clergyman's proper sphere from the Life of George Monck. (JF reprinted from 6 Nov the misspelling of Thomas Gumble as "Grumble"; evidently he did not know the book.) JF (falsely) claimed that "the Authors of many of the Letters sent to me" were unknown. He added that several ministers both in the town and the country subscribed for the Courant, "which I believe they wou'd not do, if they thought it publish'd on purpose to bring their Persons into Disesteem." He then made an argument that cast doubt upon his own religious convictions: "As, in Controversies of Religion, nothing is more frequent than for Divines themselves to press the same Texts from opposite Tenets [repeated by Benjamin Franklin in his spoof of titles on honor, 18 Feb 1723 (P 1:51)], they cannot fairly condemn a Man for dissenting from them in Matters of Religion; much less can any Man be thought to hinder the Success of the Work of a Minister, by opposing him in that which is not properly a Minister's Work."

JF called upon his favorite contemporary source, Cato's Letters: "'To attempt to reduce all Men to the same Standard of thinking, is (as the British Cato observes) absurd in Philosophy, impious in Religion, and Faction in the State.'" Evidently thinking of the play Cato, Perry Miller mistakenly attributed the quotation to Addison (NE Mind: From Colony to Province 336). Franklin appealed to the freedom of the press: "to anathematize a Printer for publishing the different opinions of Men, is as injudicious as it is wicked." His argument clearly had the high ground and made Cotton Mather seem both authoritarian and a tool of the governor. The printer concluded the 4 Dec lead essay by proclaiming "that both Inoculators and Anti-Inoculators are welcome" in the Courant. "I hereby invite all Men, who have Leisure, Inclination and Ability, to speak their Minds with Freedom, Sense and Moderation, and their Pieces shall be welcome to a Place in my Paper."

4 Dec. (b). In the same NEC, supposedly after JF had set the types of the above story, the printer received Cotton Mather's own account of the incident and published it too. BF annotated the following, "Supposed to be Dr. Mather," p. 2: "The Reason of this faithful Admonition was, because the Practice of supporting, and publishing every Week, a Libel, on purpose to lessen and Blacken, and Burlesque the Virtuous, and Principal Ministers of Religion in a Country, and render all the Services of their Ministry Despicable, and even Detestable to the People, is a Wickedness that was never known before, in any Country, Christian, Turkish, or Pagan, on the face of the Earth, and some Good Men are afraid it may provoke Heaven, to deal with this Place, in some regards as ne'er any place has yet been dealt withal, and a Charity to this Young Man, and his Accomplices might render such a Warning proper for them."

Years later, BF may have recalled Mather's diatribe on a wickedness never known in any counry, Christian, Turkish, or Pagan, in his 1764 Narrative of the Late Massacres where he claims that, according to the laws of hospitality, the Christian Indians would have been safe among the "ancient Heathens," or among the "cruel Turks," or among the Moors of Spain, or "among the Negroes of Africa," or anywhere in the world "except in the Neighbourhood of the Christian White Savages of Peckstand and Donegall" (P 11:65-66).

Tourtellot 268 suggested that the brief prefatory letter by Castalio was not by Mather. JF appended after Cotton Mather's communication, a comment: "The Author of this faithful Admonition, is certainly under a Degree of Distraction, or he wou'd never desire a Thing to be made publick so much to his own Confusion: Nor could the best Friend I have in the World, have done more to clear up my Reputation."

JF then refuted Cotton Mather's charge that never before had the ministers of Boston been so attacked. The newspaperman quoted excerpts from an English newspaper article on the expulsion from the House of Representatives of G[ershon] W[oode]l, a representative from Tiverton, MA, who had been dismissed on 15 July 1720, for expressing "himself with great Enmity to the Ministers of this Province." Journals 2:239-40. Further, on 20 Nov 1716, Robert Durfey of Freetown, MA., had been expelled for seldom attending public worship, profaning the Sabbath, and obstructing the settlement of an orthodox minister. Journals 1:145. Significantly, the Boston periodical press (the Courant had not then started publication) did not mention the expulsion of Durfey or Woodell. In conclusion, the printer also quoted extracts from a vicious poetic satire that had appeared in the St. James's Post against Boston's ministers.

4 Dec. (c). NEC obituary celebrated the deceased William Hutchinson (see 30 Nov) for defending "the just Rights and Liberties of this People." Neither the BNL nor the BG of 4 Dec (both of which also published obituary notices of Hutchinson) used the Whiggish clichés to describe and praise him.

4 Dec. (d). NEC advertised: "This Week will be publish'd," John Williams's Several Arguments, but it did not appear until 11 Dec.

4 Dec. (e). BNL advertised: Benjamin Colman , Some Observations on the New Method of Receiving the Small-Pox by Inoculation (Boston: Green for Gerrish, 1721). Evans 2211.

4 Dec. (f). BNL advertised: [William Cooper], A Letter to a Friend in the Country, attempting a Solution of the Scruples . . . By another Minister of Boston (Boston: Kneeland for Green, 1721). Austin 538; Evans 2247. See Holmes, Cotton Mather, 2: 536-37, for the authorship. Also advertised in the 11 Dec. NEC. Guerra a-54 thought it was by William Douglass.

9 Dec, Saturday: Cotton Mather: "Warnings are to be given unto the wicked Printer, and his Accomplices, who every week publish a vile Paper to lessen and blacken the Ministers of the Town, and render their Ministry ineffectual. A Wickedness never parallel'd any where upon the Face of the Earth!" Diary 663.

10 Dec, Sunday. John Burrill, Councillor and former Speaker of the House, died of the smallpox at Lynn. Hutchinson 2:176.

11 Dec, Monday. NEC: JF wrote a mock news item (or perhaps a real note to which he added an ironic comment) that anticipated the wonderfully bawdy filler occasionally written later by BF: "a certain Man at Stonington ... lately castrated himself; which has occasioned abundance of Waggish talk among the looser Sort of Female Tribe, who are so incensed against him, that some of them talk hotly of throwing Stones at him, if he lives to come abroad again."

11 Dec (b). NEC advertised that John Williams's Several Arguments appeared "This Day." John Williams, Several Arguments, proving that Inoculation of the small Pox is not contained in the Law of Physick, either Natural or Divine, and therefore Unlawful. Together with a Reply to two short Pieces, one by the Rev. Dr. Increase Mather, and other by an Anonymous Author, intituled, Sentiments on the Small Pox Ioculated. And also, A short Answer to a late Letter in the New England Courant (Boston: J. Franklin, 1721). Austin 2058; Evans 2307. Kittredge, "Lost Works," 471, mistakenly said that the "Second Edition" was advertised on 4 Dec, but the first printing was advertised then. JF was frequently too optimistic--the tract did not appear until the 11th. JF printed and published it himself, thus gambling that its sale would justify the printing. BF may have set the type for the pamphlet, and he certainly knew its sentiments, for he echoed the dedication in the beginning of Silence Dogood No. 1. Williams wrote: "Say not who hath written, but consider what is written . ... Say not that he is a Mechanick, and an illiterate Man; for there is good Mettal sometimes under a mean Soil."

The tobacconist Williams knew nothing of the inner circle of the Couranteers and had little literary perceptiveness. Williams's "Answer to a Late Letter in the New England Courant" (in Several Arguments, 19-20) replied to Nathaniel Gardner's letter "in Imitation of Dr. Mather" in the 20 Nov Courant. Williams did not know or suspect that Gardner had written a mock jeremiad. He thought Cotton Mather wrote the piece. The "Second Edition" (which contained, as Kittredge said, only a few changes) was first advertised as "Just Published" in the 18 Dec paper.

11 Dec (c). NEC advertised A Letter from One in the Country, to his Friend in the City; in Relation to their Distresses occasioned by the doubtful and prevailing Practice of the Inoculation of the Small Pox as "Just Published" and for sale by "Nicholas Boone . . . and John Edwards." Since no publisher is given, JF may have printed it. Austin 1142; Evans 2229. A reply to William Cooper, A Letter to a friend in the Country (above, 4 Dec (f)). Kittredge, ed. Several Reasons 24, noted it was evidently addressed to Dr. Francis Archibald.

11 Dec (d). To the NEC imprint given above (7 August), JF added: "Advertisements and Letters are taken in by J. Edwards, at the Corner Shop on the North Side of the Town-House, and at the Place of Sale. Price 6d. single, or 10s a year."

11 Dec (e). BG: A satirical advertisement claimed that NECourants were sent gratis to New Hampshire. See the replies in the 18 Dec NEC.

11 Dec (f). John White, clerk of the House, died of the smallpox by inoculation. Zabdiel Boylston inoculated 286 persons of whom only six (including John White) died.

12 Dec, Tuesday. The Boston selectmen, "in as much as the funerals at the present thro' the goodness of God are very much abated, & not many more then in a time of health," rescinded the order of 11 Sept regulating the tolling of bells at a funeral. RRC 13:92.

ante 18 December. John Williams, 18 Dec (e), referred to [William Cooper], A Letter to a Friend in the Country (Boston: S. Kneeland for S. Gerrish, 1721), as a "late" pamphlet. Evans 2247; Guerra a-53. Holmes, Cotton Mather, 2:536-37, proved that William Cooper rather than Cotton Mather wrote it. It was dated 20 Nov at the end.

18 Dec, Monday. NEC "Dr. [George] Steward" wrote a letter opposing inoculation signed "Absinthium," p. 1, claiming that only persons in excellent health were inoculated and that any one who died shortly after inoculation died from inoculation. Further, evidence indicated that inoculated persons could spread the plague. Fourteen persons had died from inoculation. Surely, he argued, making a well man sick differed from making a sick man well.

18 Dec (b). NEC: "Mr. JF," p. 2, col. 1, writing as "Timothy Turnstone" (cf. 4 Sept), replied with an ad hominem attack on the supposed author of the BG advertisement of 11 Dec as "your Worship," thus pointing at Samuel Penhallow (1665-1726), chief justice of New Hampshire's superior court and Cotton Mather's friend. Calendar 18.

18 Dec (c). NEC: "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner," adopting the pseudonym "TOM. PENSHALLOW," p. 2, col. 2, complained of the slavery of New Hampshire's citizens, compared to the liberty and freedom enjoyed by Massachusetts citizens. "Penshallow" said, "Ever since the New Laws have been Enacted, there is not a private Man among us who dare open his Lips, unless it be to flatter." "As for Freedom of Speech, it is utterly suppress'd among us, and I suppose quickly we shall be hang'd for our Thoughts: And that those Laws did not pass at B[osto]n, I hear is owing to the Conduct of some brave Men among you." Penshallow claimed that the Courant would be forbidden in New Hampshire because it "sometimes sets forth the Rights and Liberties of Mankind." Gardner/Penshallow then quoted Mather's Bonifacius as saying that mischiefs have sometimes been established by laws. The obnoxious law was a bill to prevent riots by restricting the right of assembly. See Albert S. Batchellor et al., ed. Laws of New Hampshire, 10 v. (Manchester, NH: 1904-16), 2:355.

18 Dec (d). NEC: "Capt, [Christopher] Taylor" objected to an advertisement in the 11 Dec Boston Gazette and made an ad hominem attack on "the famous Mountebank who lives there [New Hampshire], [who] has lately lost his Watch, Diamond Ring, Peruke, &c." by gambling.

18 Dec (e). NEC advertised: "This Week will be publish'd," John Williams, An Answer to a late Pamphlet, intituled, A Letter to a Friend in the Country; attempting a Solution of the Scruples and Objections of a Consciencious or Religious Nature, commonly made against the new Way of receiving Small Pox; by a Minister of Boston. Together with a short History of the late Divisions among us In Affairs of State, and some Account of the first Cause of them. (Boston: Printed and Sold by J. Franklin, 1721). Austin 2057; Evans 2407. JF was running behind schedule as it was advertised as "Just Published" on 1 Jan 1721/2. The piece replied to [William Cooper], A Letter to a Friend in the Country (see above, ante 18 Dec). Williams said: "The ministers are generally of a contrary Party to the Bulk of the People, with respect to the publick Affairs here in this Town; and so there is an ill Understanding between the ministers and the People" (p. 9). He echoed Colman and Eyre: "Ministers are Men, and but Men. ... If they kept in their proper Sphere, where God hath set them, and not medle with other Things, it would be well for this People" (p. 19).

18 Dec (f). NEC advertised: "Just publish'd, the Second Edition of" John Williams, Several Arguments. Austin 2059; Bristol 618; Evans mp. 39757; Sabin 104243. See above, 11 Dec.

20 Dec, Wednesday. Douglass finished his pamphlet Inoculation of the Small Pox... Consider'd and dated it. See 13 and 15 Jan 1722.

25 Dec, Monday. NEC: "Mr. [Nathaniel] Gardner," p. 1, col. 1, replied anonymously to "Tom Penshallow" (also Gardner), asking "have you any Laws that deprive you of Privileges, which belong to you as Men, and Englishmen, which you did not Consent to by your Representatives?" If they "enact Laws to enslave you and your Posterity, Cannot you Ease your selves of such Adversaries, and Elect better Men in their Room?" He again quoted Cotton Mather's Bonifacius as an authority against bad rulers. (Knowing Mather was Shute's toady, NEC readers appreciated the irony.) Gardner said that Massachusetts not only had juries, "but such as are of our own choosing and not such are pick'd and cull'd by the high Sheriff at the Direction of his Superiors." And he castigated New Hampshire's citizens for choosing New Charter and Prerogative representatives: "If you are pleas'd with being Ass-rid, I know not who will pity you." At the end, he satirically questioned if a law against excessive "Punch-Drinking" should not accompany "the Law against Riots and Tumults?"

25 Dec (b). NEC: "Capt. [Christopher] Taylor," bottom on p. 1, col. 1, sent in a piece objecting to an elaborate wedding between two Africans, adding an attack on the lawyer who owned the black man for "cohabiting with a certain French Lady as his Wife."

25 Dec (c). NEC: A letter dated "Saybrook, Dec. 12, 1721," p. 2, col. 2: "The Political and humorous Letters of your Correspondents, with which you entertain us in these Parts, has sufficiently recommended your Paper to us; and as I find you begin to give a more full and particular Account of Domestick Affairs, than the other publick Prints, I shall venture to begin and carry on my Correspondence with you, by sending an Account of what occurs here worth your Notice." Two New Hampshire news items followed. JF probably wrote the self-advertising introduction.

c. 30 Dec. [Benjamin Franklin, Address of the Lad that carries about the NEC (Boston: J. Franklin, 1721)]. No Campbell; Evans mp 39756; no Ford. Franklin remarked in the Autobiography: "after having work'd in composing the Types and printing off the Sheets I was employ'd to carry the Papers thro' the Streets to the Customers" (A17). In 1721, before JF hired an additional apprentice, fifteen-year-old Franklin acted as the newsboy. Traditionally, the newsboy delivered a poetic broadside "Carrier's Address" to the customers on New Year's Day. Carriers' addresses usually summarized the events of the past year, and often concluded with a request for a tip. Luckily, Monday happened to fall on 1 Jan 1721/2. Franklin had to deliver that day's newspaper anyway, and it would have been little additional trouble to give out a poetic broadside. Though he does not mention a carrier's address in the Autobiography, the young entrepreneur would hardly have overlooked the custom. I agree with James Parton (1: 77) that Franklin would have written the poetic broadside himself. Alas, it is not known to exist.

ante 1 Jan, NEC: The 1 Jan paper also advertised [Samuel Grainger], The Imposition of Inoculation (Boston: [JF?] for Nicholas Boone, [1721]). Austin 831; Evans 2222. Evidently because the pamphlet was advertised in the NEC, Guerra a-55 attributed the imprint to JF. Schoolteacher Grainger opposed inoculation because the Bible did not mention it.

JF also printed three 1721 imprints that I have not dated more precisely:

1. Henry Care. English Liberties, or The Free-Born Subject's Inheritance. Fifth edition. Boston: J.Franklin, for N. Buttolph, B. Eliot, and D. Henchman, 1721. Campbell X18; Evans 2208. Lawrence C. Wroth "The Colonial Scene," PAAS 60 (1950): 124, noted: "This was less a practical handbook than a statement and record of the great legal and political principles which formed the proud inheritance of the British peoples at home and abroad. These matters were ever present in the minds of the colonists." And Bernard Bailyn commented that it was "a combination casebook in law, guide to legal procedures, and Anglophile propaganda piece." Ideological Origins, 44n.

2. John Tufts. A Very Plain and Easy Introduction to the Art of Singing Psalm Tunes (Boston: J. Franklin, for S. Gerrish, 1721). Campbell X23; Evans 2297. For Tufts, see Sibley 5:457-61.

3. Thomas Walter, The Grounds and Rules of Musick Explained: Or, An Introduction to the Art of Singing by Note Boston: J. Franklin, for S. Gerrish, 1721. Campbell X24; Evans 2303. See Shipton 6:18-24; PAAS 42 (1933): 235-36. This oblong duodecimo contained the first music printed in bars in the colonies, sixteen pages of engravings.

1721. Everyone concerned with Massachusetts politics read an English puablication which was reprinted in Boston. Franklin certainly read it at the time and perhaps suggested in 1766 that it be reprinted: Jeremiah Dummer, A Defence of the New-England Charters (London: 1721; rpt. Boston: Kneeland for Gerrish and Henchman, 1721); Evans 2216. Rpt. Boston: Green for Gookin, 1745; Evans 5546. Rpt. Boston: Fleet, 1765; Evans 9960. Rpt. in John Almon, A Collection of the Most Interesting Tracts (London: J. Almon, 1766-1777), 1:88ff.