Exceptionally important, and very rare Loyalist newspaper of February 1, 1770, this date evidently not within the large collection of this paper in the Massachusetts Historical Society. Published by Richard Draper (1726-1774), a life-long Boston resident. Possibly unique, containing an important incendiary letter read by colonists at Faneuil Hall.
The Draper family ran the oldest Boston newspapers. Richard's father John started the business in 1704. As Richard got older and experienced at the family business, he and Samuel Draper took the reigns. When Sam Draper died in March 1867, Richard at first enlisted the help of Joseph Russell and John Green from a neighboring newspaper, but took over control in 1869.
Draper was a firm Loyalist. His editorials reflected his strong anti-violence attitudes which were quite opposite the more "radical" faction. He was opposed to violence, yet continued written opposition to the Stamp Act and Townshend Duties. He also greatly opposed the wide-spread attacks by pro-liberty colonists on Governors Francis Bernard, Thos. Hutchinson and General Thomas Gage, British Commander in Chief, and a member of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. In 1868, Gage and two regiments of British occupied Boston, possibly in direct response to Boston colonialists opposition to the 1765 Stamp Act, setting the stage for the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, just a few issues after this paper was published.
Draper's newspaper obviously added fuel to the burning fires of freedom for the Colonists. Thomas Barnes, in a paper published by the American Antiquarian Society summed it up nicely: "the lull in conflict from 1770-1773 [after the Boston Massacre] seems to have been decisive for Draper's attitude for the Patriot cause. the attempt to continue radical newspaper agitation after the repeal of the Townshend Duties except for tea, the prodding of Governor Hutchinson, and the decline of mob activity produced a new willingness in the printer to risk censure. Draper's resolute attitude after 1770 produced the most powerful Loyalist paper in America..." (Barnes, Thos., Loyalist Newspapers of the American Revolution, 1763-1783, A Bibliography, Proceedings, American Antiquarian Society, pp219-220, year not given, 44517562.pdf) This paper, Feb. 1, 1770 has two editorials on the front page alone by Hutchinson. The first of these discusses a giant meeting at Faneuil Hall, the largest public meeting ever held. An extract of an important letter read at that conference is published on page 4, taking more than a third of the page. Nowhere, though, does Draper name the author of the letter. This important letter discusses the colonists great cause - Liberty. It is a remarkable, and clearly incendiary letter provoking conflict between British loyalists and colonists for their freedom from the Crown.
Date:
Country (if not USA):
State: Massachusetts
City: Boston
Provenance: