American Revolution
Extremely Scarce New Jersey Revolutionary War Newspaper with a Rare "THE CRISIS" Letter written by Thomas Paine
November 4, 1778-Dated Revolutionary War Period Newspaper, "The New Jersey Gazette", Trenton, Volume I, No. 48. Published by Isaac Collins. 4 pages, Complete, with a Thomas Paine letter, who signed his letters "Common Sense", Choice Very fine or better.
This particular Newspaper was well known and strongly supported by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. It is boldly printed on fresh clean high quality rag paper stock, measuring 14" x 9" and having excellent overall eye appeal. On its front page spilling over to the second, is one of Thomas Paine's historic "The Crisis" letters, that helped boost morale in the Continental Army and with the populous.
In this lengthy issue, No VI, Paine who signed his letters "Common Sense", addresses his letter: "To the Earl of Carlisle, General Clinton, and William Eden, Esq. British Commissioners at New-York." These Commissioners were tasked to negotiate a treaty with the new American states as the Revolutionary War was turning against Britain. Here, Paine castigates the terms and the Commissioners saying responding to their words, "the benevolence" of "Great Britain" with: "What you mean by "the benevolence of Great Britain" is to me inconceivable. To put a plain question: Do you consider yourselves men or devils? For until this point is settled, no determinate sense can be put upon the expression. You have already equalled, and in some instances excelled, the savages of either Indies, and if you have yet a cruelty in store, you must have imported it, unmixed with every human material, from the original ware-house of hell."
Overall, a most important content, historic issue of this rare and American Patriotic Newspaper.