The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-05-05
A QUAINT SHEET.
Boston Newspaper lis Years OId-The
biggest Boycott on Record.


biggest Boycott Record.
VIM. T. )nes, of Elkton, the father
of Detective VIM. T. Jones, of Whining
ton, has in his possession copy of the
Boston Gazette and Country Journal,
dated Monday, March 18th, ITO. The
paper has been bequeathed as an heir
loom for several generations. The paper
is four page sheet about IL by 1G inches
and is in a good state of preservation.
MIR. Jones values it almost beyond price
and would only let it go out of his hands
upon the assurance that the best of care
would be taken of it.
1t Is a quaint little sheet but wthal
newsy. Even in those days newspapers
spread themselves" on sensations Il
devoSes page aud column to the
famous Boston massacre when a crash
between the British soldiery and the
town-folks resulted in the killing of four
of the latter, namely: Crispus Attacks,
mulatto, James Caldwell, Samuel Nave
rick, and man named Gray. The Jour-
nal, at the end of the article, parades
four black collins with skeletons and
crossbones before its readers.
To show that the boycott is net a new
weapon as many people suppose, it will
only be necessary to quote part of a res
olution adopted by the merchants and
traders of Boston to bring to terms those
1nSr hn in, p,,t
The resolutions are worth repeating as
showing the spirit which animated our
forefathers and finally resulted in the
resolution for independence. They read:
WHEREAS The merchants and traders of the
town OF Boston and almost all the maritime
towns of the continent, from a principle truly
noble and generous, and in the sacrificing OF
their own private interests have entered into an
agreement not to import British goods "a few
necessary articles excepted) until the act of par
| Lament imposing certain duties on tea, glass
painters coors, &c, Tor the express parpose OF
| raising revenue in America, be repealed which
agreement if strictly adhered to, will not fail to
produce the most salutary offsets. Therefore,
VOTED, That we do with the utmost adherence
and detestation, view the little, mean and sordid
| conduct of few traders in this province, who
have and still do import British goods contrary to
| said agreements. We have thereby discovered
that they are governed by selfish spirit and are
regardless of the mseries and calamities which
| threaten this people.
| VOTED, That whereas John Barnard, James
| McMasters Patrick McMasters John Mein, Ma
| thaniel Rogers, William -, Theophilus Lille
John Taylor, Alice and Elizabeth Cummins all
of Boston; Israel Williams Esq, and son of Hat
| field; and Henry Barnes, of Marlboro, OF this
| number and do import contrary to said agree
| ment we do hereby declare, that We will not buy
the least article OF any of said persons ourselves
| or suffer any acting for under us to buy
them; neither will we buy OF those that shall buy
or exchange any articles of goods with them.
VOTED, That to the end the generations which
| are unborn, may know whe they were that laugh
| ed at the distresses and calamites of this peo-
| ple and instead of striving to save their country
| when in imminent danger, did strive to render
Intellectual virtuous and commendable plan:
The names of these importers shall be annually
read at March meeting.
VOTED, That We will not make use of any for
eign teas in our several families until the revenue
acts are repealed ceases of sickness excpted).
This is the beginning of the biggest
and the most successful boycott on
record.
| Among the advertisements are several
curious specimens written in that quaint
style peculiar to that time. John Baker,
in one advertisement and without any
break, makes known that he has cocoa
and chocolate to sell and that he has lost
a boat, "a Moses built boat. Whoever
shall bring her to said Baker, shall be
satisfied for their trouble"
Zenas Smith, OF Abingdon, words his
advertisement, for lost money thus:
''Lost OH Saturday the Sd of this instant
March between and 10 of the clock III
the morning, five Johannes or Josephus's,
or both, loose out of my pocket, between
my dwelling house in Arlington and the
widow Susanna Richardson's in Roxbury:
whoever shall take up said pieces of
money, and will give information to the
printers hereof, or to the subscriber shall
have $40 reward or 50 for each piece,
paid by me the subscriber" Unfortu-
nately the advertisement does not say
whether or not Zenas was making love to
the widow and wanted to present her
with the money.
| The paper is filed with similar infor-
nation which makes delightful reading
in this age.