Plain truth
Subtitle: addressed to the inhabitants of America. Contain ing remarks on a late pamphlet intitled Common sense: ...
By: Written by Candidus
Contributors: Rationalis, pseud; Smith, William, 1727-1803
Publisher: Reprinted for J. Almon
Published: 1776
Place of publication: Philadelphia, Printed: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 47
Subjects: Politics and government
Notes: [A reply to Common sense] signed "Rationalis": p. [38]-44.

"Extract from the second letter to the people of Pennsylvania; being that part of it which relates to independency. By a writer under the signature of Cato" (pseud of Rev. William Smith): p. [45]-47.

Cf. P.L. Ford, "The authorship of ʻPlain truth'" (Penna. mag. of hist. & biog., v. 12, p. 421-424). Ford assigns "Plain truth to Dr. William Smith, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, because of the extract by "Cato", confessedly his, finding additional evidence in "Oliver Ellsworth's [read Oliver Wolcott's] copy ... now in the Library of Congress", on the t.p. of which "is noted in the handwriting of its former owner, ʻBy William Smith' [read Doct. Smith of Phila.]."