American Aurora
Page 86
SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
PRINTING TYPES
ANY PERSON, having a small fount of SMALL PICA, new or in good condition, to dispose of, may hear of a purchaser on application to the editor of the Aurora.
AGAIN—The subscribers to the AURORA, who are in arrears, are requested to remit them to the heirs of B. F. Bache, or they may certainly expect their papers to be discontinued as soon after this date as there is time to receive the answers from their respective residences.
THE Price of the DAILY AURORA is Eight Dollars per Annum, Subscribers at a distance from the City to pay Five Dollars in advance …
FOR SALE
A QUANTITY OF WASTE PAPER FIT FOR GROCERS OR TRUNKMAKERS ENQUIRE AT THIS OFFICE.
AN APPRENTICE WANTED TO THE PRINTING BUSINESS AT THE OFFICE OF THE AURORA
TO PAPER-MAKERS
PROPOSALS for supplying this office with Super-royal paper of good quality will be received in writing addressed to the Editor, post paid. The quantity required for a regular supply will be about TWENTY-FIVE RHEAMS a week. The terms per Rheam, or per 100 Rheams for Cash must be mentioned, and a specimen enclosed if convenient …
THE REPUBLICAN BLUES
Will meet at 7 o’clock on Saturday Evening, the 24th instant, at the house of citizen Morrow, in Chestnut-street, for the purpose of receiving the signatures of such friends of good order as are inclined to attach themselves to said company …
The militia legion will assemble at 2 o’clock, on Monday afternoon the 27th, provided as before with blunt cartridge.
The Aurora’s advertisements tell much about Republican newsprinting in 1799!
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
General Macpherson approved the conduct of the troops under his command on the Quixote expedition—he told them that they behaved well—The general was present at Reading when the base and lawless attack was made upon the printer, and yet he tells them that they behaved well! … It now remains to be seen whether the government authorized such proceedings—If they did authorize them, no notice will be taken of General Macpherson’s misconduct; if they did not, he will be called to immediate account …
TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The late Mr. [Thomas] Adams was spirited to the last moment and conducted the Chronicle in Boston with honour to himself and to the Republicans of that town …
The only paper that dares to publish the truth [in Connecticut] … is the [New London] BEE whose spirited Editor braves the malice and enmity of the surrounding foe …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The important rank which Pennsylvania holds in the Union renders her conduct with regard to the General Government extremely interesting; and there is reason to dread that if we should raise up characters in the administration of the state who are opposed to the General Administration for the avowed purpose of “stopping the wheels of government,” the whole fabric may eventually be shaken …
With this view, therefore … we do most earnestly recommend to our Fellow-citizens of the county of Lancaster, JAMES ROSS, of ALLEGANY, as a proper person to be chosen Governor at the next Election …
[THE GRAND JURY OF LANCASTER COUNTY]
FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Peter Miercken is off—like his predecessor Joe Thomas. Peter was seen on Wednesday on his way to the Southward—this was expected, his house has been shut some days …
Mierckin the bruizer it is expected will have to pay a visit to his old master Mendoza—where he will have the satisfaction of enjoying the sweets of that country he so bully-like defends.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
It is said that Peter Miercken is only gone southward to collect his debts—we have not heard but we understand he means to come back …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
Mr. Peter Mierckin, to whom the citizens of Philadelphia, are so greatly indebted for his humane exertions during the calamity of last summer, is charged in the Aurora of yesterday “with treading in the footsteps of Joseph Thomas.” [I]t is there stated that he has gone off; and that his House has been shut this week.
A paragraph so false, so base, and infamous, will disgrace even the Aurora …
Mr. Miercken left home on Tuesday last to collect some debts due to him in the Delaware State; his House has never been shut, and his friends hourly expect him with as much Exultation as the Author of the paragraph must apprehend it with Fear and Horror …
MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The operation of the military dependants on the federal government appears not to be confined … [I]n the same month, we hear of outrages committed in Virginia and Connecticut, as well as Pennsylvania … [A]t Alexandria, the printer of a newspaper is assailed by men armed with daggers and in his own house—in Reading in this state, a printer is dragged from his own house … —in the capital of this state, the same nefarious plan is pursued—and in Connecticut … a clergymen [is] confined for a small debt upon the precaution of the secretary of the federal treasury, Oliver Wolcott … We hear that last week fifteen or twenty of those recruits … forced themselves into the cell of the Clergyman in Litchfield prison for the honorable purpose of tarring and feathering him …
Humphries, with his ship carpenters, assaulted the former editor of the Aurora, for which he was brought to the bar of justice and fined 50 dollars. When he went to pay it, he was informed that it had been already done—Afterwards he was sent on public business to France! It is probable that the gentlemen volunteer officers had an eye on Humphries when they attacked the present editor. Ep. Times.
It was Benny’s turn a year ago. Now, it is mine.
TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
MR. EDITOR … When I first heard of a French conspiracy for the subversion of our government published in the English paper [Porcupine’s Gazette] … I greedily ran over the contents of each paper … and at last, out came the story of the famous packet directed to Benjamin Franklin Bache … I could scarcely sit a moment still, ran around to my acquaintances … and freely consigned Bache to punishment and infamy; but judge, Mr. Editor, my confusion when Bache, with so much manliness, called upon them for his packet … [M]y neighbors laughed at me. What’s come of your prophecy now, said one ?—You foresee truly, said another; what death must Bache die, said a third—ask Porcupine; he is in the secret, replied a fifth; whilst I stood, in the middle, as still as a mouse, and as sheepish as Hamilton when he wrote the story about Reynold’s wife …
ROBERT SLENDER.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
They tell us La Fayette is coming to coax and wheedle us … The Directory cannot send armies; but they can send La Fayette …
The great effort of the Faction, both in and out of Congress, has been directed against the army and navy. Keep these down, has been the cry from Gallatin in Congress to Duane in the drain shop … Is it not evident that had the country remained without either, France would have made no advances to a negotiation …?
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
From the RICHMOND EXAMINER … [T]he once peaceful streets of Philadelphia, are, perhaps, by this time, transformed into a field of battle. A body of armed men conceive themselves injured by the printer of the Aurora. Instead of asking for legal redress, they knock him down, kick him when lying senseless at their feet, and, as the climax of barbarity and beastliness, they knock down his son, a youth of sixteen years of age, who, on the impulse of filial sensibility, was attempting to rescue his father. Next day, these friends of order, these enemies of disorganization, assemble a second time to pull down the printing office of the young and amiable widow of the grands
on of Benjamin Franklin. On the other hand, a body of real republicans, of men who are real friends of order, assemble in arms, and according to our best private advices, they have for sixteen successive days, mounted guard to protect the office of this widow, the person of her Editor, of his journeymen, his apprentices, and his son. This miserable work arises from the effect of those printed falsehoods that have been so industriously disseminated throughout the United States by pensioner Fenno …
(Signed) THOS. JEFFERSON
If any of the republican news printers shall think fit to copy these extracts from The Examiner, they are further desired to mention that the publication was made without the privacy and contrary to the desire of the Vice-President … [O]f Thomas Jefferson … [i]t is to be desired that he would write and publish more frequently than he hitherto has done …
Has Thomas Jefferson finally written for a newspaper? Jimmy Callender, the Aurora writer who fled Philadelphia, now edits the Richmond Examiner!
THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
Extract of a Letter. Hartford [Connecticut] … The Aurora is looked upon by many here as an important check on federal ambition and extravagance that has been the salvation of millions of the country; and many would patronize it, would not such a measure point them out as objects of persecution—The republicans here who are able are marked and the others are not able to afford the expence or endure the oppression and malice of its enemies. You, perhaps, have not any just idea of the state of politics here … [that] the commission of an aged and respectable justice of the peace should be refused him for suffering a man … to plough his land on the President’s fast; and that of another withheld for taking the [New London] Bee, a little weekly newspaper … It is also said … that the publication of that paper in New London is the only reason why a navy yard is not established at that port …
The Post-Office in this state, like every other public institution, is subjected to all the abuses of party—neither private letters nor newspapers escape, the former are broken open and sometimes withheld … and particularly the newspapers—yet no one dares to complain—lest, like Paul, he should be ruined by prosecution.
Had our situation in point of distance been the same with regard to England in which Ireland stands at this time, instead of retiring to their farms in peace and security … our citizens would be sold into the service of Prussia for life …
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The Members of the new Republican Company of Infantry are requested to attend at their parade on Saturday Evening next at 8 o’clock to elect officers and on other business. Known republicans desirous of joining the company may learn particulars on application to WILLIAM J. DUANE, junr. Sec’ry pro. tem.
My son, William John, helps me with the Republican guard.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The Editor of the Aurora has stated with tears in his eyes that 300 of the Irish emigrants have been shipped to Russia to serve as soldiers. He would have preferred, so much does he love liberty, that these United Irishmen had been permitted to encrease the corps of Patriots in the United States for which he is now actually beating up recruits. It happens that the sober, industrious, and well attached to government … do not think with this Editor …
SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 1799
War … Today, in the Atlantic, northeast of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Navy’s twenty-four-gun ship Ganges fires on and captures a French privateer, the Vainqueur. Captain Thomas Tingey reports to the Navy Secretary:
As the day open’d we knew or believ’d her to be a French privateer Sloop of 10 Guns … and she was scarce more than 3 or 4 guns shot distance. She led us however with every sail in the Ship sett ‘til 3 in the Afternoon, having ran near 90 miles & discharg’d upward of 40 Guns at him, some of the last of which were charg’d with canister shott which went round him like hail … During the chace he had cast overboard (in order to lighten his vessel & facilitate her sailing) his boat, some of his provision, all his Guns except two, and much other heavy materials but to no effect. After—or about 1 PM finding we approach’d him & that he must fall—he hoisted French colours & fir’d a Gun to the windward to give him opportunity of striking in form, which he at length did, but so near that a broad-side from the Ship would probably have totally destroy’d him—It proved to be the Privateer Sloop Vainqueure of Guadeloupe of 8 Guns & 85 men …1825
TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
The electrical conductor of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN … has touched the immediate connection between our planet and the universe. The great American who invented it stands … blasphemed in himself, in his memory, and in his posterity by our Gothic British Printer [Peter Porcupine].—The reason is plain. The image of the illustrious FRANKLIN, grasping in his right hand his own electrical conductor and in his left the American fragment of the British sceptre, destroys his peace …
Today, Thomas Jefferson writes a college student,
To preserve the freedom of the human mind then & freedom of the press, every spirit should be ready to devote itself to martyrdom, for as long as we may think as we will & speak as we think, the condition of man will proceed in improvement.1826
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
[T]he Irish are treated more inhumanly by the British than [the British king] dared to treat us during our glorious struggle for independence … What he dare not do in 1779 he does with impunity in 1799! Fenno likes this.
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States, Jack Fenno writes:
The Aurora a few days since gave circulation to … notorious falsehoods and calumnies taken from the Richmond Examiner …
What ought to be the punishment of the inventor (Callender) and the propagator (Duane) of such libels upon government? Ought grand juries to sleep and justice shut her eyes? Of what events are such a torpid state of things and inattention to such flagrant offenders the harbingers?
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1799
GENERAL * AURORA * ADVERTISER
From THE VIRGINIA EXAMINER … The ringleader of the riot and assault in the Aurora office was Peter Mierckin. This man is tall, muscular and capable of great animal exertion. He went to London … to study under Mendoza, the Jewish boxer, …
Mr. Duane himself, though not bulky, is active, well made, and, before this affair, he was known to be a man of great personal intrepidity. In fair fighting, the chance is he would successively have knocked down half a dozen of such figures …
For more than fortnight after the 16th of May, the streets of Philadelphia were filled with crowds of people who wanted nothing but the firing of the first musket to precipitate Pennsylvania, and perhaps the continent, into the horrors of a civil war. Blood will have blood, says Shakespeare. The mischief only wants a small beginning. We are happy to say that, within the last fortnight, the appearances of an immediate contest have become less alarming. By our last advices, however, the Aurora Office continued under the protection of a party of armed citizens …
Tonight, in the Gazette of the United States:
The following curious printed circular having been received by a young Irishman … [and] as every thing relating to so dignified a personage as the Aurora-man must be interesting, it would be wrong [that] the public should not know of his establishing … a body guard for his sublime person.
Citizen,
[T]he New Republican Company … [will have] another meeting on Saturday evening next at 7 o’clock … The uniform agreed upon at two meetings was as follows: White hat, with green under, and cock’s neck feather; green coatee, with yellow collar, edging, and buttons gilt, cloth superfine; dimity waistcoat and pantaloons; half boots; black collar; cartridge box in front; cockade, a large silver eagle on a very small black ground. The meeting on Saturday will be held in the private room under the Aurora printing-office; where if you really mean to bel
ong to the corps you are requested to attend. Health and esteem,
WILLIAM DUANE June 19, 1799.
CHARLESTON [South Carolina] … [E]xtract from a letter … I strongly suspect that all this history of the Lancaster troop [in Reading] will turn out to be a falsehood … [A]t Philadelphia, it was published in the Aurora and in that paper only.
The editors of the Aurora being by many suspected … to be in the pay of France, it was not to be expected that they would … applaud the patriotism of that portion of our fellow citizens in Pennsylvania … enforcing its laws … [T]hose who are acquainted with the jacobinic and exotic temper of the Aurora must have expected to see in that paper every shaft of calumny against our citizen soldiers …
Tonight, in the Porcupine’s Gazette:
[BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.] On Monday, the 10th inst. David Brown who had pleaded guilty to an indictment for seditious writings and practices was sentenced by the court to pay a fine of 400 dollars and to eighteen months in prison …
The last count in the indictment was for procuring a label to be painted and affixed to a pole erected in Dedham [Massachusetts] … “No stamp act; no sedition, no alien bill; no land tax. Downfall to the tyrants of America; peace and retirement to the President; long live the vice president and the minority.” …