Salomon

1779 · 56131 — Providence: Southwick and Wheeler 1779. Folio broadsheet approx. 16" x 10" text in triple column beneath the running head; lower outside corners eroded with loss to the beginnings and/or ends of about ten lines about 20-25 words mostly on the recto; all else very good. With the ink signature of Theodore Foster 1752-1828 U.S. Senator from Rhode Island 1790-1803. Solomon Southwick had published the Mercury a newspaper in Newport until that town was occupied by the British in 1778. Southwick then buried his printing press and types and eventually sought safety in Providence. Once in Providence Southwick decided to continue to print however the only way he could supply himself with materials was through John Carter the owner of the Providence Gazette. Apparently there was a dispute between Carter and Southwick as to who would get to purchase the printing press and types left by the recently deceased John Waterman. This was the only printing press and type available because the British had seized all the printing materials that had been previously ordered. Apparently Carter purchased the press and sold it to Southwick on the condition that the press "should not be set up in town or used to oppose a friend in business who had served him in distress." At first Southwick started his business in Rehoboth Massachusetts but secured a one-half interest in printing for the state of Rhode Island. In March of 1779 in company with Bennett Wheeler he began to publish in Providence The American Journal and General Advertiser using the Updike house next to John Carter for their office. There was much bad feeling displayed by Carter at Southwick's alleged treachery and Carter printed a story in the Providence Gazette about the incident and Southwick printed a response to Carter. Carter soon printed his rebuttal to the charges that Southwick made and once again Southwick printed his answer. This rare printing was Southwick's answer to Carter's rebuttal. It takes up the entire front side of this broadsheet and one-and-one-half columns on the back. Also included on this rare broadsheet is a Full Pardon offered by General George Washington to all the deserters in the Army that wanted to come back but feared to do so because they thought that they would be severely punished. There is also news from Charleston about Colonel Campbell's expedition from Savannah to Augusta Georgia. Not found in OCLC; but apparently there are copies at Brown University and the R.I. Historical Society. <br/><br/> Southwick and Wheeler unknown books