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Letter to Editor
January 23, 1800
Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
A sarcastic letter critiques a New York editor's assertion that 1800 marks the start of the 19th century, citing David Hume's 'History of England' which describes 1100 as the end of the 11th century, implying the editor's view brands Hume ignorant.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
I OBSERVE in one of the late New York papers, that the editor of the court kalendar declares, that he " does still persist in asserting that the year 1800 is the first of the 19th century ; and to believe the contrary is to betray a degree of ignorance excusable in no one but a Philadelphian."
Since these things are so, I would suggest to the editor the expediency of turning to the 312th page of the first volume of Hume's history of England, and blotting out this sentence, in which, speaking of the reduction of Jerusalem by the christians, in the year 1100, he says, " This great event happened on the fifth of July, in the last year of the eleventh century." I presume the gentleman will take some effectual measures to prevent such a palpable absurdity from being handed down to posterity by a British author, heretofore, of some reputation. Otherwise Hume must be indelibly stigmatized with the imputation of a " degree of IGNORANCE excusable in no one but
A Philadelphian."
Since these things are so, I would suggest to the editor the expediency of turning to the 312th page of the first volume of Hume's history of England, and blotting out this sentence, in which, speaking of the reduction of Jerusalem by the christians, in the year 1100, he says, " This great event happened on the fifth of July, in the last year of the eleventh century." I presume the gentleman will take some effectual measures to prevent such a palpable absurdity from being handed down to posterity by a British author, heretofore, of some reputation. Otherwise Hume must be indelibly stigmatized with the imputation of a " degree of IGNORANCE excusable in no one but
A Philadelphian."
What sub-type of article is it?
Satirical
Provocative
What keywords are associated?
Century Debate
Hume History
New York Editor
Philadelphian Ignorance
Jerusalem 1100
What entities or persons were involved?
A Philadelphian
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Philadelphian
Main Argument
the editor's claim that 1800 is the first year of the 19th century implies historical error in hume's description of 1100 as the last year of the 11th century, sarcastically suggesting the editor correct hume to avoid accusing a reputable author of ignorance.
Notable Details
References Hume's History Of England, Volume 1, Page 312
Mentions Reduction Of Jerusalem By Christians In 1100 On July 5