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Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Extract of a letter from Amsterdam dated Nov. 1, 1793, published in Dumfries, Virginia, describes a Scotsman posing as American selling maps and plans of nonexistent U.S. cities and towns at exorbitant prices in coffee-houses and newspapers, likely to find no buyers.
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Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Amsterdam, to his correspondent in
dated Nov. 1, 1793
"There is now at this place, a certain Mr. —, who passes for an American, but by his broad dialect, appears to be from the high hills of old Caledonia. This man offers for sale cities and towns of very conspicuous names, on your continent, of which we have never heard before, and not to be met with in the latest Geographies of America. He has ornamented our coffee-houses, and other public places, with maps and plans representing the same in the most charming manner, and fills our newspapers with lengthy dissertations on their importance—Being, however, high in his price (for he retails his goods by the foot and inch) I am apt to think this opulent monopolist, who thus deals in cities and towns as Dutchmen do in Gin, will (like Robinson Crusoe on his island) remain sole sovereign of those enchanting spots."
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What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Amsterdam
Event Date
Nov. 1, 1793
Key Persons
Outcome
likely to remain unsold due to high prices
Event Details
A man passing as American but with a Scottish dialect is offering for sale maps and plans of nonexistent cities and towns in America, advertising them in coffee-houses, public places, and newspapers with descriptions of their importance, but at very high prices measured by foot and inch.