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Letter to Editor
September 21, 1759
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A letter to the New Hampshire Gazette recounts a humorous incident where gentlemen from Portsmouth, on a pleasure outing near York Ferry, mistook a colt for a bear and shot it, referencing the proverb about not selling the bear's skin before it's caught, to prevent similar accidents.
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PORTSMOUTH.
To the Publisher of the New Hampshire Gazette.
As the inserting the following in your next Paper may prevent some worse Accident, it will oblige--Yours. &c.
On Saturday last as some Gentlemen from this Town, were bound on a Party of Pleasure, near the upper Ferry of York,one of them discovered an Animal, which from his Colour and Situation, concluded must be a BEAR. whom he determined to demolish without any Ceremony--And being a Martial Man, Was pleased, no doubt, with an Opportunity to shew his Agility and Courage, procured a Gun, by the Promise of Bruin's Hide and Carcass ( not remembering the good old Proverb, " Not to sell the Skin 'till the Bear's taken.")- Thus equipped he marches on with Eagerness in quest of his Prey (while his Companion apprehending some Danger, retired to an adjacent House, that he might easily see the Event, the other Part of the Company having passed the Ferry)-And as he approached the Corn-feld, he discovers the black coated Gentleman-- discharges his Piece, imagining he had performed a truly heroick Deed --- But to his and his Company's great Astonishment, and Satisfaction, out runs a poor harmless COLT, with his fatal Wound--After paying the Countryman for his slain Nag. mounted their Horses, well pleased with having so luckily conducted the Adventure, as they had heard of a Bear there just before.
To the Publisher of the New Hampshire Gazette.
As the inserting the following in your next Paper may prevent some worse Accident, it will oblige--Yours. &c.
On Saturday last as some Gentlemen from this Town, were bound on a Party of Pleasure, near the upper Ferry of York,one of them discovered an Animal, which from his Colour and Situation, concluded must be a BEAR. whom he determined to demolish without any Ceremony--And being a Martial Man, Was pleased, no doubt, with an Opportunity to shew his Agility and Courage, procured a Gun, by the Promise of Bruin's Hide and Carcass ( not remembering the good old Proverb, " Not to sell the Skin 'till the Bear's taken.")- Thus equipped he marches on with Eagerness in quest of his Prey (while his Companion apprehending some Danger, retired to an adjacent House, that he might easily see the Event, the other Part of the Company having passed the Ferry)-And as he approached the Corn-feld, he discovers the black coated Gentleman-- discharges his Piece, imagining he had performed a truly heroick Deed --- But to his and his Company's great Astonishment, and Satisfaction, out runs a poor harmless COLT, with his fatal Wound--After paying the Countryman for his slain Nag. mounted their Horses, well pleased with having so luckily conducted the Adventure, as they had heard of a Bear there just before.
What sub-type of article is it?
Comedic
What themes does it cover?
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Portsmouth Gentlemen
York Ferry
Bear Mistake
Colt Shooting
Proverb
Party Of Pleasure
What entities or persons were involved?
To The Publisher Of The New Hampshire Gazette.
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
To The Publisher Of The New Hampshire Gazette.
Main Argument
sharing a cautionary anecdote of a man eagerly shooting what he thought was a bear, only to wound a colt, to prevent similar mishaps.
Notable Details
References Proverb: 'Not To Sell The Skin 'Till The Bear's Taken.'
Mistaken Identity Of Animal In Corn Field Near York Ferry.
Gentlemen From Portsmouth On Party Of Pleasure.