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Letter to Editor
October 17, 1771
The Massachusetts Spy
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
Extract from a London letter dated August 22 details a pardoned Englishman offering to reveal the Portsmouth yard arson plot, implicating the French as instigators via original letters. The writer expresses skepticism about public disclosures due to court corruption and France's aversion to war.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Extract of a letter from London, August 22.
"The affair of setting fire to Portsmouth yard, is, at length, like to come out; a person having sent a letter to the Lord-Mayor of London, offering to discover it, if he might be pardoned; in consequence of this, the King has pardoned him; and it is said, that this man (who is an Englishman) has a great number of original letters respecting this affair, and that the French were the tempters. There are great expectations from this discovery; but considering the venality and corruption at court, I do not expect any great matters will appear to the public; for France is not in circumstances at present to enter into a war: and if there is any thing in this, and the French are really guilty, they know how to pacify the court of England, and blind the eyes of the ministers in a cheaper way than entering into a war."
"The affair of setting fire to Portsmouth yard, is, at length, like to come out; a person having sent a letter to the Lord-Mayor of London, offering to discover it, if he might be pardoned; in consequence of this, the King has pardoned him; and it is said, that this man (who is an Englishman) has a great number of original letters respecting this affair, and that the French were the tempters. There are great expectations from this discovery; but considering the venality and corruption at court, I do not expect any great matters will appear to the public; for France is not in circumstances at present to enter into a war: and if there is any thing in this, and the French are really guilty, they know how to pacify the court of England, and blind the eyes of the ministers in a cheaper way than entering into a war."
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Investigative
Political
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Military War
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Portsmouth Arson
French Intrigue
King Pardon
Court Corruption
War Avoidance
Letter to Editor Details
Main Argument
a pardoned englishman claims french involvement in the portsmouth yard arson via incriminating letters, but the writer doubts significant public revelations due to court corruption and france's reluctance for war.
Notable Details
Pardon Granted By The King
Original Letters Implicating French As Tempters
Skepticism Due To Venality And Corruption At Court