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Letter to Editor
July 26, 1771
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Humorous 1771 letter to Newport Mercury printer Mr. Southwick from Dolly Prattle, delighting in ads for cheap calicoes and ribbons, praising threats against cheating boatmen, and urging punishment for dishonest charcoalmen and cider-sellers who short-measure and water goods.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the NEWPORT MERCURY, July 15, 1771.
Mr. Southwick,
Saw your printed News-Paper t'other Night; O! how I was pleased to hear my Dicky read about the Calicoes, the Ribbons, and the what not's, to be sold or given away for an old Song. O! me, I must have a new Gown, a Fan, and a Ribbon soon, certain; who knows what may happen.
O! Lord, Mr. Printer, I had like to have forgot to tell you we are all in Love with you, (I am, certain, next to Dicky -my Husband) for telling the filthy Boatmen you will seize their Wood if they continue to cheat us any longer than three Months to come: Dear Mr. Printer, make another Law to punish the Charcoalmen, they make very short measure; they cheat us like the Old-Boy, for certain: O dear, then there is such Cheating among the Cyder-sellers that you seldom have above 28 Gallons to a Barrel, and that well-watered into the Bargain. O Poison, I can't bear'em; pray make the Knaves honest, if you can.
DOLLY PRATTLE
Mr. Southwick,
Saw your printed News-Paper t'other Night; O! how I was pleased to hear my Dicky read about the Calicoes, the Ribbons, and the what not's, to be sold or given away for an old Song. O! me, I must have a new Gown, a Fan, and a Ribbon soon, certain; who knows what may happen.
O! Lord, Mr. Printer, I had like to have forgot to tell you we are all in Love with you, (I am, certain, next to Dicky -my Husband) for telling the filthy Boatmen you will seize their Wood if they continue to cheat us any longer than three Months to come: Dear Mr. Printer, make another Law to punish the Charcoalmen, they make very short measure; they cheat us like the Old-Boy, for certain: O dear, then there is such Cheating among the Cyder-sellers that you seldom have above 28 Gallons to a Barrel, and that well-watered into the Bargain. O Poison, I can't bear'em; pray make the Knaves honest, if you can.
DOLLY PRATTLE
What sub-type of article is it?
Comedic
Social Critique
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Commerce Trade
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Cheating Merchants
Boatmen Wood
Charcoalmen Short Measure
Cider Sellers Watered
Newport Mercury
Consumer Complaints
What entities or persons were involved?
Dolly Prattle
Mr. Southwick
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Dolly Prattle
Recipient
Mr. Southwick
Main Argument
the printer should continue protecting consumers by threatening cheating boatmen and enact new measures to punish dishonest charcoalmen and cider-sellers for short measures and adulteration.
Notable Details
Delight In Newspaper Ads For Cheap Goods
Affection For Printer Next To Husband Dicky
Specific Complaints: Wood Cheating, Short Charcoal Measures, Watered Cider With Only 28 Gallons Per Barrel