| Citation |
SCGCJ.766.092
14 Oct 1766:11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23 (44)
From the Pennsylvania Journal, Sept. 4, 1766. . .
A letter from John Hughes, Esq; to the commissioners of the
Stamp-Office in London.
Philadelphia, October 12, 1765.
. . . [4 lines, I can now give you a] sketch of my own
conduct and that of the Presbyterians and proprietary party
here relative to the Stamp-office. . . [Notified of his
recommendation as chief distributor of stamps; received
information that] a mob would be collected by beating
muffled drums through the streets, and ringing the state
house and church bells muffled, which was accordingly done
all the afternoon. . .
[2-column narration of encounter, mob demanding his
resignation.]
Since writing the above, I am informed that Benjamin
Shoemaker, Esq; who is one of the people called Quakers, and
also an Alderman of this city, met with the drummers as they
were alarming the city, and took them to talk, requiring to
know by what authority they were endeavouring to raise a
mob? They answered, if he would go to the State-house, he
might know. He then asked who ordered them to beat about
the streets? . . . [9 more lines of discussion. Shoemaker
eventually backs off for fear of his own property.] . . . [3
more columns of reports of stamp-act business, challenges to
Hughes and his answer:]
Gentlemen, I received your of the 4th instant, and cannot
but infer from the contents that you are strangers in
Pennsylvania, since by the tenor of your letter you seem not
to be acquainted with the things that are come to pass in
these our days. -- I therefore think it necessary, before I
proceed in answer to it, to give you a brief detail of what
has happened. First then, I am to inform you, that on
Saturday the 5th of October last, the State House and
Christ-Church bells were rung muffled, and two Negro
drummers, one of whom belonged to Alderman Samuel Mifflin,
beat through all parts of the city with muffled drums,
thereby alarming the inhabitants, . . . [1/2 column, signed]
John Hughes.
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