AMERICAN RECORDER. [Edited by John McWilliams.].

Washington, NC: Friday, July 12, 1822. This issue only (this weekly newspaper was published in Washington, 1815-1825). Printed broadsheet, 18 1/2 x 11 1/4 inches, masthead illustrated with a cut of the American Eagle (1 1/8 x 2 1/8 inches), text arranged on both sides of the broadsheet in four columns separated by thin bold rules. Six of the eight columns are taken up by a long 4th of July oration by John Holland, a local politician, preceded and followed by a number of comments from the editor ("I particularly commend the retaining of the address’s model to our Congressional debators, fourth of July orators, and all field and stump Cicero's of the present and future ages for it is quite possible, we ne'er shall look upon its like again.") and those who were in the audience ("As one of the listening admirers of his eloquence, I hope he will lose no time in [publishing it])"; "Listened with great delight ... sincerely hope he will have it issued [as a] pamphlet"). The other two columns are taken up with short news notes ("The Small pox is reported to be in Norfolk"), legal notices (e.g., Thomas Blount, collector of customs for the Washington District, seeking bids for providing buoys for Cape Hatteras, Lookout and Frying Pan Shoals, Ocracoke & Cape Fear Bars), and ads (e.g., "A Good Cook & Washer. / A Likely negro woman and two children of good character and family, for sale, reasonably."). OCLC locates only this newspaper an imprint for Washington, N.C., prior to the Civil War. American Imprints 33848 (AAS, DLC). Brigham locates two scattered runs (American Antiquarian Society, Library of Congress) and a single issue (Ohio Historical & Philosophical Society); in addition, Duke has one issue. All other holdings located by OCLC are microforms or digital copies (we were unable to verify the status of the Washington Public Library copies); only the American Antiquarian Society appears to hold a printed copy of this issue. All issues of this early North Carolina small-town newspaper are rare in trade. Some toning, but very good. Old fold lines. Item #64920

Though delivered on July 5th, John Holland's "Oration" was clearly a celebration of the anniversary nation's birth: "This a most important anniversary of the day which passed over the heads of our forefathers which met at Philadelphia in 1776 to declare our Independence." Holland, a veteran of the War of 1812 and a "candidate to represent the County of Beaufort in the House of Commons, in the next general assembly held at the city of Raleigh" (running as a Federalist, he lost the 1819 election for the post to Republican candidate Thomas H. Hall), takes on issues of inland navigation, the need for a local bank in Beaufort County, rising economic prosperity in the North Carolina, the status of the politics of the day, the coming 1824 presidential election, etc., while extolling the virtues of Washington, Jefferson, and other "forefathers." Owner's ink signature at the head of the first page "Thos G. Fessenden, Esqr.," with his comment at the bottom of the second (probably confusing the speaker with James Holland, a prominent N.C. politician from Anson County), "J. Holland, the author of this hodge podge of nonsense rant has frequently represented this Co. (Beaufort) in the General assembly of the state, has holden a respectable position in Congress -- is now a candidate of the state legislature [the only true assertion] & will probably be elected." (11151).

Price: $500.00