From the Otsego Herald

for Saturday, Aug. 22, 1812

Compiled, with comments

by HUGH C. MacDOUGALL

Weather: Utica 1812

Almanack: Clear and pleasant weather.

Pleasant for several days.

One Cent Reward

RUN AWAY from the subscriber, on the 20th inst. an indentured apprentice by the name of Robert Shattock, Jun. about 16 years of age. All persons are hereby forbid harboring or trusting him on my account. Any person returning said boy will receive one cent reward and no charges paid. ELISHA FOOTE. Cooperstown, August 21st, 1812

COMMENT: Elisha Foote (1783-1842). He was, with James Fenimore Cooper and others, a founder of the Otsego County Bible Society in 1813.

Conquest of Canada

The conquest of Canada, whose importance we frequently noticed during the winter, is become a topic of new discussion. The Aurora points out particulars. With the loss of Canada, England must lose her supplies of naval stores, timber, pitch, &c. so necessary to her gigantic navy. She now employs 300 ships annually in taking timber to England, for the repair of her navy. As these inestimable resources would cease with our occupation of the Canadas, so would Britain lose a market for her manufactured goods; the savages would lose an instigator that offers gold for innocent scalps -- and we would be relieved on our borders from a brace of enemies, savage and British, the one excelling in cruelty, the other in perfidy; we should also acquire a considerable addition to our revenue, by duties on imports. Until the northern provinces be ours, then “let Americans never sheathe their swords.” -- Whig [a Republican paper]

COMMENT: Pipe dreams. Pipe dreams.

Militia

In many parts of the United States they are drafting the militia -- not for service but to ascertain who is to stay at home, many more than is required offering themselves. -- Register

COMMENT: Enthusiasm for the war was far from universal, many farmers and merchants being anything but eager to be drafted from their homes and farms.

From Detroit

Judge Porter of Stoloffer, arrived in this village last evening, directly from Detroit, to whose politeness we are indebted for the following Important Information: That when he left Detroit on the 29th ult.[July], Gen. HULL was strongly fortified in Canada, nearly opposite -- his whole force about 3000 men -- his intention was not to act offensively till he should have receive reinforcement from the Governors of Kentucky and Ohio, to who he had sent expresses for 2000 soldiers and which were daily expected. -- Buffalo Gazette

COMMENT: As we shall see, “acting offensively” was no longer a part of the psyche of the elderly Revolutionary General William Hull.

Mob in Plymouth

At a Court of Sessions begun and held at Plymouth [Mass.], for the county of Plymouth, on the first Tuesday of Aug. 1812: Whereas Charles Turner, Jun. Esq., the Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions for said County, arriving in town for the purpose of attending the business of said County, was violently assaulted by a mob, seized, kicked and pushed through the streets in a most shameful manner, his person injured and his feelings insulted; and the Court having also having been insulted on their way to the Court-House, are of opinion, that in this alarming state of affairs in this town, an adjournment of this Court is proper and necessary -- hereupon Ordered, That this Court be adjourned to the fourth Tuesday of September next; and that the Clerk be directed to enter this order on record, and to notify by advertising in the public newspapers, or notification to each town in the county, the time to which the Court stands adjourned.

COMMENT: Charles Turner, Jr., (1760-1839) was at this time also the Republican representative in Congress for the Plymouth District, which suggests that the mob was a Federalist one. He is best known today, perhaps, as the first white man to climb Mount Katahdin (in 1804).

For the Otsego Herald Cherry-Valley,

Aug. 16, 1812 MR. PHINNEY.

On Thursday last, Mr. Warren, our political leader here, informed us that, “When a government is founded on the public will, and the rulers of a nation derive their authority immediately from the people, different opinions will be formed on dif'

ferent subjects, and men of different principles will be elected to office.” I hope he meant that “men of different” opinions, or sentiments, “will be elected to office” for...the vast majority of American citizens of all parties, have the same principles. ... Mr. Warren said the Union was divided and that...the very existence of the “nation was in jeopardy, and that it is rapidly verging towards a state of despotism and ruin.” I was astonished at his terror, and the tory picture which he drew.... No tory in the height of declamation could have drawn the awful situation of the United States in more horrid and degrading colors.

I shall call on you soon and pay you for the History of Rome. Mr. W. had the History of Rome and Greece on the tip of his tongue.