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Kaminski, John P.; Saladino, Gaspare J.; Leffler, Richard; Schoenleber, Charles H. (ed.) / Commentaries on the Constitution, public and private. Volume 6: 10 May to 13 September 1788
18 (1995)
Appendix I, pp. 368-406
Page 368
APPENDIX I The documents printed in Appendix I are, for the most part, widely circulated squibs or fillers. Most of the squibs are either reports on the prospects of ratification in the various states or speculations about the attitudes of one or more persons on the Constitution. Others are reports of events, followed by some partisan commentary about them. Since Federalists controlled most newspapers, the majority of the squibs favor the Constitution or attack its opponents. New Hampshire Spy, 10 May' From the information we have been able to collect upon the subject, little doubt may be had but the proposed Constitution will be ratified by the Convention of this state, at their next meeting-and that by a considerable majority. Indeed our intelligence from all quarters pres- ages much good-the Federal Building goes on rapidly, considering its extent and magnitude; and we doubt not, but in a short time we shall have the pleasure of announcing its entire completion. "Hail the Day," &c. 1. Reprints in whole or in part by 2 July (24): Vt. (1), N.H. (2), Mass. (7), R.I. (1), Conn. (2), N.Y. (2), Pa. (6), Md. (1), Va. (2). New Hampshire Spy, 13 May' Among other circumstances which have been made use of to delude the uninformed, is the idea of a "Federal City"--this, with many in the country is held to be a terrible affair-"What, say some, only think, a city ten miles square-what a tremendous cost must this be-and to be wall'd in too, and these walls are to be as high as those of Jericho."- Think of that, Master Brook. 1. Reprints by 19 June (15): N.H. (1), Mass. (1), Conn. (1), N.Y. (1), N.J. (1), Pa. (4), Md. (2), Va. (2), S.C. (2). Two of the fifteen newspapers dropped the reference to "Master Brook," the alias adopted by Frank Ford, a character in William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. In this play, Sir John Falstaff was paying court to Ford's wife and a jealous and suspicious Ford assumed the alias to determine whether or not his wife was being faithful to him. Massachusetts Gazette, 13 May' Not a doubt remains, on the mind of the honest man, of the Fed- eralism of New-Hampshire. Our accounts from that state bespeak the firm resolution of the principal gentlemen there, to support the dignity 368
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