Page:History of Journalism in the United States.djvu/121

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THE ASSUMPTION OF POLITICAL POWER
95

only such as I conceived myself indispensably bound to adopt in discharge of the public trust reposed in me. If this produced in him unfavorable sentiments of me, I yet can never consider the conduct I pursued with respect to him either wrong or improper, however I may regret that it may have been differently viewed by him, and that it excited his censure and animadversions.

"Should there appear in General Lee's writings anything injurious or unfriendly to me, the impartial and dispassionate world must decide how far I deserved it from the general tenor of my conduct. I am gliding down the stream of life, and wish, as is natural, that my remaining days may be undisturbed and tranquil; and, conscious of my integrity, I would willingly hope that nothing will occur to give me anxiety; but should anything present itself in this or in any other publication, I shall never undertake the painful task of recrimination, nor do I know that I shall even enter upon my justification.

"I consider the communication you have made, as a mark of great attention, and the whole of your letter as a proof of your esteem. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

"George Washington."[1]

Mr. Goddard.


Connecticut showed a steady development. The first paper in that colony appeared in the same year with the Boston Gazette, 1755. The Connecticut Gazette, as it was called, was the enterprise of James Parker and John Holt.

The New London Summary, which appeared on August 8, 1758, the title afterward being changed to the New London Gazette, brought to the fore the indefatigable Green family, whose contributions to printing and journalism grew like the family tree, for wherever a member of this family was to be found, there was a pioneer with the printing press.

A most important addition to the patriotic papers was the Connecticut Courant, brought out by Thomas Green at Hartford in December, 1764, the same Hartford

  1. Thomas, ii, 357, 358.