6

Assault on patriot James Otis, as reported in the Boston-Gazette.

Boston: Edes & Gill, 11 September 1769
4 pages, 15 x 9¼ inches, on one folding sheet; disbound.

James Otis (1725-1783) was one of the leaders of the Bostonians who resisted British rule in the 1760s, remembered for the phrase "taxation without representation is tyranny." If he had remained active in the fight through the end, he might be remembered alongside the likes of John Adams, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams. However, he seems to have struggled with mental instability even in his best days. In 1769, a tax collector named John Robinson took offense at an article by Otis, and in the resulting brawl, Otis received a head injury which seems to have pushed him over the edge. 

The attack is covered in depth in this Boston newspaper. It begins with the offending letter by Otis, in which he quotes various Tories and then concludes that "the Affairs of this Cabal have for some Time worn so forlorn an Aspect, that they are of late grown desperate, and . . . intend to rely on Assassination as their last resort."  

A whole half a column is devoted to the attack: "Mr. Robinson in the Presence of the publick Company in the Coffee-Room, suddenly turned and attempted to take him by the Nose; and failing in the Attempt, he immediately struck at him with his Cane. . . . Mr. Otis having disarmed his Antagonist, several Persons in the Room prevented Mr. Otis from having fair Play, some of whom held him, while others struck with Cutlasses, Canes, and other Weapons, and the Cry was, Kill him! Kill him!" 

This is followed by a response by the recovering Otis, and also an advertisement Otis took out, regarding "the premeditated, cowardly and villainous attempt of John Robinson . . . last week, to assassinate me." 

This attack marked the end of Otis's public life. He never played a significant role in the revolution to come.

Heading the front page of this issue is a list of names of seven Boston merchants who disobeyed the non-importation agreement.

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