Dear Readers,

As happens on occasion, The Tattler has received a cache of letters and documents exchanged between two cousins relating to historical events of the late 17th century. Whenever such papers cast light on affairs of the past that may now affect the present we feel it our duty to publish such information as may be found therein. I will not editorialize upon the contents of the letter published below except to say that any thinking person may well draw the connecting lines between the events referred to in the letter and the events now occuring on the far side of the Atlantic Ocean. Our soldiers are giving their lives to regain the lands which England settled, but the cause of that original revolt and the present difficulties without a doubt lies in free and easy access to armaments. Armaments which, as I understand it, are still being supplied to our enemies by men who dare to call themselves English, all in the name of filty lucre.

My dearest Maude,

I have very little hope that this letter will produce any change in the devestating circumstances occurring here in Plymouth colony and elsewhere throughout English territories here. However, having received information to the detriment of our people and our government representatives throughout the colonies, I am morally compelled to share that information and my outrage at the deceptions being practiced in the name of England.

I refer, my dearest cousin, to the illegal and immoral trade in weapons between a majority of English colonists and the indigenous peoples who share our marvelous new world colonies. I have received word from relatives and friends–in particular one Wm. Bradford that their lives and homes are threatened by the insidious trade in guns made with the local natives.

And I quote “Base covetousness hat got such a sway, as our own safety we ourselves betray; For these fierce natives, they are now so fill’d, with guns and muskets and in them so skill’d, as they may keep the English in awe . . .” And from a friend who experienced the very disasters so portended by Mr. Bradford “The trees stood like sentinels and bullets flew, from every bush (a shelter for their cre)/Hence came our wounds and deaths from every side, While skulking enemies squat undescried.”

As you know I reside in Boston, but I live in fear daily, The streets are crowded with survivors of the depredations of natives who seem to have taken innocent farmers in hatred with little cause. My husband assures me that there is cause enough for our new Governor has attempted to halt the illegal trade in firearms and the natives strongly object. Those objections take the form of retribution hailed in bullets upon all and sundry English.

The crux of the matter is that it is we ourselves who are to blame for this dire circumstance. Had we not initiated the trade in guns, shot, and powder, there would exist no threat to our citizens.

I write in hope that you will encourage your spouse, who stands to parliament will act to intervene in this disaster. I also wish to inform you that we will be leaving Boston to return to England within the next six months. It is entirely too dangerous here.

Most sincerely, your beloved cousin

Nan

Readers: The above letter is an imagined correspondence between two fictional women based on my reading of  Thundersticks by David L. Silverman. Mr. Silverman’s text published in 2016 sheds interesting light on the impact of guns and the gun trade on the lives of Native Americans between roughly 1600 and 1900. If you’d like more information about this book please click on the cover below.