contemporary letters to the editor, these letters were written by professional journalists and often exhibited some of the final prose of the 18th century. The "scribblers" used pseudonyms to make it possible for them to offer views that differed with the official government line. These letters, to six of the most influential British newspapers of the time, provide a unique look at how the British public viewed the American Revolution. The ebb and flow of public support of the war is well documented, as is the way the people reconciled themselves to the ultimate loss of the American colonies. Most clearly, the letters demonstrate that the British public were neither unanimous or consistent in their support of the Crown's efforts to defeat the American colonists.

Hide more