BV 5: The Balance and Columbian Repository (Hudson, NY) 1803

Because they are bound volumes, all issues are given continuous page numbers. Even though almost all issues are represented, here are some major highlights and articles of interest.

Jan. 4

  • Page 2 - Criticism of President Jefferson's State of the Union address
  • Page 4 - Article on Franklin's Almanac / John James Rosseau's opinions
  • Page 5 - Charcoal poison causes a death
  • Page 7 - Meriwether Lewis is Jefferson's secretary
  • Page 8 - The Balance's Carrier Address for 1803 (At the beginning of each year, newspapers would deliver a poem on the year to subscribers.)

Jan. 11

  • Page 15 - Ohio to enter the Union as the 17th State / The people of Maine want to be the 18th state

Jan. 18

  • Page 23 - James T. Callender, publisher of The Recorder in Richmond, VA, is beaten for libeling George Hay, Esq. / Croswell is indicted for printing a libel against President Jefferson (details on page 26)

Jan. 25

  • Page 30 - Spain's cession of Louisiana territory to France may cause difficulties to the United States

Mar. 1

  • Page 71 - Suggestion made in Congress to take over the Mississippi River

Mar. 15

  • Page 83 - Callendar taunts Jefferson (Callender, a former friend of Jefferson, turned against the new President when he did not get the political appointment he expected. Then, Callender printed stories about Jefferson such as the infamous "Black Sally" tale in order to turn the nation against our third President.)
  • Page 87 - In order to get permission to use the Mississippi River for commerce, James Monroe sails for France

Apr. 19

  • Page 128 - Horrid, mistaken murder in Vienna

May 3

  • Page 142 - Vice President Aaron Burr receives an honorary degree from Princeton College
  • Page 143 - Will war resume in Europe?

May 17

  • Page 158 - Monroe arrived at LeHavre on March 30 after a rapid voyage of 22 days
  • Page 159 - French Proclamation to the Louisianans

May 24

  • Page 162 - Thomas Jefferson's invitation to Thomas Paine on March 18, 1801 (At this time, Paine was considered a revolutionist in the French mold and the fact that Jefferson would consort with Paine was damning to the President.)
  • Page 165 - The cave of St. Michael's on Gibraltar is considered a natural curiosity.
  • Page 167 - Napoleon sends 30,000 troops to St. Domingo (It is thought that Napoleon expected to put down the slave revolt in Haiti quickly and then send the troops on to New Orleans and establish a new French hold in America. But, the resistance under Dessalines destroyed French troops and Napoleon's ambition. With the resumption of war with England and the loss of men in the West Indies, Napoleion was interested in selling the Louisiana territory rather than just granting the United States access to the Mississippi River.)

June 7

  • Page 177 - "The Moral and Political Effects of Negro Slavery"
  • Page 182 - New City Hall in New York City

June 21

  • Page 194 - Another attack on Jefferson - his loan to G. Jones in 1779
  • Page 198 - The port of New Orleans is opened

July 5

  • Page 215 - Late news: Louisiana territory is ceded to the United States

July 12

  • Page 220 - George III's Declaration of War with France

July 19

  • Page 227 - Duane in the New York Post is against acquiring Louisiana
  • Page 229 - "We should possess Louisiana, it will benefit France also." An article by Robert Livingston, one of the US representatives in Europe

July 26

  • Page 239 - Jefferson calls a special session of Congress to consider Louisiana

Aug. 2

  • Page 242 - Jefferson's 1789 statement on the free press: truth not falsehood
  • Page 245 - Description of Mississippi

Aug. 16

  • Page 257 - "Let's exchange Louisiana territory for the Floridas."

Sept. 6

  • Page 283 - Death of Callender / Anti-Burr article
  • Page 286 - Bonaparte to invade England

Sept. 27

  • Page 312 - Origin of "Whig" and "Tory" - 1680

Oct. 11

  • Page 326 - England impressing American seamen / Invasion of England

Oct. 18

  • Page 332 - Patrick Henry's letter against slavery written January 18, 1773

Oct. 25

  • Page 342 - President Jefferson's Message to Congress

Nov. 1

  • Page 350 - The Louisiana Territory Treaty

Nov. 8

  • Page 354 - The Convention between France and the United States
  • Page 357 - Congressional Resolution for the occupation of Louisiana

Nov. 15

  • Page 362 - Article on Louisiana and Florida
  • Page 366 - 12th Amendment passes the House of Representatives 88-31

Nov. 22

  • Page 370 - Objections to the Louisiana Treaty

Dec. 6

  • Page 388 - Description of Louisiana
  • Page 391 - Captain Clarke [Clark] and Mr. Lewis left on expedition to the westward
  • Page 392 - "The Newspaper," a poem by William Cowper

Dec. 27

  • Page 414 - 12th Amendment of the Constitution on Presidential Elections sent to President Jefferson for transmission to the States for ratification

For questions, please contact Dr. Doug Cumming.