The Declaration of Independence - Printed in 1776 London - Where the Press Feared to Call a Tyrant a Tyrant

Pamphlet. Gentlemans Magazine. London, England, August 1776. Octavo. Complete, 50 pages (337-388, numbered continuously starting in the January issue) "A ____, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a T____, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people"For years, American protests were directed at the actions of Parliament, and royal ministers. That changed with the Declaration of Independence, a substantial part of which is framed as a bill of particular offenses against American freedoms personally committed by the King.The British press could use the words "King," "Prince," and "Tyrant," but many British publishers felt it prudent to avoid printing those words together. Other British printings were even more self-censored, while this printed all the juicy parts. This early British magazine printing of the "Declaration of American Independency" appears on pages 361 and 362, signed in type by John Hancock and Charles Thomson.Excerpts:"The history of the present ___ of Great Britain, is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations; all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute t___ over these states.".obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither."He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power."He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws;giving his assent to their pretended acts of legislation."For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments."He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us."He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us."In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A ___[Prince], whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a t[yrant] ___,is unfit to be the ruler of a free people"Historic BackgroundThis monthly journal of news, science, arts and philosophy give insight into how readers in Great Britain perceived the momentous events occurring in America. One can only imagine the degree of surprise as Londoners came across the "Declaration of Independency" in their Gentleman's Quarterly. The Declaration is also discussed in a later article entitled an "Account of the Proceedings of the American Colonists" Which asks (and concludes): "Whether those grievances were real or imaginary, or whether they did or did not deserve a parliamentary enquiry, we will not presume to decide. The ball is now struck, and time only can shew where it will rest."Transcript of The Gentleman's Magazine Printing of the Declaration Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, July 4 [1776]When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them. (See website for full description). …