OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE: 120K Views; Top Posts

Thank you for reading.

April 26, 2016–The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race NYC blog has passed 120,000 page views.

Total page views for my Google blogs: 1.09 million.

Thank you for reading. Stay in touch.

Most-read posts for this blog in April 2016 were:

Entry

WW2: Why Wasn't Oxford Bombed? (Updated Mar. 27, 2... Jun 8, 2013, 2 comments

LORD NORTH: Apr. 15–Hey, I Just Did What Ben Said ... Apr 6, 2016

HERALDRY: St Catherine's College, Oxford (Updated ... Dec 16, 2015

HERALDRY: Douglas, Moray and de Vere Arms (Updated... Nov 23, 2014

HERALDRY: Oxford Stars (Updated Dec. 17, 2015) Nov 21, 2014, 1 comment

BOAT RACE: Dinners, 2016 (Updated Apr. 5, 2016) Dec 4, 2015

HERALDRY: Trinity College, Oxford (Updated Apr. 15... Dec 7, 2015

ROWING BLAZERS: Ralph Lauren Launch, Carlson's Boo... Sep 24, 2014

HERALDRY: The College of Arms and Windsor Herald Aug 15, 2015

TRINITY: Pitt Society lunch, 2015 Feb 7, 2015

BOAT RACE DINNER: Washington, D.C., 2016

THE 69th ANNUAL OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE DINNER

was held Thursday, April 7, 2016

at the National Press Club, 14^th and F Streets, N.W., Top Floor

Cocktails at 7 p.m., Dinner at 8 p.m. 

Moderator:

William W. Chip (Clare, Cambridge) Senior Counsel at Covington & Burling will preside. Bill studied economics at Clare as a Mellon Fellow, earning his law degree at Yale University after serving as a Marine Corps officer in the Pacific.  An international tax lawyer by day, in his spare time he authors (occasionally politically incorrect) articles in economic, political, and religious journals such as The National Interest, The American Conservative, and First Things.

Speakers:

Professor Angela E. Stent (Girton, Cambridge), Professor of Government and Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University.  She has served on the National Intelligence Council and the Office of Policy Planning, U.S. Department of State.  Her latest book, The Limits of Partnership: US-Russian Relations in the 21^st Century (2014), won the Douglas Dillon Prize of the American Academy of Diplomacy. Professor Stent will give the Toast to the Universities.

Professor Sir Drummond Bone, MA, FRSA, FRSE, Hon, LittD, Master of Balliol College and an acknowledged expert of the poetry of Byron and is President of the Scottish Byron Society.  He is the former President of Universities UK, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, Principal of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London and Professor of English Literature and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Glasgow.  Sir Drummond will give the response from the Universities.

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE COMMITTEE of Washington, D.C. 

Steven Beller, Jesus, Cambridge Michael R. Beschloss, St. Antony’s, Oxford Nicholas Boyle, Emmanuel, Cambridge Esther Brimmer, New College, Oxford Patrick Brogan, King’s, Cambridge Jonathan Davidson, Pembroke, Cambridge E.J. Dionne Jr., Balliol, Oxford Lucie Morton Garrett, Manchester, Oxford Elliot F. Gerson, Magdalen, Oxford Thomas L. Hughes, Balliol, Oxford

George R. Keys, Jr., Balliol, Oxford, Chairman David B. Law, Christ Church, Oxford, Hon. Treas. Sarah Papineau Marshall, King’s, Cambridge  Janet Matricciani, Trinity, Cambridge  Amit Pandya, New College, Oxford  Victoria P. Rostow, King’s, Cambridge  George Stephanopoulos, Balliol, Oxford  Cynthia Walker, Girton, Cambridge  Carolyn H. Williams, Girton, Cambridge  Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., Jesus, Oxford

LORD NORTH: Apr. 15–Hey, I Just Did What Ben Said To (Updated May 13, 2016)

Benjamin Franklin.

On this day in 1774, a British newspaper published an open letter by autodidact (high school dropout) Benjamin Franklin to Britain’s prime minister–Oxonian Frederick, Lord North. 

The newspaper was published in England, in The Public Advertiser. Franklin signed himself "A Friend to Military Government". 

He wrote as from the Smyrna Coffee House on St. James Street in London; this was for decades a well-known meeting place of the liberal Whig party. North was the leader of the ruling Tory party.

Lord North.

Franklin’s sarcastic letter suggested to Lord North that King George should ASAP respond to the insolence of the  American colonial rebels as follows:

• Impose martial law in the colonies, i.e., closing the civil courts.
• Appoint a “King’s Viceroy of all North America" to keep order.
• Collect its taxes through whatever intimidation was required.
• Then sell to Spain the impoverished colonies and its colonists ("the soil and the people on it").

Did Lord North take the letter seriously? Based on his subsequent actions, it certainly seems as though he did...

• The next month, in May 1774, his government passed the Massachusetts Government Act, imposing martial law on Massachusetts, where the rebels were most vocal.
• General Thomas Gage was appointed to institute the military government.
• He was made the colony’s royal governor.

The response of the colonies was the Declaration of Independence, which followed in 1776. The colonies were no longer so easy to sell to Spain.

An Open Letter to Lord North

Smyrna Coffee-House, April 5. [1774]
For the Public Advertiser. [Published April 15, 1774]

To Lord North.

My Lord,

All your small Politicians, who are very numerous in the English Nation, from the patriotic Barber to the patriotic Peer, when big with their Schemes for the Good of poor Old England, imagine they have a Right to give Advice to the Minister, and condemn Administration if they do not adopt their Plan. I, my Lord, who have no mean Opinion of my Abilities, which is justified by the Attention that is paid to me when I harangue at the Smyrna and Old Slaughter’s, am willing to contribute my Mite to the public Welfare; and have a Proposal to make to your Lordship, which I flatter myself will be approved of by the Ministry, and if carried into Execution, will quiet all the Disturbances in America, procure a decent Revenue from our Colonies, make our royal Master (at least there) a King de facto, as well as de jure; and finally, as it may be managed, procure a round Sum towards discharging the national Debt.

My Scheme is, without Delay to introduce into North America a Government absolutely and entirely Military. The Opposition which some People suspect would be made by the Colonies, is a mere Bugbear: The Sight of a few Regiments of bold Britons, appearing with Ensigns displayed, and in all the Pomp of War, a Specimen of which may be seen every Summer at the Grand Review on Wimbledon Common, with that great Commander G——l G——e at their Head, accompanied with a Detachment from the Artillery, and Half a Dozen short Sixes, would so intimidate the Americans, that the General might march through the whole Continent of North America, and would have little else to do but to accept of the Submission of the several Towns as he passed. But as the Honour would be too great for one Man to reduce to absolute Subjection so great an Extent of Territory, I would propose that a separate Command be given to L——d G—— G——e, who by his animated Speeches in the House, and coinciding so entirely with your Lordship’s Opinion on the proper Methods for humbling America, deserves a Share in the Fame of such a grand Exploit. Let him have one half of the Army under his Direction, and march from New York to South Carolina. No one can object to the Nomination, as his Military Prowess is upon Record. 

The Regiments that are in America, with those who are about to embark, will be amply sufficient, without being at the Expence of sending more Troops. Those who served in America the last War, know that the Colonists are a dastardly Set of Poltroons; and though they are descended from British Ancestors, they are degenerated to such a Degree, that one born in Britain is equal to twenty Americans. The Yankey Doodles have a Phrase when they are not in a Humour for fighting, which is become proverbial, I don’t feel bould To-day. When they make this Declaration, there is no prevailing on them to attack the Enemy or defend themselves. If contrary to Expectation they should attempt an Opposition, procure Intelligence when it happens not to be their fighting Day, attack them and they will fly like Sheep pursued by a Wolf. 

When all North America have thus bent their Neck to the Yoke designed for them, I would propose that the Method made use of by the Planters in the West Indies may be adopted, who appoint what they call a Negro Driver, who is chosen from among the Slaves. It is observed that the little Authority that is given him over his Fellow Slaves, attaches him to his Master’s Interest, and his Cruelty would be without Bounds were he not restrained; but the Master is certain, that the utmost Exertion of Strength will be exacted by this cruel Task-Master for the Proprietor’s Emolument. Let all the Colonists be enrolled in the Militia, subject of course to Martial Law. Appoint a certain Number of Officers from among the conquered People, with good Pay, and other Military Emoluments; they will secure their Obedience in the District where they command.

Let no other Courts be allowed through the whole Continent but Courts Martial. An Inhabitant, who disobeys an Order, may by a Court Martial be sentenced to receive from One Hundred to a Thousand Lashes in a frosty Morning, according to the Nature of his Offence. Where Punishment is thus secure, this Advantage will accrue, that there will not be the same Necessity of hanging up so many poor Devils as in this free Country; by which Means the Service of many an able Man is lost to the Community. I humbly propose that the General and Commander in Chief be vested with the Power, and called by the Name of the King’s Viceroy of all North America. This will serve to impress the Americans with greater Respect for the first Magistrate, and have a Tendency to secure their Submission. All Orders issuing from this supreme Authority to have the Force of Laws.

After this happy Change of Government, how easy to collect what Taxes you please in North America. When the Colonists are drained of their last Shilling, suppose they should be sold to the best Bidder. As they lie convenient for France or Spain, it may be reasonably expected one of those little Powers would be a Purchaser. I think Spain is to be preferred, as their Power hath more of the Ready than France. I will venture a Conjecture, that the Ministry might get at least Two Millions for the Soil, and the People upon it. With such a Sum what glorious Things might he not achieve! Suppose it should be applied towards the Payment of one hundredth Part of the National Debt, I [it?] would give him an Opportunity of drawing down upon him the Blessing of the Poor by making him to take off the Halfpenny Duty on Porter. Considering the probable Stability of the present Ministry, this Honour may be reserved for your Lordship.

My Lord, excuse the Crudity of these indigested Hints, which your Wisdom is so capable of improving; and believe me, with infinite Respect, Your Lordship’s Most obedient Humble Servant,

A Friend To Military Government

(Bold face added by your blogger to show the main points of the letter.)