Cato's Letters were essays by British writers John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, first published from 1720 to 1723 under the pseudonym of Cato (95–46 BC), the implacable foe of Julius Caesar and a famously stalwart champion of Roman traditionalism (mos maiorum).
The Letters are considered a seminal work in the tradition of the Commonwealth men.
They condemned corruption and lack of morality within the British political system and warned against tyrannical rule and abuse of power. For instance "all History affords but few Instances of Men trusted with great Power without abusing it, when with Security they could.”[1]
Publicationedit
The 144 essays were published originally in the London Journal, later in the British Journal. The Letters were collected and printed as Essays on Liberty, Civil and Religious.[2] A measure of their influence is attested by six editions printed by 1755.
Influenceedit
A generation later their arguments immensely influenced the ideals of the American Revolution. According to Peter Karsten's Patriot-Heroes in England and America, Cato's Letters were the most common holdings on the bookcases of the founding fathers.[3]
These letters also provided inspiration and ideals for the American Revolutionary generation. The essays were distributed widely across the Thirteen Colonies, and frequently quoted in newspapers from Boston to Savannah, Georgia.[4] Renowned historian Clinton Rossiter stated "no one can spend any time on the newspapers, library inventories, and pamphlets of colonial America without realizing that Cato's Letters rather than John Locke's Civil Government was the most popular, quotable, esteemed source for political ideas in the colonial period."[5]
Unrelated to the Trenchard and Gordon letters, two different letter-writers in eighteenth-century America also used Cato as a pseudonym in writing political letters for publication.
Cato was later used as a pseudonym in a series of letters to the New York Journal in 1787 and 1788 opposing James Madison's views and urging against ratification of the United States Constitution (the view known as Anti-Federalism). Many historians attribute these letters to George Clinton, though their authorship has not been definitively proven.[8]Alexander Hamilton published responses to these letters under the pseudonym "Caesar."[9]
Referencesedit
^"Constitutional Government: John Trenchard, Cato's Letters, no. 60". press-pubs.uchicago.edu.
^John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon. Essays on Liberty, Civil and Religious, and Other Important Subjects. ed. and annotated by Ronald Hamowy. 2 vols. (Indianapolis, Liberty Fund, 1995). The standard modern edition.
^Karsten, Peter. 1978. Patriot-Heroes in England and America. The University of Wisconsin Press. Pages 34-5.
^Mitchell, Annie (July 2004). "A Liberal Republican "Cato"". American Journal of Political Science. 48. doi:10.1111/j.0092-5853.2004.00089.x.
^Rossiter, Clinton (1953). Seedtime of the Republic: the origin of the American tradition of political liberty. New York: Harcourt, Brace. pp. 141.
^Cato Institute, "About Cato", undated, accessed January 2008.
^The Writings of Thomas Paine, Collected and Edited by Moncure Daniel Conway (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1894). Vol. 1 (XVII.: THE FORESTER’S LETTERS). Available at Online Library of Liberty "'Cato' was the Rev. Dr. William Smith, a Scotch clergyman of the English Church, Provost of the College of Philadelphia, and the most influential preacher in that city until his fall with the royalist cause which he had espoused. The letters of these disputants were widely copied in the country, and the controversy was the most exciting and important immediately preceding the Declaration of Independence. The proposal of such a Declaration was really the issue. It was vehemently opposed by the wealth and aristocracy of Philadelphia, headed by Dr Smith, and the discussion was almost a battle. This may explain its acrimony, on which neither writer, probably, reflected with satisfaction in after years. The 'Cato' letters are not included in the collected Works of Dr. Smith (Philadelphia, 1803), nor have the letters of 'The Forester' appeared hitherto in any edition of Paine’s Writings." (editor's note)
^"The Anti-Federalists and their important role during the Ratification fight - National Constitution Center". National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
^"U.S. Senate: George Clinton". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
Media related to Cato's Letters at Wikimedia Commons
Works related to Cato's Letters at Wikisource
Cato's Letters (Volume I)
Cato's Letters (Volume II)
Cato's Letters (Volume III)
Cato's Letters (Volume IV)
April 27, 2024
cato, letters, were, essays, british, writers, john, trenchard, thomas, gordon, first, published, from, 1720, 1723, under, pseudonym, cato, implacable, julius, caesar, famously, stalwart, champion, roman, traditionalism, maiorum, contents, purpose, publication. Cato s Letters were essays by British writers John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon first published from 1720 to 1723 under the pseudonym of Cato 95 46 BC the implacable foe of Julius Caesar and a famously stalwart champion of Roman traditionalism mos maiorum Contents 1 Purpose 2 Publication 3 Influence 4 Other pseudonymous Cato letters 5 References 6 External linksPurpose editThe Letters are considered a seminal work in the tradition of the Commonwealth men They condemned corruption and lack of morality within the British political system and warned against tyrannical rule and abuse of power For instance all History affords but few Instances of Men trusted with great Power without abusing it when with Security they could 1 Publication editThe 144 essays were published originally in the London Journal later in the British Journal The Letters were collected and printed as Essays on Liberty Civil and Religious 2 A measure of their influence is attested by six editions printed by 1755 Influence editA generation later their arguments immensely influenced the ideals of the American Revolution According to Peter Karsten s Patriot Heroes in England and America Cato s Letters were the most common holdings on the bookcases of the founding fathers 3 These letters also provided inspiration and ideals for the American Revolutionary generation The essays were distributed widely across the Thirteen Colonies and frequently quoted in newspapers from Boston to Savannah Georgia 4 Renowned historian Clinton Rossiter stated no one can spend any time on the newspapers library inventories and pamphlets of colonial America without realizing that Cato s Letters rather than John Locke s Civil Government was the most popular quotable esteemed source for political ideas in the colonial period 5 The Cato Institute a Washington D C think tank founded by Edward H Crane in 1977 takes its name from Cato s Letters 6 Other pseudonymous Cato letters editUnrelated to the Trenchard and Gordon letters two different letter writers in eighteenth century America also used Cato as a pseudonym in writing political letters for publication One Cato wrote a series of essays arguing against American independence in the Pennsylvania Gazette which were published in April 1776 According to Thomas Paine biographer Moncure D Conway this Cato was Reverend Dr William Smith an influential Anglican minister in Philadelphia His views were opposed in letters signed by The Forester apparently Paine 7 Cato was later used as a pseudonym in a series of letters to the New York Journal in 1787 and 1788 opposing James Madison s views and urging against ratification of the United States Constitution the view known as Anti Federalism Many historians attribute these letters to George Clinton though their authorship has not been definitively proven 8 Alexander Hamilton published responses to these letters under the pseudonym Caesar 9 References edit Constitutional Government John Trenchard Cato s Letters no 60 press pubs uchicago edu John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon Essays on Liberty Civil and Religious and Other Important Subjects ed and annotated by Ronald Hamowy 2 vols Indianapolis Liberty Fund 1995 The standard modern edition Karsten Peter 1978 Patriot Heroes in England and America The University of Wisconsin Press Pages 34 5 Mitchell Annie July 2004 A Liberal Republican Cato American Journal of Political Science 48 doi 10 1111 j 0092 5853 2004 00089 x Rossiter Clinton 1953 Seedtime of the Republic the origin of the American tradition of political liberty New York Harcourt Brace pp 141 Cato Institute About Cato undated accessed January 2008 The Writings of Thomas Paine Collected and Edited by Moncure Daniel Conway New York G P Putnam s Sons 1894 Vol 1 XVII THE FORESTER S LETTERS Available at Online Library of Liberty Cato was the Rev Dr William Smith a Scotch clergyman of the English Church Provost of the College of Philadelphia and the most influential preacher in that city until his fall with the royalist cause which he had espoused The letters of these disputants were widely copied in the country and the controversy was the most exciting and important immediately preceding the Declaration of Independence The proposal of such a Declaration was really the issue It was vehemently opposed by the wealth and aristocracy of Philadelphia headed by Dr Smith and the discussion was almost a battle This may explain its acrimony on which neither writer probably reflected with satisfaction in after years The Cato letters are not included in the collected Works of Dr Smith Philadelphia 1803 nor have the letters of The Forester appeared hitherto in any edition of Paine s Writings editor s note The Anti Federalists and their important role during the Ratification fight National Constitution Center National Constitution Center constitutioncenter org Retrieved 8 August 2019 U S Senate George Clinton www senate gov Retrieved 8 August 2019 External links edit nbsp Politics portal nbsp Media related to Cato s Letters at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Works related to Cato s Letters at Wikisource Cato s Letters Volume I Cato s Letters Volume II Cato s Letters Volume III Cato s Letters Volume IV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cato 27s Letters amp oldid 1219319549, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
