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Gazette Francoise

Primary Sources

The Gazette Françoise is a facsimile edition of the French newspaper published in Newport, RI by the French fleet. The newspaper intended to translate various news items printed in American newspapers to keep the officers and men abreast of political events in this emerging nation. It is the first known service newspaper published by an expeditionary force. The English translation is available elsewhere on this site.

An Arrow Against Profane And Promiscuous Dancing Drawn Out Of The Quiver Of The Scriptures, Increase Mather

Electronic Texts in American Studies

When a dancing master arrived in Boston in 1685 and offered lessons and classes for both sexes during times normally reserved for church meetings, the Puritan ministers went to court to suppress the practice. Increase Mather (1639-1723) took the leading part, writing and publishing this tract, which compiles arguments and precedents for the prohibition of “Gynecandrical Dancing, [i.e.] Mixt or Promiscuous Dancing, viz. of Men and Women … together.” These justifications were certainly shared with the court, which found the dancing master guilty, fined him £100, and allowed him to skip town.

Mather’s tract on dancing is an overwhelming compendium …