AR+Diary+Soo+C.

Name: Carlisle Vassar Age: 28 Gender: male Occupation: Royal govenor of New York Social Class: High (Governor) Financial situation: Very Wealthy Appearance: relatively good-looking, young Location: (show us on a map) New York (the yellow territory) Habitual locations: The Governor's office, Daily routine: argue with legislators, send all-is-well letters to the king, deal with governing issues Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Hates the French, politically radical Past/individual-family history: Father (now dead) used to have an affair with a French woman Family: wife Jane Vassar, son John Vassar Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): has an affair with a commoner and a patriot Jennifer Wilson, does not have a lot of contact with commoners otherwise Religion: Anglican Education: an Oxford graduate Portrait: (create or add your own picture)

Entry #2

It seems to me that another time has come for myself to step up and take lead in turmoil: I have recently heard of the rise of a heated debate about the parliament and representation of colonies in it. This is indeed a grave problem: with increasingly more forceful taxes of Great Britain, the colonists have reached a point to decide on whether they would abide by the hardly tolerable taxes of the British Parliament, or go against it. Many have written passionately their own opinions and criticisms of the recent parliamentary actions; **I happened to come across an interesting writing of James Otis Jr., an educated scholar and lawyer who seemed to have gained quite an amount of praise with his recent writings regarding current affairs. In fact, my dear Jennifer Wilson - a woman who, if I dare say, is more of a patriot than myself – has been fascinated by this man’s work and passed on his writing to me, convinced that I will share the passion she does after reading it. In a notable part of this writing, Otis Jr. expresses his belief that “ […] the very act of taxing, exercised over those who are not represented, appears to me to be depriving them of one of their most essential rights, as freemen; and if continued, seems to be in effect an entire disfranchisement of every civil right.” I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree: as Jennifer says, taxation without representation is not justifiable, and the notion of parliamentary sovereignty - the doctrine that Parliament has the right to make or unmake any law whatever, without anyone to override it – contradicts deeply with the fundamental purpose of the civil government: to serve the people. As the governor of New York, I have seen how the increasing burdens of tax agonize the majority, if not all, of my citizens, and although myself is a British administrator, I cannot simply ignore the wrongs of the British government. I fully support his majesty the King – doesn’t mean I agree with the tax.** And this seems to be the opinion on many others that I have encountered. Of course, there was Jennifer: the commoner girl that I am secretly in love with, who never hesitated to show her wild love for the colonies and her resentment towards condescending Britain. I guess her latter feeling does irritate me – after all, I am a faithful servant to my King. But without her my life would be so dull, always politics and family business that involves an unattractive wife, and so I put up with it. Besides, she was the source of many interests and gossips of commoners that I didn’t get to hear from the legislators. She has already told me that although majority that she knows of share her opinion about this debate, some remain firm that parliamentary sovereignty is just. And so did some of the other governors, it seemed – but many are starting to shift their opinions. After all, no matter how powerful the parliament is, it cannot impose taxes on us this way. It was too much, and it wasn’t fair. I don’t think it’s fair.

Entry #3 media type="file" key="entry 3.mp3" I uploaded it late because I didn't have macbook on monday that I found about the podcast. Sorry about that.

Entry #4

Dear George,

How have you been? How are affairs down in Virginia? I heard you are not very against the tax issue - were not eight years ago, and still not. I have been considerably well, although the retaliations in other colonies regarding the acts continued to disorient me. There were some grunts in New York, too, but no major incidents. Governance is never always easy - but my wife and my son are all well. Please send my regards to your lovely family also. Well, I have found my finest piece of paper to inform you of the most shocking pamphlet I have encountered so far in my life. It is called "Common Sense" by this fellow Thomas Paine, and it is currently creating the greatest turmoil in my state. So many people are talking and arguing about it - I have heard that it has sold over 120,000 copies, a phenomenal number unprecedented by any other work of a contemporary American. I believe this is because of his shocking contact, as well as his persuasive writing technique - in summary, Paine talks about how his majesty the King is worthless - it shudders me to even write the blasphemy - and that America is better off declaring independence and identifying itself as a separate entity from Great Britain. This pamphlet was so scandalous in that, before its publication, many were opposing against the taxing of the British Parliament, but no one was voicing against the King himself. Now that this radical opinion is out in the open - with so many commoners that are reading it nowadays, with the convenient invention of the printer - many are shocked and some persuaded into thinking the same. Although I have believed that parliament was not acting just when it was passing the Intolerable Acts to jeopardize us colonists, I cannot possibly agree that the King himself is useless - after all, I am his appointed royal governor. This urge to declare independence is surely the most gravest concern to us governors, since if the declaration were to take place, we would certainly lose our jobs, maybe be expatriated, and even be hanged, in the worst case possible. I am sure all the other royal governors would agree with my point that the governors need to stick together to defend their positions as the governor - we cannot simply let the commoners overrule us and dishonor his majesty the King. Please reply to this as soon as possible. This is an emergent issue, and it should be treated as such. Please forward this message to any royal governors that you are acquainted with - as that naive fellow Benjamin Frankly rightly (though I hate to admit) said, it's Join or Die.

Truly Yours,

Carlisle Vassar, the Royal Governor of New York

Febuary 12th, 1774

(Letter I have received from George Jentam) Dear Carlisle, My friend! It is so good to hear from you in such a long time. My wife and children are doing well, and they would like me to deliver their greetings to you. On the other hand, I am not doing so well, as you know, due to the wicked and rather irrational publication that Paine made. As you mentioned, people talk about it all the time, and it’s very disturbing. I have read //Common Sense//, actually, just out of curiosity and I believe that it is absolute blasphemy. Anyhow, glad to hear that you are sound and healthy, please say hi to your lovely son and wife for me. Back to business, as I’ve said before, I have thoroughly examined //Common Sense//, for it was arousing such chaos among some of the colonists of Virginia. What is Paine thinking? I am terribly worried about what kind of consequences this pamphlet will bring. I must admit that he is a fine writer, and he has a powerful way of making his arguments sound valid. Nevertheless, he speaks the words of the devil. Americans, are of English origin, why are they so very eager to declare independence? Declaring independence, I must say will put you and I, and all other respective governors of the rest of the states in a detrimental, if not fatal situation. I am not ready to give up my position as a governor, nor am I ready to put my family in danger. Paine, so I have heard, is apparently criticized by many Englishmen, for his unnecessary motivation to bring about disorder. This man is, without doubt, thirsty for an outburst, a revolution, and he is putting certainly us, our mother country, and even the Americans at risk. Trying to **betray** England! Ha! I am greatly concerned, just as you are if not more, about this issue and wish for all governors to talk through it.

Sincerely,

George Jentam The Royal Governor of Virginia

March 4th, 1774

Entry #5

Dear George,

I first apologize for my lateness of reply since your replying in March 4th, 1774. But I trust that you know the tumultuous turn of events since that time, and why I couldn't help but concentrate on other things than keeping in touch with my closest friends, for which I enjoy the most of my leisure... To be frank, I am not in such a good shape now either, but I have caught time to share my feelings about these events with you. First, I am sorry to inform you that my son is currently missing. It has been most devastating. He was unfortunate enough to sneak out of the house when my wife and I weren't paying much attention, and... Well, he was very angry that he couldn't enter the war - a preposterous notion, given that I was the royal governor who was supposed to be faithful to the king - that I think he attempted to sneak out on me to join the army. But he is so very young, too young to participate in a war such as this... And so things have gotten bad with me and my wife, since she chooses to blame me for this incident. I know she is my wife, but she is becoming intolerable these days. The Declaration of Independence, for obvious reasons, has removed me from my job as a governor. I am still holding onto my land, but I suspect that it won't be very far until the angry commoners take it away from me - but as of now the British army is still remaining strong, and it doesn't seem to me that events have turned to be worse for them since the beginning of the war, so I remain hopeful. My only concern is the ally of colonists, the French, and possibly more allies - like the Spanish, who are trying very hard to overcome the British power in the European region. Britain is unconquerable when battled one on one, but with allies against them - I cannot be sure. But On September 15, General Howe on lower Manhattan, quickly taking control of New York City. When a battle was fought again at White Plains later that month, Washington retreated once more and Howe was able to capture Fort Washington and take about 2000 prisoners captive. Thus they started what they call a "prison ships" system, in which, I hear, a terrible amount of Americans are dying in oblivion. With such situation in hand, I cannot help but worry about my own son. Anyway, I do see that times are now difficult for the colonists. Not only is the majority of men out to war, but British and colonial troops are turning out to be a pest in many of the regions they are residing in - many of them forcefully take food and supplies from innocent farmers and housewives, and so many nonparticipants of the war are turning against it these days. They yearn for peace that they have been lacking for such a long period of time, like me, and I suspect, like you. I do hope the British win for my (and your) sake, but I cannot anticipate the results if they do. Are we going to stay as governors? Are we going to be punished for our inability to keep the colonists in control? If the colonists win, what would happen then? Are we going to be hanged, or are we to be simply taken away our belongings? I wish for the best for both of us. Please reply to notify me of your situation as soon as possible - I am anxious for your sake.

All yours,

Carlisle Vassar September 12, 1777

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