Concerning the Author
In which Mrs. Dogood accounts for her Family, such as it is.
To the Readers of this Publick Blog,
It is customary, my Grandmother Silence once observed, for Readers to want to know something of a Writer before they decide whether to take her seriously. So I will tell you.
On my Father's side I descend from Mrs. Silence Dogood, a Widow of Boston, who in the Year 1722 wrote fourteen Letters to the New-England Courant upon Hypocrisy, Pride, Drunkenness, the Education of Women, and the Freedom of Speech. The Printer of that Paper was a Mr. James Franklin, who never discovered that the Letters were slipped under his Door by his own younger Brother, an Apprentice of sixteen named Benjamin.
On my Mother's side I descend from Miss Polly Baker of Connecticut, who in 1747 was brought before the Court for the fifth Time for bearing a Child out of Wedlock, and who gave a Speech in her own Defense asking why the Law punished her and not the Men involved, one of whom, she noted, had since become a Magistrate. The Speech was printed in London and throughout the Colonies, and was believed for many Years. It was also written by Mr. Franklin.
That neither of my Grandmothers ever existed has not troubled me in the least. A great many Things in this Country were invented by Mr. Franklin, and most of them work.
I write here as they did: plainly, with a little Mischief, on whatever is vexing the Republick at present. I belong to no Party. I keep no Patron. I will be wrong on occasion and will say so when I am.
Polly Dogood
P.S. Mrs. Dogood is a Character. The Opinions are sincere. Satire is the oldest American Tradition I know of, older than the Country itself.