I am the honorable Andrew Oliver Esq., the assigned stamp distributor for the Province of Massachusetts Bay. AMA about the grave injustices committed towards my person by the townspeople of Boston.

by AndrewOliver1765

Honorable gentlemen,

Some of you might know my name and person, but for those who are unaware, my name is Andrew Oliver Esq., Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. In the early months of the year of our lord seventeen-sixty-five, I was commissioned as stamp distributor for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, an act which turned out to be a most regrettable decision.

I invite you to ask me about my life, my experiences with the townspeople of Boston, about the Stamp Act, or anything else that might be of some importance to you.

I have been asked to provide proof of identity and this is what I have been able to arrange on such a short notice.

zyzzogeton

Fellow Commonwealther here, what are your feelings on the prohibition on bathing on Sunday especially given it is also flouting the law to forgo bathing before bedtime every night? Must one remain awake past the witching hour passing time in some lucubratory and rush to bathe before the cock's crowintg?

As you are a man of letters, and an officer of the court, I prithee please unbind this frothy legal riddlemeree. An' I thank thee.

As relates to your Royal commission, my coffee is bitter but rather bracing in this rainy morning. I shall sip it tax-free.

throwmyacountaway

How would you prefer to see the relationship between the British government and the American colonies? Do you, for instance see parliamentary representation as a possibility in the years to come?

Also, what do you think about Witchcraft?

VRichardsen

What do you make of the current unrest in the Province of Massachusetts Bay? Is it a generalised sentiment, or just the work of a few ingrateful rabble-rousers?

CapriciousCupofTea

Dear Mr Oliver, or may I call you Drew?

What inspired to your calling as an esteemed stamp distributor? Was your father a stamp distributor? And your hopes for your son who follows you?

SalsaSavant

Have you ventured to the Liberty Tree of late? I have heard it is particularly beautiful this time of year.

Indigoes

Esteemed Mr Oliver,

I have a grand vision for the city of Boston. Imagine this: as the city grows, perhaps instead of our winding cow paths, we could engage in planning our city with wide, broad roads that meet at sensible angles! The city could be navigable to any visitor, potentially at speed! Think of the benefits to commerce!

Perhaps we would need some city office in charge of this, maybe a department of... Urban Planning? Do you know of someone who would be interested in such a project?

philipquarles

What benefit, if any, did the province of Massachusetts get from the United Kingdom's victory in the Seven Years war?

DarkGamer

When will these unruly and ungrateful colonists see the error of their ways and return to the fold of HRH King George?

outhere

What does the moniker "Esq." denote?

adeodatusIII

Hey, can we AT LEAST have a say in how the revenue stamps look? Because I've seen some of em' and they could use a glow-up.

YeOldeOle

Being intimately involved in the production and distribution of Stamps, do you think the notion of people collecting those for commercial gain holds any value?

MrYams

Good day Mr. Oliver,

I have been conversing with my good friend and fellow Boston citizen Mr. Harbottle Dorr Jr. who has assembled a vast annotated collection of newspapers from various presses operating in town going back to the early days of 1765. It's plain to see from his demeanour towards the regrettable events of the last few years that he has no love left for Parliament's administration of the colony as is evident from his support of the disastrous damages done to both your belongings and those of the honorable governor Hutchinson. He seems to lay the blame for all of this unrest squarely on the shoulders of Lord Bute and his lackey Grenville. While I remain loyal to King George, I will admit his passionate tirades have begun to lead me to questioning the influence of the Parliament in London over affairs in the new world.

Would you say the policies and decisions brought forth by Bute and Grenville are the cause for such ruin as has taken to our virgin land? Or do you look elsewhere to cast blame? And how do you feel about the violent outbursts against your person in response to these policies?

With sincere regards, A loyal patriot

ZurrgabDaVinci758

What's your favourite stamp?

edwardtaughtme

What are the French and Celts up to in Canada? How would an Englishman fare in those regions?

Gankom

Just how big is your stamp collection? Got any tips for an up and coming stamp collector?