Horsmandens Journal of the Proceedings Essays -- Analysis, Daniel Hor

Daniel Horsmandens diary of the Proceedings was written with a specific purpose in drumhead which he openly acknowledges in his introduction. Horsmanden claims that it was for the public benefit (Zabin, p.46) and inspired by the fact that several(prenominal) individuals believed there was no plot at al unneurotic (Zabin, p.45). He hoped that by displaying the facts of the case he could prove to the people of naked as a jaybird York City that the proceedings were just and that there was a great lack to keep close supervision on their Afri keister slaves (Zabin, p.45). Having such an overt bias the Journal is far from a perfect historical disc of events, save under close examination Horsmandens account gives a vast amount of insight into the sharp divisions that characterized 18th century impudent York and can help explain why the people were so active to believe in such a grandiose conspiracy. One can even see ways in which the conspiracy brought New Yorkers together and h ow it drove them apart.An analysis of Horsmandens work paints a picture of the favorable divisions present in the city. Race was a fairly obvious division, exemplified by Horsmandens statement that Peggy was the worst sort of ill-use because she was a prostitute to negroes (Zabin, p.49) and that blacks were much more prone to suspicion which can be seen in the fact that roughly 30 blacks were penalize compared to four whites (Zabin, p.175). Economic position also shines through as a source of division. This is apparent by the fact that the Hughsons, who owned a disreputable public house (Zabin, p.48), were tried and executed largely on the testimony of Mary Burton. However, when Ms. Burton cast suspicion upon some people in ruffles (those of better means), the court quickly wrapped up the ca... ...stered togetherness among the people. Horsmandens journal provides a wealth of information about eighteenth century New York if one is willing to analyze it critically and abridge the bias present in it. If one does this they catch fascinating glimpses of a divided world, one where people are partitioned by race, economic status, fatherland and religion. A world filled with fear and suspicion caused by the stress inherent within such societal division. The same tensions that either gave bone to a massive conspiracy to destroy the town of New York or gave credence to a nightmare constructed by the minds of the people and fed by individuals self-serving nature. Regardless, eighteenth century New York was a troubled model and Horsmandens Journal of the Proceedings gives us a partial but valuable insight to the lives and interactions of colonial New Yorks peoples.