A History of Printing in Colonial Maryland

Goddard again conducted it alone until August 7, 1789, when he formed a
partnership with his brother-in-law, James Angell.¹ The last named publish-
er, who, it may be observed, was not a printer by trade, bought the newspaper
from Goddard in the year 1792.

Goddard's final appearance as the publisher of the newspaper which he
had founded twenty years earlier was in connection with the issue of Feb-
ruary 19, 1793. Six months before, on August 14, 1792, he had delivered
through the columns of the Maryland Journal a valedictory wherein ap-
peared a great alteration in the state of his sentiments towards the people
of a town which once, in his wrath, he had described as "a Theatre of An-
archy and Licentiousness."²

The following portions of this farewell communication contain whatever
it has of interest for this narrative:

"To retire from a Business not altogether unproductive, generally implies Success to the
Prosecutor in the Accumulation of Wealth; but from a Despair of its Attainment, I have,
at last, reconciled it to my feelings to retire without a Consolation of that pleasant Kind.
Such a Consolation might, indeed, lessen the Emotion, and sensible Regret, that I now ex-
perience in offering this, probably my Last Address, ..... and in relinquishing a Business
reared, under Favour of the Public, to its present Consequence and Respectability ... on
the small Capital of a single solitary Guinea, after the total Wreck of my fortune in another
State. It is, however, an alleviating Circumstance, that, by this Measure, I am enabled to
do Justice to a worthy Friend, who, from my too sanguine Anticipation of the Growth and
importance of this really flourishing Town, spontaneously became my Security, in an un-
fortunate Speculation, for upwards of Twenty-Five Hundred Pounds....... From an anx-
ious Desire to indemnify this disinterested Gentleman, ... I have ..... Disposed of my
whole Printing-Concern (one of the most considerable in the United States) for a valuable
Consideration, to my Partner and Brother-in-Law, Mr. James Angell, .....

"Though there was a Moment when political Discussions produced a Degree of Ani-
mosity and Resentment repugnant to my Feelings and injurious to my Interest, yet I reflect
with inexpressible satisfaction, that succeeding Liberality and Candour soon obliterated the
Remembrance, and that I shall now leave this Town in perfect Friendship and Harmony
with my Fellow-Citizens—ardently wishing them a Continuance of that prosperity I have
for so many Years witnessed, in the rapid Rise of this opulent Town, with equal Admiration
and Delight."

Goddard had determined to"cultivate his garden"; "contentment walks
the unambitious plain," he wrote,³ and weary with his struggle he retired
to his wife's farm in Rhode Island, where as "William Goddard of Johnston,
yeoman," he lived peacefully another twenty-four years. Goddard served
in the Rhode Island legislature for a short time, but in general his interests

¹ Goddard had married on the Thursday before May 27, 1786, Abigail, the daughter of General James Angell
of Providence, R. I. (See Angell, A very R, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas Angell. Providence, 1872.)
²Maryland Journal, July 2o, 1779.
³ Maryland Journal, August 14, 1792.

[142]