The Massachusetts spy. [volume], April 23, 1772, Image 2

About The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772

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vereign, however dangerous it may be to
mvfclf, or difagrceable to him to fee his pic*
tyre drawn by the hand of Truth.
What can we expeft, my countrymen !
of a man, whom neither oaths nor obligations
can bind ? Who, instead of protesting, des
troys the people that ratfed him to power f
Who could promise two meft infamous mi
nisters in the closet, that no desperadoes
employed by them to destroy the freedom of
e'edtion, and the lives of these men who
ailed in oppofnion to their mandates, should
fufter the puoifhment due to the inexpiable
crimes of murder, and violating the sacred
laws which alcne can preserve this kingdom
from inevitable ruin. Who could declare
to the fame mtn, andlte whole Scotch jun
to, in the fame place, that he would support
and prcte3 them in whatever measures they
thought proper to pursue, that he consider
ed them as his firm and (aft friends, and
would abide by their advice in every matter
of national importance, however difagree
abltit Aright be to the general voice of the
people. So li tie does the Befi of Kings, as
his mercenary Oaves term him, study the
interest of this country, or the good of his
fubjefts I ,
What can we expeft of a man, who is
mean and cowardly, when insulted by fo
reign dates ? who could be base enough, to
(toffcr the cold unfeeling hand of a Scot,
in one moment to restore to the implacable
enemies of his crown and kingdom, the
spoils of a glorious war, which were pur
chased at the cxpence or many thousand
English lives and some millions of money ?
who can smile and be boyishly familiar
with a puppet-shew-man, or, low mecha
nic, and be insolent, haughty, and reserved
to Englishman of rank and lelpedlable
character ? who has more than once pre
tended a regard for the laws and constitu
tions of the British empire, which he was
fulrmnly sworn to preserve, and yet has
approved of doftrines and measures calcu
lated, nay, designed to destroy both.
What can We expeftof a man, who pre
tends a regard for religion and justice, yet
associates with and rewards for their infamy
the most profligate and abandoned wretches
of the age; and pardons the most notorious
and inhuman murderers ? who aflumes the
appearance of virtue, and praftifes the most
scandalous and fhameful corruption f
W hat can we expeft of a man, who has
placed his whole confidence and power in
thofeScotchmen, that have all their lives
opposed the House of Brunswick, while he
has preferred and prosecuted with unre
lenting malice and implacable revenge every
man, who, in times of difficulty and dan
get, have supported and defended the pre
sent family on the throne ?
What can we expeft of a min, who has
made the allegiance of his people incompa
tiable with their own fafety ? who has
claimed and exercised a power to dispense
with the laws, and levied money on the
people of Ireland by virtue of hit letters only,
contrary to a special aft of parliament ?
who could ereft a new board of accounts in
that country (to the great oppreflion of the
people, at this time almost luined) for the
abandoned purpose of gratifying five pimps
and parasites of the court with places, and
to secure with the greater ease a majority
li the parliament there, or overturn-the
laws, and destroy the peace and happiness
of that kingdom*
What can we expeft of a nnn, who,
though sworn to call free parliaments ac
cording to the conftttucioo, could aflift in
packing the superlatively infamous
Houfeof Commons in England? who, by
dofetir?, pi and other means, has
complexly modelled them to the designs of
his oxo Scotch Junto? la a word, what
can we expect from a man, deaf to the ca'ls
of humanity, de if to the petitions and re
montiraners of a loyal and graceful people ?
♦ho cm huj a riaitor and ipuro a friend ?
—{ do piorounce from such a man we can
exoeft ocihiog but misery, ditgiaccand 11a
very.
When the Duke of Cumbeiland was vi
tiating the age by his debaucheries, break
ing through every sacred tie, and all laws
human and divine* which bind civil societies,
and make men happy on earth, then, and
only then, did our religious and virtuous
King countenance and iupporthim, and St.
'James's was the only place where he could
find an afyium from the just reienim-nt of
an injured hufoand, and the contempt of
mankind. Then it was, our amiable so
vereign carefled him, while the Scotch
rebels, who surround his person and throne,
flattered and fawned on him. The mo
meit the world had reafun to believe the
—*» i flryclr with ahnfeef his crimes,
to reform
•The MASSACHUSETTS SPY tor W
that instant his righteous brother and king
drives him with » vindictive peifecuting
spirit from h's presence; he is no longer a
proper companicn for George and his brau.
friends.
It is apparent to all mankind, from every
aft of the king and his Scnttijh ministers,
that despotism is spreading itfelf throughout
the British empire. It is impcißblc to blind
the eyes of the people, with pretensions to
religion, virtue, and Justice, they will ex
peft to fee them fraflifed in i few instances
at least ; otherwise, credulous as they are
in general, suspicion will get the better of
their belief, and they will execrate them
felvei for being deceived by the falfe guise of
one Fool and a few Scotch knaves.
Men of sense and refleftion observe with
indignation ; every fteptbat is taken to pre
pare the way for the introduftion of tyranny
and arbitrary power; they fee, end with
concern declare, this kingdom to be in a
situation as mlforable and deplorable as it
was at the last revolution. These are the
private sentiments of all men, and the pub
lic declaration of thousands; where then
(hall I find words to express the monftrout
wickednefsuf this reign, this total absence
of all virtue, religion and tenderness to the
human species ? What colours can paint it ?
what pen can describe it.
What can be more cruel, wicked and
deftruftive to human society, or a greater
blasphemy against the Supreme Being; than
to make government, which was designed
by him, to render men numerous, ufeful,
good and happy, an unnatural engine to
destroy mankind, by millions, and (he
peace of the world, to make one or a few
proud and insolent.
A quertion here consequently arises; sup
pose a man who has no natural right, should
accept great powers, honours, and immense
revenues, and other advantages to himfclf
and bis posterity, either upon express con
ditions as in all limited constitutions, espe
cially our own, or implied as in all consti
tutions whatsoever; and yet, either by open
declarations, or deliberate aftions proclaim
to the world, that he does not intend to be
bound by those conditions, that he vofiHfS
longer abide by his legal title, but wQaf
fume another that was never giverl )um,
and to which he can have no right aVaB;
that he will govern his people by despotic
authority; that instead of protesting, he
will destroy them; that he will overturn
the laws, and instead of being a terror to
the wicked, will be a terror to the good :
I ask in such a case, whether his fubjefts
will be bound by the conditions, which he
has renounced? Do the obligations subsist
on their parts, when he has destroyed them
on his; and are they not at liberty to pre
serve themselves, and to seek proteftion
elsewhere, when it is denied where they
have a right to expert and demand it, and to
get it by any means, even at the f expencc
of him and h>s family, when no O'Pier me
thod or rccourfe is left ?
Let that gloomy Scotch importer Dr.
Samuel Johnson, and all the merctlefs ad
vocates for tyranny and fupeiftition, which
this b’eflcd reign has produced; exert all
their quaint eloquence, all their knotty dis
tinftions, and antwer this question in the
affirmative if they can. them diftin
guith if p iflib’e, the case of their present
id,l whom they are paid to worship, from
that which I have represented; let them
shew that he has a right to be a devil, let
them do this to the conviftion of mankind,
and I will then believe it is poflible for
Scotchmen to be diverted of tieachery and
balettefs.
Every virtuous good king will endea
vour to protest his fubjefts from the Glares,
cheats, frauds and oppreifiom of designing
men, how strange is it then, that the beji
of Kings, fhou'd reverse the rule, prortitute
his power and public honour, and combine
with a fee of wretches who are perpetually
forming schemes to ruin thousands, and ,
when one fort of opprtffion can be no lon
ger supported, set their heads to work to find
out another. But we live in the halcyon days
of George the third.
We read fomettmes in history of a tyrant
fitting in his feat of jujiice, once in so ma
ny days, to hear equally all causes and per
fans. What a mockery! what a farce to
hear the word justice come out of the mouth
of a tyrant, or a button maker, who is a
fettled enemy to the laws of justice, mercy
and common feafe.
Experience convinces us neither just ice,
mercy, virtue, religion, nor any thing that
is good or defirabie can tubfift, under an
obstinate, ignorant tyrant, he lives by no
thing but what is d< tellable and wicked.
He is fuppo t d by general ruin ; and as
fraud arc and every fpecics of vio-
। lence and cruelty, are the props of his throne;
so he measures his own happiness, security,
and ftiength, by the misery and wcaknefs
if bis people; and continued oppreflion
and rapine are his studied and neceflary
arts of reigning. I could produce many in
stances in our own history, to prove every
word ftriftly true, even to the fatisfsftion of
the Scotchmen about St. James's, but it
is unnecefl'ary, as there is seldom more than
one tyrant and button maker in a family.
London ; Printed by W. Moort.
For the Massachusbtts Spy.
Mr. Thomas,
The Publick not long since had presented
to them a few feenes from
The ADULATEUR;
the following is taken from the fit ft Aft
of it. r
Scene a Prison. Ebenezer folus.
, done—nor all their boasted power
i I can save me !
Not Hazlerod himfclf w th all his art.
Who long had buoyed up my finking fpi'its,
Can sooth the (ullen paflions of my foul.
Or pour on* ray of comfort on my njind.
Condemn’d —to die ?— Perdition seize
them all I
Where now are all the gild?d airy profpefts
That swarm before me— honours, places,
penfi ns—
’ Pis all a cheat, a d—’d, a cruel cheat.
The wretch that feafts himfclf on promises,
Purfnes a phantom, and but gralps at air :
Tn’ illusive vapour leads him to a bog,
Then leaves him to hit sate—cursed enticers!
Ye who fedued my foul to laugh at virtue,
To give up all my right to future bliss,
And bid me dare to stamp the die forever ;
Ye, who efuourag'dma with hopes of pardon,
To glut your vengeance, for the cause was
yours,
On weeping innocence ; to aft a deed .
Which sportive fame (hall blow about the
Where are ye now ? [world,
Enter Hazlerod.
Hazlerod. What loft to grief ?—de
jefted ?—*:an it be ?
C.an the poor verdift of some half-formed
peasants, .
Unmeaning dull machines,thus damp your
“ courage ?
Rodfie up my friend, for friend I still will
1 call thee !
Hy/very tie that links the hdman mind,
That ftcret sympathy which cements fouls,
W hich like two rivers mingle mutual streams
And roll together—thou art, shall be mine.
Know then weal! have met, and all deter
mind [Fisblk,
To aid the cause in hand—old tottering
Whose age is ftrengthned only by bis crimes,
And witty Laulibs, always of one mind,
Fortune’s light bubble,cautious Latitat,
Whose foul ne’er knew one generous (en
ment
Which gives a fanftion to humanity,
Steady and vigilant in one foie plan,
To crush the friends of Freedom,extirpate
The dear remains ofVirtue,and IikeNERO,
At one oread blow to maflacre his millions ;
Steady to this one plan,tho’ dreary fprftres
Scaie all his foul, and haunt his midnight
slumbers.
Y<*s,we will ft: 1 protest thee—’tis impossible
A cause so much at heart should droop and
languish,
And we not lend an aid.—When Seider
bled
We fnufF’d the rich perfume—The groans
ot youth,
Gods! they were music in our ears—You
therefore
Shall one day leave this dreary tenement,
Again with pleasing fecues of blood and
carnage.
To glut our vengeance.—Yes, we swear,
You thall be tree whatever pangs it cost us.
We’ll laugh at all the howls ot Patriotism.
Should virtue check, ihouU confcwnce
whisper terror,
We'll brave it al 1 .
Scene changes to a private apartment.
EnterCA»siVi,and Marcus a soungpatriot.
Cassius. It mutt be so. Our iates are
too unkmd.
Who would have thought beneath an air
of virtue,
Solemn grimace, and prof F-r of fair deeds,
Should iurk such baseness. To fee the Patriot
Racking in gore .excites the keenest pieafurc.
Oh * my poor country ! when i fee thee
wounded,
Bleeding to death, it pains me to my foul.
Long have 1 wept in fecret,nav could weep
' i ill tears were chang’d to blood—when
will it be,
When high-foul’d honour beats within our ,
. bosoms,
' And calls to aftion ; when tby tons, like
heroes,
Shall dareafiert thy rights, and with their
fworos,
Like men, like freemen, pave a way to
cor.queft,
Or on thy ruins gloriously expire.—
Marcus On ! Cassius, you excite ,
a generous transport;
In such a cause pleas d could 1 bare my bo»
fom,
And pour my choice ft blood—yes, I have
. seen, *
Tito’ young I’ve seen, such crimes by er
mind wretches
As wou’d have fhock’d a century—one
thing I wonder,
That deeds so foul should find abetters.
Cassius. You little, know the world.
These greater vices
Lead to preferment—the man of honest
mind,
Whose generous foul disdains base grov’ling
aftions.
And grasps alone at virtue, finks neglefted.
Yes my young friend, would you be great
and powerful,
Leaded with wealth and honors, be a rascal.
Stoop low and cringe, stick not at oaths, •
nor let
Thy shrinking foul start at the thought of
iMURDER!
Then to Rapatio go. and Hazlerod,
And all the band Ihall give a hearty
welcome. / »
Marcus. Oh ! no I scorn it ’ better
live a poor man,
And die so too, while virtue and my consci
ence
Speak peace within; better, tho* hate ahd
malice
May (hoot their fhafts against me;better thus
so make my exit, while the foul with
comfort,
Reviews the past and smiles upon the future,
Cassius. Yes, Marcus,poverty.mutt
be thy fate,
If you’re thy country’s friend. And think
upon it, , i
When lam gone,as soon perhaps I may be.
Remember it— f hose men whose crimes
now shock us
May dose their measures—yes, the wHh’d
for period
May (bon arrive, when murders, blood
and carnage
Shall crimson all these flreets ; when this
poor country j
Shall drink her richest blood—-forbid It
Heaven I
And may these monsters find their glories
(made.
Crufh’d in the rujrfs they thefofehres have
A ts A R D/
To the noble and patriotic Lord Dunmob t.
IT is an old and common faying, my
Lord, that all comparisons are odious I
blit this, like many other old phrases in the
world is entirely without foundation : For
it is by comparison, principally, that we
arrive at our highest degree of knowledge
in this world, which Sir, you know, is but
a low degree at best.—By comparing the
conduft of men we gain the ideas of greaf
nefs, nobleness, goudnefs, &c. as also of
littleness, baseness, wickedness, and the
like. Thus, my Lord, when your con
duft in the late abolition of the exorbitant
fees, taken by the clerks of your predeces
sors, in the coluny of Virginia, is contras
ted (or compared) with the conduft of a*
lateG—<—r of North Carolina: v out
Lordship appears as a brother, a father, r
Guardian Angel to the Virginians, and a
friend to the human race ! While the other
exhibits the charafter of a robber, a mur
derer, a hater of mankind, an infernal fiend,
wnh a Soul more dark and horrible than the *
midnight of Helt! Had that arch D—-1/
may it please your Lordship, been inspired
with your noble greatness of foul, Alamance
would not have been stained with guiltlefe
blood ; and many a better man than him* i
felf might still have lived in peace and com- 1
fort with his family, friends and neighbours ;
and have been a great blessing to the Com
munity. Would you, my Lord, embalnr
your name, and immortalize your charafter
as the greateftjbeft magi (irate ever in auih<
rity in America, (you fee how comparison
kept up) let one more noble and very j
deed mark your adminiftration!—My Lc
set at liberty the persecuted forreligion’s fn
and let the prisoners go free, who are confi
in some of your loathsome goals, for pref
ing the everlajling Gospel. Supposing
to hold some errors; let thojt of their
cuters, who are without fin, cajl tbs-
■ T 0 L£RA '
* REMOVE! /
SAMUEL ELIOT, jw
quaints his Cuftocners and ;
He has removed from store ' -JT
EndofFaneuil-Hall, »• the Corner a > /
i, lately improved by BenjamirA nfl w I J
jun.—That he has received . I I
Galefand Folger, a com pleat A w ,1 /
Piece Goods and Brazicry, wh:J ' "1/
teumned to fell at the very W
April 23.