The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume], December 31, 1772, Image 2

About The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775

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iid
fence extra or contra legem: WhM
they promifc or fwear* can detract nothing
horn the pub'tc liberty, which the law
principally intends to prefer e. Thcligh
many of them may be obliged in their seve
ral fta*ion» and capacities to render peculiar
fervicta to a prince* the people continue aa
free as the internal thoughts of • man, and
cannot but have a right to prefeeve their li
berty* or avenge the ♦iolation..
" If matters are well examined, perhaps
hot many magistrates can pretend to much
upon the title of merit, most especially if
they or their progenitors have continued
long in office. Ihe conveniencies annexed
to the exercise of the forereign power, may
be thought Efficient to pay such scores as
they grow due, even to the belt: And as
things of that nature are handled, I think it
will hardly be found, that all princes can
pretend to an irrefiftable power upon the ac
count of beneficence to their people. When
the family of Medices came to be matters of
Tafcany, that country was without dispute,
in men, money and arms, one of the most
flourithing provinces in the world, as ap
pears by Machiavel's account, and the rela
tion of. what happened between Charles
the eighth and the magistrates of Florence,
which I have mentioned already from Guio
< ciardin. Now whoever (halt coniider the
-strength of that country in those days, to
gether with what it might have been in the
space of a hundred and forty yean, in which
they have had no war, nor any other plague,
than the extortion, fraud, rapine and cru
elty of their princes, and compare it with
their piefent desolate, wretched and con
temptible condition, may if he please, think
that much veneration is due to the princes
that govern them, but will never make any
man believe that their title can be grounded
upon beneficence. The like may be laid
•f the Duke of Savoy, who pretending (up
on I know not what account) that every
peasant ia the Dutchy ought to pay him
1 two crowns every half year, did in 1662
fubtilly find out, that in every year there
were thirteen halves j so that a poor man
who had nothing but what he gained by hard
labour, was through his fatherly care and
beneficence, forced to pay fix and twenty
crowns to his Royal Highness, to be em
ployed in his difctcet and virtuous pleasures
FRIDAY, December 25.
BOSTON.
We hear from Grafton, that the Rev. Mr.
Aaron Hutchinson, on account of alienatiohs
of in some of his people, arifmg
from the unhappy disputes between him and
some of his brethren, lately earnettly a(ked,
ftrong reasons prefled, and with great
druggies, at length obtained an honourable
difm ffion from paftoial relation, by the una
nimous advice of an ecclesiastical council
and by a maj or vote of the brethren of the
church present : Whereupon his pastoral re
lation was declared to be diflulved, in the
presence of the Council; and is likely to re
main so, notwithttanding the town have hi
therto refufed'their concurrence.
The following LAW was made and pas
sed by the General Aft rnhly of the colony of
Rhode Ifland* at their sessions in Newport,
on the Ift of March 1663, and notfince re
pe»!ed, viz.— w BE it ena&ed, That no
freeman (hall betaken or imp ifoned, or
« deprived of his freehold, or liberty, or free
« custom, or be outlawed or exiled, or o
* therwife deftroyed,nor (haH be palledl up
«c on, judged,orcondemned,but by the law*
•* ful Judgment of his peers, or by the law
* of this colony. And that no man, of
* what efta*e and* condition soever, (hall be
•« put out of his lands and tenements, nor
•« taken, nor imprisoned, nor disinherited,
«« nor bamflled, nor any ways destroyed or
•« moleftcd, without being for it brought to
“ answer by duecourfe of law.”
SATURDAY, December 26
BOSTON.
- By a gentleman who arrived at Pi feat; qua
hft week from G enada, and came to town
on- Monday, we are informed, that five
weeks ago be was at St. Vincents, the Eng
lilh troops were then in good heal h, that
he did not hear of-the Death of any of the
officers of the 14th Regiment, but two or
three of the privaws had died — I hat ab* ui
three hundred of the Charibs had fur render
•d to the Englifli General, who font them en
botrdthc (hips to prevent their return to
their Brethren That there had been fe
vtral (k’rmithes between small parties; but
no general attack was expelted to be marie
until the Admiral arrived at Antigua, when
his (hips were repairing the damages theW
received in the late hunicane.
’ 1 B B * * s .. fei
rzk %$ A ” g. “We wcu’d add,may the town cf Boflon,
_jl A 3 v Decent ’ * |h< of this province, rejoice in pes-
■ rs—A Jr rv re- <.. itv. Mav wisdom direlt her rr
U ’’’
Yetterday arrived the cruder floopcf
from New-Yoik. .fK
Tuesday the aid of this Inftap De
cember, Was oblerved in the ancient £»wn of
Plymouth, as • day of public feftyity, in
commemoration of the important spent, the
landing of their forefathers in tkat place.
In the morning the Rev. Mr. Robbins
(having been preVioufly requested) delivered
to a numerous and refpedabie congregation,
(confiding of a number of the reverend gen
tlemen of the clefgy and others, inhabitants
of Plymouth and the towns in the vicinity)
a difeourfe adapted to the occasion, from
those remarkable words ot the Psalmist,
For he eftablifheU a teftimony«njacob,*nd
“ appointed a law in Israel, which be com
minded our fathers, that they Ihould make
•« them known to their children, that the ge-
M ncrationt to come might know them, even
»« the children which (hculd be bom ; who
“ should arise and declare them to their
children f that they might let their hope in
‘‘ God, and not forge; the works of God ;
•• and keep his commandments.”—The pro
found silence and folcmn attention which
was obfervablc throughout this vast concourse
of people,Sufficiently demonstrated their ap
probation of the sentiments of the (peaker.
—A plain and elegant entertainment was
prepared at a public house, at which the gen
tlemen of the clergy, and a large number of
others, the most refpe&ablc of the congrega
tion were present । the afternoon patted in
recapitulating and recollecting a variety of
curious anecdot sos our venerable predeces
sors, fubieCls at this time pecu iarly pleasing.
The evening was spent atOLD COLON 1-
HaLL in the most social manner.—Joy,
gratitude and pleasure were apparent in the
countenances of every peifon, through the
whole of this agreeable day and evening.
f U E 3 D A Y, December 29. ‘
B O S T O N.
Extraii » letter frtn a geniltman es cha
raatr in England to bit friend at Btjttn.
H Our tyrants in admimftration ate gteat
ly exasperated with the late manoeuvre of the
brave Rhode Islanders ; as a regard to the
rights of the fubjed and the principles of juft
tice,never marked the measures of the present
wretched condu&ors of the wheels of govern
ment, you will not be alarmed when A tell,
you that they have determined to<viiicate the
charter of that colony ; to effeft (his purpose,
which in their own
tended, with some difficulty .• AdtmhrHW—
is ordeied, with the small craft which are
wth him, to line the harbour of Rhode-
Island, with positive orders to apprehend the
pci funs concernd in the enter prise above
mentioned. Awed by this hectoring com
mander and his gallant (quadron, these bitter
pills are to be crammed down their throats j
but the friends of true Britiih freedom are not
without hopes that the stomachs of that he
roic colony will rejeCt the dose prepared for
them ; be united our dear fuffeiing bre
thren, be tteady and success awaits you ;
freedom, glorious freedom, will be the pur
chase. We believe that the ancient Brin(h
spirit of independence which once bleft this
Island, has improved by transplantation, and
preserves its vigour in the breasts of Ameri
cans j chenib it my dear friends 1 And by
relieving yourselves save this small remnant
of the virtuous in Britain.”
,i ;t* — —it 1 ■ i-M -■ ar ■ —ma
WEDINEbDAY, December 30.
BOSTON.
1 he fo.lowing Letter was lately received
from Cambridge, vis.
M To the Cemmittfi of Communication and
Gorrejpondenco at Bojion |
(( THE commute appointed by the
town of Cambridge to write to the com
mittee of communication and correfpond
cnce at Boflon, gladly embrace this oppor
tunity. In the name and behalf of the find
town of Can bridge, and with the most
iince e re:pe&, they acknowledge the vi
gilcnce and care difeovered by the town
of BufLn, of the. public, rights and
liberties : Acquainting you, that toss town
will beait ly concur in all salutary, proper
and conftitutionai measures, for toe redress
of thofo intolerable grievances,which th 1 ea
ten, and f continued, must overthrow the
happy civil constitution of this province.
It is with the greatest pleasure we now
inform you that we think the meeting was
as foil as it has been for the choice of a
re prefen rati ve, for a number of years, if not
fuller, and that the people dilcovered a glo
rious spirit, like men determined to be free.
We have hete indofed you a copy, of the
votes and proceedings of this tow.) at their
meeting, so far as they have <one •
• Tbtfg wrt tn in our
»* We wcu’d add,may the town of Boston,
the capital of this province, rejoice in per
petual prosperity. May wisdom dire& her
th all her coniultations. May her fpiritcd
and prudent conduit, render her a terror
to tyrants. May every town in this pro
vindb) and every colony upon the continent
be 1 wakened to a (en(c of danger, and unite
in the glorious cause of liberty.. • Then
ftjall we be able cftcHually to
the machinations of our enemies. To con-
that this land may be purged from
those fins which are a reproach to a peo
ple, and be exalted by rightcoufocfs i that
God almighty may be our God, as he was
the God of our fathcis । and that we may
be poflefled of the fame principles of virtue
religion and public spirit, which warmed
and animated the hearts of our renowned
anccftors, is the sincere prayer of your
friends in the common cause of our coun
try, the committee of the town of Cam
bridge”
EbiucZer Stldmam, per oracr.
MARRIED ]Mri Charles Sigourney, to
Miss Sally Fraizer, Daughter to Capt. Juhn
1 Fraizcu—At Roxbury, Mr. Thomas Mac-
Carty, late of this town, merchant, to Miss
Cotterell.—At Cambridge, Mr. Palfgrave
Wellington, to Mrs. Abigail Sewall, daugh
ter of Thomas Sparhawk, Efqj of that place.
DIED.] Mrs Thankful Leonard, wife
of the late Dr. Leonard, and daughter of
. the hon. Thomas Hubbard, Efqj— Mrs. A
biah Griffith, wife of Mr. John Griffith,
school mafter,—Capt Hopeftill Fofter.—Ou
. his paflage film Jamaica to this place, Mr.
Henry Deering, late of this town Merchant.
—At St. Croix, Mr. Ezekiel Hearsay, late
of this town.—Mr. Richard Thayer.—Mrs.
Brewer, Widow of the late Mr. Thomas
Brewer, mast-maker.—Mrs. Harrison,
wife of Mr. William Harrison, tallow-chan
dler.—At Cohafler,Samuel Cufhing, Esq.—
At Bridgwater, Mr. Nathan Packard.—At
fpfwich, Samuel Rogers, Elq.—Mifs Sarah
Rogers, daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Ro
gers of that place.—At Barnftaule, Mrs. Sa
rah Sturgis, wife of Cspt. ThomasSturgis—
> At Purtfmuuth,Mr Thomas Bickford,fchool-
master, of that town.
Port of Boston, December 28.
Arrivid* Delano and Noble from
North Carolina} Williams from New-
Yotk} Ofyer, Abrahams, Nichols and
Doane from Newfoundland 5 Cook and At
wood from Halifax । Harris from New-
Rondon ; Hatch from Maryland Davis
~ Jrom Phi'ade phia j McLeod from Louis-
J NewpoMT, December 2f.
We hear a iet er to our governor, from
Admiral Montagu, was read at the General
Aflembly, held at Providence, lafr week: In
which letter the Admiral, we are told, re
qubfts his Honour the Governor, that Capt.
Keeler of his Majesty's (hip Mercury now in
this harbour, might be permitted to come on
* (hore, without being insulted, and proteded
from arrests, &c **-! I Now it is certain that
Capt. Keeler has often been afhote in this
town and other parts of the colony, and we
never heard of his having received the Icaft
imaginable insult: But as for hi> being pro
teded from arrests, we are humbly of opini
on, that neither Capt. Keeler nor his Excel
lency Admiral Montagu himfelf, has any
more right of protedion from arrefts* than
any other the least or poorest of his Majesty’s
fubjeds.—For the truth of which opinion,
we are not afraid to appeal to the People
of Great- Britain ; though we don't chufe to
be franlported thither for trial.
Whether Capt. Keeler will pub
licly declare that one (ingle attempt was ever
made tp insult him in this town I
Last evening arrived the Lizard frigate,
and this morning an armed schooner, both
from Boflon.
ALL persons indebted to the e(-
tate of JOHN McGRATH, late
of Charlestown, leather breeches mak
er, deceased, are desired to make immediate
payment to Daniel Whealan, foie exe
cutor to the last will and testament of the de
ceased ; And all who have any demands up
on said ettate a arc desired to bring them in
to (aid executor, in order to a speedy fctile
ment. December 2J. 177 a.
WANTS a PLACE,
A Young WOMAN, who can
do all kinds of woik in a bode. En
quire of »he Printer. ' •
To be L E T,
A Convenient Blackftnith’s (hop
at tbe North End. Enquire of the
Priorer. ' * I
cf piece from Marblehia d/jw/ I
•* 7ne Whigs of tbe Place C dad Jame s-
Beer matter c, muff br deferred
-
From the NEWPORT MfRCURT.
.X our unalienable
rights and are atty longer worth
contend now t» be determined.
Permit countrymen, to befecch
yob to attMLto! your alarming situation.
The you opposed with a spirit
and refoflHk becoming those who were
truly foiicmMwo tranfmtt to posterity those
blessings which our fore-fathers purehafed
for us in the wilds of America, at an im
tnenfe expence of blood and treafore.—But
behold an evil infinitely worse, in its con
fequetfees, than all the revenue laws which
h tye been, patted from tbg reign pf Charles
the firft, to this time, now tnteatens this
d iftrefled, piratically plundered country.
A court of inquisition, more horrid than
that Of Spain and Portugal, iseflabiKhed
within thia colony, to enquire into the cir*
cumftances of destroying the Gafpec schoo
ner, and the persons wno are the com mi f
fioners of fangled court, are ves
ted withmotfeXorbitant and unconftituti
ontl power — They are direlted to (um
mon witnsfles, apprehend persons not on
ly impeached, but even fajpefled! And
them, and every of them, to deliver to Aa
miral Montagu, who is ordered to have a
(hip in readineis to carry them to England,
whe.e they are to be tried.— I hree of the
commissioners are a querum, who are di
reltcd to apply to General Gage for troops
to proted them in their offices, arid pre
serve the colony from riots and disturbanc
es.—The royal cemmiffion for theft gentle
men, together with their inftrudions, is
transmitted to Admiral who
upon being notified that they are convened
in conformity to their appointment, is to
attend them, and then deliver their com
mission and inftrudions, and to be aiding
with his sage counfcl and advice, whene
ver neccflary.—So much has transpired ref
peding this alarming Star-Chamber inqui
fitioo.—And who among the natives ot A
merica can hear it without emotion ?—ln
there an American, in whole breast there
glows the (malleft spark of public v nue,
but who must be fired with indignation and
resentment, against a measure so replete
, with the ruin of our free constitution.——
To be tried by one's peers, is Che greatest
privilege a fubjed can wiih so and so
excellent is our constitution, that no fub
jed (ball be tried but by his peers—Thia
establishment is the grand barrier of our
lives. Überties and estates) and whoever
attempts to alter or invade this fundamen
tal principle, by which the liberties ot the
people have been secured time immemorial.
it a declared enemy to the welfare and
happinefa of the King and Hate.—lhe
tool* of dcfpotifm, and arbitary power,
have long wished that thia important bul
wark might be destroyed, and now have
the impudence to triumph in our faces,
becaufc fitch of their fellow fubjedb in A
merica, aa arc fufpe&ed of being guilty of
a crime, are ordered to be traniported to
Great-Britain for trial, in open violation
of Magna ChartaThua are we robbed
of our birth* rights, and treated with.cve
ry mark of indignity, insult and ebntempt;-
and can we pofTibly be so supine, as not to
feel ourfelvea firmly difpofcd to treat tpc
advocatea for such horrid meafurea with a
detestation and fcorn,proportionate to their
perfidy and bafenefa I—Luxury and ava
r»ce,a more fatal andcruel scourge than war,
wil I before long ravage Britain, and ulti*
mately bring on the difiblution of that
once happy kingdom.—Ambition, and a
thirst for arbitrary sway, have already ba
mfhed integrity, probity, and every other
vtrtee, from those who are entrusted with
the government of our mother country
Her colonies loudly complain of the vic-
knees and vexations they fuficr by having
their monies taken from them, without
their consent, by measures more unjuttifia
ble than highway robbery » and applied <0
the basest purposes, those of supporting
rantj and debaacbees —No private house is
inacctflsble to the avarice of cuttom-boule
officers: No place so remote, whither the
injufticc and extortion of these mifereant
tools in power have not penetrated.
Upon the whole, it is more than proba
ble, it is an almost absolute certainty,
that, according to the present appearance;,
. the Hale of an American fobjcA, instead
of enjoying the privileges of an Eng'ifh
man, will soon be infinitely worse tnan that
of a fubjclt of France, Spain, Portugal or
any other tbe most despotic power on earth ;
So that, my countrymen, h behoves yoo, it
is your indifoenfabdc duty, to stand forth
I in the glorious cause of freedom, the dear
est of all your earthly enjoyments ; and,
with a truly Roman spirit of liberty,
frcvcct the 'alten ng of the infernal cbams.
December jy.