The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume], May 12, 1774, Image 2

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

Image provided by: Boston Public Library

                
*vV li I) N b b i) A Y, \!uj u. .
b O S T O N.
Ay ,; f f,<vtral Feffb otlhicb arrivrJ Ms tiny
/ •cm t.vnd'-n, -lae have twjt>HowiMj
T*u>it hxtr..oru:nary Intelligence, viz.
[_‘//v Act (/I’AKLiAMt.NT/'/r ULUCivl.Nta
L l' /A’ /'or/ ant! Harbor of HUS/ ON,
Gcv. JtfLnJUn Speech, in favour op America,
fffc. are in the iOb 1 bCi'.lr 1 to tba dy's
LONDON GAZETTE.
WHITEHALL, Afrit 2.
Plt:.Kr®3 HO VI Ab . H C'l < HINSON,Efqj
Governor nf the province ot MalLchufetts
I tiYilVcx* »sav, in N«Tth-Aiiierica» humbly
A§<3 T m requeued hi* Majefty’* leave to come to
•‘SOt-, v • England, the King ha* been grac.uully
cltaicd :o compiv therewith, and to ap-
Ofru&tmS J o i nl IHOMAS GAGE, brq} Lieuten
ant General of his Majelty’* force*, to be Uapuin General
and Governor in chief of the laid province, and vicc-au-
Ol'ralol the fame, during his Majetly s p.ealnre.
LONDON.
Mar b tjj. Ihe name of the piece where the Cuihim.
Houle of Bolton is to he iemove-1, is Cajque-Bay ■, aoout
40 miles horn the capital } a line fp*ciou* open mubour,
4i.d though not to naturally detenliUe agamit an enemy,
is laid to be much better calculated lor trade, on account
of being tree from thole small islands, and little rocks,
which narrow the mouth ot the former.
A noted minority member went to Icel the pulse rs a great
I. >tti in the country, and at d.nner lamented his l oidihp *
absence at so critical a cnfis j to whom my Gnd la.d,
“ What ti reafonahlc people you patriots be ! lieie I ton
quered America lor England, and now you want me to
conquer England tor America ; not Iby G-*. 1 put t,u
. olonilts in the way of doing it seven years ago, that is
enough * befidrs, zounds, my leg, this curled sc out hinders
me tfom talcing any adequate tteps in the matter.
Mar.b zj/J'hc remains of oppoiition letm to haw loft ail
principle. The colonies are in open revolt; but that gives
them infinite fatisfaftion, They have long fixed their hun
gry eyes on the treu/urv to no paipole. In the prclent < ri
lis, they think they haw fomc chance ol partaking the
lwcets of office, by opposing the good ot their country, and
the punifiiment of the Bolton mutineers. 1 hey imagine
they will perplex the Mmiller* and perhaps overlet him in
their factious storm } but they will only cxpole thtmltives
to the disgrace and detellation of every true patriotj lor the
question is reduced to this, whether the colonies mail give
laws to England, or England to the colonics ?
It is in character for the Jcluit of St. Omen, the flowery
Edmund, to fraud forth the avowed advocate of rebellion,
and blame the present Miniltry tor the grots blunders ot his
favounte feet.c adminiltration.— It was the miniltry of
1766 that gave the fatal Itab to the authority ol Britain in
the colonies, by the repeal of the itarnp adt. But they are
out of office, and the colony Agent, which gives him a
right to deny indifputasle facts, and to lupporc glaring tail
hoods.
‘There it a peculiar gord nature inherent in the na
ture of the people op t.ngland, which render! them dupes in
every frytby adventurer, front' tLe celebrated Mr* Mole
fworth, tie lottery-ticket conjuror, to the great Dr* frank*
tin, the American Jetr. Als to the former, l marine chat
hart ntceffity ii bts motive, and therefore 1 am almijt tempted
to nvi/h lint juct’-js. Hut the doctor has no claim to our pity,
be ts in affluence. He tells us America fcould not be taxed ;
tnd not only writes in the public prims bent against it, but
jptrits up the Americans, by bis letters, for rbe Ipaee of years
to tbroiv off tbnr allegiance* If the doctor promulgated this
dangerous and rebellious doctrine from bis own poftive in
fernal belief of bis reiHtude, every humane •*•*>*»*** mem
would agree that be Jbould rather be immured in lds
as a madman, than comtr.ited to Newgate as a traitor. Hut
wlat opinion mujlwe be obliged to form of tkts man s common
fettle and principles when we are told, that be bintjelf was
the firft man -who deviftd American taxation, put it in exe
cution, and enjeyed the emoluments arif.ngfrjm it for a great
many years, even 'till wit Lin tbit month, when he was/uftly
diin.il/ed } eird yet, during ail this time be was writing
againfi it both here and at/o to tie Americans, rouftng them
to rebellion becauje they were taxed. A 0 rtcufe ran be made
for him if American taxes, in bis opinion, were unjust, why
did be noe voluntarily r tfign Its poft-mafterfbip ?H by did
be grasp the prof ts of opprefficr., yet txeluim against the op
prefioh f Why did be Seep a lucrative place undir govern
ment, wkilft be undermined its authority in the colonies ) Ik by
did be eat of bis me Herb breaa and belt ay him. But to have
done for ever with 'the do# nr. It is a mortifying lejicfiion
that integrity does not always accompany abilities, ana tbut
honesty and wififoro ao nos always guide old age i*nd expe
rience.
A correspondent fays, that lad Mr. Grenville been now
Ant, bis triumph icuu.c ravi butt .(/.tally in the ixtrcmc
mortijicati’-n of thoje abj'fl fits.to old Et.g.aud , tbc ab.e
Ma.quis and the're/l of them, whop da/lardly and most
Jb.sm.-lul repealcf tic Stamp AF, not rnly the mother uuntry,
but even tot Air.eT.cuns tbemldves, will be bound with their
poflerity to execrate for ever.
The confidence e/ Ea »t uS, in au address to Lord Burk-*
ingbamfLire, in tie morning paper of h'edntfday, proves him
a 'real Bvftcman. his country min, be jays, owe tbr merchants
here fix millions, and if Government does not allow them to
Jmuggie us they pita't, to abuse us as they plea ft , and turn
nary real friend of England jut of their dijirtHs—why then
they won t pay tleir debit 'ibis old Camus is laccnic
tncugb, meaning oia fta-tc: Fkamcun: you may jend
your Itavy (Jays te) ar.d c ’oc* up our porn ; you may tale
our vtj/tis as they come cut, even Jor a wbcleyeur tog tier \
Out ad that we raije and export yearly wont pay you a third
es your debt. Next year we will keep our produce in our
wanboufes } lien your IVeft-lmiia ipnds willjiarve, and
we Jhalfosve you four millions, wbub we never will pay.
‘Theft, though imprudent, are really the lonjeilun* and
threats es tits filly old V. oman. If our navy joeald only
block up the set of B for., that town would it farved in a
fji might for want oj /!/ e-wood, wbiib is brought in cc.ijl
ing vefftls from the caftcrn country ; another fortnight wo:.ld
,i# every IraJtfman in Bo,ion idle: for who would pay a
carp-rltr for building or fwi/bwg a vffel tbut wou d rot
ere pc-v.’ttd to go her voyage f *' who would buy c/oaths
Or furniture, or cny juperjiuuy, when a total /lop was put to
trade. Ibis Irving emblem f imquuy in gray hairs thinks
btcaufe he is agent for four eric rues, t' at *e leads the whole
continent by the no/e, but be is greatly m.Jlak.n ; is is true,
tney will i./hn to bts jcattious advice, but even bis own em- .
prytrt, many of them, dctr/l him, /.r they kmw Lis dc
figrr—.'lfgrs which, in a ftwJit et'Ag y .ais, Wl.i it buri
es wish him in tie grave. In the /mail ipacc sf the iwo
xortrnghti menu ned, is it to it 'U/ pc Jed that the rati'.nal
part cf thi .oa-m unity would not inteijire f when they jaw
England rouuo, and felt it too ; when they Jaw their trvdtj
men iaie, and their whole trade fagnatea: even tbc f try
ftmmtert es the difputts, tbt Jmuggters, would be the m 'fi
forward t. advije lubmffcn, for where was tbnr iin.it
trade 7 —lt ir them plan .» keep up an eterr ai io ntcjl agatnjl
Ch/kmrbmje off ers, but not totally to L.nijh them, bteau/e
j-Jcb a victory would ruin them, for all the provini. s would
have tie Jane licence. What would become of their Ncw-
WundLusd fillwy and rbtsr Whale filhery, wench is their
so e dependaeset r Their vefftls wculd lit by she wharfs ,
and ri .f/err men who were un.myl-ycd, and them .largefa
milies farming, would out UttU ait.nd to the n-njer.fecal froth
as heir. . J,jh r dependent, inlandJlapU they lav, rft, but
lumber ana about lOC® ton of pot ajhes ; tbejt too would oe
hio.l J op the J; ondyeai, g ar.ting tney be.d our rebellions
Umj f ~..rT But by this tint, it /t-ms, our tVeJI- Inuia
I f.aujs w.t-U bt ftarled : Band they mould nor -, if on t
t ,O : r-ut ■> •• ("l w- . fff' w “
lam tn league) Caraw, Nova-Jii ona, Niai i anf'm», .V.
J- lor s , n-t '.r v'otrlcl J’ in it j they w.ult- .1:. 11
plying, ana carrying off tbt trade tj ">■ item ;uc„. w t. :ifo
tfovrs, and they evict jup/ly liouvie tbt n: umr tjlur.Js
with rate: bep.te, G«'gw l»ows tbtfper' /
ncr, and be tried hers in the tin.e tj the atM.p “» ‘ **
triumphed. I kntrio btm only sent bis put iu.au-ns, ana
’hep Ifira- led for puvhc mm. Both the Florida i me young,
and wrat th.y could dc imibe lumber way would advance
them greatly. So 'hat, if the Doctor bus only got )uio un
founded old woman tales at be told us on Wtone/day, be. baa
better not expoje hiuljtlf any more j for in lc/i than fix ■weeks
,be debtor t mntryirsen, the Bffmans, would re as ab/eef
as they are now injolent. I have mention'd r.o other so.ony,
for the doblor cou.d not bring another on the whole comment
into bn News paper, mcajurcs cf ibis day, not even thoft
for which he is ur.nt, not the colony oj which bis Jon is go
vernor. lie has always eauuou/ly avoided allowing ary
df urban, eto berm there. Indeed IJufpcF b,s bringing up
tbt Bojlonians always in the front of danger, is a deep pit
of his to revenue bimjelf on them for oani/hmg k m the wan
more tl an forty years ago. llonvever that may be, be na
real 80/hman, and G on may forgive, if be pHfh «*
traitcous plots, but England ar.d Ameri.a neve, ffculd.
March 24. We ar< told by tome wiiteii in favour of pe
Bostonians, with much mine altunncc than truth, “ 1 1 «
their tiqde dots r.ot cialh with ours." Now their prinppal
trade is their Newfoundland Fishzhy, and by thcif
cbfcnefs to the banks, they have not only mailed us, but
aimoil totally carried off the Fiihcry Trade from the well ot
England. To e Ihail now examine anqincr of theu pofitiom,
“tne benefit derived to England from Ainerk.ln-bw.lt Imps,
it i; another valuable branch of trade in which they h.vr
mailed. It ccriainiy would be better for Fngland to build
her own ships, by which mearsour fhip-carpemm would hoi
bread *: home, inttead of being fneed abtoad, through want
of employment, into the French and Spanilh dock-yard..
BcfiJ.-s, the Amcrican-bailt vcffeh are mere traih compared
to Engiilh-built Ihips \ tJiey are conlteufted of green tmoer,
and may justly he said to be HALF rotten when hut
launched. This is a well known fad and when they an:
lent here for sale they will not fetch near one half what
they coll. Witness this port, wrliere lo many of tnem have
lain and arc now lying tumbling to pieces. Our Merchants
know this well; they have made the caper,ment of building
ships in America and of buying American-built (hips here,
but they now find it much more to their advantage to build
at home, which is now greatly the practice. Another thing
ought to be oblcrved, that the Americans have ovik
built thcmfelves, as we have u»i. r-thadl d ourfehes :
in America there are too many Merchants, and England
his given them too mveh credit. The Boston warchouics
ace filled with goods and but 1 he Boltoni
an, to carry on the appeaiance ofmifinefs, sets up a vefiel,
as it is called, to be built } he lomrtimes pays the Carpenter
three quartets of the value in goods, and sometimes the
whole value, at the trifling advance of silty per cent. «n
each atticle. What fort of a vefiel a Carpenter will build
for a Merchant who pays him in pins and needles, Man
cheiter che.ks, /hoe; and flocking*, broad cloths, linens and
Oinaburgs, may cafily be conjeEtured. IhisTHiNt., for
it does not delerve the name ot a sh te,is at last launched,
and before the Mei chant is able so load her or to get a
freight, she often lies nine months at the wharf, which does
not much improve her crazy halt rotten li.es. Home how
ever she comes, eonfigned to the Engiifh Merchant as pay
ment for his goods, and a woeful remittance she is ! What
cost fifteen hundred pounds in America will not fell here
for five hundred! and the market ;s o.'ten so overflocked that
not an otter will be niaue for hci. Yet this definitive
trade the Ametican carries on from year to yea: as if it was
highly profitable, till want of credit ml powers of Attorney
force him to shut up or to decamp. '1 he last argument
advanced in favour of America is, “ that is lupporfs,tbe
Weft-lndra if land* with provisions.” This is granted ; but
it is also s fact that it has robbed UrtANoof tjtis trade.
The Boftor.ian advocates arc to die fore the grcatrtt men '.A.
their own way in the world ; they rob us of our
and fifhery trade, and of our Ihip building, and then mn<WVy
tell us it is all for our good ! They retuie to pay their debts,
and that, it seems, is for our good too !
By authentic account tfom Bolton we are informed, that
the Boltonisns were never before in such a (late ot riot and
dilorder as they are now arrived at. '1 he upholders ofliten
tioufhefs, wlur are men ot property, begin to tremble, think
ing that the reimbursement of the Ealt-India company will
tell mostly upon them, 'lhey now wifti to put a flop to
the outrages of the populace, but find thenrlelves unable
10 accompli/h it. '1 hev give a pro,,f of this d.fpoiit on
when the cuftom~hou e officer was lately so haibaroufiy
treated. A son of one or the leading men in Boston endea
voured to reltue the poor wretch, and even got into the
cart to hinder his being ftript and tarred, but without eftetft,
for he was knocked down with a billet of wood, and tumb
led out of the cart; and then they proceeded to the cruelties
mentioned in a thinrer paper. W hat renders their treatment
of this man more unmanly and savage is, that he is old,
almult a natura l , ard so timid that a child may frighten
him ; and be was put into a petty place in the customs
merely to keep him from (larving.
It is a general observation, that nelinqueuts, who ought
to hide themfclvcs in privacy, arc the meal forward to press
upon the public, and thinking to ruin their opponents, by a
happy miifake only expole their own knavery. Fhe Bolfo
nians and Khode-lflanders, by publithing Mr. Rome's letter,
so fully stating the criminal culluiion of the Mer
chants ol Rhode-HUnd and the June, is of their courts,
which has loft that Gftulcman s corrcfpondrnts in London
76,0001. have given to the whole world the most ltriking
proofs of their infolvcncy ar.d roguery. 'I heir folly too is
most glaringly conlpicuoui, as well as the perlon’s who
stole the New-England letters ; for if the thief, inftcad
of burning Mr. Rome’s letter, chose to fend it to his Boston
conefpondents, as an evidince of his activity of their cause,
surely they themfclyes ought to have destroyed this record
of their flrame ; tor certainly nothing but the inlpiiation
of tireir evil genius could prompt them to tell ail the woild
that they were in debt 76.000!. and that they never could
be forced to pay it, because the Judges of their courts were
chofcn by themlelves, and always gave judgment against
their creditors. Ever finer the firft fcttlement of New-
England, all their public inlurreflions and rebellions have
had" but a trivial cffcCl in opening the fyes of this country,
when compared to the powerful operation that
this letter has had on the minds of the Merchants in gene
ral, and on the whole nation. At a moderate computation,
it is thought that not less than half a million is due
to this kingdom, in the colonies of Rhode-Ifland and Con
necticut, not a /hilling ot which will be recovered vvhilft the
Judges there are choien by the people.
There wuuid he much propriety in ordering an account
of the state of' the American Revenue to be lard be
fore parliament, together with the number of revenue officers
appointed in the collection of it ; by which it wouid up- 1
pear, whether this revenue seems intended to alleviate tire
burdens of this country, or to pension out the drones of cor
ruption and took of adminiltration. In 1768 Mr. Becn
fbrd demanded a fight of such accounts, and found the reve
nue all confumea by State Caterpillars, except
tire fuui of 165 L The revenue has since that time ern
fidcrably decreased, but the number ol cßkcrs has been
augmented.
The Merchants in America, in 17/I?, proposed to their
correspondents in London to become informers agamit any
perion who fbouid attempt to lmuggle Tea from Hoilinuj
or any otirer port, and unite their endeavour; to fircure to
the India company the whore market of Arneika, provided
the company would ule their influence to have (he duty
paid at the cuilom-koufr hire, and not to be directed in j
THAT country, 'ibe UneCiors were, at that t u.x, j
inclined to compliment »dmm>nia.ion ; they thetffa»r .
[teamed the w.lh cnnieuipt. Tire c.aujquence is, |
, • - --Uer. x s zr. iw ' " >
| p uay th*ir 'tii-end 1 • government } and g.-verniwni im
| iort hr •mportunicy of colledi g anv duty on lea horn
the ”t"> it ot Ari.erica. . ,
lou. flips ofue..., which were to be fitted immediately
for tea, ire now countermanded, and only two ih.pv an- <*r
•l-red to-t'.ie wcu-li.d es, whufi are not to tail
SUMMARY of tbt V K OC EEDiNOi. m the
HOUSE of COMMON S.
A T a quarter past three o’clock Lord North came, and
the* order or the day. ter the whole Houie going into acon.-
mittee on the Boston Bill, « n read. 1 ire Npcak.-r imme
diately left the chair, anJ tire Houle reioived its.-ls into a
committee, Mr. Grey Cowpcr, Chairman.
Lord North /poke for a eoffliderabk time in support of t..e
Bill, and tire claulcs were ail agreed to, ar.d the blanks .nll
ed up. The committee biukc up immediately, and made
theii report, when the Ciii was oide.cu to be read a lecond
time, and ingroiied. .
Mr. k. Fuller made a motion, that r: stead of tee Boston
Bril a fine or 20,0cc1. be inli tted on -he Bostonians for
their demolition of the Tea fce ongmg to the Lait-India
company. This motion occaherred a debrete of upwards of
four’ hours, the piincipal bpeakers -n wbuh were Lord
North, Mr. Jenkinfon, Mr. Herbert ' -eneral Conway, Mr.
Gafcuigne, Mr. WarU, Corenel Barr -md Mr. Montague.
On tiie opposite fide, Mr. Byng, M. Lempfler, Mr.
Fuller, Mr.* C. Fox, and Mr. Olivr.
ihe Houle fame* nearly unai.ir.vi-, that tee conduct
of lift Boftor.isns had been ill* .’al, and oeierved puniih
ment, and tfiat this mode was a, mild a co.l. with fafety
be adopted.
The Houle broke up at eight o’clock and adjourned to
this day. ....
The American Bill is ordered to be read a third time
this day. , ,
This day the American Bill will be earned to tire house
of Lords ict their concurrence.
March ic,. Ihe lupine inactivity of the American mer
chants is highly cenlurabie. A-simniftration are about to
pals a bill which wnl derive this kingdom ot 01 e of our
most valuable •.ommeicial icfuuiccs. If the American ports
are blockaded, there is an end of American traffic , not
merely a temporary lufpegfion,but a total a n n i ii 1 l a t io n
ot all commercial intcrcourle with the principal fctrlement
in the colonics. What are our merefi nts about > if
deadened to all feelings for their country’s welfare, are they
loft to every principle of self-interest ? tan they
lee with patience, and lufier with pufillammity, attempts
todrprive tlftHh of their frope*ty ? tan they behold
the Americana tusABLKO by adnnniftration from paying
the (urns jufrly due to England * tan they behold this and
not tremble ter confcquenccs pregnant with injury to their
families ? If the Americans are tardy in their payment.;
if they proualtiiMtc the dtichaege of the Engiifh merchants
demands ; what is the c.iulc ot this procuitnution ? WRat
but a baneful lyltcm of mealures pu.luiJ by admmiftratkm
to drive the colonists to dcfpair and luin ? Are tire Arne
ritans difhonefl ? NO j but they are impovcriihed, intuit
ed, harraife-l and diftreflcd ; their attentions aic called off
from traffic, and bulic3 in suggesting means to defeat the
vile put poles of administration to enslave them ;
their thoughts thus occupied tfom day to day, their domtftn.
affairs are neglected, and commerce, which ihould l« the
tint,is the last object of their contemplations. Ihe
crisis calls for a molt vigorous oppoiition j kwtciy petiti
oning will have no rrt ; kt on mimiters, whole can are
deaf to every praver an injured people can oficr up to hea
ven : The American merchants ihould make the minuter
undcrft.ind, that however lavifti ot the public money, be
ought not to flop the means of pub.ic supply} tor it
calls for a punifimicnt more levue than cenlure, to at
tempt the plunder of a colony by ILLEGAL TAX-
A'l lONS, and, becaule the inhabitants are virtuous
enough to relitt luch unjust attempts, to frame a bill for
thq damnation of commerce, and thus injure the properties
of Engiifh merchants, whole families will have reaion to
prkythat time may multiply curs**, like grey HAItS,
■ ht ..1 . 1 ti« miniittr who, by the means of the fit!
■Jebn port bili, compicated the dei.iuCtion ol Amlrican
commerce.
1 he Ignorance of the Boston peof !i, and of their mighty
House or Rrprcientatives, who think tnemlclves co-equal
with our f’aiiiament, is as glaring as their pielumplion.
Let any man turn u» the votes ot that House in the year
1766, when they had palled their rel.dves ot thanks to se
veral Lords and Commoner, who voted for the repeal ot
the Sump-Att, and he win loon be convinced of this, if
they weie lo ignorant as not to know the names and titles
of thole they intended to cxpreis their gratitude to, and
had not even reflection fufficient to conlult a Court kalcn
der lor information, it cannot be wondered at that they
tell into the grols blunder of thanking form- who pulitively
gave their voice ag.nnlt the repeal ol that aft. Ihe Ma.-
quis of Rockingham is in their reiolves finely ftfltd
Charles Watson Rockingham } Lord Camden,
Earl Campden ; and George b in of I'omfret, George
Duke of I’omfret. But the moll abiurd mittakc of all rs
their voting their molt lincere thanks to th- Earl &t
NorthmgWn, who opposed the repeal in the Houic ot
Beets, and in a private conlulcation with the then minillry
declared, in h.s own emphatic manner, “ that he was
againit it to to coho." It is iuiprifing dial people
who are ignorant of the names and dehgnations of our mi-*
nilters} who nuke Maiquitles, Commoners } Lords, Laris }
and Karls, Dukes } fhouid be miltaken as well with re
gard to their duty as our rights? Or it is strange that a
people, who never felt the hand of authority, fhouid tup
pore tliemlrlvesabove all authority .* bo far is ali this from
being extraordinary, that we ought to have expetted it long
ago , tor preiumption is ever the companion of ignorance.
1 10 m extreme relpetlablc authority we are allured, that
there is great realon to believe part of the account publilhed
in our paper ot yelterday, relative to an inturreChon of the
Boitoman., to be matter of fadt. The people it is affirmed,
ahemblcdma tumultthtu! manner, and alter violently los
ing Mellrs. iiutd.uifkM and Oliver, tiiey ted them dil
giacetuliy to Liberty iVce, where they endeavoured to ck
toitfiom them z piumne of iinmeuzU resignation.
This account is rendered tbe more probable, since a tranlzc
tion of an exactly furnlar kind happened when the firft at
tempts were made to cany the Stajnp-ACt into execution.
Ihe people then sompeiied Mr. Olncr to engage hrmletf
by an oath to reftgn tne office with which the bcamp-Att
had invested him. Thu*.much therefore we fancy we may
venture to ray oeiote the public, a*amorc than probable ar
ticle of news j but that Governor Hutchinlon s neck has
been decorated with any himhn insignia of popular
reicntmcm, rtands in need of confirmation.
Lord Shelburne will ffiortly be appointed Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland. Lord Harcourt is to be recalled } and, in case
of the death of Lord Hoiuernefie, who is now ill, he will
succeed to the preceptorihip ot the i’rince ot Wales. Co
lonel Lai re will go Secretary to Lord bhelbume } the vrew
of whiui promotion might probably influence the Colonel
to accord ro heartily wim the minillry in the mealures taken
against the Bostonians. '1 he infimarion in the Colo
nel’s late tpeech, that “ if office camo to him it came un
iookeu tor, ’ is co be accounted icr upon the fuppolmon of
a becretarvfhip inkxfectanc y.
Alar.h j. 6. Tire Palace at W hitehail it undergoing a
thorough repair, and leveral apartments are to be aimed ior
the bcuei convenience of two of the King’, viviluren, who
arc to reside there next winter.
SUMMARY*/ the Pr oc e edi ngs in tbt
HOUSEofC O M M O N S.
A motion was made tor leave to bring up a pet. Don from
Wifliam Bollan, Elq, agent from the province ol h.aitachu
iett s-Bay, in behalf ol the laid province. Thi* occalioned
a finart or bate tor foine time, but on the queifion being put
the house divided,
lor the petition 40 * Against it 170
The order of the day ioi the third reading of the boiton
j bill was read whicj «... uioned a very ftrer- debate of four
in • ....... ,
.v:* S;twbr.J;% Hz. in ;cgu4 to f*me daule* m t. c 01.1.
At fi 'ht a’cliK... tne Lobby was cleared tbt a divm.m, but
the op(to&*» of the bill gave it up, and the bill was read a
tninl tin e ar.d a . »
Dublin, Mmb 25. The Britiffi Administration firm
like fi>me quack'., who have but one latve tor every so e—
The people of New-England ha \toppojd the ichones ■>.
government, and they are to Be punjhtd by removing the
cullom-houfe of Bolton from that town} the people of Ire
land have complied with every fchemeof Government, ar d
they are to bs rewarded by removing the cuftom-houlc or
Dublin from ’hat city, to pay a vilit to the North-Wajl.
London, March 30. A bill is ordered to be brought
into the he-ile of commons for the better regulating the
Government of the Province of Mallachuletts-Bny in
North-America.
The further confidcration of his Majesty’s mefiage ot the
eth Infant, together with the American papers which were
pr - entcJ to tne lioule by Lord North, upon the 7th and 11 h
inftrnt hy his Mujcfty's command, is poitponed to the i jth
, of April. _
There is not a maxim of religion, morals, or politrcs,
more evident than this,----'hat America is a Hen that lavs
her Golden Egos for Britain } that she must be cheri/hed and
,-reported as part of the great family of Britain } then will
her trade increase : And, in return, she mult promote .nd
augment her commercial connexion with the mother
country, and “ cling to her (as Milton fays) like as the
*« vine curls her tcnir.ls,’’ which implies fubjeftion.
March 31. This day his Mflcfty went in state to the
Houle of Peers, an 1 among other, gave his Royal Aflfnt to
the following Bill, vir* ,
'J hr Bill for the immediate remcvsl of ti.fi vaierrsc. the
Customs from Boston in Mafiachnlrtts-Bas.
Mv b 31. White so many falfe anft inflammatory pi
r%T*phs are daily thrown out to inita r c us against Bolb*n
and Amsrir 1, it m y not be MW 6, ! . ittxt
to revert »little to facts. America was quiet, and your
trade with h-r very riourifhing, when in the yrir I7*' r , F r '’
Organ to tax her by the ftanip iff. i his threw the pe.-p -*
in a fl'ime, :ind lo endangered your commerce, that all tl e
merchants and manufacturers in Great Britain pecitionci
for its repeal, it was repealed, an J a ded»atory act pa.
'1 he Americans acquielced. jffembly or body
men in America said one word agiinit your dccaration i-c
right. Quiet and trade were restored. l'hry looked upon
the whole as a loit of compsft with them, tn>t this coun
try bring allowed he right, would not exercise it, becau'e
such exercise was grievous to them, and inexpedient for
Great Britain. But you loon undeceived them, ard vio
lated the compaft. Another revenue aft palled in 1767.
The lame consequences followed *. But you have not wil
dom and mmlinefs enough to retraft. On the contrary,
the extreme tigour and injultice of the Boston bill is tak i
lated to drive them to the most dangerous extremity. Ore
commerce, trade and manufaftures w 11 feel it to the rum
rs thou Zands, and the difhefs ot the whole kingdom. Fhe
wav to avoid all this is obvious : Repeal your fruitleli, ir
ritating revenue law ; aft literally and with good fai-h to
wards your colonies } they will pay for the tea} they will
not question your supreme authority} and your commerce,
trade, and manufaftures, will prosper as before.
April 1. Yesterday his Majefly-Tvent in state to treno-c.
of Peers, accompanied in the state coach by his Grace the
Duke of Ancalter and the Earl of Oxford, and gave t. e
royal a/lent ro 14 public and 25 private bills } af.er -which
the Scoteh Bank Bill was rerchwl and read the firft time,
as was one other private bill } then the house adjourned v»
Thursday the .vth cf April.
Great wavers were laid Yesterday upon ’change, and at
the principal coffee-houfes about it, that Lera Norths
oaffing the Bill for removing the Custom-house, Sec. from
Boston, is grounded, and very justly 100, upon that veiy
famou, prophecy of feriplure take from the 4th chapter c..
the prophet Habbakkuk, and the 4th verse.
1 he utmost secrecy is observed in the delivery ot ad the
letters from Boston on government account. 2wo ditte -
rent p-c'cets are laid to have bee-i reccivel within the!* few
days} the particulars of which have not a* yet tranipneo.
April a. The following is a true copy or tne petition 'o
the house of lords againll the Boston Port Bill, figneu by
most of the American gentlemen now in town, and pit*
fented by the Earl of Shelburne.
To the Right Hon. tie Lords Spi itac! aod T.-mporal in
Parliament aj/embled.
The bumlle Petition of Jeveial Natives of America.
“ bhevveth,
<* That your jietitioners, beinj natives of his Majesty a
dominions in America, are deeply, interefttd in eveiy pro
ceeding of this right honourable house v. loch touches the
liter, Liberty, or Property, of any person or persons in tfie
the laid dominion:..
*1 '1 bat your petitioners conceive thcmfelves and their
fellow lubjette to be entitled to the rights of natural jufticr.
and to the common law ofEniland, as their unalienable
birthright: That they apprehend it to be an invariable rule
of natural justice, that no man /hall be condemned unheard;
awl that according to law, no person or persons can be judg
ed without being called upon to answer, and being permited
to hear the evidence again!! them, and to make their de
tente.
“ That it is therefore with the deepest concern they un
detftand that there is now before this right hon. house a
bill of pains and penalties to be inflifted on the 'S own df
Boston, for a trespass committed by feme persons unknown
upon she property of the East India Company, without the
said 1 own having been apprized of any accufition being
brought agamft them, or permitted to hear the evidence, if
there be any, or to make their defence.
“ That the bill takes away immediately from the inha
bitants of the town the use of property to the amount of se
veral hundred thousand pounds vetted in quays, wharfi,
stores, tec. That it will restrain many thousands of his
Majesty’s fukjecte from subsisting tnemlclves and their fa
milies by their u/ual employments: 1 hat it will punish
the innocent for the guilty } and even shall all the repara
tion required by the bill be made, the restoration of that
property, or any part of it is fullered to depend solely upon
the will of the crown.
“ Your petitioners conceive such proceeding* to be di
reftly repugnant to every principal of law and juftice } and
that under such a precedent no man, or body or men, could
enjoy a moment's lecurity ; for if judgment be immediately
to follow an accusation, the accused, unacquainted with che
charge, and debarred from defending themlelvre, every fence
against falfe accuiations will be pui.ed down, justice wfllno
longer be a ffiieW, nor innocence an exemptioii from puniffi
mer.t.
“ Your petitioners beg leave to repretent, that the law
in America ministers redreis for any injury sustained there ,
and they can most truly affirm, that it r. adminiitercd in
that country with as much impartiality as in any other part
of his Majesty s dominions. In proof of this, they appeal
co an initance of great notoriety, in which, under every
ciicumlUnce that could exalperate the people, and diiturti
the course of justice, Cape. Hrefton and his tt-lciers had a
fair trial, and a favourable verdteb. 'i he d-ir course of law
thus manircftly holdirg outreTre ?, they car not but confi
der the interposition v,t panian.-rrirary power to be as un
neceiFary a® it is arbitrary and umum
** Your petitioners conceive that this right honourable
house being the supreme judicature of this nation, are too
welt acquainted with the inviolable rules of Justice to re
quire any further ob edticn* to the bill against the the tewr.
of Boston r.«w under c-nflderaDon.
“ "s irey therefore trull and pray, that this right Hon
ourable houic will not pul. a bili which i* to condemn and
punish persons untieai.., and therefore deprived es that pri
vilege, which every pr.nc.p-e of justice, and every pradice
of law aiious to arc nieu.eeft u.dividual, tbe privilege of
hearing and cunt o.eri'ng tne evidence against him, and
mainU.mng his innocenc .
m And jO *» I’etitKine-s, as in duty bor.nd, will ever pray.*