The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume], August 18, 1774, Image 2

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

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LONDON May 26. ' '
House Commons.
TH E order of the day for the second read
ing of the bitt from the lords, intitled,
an aft for making more effeftual provision for
the government of Quebec, in North-Amen
• ca, being readpt a warm debate enfuad, in
which both parties supported their opinions
with great art and ability; but the question
being pressed by the promoters of the bill, it
was at length put, and the house divided, ayes
105, noes 29, and the bill was committed for
Tuesday. _ .
Mr. T. Townsend spoke as follows on the
fubjeft" Little did I think, that a country
as large as half Europe, and within the domi
nions of the crown of Great-Britain, was go
ing to have the Romilh religion established m
it as the religion of the state. Little did I think,
that so many thousand men, entitled and born
to the rights of Engliihmen, fettling on the
faith of the King’s proclamation, should, con
trary to that assurance, contrary to every idea
of the constitution, be fubjeded to French
Papists, and French laws. Little did 1 think,
that when the noble lord opposite me, assured
us, that the crown officers over the way, (So
licitor and Attorney-General) the Sages learn
ed in the law, the firll great law officer under
the crown in the other houfe* cv** the lord
president of the council* had been confuked
and had turned their closest attention to this
fubjeft; little did I think* I fey, than any
measure like the present could have been the.
united result of so many great* wife, grave,
and learned men. Standing as I do, and
aftoniffied as I am, I call upon the noble lord
to answer, and tell to which of those feges does
the nation, do the Canadians* ft and indebted
for this extraordinary aft of legislation.
Lord North. The honourable gentleman
has put a firing of questions to me which lam
in no way able, nor, if I were, (hould I looif.i
upon myfelf bound to answer. I know not
who drew the bill up. I know not whether it
was the great lawyer or that noble Lord, AH
1 know about the matter is, that it is a bill
from the other house offered to us for our con
iideratiun, and on which thehoufe Is at liber
ty to form that opinion bell foiled to its wis
dom and judgment. I know further, that ve
ry great and uncommon pains have been taken
to form a bill leail Viable to inconvenience or
oLjtdion from any quarter.
Mr. Dunning. lam well warranted in af
firming, and do without reserve affirm, that
it is a bill the moil pernicious in its frame,
and deftruftive of the principles of the conllitu
tion in its tendency, that was ever introduce®
into this house—What does it do t ft appoints
a legislative council, under the absolute controul
and dominion of the governor; that governor
equally dependant on those in power here;
that council to be composed of Papists and
Frenchmen; and this is the government and
the mode of legillation which British fub
jefts and Englishmen are bound implicitly 'to
obey. ———
' May Vs A letter from Berlin, fays, “ that
the projeds of their Monarch the KingofPruf
fia, are likely to have an end, his malady in
creasing daily, and his phylicians are very
doubtful if he can long forvive the violent gout
which has now attacked him in the ilomach,
yet notwithstanding his bedy is lb pained, his
mind at intervals is aftivt, and teems intirely
let on his favorite Tchemeof bringing the city
of Danxkk and all that part of Poland he has
claimed, under his abiolute dominion; which,
once afTefted, he fhali, he lays, die in peace.”
A letter from Leghorn, brings advice that
four Ruffian andfixTurkilh men of war, have
had an engagement in the Archipelago, and
after a very obilinate contest, two of the latter
were burnt, and a third funk ; the other three
were obliged to yield to the Ruffians.
Advice i*'received from Raby Callie, of the
death of his Grace William Fitzroy, Duke of
Cleaveland and Southampton, Earl of Chi
chefter, Comptroller of the leals, &c.
Letters from Madrid, mention, •• that it is
now the avowed intention of that court, to take
part against the Ruffians in the Mediterranean;
for which purpose squadrons are fitting out.”
Muy 21 . His Majeily went yelterday to the
house of Peers, and gave the royal assent to 5 1
public and priv ate bills.
A letter from Pari, of the loth, fays, ” that
Madame de Barre is confined in a convent,
with an annuity fettled by the King of 3000
livres, all her estates, jewels, and wardrobe,
were (dzed, and will be fold and dillributedto
the poor r That the Duke of Richlieu is order
ad to retire to his government:' And that the
Dukes of Nivernois and Choifeul have given
their advice in council relative to public affairs.”
Madam Barre is laid to be extremely ill.
And it i» even reported that the is dead..
May dt>. The following is the lift of the
Lords who voted again# .the American mea
sures.
D ukes of Richmond. Earls of Befoorough,
Manchcftcr, Shelburne,
Poland, Scarborough,
. Leinfter, VifcountTorrington,
Marquis of Rockingham, Barons Abcrgaveny,
Earl s of Stamford, Craven,
Abington, King,
Lthngham, Beanlieu,
Fitzwilliam, Sondes,
Darnley, Ravenfworth,
Spencer, Campdcn,
Stair, Biihop of St. Afisph.
May 28. Lord North has proposed the fol
lowing resolutions on the Canada Bill: That
• a duty of 3d. per gallon be laid on all British
fpiriu imported into Canada: That a duty of
6d. per gallon be laid upon alWpirits imported
into Canada, the product of the Weft-Indies;
That a duty of is. per gallon be laid on all’
fpirirs imported into Canada, the produce of
North America ': That a duty of is. per gallon
be laid on all foreign foirits imported into Ca
nada : That a duty of 6d. per gallon be paid
on ail molasses or lyrup imported intd Canada
in British (hips : That a duty of is. per gallon
be laid on all molasses or syrup imported into
Canada in Weft India bottoms: That a duty of
2S. per gallon be laid on ail molasses im
ported into Canada in North-American and
foreign bottoms: And, that a duty of 11. 16s.
be paid for every licence granted to any per
son who (hall feH liquors or spirits of any
kind, or keep any public house in Canada;
to be collefted towards railing a revenue for
paying the civil Government* and adminiftra
rion of justice there.
All the above duties to be collefted over and
above any duties now collefted there.
Letters from Paris mention, that the Duke
de Choifeul had returned from his exile in the
county, and paid his compliments to the new
Monarch, but was very coolly received, from
which it is supposed the old Ministry have had
address enough to recommend themselves to the
favourofthe young King, and will continue in
rhejr several departments.
May 3 1. D u ring the late debate on American
measures in the upper assembly, a noble Duke,
remarkably diftingnifhed for his popularity* in
the courts of his speech, said, M that if the
Americans wore thus to be* treated, -he could
not help wifhirtg them fuccefr in their refill- '
ance.” Upon" which Lord Mansfield got up,
and for expressions spoken in
the helibf argument, said, he was very fare
the noble Duke would correft himfelf. His
Grace soon rose, but instead of correcting him
iW repeated his expression, and formally ap
plied to the bench of bifeops, whether it did
not well become a chrifttan to with relief so
those who were heavy laden.
Letters from Dantzick mention* that the
magistrates of that city had received intelligence
of the King of Prussia’s being in such a way
that it was pall the power of medicine to relieve
him; but that they had used every precaution
to keep it a secret, for fear of the exultation
of the populace.
June 1. His Excellency Governor Tryon n
arrived at Falmouth in the Mercury Packet
from New-York.
The Aftive man of war, from Boston, is
arrived at Plimoitih.
The parliament rife the j 4th of this month.
Kinjale in Ireland, May to. Lord Percy
did two afts just before he left this town to em
bark for Boston, which reflefts honour on him
as an officer and a man. On receiving an ac
count of rhe arrival of the transports at Cove,
he immediately sent for his officers acquainting
them therewith, and told them, that as some
of them very possibly could not, on account of
the Ihort time which they had to (lay, receive
remittances from their friends, he would, as
their Colonel, difeharge all their debts con
trasted in that town. The day before he left
this place, being informed that one of the sol
dier’s wives, was no: in a condition to go with
her hulband, as (he was then ill with the finall
pox humanely gave eight guineas to a gentle
man in this town to lupply her with all necessa
ries during her illntfs, and left directions to
have her sent to Boston, when recovered, at
his expence.
WAH-Omei, May 16.
Ift Troop of horse grenadier guards, John
Robinibn, Sub-Lieutenant.. Thomas Staun
ton, Adjutant and Sub-Lieutenant. 6th reg.
Dragoons, William Gunn, Captain of a'troop.
Naiiau Smith, Lieutenant. Horace Church
hill, Cornet. 1 16th reg. Light Dragoons,
John Qlement Ives, Chaplain. 4th regiment.
Foot, James Ogilvie, Major. Charles Coch
rane, Captain. George Bofcawen, Enlign.
7th reg. foot, John Campbell, Lieutenant.
12th reg. foot Tho. St. Clair Abercromy,
Chaplain. 13th reg. foot, Walter Scott,
Quarter-master. 14th reg. foot, James Stair
Lindsey, Ensign. 16th reg. loot, Emanuel
Baker, Captain. Fitz Maurice Comer, Cap
tain. Wm. Barker, Captain Lieutenant.
William Grogan, Lieutenant. William M’-
Dermott, Ensign. 26th reg. foot, Rowland
Swan, Captain. Robert Haltmgs, Lieutenant.
Joseph Molana, Ensign. 29th reg, foot, Da
vid St. Clair, Captain-Lieutenant. Charles
Williams, Lieutenant. 48th reg. foot, Hen
ry Hyatt, Lieutenant. 50th reg. foot, Ro
bert Connor, Ensign. 51st reg. foot, Robert
Drummond, Captain. 58th reg. foot, Al
bert Gledftanes, Lieutenant. Innes, Ensign.
Lieutenant Archibald Montagu Bhowne, of
the 55th regiment, to be Fort Adjutant and
Barrack-Mailer at Sc. Vincent.
The foUo-iving “ adt for the better providing fidt
able quartert for officers andfoldiers in his Ma
jefiy's fervict i* North-America,” has passed
’ both Houses of Parliament and received the Roy
al agent. ♦ .
WHEREAS doubts have been entertain
ed, whether troops can be quartered
otherwise than in barracks, in case barracks
have been provided fufficient for the quartering
of all the officers and soldiers within any town,
townlhip, city, diftrid, or place, within his
Majesty’s dominions in North-America i and
whereas it may frequently happen, from the
situation of such barracks, that,'if troops
(hould be quartered therein, they would not
be ttationed where their presence be ne--
ceffary and required : Be it therefore enacted
by the king’s most excellent Majesty,. by and
with advice and conlenc of the -Lords <piri :
tual athd temporal, aftd commons, in this pre
sent parliament assembled, and by the autho
rity of the fame, tli at, in such cafes* it (hall
and may be lawful for the ptrfons who now
are, or may be hereafter, authdnfed -by law;.
in any of the provinces within his Majesty’s •
dominions in Nortb-America, and they are here
by rdpeftivdy authorifed, impowcred, and
direfted, on the requisition of the officer who,.
fbr the time being* has the command of his
Majesty’s forces in Nertb-Amtrica, to caitfe any
officers or soldiers in his Majesty’s service to
be quartered and billetted in such manner as
is now direfted by law, where no barracks arc
provided by the colonies.
And be it further enafted by the authority
aforefaid, that if it fhali happen at any time
that any officers or soldiers in his Majesty’s ser
vice fhali remain within any of the said colo
nies without quarters, for the space of twenty
four hours after such quarters mall have been
demanded, it fhali and may be lawful for the
Governor of the province to order and direst
such and so many uninhabited houses, out
houses, barns, or other as he (hall
think necessary to be taken, (making a rcifon
able allowance for the fame,)and made fit for
the reception of such officers and soldiers and to
put and quarter such officers and soldiers there
in, for such time as he ihall chink proper.
And be it further enafted by the authority
aforefaid, that this aft, and every thing herein
contained, fhali continue and be in force, in all
his Majesty’s dominions in North America, un
til the twenty-fourth day of March, one thou
sand seven hundred'and firveuty-fix.
Mr. Dowdefwell’s Speech at the loft reading of
the Kofon Port Bill, not before fublijhed here.
HE said, he rose to give his difftntto pas
sing the bill into a law; that he had not
the least degree of timidity in riling to oppose it;
that he always thought the proposition totally
unjust and unfair. By the bill, a person is to
understand, that the commerce of all his Majes
ty’s fubjefts is interrupted. I cannot give my
affentto ir,untill I hear the complaints from the
different manufacturers of iron, leather, wool,
&c. and the merchants of this country, which
complaints, I imagine, that the hurry of puf
fing this bill totally prevents. It is not, that
any other goods are interrupted in the port of
Boston but those which are charged with a duty
from hence. Look to the consequences, of this
bill t you are contending for a matter which
the Bostonians will not give up quietly. I re
member whin it was held as a daftrine in this
house, by persons of great and extensive know
ledge, that we had no right to tax America.
There is now no such opinion; thequeftion was
then, “ whether with the profits we recalved
from all our manufaftures exported henoe, it
would be a wife measure to tax’Amexica.”
What is the reafoa, fays, he, that you single
out Boston fw your particular refentnient I
Have there been no other towns in America
which have disobeyed your orders I Has not
Philadelphia; New-York, and several other
provinces font back their tea ? Has not the Eat
India company fuffered nearly as much damage
from the tea being fend back, as indeed where
they have landed it I Charleftown is the only
place where they have fuffered the tea to be
landed ; and what have they done ? they have
put it into a damp cellar, and the whole is be
come rotten and ufelds. You find yourselves
much at a loss about this bill, and are much
hurt, because the innocent are likely to be in
volved in the fame punishment with die guilty.
You are now going to censure them, in the fame
manner as was done in the case of Edinburgh
and Glasgow, where the people at large were
to fuffer for the negleft of their nbagiftrate.
There is a great difference between die magis
trates of Edinburgh and those of Boston ; those
at Edinburgh are chosen by the people, those
at Boston are not; they are appointed by the
council, and the council are elefted by the pro
vince at large. You are going to appoint a
new Port, where there are neither. Efficient
wharfs, quays, or warehouses, for carrying on
bufinefe. You hereby punifti the British mer
chants much more severely than the people of
Boston.—- - .. —. -All
chat you have affefted, is co carry ywur mer
chandize seven teen miles farther from the town
of Boston, so that the Bostonians (hall be at
an additional expence in conveying thqir mer
chandize irom the port of Salem by land. You
a(k why the Americans don’t pay their debts ;
if you stop the exports, you will of course stop
the payment of those debts.' Now Sir,lfiiys he,
let us coafider how this bill is founded upon
principles of justice ; if parliament continually
passes bills, feme times to punifti the porjone at
other times the placu, you will, by and by,
have your hands fully employed ; you Will soon
inflame all America, and itir up a contention
you will not be able co pacify and quiet. The
passing this bill in a week or so docs not give
time to the injured persons in America to peti
don this houie for redrefi. I rejoice that you
have at least had one petition from the natives
off America rcfiding in this country ; the lan
guage of chat petition bears the face of a well
wrote, unanswerable argument; it is no com
mon petition, it is the strong aud pathetic lan
guage that tells their own feeling, and those of
their fellow fubjefts in America. I wife to hear
Ipme arguments offered by any gentleman in
this houie, against what is contained in it, fbr
it will be said both here and in America, that
such reasons and arguments deierv; an anfwc;
M O N, A ?A Y, AugulF it. *
B O S T o N. s . ■ -
■ Wc hear that his Excellency Governor Caje
[ desired the attendance of the St fedmen of tb M
town at the Province House on Saturday last,
when he informed of that clause in the
late ad of parliament forbidding town-metings
without fpycial leave of the Governor, and ,
gave the fame to them to read, which being
done, his Excellency told them he was ready*
on application to give liberty for a town’s-met
ing if he should judge it expedient; and being
tOid that the Province law had been the rule
of iheir conduit in those matters, he said he
was determined to carry the aftaof parliament'
into execution, and they mutt be anfwcrable
for any bad consequences.
Some days before the departure of the com
rnittee for die congress. Mr. Bowdain sent them
a letter acquainting them,that he h|d had hopes
of proceeding with them to the Congress, but
Mrs. Bowdoin’s ill state of health, oocafioned by
a long continued flow fever, hcceffitated him
to lay afideall thoughts Of it.
Thursday last the Delegates from the Pro
vince of New-Hamp(hire, passed thro* this
town on their way to Phihdc^hia.j——They
were escorted from their feats at Exeter and
Durham, as far as their province line, byieo
Gentlemen, where they took leave of them.
’ Saturday last 376 ftieep were received from
our fympathifing brethren of Lebanon, in the
colonv of Conneffieut, as a donation for the
benefit of the industrious poor in that town;
The Oration delivered, the sth of Match
l«ft> by the Hon. John Han cock, Efe; is
published at full length in the London Even
ing-Post, of the 26th of May, 1774.
DIED.] Mrs. Le Baron, wife of Mr. Le
Baron, Hatter.—Mrs. Cowdry, widow..
New-Poar, August 8. We areaffored that
Capt. William Bull, in a (loop from this place,
bu t last from the Weft-Indies, is arrived at Wil
mington, North Carolina, and that the inhabi
tants of that place have bought his veflH, and are
loading her with provision tor the support of the
town of Boston ; which ought to be supported
as the expence of the last mite, and even the
last drop of bJood in North-America, for their
noble (land oppression and tyranny
of a miferabje corrupt, debauched aud almoil
bankrupt adminlftration, compared frith whom
a common highway robber is.almoft a fein t
Salem, Augtflg, Yellerday two Waggon.%
containing fix Hogftieads of French Brandy,
were seized by the officers of his Majesty’s Cuf.
toms, on their way from Manchester toßofton.
Balti Moa a, ( Maryland, J 16.
A veifel, we here, hath failfri from the Eaf
tern-ffiore of this province, with a cargo of pro
visions as a free gift to our tfefieged brethren ac
Boston.
The inhabitants of all the counties of Vir
ginia and Maryland, are fubferibing w uh great
hberafity for the relief of the diftrefled towns oh
Boston and Charleftown. The inhabitants of
Alexandria, we here, in few hours,
350 1. for that noble purpose.
Subscriptions are opened in this tow'** for the
support and animation of the inhabitants of
Bolton, under their present great conflict for the
common freedom of us all, which have alm J y
been so fuccefsful, that a vessel is now trading
with proyifions for that place, as a teftimpnyof
the affection of this people towards their perfe
cutcd brethren, now bravely contending again it
‘fraud, power, and the molt odious oppreffion,’
’which God grant may never rife triumphant
over * right, justice, social happinefr and free
dom.*
Halifax, July *6.
On Thursday ihe 7th inftanc, arrived here
the (loop Molly, Capt. Odiorn, from Hfcata
qua, having on board 27 chefe of Bon|a tea,
which was cofign’d to Edward Parry, qf that
place, the property of the East India company,
and by him ihip’d «ud confign’d to G. H. f
Monk, clerk of the supreme court here, to be
by him disposed of to the inhabitants of this
province, which confjgnment, thfe said Monk
moll readily accepted, and with the aid and as
sistance of James Crayton, of this tbwn, truck
man, fecurcd the laid 27 chests of tea in a store ,
belonging to Robert Campbell, who as readilv ’
let it for that purpose, in oppofidon to several
principal merchants, who had prior applicati
on for their (lores, but had nobly refuted.-—;
However notwithilanding the laid odious weed
has been imported and landed here, to the griefr *
and distress of many of the inhabitants thereof,
jmd which was filtered only trough tftter in
ability to prevent it; it is die abfofute and de
clared determinationpfe great number ofre
fpedable and popular merchants, traders and
inhabitants of this town, not* on any account
whatever, to putehafe any of the said tea them
selves, but forever to refrain from all and every
kind of dealing and commerce with any person
whatever who may be bate enough to prefer
their private interest to the public welfare, and
the liberty of the present and fuccceding gene
rations, by purchasing any of the detested tea.
We sincerely wifti our American Brethren
success in their glorious ftrugglea to prcfcrvc
their rights and liberies.
Z| ACHEUS MOLTON having loft
what little Substance he had by the late
Fire, and having experienced the Benevolence
of many Persons, in affording him and Family
Relief, thereby laying him under many and
great Obligations ; but not having it in his
Power co make his peribnal Acknowledgments
to them, takes this Opportunity of returning
his sincere Thanks for their Kindnds.