The New-England chronicle — Boston [Mass.], 1776-05-09 00:00:00, page 2

impracticable. If the spoil ordered by this ; a&
had been left in the Crown, the Crown might
use it as an encouragement for a return to obe
dience, and as a means of future peace. It is
now only a provocation, through despair and re
sentment, to perpetual hoftihty. ^ e cannot
poflibly difeern how any neceitary operation of
war is strengthened by this difgrac&of legislature.
But if the arms now ufcd, Should succeed so as #
to enforce a temporary and reluctant obedience,
we fee but t®o well, that this bill will leave inch
a Ring in the minds of the Colonies, as to render
our government there hated and fufpe&ed, and
therefore for ever precarious.
sthly, BECAUSE this bill, by anticipating
all legal judgment of the offences of those whole
goods are forfeited, overturns one of the most
excellent and profoundly considered parts of that
fundamental law, the Declaration of Rights,
which declares, '' that all grants of fines and for
'' foitures of particular perlons before convi&ioH,
“ are illegal and void." —This provision is ex
pressly made, left rapacious ministers, feenting
confifeation, or rapacious soldiers allurea by the
luff of plunder, fliouldbe induced to forge 01 pro
voke plots and rebellions, in order to enrich them
selves out of the public disorders.
6thly, BECAUSE, very extensive commer
cial property of British Subjects (implicated by
the nature of commercial intercourse with that
of innocent Englishmen residing here) is to be
taken out of the equitable jurifdiaion of the com
mon law of England, and from that inestimable
birthright of the fubje&s of this kingdom, a trial
by jury, and carried to the Courts of Admiralty
to be tried by a Single judge, on the rules of an
arbitrary foreign law.
ythly, BECAUSE the whole scheme of this
predatory war of private lucre, is put under the
arbitrary direction of certain commissioners, to us
unknown, even by name ; who have power to
give such continuance to the ravages authorifed
by this Bill, as their arbitrary will Shall suggest ;
to pardon or except from pardon, any number or
description of persons, and with such exceptions
as they shall fee fit, without any other rule than
their own private opinion, fancy, caprice, favour,
or resentment ; and without any other rule to
open er keep Shut, any colony, province, county,
town, diftrieft, or place. We are of opinion that
the power left to the Commissioners, is perfectly
unjuftifiable and unconftitutibnal. It has besides
a tendency to create the most Shameful and mis
chievous monopolies; The power ^iven to the
Admiralty, and to the Weft-India Governors, to
license Ships, is of the fame nature. It such mo
nopolies and jobbs Should not arile from such
powers, it is no fault of this Bill, which, as if it
had these purposes in view, has taken especial care
to provide as Strong a temptation, as human na
ture, set above law and restraint, and furnifhed
with every facility to corruption, can possibly be
exposed to.
Bthly, BECAUSE we know nothing of the
business of these Commissioners, further than the
above arbitrary discretion with regard to pardons.
Rumour gives out, that they are to have a power
to treat with the Americans for a redress of their
grievances. Of this however neither the speech
from the throne, nor the bill have given the least
intimation. Although if the Commissioners treat
on this fubjea at all, ads and powers of parlia
ment being the matter of complaint, the Qommif
f ners ought to derive some previous authority
from parliament, in order to give weight and effi
cacy to their negociations, and to preserve some
appearance of dignity in ourselves. It is hardly
proper that parliament Should appear in no other
light than as the instrument of penal restrictions,
attainder, penalties and confifcations ; as the maker
of menacing addresses, and the rejedor of dutiful
petitions. ■ It is hardly decent to Shew ourselves
fierce and inflexible here, but to be Satisfied with
permitting unknown persons whom ministers shall
chufe in future to appoint, to dispose in America
of powers and a&s of Parliament at their pleasure;
leaving us firft the odium of rejeding reasonable
requests, and afterwards the disgrace of ratifying
ffiameful concessions.
9 thly, BECAUSE we rejed with indignati
on, that clause of this bill, which by a refinement
in tyranny, and in a Sentence worse than death,
obliges the unhappy men who shall be made cap
tives in this predatory war, to bear arms against
their families, kindred, friends and country ; and
after being plundered themselves, to become
accomplices, in plundering their brethren. If there
cxifts a doubt whether to juftify the infliction of
capital punifhincnt or desertion, it Should be ne
cj^ry to prove that a teaman was a proofed man
IMPORTED in the course of the Uft Winter, and to be told by
JOHN WINTHROP, jun. at Ipswich, and STEPHEN
BRUCE, at his store in Kiog-ftreet, Boston,
CHOiCE new rice, Surinam and Island
molrfc, cocoa, coffee, cotton of a fopeticy quality, sugars, Weft-
India and New-England rum, lemmona, raTrns, Malaga and
L fom wine, jar oil, Russia and Ravens dude, ticklinburgs,
Spaeth Indigo, and Philadelphia floor ; also, a few piece, fine
white Griped dimity ; butter by the firkin, cheefa &c, &c.
or a volunteer. Th? object of this clause is to
deprive th American seamen of the plea ofhis be
ing a pressed man, as it declares that he is to be
considered to all intents and purposes, as having
entered voluntarily into the Service. By this
clause, not only common seamen, but matters of
vessels, are,^ ithout regard to age or circumstances,
or condition, to be ignominiously turned before
the mast, and fubje&ed to the austere discipline of
the boatswain. Persons, in that subordinate
Ration, not being animated with the liberal and
ingenuous Spirit which distinguishes officers in
the navy, and taught to confider these forced vo
lunteers as rebels, will be but too apt to aggravate
the miseries of captivity by insult and outrage. —
These prisoners, among the comrades they are
obliged to live and serve with, may very probably
be often forced to behold the Spoils of their ho
nest industry, and the natural support of their
Sober families, squandered in riot and profligate
debauchery before their fates. This we look
upon as the last degree of wretchedness and in
dignity, to which human nature can be fubjefted.
This cruelty, unknown to themoft Savage nations,
is to be practised by'En^hfhmen on Englishmen;
It has been said in Parliament, that the pay the
prisoners are to receive is to be considered as a full
compensation for the principles they are obliged
to violate. We do not envy any one that Senti
ment. An attempt is also made tojuftify it by the
supposed right of pressing. We cannot conceive
that the burthens of fu jeffion ought ever to be
imposed, where the proteaion belonging to it is
denied, or that a man can ever be difpoiled of his
goods as a foreign enemy, and at the fame time
obliged to serve the state as a citizen. I his com
pulsion we have never heard to be practifed on
any prisoners in war, or rebellion—nor do we
know any example of it, except among pirates—
the outlaws and enemies of human society.
lOthly, BECAUSE a bill so unprecedented in
its nature, and so important in its confequenccs,
is brought in at a time of year, when by experi
ence it is known, that most of the independent
members of both houses are called away by their
domestic affairs, and when few but those in the
immediate pay of the court, and attending on
t^eir employments, are in town. This we con
ceive, to be done in order to impress the public
with a delusive idea, that those measures are
agreeable to greater numbers in both houses, than
in reality they are. The only part of this bill
which we approve, is the repeal of the unjust and
improvident affs which have produced all the evil
effects we had forefeen, and none of the good
which was pretended as the ground for making
them ; a&s, as unfit for, as incapable of execution.
But to our inexpressible grief, and to the disgrace
of the public councils of this kingdom, ministers,
untaught by misfortunes, and unchecked by dis
appointments, at the very instant they are obliged
to demolish the old fabric of their oppression, as
useless and mifehievous, are building up another
on nearly the fame model, and with the fame
materials, adding only Something more of that
injustice and violence, which have always proved
mifehievous, in proportion as they have been
augmented.
RICHMOND, ROCKINGHAM,
PONSONBY, CHEDWORT,
FITZWILLIAM, ABINGTON,
ABERGAVENNY, MANCHESTER.
A small parcel of pepper, cocoa,
coffee, indigo, brown sugar, allffoice, choice seine twine and sew
ing twine, Dutch looking glasses, field glafles ; floor, herth and
stair brushes; bolting cloths, oatmeal, redwood and logwood,
Liibon oil ; also, a few pounds of mace, to be fold at store
No. I. Butler's-Row, near King Greet, if applied for soon.
JOSHUA BLAKCHARDT"
At hit WINE-CELLAR, on Dock Square,
Hath for file,
LISBON, Tenerife, Malaga and Fyal
WINE; feme choice old Madeira 'wine in botfes ; Weft-India
and New-England rum, and fine old spirit,
N. B. A fecood-hand chaise and chair to fell, at Mr. Williara
Hawfe's, chalfe-maker, op,cfi r ethe Qo^to^n^^w^^^^
RAN away from Amala Davis, of Marl
borough, a Negro by, named JACK, about iS year, of age, §
fem 4 or 5 inches high, well set, speaks good EngHffi; had on
when hr went away, a red mill baiee jacket, the fleeces newer than
the body, nankeen waistcoat and breeches, white worsted ftock
inga; the wool on his bead combed io taste. Whoever ufo up
fiid Negro Jack, and brings him to Marlborough, foil have
FOUR DOLLARS reward, and all meerffiry charges, paid by
AMASA DAVIS.
NO LICE is hereby given, that, agreea
ble to the 7 ift article of the Regulations of the Continental Army,
I have secured all the eff.&i of Tarrant Putnam, late Ad
jutant of the 27th regiment, deceased, made an inventory of the
fame, and transmitted it to the Secretary of thecolcny : There
fore, all persons who have any demands on, or are indebted to the
estate of said Putnam, being debts contra&ed white in camp, are
desired to exhibit their accounts to me, on the 28th or 29th of
May, instant, at toy quarters at Dorchester Point, so that all the
accounts may be fettled and difeharged by the edminiftratrix,wha
will attend for that purpose on each of those dryr.
EZRA PUTNAM, Major ofefaid regiment.
Camp at Dorcbefter Point, May 1776.
ALL the officers and Didiers belonging to
Colonels Read's, Star's or Poor's regiments, of New-Harri ffirie
province, that are not marched with said regiment, are ordered
to mbreh for C'dwo- Point as Icon as pcffible, to join their rc
fyeaive regiments, which are ordered to Canada.
May 7, 1776. JAMES REED, Colonel,
TO be fold by the lublcriber, administra
tor on the estate of Mr. Jon athan Heywood, late of Concord,
in the county of Hillfboreugh, and province of New H^mpihire,
deceased, by public euajon, at my dwellirg-boufe in New-
Ipswich, in said county of Hillfborovgh, on Wednesday the sth
day of June next, one 90 acre lot of land in said New-Ipfwicb ,
5 or 6 acres into grass, capable of makings good pasture: Also
about 40 acres more in the fame town, about 20 acres undfr
improvement. Any person having a mind to purchase, may have
an opportunity of feeing it the day before the sale. Articles of
. sale, at time and place, to be seen. SAMUEL HEYWOOD,
New-IpJwicb, April 28, ^7,6.
DESERTED from the 14th regiment,
commanded by John Glover, E'q; RICHARD JOHNS, a likely,
well made yomg man, 19 years old, dark complexion, 5 feet 6
inches high, a little peek brekeo. Whoever vil tries up said
deserter, and convey him to said regiment, &ll receive FC&R
DOLLARS, and arcrffiry charm,
Beverly, May 4, 177^ THOMAS GRANT, Captain,
The Court of General Sessions of the Peace
for the County of Suffolk, being sfr&rned to Tuesday the 14th
day of May instant, at ten oKRek beforenoon, then to meet it
B/aintree in-Lid CooMy ; and as some matters of impomree
are then to be laid bi fore the Court, it is d fied there may b; a
gencrel^vendaoc* ol the Juftxes of Ltd Crmt.
BY erdrr nf (non, EZEKIEL PRICE. C>h.
-JOHN ~G KIFFI T
IN TENDS to open Sth ol at his nfuU place, ip Han-ver
ft ecr, on' Monday next, where all these who choc ft to cm
ptuy him m y fe^d their chsldrc a. ^°"°" ?"'[9^!.22A'
EN TERI'A 1N MEN T for Gentlemen
and keeping for Horses, at the fign'of the YANKEE HERO, in
WingU-Lane, ne<r the Market, Befton, by JOHN NEW ELL.
N. B. A two mast Boat, a Chaise and Mate, to ba hi ,-..-
Enquire of Did Nev>ett.-
Tj'dTTT at UiTTc; V 00 Monday the 20th otTar ir..
ftiot,&t eleven o'clock, A. M. at the noufe of Capt. W:bb,
in.hildtr, in Salem,
A number o' pieces of ticklenburgs and
milled blanketing, E%l ih oatmeal in barrels, belt <fnir/a
EngEffi fhoea and womem s black ruffei ditto, a few dze 1 -rd
Por: wine, and 3 qwentity of sea coal, being rhe cargo es the frip
Jenny, lately condemned inrhe Ccu; tof Admiralty. Alioth
thip, butthen about 250 tons, with all Lar appurtenances, a in:
lids in Annifquam Harbour. 4 '- _
To be SOLD at W^ho&fe No. 25, in Ong wh^r, & <.th
only, by MARTIN BRIMMER,
FA YA L, L'fbm and Malaga WI NE ;
new P iiaielphi. flour, co ffee, ch<cl<e warranted eocti, I n
m ns, choice New-Englandrum, 12 months old, bast H La: dgn,
freest oil by the barrel, fearing twine, a few bundles of iron hoops.
French Brandy, Barcelona Handkerchiefs,
by^hsdzin. _
TIJEODORE D~A V I S,"
IN FORM S his friends and the public, that the SIA CE~
CO A C H from Boston to Portsmouth will arrive ar Beffon
ever, Wednesday evening, aid set out agrin on Fi*ay morning.
He puts up at the 6gn of Admiral Vernon, in King-Greer,— 1
Patfengers will be well accommodated, and all business corrmitud
to hrs care, ih^l be faithful, performed, BoJkn, Mays}.
Colony of :be Mafoebuftcu-Bay, Plymouth, ff..
As a court erected to try and condemn all
varus that shall be found iofrAing the sea coeft of America, end
brought into the counties of Plymouth, Barnfable, Bristol, Na%r
tucket or Duke't County, to be held at Plymou b, inthe laid count,
of Pfymoutb, on Wednesday the 15th Day of May, 1776, at the
hour of ten in the forenoon, will be tried the jeftice ofthe cap
ture of a (chooser called the Volant, burthen about 70 tone, com
manded by Edward Marfo :---And of a fthooner catted the
, Loyalty, burthen about 15 tons, commanded by Daniel White : —
Which vtff.ls, flirt to be improved in fupplyirg the fleet and army,
employed against the United Colonies, taken end brought into
the counties of Briflol and Plymouth, aforefaid, together with
their cargoes and appurtenances, are libelled in the court aforc
frid, and will be tried on the dry above mentioned. And notice
is hereby given, pursuant to the laws of the colon, aforefaid, to
ali iperfens chiming property in either of the aforefaid vriLU, or
cargoes, or any ways .concerned therein, that thq rd, appear and
ihewc^ufe (If any they have) why the Lid vtffels, or either of them,
with their cargoes and appurttneners ffiould not be condemned.
N. CUSHING, fudge offaid Court.
Wanted immediately,
SIX or eight Armourers, who can find
their own toob,for the Continental service. Any persons who are
good workmen, m^y have good encouragement by applying to
Thomas Chace, Efy A. QM. G. at hit Office near Liberty
Tree. Brffion, May S, 1776^
DESEXTED the 2d. instant, from the
27th reg^ent. at Dorcbeftar Point, in the Continental Army,
31LAS SERGAN T, about 5 feet 10 inches high, dark com
plexion ; had on when he went aray, a brownl bcoat ; carried
off a gun belonging to the Can inent, marked No. 6%, #[ praised at
Eleven Dolleis. S^id Srg^nt belo gs to Atmfbuty. Also,
MATTHEW TEFT, about 5 feet 9 inches high, light com
plexion ; had on when he went away, a light colored lorf j^k'r;
carried - ff with him a gun bekngirg to the Continent, sulked N•.
69, appraised at Eleven Dollars. One, or the other of the „b, vc
fudieis stole a gun from another of the company, belongs gto tie
Continent, marked No. rtS, fypraifcd at Seven Dollars, Whorve?
will take up both of the above soldiers, or either of them; ard
fend them to Camp at Dircheftcr, shall have Five Dollar rawsd
for each. 'Tie hoped that all friends to America will <xri:
themselves to detea such villsirs, and bring them to pnoifanenh
My 6. 1776. A 2211°!LRF — DSON,Captain.