The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal (Boston [Mass.]), 1773-09-16 00:00:00

THE Massachusetts Spy
Or, Thomas's Boston Journal.
MAY 2 1908
A Weekly, Political, and Commercial PAPER:--Open to ALL Parties, but Influenced by None.
DO THOU Great LIBERTY INSPIRE our Souls,--And make our Lives in THY Possession happy, Or, our Deaths glorious in THY JUST Defence.
VOL. III.]
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1773.
[NUMB. 137.
From the OXFORD MAGAZINE, for May 1773. EXTRACT from POLITICAL SERMONS. By the author of "Sermons to Asses."
THESE sermons, which are seven in number, are dedicated to the Petitioners against the dissenters bill ; the reason assigned by the author for so doing is, that he knows no persons to whom "Sermons to Asses" can with more propriety be dedicated than to them. "Like Issachar (says he) you are ready to couch down under every burden, and submit to the meanest slavery. Your submission to a burden of unmeaning articles, to you may appear reasonable; for you have an undoubted right to be slaves, if you please: But it is even beneath the character of Asses to desire to enslave others."
The text to these discourses is, "And the dirt came out," Judges iii, 22. The following is part of the first sermon:
"MORE dirt still! Will we never be cleansed from nastiness ? Truly it has but an ill appearance, when matters are thus carried on in the land of Moab.—While there are so many secret committees , scratching dirt together and washing none of it away, it is not to be supposed that Moab will be clear of filthiness , or Kerioth purged from her impurity. Moral dirt and nastiness in Moab was like her national debt , it was long in becoming less."
For want of economy the people were oppressed, and the King was poor. Every thing was taxed from the souls of the subjects to their very skins . As soon as ever a soul happened to enter a body, and the body became visible , they were caught hold of by state priests , who set a price upon their heads, and taxed them directly.
This argued that there was but little economy in the nation, when they were not able to pay the officers of the state, without making a valuation of soul, body and spirit over all the land. It was no wonder that aged persons were brought in to help to pay the reckoning, when poor little strangers , who had never been partakers of the benefit of the peace of the country, were laid under contribution .
The landed interest of Moab appears to have been very low and the country very poor ; for they were obliged, when they had money to raise, to tax the sun moon and stars, house and shop-windows, and sky-lights . In this land of oppression nothing was free from taxing , except whores and bawdy-houses . These were kept clear, for the benefit of the C——s , and the service of M——s of State. Eglon, though he was fat in person, was always poor in purse ; for though his revenues were very large and amounted to very near a million of English coin , yet his ministers and stewards were so profuse in squandering away his annual income, that the civil list was continually deficient, and new demands made every meeting of the national convention for an augmentation . The secret services of the minister, drained his Majesty's coffers and made him a bankrupt every year . The subjects felt all this senfibly ; for the money was obliged to be raised from all ranks of people , to supply the extravagancies of the court .
There was one fore dirty grievance in the land of Moab, which in the end ruined the constitution of their country. The representatives of the nation, who should have been the guardians of their liberties , sold them to the crown , for places, pensions and perquisites : so that the very institution, which was originally intended to defend the nation from slavery, became in time the only means of
* The metropolis of Moab,—Amos ii. 2.
wreathing a yoke of bondage about the necks of the people. This evil proceeded from the importation of foreign manners , and foreign luxury . The Moabites travelled abroad, and saw the splendor and luxury of foreign courts, where kings were arbitrary and Princes did what they pleased . When they came home, the impression of those gaudy images, continued to act upon their imaginations, and they coveted to enjoy the same things in their own country. But what helped much to answer their purpose, they brought home patterns of the things they wanted to have introduced, which caught the fancy of others and made them travel to the same places , to bring home some of the same commodities . In process of time, Moab became a new nation; the old customs were altered;— simplicity, frugality, and the ancient plainness of that nation, were changed for foreign fopperies and luxuries , which all tended to render the minds of men effeminate , and at the same time inclined them to sell every thing, to obtain the objects of their desire.
It was the cause of much infelicity to Moab, that a great number of those that went abroad as mere adventurers , and had not learned the principles of morality and honor before they left their own country, grew rich in the regions of the East , and came home laden with money , and drowned in vice . For want of education and good breeding , when they became rich they turned intolerably proud ; they thought themselves the equals , or rather the superiors , of the ancient nobility , and endeavoured to outshine them in splendor and magnificence . This awakened the jealousy and pride of the ancient grandees , who thought it beneath them to be out done, by those who had formerly been their fathers footmen , and had obtained all their education in the kitchen . This to be sure was folly , but it was not easily prevented. The barons and knights in Moab endeavoured to keep their splendor equal to that of those Eastern Nabobs , till at last their finances were reduced, and they were obliged to turn panders for the court , to save themselves from ruin and beggary .
Eglon and his minister Metophis , looked upon this as a good opportunity, to play the game of tyrants ; they took the advantage of the necessities of the great people, and introduced a system of places which was only to be enjoyed by the friends of the court , or such as wished well to its interests . By this means those, who were appointed by the nation to guard their liberties in parliament , were corrupted, and sold their constituents for a place under , or a pension from the government . Morality left Moab before slavery entered; but as soon as the principles of truth and honour departed, then slavery was rendered systematic , and considered as a necessary part of the police , by those who served their interests thereby .
True born Englishmen must pity Moab in such a situation, and congratulate themselves in their present happy circumstances . How happy is Great-Britain where the people are easy and the king rich ; where no oppressive loads of taxes sit hard upon the poor subjects: but where all ranks of people , rejoice together in the right use of plenty, honesty and honour . An Englishman may look at the sun , and gaze at the stars through every window in his house, and none dare ask him a farthing for so doing. His windows are his own , and heaven sends him his light without fee or reward ; and who dare tax the bounties of God Almighty? None but Moabites . No spies nor court peripatetics dare circumambulate the house of an Englishman, to count his windows , or tell the number of the chinks in his walls . It would be uncharitable to suppose that in a christian land there would be any imitations of heathenish oppression ; the light of truth shining into
the hearts of men prevents them from all acts of injustice and tyranny . In England every man who is baptized receives the Holy Ghost according to the articles of the church , and must of consequence be sanctified wholly both soul and body . It cannot possibly happen that any thing impure, unjust, or unholy , can dwell where the Holy Ghost resides .
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY. To the Honourable PETER OLIVER Esq; Chief Justice of the Superior Court of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay.
SIR, IN your charge to the Grand Jury of the County of Suffolk the past term you were pleased to observe, that " Patriotism is founded in virtue. If, say you, a man has not the fear of God and the true principles of virtue, let his other professions be what they will, he may talk about patriotism and the love of his country, his patriotism is nothing."
Without remarking over critically on the peculiar composition of this extraordinary paragraph, give me leave to ask your honor for what reason was it introduced at that time? Your honor might have known that few people of any reputation, now-a-days, regard meer professions , civil or religious, unless they are thoroughly and substantially backed by a correspondent behaviour. Besides some ask why were the elogia of your eminent brethren entirely passed over this turn, and not a word said of their great interest, connection in and affection for this country, and their consequent invariable disposition to serve it? Perhaps, Sir, a late unlucky intervention, since these points were so disgustingly strained, has rendered a repetition of them a little unseasonable ! Patriotism itself , at least every individual who has the least just pretension to the character , is now to be attacked and degraded* And how? by insinuating with a very sanctified leer, that some of the most inflexible opponents of the infernal tyranny , which a traitorous faction have been conspiring to establish here, fear not God. In the divine injunction we are favoured with on that head, in the sacred scriptures, we read Fear God and keep his commandments . The performance of the latter has ever passed with wise men for the best evidence of the existence of the former.
A comp't summary of God's commandments is found in Micah 6. 8. Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God . Will any man dispute whether the person who labours night and day, who exposes his very life, in the defence of the lives, liberties and properties of his fellowmen, who are incapable of combating the destroyer themselves, is more actuated both by the love and fear of God, and a sense of duty to society, than the corrupt, self-seeking, domineering despot, who regardless of all the ties of nature, conscience and the pangs of a despairing people, pursues a plan which the whole representative body of the province pronounces a crime for which he deserves impeachment? A degree of obstinacy like this, and in consequence of it, a sentence to fine a gentleman six pounds lawful money for moving, in a manner a little displeasing, to be excused from trying the lives and fortunes of his fellow-citizens under the directions of a court which the highest authority in the land has declared unconstitutional and dangerous, may possibly by your honour be conceived to be founded in virtue ; but whether in virtue superior to that of a Kirk or a Jeffries I leave to the decision of posterity! To bring in the sacred name of God
* May not the design be a leveling one, to mitigate the infamy of those high pretenders whose treason is now indisputable?
and prostitute his holy religion, to impose upon his creatures, and under this shew to be plotting the overthrow of the civil and religious liberties of as virtuous a people as now live upon earth, is a temptation of divine vengeance, which I should have believed a Cæsar Borgia or Horace Barbarossa incapable of daring! If a man professes but a little sanctity, a lapse in his conduct cannot give such a wound to religion, as if a mere anchorite were to burst through all laws divine and human and ruin a province at once! How much your Honour would fall short of this, if succeeded in your attempt, is hard to say. Let salaries to the Judges of the Superior Court, independent of the grants or the people be once confirmed, and then conceive, if possible, what sort of Judges shall be sent to enjoy those salaries! Your honor cannot pretend ignorance of the state of South Carolina in this identical respect. You have a Paxton , a Hallowell and a Lisle here already, in pretty important departments. You know as well as any man living, that unless the formers and executors of laws are some way accountable to the people the laws are to govern, the health and peace of the community can be but of very short and precarious duration. The constitution that secures this dependance is like the Dike of the Holländers ; and can you persuade yourself that a people of as much phlegm as they are represented to be, would suffer your honor to demolish a portion of this national defence, quietly, because you could obtain by that means an hundred sterling yearly from their enemy? You alone of the whole Superior Bench, it is said, have persisted in the resolution of receiving a standing bribe! You know the consequence of such a resolution; let us examine the principle. You say the Judges ought to be totally independent on all parties who come before them. I answer, that is not only impracticable but utterly needless . Men entirely independent and unanswerable for their conduct may at least delay justice or be very remiss in the execution of it. There can be no inconvenience in every servant of the public having the most entire dependance on the will of the whole body of the people. They will never be so generally in the wrong as to endeavour the corruption of a judge from his duty. But where is the independence of a judge whose whole political existence depends upon a power who aims to render his whole jurisdiction dependant upon it? Such rant as this Mr. Oliver would be an insult upon the understanding of a Caffarian Negro ! Can your motive for this alarming enterprise be other than a love of money, or a more ambitious and detestable lust for domination and triumph over a people, who have ever used you with a million times the tenderness you have deserved at their hands? Suppose you to gain your point, could you work yourself up into an entire unconcern for the feelings of so many thousands of wise and good men, whose bosoms merely burst with anxiety for the fate of themselves and posterity? Otherwise what could you enjoy, rolling in the wealth of a Cræsus or Atabalaba ? Nothing Lord Peter, nothing but remorse and disquiet! But quitting your honor on the footing of the faint or the citizen, I would beg your patience while I consider a little how your conduct agrees with our ideas of the man of common prudence and discretion. In superciliously passing over the opportunity you had of giving that earnestly expected satisfaction, it was your unquestionable duty to have
* Some say want of money: but this insinuation I presume unpardonable, as it tends to reduce your honor to the class of men of no property, who attend Town meetings, oppose government, &c. &c.

July 9. We are informed, that Lord Dartmouth has nominated Col. George Mercer to be Governor of the new colony on the Ohio, which should be called Pittsylvania. Our correspondent observes, that this act is a strong proof of his Lordship's strict justice, as well as of his good judgment.
UTRECHT, (Holland) July 15. We have received from Constantinople the following detail of the success of the Ottoman arms, dated June 9th. "Dagessangi Ali Pacha being informed that a body of Russians had passed the Danube two leagues above Giurgewo, in twenty-one large baques, the Pacha, who had marched with the greatest expedition, fell suddenly upon the Russians, and entirely dispersed them, who took to their baques, after having great numbers killed, and leaving 600 prisoners, among whom is a brother of Prince Repnin. Of the above baques six were afterwards taken by some Turkish barques from Russig, and ten others were either driven on shore, or very roughly handled." It is added, that the Turkish artillery did great execution among the Russians, who were drawn up in order to cover the retreat of the above body. The Grand Vizir has caused a quantity of aigrettes and an hundred puffs to be distributed among his troops in the above expedition."
AMSTERDAM, (Holland) July 15. Letters from Hamburg of the 9th of this month advise, that the affair between the Courts of Petersburg and Copenhagen concerning Holstein, is entirely settled and ratified; that Denmark is to enjoy great advantages in that Duchy, but that crown is to furnish Russia with several ships of war: They add, that perfect harmony reigns among the Northern powers.
PARIS, (France) July 9. Letters received from King's Ambassador at the Porte, confirm the news of the advantages gained by the Turks over the Russians. It seems that the Ottomans are greatly encouraged to push on the war with vigour, and will not consent to any peace but on conditions more moderate than those prescribed them by the Russians.
LONDON, July 20. Yesterday morning his Majesty, attended by several of the nobility, General Officers, &c. reviewed the 4th regiment of foot, being his Majesty's own regiment, on Wimbledon Common; they went through their exercise to the entire satisfaction of his Majesty and all persons present.
LONDON, July 21. On Monday evening the Right Hon. the Earl of Hillsborough set out from his house in Hanover-Square, with a great retinue for Ireland; but not on any ministerial affairs as has been mentioned in an evening paper.
They write from Sweden that the King has given it in charge to several Bishops and eminent divines, to make a new and more perfect translation of the Bible and New Testament in the Swedish language.
LONDON, July 22. It has been often conjectured that the three vast continents of Europe, Asia, and America are so joined as to form but one; taking this for granted, and it will follow, that the whole four continents are united, for it is an unquestionable fact, that the continent of Africa is joined to that of Asia by the Isthmus of Suez, which some have not improbably deemed the Goshen of the ancients. The eastern parts also of European Muscovy join Asia, and that again in some very high latitudes joins the northern parts of America; from hence it should seem, though our discoveries have not as yet ascertained the fact, that there is somewhere a junction of the four continents; and this will solve the difficulty under which historians have laboured, when attempting to account for the manner of peopling those immense tracts of land, which by vulgar error are supposed to be separated by the ocean from other continents.
Extract of a letter from Vienna, July 10.
"A courier has just arrived here from the Russian army, with advices of a large party of the Russians, amounting to 11,000 horse and foot, under the command of Lieut. General Potemkin, being entirely defeated by the Turks, but 4000 escaping with the General and other officers of distinction. This party was detached by Count Romanzow, to attempt the taking of Oczakow, which is in Budziack Tartary, and a town of great importance. They marched from the camp at Fargorod, in Moldavia, and met with no opposition till they arrived at Beuden, a city of Bessarabia, where a body of the Turkish army, under the command of two Bassas, lay intrenched. The Russians attacked them immediately, and after an obstinate engagement, entered the intrenchments, driving the Turks out with great loss. They retired towards Oczakow, and the victorious Russians pursued as far as Palantua, a little town with two strong castles; at the back of this town lay intrenched 8000 Turks and near 20000 Tartars. This was entirely unexpected by the Russians, but no alternative now remained, they must either fight or yield themselves prisoners; they chose the former, and began the attack themselves by firing
from twenty pieces of artillery, which made some slaughter, but the superior number of the Turks and Tartars prevailed, near 6000 of the Russians were killed, about 1000 prisoners, and the rest with General Potemkin, made good a retreat to Bender."
July 23. The last advices from Paris mention, that the bounty of nine livres per head given by the government to the exporters of negroe slaves from Africa to the French West-Indian settlements, amounted to so large a sum, that the court had thought proper to order the same to be discontinued, their African trade appearing to be sufficiently established.
July 24. Yesterday a Board of Admiralty was held; at the breaking up of which expressies were sent to the commissioners of the several dock yards at Portsmouth, &c.
Some dispatches were received on Wednesday from the Court of Madrid, said to be particularly relative to the expected war between the Spaniards and the states of Barbary; and immediately after they had been perused, summonses were issued for a privy council to meet for the purpose of taking them under consideration.
So universal is the stoppage to trade, by the act concerning the diminishing of gold coin, that we hear the physicians, gamblers, and women of easy virtue, who before dealt in the lightest specie, refuse taking any money without first weighing it, and carry about them scales for that purpose. Lord North by this has more to answer for than he was at first aware of.
THURSDAY, September 16. BOSTON.
On Tuesday se'nnight, as a great number of people were assisting in raising the frame of a new meeting-house, in Wilton, New-Hampshire, one of the large beams, accidentally gave way, when the greatest part of the frame, with fifty three persons that were upon it, fell to the ground, by which unhappy event, three men were instantly killed, and fifty wounded, two of whom have since died of their wounds, and four more are thought to be past recovery. This accident has put by the raising for the present.
With Capt. Callahan, from London, came passengers, James Martin, Esq; Attorney at law, Mr. John Lee, of London, merchant, and Capt. Ross, also of London.
Capt. Callahan, on Thursday last, went on shore at Cape Sable, where he saw the wreck of a snow, New-England built, pink stern, called the Kitty, loaded with lumber, had all her cargo on board, and her sails, rigging and crew gone.
With Capt. Calef, from London, came passenger, the celebrated young negro poet, Phillis.
It is currently reported in town, that Governor Pownall is, or will be, appointed Governor of this province, and it is said there is a letter in town, dated the 26th of July from London, which actually mentions his being appointed to this government.
At the Commencement held at New-Haven on the 8th instant, thirty seven young gentlemen received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and twenty-five the degree of Master of Arts. The Rev. Mr. William Gordon of Roxbury was admitted ad eundem , as were also Messrs. Benjamin Church and Seth Williams, graduated at Harvard College.
Capt. Symmes was to sail for this port, from London, two days after Capt. Callahan, Capt. Smith in a fortnight, and Capt. Scott, in about three weeks.
It was reported in London, that the ship which was accidentally burnt in this harbour, in May last, was set on fire by some of the inhabitants of this metropolis, a great number of whom were taken up and committed to goal. — It is probable, there has been more Letter writing.
This morning arrived Capt. MacFadden from New-Castle. We do not learn any thing new.
On Friday last, Levi Ames, convicted of Burglary, received sentence of death, and we hear he is to be executed on Thursday the 14th of October next.
Joseph Attwood, his confederate, was the same day sentenced to receive twenty stripes at the public whipping-post, to pay cost and treble damages; but he signifying to the Court that he had nothing to discharge that sum, he was ordered to be at Mr. Bicker's disposal for ten years.
ARRIVED. From this Port. Captains Scott and Mac Farland, at London; William, Bruce, at Cadiz.
From NEW-ENGLAND. Two-Brothers, Bartlett, at Barcelona; Lee, at Cadiz.
From NEW YORK. Sir William Johnson Dean, at Dover; Grace, Smith, at Bristol; Mary Anne, Breen, at Falmouth; Bacchus Hill, at Dover.
From PHILADELPHIA. Mary and Elizabeth, Sparks, at London.
SALES by Auction.
THIS DAY, At ELEVEN o'clock, Will be sold by PUBLIC VENDUE, At the Bunch of Grapes in King street, A FEW hogheads of Shop Sugar, five pipes of Faval Wines. J. RUSSELL, Auctioneer.
Public Vendue. TO-MORROW MORNING, At TEN o'clock, Will be sold by PUBLIC VENDUE, At GREENLEAF's Auction-Room, In Cornhill,
(The remainder of the property of a gentleman leaving the province) among which are,
A NUMBER of low prized broad cloths, bearskins beaver coatings, duffils, plains, rugs, ratteen, German serges, bays, velvets, lattings, shalloons, tammy, camblets, calamancoes, silk crapes, dorsetteens, grizeys, Bengal, durrys, woofed programs, figured stuff, Irish and Scotch linens, calicoes, checked and stamped hands, flowered lawns, figured lawns, figured gauzes, figured satins and modes, India and English tassies, padusoys, a variety of hard ware, as buckles and penknives, scissars, razors, ivory and horn combs, and many other articles.
W. GREENLEAF, Auctioneer. Two genteel Chaises and Harness, to be put up at TWELVE o'clock, if not sold before at Private Sale.
Auction-Room, CORNHILL, On TUESDAY next, Will be sold by PUBLIC VENDUE, At GREENLEAF's Auction-room, Cornhill.
A VARIETY of English, Scotch and Irish GOODS, as usual. The particulars will be in the Monday's papers. W. GREENLEAF, Auctioneer. Also a quantity of choice Spanish Indigo for private sale.
Auction-Room near the Conduit. On THURSDAY next, At ELEVEN o'clock, Will be Sold by PUBLIC VENDUE, At BICKER's Auction-Room, Near the Conduit, Boston. A GREAT variety of GOODS, as usual. M. BICKER, Auctioneer.
For the Benefit of the Insurers On THURSDAY, the 30th of September, At Eleven o'clock in the Forenoon, Will be sold by PUBLIC VENDUE, On HANCOCK's Wharf,
THE Remains of the Britannia STORE SHIP, which was burnt on the 29th day of May last, now lying at said wharf, with the stores which were saved, consisting of three anchors from 14 to 16 100 lb. each; two small kedges iron storked; the iron work of a parent windlass; an iron fire hearth; a mooring swivel; about two tons of iron work consisting of chain plates, bolts, and two mooring cables about thirteen inches; two buoy ropes and buoys; one long boat and one yawl. All which may be viewed at any time before the sale by applying to Capt. MATCHETT or Colonel HANCOCK's wharf.
J. RUSSELL, Auctioneer.
Imported in Capt. Calef from LONDON, by JONATHAN WILLIAMS, jun. A General Assortment of FALL GOODS,
Which, with those he has by him, he proposes to run off by Wholesale and Retail as soon as possible, he does not say at the Sterling cost, nor at what advance, but requests his kind friends to favour him with a visit, that he may have an opportunity of shewing how reasonable his prices are according to the qualities of his Goods, and if they should think it advantageous to buy of him, he will be much obliged to them for their custom; if not, he cannot expect it. [Particulars in our next.]
Note, he has by him a quantity of second, third and low priced Broad Cloths, which he will sell to great advantage by Wholesale, as he intends to deal principally in Superfines, of which he now has an elegant assortment, with every kind of trimming, particularly new fashioned buttons, just imported.
SAMUEL PARKMAN, Informs his friends and customers, that he has received by Capt. Calef from LONDON, a large and compleat assortment of ENGLISH and India GOODS,
consisting of almost every article that can be asked for; which he will sell at his shop in Union street, as cheap as can be bought in town by wholesale or retail.
N. B. A few firkins of excellent May Butter, if applied for soon.
JOSHUA GARDNER, Acquaints his customers, and the public, that he has just imported from LONDON, in Capt. Calef, a General Assortment of English GOODS, Suitable for the approaching season; among which are the following articles, viz.
PLAIN and knapt Bath beaver coatings, lambkins, bearskins, scarlet Whitney, rose and duffil blankets, blue and red duffils; scarlet, green, crimson, blue and white daperie baize; green and crimson Colchester baize, white flannel, scarlet and crimson broad cloths; low priced, middling and superfine broad cloths, German serges, forest cloths; plain, mixt and striped cambleteens, cloak camblets, yard wide crapes, poplins, Denmark lusts, fur trimmings, grey muffs and tippets, common muffs and tippets, shalloons, tamnies, durants, calamancoes, plain black ruffel, flowered ruffel, black and coloured drawboys, black everlastings, velvets, 3 4ths and 7ths dowlas, Irish linens, sheeting, cambricks and lawns, plain and flowered gauze, catguts, Paris and spiders net, black and white blond lace, scarlet and white ditto, black bone lace, white thread lace and footings. Manchester checks, buckrams, wax threads, coat and shoe bindings, sewing silks, worsted and silk knee garters, death head and covered buttons, gold and silver thread buttons, scarf twift, common sewing needles, milliners and chapel ditto. No. 4 pins, brass and pound pins, crewels, worsted, qualities, garterings, linen and silk handkerchiefs, Women's satin gloves and mitts, white un-gazed lamb gloves, worsted mits and gloves, women's silk mits and gloves, men's black silk gloves, white silk hose, men's and women's thread cotton and worsted hose, breeches patterns, mock velvet caps, stript and plain worsted caps, horn and ivory combs, writing and bonnet paper, ink-powder; pink, blue, white and black tafnets, black tafnet, coloured ditto, plain and flowered black satins, white and crimson sprigged satin, black figured mode, ribbons, silk ferrets, Scotch threads, bed-ticks and bunts, ravens duck, pepper and nutmegs, With many other articles, All which will be sold at a very reasonable profit at his shop in Cornhill, Boston.
Mr. THOMAS, As professions of selling Goods cheap have been so long made, as to have oft all off ce,
SAMUEL ELIOT, Would request the attention of your readers no longer, than barely to inform them, that he has imported from the manufacturers, in the Capt. Calef and Callahan, a large assortment of English, and Hard Ware GOODS, Which will be sold by wholesale and retail, at his shop near the head of Dock-Square, and at his store in Wilson's Lane.
Just imported in Capt. Calef from LONDON And to be sold by ROBERT RUGGLES, In Cornhill, near the Town pump, Boston,
A large assortment of ENGLISH and India GOODS, Suitable for the season, which will be sold on the lowest terms. He has also for Sale, An assortment of Locking Glasses.
HORSEMANSHIP. MR. BATES, acquaints the Ladies and Gentlemen, that he purposed to perform again on TUESDAY next, the 21st inst. if suitable weather, on One, Two, Three and Four Horses, at the bottom of the Mall in Boston, when there will be added to his other performances, A Burlesque on HORSEMANSHIP, or the TAYLOR riding to BRENTFORD. Tickets at three shillings each, to be had at Col. Ingersoll's in King street, Mr. Brackett's in School-street, and at the place of performance. The doors will be open at three o'clock, and he will mount precisely at four. No money will be taken at the door nor admittance without a ticket. He will take it as a particular favour if gentlemen will not suffer any dogs to come with them.
WANTED IMMEDIATELY, A GOOD steady HOUSE-KEEPER, that can be well recommended to go into the country immediately. Apply to the Printer.
At RUSSELL's Auction room in Queen-street, At Private Sale, TWO new Chaises and Harness, very cheap.
ALEXANDER EDWARDS, takes this method to inform his friends and the public, that his business is now carried on as usual in Back-street, where may be had, all sorts of cabinet ware, made in the neatest and best manner; — Mahogany and Black-walnut in logs, planks and boards; — All which he will sell as cheap for the cash, as can be purchased in town.
The piece signed Y, though sent early, cannot be inserted this week, by reason of its length.

LONDON, JUNE 29.
A Certain nobleman, charmed with the beauty and talents of a young actress, whose prudence he has experienced, sent her the following letter:
"MADAM,
"It is said that you are virtuous, and that you have taken the resolution always to remain so. This is, doubtless, very fine, and even a novelty in this age. I exhort you never to change your mind; and at the same time beg your acceptance of the contract which I now make to allow you fifty guineas per month whilst this humour lasts. If, perchance, it should happen to pass over, I request the preference, and will then make it up an hundred."
The last proposal may, perhaps be capable of staggering the firmest resolution. It is not known what answer has been returned by the young actress to her noble and generous admirer.
Yesterday a young woman, dressed in man's cloaths, was taken before the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house, on a charge brought against her of a very extraordinary nature. The case was as follows: The prisoner under the character and appearance of a man, had prevailed upon an old woman (the prosecutrix) to accept of her as a husband, and the ceremony was performed between them in due form; but the wife soon afterwards discovering the imposition, was so much enraged that she obtained a warrant against her spouse, who was committed by his Lordship to the Compter for further examination. The prosecutrix was possessed of one hundred pounds at the time of the marriage, which was the prisoner's inducement to marry her. The plan of the whole affair is said to have been concerted jointly between the prisoner and a young fellow who was her sweet-heart.
The Birmingham and Sheffield people are said to have engaged a great number of agents to travel to the different parts of Europe, to take orders, and enter into contract for supplying the foreign markets with goods; so that in the course of a few years the whole branch of the plate manufactory will probably be engrossed by them.
The substance of the bill relative to stamps on news-papers, is said to be as follows, viz. "That doubts having arisen whether the news-papers, printed on more than one sheet and a half of paper, might not be entered as pamphlets, and pay only three shillings for each impression, instead of duty chargeable on every sheet of each copy, and certain printers and publishers of news-papers having increased the number of sheets on which the same have been printed, with an intent to evade the payment of duties, and in fraud of his Majesty's revenue, it therefore enacts, that the acts and duties of the 11th of George I. and 20th of George II. granted on news-papers, were meant, and do extend, to charge with the said duties every sheet and every half sheet of paper, on which every news-paper, containing public news, shall be printed, whether they were or shall be contained in a greater or less number of sheets or half sheets of paper."
American Magazine.
To the PUBLIC.
THROUGH the generous encouragement of a great number of gentlemen in this province, the Royal American Magazine is likely in a short time to make its appearance. The Publisher hereof earnestly requests all those Gentlemen and Ladies, who incline to be promoters of this useful undertaking, and have not yet subscribed, to send in their names with all convenient speed; as the publishing of it will be determined on, as soon as he hears what number of subscribers there are in the other colonies.
N. B. NO Money is expected until the delivery of the first number.
ALL persons indebted to the PRINTER hereof, would greatly oblige him, if they would discharge their small accounts, in order to enable him to pay some large debts, necessarily contracted to carry on his business.
Imported by Captain LYDE from London And to be Sold by
STEPHEN WHITING, Opposite the Corn-Field, in Union Street, and By STEPHEN WHITING, jun. At the BOSTON-STONE, in Marshall's-lane, near the Mill Bridge, Boston;
A VARIETY of large and small plain and coloured Humorous Engravings, and Mezzotinto Prints; large and small ordinary Pictures by the dozen.—At the same places may be had, Looking-Glasses of different sorts and sizes, at a much lower rate than any ought to be sold for, either in town or country.
N. B. Those who have left Glasses to be new silvered or framed, are desired to send for them.
Boston, September 7th, 1773.
STOLEN out of a house in this Town about six weeks ago, a Trunk containing two notes of hand, two deeds of houses, one pair of large white stone sleeve buttons set in silver, a gold and coral child's necklace, and a pair of silver shoe buckles marked R. C. one of the buckles was broke in two. If said buckles should be offered to any silversmith, either to be mended or sold, in this or the neighbouring towns, it is desired they may be stopped and notice given to the Printer of this paper; or if any silversmith has already mended or bought said buckles, and will inform the Printer hereof, they shall be handsomely rewarded for their trouble.
This Day is published, [The sixth Edition] And sold by COX and BERRY, in King-street, and MILLS and HICKS, in School-street,
D E A T H; A POETICAL ESSAY. By BEILBY PORTEUS, M. A. Fellow of Christ College.
—One Murder made a villain, Millions a hero.—Princes were priviledg'd To kill, and numbers sanctified the crime. Ah! why will King: forget that they are men? And men that they are brethren? Why delight In human sacrifice? Why burst the ties Of Nature, that should knit their souls together In one soft bond of amity and love? PORTEUS.
This Poem obtained the prize left by the last Will of Mr. Seaton, as determined by the Vice Chancellor of Cambridge, Master of Clare Hall, and Greek Professor.
STARCH.
BEST Poland and common STARCH and Hair Powder, made and sold by wholesale and retail by ROBERT HEWES and Son, Near LIBERTY TREE, BOSTON. ALSO—Crown, Hard and Soft Soap, good old Glue, and Neets Feet Oil.
N. B. Any of the above articles will be carried gratis to any part of the town.
Just imported and to be Sold at Mr. WILLIAM MAXWELL'S In King-street, A FEW Pipes of excellent Fyal WINE. Cheap for Cash
To be SOLD.
A NEW and very elegant Chamber ORGAN, with three barrels and five stops, London made. Enquire of ISAIAH THOMAS.
This day published,
And sold by JOHN BOYLE, in Marlboro'-street, OBSERVATIONS upon the Congregational Plan of Church Government, particularly as it respects the Choice and Removal of Church Officers, supported by the Testimony of the Fathers of New-England, and unanimously offered to the Consideration of the Churches by the Convention of Ministers of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, at their annual Meeting in Boston, May 26, 1773, and continued by Adjournment to the 23d, July following.
SILKS.
And Superfine BROAD CLOTHS. A Prime assortment of Padusfoys, Ducapes, Luvestings; plain and figured Satins Damasks, Sarfets, &c.—Superfine, fashionable coloured Broad Cloths, with suitable Linings and Trimmings.
To be sold at an exceeding low rate, by JOHN BARRETT & SONS, At their Shop near the Mill-Bridge, Boston. Where may be had, all kinds of English, Scotch, India, Hard-Ware and Cutlery GOODS.
By Wholesale or Retail, Extremely cheap for cash or short credit.
To be SOLD by JOHN ODIN,
At his Shop in CHARLESTOWN, Fronting the east end of the Town house, BEST double, single and lump refined loaf and brow sugar and Molasses. choice new Flour and bar Iron. Groceries of all sorts, &c. &c. by Wholesale and Retail. Cheap for Cash.
To be SOLD,
BRAZZALETTO of a superior quality to any ever yet imported—a like by NEGRO GIRL, about sixteen years old.—Enquire of LEWIS GRAY at his house, New-Boston. Coffee in barrels, &c.
Calicoes, &c.
A Few CALICOES may be now purchased for the neat Sterling cost, at the store of DUNCAN INGRAHAM, jun. In Union-street, Boston,
Where GOODS in general are sold at as low prices as at any store or shop, without exception, in Boston, Wholesale and Retail. Constant attendance, and every favour duly acknowledged.
N. B. Real India China; Plates, handled Coffee Cups and Saucers, Bowls, &c.
A few dozen of men's SILK HOSE, extremely low charged, genuine Kippen's Snuff Writing, Press and royal board Paper, English and Lynn Shoes and Pumps, Clogs, excellent Hyslop Tea at the reduced price of 61. the pound, &c. &c. &c.
WHEREAS the Assessors are required by law to give reasonable warning to the inhabitants, to bring into the assessors, true and perfect lists of their polls and rateable estates they are possessed of on the first day of September, and income by trade or faculty, and gain by money at interest:
In conformity to the law, the assessors of the town of Boston do hereby notify the inhabitants of said town, that they shall attend at their chamber at the East end of Faneuil-Hall Market, to receive the same, from Wednesday the first to Wednesday the twenty second of September, at the usual hours, on every day in the week, except Lord's days and Saturdays, and no longer.
And if any person or persons shall not bring in a list of their estates as aforesaid, he or they so neglecting will not be entitled to any abatement, without sufficient reason to justify the same. By direction of the Assessors. Boston, August 11th, 1773.
CREAM coloured, and cream coloured enamelled and pencilled WARE, to be sold by the Crate at five per cent. less than the neat sterling cost, and delivered gratis at any part of the town. Each Crate contains a very pretty assortment. Enquire of Enoch Brown,
Who has a prime assortment of the above ware opened at his store on the neck. He has also, A quantity of choice Pitch, for which any kind of Merchandise will be taken as pay.
Just Imported and to be Sold, by
PETER SIGOURNEY, At his Shop a little northward of the Draw Bridge, adjoining the Insurance-Office.
IRONMONGERS, Founders, Braizers, and all sort of Ship Chandlers stores. Also, a compleat assortment of
CLOCK-MAKERS Materials.
To be SOLD at the Shop of CHARLES LOWE, In Marshall's-Lane, facing the BOSTON-STONE,
Loaf and brown Melasses, Sugars, Cotton Wool, Rice, Indigo, Flour, Raisins, Pepper, Currants, Alfpace, Figs, Nutmegs, Spermaceti Oil, Coffee, Dumb Fish, Tea, Indian and Rye Meal, Chocolate, &c. &c. &c.
BROKE open last night, and stole out of, the shop of Mr. CALEB LORING, at the head of the Long Wharf, a considerable number of HATS to the value of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS: Any person that can give information of the thief or thieves shall be handsomely rewarded—All masters of vessels are desired to examine all suspected persons that may bring any thing on board their vessels. Boston, Aug. 8, 1773.
WHEREAS the Copartnership of JAMES and ROBERT SELKRIG is mutually agreed upon to be dissolved the first day of September next This is to certify all persons to whom they are indebted, to bring in their accounts, at their Store on the Town Dock; for an adjustment—And all persons indebted to the said company, are hereby desired to pay their respective balances at said Store, where the business will be carried on as usual, by JAMES and ALEXANDER SELKRIG under the Firm of JAMES SELKRIG and COMPANY. JAMES SELKRIG. ROBERT SELKRIG.
Drugs and Medicines.
A fresh and large assortment of Drugs and Medicines, are just arrived in Captain Lyde, and to be sold in large or small quantities, by M. B. GOLDTHWAIT,
At his shop near the Mill-Bridge, Boston, Among which are the following, viz.
 Dr. James's fever powders.  Keyser's justly famous Pills.  Lockyer's ditto.  Anderson's ditto.  Hooper's family ditto.  Turlington's balsam of life.  Bateman's drops.  Bau de Luce.  Dr. Cook's worm powder.  Godfrey's Cordial.  Hemet's much approved Dentifrice for the Teeth.  Grenough's Tincture for the Teeth.  Ditto for the Tooth-Ach.  Balsam of Honey.  Essence of Pepper-Mint. 
And almost every kind of PATENTED MEDICINES. Also, Phials, Gallipots, Mortars, &c. &c. All kinds of SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS. Hungary and Levander Water, Court plaster, a variety of Smelling-bottles, Sago, Salop, Barley, Cephalic Snuff for the Head-ach, Candied Ginger, Citron—Choice Velvet Corks, by the large or small quantity.—Best Almonds, Turkey Figs, Raisins, Prunes, Tamarinds—Vermacelli, Otter, Ground Madder, and other dye stuff.—Spices of all kinds.—Carolina Pink-root.—Rappee and other Snuffs by the pound or less quantity.—Florence and other OILS. The above assortment consisting of a great variety, will be sold on reasonable terms.—Constant attendance will be given, and every favour gratefully acknowledged. Doctor's BOXES with proper directions.
To be SOLD, by NATHANIEL RUSSELL, In Common-street, a little to the northward of Dr. Byles's Meeting-House, BOSTON,
A Compleat Assortment of HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, consisting of Clocks, Tables, Chairs, Bedsteads dumb Waiters, &c. &c. Cheap for Cash,
Irish Linens.
WILLIAM SCOTT, At his IRISH LINEN Store in Ann-street, Near the Draw-Bridge, BOSTON,
Has just Imported from IRELAND, A LARGE quantity of 3-4, 7-8 and yard wide linens of all prices diaper clouing, ditto huck buck, dowlas, table cloths, sheetings, white ticking, brown and yellow holland, &c.
Said store is also furnished with a great variety of European and India Goods suitable for the season; the assortment consisting of too great a multiplicity to be enumerated in a public advertisement; all which will be sold by wholesale and retail at the lowest reduced prices for ready money only.
Dr Hemet's celebrated essence of pearl and pearl dentifrice for the preservation of the teeth and gums, also patent cakes for making the liquid shining blacking for boots, shoes and leather bottom chairs, are sold there. Ducapes, lustelings, rich English damask, Scotch flowered lawns—and a few boxes of 8 by 10 window glass to be sold at the first cost.
At the Irish Linen Warehouse, In King-street,
Is just imported, from the North of Ireland, A Large and general assortment of Linens, from one to seven shillings sterl. per yard. These goods come from 15 to 20 per cent cheaper than last year, and will be sold in the like proportion cheaper at the Warehouse: A great variety of the most fashionable printed mullins, calicoes, cottons, linens, &c. A complete assortment of Manchester, cotton, and linen checks, damask and diaper table cloths of all sizes, napkins and toweling, huckabuck, Irish and Russia sheetings of all prices, fifty pieces superfine linens from 3s. 6d. to 5s. 9d. per yard, will be sold at prime cost.
BOSTON: Printed by ISAIAH THOMAS,
At the South Corner of MARSHALL'S LANE, leading from the MILL-BRIDGE into UNION-STREET, where all Persons may be supplied with this Paper at Six Shillings and Eight Pence Lawful Money, per Annum, unsealed, and Eight Shillings sealed and directed; and where Articles of Intelligence, &c. are thankfully received:— ADVERTISEMENTS taken in.—PRINTING in its various Branches, performed in a neat Manner, with the greatest Care and Dispatch, on the most reasonable Terms. Small HAND-BILLS at an Hour's Notice. SUBSCRIPTIONS for the Spy are also taken in by J. Larkin, Chairmaker, and Mr. W. Calder, Painter, in Charlestown; Mr. J. Hiller, Watchmaker, in Salem Mr. B. Emerson, Bookseller, in Newbury-Port; Mr. M. Belcher, in Bridgewater; and by Dr. Elisha Hewins, in Scituate.