The Massachusetts spy (Boston [Mass.]), 1771-12-19 00:00:00

THE Massachusetts Spy
A Weekly, Political, and Commercial PAPER:--Open to ALL Parties, but Influenced by None.
Published by I. THOMAS, near the Mill-Bridge, Boston.
"DO THOU Great LIBERTY INSPIRE our Souls,--And make our Lives in THY Possession happy,--Or, our Deaths glorious in THY JUST Defence!"
VOL. I.]
THURSDAY, December 19, 1771.
[NUMB. 42.]
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
The CENTINEL, No. XXVI.
With him, His friend the British Cassius, fearless bled: Of high determined spirit roughly brave, By ancient learning to th' enlightened love, Of ancient freedom warm'd. THOMPSON.
HAVE considered the original of the notion of libels. They appear to be the offspring of the civil law , and were introduced with the commencement of that law in England. They can be therefore no part of common law, and can never be admitted by a common lawyer. But I find on looking into the matter that the court of star chamber, where we are told we must expect all the learning relative to libels, has not only proceeded on the rules of the civil law , but has gone beyond them. Its decisions are consonant to the spirit of neither of these institutions, but as Lord Coke says in another case, they are suspended between both as fit for neither. It seems to be established in the case adjudged, Pasch. 3. Jacob 1. which seems to be thought law now, that it is immaterial whether the libel be true, or whether the party against whom it is made, be of good or ill fame. The discussion of this point brings us to what we designed in our second place, viz. the examination of the nature of a libel. And here I shall show that this notion is repugnant to all our notions of a free government, to the rules and spirit of the civil law itself, and much more abhorrent to common law.
That this doctrine is contrary to the genius of a free state, appears by a little inspection into the principles which constitute such a state. We have been repeatedly told, and every man who has not his mind blinded with prejudice, and sentiments that disgrace human nature, knows, that the basis of government was fixed on the good of society; that the first idea men had in entering into society, was that security and protection, which was impracticable in a state of nature. From this view and to this end, certain officers were chosen, to whom power was delegated, and who had liberty of making such regulations as might answer this grand design. It is common learning, that as they were thus created they became answerable for their behaviour. To suppose these people were thus instituted with freedom of tyrannizing and rendering property precarious, is a solecism on free principles. On such plain uncontroverted maxims was freedom of writing founded, and on such principles may the nature of libels be investigated. How can rulers be accountable, if their actions are not to be discussed? To deny a man the right of informing himself of the behaviour of those in power, and when he perceives that in every action they exhibit a resolution to destroy the freedom of those they govern, and have hearts desperately bent to do mischief, to debar a man the right of acquainting his countrymen of those things, by which method the disease may be checked before it is too late, is sapping the first principles of government. Let me not be misunderstood. I am as much as any man for supporting the dignity of government. And when I see a man attempting maliciously and seditiously to blacken amiable characters, and weaken the hands of a good administration, I hope I should be the foremost in bringing such villains to justice. But when I know, that by the constitution, rulers are created, solely for the good of the people; when how-
ever contrary to these principles, I find those in authority by every possible method, grinding the face of the subject, subverting law and setting liberty at defiance, shall I condemn the man who tells me of these things, and cautions me to be on my guard? Instead of being the subverter he is the supporter of government, and I think the least that can be offered him are the grateful thanks of his countrymen. I am warranted by a great lawyer to assert, whoever says the subject has no right in a manly way to express his grievances, and point out the nature of the actions of his servant is a traitor to government. The reason is, he intends to eradicate the first and fundamental principles of a free constitution. And this seems to be the meaning of these words of Latinus Pacatus, the orator.--- "There is no greater punishment than to be miserable, without being suffered to appear so." And I would sooner lay my head on the block, than by the threats or menaces of any one, to condemn the man whose sentiments I knew were true, for exercising a right, which the constitution gives him, and on the exercise of which right, the safety of ourselves and posterity absolutely depends.
I shall next consider that the notion of a paper's being true, and yet being a libel, is not only contrary to the nature of free government, but even to the civil law itself. I should have thought, had not the consciences of these infernal wretches, who adjudged in the star chamber court, been seared as with an iron, the extent of their wishes would have been gratified, in seeing civil law introduced into practice and the rights of the common law trampled on. But these men seemed to have no idea but injustice and oppression, and every thought of their heart was stained with blood. Let us look into the civil laws , and see whether this notion is consonant with them.
Digest. Lib. 47. title 10. de Injuriis et famosis libellis , seems to make it essential to a libel, that it be done dolo, malo , with evil intent. This must be left to a jury. And I cannot conceive how a manly attempt to point out matters notorious , and universally spoke against, can be called an evil intent , on any principle of a free government. 9 Cod. Theodof. tit. 34. de famosis libellis , 2d Imp. Constantinus A. ad Helianum Proc. Afric. Licet serventur in officio tuo et vicarii, exempla libellorum, qui in africa oblati sunt, tamen eos, quorum nomina continent, metu absolutos, securitate perfrui sinas. Nam qui accusandi fiduciam gerit, oportet, comprobare, nec occultarumque scierit. P. P. V. Kal. Mar. Carth. Constant. A. 6. &c. (320.) It is here declared that he who accuses ought to prove, and should not conceal any thing he knows. These are quite just notions of libels, and are what as a common lawyer and an Englishman, I heartily subscribe to; and the monitory advice of this great Emperor is just, nuncas, ut ab omni non solum crimine, sed etiam suspicionem verisimili alieni esse festinent . Warn them to be cautious, that they not only avoid the actual commission of crimes, but even probable suspicion. Plainly intimating that if they behave unworthy their station, they are deservedly reprov'd. VIII. Imp. Valentinianus et Valens A. A. Edictum. Si quis devotionis suae ac salutis publicae custodiam gerit, nomen suum profiteatur, et ea quae per famosum prosequenda putavit, ore proprio edicat; ita ut absque ulla trepidatione accedat, sciens quasi adfectionibus veri fides fuerit opitulata, laudem maximam ac praemium a nostra clementia consequatur. dat. XIV. Kal. Mar. Constant. Valent. et Valens. A. A. Cofs. (365.) Here it is express, if the author of a libel, comes in proper person, which
they say he may do without fear, and prove what he says; if it appears, his assertions are founded on truth, he shall be rewarded. And, the same Emperor ad Florianum Com. declares that in fact, to be a libel, quae caput aliterius contra juris ordinem pulsat , which accuses another without foundation in law. From all which it appears that the doctrines advanced in our day, that a paper may be true and yet a libel is contrary to the civil law itself, from whence the learning of libels was taken. The whole digest on this head agree. Their genius seems to be that an innocent man libelled need not be uneasy, for the accuser being obliged to prove, innocence is safe; plainly intimating however, that if proved, the accuser is secure from punishment, otherwise the words have no meaning. And this is expressly affirmed afterwards, where it is said the libeller, if he proves his assertion, shall be rewarded, intimating that it was the sense of the civil law , that such an action merited of the empire, and was the act of a good citizen.
I shall not think I digress, if I shew briefly that the method of punishing libels, is as great a stretch beyond the civil law , as the learning of the nature of them. This will shew not only the illegality but the malice of their sentiments. When a man is convicted of writing on government, whether his assertions are true or false, he is pilloried, and imprisoned at discretion, and may have his ears cropped, with many other indignities.
This was not the method of treating a libeller, even in the strict sense of the word, by the civil law . Digest. Lib. 47. title 10. only declares he shall be intestable. Vid. Ulpian in his 56 book on the Edict. In the Theodosian Code the act P. P. Prid. non. decem. constant. A. 6. n. (320.) only adjudges the libel to be burnt. So the act of the same Emperor, on the 18th June, determines the same thing about them. And the other edicts decree a punishment, as is usually appointed. The torture is frequently mentioned as in use in the civil law . But it must be noticed, it was not ordered as a punishment of a libeller when convicted. No, the use of it was to compel the person to prove what he said. This is evident from that act of the Theodosian Code, made at Carthage P. P. 3. Kal. April. where the use of the torture is said to be, that auctor scriptis, cum omni vigore cogatur hic de rebus quas preponendus credidet, comprobare . And Julius Paulus seems to place the extent of the Praetor's power in punishing usque ad relegationem insulae , to banishment.
This appears to me to be the nature of libels, even in the eye of the civil law . How they are respected in common law, we shall see in our next number. But from the present progress we have made in this matter, I think we may conclude, that the notion of a paper's being a libel, although it contains nothing but what is true, and in a free state ought to be known, is contrary even to the principles of the civil law , from whence the doctrine of libels was taken. And in fine, that it can have no foundation here, but is an arbitrary stretch of power, even beyond the bounds of the original.
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
The MONITOR. No. IV.
IN the former number I have shewn, that this colony is a distinct legislative, and therefore sovereign state, dependent only in some stipulated articles on the imperial crown of Great-Britain; I shall now enquire from what sources the parliament of Great-Britain, pretend to derive a power to bind the inhab-
itants of said colony in all cases whatever, as by 6 G. III. is declared.
The charter (as in the last number was observed) is all the bond of union I know of, between Great-Britain and the Massachusetts, and in that there is not a syllable of constitutional subjection to the authority of the British parliament. Indeed the very nature of a parliament abhors the idea of any authority underived from the people over whom the authority is to be exercised; lords of parliament being therein guardians of their own right, and commons, of their's and constituents. But though so absurd a claim must render a serious refutation of it ridiculous to men of understanding and honesty, the influence it now has upon our whole internal policy will excuse a fair exposal of it to the apprehension of every one. Blackstone Com. l. p. 101. says, BUT as Ireland was a distinct dominion, and had parliaments of its own, it is to be observed, that the immemorial customs, or common law, of England were made the rule of justice in Ireland also, yet no acts of the English parliament, since the twelfth of King John, extended to that kingdom; unless it were specially named, or included under general words, such as, "within any of the King's dominions."--- And this is particularly expressed, and the reason given in the year books: "A tax granted by the parliament of England shall not bind those of Ireland, because they are not summoned to our parliament." And again, Ireland hath a parliament of its own, and maketh and altereth laws; and our statutes do not bind them, because they do not send knights to our parliament. The general run of laws, says Blackstone, enacted by a superior state, are supposed to be calculated for its own internal government, and do not extend to its distant dependent countries; which, bearing no part in the legislature, are not therefore in its ordinary and daily contemplation. This indeed arises from a fundamental article in the constitution; which as the same author, p. 158, observes, considers, that in a free state, every man, who is supposed a free agent, ought to be, in some measure, his own governor; and, therefore a branch at least of the legislative power should reside in the whole body of the people. And herein says he, p. 154, indeed consists the true excellence of the English government, that all parts of it form a mutual check upon each other. In the legislature the people are a check upon the nobility, and the nobility upon the people, by the mutual privilege of rejecting what the other has resolved. In this check of the people therefore resides their constitutional freedom and political happiness; and hence may be clearly understood the propriety of the so frequently mentioned political maxim, that power without a CHECK is tyranny.
If therefore Governor Hutchinson holds the British parliament to be the supreme legislature for this colony, it behoves him to shew by what means the commons of Great-Britain, become the representatives of the Americans. That the people in common, or even the high and mighty Lords of Britain, ever claimed a foot of America in their own right, is unknown to me; and how they become entitled to the product of a soil, which thousands of them know as little of, as they do of the mountains in the moon, Judge Blackstone himself, I presume, would be puzzled to account for. If they are then, neither in their own right, nor by delegation, the representatives of the Americans, and yet pretend to bind the Americans by edicts of their formation, and take from them what
* Algernon Sidney,

share of their property they please without their consent, and yet consent on all hands acknowledged to be the very soul of constitutional legislation, and soul and body together of taxation, we need a new set of law books to support Mr. Hutchinson's idea of the supreme legislature of this province.
Laws considered as rules of human conduct in general, may very unexceptionably extend over the whole empire, and doubtless the tacit consent of both Irishmen and Americans will give sufficient sanction to these; but acts of the British parliament plainly tending to deprive Ireland or America of some natural advantage, and monopolize particular articles of manufacture and commerce to themselves, must inevitably draw into question, the right of such unequal exertions of power, by no means derived from the people. If the disposal of the property of a freeman by his own consent, or that of his representative, by him freely and fairly chosen for that end, be his natural, constitutional and unalienable RIGHT , he will think himself wronged when this disposal is wrested from him by any other. And as this cannot be done but by an ACT contrary to the great charter of English liberties, to which he is equally entitled with any subject in Britain, it must be done against law; for all the books tell him that any act made against Magna Charta shall be holden for none.
It is now pretty universally known that laws by which freemen should be governed, should be laws originating with themselves; subject, no doubt, to the rejection of the other branches: But to be controled by the edicts of any power on earth, without a right of rejection, or any advisement in the case, is as utterly incompatible with the right, privilege and immunity of an Englishman, as close imprisonment in a dungeon is with perfect liberty.
Two questions arise on this head, viz. Will the Americans long suffer such a cruel, injurious and dangerous treatment? or, if not, how will they attempt a relief from so intolerable a grievance? The answer to the last is, by the laws of the land. If a jury of Suffolk can so easily be taught to distinguish between justifiable and excusable homicide, manslaughter, and murder; a man must be timorous indeed who dare not trust them with the issue of a few pounds, ravished by colour of one of those unconstitutional edicts, which every cobler knows wants what even Blackstone himself declares indispensable to the constitution of a law, the consent of the commons whose actions it is to controul.
Well did the sage Lord Coke observe, that the law was every man's safe castle ; and a very recent history informs us how industrious a late infamous murderous plunderer was to prevent the victims of his rapacity and cruelty, to gain any acquaintance with the laws of their country. But thanks to the God who rules in the armies of heaven, and looks down with indignation on such rebels to his government. No Fanning, Tryon, Hutchinson, nor Hiliborough, were they so disposed, could hide the laws from the happy inhabitants of this favored province.
-----The noble ambition of saving a devoted empire, has taken such thorough possession of so many bosoms that earth nor hell can quench the spark, which every breath of opposition serves but to inflame.----- The ruling passion and reigning taste is easily perceived by the encouragement given to Printers on one or other side the important questions of, whether freemen shall retain the disposal of their property in their own hands, or accept the favour of Charles Froth, Esq; Benjamin H---w II, &c. to manage it at their discretion, in providing for such gentry as Fellows, Richardson and Wilmot.
Many very feelingly realize 'that the constitution and its laws are the basis of public tranquility, the firmest support of the public authority and pledge of the liberty of the citizens.' And they as fully believe, that 'to attack the constitution of the state, and to violate its laws, is a capital crime against society, and if those guilty of it are invested with authority, they add to this crime a perfidious abuse of the power , with which they are intrusted.' The adequate punishment of such traitors may not always be in the power of the wise and worthy citizen; but every woman and child may manifest their abhorrence and contempt of them; and never was traitor so easily hardened as to be wholly
insensible to the just reproach of all men.----- The late ridiculous effort to cramp the press, demonstrates the imbecility of even a Goliath in politics, to combat a stripling (as the Phillistine's partizans affect to represent his antagonist) when armed with a manly resolution and knowledge of the law! What will be the consequence? The downfal of the tyrant, the salvation of the community. The gentleman pretended to be degraded, may bid defiance, to any power on earth, to annul his commission, until his mal-administration renders him a proper object of judicial enquiry.
An opinion of safety under the conduct of any leader is all that can ensure a party; if therefore so seemingly uncontroable a champion, was so shamefully baffled in the grand cast for his whole empire who shall hereafter offer at his shrine, or who reverence his multi assumptipotence!
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
Mr. THOMAS,
I have sent you one of Cato's Letters, please to give it a place in your next paper. It appears to me to be an interesting piece, it especially concerns RULERS to read it with attention: It needs no comment, I shall therefore give it none. A. Z.
MEN, for the sake of their posterity, do many things, which, they tell us, they would not do for their own sakes. The wealth which they do not spend, they lay up for posterity; and their care for posterity is made a pretence, to justify all the acquisitions that they make of fortune and dominion. But this is false reasoning, though by it they often deceive themselves and others. They find that they have greater appetites to acquire wealth, than they have to enjoy it; and, not being able to deny, that wealth is only so far useful as it is enjoyed, and no farther, they cannot justify their conduct, but by furnishing themselves with a false excuse from their regard for posterity: As if the affections of men could be stronger for others, and for a future race, of whom they know nothing, or for such as perhaps may never exist, than for themselves. Doubtless, men are in no circumstances to be separated from themselves: They are ever the chief objects of their own tenderness and good wishes; and the love of posterity is only self-love continued beyond the grave. We see those who have no posterity, nor the prospect of any, engaged in the same passionate and greedy pursuits as those who have; and they often leave their Estates, when they die, to those for whom, while they lived, they shewed no concern.
This ambition therefore amongst men, of leaving an illustrious posterity, is mere self-love; a passion to survive themselves, and to make a figure after they are dead. To gratify this passion, men in all stations often take wild and unaccountable courses: They employ great pains for that which they can never enjoy, and run many dangers for what they will never reap: They drudge, and laboriously contrive ways to wear themselves out; they deny themselves rest and ease, and the comforts of life, that some future men, whom they know not, may live in idleness and abundance, and perhaps despise these their careful and penurious ancestors, who painfully provided for them the means of luxury, and enabled them to be insolent, or debauched, or insignificant to society. They are indeed generally but even with one another: The descendant receives, without gratitude, an estate which his ancestor left him without affection. People would take it greatly amiss, if you supposed that they wanted honour for their Ancestors, or regard to their posterity; and that they themselves were the only real objects of all this regard, and of that honour. But let them ask themselves, whether they would restore to their grandfather again the estate which he left them, were he to rise from the dead, and demand it? or, whether they are willing to part with it to their children before their own death? or, if they sometimes do, Whether they have not other motives besides paternal affection? and, whether their own credit and vanity be not the strongest.
Thus men gratify their own tempers, and invent fine false reasons and specious names for what they do. A passion for posterity is a passion for fame; and he who raises a family, considers his race as hereditary trustees for his name and grandeur, and as the proper means and channel for perpetuating him-
self. Nor does he carry about him an appetite more selfish and personal than this, So that all the wicked things which a man does to raise a posterity, are but so many infamous steps to acquire personal fame, which he will never arrive at; and does therefore but labour against the very end which he labours for. If his posterity prove good, it will be remembered to their praise, and his shame, what a vile ancestor they had: If they prove bad, it will not be forgot how much they resemble him; and he will become still more odious in his odious descendents. Even the wilful men do a foolish thing, when they employ great assiduity and care to leave a great estate to a random heir, whom nature, or chance, or the law, gives them. How many immense estates, gathered in a long course of years and application, have we seen thrown away suddenly upon harlots and sharps! The acquisitions of half a century have disappeared, as it were, in a moment; and the chief remaining monuments of the founder's name were jests made upon his memory.
But of all the foolish and wicked ways of raising families, none equals that of raising them upon the ruins of publick liberty. The general security is the only certain security of particulars; and though desperate men often find safety in publick destruction, yet they cannot ensure the same safety to their children, who must suffer with the rest in the misery of all. If great wicked men would consider this, the world would not be plagued with their ambition. Their posterity scarce ever miss to reap the bitter fruits of their actions; and the curse of their iniquities rarely fails to follow them to the fourth generation.
The instruments of publick ruin have generally at once entailed misery upon their country and upon their own race. Those who were the instruments and ministers of Caesar and Augustus , and put the commonwealth under their feet, and them above the laws, did not consider, that they were not only forging chains for their country, but whetting swords against their own families, who were all cut off under succeeding tyrants: Nay, most of their children fell early and bloody sacrifices to the cruel and suspicious spirit of Tiberius . He began his reign with the murder of young Agrippa , whose father had, by his courage and conduct in war, established the tyranny in that house. What availed to Agrippa all his great riches, his sumptuous buildings, and even his near alliance with the prince, whose daughter he married, but to hasten and magnify the fall and destruction of his own house? There was not one Roman family wickedly enriched by their base subserviency to Augustus , but was slaughtered and confiscated under his successors, and most of them under his immediate successor. Nay, their riches and splendor were reasons for destroying them. The freed slaves of the Emperors grew afterwards the first men in Rome , and had at their mercy the heads and estates of the Patricians ; nor could any of the great Roman Lords come into any post or office in their own empire, but by the pleasure and permission of those slaves, and by servile court paid to them.
Would their illustrious ancestors, who were the friends and abettors of Caesar , have done as they did, had they foreseen this vile subserviency of their posterity to slaves and pathicks, and the daily and wanton sacrifices made of their boasted blood? And yet was not all this easily to be foreseen? While they were arming him with a power over their country, they stripped themselves of all title to their lives and estates. By laying up riches for their families, they did but lay snares for the ruin of their families. It grew a crime under these tyrants to be conspicuous for any thing; and riches, virtue, eloquence, courage, reputation, nay, names and accidents, became crimes. Men, and even women, were put to death for having had illustrious ancestors; and some, for bearing the fortuitous surnames of great men dead an hundred years before.
So that these men, who, from the bait of present wealth and place, helped to overthrow the constitution of that great state, were not only the parricides of their country, but the murderers of their own children and families, by putting a lawless dagger into the hands of these tyrants to execute these murders. They sold their own blood and posterity to these Imperial butchers, whose chief employment it was to shed it. These mis-
taken men might flatter and blind themselves with a conceit, that they were laying up riches for ages, and entailing honours upon their latest race: For what is so blind as ambition and avarice? But to their unhappy descendents it proved a terrible inheritance of servitude, exile, tortures and massacre. What they meant to perpetuate, their fortune and race, were the first things seized and extirpated. They had been real traitors, to make their children great; and their children were put to death for false treason, merely for being great. So nearly are punishments allied to crimes, and so naturally do they rise from them!
Thus rash and unadvised, even as to themselves and their own families, are those wicked men who raise up an enormous power in their country, because they wear its livery, and are for some time indulged by it in their own pride and oppressions! And so ungrateful is that power when it is raised, even to the props and instruments that raised it! They themselves are often crushed to death by it, and their posterity certainly are.
This may serve, among other arguments, to prove, that men ought to be virtuous, just, and good, for their own sakes, and that of their families; and especially great men, whose lasting security is best found in the general security. Pericles had long and arbitrarily lavished away the public money, to buy creatures, and perpetuate his power; and dreading to give up his accounts, which the Athenians began to call for, thought that he had no other way to avoid doing this justice to his country, but by adding another great crime to his past crimes. He would venture the ruin of the commonwealth, rather than be accountable to it: He therefore threw all things into confusion, raised armies, and entered precipitately into a war with Lacedemon ; which, after much blood, misery, and dissolation, ended in the captivity of his country. During that war, he died of the plague, which the war was thought to occasion; and to his pride and guilt alone were owing the plague, war, and the taking of Athens , with the desolation of the city and territory. Before he died he felt the loss of his whole family, and of all his friends and relations; and, doubtless, fore saw the downfall of his country. What huge and complicated ruin! He would see the state sink, rather than lose his authority in it: But in the destruction of his country his own was justly and naturally involved. Where was now the great, the politick, the eloquent Pericles ? Where was the proud state which he had long and haughtily swayed? Where was his family and race? Where were all his mighty future views? Why, the sword, the pestilence, and foreign conquest, had, by his own management, put an end to them all; and his wisdom and profound foresight proved miserable and ruinous folly.
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
Mr. THOMAS,
THE addition given Mr. Baker, in your paper of the twelfth instant, was a bare allusion to a paragraph in one of Governor Bernard's letters, to Lord Hillsborough, whereby it appears that he is no proper officer to the Governor and Council. I had not the least design to reflect upon Mr. Baker, I believe him to be an honest man, a friend to liberty, and a sincere well-wisher to his country. MASSACHUSETTENSIS.
Anecdote of LEWIS XIII. King of France. THERE was a grand maquerade ball held at Paris in the reign of the above weak monarch, who notwithstanding his dress was discovered by two young Gentlemen, walking in the ball room with his arm round the waist of one of his mistresses. The gentlemen soon came close up to his Majesty, when one of them complained of the heat of the room, and made a motion to the other to adjourn to the King's Arms . No (replied he) that will not do, the King's Arms is full; but if you think proper we will retire to the King's head for that is quite empty.
WANTED immediately, 1000 bushels of INDIAN CORN, for which the cash will be paid upon the delivery, by ABEL WOOD, at Mr. Robert Gould's in Back-street, Boston.
To-morrow will be published.
THE IXth number of the FAN for FANNING, and TOUCHSTONE to TRYON. Sold at the printing-office, oppoſite to William Vassal's, Esq.

AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, December 6.
ABOUT five weeks ago, was brought to Dr. Hall Jackson of this town, one Fletcher, of Winter Harbour, he is now in the thirty-ninth year of his age; when he was six month old, he lost his sight, and has remained perfectly blind ever since; the next day after his arrival here, he had his left eye couched, but besides the disease that attended this eye, from his infancy, he had received a blow from the end of a mop-staff, which had rendered the disease so complicated, as to afford little or no prospect of success, notwithstanding it so far succeeded, as to make him capable of distinguishing some objects, though not with any great degree of exactness; he in some measure, though not wholly, lost the little benefit that he received by a violent inflammation that succeeded the operation and this retarded its being performed on the other eye, until last Thursday week, when it was done with all the success that could be expected or desired; no sooner was the instrument out of his eye, when he was at clearly and distinctly to see the many persons and objects that surrounded him, in all of which he immediately perceived a difference, but how or in what this difference consisted, he could give no account, as he had no idea of form, colour, magnitude, distance, or even a plurality of things but what he had formed in his mind, from the sense of hearing and feeling; which plainly demonstrates that were we deprived of the use of our sensory organs we could have no ideas of things whatever.
All objects and colours seemed equally agreeable to this person except red and green, the former of which, he could not look upon with any degree of satisfaction, but with the latter he appeared to be much pleased.
The joy expressed by this person in being restored to so valuable a sense, did by no means appear so great as in those that have been before sensible of the enjoyment of it.
About ten days ago a negro man belonging to Mr. Nathaniel Meserve of Durham, who had been blind for some years, had both his eyes couched by Dr. Hall Jackson, and perfectly restored to sight.
PHILADELPHIA, November 28. Capt. Peter, from Cadiz, informs, that while he lay there the Queen of Spain was delivered of a Prince Royal, for which event there were illuminations and great rejoicings at that place for three days: That the ship St. Francis Capt. Butler, belonging to Bristol homeward bound from Cadiz, took fire off Cape St. Mary, the day after she failed, and was entirely burnt to the waters edge; the Captain and crew saved themselves in their boat, and got back to Cadiz; that five sail of transports were arrived there from La Vera Cruz and the Havanna, with troops, and more daily expected; that they were fitting out the Flota with an expedition, to go under convoy of a 74 gun ship; that there was only one man of war of 80 guns at that place which lately arrived from Carthagena, and was laid up; and that about the first of October an English frigate passed by there, with his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester on board, bound up the Mediterranean. On the 15th instant, in Lat. 37, Long. 72, he spoke a brig from New-York, eight days out, wheelbarrows on her quarters, but could not learn the master's name, or where she was bound.
NEW-YORK, December 12. The following is an extract of a letter from Captain Joseph Crew, belonging to the brig Ann, from Boston, for this port, to a gentleman in town dated Norwalk, December 4, 1771.--- "This waits on you to advise you of my unhappy situation and great misfortune. On the first instant, about 12 o'clock, coming into this harbour, the vessel struck on Green's reef of rocks, the wind blowing strong about W. S. W.-- About 2 o'clock it veered to W. and by N. when we let go our anchors, in order to keep her from going ashore, but could not clear the rocks of either side, if we cut: Thus we lay sticking the ground until evening, when her rudder unshipped, and the wind increased to a high storm, which continued all night. About 4 next morning, found her hold two thirds full of water, so that we were obliged to slip, and run her as far on the shore as we could, in order to pre-
serve our lives,--the wind continued strong to the westward all next day, and no boat could come on board, so that little of the cargo is saved, and I fear the vessel will be entirely lost."
Extract of a letter from a person of eminence in London, no less distinguished by his piety, than literary merit; to his correspondent in this city, dated August 12, 1771.
"An American episcopate is certainly wanted,--and if we have not virtue and sense of religion enough to establish one, it may be apprehended that our chastisement may, by the secret conduct of God's providence and grace, turn to your spiritual advantage; and our civil feuds, distresses and emigrations, hereafter supply your wants in this particular. With me however, I doubt not but you will readily join in earnest wishes, that heaven may avert the judgments we justly deserve, and that the redress of your grievances may not rest on this precarious issue. There is reason to think your case will not be taken into consideration; the subject indeed was dropped during the heat of our late party rage, but is now more talked of than ever. It is the opinion of many, that sending bishops to America is a measure dictated by motives of good policy, as well as of justice and piety. These you may be assured are the sentiments of several leading, judicious men here, of some in the ministry, and of others who have no connection with them. You do me but justice when you suppose that I heartily with success to your endeavours for procuring an Episcopate. I look upon it as the want of an essential; and I cannot conceive how any person who is a friend to religious liberty, can oppose your scheme, when the Bishops you desire are not to be vested with any temporal powers, but with such only as are spiritual. Bishops of this sort can make no innovations in civil matters, nor can they possibly interfere with, or endanger the religious rights or privileges of others; and it will be found very difficult to assign any good reason, why the national church should not have that full toleration which all other denominations are indulged with in the plantations, and thereby be raised to an equality with them. You have my best wishes in this affair, which so nearly concerns the welfare of the church of God; nor shall my endeavours be wanting to second yours, when they can be serviceable."
THURSDAY, December 19. BOSTON.
WE are favoured with the following receipt from a gentleman lately arrived from England; and as it is new, curious, and may be very useful to the public, we now lay it before them. It is an extract from a late publication, entitled, "Modern Eden."
RECEIPT for making a cement to preserve the ends of cuttings from rotting, in order to propagate shrubs and trees, viz.
"Melt together in a large earthen pipkin, two pounds and an half of common pitch, and half a pound of turpentine; when they are melted, put in three quarters of an ounce of powder of aloes, stir them all together, and then set the matter on fire; when it has flamed a moment, cover it up close, and it will go out, then melt it well, and fire it again in the same manner: This must be done three times; it must be done in the open air, for it would fire a house; and there must be a cover for the pipkin ready. After it has burnt the last time, melt it again, and put in three ounces of yellow wax, shred very thin, and six drams of mastic, in powder.--- Let it all melt together until it is perfectly well mixed, then strain it through a coarse cloth into a pan, and set it by to cool."
"When this is to be used, a piece of it must be broke off, and set over a very gentle fire, in a small pipkin: It must stand until it is soft enough to spread upon the part of the cutting where it is wanted, but it must not be very hot. It is the quality of this dressing to keep out wet entirely. The part which is covered with it will never decay, while there is any principle of life in the rest; and this being secured, nature will do the business of growing. This I have found true in practice; and by repeated trials, in more kinds than one, I have found that I could raise from any piece of a branch, as many good plants as there were leaves or buds upon it."
By this means trees, &c. may be raised
from branches and roots, or any parts of them, having one bud or eye. To be laid in the ground in October, November, or December. Perhaps it may be found good (not only for pieces of branches and roots, when properly applied to every wounded part of them, as is mentioned in the above, but also) for wounds occasioned by pruning, where branches are cut off, &c. This, further experience may shew.
Fancuil-Hall Lottery, we hear will commence drawing in about three weeks.
At a General Council held by adjournment at the council chamber in Boston, on Tuesday the 10th of December 1771, his Excellency the Governor, was pleased to nominate Eliza Hutchinson, Esq; to be a Justice of the Peace for the county of Suffolk. John Dennis, Esq; John Foxcroft Esq; David Cleeve, Esq; Leonard Williams, Esq; Andrew Newell, Esq; Sampson Stoddard, jun. Esq; to be Justices of the Peace for the county of Middlesex. Mr. Abraham Watson, a Coroner in said county. Mr. Thomas West, to be a Coroner for the county of Essex. Joseph Mayhew, Esq; to be a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum, also a Justice of the common Pleas, for the county of Dukes-County. John Worth, Esq; to be a special Justice for said county. James Athearn, Esq; to be a Justice of the Quorum for said county. Shubael Cottle, Esq; to be a Justice of the Peace for said county. Timothy Folger, Esq; to be a Justice of the Peace for the county of Nantucket. To all which nominations his Majesty's Council did advise and consent.
At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston, Tuesday, December 10th, 1771.
His Excellency having acquainted the Board at their last meeting, that Joseph Greenleaf, Esq; a Justice of the peace for the county of Plymouth, was generally reputed to be concerned with Isaiah Thomas, in printing and publishing a News-Paper, called the Massachusetts Spy, and the said Joseph Greenleaf having thereupon been summoned to attend the board on his day, in order to his examination touching the same, and not attending according to summons, it was thereupon unanimously advised, that the said Joseph Greenleaf be dismissed from the office of a Justice of the Peace, which advice was approved of and consented to by his Excellency; and the said Joseph Greenleaf is dismissed from the said office accordingly.
A true copy from the minutes of council. THOMAS FLUCKER, Secretary.
MARRIED. Mr. Jonathan Balch, to Miss Abigail Williams.---Mr. Stephen Williams of Roxbury to Miss Mary Langdon.---At Killingly, in Connecticut, Mr. James Bloise, aged seventy, to Miss Sarah Smith, aged twenty.
DIED. Mrs. Mary Knox, relict of the late Capt. William Knox.---Mr. John Gerrish, auctioneer.---Mrs. Elizabeth Dall, wife of Mr. William Dall, sugar-baker.---Mrs. Margaret Flagg, wife of Mr. David Flagg, pewterer.---Mrs. Mac Cluer, widow of the late Deacon Mac Cluer.---Mr. Solomon Hearsey, cordwainer.---At Charlestown, Mr. John Bradish, innholder.---At Milton, William Tucker, Esq.
"Last Tuesday se'nnight died suddenly at Stoneham, Mrs. Abigail Richardson, mother of the noted Esquire Richardson, now under conviction of murder, and whose habitation is now, as it has long been, in Suffolk County goal. She has turned out a true prophetess, having often declared, that she should never live to see this ---famous fellow banged, though she thought his tu---s in iniquity richly deserved it."
SHIP NEWS.
By Capt. Coffin from Nantucket, we have a melancholy account of the loss of the sloop Paoli, belonging to Mr. Gerrish of Halifax, commanded by Capt. Dailap. The above sloop sailed from Halifax from Philadelphia, about the 1st instant, having eleven souls on board, and on the 5th in a terrible snow storm, it being very thick, she ran ashore on Nantucket, and stove to pieces. the master, and mate named Amos Otis, were both drowned; but their bodies were afterwards taken up, and decently interred in one grave. One Cokran, a passenger, having a great quantity of money with him, was still missing, and thought to be drowned. The other eight persons got safe ashore.
Sunday morning Captain Tucker in a ship from Glasgow which place she left the 12th
of October, in coming in, ran ashore on George's Island. A ship for this place sailed the day before Capt. Tucker,---and a sloop for this place was to sail about 10 days after him. No News received by Captain Tucker.
ARRIVED here. Parsons from St. Lucia and St. Eustatia; Holt and Howes from Nova-Scotia; Mitchel from Annapolis-Royal; Ball and Morry from Newfoundland; Freeman from Philadelphia; Gray from Maryland; Payne from St. Christopher; Tucker from Glasgow; and Tucker from Newfoundland.
OUTWARD bound. Machey, Sears, Turner, Willis, Russell and Thompson to West-Indies; Withart to Western Islands; Brown to Greenock; Mc. Cluer and Cunningham to Maryland; Adams to Suranam; Callender to Cape Fear; Jarvis to North-Carolina; Chapman to Dominico.
THE UNIVERSAL FARCE displayed.
THE world is a theatre; mankind are the comedians; chance composes the piece, and fortune distributes the parts; theologists and politicians govern the machines; and philosophers are the spectators. The rich take their places in the pit and upper boxes, the powerful in the front and sides, and the galleries are for the poor. The women distribute fruit and refreshments, and the unfortunate snuff the candles. Folly composes the overture, and time draws the curtain. The title of the piece is Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur , "If the world will be deceived, let it be so." The opening of the farce begins with sighs and tears: The first act abounds with the chimerical projects of men: The frantic testify their applause with re-echoed bravos , whilst the sagacious bring their catcalls into play to damn the performance. At going in a sort of money is paid called trouble , and in exchange a ticket is given, subscribed uneasiness , in order to obtain a place. The variety of objects which appear, for a short time divert the spectators; but the unravelling of the plot and intrigues, well or ill-concerted, force the risible muscles of the philosophers. We see giants who presently become pigmies, and dwarfs who imperceptibly attain a monstrous height. There we see men exerting all their efforts in the pursuit of the most eligible plans, guided by prudence, and armed with precaution, who are nevertheless circumvented in all their pursuits, and frustrated in all their endeavours; whilst here we observe a group of indolent, careless fellows, who attain the highest summit of mundane felicity. Such is the farce of this world, and he who would chuse to divert himself with it at his leisure, should take his place in some obscure corner, where he may unobserved be a spectator of the whole performance, and in safety laugh at it as it deserves. HONESTUS.
Boston, December 14, 1771.
A PUBLIC spirited gentleman of this town having some time since deposited in the hands of the Select men one HUNDRED DOLLARS to be given in premiums for encouraging the raising of MULBERRY TREES. PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given, that it is expected that such persons in the province as intend to put in for their share of said dollars, produce certificates from one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, on or before the 30th day of January next, ascertaining the number and age of the trees raised by them; that so said persons may receive of the Select Men their premiums, in the manner and upon the conditions set forth in the supplement of Edes and Gill's Gazette the 15th of August 1768.
By order of the Select Men, WILLIAM COOPER, Town-Clerk.
This day was published, price 1s. lawful money.
ESHCOL: A Cluster of the FRUIT of CANAAN brought to the Borders, for the Encouragement of the Saints travelling thitherward with their Faces toward Zion: Or,
RULES of DIRECTION For the WALKING of the SAINTS in FELLOWSHIP, according to the Order of the Gospel.
By JOHN OWEN, D.D. Printed and sold by I. THOMAS, near the Mill-Bridge, Boston.

This Day was published, price 7 coppers, AN ALMANACK, for the Year of our Lord 1772; printed on fine large Demy paper; very handy for Merchants, Shopkeepers, &c. to paste or hang up in their stores or shops.
Printed and sold by I. THOMAS.
BENJAMIN BURDICK, jun. At the Free-mason's Arms, and Green Dragon, ENTERTAINMENT for Men and Horses.
N. B. Large CELLARS to be let, under his house.
This day was published,
CHEEVER'S Latin ACCIDENCE, carefully revised, and the numerous errors of the former editions corrected by one of the Masters of the South Grammar School in Boston.
Sold by JOHN PERKINS, in Union Street.
Who has for SALE.
A few sets of ACCOUNT BOOKS complete, for near the sterling cost.
BINDING work performed in the neatest manner, with fidelity and dispatch.
LITERATURE.
The Gentlemen of New-England who have already subscribed, and all those who are animated by the wish of seeing NATIVE FABRICATIONS flourish in America, so as practically to lend a nurturing hand towards the advancement of this infant Manufacture by speedily SUBSCRIBING, (no Money expected but on the delivery of an equivalent) are requested to observe that THE FIRST VOLUME of COMMENTARIES on the LAWS of ENGLAND. By SIR WILLIAM BLACKSTONE, KNT. One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. Printed on a large Type, page for page with the last British edition, is now ready to be delivered in neat Law-binding, at the small price of TWO DOLLARS. by ROBERT BELL, Bookseller, at the late Union Library in Third-Street, Philadelphia, although the British edition of this volume is sold for above six Dollars.
** The second Volume of said COMMENTARIES is now in the press, and the subsequent Volumes viz. The Third and Fourth, which compleats this elegant Work, will be published with all the expedition which is consistent with correctness in so large an undertaking.
N. B. The American edition of Robertson's History of Charles V. 3 vols. for Three Dollars, in blue boards may now be purchased from said BELL: He also receiveth subscriptions for an American Edition of Hume's History of England, and Ferguson's Essay on the History of Civil Society.
The above Works are sold, and Subscriptions for those now in Contemplation to be Re-printed in America, are received by EDES and GILL, at their Printing Office in BOSTON.
The Subscribers for Robertson's History of Charles the Fifth, who have neglected to call or send for the 2d and 3d vols. are requested to apply to Edes and Gill, at their Printing-Office for the same as soon as may be.
Now in the PRESS,
And will be published in Numbers, weekly.
A FAN for FANNING, and a TOUCHSTONE to TRYON, being an Account of the Rise and Progress of the so much talked of REGULATION in North Carolina; which ended in a civil War; the first perhaps ever heard of in America, among those who call themselves Christians; and may an over-riding hand of Providence so order the affairs of government as that it may be the last. It will be published in half sheets, in such manner as that when compleated, it may be bound in a small octavo volume. It will come out on Fridays, and may be had at the Printing Office at the head of Queen-Street, for so small a price as 2 d. lawful each number.
WANTS a Place a young woman with a good Breast of Milk, who would be glad to go into a Family, to suckle a child Enquire of the Printer.
JOSIAH WATERS and SON, At their shop in Anne-street, near the Draw-Bridge, Boston, by Wholesale or Retail very cheap,
PEPPER by the bag, or less; Spices of all sorts; 15 and 18 inch London TD pipes, by the box or less, large and small bowls; Hunter ditto per ditto; Taylors 10 by 8, 9 by 7, and 8 by 6 window glass; Putty; Paper by the ream; Florence Oyl; English Loaf-Sugar very cheap; split Peas; Kilmarnock Caps; Kippen's Snuff.
PAINTERS OYLS and COLOURS of all kinds, prepared, or otherwise, in the best manner, for House or Ship Painting; Brushes, Tools, Leaf-Gold, &c.
Also, Allum, Copperas, Madder, Otter, Common and ground Redwood, Logwood, FRESH RAISINS, Rice, WOOL CARDS, Choice INDIGO, &c.
Bohea TEA warranted, Hyson ditto, coarse and fine sieve bottoms, Sieves made up, New England Rum, a few Gross GENUINE VELVET CORKS, &c.
A compleat Assortment of cream-coloured, brown, white, blue and white black, and Glass WARE, just arrived in Capt. Bryant's, the last ship from London.
Post-OFFICE, Boston, Nov. 26, 1771.
THIS is to inform the Publick, That the SOUTHERN RIDER, now goes through Providence and Bristol to Newport, and sets out from this Office on Mondays, precisely at One o'clock; that all Letters, intended to go by that conveyance, must be in the Office not exceeding twelve o'clock on said day. By order of the Deputy Post-Master General.
T. HUBBART.
Potash Kettles.
To be SOLD, by SMITH and ATKINSON, At their Store in KING-STREET,
POTASH Kettles, cast at Salisbury, in Connecticut, (in clay copecs) from the best mountain ore, far superior in quality to any kettles cast in this province from Bogg ore, which being so very liable to crack when first used in melting down the salts, the manufacturer of Potash is thereby not only subjected to considerable expence and trouble in procuring other kettles, but frequently disappointed in working his stock of ashes in the proper season.
These kettles have rarely been known to fail till they are worn out, in many of which above thirty tons of Potash have been made, and when useless for that purpose, a pair of them is valued from 4l. 10s. to 5l. 10s. for the forge, to work into bar iron, the Salisbury metal being allowed the first in America, for making the best tough bar iron. The Bogg ore kettles are of no value for the forge, exclusive of the great risque of their cracking before one ton of Potash is made.
Now ready for Sale, by
SMITH and ATKINSON,
At said Store, a large and general assortment of EUROPEAN and INDIA GOODS, Imported in the last vessels, which being bought on the very best terms will be disposed of (by wholesale only) at such prices as shall give full satisfaction to those in town and country, who purchase their assortment here, and also invite those who usually import their goods, to apply for many articles to compleat their assortments.
N. B. Gun powder, Russia and English sail Duck, &c. &c. &c.
A Fresh and Compleat Assortment of ENGLISH GOODS, suitable for any Season, to be sold by NATHANIEL ABRAHAM,
At his shop in Anne-street, nearly opposite to the sign of the Seven Stars. Among which are, genteel Muffs and Tippets, and Furr Trimmings, very cheap for cash only.
N. B. English Shoes, Clogs and Gojo-shoes.
THE Printer of this Paper, hereby gives notice, that he has REMOVED his PRINTING OFFICE to the south Corner of Marshal's Lane, leading from the Mill-Bridge into Union-Street.
JOSEPH PEIRCE, Has imported in the last vessels from London, and has to sell at his shop at the north side of the Town-House, Boston, a large and General Assortment of ENGLISH GOODS;
Amongst which are, MUFFS and Tippets, Fur Trimmings, scarlet and other coloured Broad Cloths of all prices, scarlet Whitnies, plain and knaped Beaver Coatings, Bearskins, Kerseys, Serges, Flannels, Baizes, shalloons, Tammies, Durants, Calamancoes, Russells, Camblets, plain and striped Cambleteens, Denmark Lustres, Miffinets, Grizets, Ala-peens, Rich Poplins of a new fabric, Crapes, yard wide Stuffs, Irish Linens, Checks, Diapers, Damask and Diaper Table Cloths, Dowlas, Silk and Linen Handkerchiefs, brocaded Shoes and Clogs, English and Lynn made Shoes and Pumps, Goloshoes, Pattens, Ribbons, Threads, sewing Silk, Buttons, Quality and Coat Bindings, Ladies most fashionable Caps, &c. &c.
N. B. Best Hyson, Bohea and Souchong Tea, Spices, Superfine Flour, English Loaf Sugar, Glass and China Ware, &c.
S I L K S.
Rich Brocades, rich Rose coloured Damask, Padusfoys, Ducapes, stript flowered and plain Lute strings, Persians of all widths, Sarfeneys, Alamos; rich plain white, and blue Sattins, black and white and black and ink Lace Sattins, and other sorts for Ladies.
Just imported in the last vessels from LONDON, and to be sold, by
JOSEPH PALMER, At his Store in King-Street, North-Side;
A Very large assortment of 3-4ths, 7-8ths, and yard wide Irish linens, Irish and Russia brown and white sheeting, housewife cloth, dowlas, Russia linen, osnaburgs, ticklinburgs; a few pair of very beautiful candlesticks, and glass waiters.
N. B. The above goods were purchased at a very low rate in England, and will be sold cheaper than can be bought in any store in Boston, for cash only. Choice Dumb Fish.
FREDERICK ROBERTS, Has brought with him from LONDON A Compleat Assortment of JEWELRY, And other Goods, which consist of the following Articles, viz.
PATENT Ass-skin memorandum books, pocket books with and without instruments, patent razors, ditto pen-knives, scissors, steel snuffers, cork-screws, sugar nippers, pocket pistols, steel sword chains with swivels, and swivels for ditto, steel watch chains, key swivels to hook to the side, painted japan waiters, bread baskets, sugar tongs, candlesticks with snuffers, &c. compleat pinchbeck, shoe, knee and stock buckles, gilt and not gilt, Ladies gilt watch chains; silver shoe, knee and stock buckles, plated ditto, ditto spurs, trinkets of all kinds, with many other articles too tedious to mention.
N. B. The above Goods are to be sold at ROBERTS & LEE's shop, nearly opposite the Post-Office, in Cornhill, Boston; where all kind of JEWELRY is manufactured and repaired, as neat and as reasonable as in London. The above Goods being purchased with the cash of the manufacturers in England, will enable them to sell at the lowest rates, for cash only.
Moft money given for old Gold and Silver Lace.
To the PUBLIC.
AS several Gentlemen have expressed a desire to have
"The CENTINEL"
published in Volumns, those who incline to encourage this publication are desired to send in their names to the Printer hereof.
The work will be done on good paper and an excellent type, and the first volumn compleated as soon as possible.
Next Monday will be published, (Adorned with three elegant plates) Price 2s. 8d. per dozen, and 6 coppers single Printed by E. RUSSELL, near Dr. Gardiner's in Marlborough-street.
THE original Copy of Ames's Almanack, for the year 1772. Being Biffextile or Leap Year: Calculated for the Meridian of Boston, but with little alteration will do for any Part of New England.
CONTAINING,
A Description of the very extraordinary Person who made her Appearance in Boston last August. A curious Method now practised in Greece, of taking Honey, without destroying the Bees, as related by Mr. Wheeler, in his Journey thither.
Eclipses, Aspect, Spring-Tides, Judgment of the Weather, Feasts and Fasts of the Church, Courts in the Massachusetts Bay, New-Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode-Island, very accurately corrected, Sun and Moon's Rising and Setting, Moon's Place, Time of High Water, Publick Roads, with the best Stages or Houses of Entertainment to put up at, greatly corrected since last year, Quakers Yearly Meetings, Liberty Days, &c.
Sold at, Knox's London Book Store, Green and Russell's in Queen-Street; W. M'Alpine, and J. Boyles, in Marlborough-Street; R. Draper, in Newbury-Street; J. Fleeming, in King-Street; I. Thomas near the Mill-Bridge; J. Perkins, in Union-Street; A. Barclay, in Cornhill; A. Steele, in Marlborough-Street; S. Hall, and W. Williams in Salem; B. Emmon, in Newbury-Port; A. Butler in Portsmouth; E. May, E. Brown, C. and A. Davis, Boston-Neck; S. Craft, J. Grayton, J. Patten, in Roxbury.
BOOKS.
JOHN LANGDON, At the New Book and Stationary Store, opposite the Post-Office in Cornhill, Boston, Has just received from LONDON, A Large and fine Assortment of the most Modern BOOKS,
In all branches of Literature, Arts and Sciences, which will be sold Remarkably Cheap for the cash;
Among which are the following, viz.
HENRY on the Bible, 5 Vol. folio. Ditto on Prayer. Ditto on the Sacrament.
Burket on the New-Testament, Folio. Locke's Works, 3 Vols. Folio. Ditto's Essays on Human Understanding. Ditto on Education.
Boyer's French and English Dictionary a new edition, with the addition of many hundred words not in any former edition.
Rollin's Ancient History, 12 Vol.
Mrs. Macaulay's History of England, 4 Vol.
Plutarch Lives, 9 Vol.
Montesquieu Spirit of Law, 2 Vol.
Universal History, 20 Vol.
SCHOOL BOOKS of every kind. With a variety of the newest and best Books in LAW, PHYSICK, HISTORY, and the CLASSICKS.
BIBLES of all sorts, viz. Large Church Bibles, Folio, Family, Quarto, Octavo, Mission and Pocket ditto, by the Dozen, or single.
Likewise, a large and compleat assortment of STATIONARY, Accompt-Books of all sorts, Paper of all sorts and sizes, Ink-Powder, Quills, Sealing-Wax and Wafers, Press-Paper, some of a superior sort to any ever imported, &c. &c. &c.
PROPOSALS
For Printing by Subscription,
Diffuasion to Great Britain and her Colonies from the SLAVE TRADE to AFRICA; showing the contradiction that this trade bears both to laws divine and provincial; the disadvantages arising from it and advantages from abolishing it, both to Europe and Africa, particularly to Britain and her Plantations; also showing how to put this trade to Africa, on a just and lawful footing.
By JAMES SWAN,
A friend to the welfare of the Continent. It will be printed in a genteel manner, and contain about eighty pages in large octavo: The price to subscribers will be one pistareen each book, those who subscribe for six shall have a seventh gratis.
SUBSCRIPTIONS, are taken in by ISAIAH THOMAS, near the Mill Bridge.
BOSTON: Printed by ISAIAH THOMAS,
At the South Corner of MARSHAL'S LANE, leading from the MILL-BRIDGE into UNION-STREET. Where all Persons may be supplied with this Paper at Six Shilings and Eight Pence, Lawful Money, per Annum; 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, Watch-maker in Salem; Mr. B. Emmon, Bookseller, in Newbury-Port; and Mr. M. Belcher, in Bridgewater.