The Massachusetts spy (Boston [Mass.]), 1771-01-07 00:00:00

The Massachusetts Spy.
VOL. I.]
From THURSDAY, January 3, to MONDAY, January 7, 1771.
[N o . 58.]
From the Town and Country Magazine, Sept. 1770.
The GHOST of a TETE-A-TETE; Or, a DIALOGUE in the SHADES between the Duchess of MARLBOROUGH and Lord LIGONIER.
Duchess. WELCOME, my Lord, to these immortal territories. What news in the other world?
Lord Ligonier. Your Grace asks me a question, the reply to which would take up as long as your absence from earth, were I to relate all the extraordinary events that have occurred since that period.
Duchess. No, my Lord, I would not impose so very arduous a task upon you. I only want to know the present state of gallantry; and who are the reigning toasts that give laws to the vices and follies of mankind.
Lord Ligonier. A Pompadour and a Yarmouth are now no more; but though the Grand Monarque, in the vale of years, cannot subdue his amorous passions, and has supplied his mistress's place with Madam Barry; our virtuous Sovereign, in the vigour of youth, stands unaccused of the slightest deviation from the path of conjugal virtue.
Duchess. But is this example of the Monarch followed by his Courtiers?
Lord Ligonier. Very far from it; they act in direct opposition; for there is scarce a man in place, or a courtier, who not only publickly supports one, but two, three and four mistresses: they seem to glory in vice, and appear competitors for fame in infamy.
Duchess. What have they even thrown aside the mask of decency? In my time, though the complexion of the Court was as amorous as it ever had been known, the appearance of virtue was thought necessary to support the reputation of the men, and the honours of the Ladies.
Lord Ligonier. But now, Madam, the Ladies conceal no other complexion than that of their faces; the disposition of their hearts, and their conjugal infidelities, are as notorious as the rouge and blanc upon their cheeks, which they glory in wearing; and a woman of fashion without a Chichesters , would now be proscribed in all polite company, as much as formerly a Lady who had publickly deviated from the track of female honour. Nay, they have gone so far as to form a society for the support of their rights and privileges, in which they propose giving laws to their husbands, that these may not infringe upon their legal prerogatives of commuting them with elegance. A FEMALE COTERIE , Madam, is actually instituted for this laudable purpose.
Duchess. Indeed! And pray who are the worthy members?
Lord Ligonier. Almost every woman who lays claim to a coronet; and every Lady of spirit upon the bon-ton .
Duchess. If this be the case, chastity will absolutely be abolished, and adultery publickly substituted in its stead.
Lord Ligonier. Adultery formerly, Madam, was among the catalogue of vices; but now it is a necessary qualification for a woman to obtain a better match, after she is divorced from her first husband, who does not pretend to accuse her of any infidelities on the score of jealousy, delicacy, or honour; but merely that they may be legally separated, and afterwards wed, he the woman, and she the man, more to their minds; and it is generally believed the Female Coterie , by their judicious regulations, will greatly accelerate the progress of second weddings, during the lives of both husband and wife.
Duchess. And how is this countenanced at court?
Lord Ligonier. The K--- indeed shews it every mark of disapprobation; but his brothers are as strenuous in support of it.
Duchess. Amazing!
Lord Ligonier. The Duke of G----- has long had a public connexion with Lady W-----, whose friends give out that they are married; but this wedding has never been publickly announced; and the Duke of C-----d, after a variety of mistresses (some of whom he has afterwards placed in the more useful station of procuresses) has lately made a great noise in the world, by his intrigue with Lady Grosvenor. Unluckily the letters that passed between them, and which have been published, were replete with errors in orthography, which has turned the laugh against them; otherwise the affair would have went off greatly to both their honours.
Duchess. And pray, my Lord, how do the husbands and wives behave when they meet in company after their divorces?
Lord Ligonier. With the same politeness and civility as if nothing had happened; the first and second wife converse together as familiarly ALIVE above , as they did formerly when DEAD here below ; and the two husbands, who have changed hands, instead of cutting one another's throats, as was formerly the barbarous custom, take a pinch of snuff together, and laugh at the intrigue of the day.
Duchess. Wonderful!
Lord Ligonier. Oh! Madam, every thing is so polished, Frenchified, and Italianized since your time, that if you were now to take a walk up stairs, when at St. James's, you would think yourself at Versailles or Naples. English hospitality, sincerity, beauty, virtue, and honour, are, indeed kicked out of doors; but then you have every foreign vice, and every exotic ridiculous fashion, plentifully introduced to supply their places.

From the LONDON CHRONICLE.
A CORDIAL for the CREDITORS of PUBLIC FUNDS.
THERE are, to what purpose I know not, certain people attempting to persuade the public that we are upon the eve of a war at a time when there is not existing a nation, we are acquainted with, that has either power or disposition to quarrel with us, or the minutest cause of dispute at present in question. Whether this nonsense about war be merely to fill up the papers, fall the stocks propagate Monopoly, alarm the people, terrify the Ministry, or what not, it is certainly very idle, if not wicked: But as weak, or inexperienced persons are apt to credit they know not what, or why, I have taken some pains to collect the following certain facts, which, if but half as well attended to as the ridiculous publications about war, will circumscribe the meanest apprehensions within the circle of truth and common sense, and in consequence preserve them from being the Dupes of Party, Brokers, Monopolists, &c. and unless the writers of groundless paragraphs are able to make out, that France and Spain have expended since the Peace, Two hundred twenty-two millions of French livres , and have thereby put their navy; and the restored conquests, &c. into the same condition they were before the war commenced, and that the finances of France are not in the most shattered condition, the Proprietors of the Public Funds may sleep in profound security.
A short VIEW of the Administration of Secretary  MDCCLVII.
THE Hanoverians and Hessians were sent home, and a well regulated militia soon established, whereby the French quickly saw and felt we were so far from wanting foreign troops to protect us, that we not only could but did send our own troops abroad; with which we worsted them in the four quarters of the globe, and took their most valuable possessions, invaded her supposed invulnerable kingdom, and stung her to death by taking the important island of Belleisle; thus exposing their weakness, their fanfaronading, to the ridicule of all Europe.
MDCCLVIII.
Shipping destroyed at St. Malo. Bason and shipping destroyed at Cherburg. Empden recovered from the French. Senegal taken. Louisbourg, and isles of Cape Breton and St. John's taken. Fort Frontenac taken. Fort Du Quesne taken. Fort and island of Goree taken.
MDCCLIX.
Guadaloupe, Maria Galante, &c. taken. Siege of Madras raised. Niagara taken. Shipping destroyed at Havre. La Clue's fleet taken and destroyed by Boscawen. Ticoderaga taken. Crown-Point taken. Quebec taken. Compleat drubbing of the French fleet in Quiberen Bay, by Hawke.
MDCCLX.
Thurot killed and his three frigates taken, by Elliot. Montreal taken. Frigates, stages, and stores destroyed, in Chaleur Bay, by Byron.
MDCCLXI.
Pondicherry taken. Belleisle taken.
MDCCLXII.
Martinico taken. Havannah taken. Manilla taken; after Mr. Pitt's resignation, but upon his plan.
FRENCH and SPANISH Ships taken or destroyed during the course of the last War.
FRENCH. Forty-four of the line, viz. Four of 84; eleven of 74; two of 70; seventeen of 64; two of 60; two of 56; one of 54; and five of 50. Sixty-one frigates, viz. Four of 44; two of 40; eighteen of 36; two of 34; fifteen of 32; one of 30; one of 28; two of 26; eight of 24; two of 22; and six of 20. Twenty-six sloops of war, viz. One of 18; nine of 16; six of 14; two of 12; one of 10; and seven of 8.
SPANISH. Fourteen of the line, viz. Six of 70; three of 64; and five of 60. Five frigates, viz. One of 26; two of 24; and two of 22.
Total, fifty-eight of the line, and ninety-two frigates and sloops of war.
6182 guns, 800 l. per gun, 4,945,600 l. at 2210 livres per Lst. is 111,276,000 French livres. Repair of the Havannah, Manilla, Martinico, Guadaloupe, Goree, Belleisle, Cheburg, St. Malo, &c. as much more, viz. 111,276,000. Total French livres 222,552,000.
As FALKLAND's-Island seems at present to engross the attention of the Public, a small description of it no doubt will be agreeable to the generality of our Readers, as the driving the English from thence seems likely to be productive of a rupture between Great-Britain and Spain.
From Guthrie's New Geographical, Historical and Commercial Grammer.
LEAVING the Bahama and West-India islands, we shall proceed along the south-east coast of America as far as the 52d degree of south latitude, where the reader, by looking into the map, will perceive the Falkland Islands, situated near the Straits of Magellan, at the utmost extremity of South-America. It has been generally believed, that the richest gold mines in Chili are carefully concealed by the Indians, as well knowing that the discovery of them would only excite in the Spaniards a greater thirst for conquest and tyranny, and would render their own independance more precarious. King Charles II. of England, considered the discovery of this coast of such consequence, that Sir John Narborough was purposely fitted out to survey the Straits of Magellan, the neighbouring coast of Patagonia, and the Spanish ports in that frontier, with directions, if possible, to procure some intercourse with the Chilian Indians, who are generally at war, or at least on ill terms with the Spaniards, and to establish a commerce and a lasting correspondence with them. Though Sir John, through accidental causes, failed in this attempt, which, in appearance, promised so many advantages to this nation, his transactions upon the coast, besides the many valuable improvements he furnished to geography and navigation, are rather an encouragement for further trials of this kind, than any objection against them.
“ As therefore it appears (says the author of Anson's

Voyage) that all our future expeditions to the South Seas must run a considerable risk of proving abortive, whilst, in our passage thither, we are under the necessity of touching at the Portuguese settlement of Brazil, (for they may certainly depend on having their strength, and designs, betrayed to the Spaniards) the discovery of some place more to the southward, where the ships might refresh, and supply themselves with the necessary sea-stock for their voyage round Cape-Horn, would be an expedient that would relieve us from these embarrassments, and would surely be a matter worthy the attention of the public. Nor does this seem difficult to be effected; for we have already the imperfect knowledge of two places, which might, perhaps, on examination, prove extremely convenient for this purpose: One of them is Pepy's Island, in the latitude of 47 south, and laid down by Dr. Halley about 80 leagues to the eastward of Cape Blanco, on the coast of Patagonia; the other is Falkland's Isles, in the latitude of 51 and a half, lying nearly South of Pepy's Island. The last of these have been seen by many ships, both French and English. Woodes Rogers, who run along the north-east coast of these isles in the year 1708, tells us, that they extended about two degrees in length, and appeared with gentle descents from hill to hill, and seemed to be good ground interspersed with woods, and not destitute of harbours. Either of these places, as they are islands at a considerable distance from the Continent, may be supposed, from their latitude, to lie in a climate sufficiently temperate. This, even in time of peace, might be of great consequence to this nation, and, in time of war, would make masters of those seas."
It would appear, from the secret expeditions lately made to the South Seas, besides this new settlement on Falkland islands, (since that gentleman wrote) the Government have another in view round Cape-Horn, which indeed is equally necessary for a place of general rendezvous, to refit and refresh after effecting that dreadful navigation, and where, when accomplished, our ships, in time of war, approach a hostile coast, the only good ports in those seas being possessed by the Spaniards.
By our having the possession of one good harbour here, and keeping the royal navy on a respectable footing, we shall have nothing to fear from all the united force of France, Spain and Portugal. Whoever turns his eye to the map of America, and observes the number of our settlements, and their situation, in respect to the possessions of those powers in this quarter, will see the impossibility of their trade escaping the vigilance of our cruisers, pouring out from every corner of this immense country. Add to this, that having hitherto attempted their colonies with success what may we not expect in a future war, from such additional strength, so many convenient harbours to refit, or to supply our fleets and armies.
AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.
NEW-YORK, December 31.
E DMUND BURKE, Esq; is appointed Agent for this province, in the room of Robert Charles Esq; deceased.
Extract of a Letter from Boston, dated Dec. 24.
"The Trial of the eight Soldiers belonging to his Majesty's 29th regiment, for the murder of five of the inhabitants of this town, on the 5th of March last, are now printing here, by permission of the court, and will soon make their appearance in your metropolis."
NEWPORT, [ Rhode-Island ] December 31. Last Friday morning, about five o'clock, a terrible fire broke out in a row of buildings on the south side of Queen-street in this town; which burnt with such fury, that, notwithstanding the utmost vigilance and endeavours of the inhabitants, it entirely destroyed three considerable dwelling-houses by sun-rise.---His Majesty's Custom-house, adjoining the westernmost of those burnt, actually took fire, and was so far given over, that all the books, papers, furniture, &c. were removed to other houses, and the windows and doors taken out in good order, and the house must unavoidably have been consumed, had it not been for the extraordinary activity of the people in working the engines, &c. favoured by weather remarkably mild and calm for the season, by which the fire was prevented doing it any considerable damage. The unhappy sufferers, by this melancholy providence, were, Mr. Joseph Fox, Mr. John Dennis, Mr. Solomon Marache, Mr. Eleazar Levi, Mrs. Fry, and Mrs. Sinkins, with their families, amounting to thirty-five persons. Through mercy they were no lives lost, though it was with difficulty Mrs. Fry was carried out of her chamber just before the stairs were burnt down.
M O N D A Y, January 7.
B O S T O N.
Capt. Hall in the brigantine Paoli, sailed for London last Wednesday, with whom went passengers Duncan Stuart Esq; Collector of his Majesty's Customs for the port of New-London, Mr. Joseph Palmer of Germantown, Mr. William Palfrey, and Mr. James Bowdoin, jun.
Capt. Chambers in a brig from Cape Nicola-Mole, coming into the harbour ran on George's Island: The vessel and cargo will be saved. The Captain and men were considerably frost-bitten in the cold weather on this coast; about fifteen days ago the cooper Mr. Josiah Pul-len of this town, was washed over board.
DIED.] Miss Martha Parker, daughter of Mr. Thomas Parker, bricklayer.---Mr. Thomas Peck, son of Mr. Thomas-Handasyde Peck, hatter.---Mr. Nicholas Deering, house-wright.---Mr. George Daniels.
E BENEZER BRIDGHAM, at his Staffordshire and Liverpool Warehouse, (the store lately improved by Mr. Thomas Lee, in King-street) has just received a Large and Elegant Assortment of CHINA, GLASS and EARTHEN WARE, consisting of almost every article of those manufactured, which he will sell very low for cash only.
A YOUNG Child to be put out to nurse. Enquire at the New Printing-Office, in Union-street, near the Market.

T O be sold, a NEGRO about twenty-two years of age, who has had the small-pox, and is a Workman at the SHOE-MAKER'S Business. Enquire at the New Printing-Office, in Union-street, near the Market, of ISAIAH THOMAS.
Boston, January 7, 1771.
T HIS is to forewarn all persons from trusting Sarah the wife of me the subscriber, on my account, as we have agreed to live separate.
Boston, Jan. 3, 1771. LAMBERT BRUMET.
New Printing-Office, December 7th, 1770.
"It is not in mortals to command SUCCESS,
"But we'll do more-----We'll deserve it." CATO.
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