The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal (Boston [Mass.]), 1774-05-12 00:00:00

Dec. 4, 1907
THE Massachusetts Spy
Or, Thomas's Boston Journal.
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. IV.]
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1774.
[NUMB. 171.]
SAMUEL ELIOT
Informes the PUBLIC, That he has imported in the ships just arrived from LONDON, A General Assortment of English and India GOODS, a Variety of Irish LINENS. Cutlery and Hard WARE, Pistol POWDER, &c. 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.
JOSHUA GARDNER
HAS just imported from LONDON, by Capt. CALEF, A FRESH Assortment of Spring GOODS, which he is determined to sell at the very lowest Rates for ready Money, at his Shop in Cornhill, just above the Post-Office, Boston.
SPERMACETI CANDLES,
A quantity of Spermaceti Candles, of a Superior quality to be sold remarkably cheap by JOHN BEANE. Enquire at William Phillips, Esquire and Son's Store, OLIVER'S-DOCK.
Just Imported and to be Sold by
JOHN and THOMAS OSBORN, At the Painters Arms in Back-street, Leading to Charlestown-Ferry, PAINTERS oil and colours, of all sorts, by wholesale and retail, as cheap as at any place in Boston. N. B. Coach, Chaise, House and Ship Painting, &c. done with fidelity and dispatch.
Wethersburgh, March 29, 1774.
RAN away from the Subscriber on Sunday last, an apprentice lad named JOHN WRIGHT , about twenty years of age, dark complexion, short black hair, about five feet six inches in height, thick and well set. Carried off with him two suits of cloaths the coat and jacket of one suit of a reddish colour, the other a blue coat and striped cotton jacket, two pair of yellow leather breeches, one sheep and the other buck skin, two striped tow shirts and three cotton and linen ditto; one new beaver hat, and other much more, three pair of shoes, one pair of which were new, five or six pair of stock- ings; one pair of white and another pair of short trow- sers.—Said Wright is by trade a Blacksmith.
Whoever will take up said apprentice and secure him, so that I may have him again, or bring him to me, shall have FOUR DOLLARS reward, and all necessary charges paid by JAMES GODFREY.
N. B. All masters of vessels and others are hereby cau- tioned against harbouring concealing, or carrying off said apprentice, as they would avoid the penalty of the law.
A WOMAN, that can be well recommend-
ed, with a young breast of milk, would be glad to go into any gentleman's family to suckle. Enquire of the Printer.
GARDEN SEEDS.
Imported in Captain GORHAM from LONDON, And to be SOLD by LYDIA DYAR, At her Shop near the North Battery, Boston, EARLY charlton, early hotspur, golden hotspur, large marrowfat, dwarf marrow, blue marrow and Spanish morotto Peas, large Windsor, large Toker, early Libbon, early Hotspur, early yellow Dwarf, early speckled ditto, and early white Beans with black eyes, early York- shire, early Dutch, Sugar Loaf, Battersea, large winter, green and yellow Savoy, early and late Cauliflower Seeds, best Cabbage Lettuce, white Goff, green Goff, marble and brown Dutch Lettuce Seeds, best double Pepper Grass, round Spinage, short top and Salmon Radish, scarlet Radish, double Parsley, white Spanish, silver-skin and red Onion Seeds, long green prickly and early Cucumber Seeds, sweet Majoram, Thyme, Baum, Sage, early Dutch, and late Turnip Seeds, large swelling Parsnip, red Beets, Orange, golden coloured, early yellow and purple Carrot Seeds, red Clover, Herds Grass, and Canary Seeds, winter and sum- mer Squash, long French Turnip, Hysof, and a variety of Flower Seeds, warranted to be new and good. (4 m.)
GARDEN SEEDS
Just IMPORTED in Capt. HOOD, From LONDON, And to be SOLD by ANNA JOHNSON, At the head of BLACK-HORSE LANE, A Large Assortment of Garden Seeds, Pease, Beans, &c. Among which are,
EARLY charlton, early golden hot- spur, Omand hotspur, Spanish morotto, white round- caval, dwarf marrowfat and bush pease, large Windsor, true early Libbon, early yellow six weeks white kidney and fine toker beans, early Yorkshire, Dutch sugar loaf, battersea, favoy, red and broccoli cabbage seed, cauliflower, cucumber, onion, carrot, turnip, radish and lettuce of all sorts, round spinage, endive, colley and asparagus, thyme, baum, sweet majoram, broad clover, white Dutch clover, la lucerne, rape, canary, and an assortment of flower seeds and herds grass seed. Also, a variety of other seeds not mentioned; all which were imported from the Seeds Men in London, and are warranted to be fresh and good and of the last year's produce.
For LONDON, The Ship LONDON , ROBERT CALEF, Master, Now lying at the Long Wharf, Will sail with all Expedition. For Freight or Passage apply to PETER HUGHES, at his Store in King-Street, Where there is to be Sold, English, Russia and Ravens DUCK, Pickles in Hamps and Cakes, Cheshire Cheese, Loaf Sugar, Chip Hats. Boston, April 30, 1774.
For LONDON, The Brig LEOPARD , BENJAMIN GORHAM, Master, Laying at HANCOCK'S Wharf, Has very genteel Accommodations, And will sail with all possible Dispatch, three Parts of her Cargo being already engaged.—For Freight or Passage apply to JONATHAN WILLIAMS, jun, in Ann-Street. ** As said WILLIAMS proposes to embark in the above Vessel, he earnestly requests those Gentlemen who are indebted to him, to make immediate Payment.
For SALE, A SCHOONER, Burthen 80 Tons, High Deck, a prime Sailor, and well found. She will be Sold on reasonable Terms. Enquire of the Printer.
WANTED, To Charter immediately, A SLOOP OR SCHOONER, From 90 to 120 Tons Burthen. Enquire of the Printer. Boston, April 20, 1774.
FIFTY DOLLARS Reward.
LAST Night the Dwelling House of the Subscriber was broke open, and from thence were taken the following articles, viz. one pair of silver chasing dishes; one pair of butter cups; one silver can; two large soup spoons; one pepper box; six large table spoons; six tea ditto and a strainer, marked E. D. maker's name D. Henchman, all excepted the spoons, which have a hand for a crest; a silver tea pot; one ditto sugar dish; a boat for tea spoons; one pair of tea tongs; five tea spoons and a cream cup; two porringer and two salt-cellars, all marked E. S. one silver tankard without a lid, marked S. D. I. S. one silver can marked I. E. an old fashioned pep- per box, marked A. E. six large table spoons, marked E. S. one silver salver, no mark upon it, the foot resembling the mouth of a tunnel; silver tankard marked A. B. one silver Porringer without any mark; three table spoons marked A. B. one old spoon marked I. S. four tea spoons no Mark; one pair tea tongs; maker's name of these not D. Henchman; I Hurd, some of them, and some B. W. with other small articles.
Whoever will take up the thief or thieves, so as he or they may be brought to justice, and the plate recovered, shall be paid the above reward, and a reasonable reward for any part of the plate, in proportion to its value, per me. Fairfield, Connecticut. THADDEUS BURN. March 15, 1774.
N. B. If any of the above plate should be discovered in Boston, please to give notice to John Hancock, Esq; and an adequate reward shall be given.
The PUBLIC Are hereby informed, that JOHN JOY Has received from LONDON, A large and compleat Assort- ment of Drugs and Medicines, Of the best Quality. A L S O, Surgeons Instruments, of every Kind, finished in the neatest Manner; with a full Assortment of Groceries and Dye Stuffs, which, as they were purchased by himself with the Cash, he will sell on very reasonable Terms, at his Shop, the North-Cor- ner of William's Court, Boston.
** Practitioners and others may be supplied with large or small Quantities, by Let- ter or otherwise, as well as though they were present. ** Medicine Boxes of va- rious Prices, for Ships or private Families, are put up in the neatest Manner.
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
Mr. THOMAS, As this metropolis is threatened with an additional number of British troops, it behooves every one, especially the fair sex, to be upon their guard, against the crafty wiles, as well as violent attacks, of all enemies to virtue and mor- ality—therefore your inserting the following in your valuable paper, will much oblige your affectionate friend, A MORALIST.
Oh! When will the Locust leave the land? CHURCH.
The price of a virtuous woman is above rubies. SOLOMON. THAT political and private happiness are invariably connected with religion and virtue, is a self evident proposition. As morals decline, so will the health, courage, and public spirit of a people decline also; above all, the fa- vour of God, without which nothing can exist, much less prosper; will only accompany such as love and obey him; those whom God delights in must be happy, those whom he detests must be miserable. That the morals of this people, since the fleets and armies, of George the Third, have been crowded in upon us, are very much corrupted, is alas! but too visible; let us trace the causes of this cor- ruption, in order that the remedies may be pointed out — Perhaps, the most fruitful source of depravity in this land, is the scandalous prostitution to be seen in almost every place, that has been so unhappy, as to have foldiers contained in it; an evil that causes and multiplies every species of wickedness. Pleasures of this kind, if they deserve the name, are commonly supported by fraud and rapine, and every act of injustice; loss of health, disease, distress in families are the usual consequences. The grand instruments of this iniquity, are the first seducers; for the unhappy wretches, when seduced, are compelled in a manner, to continue that bad course of life, from an impossibility almost of subsisting in any other — A high-wayman is a faint, compared to that man, that villain, who first ruined an innocent creature, and then turns her loose like a wild beast, on the public — He has not only endangered to the highest degree, the temporary and eternal welfare of the unhappy creature, but has likewise extended and promoted the interest of sin, by laying a snare for the de- struction of many others — The first seducer, is justly charge- able, with all the complication of wickedness, that the scan- dalous female commits herself; and likewise with all the sin which she may be the alluring occasion, and instrument of in others. Oh! that it may never (with the least colour of truth) be told in Gath, or published in the streets of As- kelon that any of the amiable daughters in America have ever suffered themselves to be seduced by the cursed intrigues and artful insinuations of the sons of Belial — And now Sir, to prevent as far as possible this great source of perdition, I would propose that human laws should be enacted agreeable to the law enacted by Divine authority among the Jews, namely, If a man entice a maid that is not betrothed and be with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife, If her father utterly refused to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins, Exod. xxi. 16, 17. A man who seduces a virgin ought either to mar- ry or portion her; this law is actually put in execution in some countries — If the man be already married and likewise too poor to portion her, he should be punished in the severest manner — This last case would not very often happen, for it is well known that gentlemen most commonly are the first seducers — What can be more just, than that those who deprive others of the means of subsisting should be compelled to support them — We really Mr. Printer want suitable laws to preserve to women those means of subsistence which become their sex. If a young woman has a genteel educa- tion and a small fortune, she stands upon the brink of des- truction; and even if she is desirous, she scarcely knows what business to put herself to in order to be out of the way of temptation; for excepting two or three trades which women still retain; we have after the French fashion, men mantua-makers, men milliners, men stay-makers, men shoemakers for womens shoes, men hair cutters for womens hair, &c. and very likely in time, we shall have sempstresses, laundresses and clear starchers of the same sex. Till our land is free from foldiers and prostitutes we shall never have morals; and without morals, we never can have happiness.
To the EARL of DARTMOUTH.
Laugh and be Fat.
MY LORD, YOU have every qualification for an able secretary of state but COMMON SENSE, the want of which appears very conspicuous in a recent part of your conduct: I mean, my Lord, your laying the American papers before the HOUSE OF LORDS. Pray, Mr. Secretary of State, what have your peers to do with those papers before the COMMONS have seen them, and come to a resolution about them? All the papers about America should have been delivered by you to Lord North, and by his Lordship to the Commons; and when the people's share in the legislature had done with them, the matter would have come, in the due course of business and of legislation, before the Lords. A HEAD with BRAINS.
FRIDAY, March 6.
BOSTON.
Since the arrival of the last ships from Lon- don, it has been confidently reported that part of the contents of one of the letters written by our great man to his superiors in England, the last winter, is nearly if not precisely in the following words, "There is an absolute ne- cessity of 5 or 6 regiments here; for, let the faction now say what they will, this Province is in a state of rebellion; my daughter was obliged to fly with her infant in her arms." This corresponds with what the ministerial writers in the Whitehall evening post expressly says "is Governor Hutchinson's settled opin- ion," as appears by his letters read before the house of commons, viz. "That no effort in
the colonies by any body of men, civil or mi- litary, can remove the evils that now reign among them." Mr. Hutchinson, in his print- ed letters, private and confidential, seems to have principally aimed at an alteration of our charter; if then an alteration should be at- tempted, we know already to whose account to place it. "There must be an abridge- ment of what are called English liberties." "I with the good of the colony, when I wish to see a further restraint of liberty." This was his language. And in his letter which was laid before parliament, we are told that he added, "Parliament and parlia- ment only can restore that country (America) to peace," &c. And we are further told, "that his letters for these six years past have uniform- ly calculated and held forth the same doctrine." But though the destruction of the free part of our constitution might be the principal inten- tion, yet a military force might be strenuously follicited, as a necessary means of effecting it.
At a general council last Wednesday the Governor was pleased to nominate William Brown, Esq; to be a justice of the superior court in the room of Nathaniel Ropes, Esq; deceased; but there being but seven coun- sellors present, they declined to act on a matter in which the lives, liberties and properties of the people were so deeply interested, and it was put off till after the next election of coun- sellors.
There is no appointment in this govern- ment, especially under the present situation of our public affairs, of greater importance than that of a judge. It is the reasonable expecta- tions of this people, that men who are thor- ough judges, and have had so much honour to be made the instrument in araying on the measures of a corrupt court, should be pro- moted to the bench of justice; and it is uni- versally known that there are such men to be found. This depends upon the circumspecti- on of the representatives that are now to be chosen by the people; for let it be remem- bered that if only eight out of the twenty-eight counsellors to be elected are such as the Go- vernor can manage, it will be in his power by exercising his prerogative of negating (and possibly this may be his intentions of making those eight a majority of a legal council,) and consequently of appointing such judges as he shall be pleased to nominate.
Yesterday arrived here his Majesty's Ship Mercury from London.
SATURDAY, March 7.
BOSTON.
We hear that Admiral Montagu has been pleased to grant a pardon to a boatswain of his Majesty's ship Tamar, who was under sentence of death for mutiny.
On Friday last the ancient and honourable artillery company made choice of the Rev. Mr. John Lathrop, of this town, to preach a sermon to them at their anniversary election of officers the first Monday in June next, in the room of the Rev. Mr. Hunt who had excused himself.
We hear from Norwich, that about a fort- night ago the bone of an alewife was extracted by doctor Turner from the throat of Mr. Eben- ezer Lord, of that town. The bone is about the size of a brown thread needle, barb'd from end to end, and has been lodged in Mr. Lord's throat 25 years, and at various times had given him great pain: Considering the variety of movements to which that part of the human body is subject, it is surprising that it could be retained there so long.
Last Friday fe'night Daniel Willson was executed at Providence for a rape, pursuant to his sentence.
A whaling sloop arrived at New-York, who had made a good voyage, on the 5th of Febru- ary, in latitude 4, longitude 7 spoke with the Captains Rich and Sweet belonging to Boston. who had got 120 barrels each on board; and were all well.
Yesterday afternoon arrived here the Mercury frigate, in 8 weeks from England.
Extract of a letter from Golport, March 14. "Yesterday an express arrived at the com- missioners for the Royal Oak, Worcester and Egmont, to repair with all expedition for Bos- ton; and the Preston, Admiral Greaves, to re- pair with the above.—This morning the Royal Oak and Worcester bent their sails, and will sail the first fair wind.

WEDNESDAY, May 11. BOSTON.
By the several Vessels which arrived this day from London, we have the following Most Extraordinary INTELLIGENCE, viz. [The Act of Parliament for BLOCKING UP the Port and Harbour of BOSTON, Gov. Johnston Speech, in favour of America, &c. are in the POSTSCRIPT to this day's Paper.]
From the LONDON GAZETTE.
WHITBAIL, April 2.
THOMAS HUTCHINSON, Esq; Governor of the province of Massachusetts Bay, in North-America, having humbly requested his Majesty's leave to come to England, the King has been graciously pleased to comply therewith, and to appoint THOMAS GAGE, Esq; Lieutenant General of his Majesty's forces, to be Captain General and Governor in chief of the said province, and Vice-Admiral of the same, during his Majesty's pleasure.
LONDON.
March 19. The name of the place where the Custom-house of Boston is to be removed, is Cajque-Bay ; about 40 miles from the capital; a fine spacious open harbour, and though not so naturally defensible against an enemy, is said to be much better calculated for trade, on account of being free from those small islands, and little rocks, which narrow the mouth of the former.
A noted minority member went to see the pulse of a great Lord in the country, and at dinner lamented his Lordship's absence at so critical a crisis; to whom my Lord said, "What a reasonable people you patriots be! Here I conquered America for England, and now you want me to conquer England for America; not I by G---. I put the colonists in the way of doing it seven years ago, that is enough; besides, rounds, my legs, this curled goat hinders me from taking any adequate steps in the matter."
March 21. The remains of opposition seem to have lost all principle. The colonies are in open revolt; but that gives them infinite satisfaction. They have long fixed their hungry eyes on the treasury to no purpose. In the present crisis, they think they have some chance of partaking the sweets of office, by opposing the good of their country, and the punishment of the Boston mutineers. They imagine they will perplex the Ministers, and perhaps overlet him in their factious storm; but they will only expose themselves to the disgrace and detestation of every true patriot; for the question is reduced to this, whether the colonies shall give laws to England, or England to the colonies?
It is in character for the Jesuit of St. Omers, the flowery Edmund, to stand forth the avowed advocate of rebellion, and blame the present Ministry for the gross blunders of his favourite feeble administration. It was the ministry of 1766 that gave the fatal stab to the authority of Britain in the colonies, by the repeal of the stamp act. But they are out of office, and the colony Agent, which gives him a right to deny indisputable facts, and to support glaring falsehoods.
There is a peculiar good nature inherent in the nature of the people of England, which renders them dupes to every artful adventurer, from the celebrated Mr. Moleworth, the lottery-ticket conjuror, to the great Dr. Franklin, the American Jew. As to the former, I imagine that bare necessity is his motive, and therefore I am almost tempted to wish him success. But the doctor has no claim to our pity, he is in affluence. He tells us America should not be taxed; and not only writes in the public prints here against it, but spirits up the Americans, by his letters, for the space of years to throw off their allegiance. If the doctor promulgated this dangerous and rebellious doctrine from his own positive infernal belief of his rectitude, every humane and thinking man would agree that he should rather be immured in Moorfields as a madman, than committed to Newgate as a traitor. But what opinion must we be obliged to form of this man's common sense and principles when we are told, that he himself was the first man who devised American taxation, put it in execution, and enjoyed the emoluments arising from it for a great many years, even 'till within this month, when he was justly dismissed; and yet, during all this time he was writing against it both here and also to the Americans, rousing them to rebellion because they were taxed. No excuse can be made for him if American taxes, in his opinion, were unjust, why did he not voluntarily resign his post-mastership? Why did he grasp the profits of oppression, yet exclaim against the oppression? Why did he keep a lucrative place under government, whilst he undermined its authority in the colonies? Why did he eat of his master's bread and betray him. But to have done for ever with the doctor. It is a mortifying reflection that integrity does not always accompany abilities, and that honesty and wisdom do not always guide old age and experience.
A correspondent says, that Lord Grenville has been now alive, his triumph would have been equally in the extreme mortification of those who had been so old England, the able Marquis and the rest of them, whose dastardly and most shameful repeal of the Stamp Act, not only the mother country, but even the Americans themselves, will be bound with their poverty to execute for ever.
The confidence of FABRUS, in the morning paper of Wednesday, proves him a real Bostonian. His countrymen, he says, owe the merchants here six millions, and if Government does not allow them to smuggle as they please, to abuse us as they please, and turn every real friend of England out of their district—why then they won't pay their debt. This old FABRUS is lacing enough, meaning old FRANKLIN: you may send your navy (says he) and block up our ports; you may take our vessels as they come out, even for a whole year together; but all that we raise and export yearly won't pay you a third of our debt. Next year we will keep our produce in our warehouses; then your West-India islands will starve, and we shall owe you four millions, which we never will pay. These, though imprudent, are really the conjectures and threats of this silly old Woman. If our navy should only block up the port of Boston, that town would be starved in a fortnight for want of fire-wood, which is brought in coasting vessels from the eastern country; another fortnight would see every tradesman in Boston idle; for who would pay a carpenter for building or finishing a vessel that would not be permitted to go to sea? or who would buy cloaks or furniture, or any superfluity, when a total stop was put to trade. This living emblem of iniquity in gray hairs thinks because he is agent for four colonies, that he leads the whole continent by the nose, but he is greatly mistaken; it is true, they will listen to his seditious advice, but even his own employers, many of them, detest him, for they know his designs—designs which, in a few fleeting years, will be buried with him in the grave. In the small space of the two fortnights mentioned, it is to be supposed that the rational part of the community would not interfere & when they saw England roused, and felt it too; when they saw their tradesmen idle, and their whole trade stagnated; even the fiery fomenters of the disputes, the smugglers, would be the most forward to advise submission, for where was their illicit trade? It is their plan to keep up an eternal contest against custom-house officers, but not totally to banish them, because such a victory would ruin them, for all the provinces would have the same licence. What would become of their New-England fishery and their Whale fishery, which is their sole dependance? Their vessels would lie by the wharfs; and the fishermen who were unemployed, and their large families starving, would at least attend to the monstrous froth of being soon independent. Inland flaps they have none, but lumber and about 1000 ton of pot ash; these two would be blown up the sea and years, gating they had out rebellious the 15th year. But by this time, it seems, our West-India islands would be starved; indeed they would not; if one
to pay their stipend to government; and government has lost the opportunity of collecting ANY DUTY on Tea from the people of America. Four ships of war, which were to be fitted immediately for sea, are now countermanded, and only two ships are ordered to the West-Indies, which are not to sail till June. SUMMARY of the PROCEEDINGS in the HOUSE of COMMONS. AT a quarter past three o'clock Lord North came, and the order of the day, for the whole House going into a committee on the Boston Bill, was read. The Speaker immediately left the chair, and the House resolved itself into a committee, Mr. Grey Cowper, Chairman. Lord North spoke for a considerable time in support of the Bill, and the clauses were all agreed to, and the blanks filled up. The committee broke up immediately, and made their report, when the Bill was ordered to be read a second time, and ingrossed. Mr. R. Fuller made a motion, that instead of the Boston Bill a quarter of 20,000l. be insisted on the Bostonians for their demolition of the Tea belonging to the East-India company. This motion occasioned a debate of upwards of four hours, the principal Speakers in which were Lord North, Mr. Jenkinson, Mr. Herbert, General Conway, Mr. Gafcoigne, Mr. Ward, Colonel Barré, and Mr. Montague. On the opposite side, Mr. Byng, Mr. Dempster, Mr. Fuller, Mr. C. Fox, and Mr. Oliver. The House seemed nearly unanimous, that the conduct of the Bostonians had been illegal, and deserved punishment, and that this mode was as mild as could with safety be adopted. The House broke up at eight o'clock and adjourned to this day. The American Bill is ordered to be read a third time this day. This day the American Bill will be carried to the House of Lords for their concurrence. March 25. The supine inactivity of the American merchants is highly censureable. Administration are about to pass a bill which will derive this kingdom of one of our most valuable commercial resources. If the American ports are blockaded, there is an end of American trade; not merely a temporary suspension, but a total ANNIHILATION of all commercial intercourse with the principal settlement in the colonies. What are our merchants about? If deadened to all feelings for their country's welfare, are they lost to every principle of SELF-INTEREST? Can they see with patience, and suffer with passivity, attempts to deprive them of their PROPERTY? Can they behold the Americans DISABLED by administration from paying the sums justly due to England? Can they behold this and not tremble for consequences pregnant with injury to their families? If the Americans are tardy in their payments; if they procrastinate the discharge of the English merchants demands; what is the cause of this procrastination? What but a baneful system of measures pursued by administration to drive the colonists to despair and ruin? Are the Americans dithyramb? NO; but they are impoverished, innumerable, harassed and distressed; their attentions are called off from trade, and busied in suggesting means to defeat the vile purposes of administration to ENSLAVE THEM; their thoughts thus occupied from day to day, their domestic affairs are neglected, and commerce, which should be the first, is the LAST object of their contemplations. The crisis calls for a most vigorous opposition; barely PETITIONING will have no effect on ministers, whose ears are deaf to every prayer an injured people can offer up to heaven: The American merchants should make the minister understand, that however lavish of the public MONEY, he ought not to stop the means of public SUPPLY; for it calls for a punishment more severe than censure, to attempt the plunder of a colony by ILLEGAL TAXATIONS, and, because the inhabitants are virtuous enough to resist such unjust attempts, to frame a bill for the stagnation of commerce, and thus injure the properties of English merchants, whose families will have reason to pray that many multiply CURSES, LIKE GREYHAIR, on the head of the minister who, by the means of the Boston port bill, complicated the destruction of AMERICAN COMMERCE.
The ignorance of the Boston people, and of their mighty House of Representatives, who think themselves co-equal with our Parliament, is as glaring as their presumption. Let any man turn to the votes of that House in the year 1766, when they had passed their resolves of thanks to several Lords and Commoners who voted for the repeal of the Stamp-Act, and he will soon be convinced of this. If they were so ignorant as not to know the names and titles of those they intended to express their gratitude to, and had not even reflection sufficient to consult a Court Calendar for information, it cannot be wondered at that they fell into the gross blunder of thanking some who positively gave their voice against the repeal of that act. The Marquis of Rockingham is in their resolves simply styled CHARLES WATSON ROCKINGHAM; Lord Camden, EARL CAMPDEN; and George Earl of Pomfret, George Duke of Pomfret. But the most absurd mistake of all is their voting their most sincere THANKS to the Earl of Northampton, who OPPOSED the repeal in the House of Peers, and in a private consultation with the then ministry declared, in his own emphatic manner, "that he was against it TO COELO." It is surprising that people who are ignorant of the names and designations of our ministers; who make Marquises, Commoners; Lords, Earls; and Earls, Dukes; should be mistaken as well with regard to their duty as our rights? Or it is strange that a people, who never felt the hand of authority, should suppose themselves above all authority? So far is all this from being extraordinary, that we ought to have expected it long ago; for presumption is ever the companion of ignorance. From extreme respectable authority we are assured, that there is great reason to believe part of the account published in our paper of yesterday, relative to an insurrection of the Bostonians, to be matter of fact. The people it is affirmed, assembled in a tumultuous manner, and after violently seizing Messrs. Hutchinson and Oliver, they led them disgracefully to Liberty Tree, where they endeavoured to extort from them a solemn promise of immediate resignation. This account is rendered the more probable, since a transaction of an exactly similar kind happened when the first attempts were made to carry the Stamp-Act into execution. The people then compelled Mr. Oliver to engage himself by an oath to resign the office with which the Stamp-Act had invested him. Thus much therefore we fancy we may venture to lay before the public, as more than probable article of news; but that Governor Hutchinson's neck has been decorated with any REMEN INSIGNIA of popular resentment, stands in need of confirmation.
Lord Shelburne will shortly be appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Harcourt is to be recalled; and, in case of the death of Lord Holderness, who is now ill, he will succeed to the preceptorship of the Prince of Wales. Colonel Barré will go Secretary to Lord Shelburne; the view of which promotion might probably influence the Colonel to accord to heartily with the ministry in the measures taken against the Bostonians. The intimation in the Colonel's late speech, that "if office came to him it came unlooked for," is to be accounted for upon the supposition of a Secretaryship INEXPETANCY.
March 26. The Palace at Whitbail is undergoing a thorough repair, and several apartments are to be altered for the better convenience of two of the King's children, who are to reside there next winter.
SUMMARY of the PROCEEDINGS in the HOUSE of COMMONS. A motion was made for leave to bring up a petition from William Bolland, Esq; agent from the province of Massachusetts-Bay, in behalf of the said province. This occasioned a smart debate for some time, but on the question being put the house divided. For the petition 40 Against it 170 The order of the day for the third reading of the Boston bill was read which occasioned a very strong debate of four
hours, and the result was, that the House divided, and the order of the day was lost. The Boston Bill is ordered to be read a third time this day. This day the American Bill will be carried to the House of Lords for their concurrence. March 25. The supine inactivity of the American merchants is highly censureable. Administration are about to pass a bill which will derive this kingdom of one of our most valuable commercial resources. If the American ports are blockaded, there is an end of American trade; not merely a temporary suspension, but a total ANNIHILATION of all commercial intercourse with the principal settlement in the colonies. What are our merchants about? If deadened to all feelings for their country's welfare, are they lost to every principle of SELF-INTEREST? Can they see with patience, and suffer with passivity, attempts to deprive them of their PROPERTY? Can they behold the Americans DISABLED by administration from paying the sums justly due to England? Can they behold this and not tremble for consequences pregnant with injury to their families? If the Americans are tardy in their payments; if they procrastinate the discharge of the English merchants demands; what is the cause of this procrastination? What but a baneful system of measures pursued by administration to drive the colonists to despair and ruin? Are the Americans dithyramb? NO; but they are impoverished, innumerable, harassed and distressed; their attentions are called off from trade, and busied in suggesting means to defeat the vile purposes of administration to ENSLAVE THEM; their thoughts thus occupied from day to day, their domestic affairs are neglected, and commerce, which should be the first, is the LAST object of their contemplations. The crisis calls for a most vigorous opposition; barely PETITIONING will have no effect on ministers, whose ears are deaf to every prayer an injured people can offer up to heaven: The American merchants should make the minister understand, that however lavish of the public MONEY, he ought not to stop the means of public SUPPLY; for it calls for a punishment more severe than censure, to attempt the plunder of a colony by ILLEGAL TAXATIONS, and, because the inhabitants are virtuous enough to resist such unjust attempts, to frame a bill for the stagnation of commerce, and thus injure the properties of English merchants, whose families will have reason to pray that many multiply CURSES, LIKE GREYHAIR, on the head of the minister who, by the means of the Boston port bill, complicated the destruction of AMERICAN COMMERCE.
The ignorance of the Boston people, and of their mighty House of Representatives, who think themselves co-equal with our Parliament, is as glaring as their presumption. Let any man turn to the votes of that House in the year 1766, when they had passed their resolves of thanks to several Lords and Commoners who voted for the repeal of the Stamp-Act, and he will soon be convinced of this. If they were so ignorant as not to know the names and titles of those they intended to express their gratitude to, and had not even reflection sufficient to consult a Court Calendar for information, it cannot be wondered at that they fell into the gross blunder of thanking some who positively gave their voice against the repeal of that act. The Marquis of Rockingham is in their resolves simply styled CHARLES WATSON ROCKINGHAM; Lord Camden, EARL CAMPDEN; and George Earl of Pomfret, George Duke of Pomfret. But the most absurd mistake of all is their voting their most sincere THANKS to the Earl of Northampton, who OPPOSED the repeal in the House of Peers, and in a private consultation with the then ministry declared, in his own emphatic manner, "that he was against it TO COELO." It is surprising that people who are ignorant of the names and designations of our ministers; who make Marquises, Commoners; Lords, Earls; and Earls, Dukes; should be mistaken as well with regard to their duty as our rights? Or it is strange that a people, who never felt the hand of authority, should suppose themselves above all authority? So far is all this from being extraordinary, that we ought to have expected it long ago; for presumption is ever the companion of ignorance. From extreme respectable authority we are assured, that there is great reason to believe part of the account published in our paper of yesterday, relative to an insurrection of the Bostonians, to be matter of fact. The people it is affirmed, assembled in a tumultuous manner, and after violently seizing Messrs. Hutchinson and Oliver, they led them disgracefully to Liberty Tree, where they endeavoured to extort from them a solemn promise of immediate resignation. This account is rendered the more probable, since a transaction of an exactly similar kind happened when the first attempts were made to carry the Stamp-Act into execution. The people then compelled Mr. Oliver to engage himself by an oath to resign the office with which the Stamp-Act had invested him. Thus much therefore we fancy we may venture to lay before the public, as more than probable article of news; but that Governor Hutchinson's neck has been decorated with any REMEN INSIGNIA of popular resentment, stands in need of confirmation.
Lord Shelburne will shortly be appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Harcourt is to be recalled; and, in case of the death of Lord Holderness, who is now ill, he will succeed to the preceptorship of the Prince of Wales. Colonel Barré will go Secretary to Lord Shelburne; the view of which promotion might probably influence the Colonel to accord to heartily with the ministry in the measures taken against the Bostonians. The intimation in the Colonel's late speech, that "if office came to him it came unlooked for," is to be accounted for upon the supposition of a Secretaryship INEXPETANCY.
March 26. The Palace at Whitbail is undergoing a thorough repair, and several apartments are to be altered for the better convenience of two of the King's children, who are to reside there next winter.
SUMMARY of the PROCEEDINGS in the HOUSE of COMMONS. A motion was made for leave to bring up a petition from William Bolland, Esq; agent from the province of Massachusetts-Bay, in behalf of the said province. This occasioned a smart debate for some time, but on the question being put the house divided. For the petition 40 Against it 170 The order of the day for the third reading of the Boston bill was read which occasioned a very strong debate of four
hours, and the result was, that the House divided, and the order of the day was lost. The Boston Bill is ordered to be read a third time this day. This day the American Bill will be carried to the House of Lords for their concurrence. March 25. The supine inactivity of the American merchants is highly censureable. Administration are about to pass a bill which will derive this kingdom of one of our most valuable commercial resources. If the American ports are blockaded, there is an end of American trade; not merely a temporary suspension, but a total ANNIHILATION of all commercial intercourse with the principal settlement in the colonies. What are our merchants about? If deadened to all feelings for their country's welfare, are they lost to every principle of SELF-INTEREST? Can they see with patience, and suffer with passivity, attempts to deprive them of their PROPERTY? Can they behold the Americans DISABLED by administration from paying the sums justly due to England? Can they behold this and not tremble for consequences pregnant with injury to their families? If the Americans are tardy in their payments; if they procrastinate the discharge of the English merchants demands; what is the cause of this procrastination? What but a baneful system of measures pursued by administration to drive the colonists to despair and ruin? Are the Americans dithyramb? NO; but they are impoverished, innumerable, harassed and distressed; their attentions are called off from trade, and busied in suggesting means to defeat the vile purposes of administration to ENSLAVE THEM; their thoughts thus occupied from day to day, their domestic affairs are neglected, and commerce, which should be the first, is the LAST object of their contemplations. The crisis calls for a most vigorous opposition; barely PETITIONING will have no effect on ministers, whose ears are deaf to every prayer an injured people can offer up to heaven: The American merchants should make the minister understand, that however lavish of the public MONEY, he ought not to stop the means of public SUPPLY; for it calls for a punishment more severe than censure, to attempt the plunder of a colony by ILLEGAL TAXATIONS, and, because the inhabitants are virtuous enough to resist such unjust attempts, to frame a bill for the stagnation of commerce, and thus injure the properties of English merchants, whose families will have reason to pray that many multiply CURSES, LIKE GREYHAIR, on the head of the minister who, by the means of the Boston port bill, complicated the destruction of AMERICAN COMMERCE.
The ignorance of the Boston people, and of their mighty House of Representatives, who think themselves co-equal with our Parliament, is as glaring as their presumption. Let any man turn to the votes of that House in the year 1766, when they had passed their resolves of thanks to several Lords and Commoners who voted for the repeal of the Stamp-Act, and he will soon be convinced of this. If they were so ignorant as not to know the names and titles of those they intended to express their gratitude to, and had not even reflection sufficient to consult a Court Calendar for information, it cannot be wondered at that they fell into the gross blunder of thanking some who positively gave their voice against the repeal of that act. The Marquis of Rockingham is in their resolves simply styled CHARLES WATSON ROCKINGHAM; Lord Camden, EARL CAMPDEN; and George Earl of Pomfret, George Duke of Pomfret. But the most absurd mistake of all is their voting their most sincere THANKS to the Earl of Northampton, who OPPOSED the repeal in the House of Peers, and in a private consultation with the then ministry declared, in his own emphatic manner, "that he was against it TO COELO." It is surprising that people who are ignorant of the names and designations of our ministers; who make Marquises, Commoners; Lords, Earls; and Earls, Dukes; should be mistaken as well with regard to their duty as our rights? Or it is strange that a people, who never felt the hand of authority, should suppose themselves above all authority? So far is all this from being extraordinary, that we ought to have expected it long ago; for presumption is ever the companion of ignorance. From extreme respectable authority we are assured, that there is great reason to believe part of the account published in our paper of yesterday, relative to an insurrection of the Bostonians, to be matter of fact. The people it is affirmed, assembled in a tumultuous manner, and after violently seizing Messrs. Hutchinson and Oliver, they led them disgracefully to Liberty Tree, where they endeavoured to extort from them a solemn promise of immediate resignation. This account is rendered the more probable, since a transaction of an exactly similar kind happened when the first attempts were made to carry the Stamp-Act into execution. The people then compelled Mr. Oliver to engage himself by an oath to resign the office with which the Stamp-Act had invested him. Thus much therefore we fancy we may venture to lay before the public, as more than probable article of news; but that Governor Hutchinson's neck has been decorated with any REMEN INSIGNIA of popular resentment, stands in need of confirmation.
Lord Shelburne will shortly be appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Harcourt is to be recalled; and, in case of the death of Lord Holderness, who is now ill, he will succeed to the preceptorship of the Prince of Wales. Colonel Barré will go Secretary to Lord Shelburne; the view of which promotion might probably influence the Colonel to accord to heartily with the ministry in the measures taken against the Bostonians. The intimation in the Colonel's late speech, that "if office came to him it came unlooked for," is to be accounted for upon the supposition of a Secretaryship INEXPETANCY.
March 26. The Palace at Whitbail is undergoing a thorough repair, and several apartments are to be altered for the better convenience of two of the King's children, who are to reside there next winter.
SUMMARY of the PROCEEDINGS in the HOUSE of COMMONS. A motion was made for leave to bring up a petition from William Bolland, Esq; agent from the province of Massachusetts-Bay, in behalf of the said province. This occasioned a smart debate for some time, but on the question being put the house divided. For the petition 40 Against it 170 The order of the day for the third reading of the Boston bill was read which occasioned a very strong debate of four
hours, and the result was, that the House divided, and the order of the day was lost. The Boston Bill is ordered to be read a third time this day. This day the American Bill will be carried to the House of Lords for their concurrence. March 25. The supine inactivity of the American merchants is highly censureable. Administration are about to pass a bill which will derive this kingdom of one of our most valuable commercial resources. If the American ports are blockaded, there is an end of American trade; not merely a temporary suspension, but a total ANNIHILATION of all commercial intercourse with the principal settlement in the colonies. What are our merchants about? If deadened to all feelings for their country's welfare, are they lost to every principle of SELF-INTEREST? Can they see with patience, and suffer with passivity, attempts to deprive them of their PROPERTY? Can they behold the Americans DISABLED by administration from paying the sums justly due to England? Can they behold this and not tremble for consequences pregnant with injury to their families? If the Americans are tardy in their payments; if they procrastinate the discharge of the English merchants demands; what is the cause of this procrastination? What but a baneful system of measures pursued by administration to drive the colonists to despair and ruin? Are the Americans dithyramb? NO; but they are impoverished, innumerable, harassed and distressed; their attentions are called off from trade, and busied in suggesting means to defeat the vile purposes of administration to ENSLAVE THEM; their thoughts thus occupied from day to day, their domestic affairs are neglected, and commerce, which should be the first, is the LAST object of their contemplations. The crisis calls for a most vigorous opposition; barely PETITIONING will have no effect on ministers, whose ears are deaf to every prayer an injured people can offer up to heaven: The American merchants should make the minister understand, that however lavish of the public MONEY, he ought not to stop the means of public SUPPLY; for it calls for a punishment more severe than censure, to attempt the plunder of a colony by ILLEGAL TAXATIONS, and, because the inhabitants are virtuous enough to resist such unjust attempts, to frame a bill for the stagnation of commerce, and thus injure the properties of English merchants, whose families will have reason to pray that many multiply CURSES, LIKE GREYHAIR, on the head of the minister who, by the means of the Boston port bill, complicated the destruction of AMERICAN COMMERCE.
The ignorance of the Boston people, and of their mighty House of Representatives, who think themselves co-equal with our Parliament, is as glaring as their presumption. Let any man turn to the votes of that House in the year 1766, when they had passed their resolves of thanks to several Lords and Commoners who voted for the repeal of the Stamp-Act, and he will soon be convinced of this. If they were so ignorant as not to know the names and titles of those they intended to express their gratitude to, and had not even reflection sufficient to consult a Court Calendar for information, it cannot be wondered at that they fell into the gross blunder of thanking some who positively gave their voice against the repeal of that act. The Marquis of Rockingham is in their resolves simply styled CHARLES WATSON ROCKINGHAM; Lord Camden, EARL CAMPDEN; and George Earl of Pomfret, George Duke of Pomfret. But the most absurd mistake of all is their voting their most sincere THANKS to the Earl of Northampton, who OPPOSED the repeal in the House of Peers, and in a private consultation with the then ministry declared, in his own emphatic manner, "that he was against it TO COELO." It is surprising that people who are ignorant of the names and designations of our ministers; who make Marquises, Commoners; Lords, Earls; and Earls, Dukes; should be mistaken as well with regard to their duty as our rights? Or it is strange that a people, who never felt the hand of authority, should suppose themselves above all authority? So far is all this from being extraordinary, that we ought to have expected it long ago; for presumption is ever the companion of ignorance. From extreme respectable authority we are assured, that there is great reason to believe part of the account published in our paper of yesterday, relative to an insurrection of the Bostonians, to be matter of fact. The people it is affirmed, assembled in a tumultuous manner, and after violently seizing Messrs. Hutchinson and Oliver, they led them disgracefully to Liberty Tree, where they endeavoured to extort from them a solemn promise of immediate resignation. This account is rendered the more probable, since a transaction of an exactly similar kind happened when the first attempts were made to carry the Stamp-Act into execution. The people then compelled Mr. Oliver to engage himself by an oath to resign the office with which the Stamp-Act had invested him. Thus much therefore we fancy we may venture to lay before the public, as more than probable article of news; but that Governor Hutchinson's neck has been decorated with any REMEN INSIGNIA of popular resentment, stands in need of confirmation.
Lord Shelburne will shortly be appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Harcourt is to be recalled; and, in case of the death of Lord Holderness, who is now ill, he will succeed to the preceptorship of the Prince of Wales. Colonel Barré will go Secretary to Lord Shelburne; the view of which promotion might probably influence the Colonel to accord to heartily with the ministry in the measures taken against the Bostonians. The intimation in the Colonel's late speech, that "if office came to him it came unlooked for," is to be accounted for upon the supposition of a Secretaryship INEXPETANCY.
March 26. The Palace at Whitbail is undergoing a thorough repair, and several apartments are to be altered for the better convenience of two of the King's children, who are to reside there next winter.

...the Bostonians threatened not to pay their debts to the British merchants if the Stamp Act was not repealed; and that when it was repealed, they did not pay them. He desires the noble Lord, or any one for him, will refer to the date of that threat, and the meeting in which it was made. As a merchant, he thinks himself bound to declare that it is not true; and that the Bostonians have actually paid their debts with great punctuality.
The advantages accruing to the East-India company from the late conquest of Tanjour for the Nabob of Arcot, and the treaty made at Bengal, must give great satisfaction to the proprietors of that stock, notwithstanding some interested endeavours to misrepresent the matter.
However the Bostonians may be censured for proceeding to violence and outrage, the nature of the provocation, if weighed in the scales of candour, will be found more than sufficient to exasperate the most patient, and rouse the most pusillanimous. Administration, not content with having, for a series of years, heaped every indignity on the Americans, at last countenance the East-India company to export their waste commodities to the colonies, and in case of refusal, the tea was to be crammed down the people's throats, and the pilfered revenue was to enrich government in return for a most wanton exercise of its infamous prostitution of its authority. Thus provoked beyond all enduring, the Bostonians proceeding to extremities, not, to be sure, strictly justifiable, but weighing the treatment the outrages will admit of much palliation. Yet the Americans have been called, even by their opponents, factious and rebellious; the retailers of administration should, however, recollect that factious in the state is begotten only by oppression in the government.
The following paragraph is supposed, for good reasons, to be written by Sir F. B——.
From the tremendous news paper sheets of the pitiful Bostonians, people who did not know them, would be apt to imagine them a very powerful city. Mighty they are, indeed, if all they have told were true: To them ancient Nineveh and Babylon would seem but VILLAGES. The truth is, that this very great town of Boston contains of men, women, children, and negro slaves, about FIFTEEN THOUSAND SOULS. What, cries some of our good people here, negro slaves in Boston! it cannot be! it is nevertheless very true. For though the Bostonians have grounded their rebellions on the "immortal laws of nature," and have resolved in their town meetings, that "it is the first principle in civil society, founded in nature and reason, that no law of civility can be binding on any individual, without his consent given by himself in person or by his representative of his own free election." Yet notwithstanding the immutable laws of nature and this public resolution of their own in town meetings, they actually have in that town two thousand negro slaves, who neither by THEMSELVES IN PERSON, nor by representatives of their OWN FREE ELECTION ever gave consent to their present state of bondage. That this great town of Boston, which contains about 3000 ABLE, but NOT WILLING, men to fight has disturbed the whole British empire for these last ten years with their seditious clamours, is certainly fact. This, however, is not asserted in praise of our vigour, but in praise of our moderation. Like cowards unopposed they have pushed their insurrections and treasons to the last extremity, and are now awaiting their punishment. Notwithstanding all their bravadoes, the fiction there does not amount to a fourth part of the inhabitants. If there had been any vigour in the magistracy many of their outrages might have been prevented; but there, unhappily, prevails amongst the most loyal subjects in that town, an opinion that they can do nothing for themselves without the intervention of the legislature here. So that the faction, though small when compared to the rest of the inhabitants, have hitherto carried every thing before them. Their late mad action has brought their affairs to a crisis; and no man can be a friend to his country who opposes their punishment. Indeed, punishment it cannot be called, they are only at present to pay for the tea they have wantonly destroyed. But it is ardently wished by every lover of peace and good order, that some other salutary regulations may take place in the Massachusetts.
April 4. The East-India Company, it is said, were ordered last week to give an account of the loss they sustained on account of the rebellious behaviour of the Americans.
From the Public Advertiser, of April 2. To the Earl of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
MY LORD, WHEN I mentioned a few of the consequences that might arise from blocking up the harbours in North-America, and promised to make some remarks upon other schemes that had been projected for bombing the colonies, I did not intend to trouble your lordship or the public by foregoing to remark upon that scheme of reprisals, which are daily thrown out against the miserable inhabitants of that country, by people who appear to be no better acquainted with their history or constitution than they are with the inhabitants of the moon; my intention was to take notice of such schemes as were frequently mentioned in public, and such as it seemed probable the minister might adopt, because they were of the same species with some that have already been adopted. But we are no longer to form conjectures about what manner in which Great-Britain is to punish the Americans; we now see the course in which she is to proceed, though we are not certain how long she may continue in that course. The port of Boston is to be shut up; its trade is to be utterly destroyed; the inhabitants, about twenty-five thousand in number, are devoted to poverty, hunger and death. We have been told by governor Hutchinson, that the men of property, and a great majority of the better sort of people, are steady friends to government; the late riots were certainly committed by a small mob. Now it is discovered that the most equitable and merciful way of obtaining redress for the outrages committed by a wrong-headed mob, is by destroying trades, punishing men of fortune, and bringing thousands of innocent families to ruin. Doubtless there were other methods of obtaining redress. In former ages, when a house has been pulled down, or a citizen's goods destroyed by a riot, the provincial assemblies have been applied to, and have paid the damages: The assembly of Massachusetts-Bay would doubtless have paid for the tea had it been required of them in the usual form. It is well known, that the father of this city, and several other gentlemen, were willing to give security for the payment of the tea on those terms. But that would have been a trifling scheme, by which we could hardly expect the pleasure of making a single woman or child shed a tear; whereas the present plan perfectly agrees with our ideas of governing a distant colony; it affords the pleasing prospect of starving at least a thousand of them to death, and reducing half or the remainder to beggary; to say nothing of the motion that it must give to the rebels of trade on this side of the water. By this plan also we are certain of securing the affections of the colonies: After this signal proof of lenity and kindness, they will never forget us: If we should ever need their assistance in the time of danger, they will certainly embrace the first opportunity of showing their gratitude, and returning our favours in kind. Such are the observations, that are often made in favour of the measures that are now adopted for punishing the colonies. For my part, I may be singular in my opinion, but though I cannot comment the measures, I shall, on all occasions, endeavour to speak of it with that veneration which is due to a scheme sanctioned by the voice of a British parliament. In the mean while I may be indulged in offering a few conjectures concerning the probable operation of that act by which the port of Boston is to be destroyed, because retribution might be paid for the tea that was destroyed, because retribution might be obtained by gentler means; and the minister would never offer such an insult to humanity as to starve, ruin or distress more twenty thousand people in order to collect 11,000l. nor would he value himself upon taking that by force which the people would have given willingly. Neither is the design of the act to shut up the port till the people have made submission or the like; and promised not to do the like again: for it
...the Bostonians are known, as they may be punished in due course of law; and the public cannot possibly make submission for an action that was not done by the public, though they may pay the damages, nor can they promise, without being guilty of the greatest absurdity, that no future riot shall be committed, because riots may happen, and frequently do happen, under the most orderly and perfect police. The design then of the act must be, and this appears to be the design on the very Face of it "To shut up the port of Boston until the people have engaged or promised to pay all damages and duties whatever that are imposed by a British parliament." Now, as I take it, the inhabitants of the town of Boston can give no security for the future payment of such duties, because they may not be able to perform, though they should promise; and what is done by the select-men, or even what is done by a town-meeting, will be a weak bond where-with to bind the populace. The inhabitants of the neighbouring towns are as active in all these riots, perhaps more active than the inhabitants of Boston. The minister knows very well that the town of Boston alone can give no promise which shall be security. Nor is it intended that the submission or promise of that town should be considered as satisfactory. A submission and promise is expected from the other towns as well as Boston; in plain terms it is expected that the commons house of assembly should acknowledge "the right of the British parliament to impose taxes on the inhabitants of that province." Now, my lord, if the port of Boston is to remain shut till the people in that province acknowledge the right of parliament to impose any taxes or duties whatever, except for the regulation of commerce, it must remain shut till the very name of a British parliament is forgotten among them. You may shut up their ports, one by one, as the minister has lately threatened. You may reduce their cities to ashes; but the flame of liberty in North-America shall not be extinguished. Cruelty and oppression and revenge shall only serve as oil to increase the Fire. A great country of hardy peasants is not to be subdued. In the grave which we dig for the inhabitants of Boston, confidence and friendship shall expire, commerce and peace shall rest together.
I have the honour to be, &c. FABIUS.
THURSDAY, May 12. BOSTON.
It is worthy of remark, that nothing is said by the East-India company, or their friends, in England, of the destruction of the Tea as being their property, or any damages accruing to them thereby. It is solely taken up by the British parliament, and the friends of the British ministry, which plainly evinces, that the introducing said Tea into America upon that plan, was a scheme of the present Administration.
It appears that the drift of administration and their good friends in England, is, to divide the union of the American colonies, and that devoted Boston shall feel the unparalleled tokens of their displeasure. But let us not be dismayed, let us persevere to the end, and resolve to yield our lives and fortunes, before we will submit to the iron yoke of tyranny! And let this sacred truth, be borne in the mind of EVERY AMERICAN, "By UNITING we STAND, BY DIVIDING we FALL!"
Extract of a letter from one of the first characters, in London, dated April 2.
"Alterations in the constitution of the Massachusetts are now greatly talked of, though what they are to be seems hardly yet settled. On thing mentioned is the appointment of a Council by mandamus; another giving power to the Governor to appoint magistrates without consent of Council; another the abolishing of town meetings or making it unlawful to hold till the business to be proposed has been certified to the Governor and his permission obtained. All these projections as well as the plan for blocking up the harbour, and the demolishing Hancock and Rowe's wharfs, were sent from the infamous scoundrels at Boston and the neighbourhood."
The following is an extract of a letter from a gentleman of great distinction in England to a gentleman in this town, dated April 2d, 1774.
"By the inclosed extract of a letter from Wakefield, in Yorkshire, to a friend of mine, you will see that the manufactures begin to take the alarm: Another general non-importation agreement is apprehended by them, which would compleat their ruin, but great pains are taken to quiet them with the idea that Boston must immediately submit and acknowledge the claim of parliament, for that none of the other colonies will adhere to them. The following is the extract of a letter above referred, viz.
Extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. T——, of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, (in England) to Dr. P——, dated 20th of March, 1774.
"Most wretched is the state of the poor about Dewsbury through the languishing condition of the woolen manufactory. I am told that the poor's assessment for the last half year amounted to five shillings in the pound, and for the preceding half year to three shillings and six-pence, and this merely to preserve the poor wretches from absolute starving. Many of the lesser manufactures have already been broken and sold up, and the rest say, with tears in their eyes, that they expect it will soon be the common fate. Unfortunately, the chief branch of the business of that very populous neighbourhood is making Duffel Blankets for the North American market, the total stagnation of which trade has chiefly brought on this distress. But the cloth business also is almost as bad. I am told that last Tuesday an account was taken at Leeds of the cloths that lie there unfold, and they amounted to nearly 19000 cloths. Measurs also are taking to get the number of cloths unfold in the manufacturer's possession, which it is not doubted will be found exceedingly great, and this is the time of the year when business should be most brisk. Mr. W——, I hear, is going up again to London; furnished with these and other proper facts, to be laid before the parliament.
Even the principal manufacturers express their apprehensions, that they must either stop entirely, soon, or will be reduced to the common level. In short, the present state of things here is lamentable, and the prospect dismal. Our work people at Wakefield are tolerably
well off, for the millinery do a great deal this year; but at Leeds, I am told, little is done. Several families are already gone from Bristol this Spring for North America, and carry their arts and manufactures with them: If they succeed, swarms will follow. All our hope of relief, while suffering the severities of a hungry and cold winter, was the revival of the demand from America: What astonishment and indignation then must we feel at the measures that blast that hope forever; and fill us with apprehensions that these are but the beginning of sorrows: Such measures for the supporting authority are ridiculous enough; but alas we are too miserable to laugh. I was exceedingly affected last Friday on observing the settled gloom and dejection that set on the countenances of the poor manufaturers, who brought their cloths to Mr. M——'s warehouse. How different from the looks they wore two years ago! in short our situation here is a too forcible confirmation of the principles so affectingly exhibited to public attention in Dr. Price's additional Preface to his appeal to the public, &c. which Mr. Lindsey has just sent. Beyond a doubt, if the event he so probably prognosticates take place, the manufacturing part of the nation will first, and most severely suffer."
We hear that General Gage who is appointed Governor of this province, was to take his passage on board the Lively frigate, which was ready for sailing on the fourth of April.
The Bill for blocking up the port and harbour of Boston was opposed by the Dukes of Richmond and Manchester, the Marquis of Rockingham, Lord Camden, and the Earls of Shelburne, Temple and Stairs. It was supported by the Lords Mansfield, Gower, Littleton, Weymouth and Suffolk. The Debates were long and warm.
Yesterday a Tory was heard to say that in Boston were reduced one half by the late measure of blocking up the harbour and stopping our trade. On its being asked what would they have been worth had we submitted to the taxation of the British parliament? It was answered, Nothing! Then said the interrogator a half loaf is certainly better than no bread.
Yesterday arrived the Captains Jenkins, Scott and Lyde from London.
The ship Haley, Capt. Scott was to fail in about a month after Capt. Jenkins.
Several men of war, to relieve those now on this station, are hourly expected.
There is no foundation for the report of five or six regiments being ordered here from England. And we do not learn of any coming to America, but such as are to relieve those that are now here.
His Royal Highness the young Prince, was christened in the Great Council Chamber, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and named Adolphus Frederick.
At the General Election at Newport last Wednesday, the Honourable Joseph Wanton, Esq. was chosen Governor, for the colony of Rhode-Island.
We hear that Lieutenant Warren, and Mr. McDonald, late of Pepperrell, Mr. Lampson, and Mr. Brown, late of Concord, were all drowned by the oversetting of a canoe, as they were crossing Kennebec river about the 12th of last month.
MARRIED. J. Richard Boynton, Esq. to Mrs. Annapell Greene, widow of the late Capt. Nathaniel Greene, late of this town, deceased. — Mr. James Tilton, to Miss Polly Bryant, eldest daughter to Capt. John Bryant.
DIED. J. Mr. Isaac Vergoole, for many years a surveyor of boards in this town. — Mr. Isaac Cazneau, shopkeeper. — Mrs. Mary Bowes, consort of Mr. William Bowes, merchant, and daughter of William Stoddard, Esq; of this town. — Mr. Eliphalet Parker, leather dresser. — Mrs. Polly Grace. — Mr. John Craigie, chaifemaker. — Mrs. Elizabeth Welch, wife of Mr. Hezekiah Welch, distiller. — Mrs. Burroughs, and Mr. William Rogers, in the alms-house.
At Woburn, Mr. Nathan Brooks. — At Worcester, Mr. William Swan. — At South-Carolina, Mrs. Matthews, wife of Mr. Matthews, of that place, and daughter of Colonel Joseph Scott, of this town.
*** See Postscript.
To be SOLD, A SCHOONER ninety tons burden, lying at DAVID SPEAR's wharf.
To the PUBLIC.
WHEREAS an Act was made by the Great and General Assembly of this Province, to prohibit the Exportation of Raw Hides, Upper-Leather, &c. to be shipped to any Port out of this Province, except to Great-Britain; and as the frequent shipping out of this Province, Upper-Leather and Tanned Calve-Skins, to other Places, hath been much to the Damage of this Province, not only by Reason of the Price being enhanced to a very high Rate, but a very great Scarcity occasioned by fencing off the choicest of said Upper Leather, and all the worst referred to be manufactured at Home. This is therefore to acquaint all Persons, who shall hereafter presume to ship off Upper-Leather; and all Masters of Vessels, who shall receive such Leather on board for any Port, except as aforesaid, shall be prosecuted according to Law.
Boston, May, 1774.
This day was published, (price four coppers) And Sold next the Cornfield, Union-Street, Near the Market, Boston.
THE Life, last words and dying confession of DANIEL WILSON, who was executed at Providence, Rhode-Island, April 24th 1774, for committing a rape.
A WOMAN, that can be well recommended, with a young Breast of Milk, would be glad to go into any Gentleman's Family to suckle. Enquire of the Printer.
This Day was published, [Embellished with elegant Engravings, I. The Bust of Mr. Samuel Adams. II. The Hill-Tops: A new Hunting Song, set to Music, with a Representation of the Death of the Stag.] NUMBER IV. of THE ROYAL American Magazine, Or UNIVERSAL Repository of Instruction and Amusement. For APRIL, 1774.
CONTAINING, Description of April—On Ingratitude. An Essay—On the Obscurity of Dead Language, and the Sufficiency of the English Writings to establish a Class equal to the Ancients—Answer to the Genealogical Problem in No. II.—Reconciliation of some Passages of Scripture requested—Essay on Fevers—On the Education of the Fair Sex—A real Character—Why a Gardener is the most extraordinary Man in the World—Epitome of Captain Wallis's Voyage round the World, concluded—On the Cultivation of Mulberry—The Fortune Hunter, continued—Answer to the Post-Obit, in No. II.—Thoughts on the Culture of Silk—Spring—The Directory of Love—Answers to the questions in No. II. &c.—Mathematical observations—POETICAL ESSAYS—The Hills-Tops. A new Hunting Song—Female Advice—The Walth—On Happiness—The Lilly's Triumph—To a young Gentleman—Psalm cxxxix—A Rebus—The Travellers—Stanzas to Patience—The Attention—Night. A Poem—A Mother to a young Child—The dying Husband to his Wife—Verses to the Editor—HISTORICAL CHRONICLE—General History of America—European and Domestic Intelligence—Marriages and Deaths—Meteorological Observations on the Weather—Governor Hutchinson's History, &c.
TO-MORROW, At TEN in the Morning, Will be Sold by PUBLIC VENDUE, At the House of the late Mrs. Mary Grace, deceased, Near the Old Brick Meeting.
ALL the Wearing Apparel and Household Furniture of said Deceased; consisting of Silk Gowns, &c. also, Tables, Chairs, Looking Glasses, Chest of Draws, Desks, Feather Beds, Bedsteads and Bedding, a Variety of China and Glass Ware, some Plate, Kitchen Furniture, &c. also, a large Copper of at least three Barrels. J. RUSSELL, Auctioneer. ** The Goods may be viewed the Day before the Sale. A very genteel new Chaise and Harness, at private Sale.
On THURSDAY the 26th Instant, At NINE in the Morning, Will begin the Sale at Public Vendue, At RUSSELL's Auction-Room in Queen-Street.
A Large and valuable Collection of new and old BOOKS, in almost every Branch of polite Literature. ** Printed Catalogues may be had gratis the Monday preceding the Sale, of J. RUSSELL, Auctioneer.
New Auction Room Cornhill, On TUESDAY next at Ten o'Clock in the Morning, Will be sold at PUBLIC VENDUE, At GREENLEAF's Auction-Room, A GREAT Variety of English GOODS. WM. GREENLEAF, Auctioneer. [Particulars in Monday's Papers.]
Boarding School for young Ladies, after the most approved English Method will be opened from this Time forth by ELEANOR DRUITT, In Hanover-Street, near Concert-Hall.
The Ladies, besides being tenderly and carefully looked after, and instructed in every Part of their Behaviour, are taught English and French grammatically, all Sorts of Needle-Work, plain and in Colours, Tambour, Grotto, Bude, Bugle, and Paper-Works.
Her Terms will be the most moderate and such as to convince the Enquirers they are reasonable indeed. ** Those who shall be pleased to intrust her with the Care of their Children, may rely that the Attainment of those desirable Ends, shall ever engage her assiduous Attention. Epistolary Correspondence, Writing and Arithmetic in the most concise Manner, taught by
JOHN DRUITT.
Recreation and Exercise as contributing to the Health and Vigour both of Mind and Body, go Hand in Hand with a Variety of Employments. The Faults and Defects of young Persons are sought to be rectified by Persuasion, mild and gentle Usage, Encouragements and Rewards, rather than severe Treatment, except when the latter is absolutely necessary. ** The Day School as usual.
CYRUS BALDWIN
HEREBY informs his Customers and others, that he purposed to embark for London early next Fall; and that he is now selling off his Stock in Trade, consisting of a large and valuable Assortment of English, India and Scotch GOODS, very cheap for Cash, at his Store in Cornhill, near the State-House, Boston. Among which are,
A large Assortment of superfine, middling and low priced Broad Cloths, with Trimmings, German Serges, Wiltons, Jeans, Fustians, Cotton Velvets, Hair and Worsted Plushes, Furniture and other Calicoes, Furniture Checks, Irish Linens, Cambricks, Lawns, Thick Mullin, Book ditto, Silks for Ladies Gowns of various Sorts and Colours, some of them at the sterling Cost; a beautiful Assortment of Ribbons, Quality and Shoe Bindings, Garterings, Tapes; a fine Assortment of Silk, Thread, Worsted and Cotton Hosiery; Carpets and Carpeting, Looking Glasses, with a Thousand other Articles, not here mentioned. Very neat superfine Chip Hats at the Sterling Cost. ** Those who have the Cash to pay, will most surely find it for their Advantage to apply to said BALDWIN. He earnestly requests all Persons that are indebted to him on Note or Book, to make speedy Payment.
JEREMIAH ALLEN
INFORMS his Friends and the Public, that he received by the Dolphin, Capt. Scott, a fresh Assortment of Hard Ware GOODS; also a few Pair of oval and other genteel Looking Glasses in the newest Taste, which he is determined to sell at a very reasonable Rate.
THIS is notify the Creditors of ISAAC WINCHESTER, late of Brookline, Gentleman, deceased, who have not received the respective Dues from the Estate of the above Deceased, are desired to meet at Mr. MORTON, at the Sign of the White Horse, South-End, Boston, on Thursday the 19th Day of May instant at Three o'Clock in the Afternoon, and they may hear of something to their Advantage.
To be Sold at PUBLIC VENDUE, On Tuesday the Seventeenth Day of May Instant,
SEVEN-EIGHTS of the Schooner ABIGAIL, with her Apparances now laying at Mr. DAVID SPEAR's Wharf; also a Quantity of Flour, Rye and Middlings, being Part of the Estate of Captain SAMUEL SNOW, late of Boston, Mariner, deceased, Intestate. The Sale to begin as Eleven o'Clock forenoon, on to said Schooner.

POETS CORNER.
The Pleasures of SOLITUDE.
Me haec solitudo magis simulat, quam ipsa celebrat.
WAFT me! oh, waft me to the shade, By close embowering branches made! Beneath yon gently rising hill, Where purling brooks and tinkling rills, In soft harmonious cadence play, And sweetly murmur all the day!
TO BE SOLD, by ROBERT RUGGLES,
At his Shop in Cornhill, a little to the Northward of the Town Pump, Boston, a large Assortment of English and India GOODS,
By Wholesale or Retail, extremely cheap for Cash only. Among which are the following Articles, viz. STIRPT, changeable, Chevaudeux, plain and brocaded half Gimp and Garland Trimmings, and quarter ell Lute strings, Wax Necklaces and Earrings, Ducapes and Padufoys, Blue, white, pink and black Mohair Grogams, Hats for Women, Crimson and blue Cordeloy, A very large Assortment of Mens, Womens, Youths and Girls glazed and unglazed Gloves and Mitts, Scarlet, crimson, white, blue, pink, green, drab and black, Galloon and Striping, plain, spotted and fringed Stay Cord and Braid, Buckrams, Yellow Holland, Rich rose, crimson and green Brown ditto, English Damasks, 3-4, 7-8 and yard-wide Irish Linens, Blue and white India ditto, Sheetng Holland, Blue, green, changeable and drab India Tafatics, Table Cloths, Black English ditto, Napkinng Damasks, Figured Mode for Capuchines, Womens and Childrens pack of most Colours, Thread Stays, Half and quarter yard wide black Allamode, Blue, pink, green and white Womens loom-quilted silk Petticoats, Milliners and Grizzets, Broglines and Satinets, White Quilting, Black and Lead-colour Bom-bazens, Gold and Silver spangled Buttons, Black double Allopeens, Gold and Silver Vellum, Dorsetteens, Crapes and Gold Prussian Coat Binding, Poplins, Mecklenburgh ditto, Bengalls, Worsted Grogams, Camblets and Cambleteens, Drawboys and Everlastings, Calicoes and Chints, Sagathies and Duroys, Fultians and Jeans, Wiltons, Superfine, middling and low Price Broad Cloths, Damasks and Ginghams for Mens Waistcoats, Forest Cloth, Figured Silk Waistcoat Patterns, German Serges, Half Thickes, Black Silk Breeches Patterns, Ratteens, Black, blue and cloth coloured Beaver Coating, Worsted Breeches Patterns, Duffs, Mens Silk Hose, Baizes, Mens and Womens Thread, Velvets, Cotton and Worsted Hose, Stript Swanskins, Childrens ditto all Sorts, Oznabrigs, Womens black, white and Shalloons and Tamnies of most Colours, buff coloured Silk Gloves, Callimancoes Shoes, Mens black ditto, Best black plain Russell ditto, Silk Mitts, all Colours, 3-4-7-8 and yard-wide Checks, A neat Assortment of plain, Mettle Buttons of all Sorts, spotted, figured and fringed Guazes of all Prices, Pins and Needles, Best Tambour Muffin, Threads and Tapes, Stript, fringed and checked Sewing Silks of all Colours, Muffins, Cambicks and Lawns, plain Lawn, Silk and Linen Handkerchiefs, Yard and six-quarters wide Knives and Forks, plain Muffins, Pen Knives, Brocaded and Satin Shoes and Clogs, Razors, English and Lynn made Russell and Callimanco Shoes, Buckles, Childrens ditto, Pepper, A neat Assortment of Buttons and other Thread Laces, Cinnamon, from 9d. to 3s. 6d. old Tenor per Yard, Mace, Blond Laces, and a Variety of other Black Bone Laces, all Prices, Articles.
Imported in the Ship London, Capt. Calef, And to be SOLD by JAMES FOSTER CONDY, At his Book-Store in Union-Street, Directly opposite the Cornfield, Boston, A large Assortment of the most fashionable PAPER HANGINGS, Which will be Sold at a very low Advance, Also, the most modern Books in every Branch of polite Literature, Art and Science, may be had at said Store (as usual) at such Prices as will give full Satisfaction to the Purchaser. N. B. A Pair of 17 Inch Globes to be Sold cheap.
TO BE SOLD or LET, A Neat and very convenient HOUSE, with a Barn and Chaise House, and about two Acres of Land, including a rich Garden Spot, very pleasantly situated, and a fine healthy Place, not five Miles from Boston Town-House, on a great Road, where most Kinds of Provisions can easily be procured. Enquire of the Printers.
SUPERFINE Broad-Cloths and Shalloons, with almost every Kind of English Goods usually imported from London to this Place, imported by SAMUEL AUSTIN, And to be Sold quite low for the Cash at his Shop in Union-Street.
JAMES HENDERSON Just returned from LONDON, begs Leave to inform the Public, that he has brought with him AN Assortment of GOODS, suitable for the Spring Trade, which he will sell by Wholesale and Retail, at his Shop in Ann-Street, next Door to Mr. William Scott's Irish Linen Store, Boston. N. B. Among which is a Variety of very fashionable SILKS.
WHEREAS Benjamin Hall, the Son of the late Hugh Hall, Esq; deceased, a person Non-Compos, has, by the instigation of some ill-minded person (well knowing he was under guardianship) been indefatigable in their endeavours in reducing said Hall, to marry, no doubt with a view to get what was left him by his late father, and it is currently reported they have succeeded in their endeavours: This is therefore to forbid all persons from harbouring or concealing the said Non-Compos, or to trust him or his pretended wife, as his guardian is determined not to pay any debts they have or may contract. J. TURELL.
AS I shall speedily, to the confusion of a certain little junta, make it evident to the Governor and Council, that the guardianship placed over me, was quickly, surreptitiously and illegally procured. I shall at present take no further notice of Mr. Turell's false advertisement, published in Messrs. Mills and Hick's paper last Monday, than just to justify my pretended doubting, notable guardian (who withholds all my effects from me) that I am legally married, as will appear to his great mortification by the following copy of my certificate, viz. "This may certify all whom it may concern, that Benjamin Hall and Sarah Marrow were lawfully married this day, by Joseph Kidder. Dunstable, New Hampshire, the 22d of April 1774." As I have at present occasion for some of my own money, this kind guardian would do well to visit and supply his ward therewith, at his sister Nelson's in Middle-street, Boston. BENJAMIN HALL.
JEREMIAH ALLEN Informs his Friends and the PUBLIC, That he has received by the LONDON, Capt. CALEF, And is now opening for Sale, At his Shop in Ann Street, a little North of the Draw Bridge, by Wholesale and Retail.
A Compleat Assortment of Brazery, Cutlery and Ironmongery GOODS, purchased from the most approved Manufacturers in Great-Britain, and which he doubts not will give satisfaction both in Price and Quality to those who please to favour him with their Custom. Among which are the following, 2d. 3d. 4d. 6d. 10d. and 20d. NAILS, Sheathing and Boat ditto, London Pewter Dishes, Plates and Batons, Tankards, Quart and Pint Cans; Quart, Pint and Half Pint Tea Pots, Cream Pots, Tea Tongs, Table and Tea Spoons, Bottle Crans, Wine Measures, Bed and Close Stool Pans, Brass Kettles and Skillets, Bell-mettle ditto, Warmling and Frying Pans, Delk and Book Cafe Furniture of all kinds, Brass Knockers, Ball Bolts, Cluck Pins, Screw Rings, Knobs, Brass Scales and Weights, Money Scales, Brass and Iron Candlesticks, also a few Pair Princes Mettle in the newest Taste, Steel springs, japanned and iron Snuffers, polished Steel Shovel and Tongs, Bellows Box and Flat Irons, Box Iron Grates, Bed Screws, half and quarter Carriees, Knife Boxes, make Casters, Bed Caps and Turn Buckles; silver, ivory, buck, bone, horn and maple handle Knives and Forks, Penknives of all sorts, Razors, Scissors and Cuttesses, Snuff and Tobacco Boxes, Horn and Ivory Combs; gilt, plated and lacquered Coat and Breast Buttons; Shoe, Knee and Stock Buckles of all kinds, Temple and Dutch Spectacles, also a few Pair Temple of an extra Quality, Brass and Iron Locks and Hinges of all sorts, Carpenters and Joiners Tools, Awn Blades, Shoe Nippers and Pincers, English and French Gun Flints, Shot Belts and Powder Flasks, Powder and Shot, Bar and Sheet Lead, 10 by 8 Glass, 2 and 3 pitched worsted Wool Combs, best Clothiers Shears, Smiths Anvils and Vices, Iron Spades, Beaver, Catior and Felt Hatters, also a few white furred ditto with Gold Buttons and Loops for Ladies, Peg-tooth and cross-cut Saws, Steel and Iron Plate Hand Saws, saws, tenonant and key hole ditto, Files and Raps of all sorts, Gimblets, Tap and Bung Borers, Bamboo, Dogwood, solid; joint and hazel Angling Rods of all kinds, a few of the neatest Bamboo Rods that perhaps was ever in America, spare Tops for Rods, Cod and Mackerel Lines, Hair and silk ditto, best Hurly Hooks, ditto on Gimp and Hair, Snap Hooks, 6 and 10 Stave Reeds, 10-Yard fly Line Gimp, Landing Nets, fly-goose, root pointed Corks, Brass Winches, Brads and Tacks of all sorts, Nail Nippers, Nutt Crackers, Cork Screws, Brass and paper Ink Pots, Brass Beer Cocks, Pinking Irons, Chair Center and Doweeling Belts Crutch Head Cloth, Table, Shoe and Buckle Brushes, Curling and Pinching Tongs, Wool Cards, Seives and Seive Bottoms, House Bells, Pound Beads, No. 1, 2 and 3 Silks, Kitchen Jacks, compleat Brads and Iron Wire, Curry Combs, Dripping Pans, Corn Fans, painted Scale Beams, Horse Flems, Brass and Steel Thimbles, Rat and Mouse Traps, Tin Plates, Looking Glasses of all kinds, a few Pair Gold and Gold and white oval Glasses in the Palmyra Taste, either with or without Jerendoles.
JOSEPH BILLINGS, Of Boston, TAILOR, Has received by the Ship JOHN, Capt. WHITE, From LONDON, SUNDRY Pieces superfine Cloths, with Shalloons, &c. to match; also four-threaded Patterns, all which he is determined to sell at the lowest Rates for Cash, at his STORE, leading to SPEAR's Wharf. Those who are pleased to favour him with the Making of their Cloaths, he will take for Pay, New-England and West-India Rum, Loaf and Brown Sugar, Molasses, Flour, Ship Bread, Cocoa, Chocolate, Beef, Pork, Cordage, &c. The above Cloths, &c. being a Consignment, he will cut a Suit of Cloaths as elegantly, and make them up as cheap and as well as any advertising Tailor from the city of London.
JAMES HILL, At his SHOP in CHARLESTOWN, Next Door to ISAAC RAND, Esquire's, Has to SELL, A Variety of fresh GARDEN SEEDS, also Pease and Beans, just arrived per Capt. Symmes, from London. He has likewise for Sale, Glass, Cream-Coloured, Delph and Stone Ware, Groceries, &c. N. B. The Goldsmith and Jeweller's Business carried on at said Shop.
Choice Cheshire Cheese, Which will suit the nicest taste, Just imported in Capt. Symmes and Capt. Calef from London, And to be SOLD by CHARLES LOWE, Opposite the Boston Stone, in Marshall's-Lane, near the Mill-Bridge. [This quantity of Cheese is equal in goodness, if not superior, to that imported and sold by him last fall.] Also, excellent FLORENCE OYL, in Flasks, warranted good, and the best of English Mustard, by the bottle, single pound, or less. OATMEAL by the Bushel, or smaller quantity.
AMERICAN MAGAZINE. THOSE Gentlemen who are inclined to favour the Royal American Magazine, for MAY, with their Projections, are desired to send them with all convenient Speed, to the Publisher.
SAMUEL PARKMAN, Informs his friends and customers, he has received per the Captains FOLGER and SYMMES from LONDON, A compleat assortment of Spring GOODS, which will be sold by wholesale or retail, (at his shop in Union-Street) at a very low advance for cash.
JOHN WHITE Gardner and Seeds man in Seven-Star-Lane, Boston, acquaints his Customers, that he has received a fresh assortment of GARDEN SEEDS, by Capt. SYMMES, from LONDON.
JUST arrived in Captain CALEF, And now Opening, A FRESH Assortment of English and India GOODS; which will be Sold at the lowest Cash Prices by PARKMAN and MELVILL, At their Shop in Cornhill, near the State-House, Boston.
STOLE out of the Subscriber's Entry last Tuesday Evening, a large Drab coloured GREAT COAT. If such an one should be offered for Sale, it is desired Notice may be given to ELIAS PARKMAN.
JUST IMPORTED, by JOSIAH WATERS and SON, And to be SOLD at their Shop in Ann-Street, PAINTERS OYL and COLOURS, of all Kinds, in large or small Quantities, Window Glass—Brushes, &c. All Kinds of Pipes, Spices and Groceries as usual, A few of Split Pease—Powder, &c. At the same Place may be had, A most elegant Assortment of PAPER HANGINGS. N. B. PAINTS prepared for House or Ship Painting. House and Ship Painting performed with Care and Dispatch.
M. B. GOLDTHWAIT, Begs leave to acquaint his friends and the Public, that he has just received by Capt. Symmes, a fresh supply of DRUGS and MEDICINES, Which he sells Wholesale and Retail, at his shop near the Mill-Bridge, Boston; amongst which are the following, Patented Medicines.
LOCKYER'S Pills, Cephalic Snuff, Turlington's Balm of Life, Marendaunt's Drops, Daffy's Elixir, Stoughton's ditto, Essence of Peppermint, Hemmet's much approved Dentifrice for the Teeth, Anodyne Necklaces, Bateman's Drops, Hooper's Female Pills, Anderson's do, Cook's famous Worm Powder, Jesuits Drops, Greenough's Tincture for the Teeth, Ditto for the Tooth Ach, Hungary Water, Lavendar do. Eau de Luce. Likewise, Court Plaster, Lip Salve, Smelling Bottles very neat of different figures, genuine Carolina Pink Root, and Squire's Grand Elixir. Also, SURGEONS INSTRUMENTS, Of all Kinds, Phials of all Sorts, Marble and Glass Mortars, Lint, Surgeons Tow, Figs, Raisins, Currants, Prunes, all Kinds of Dye Stuffs, Groceries, Velvet Corks, with many other Articles too numerous for an Advertisement, all Fresh and Genuine. N. B. Doctor's Boxes put up for Masters of Vessels and private Families with every necessary direction.
NEW RICE. A few casks to be sold cheap, at the store of PENUEL BOWEN, Opposite to the Golden Ball, A L S O,
NEW Flour, Genuine Spanish and French Indigo, best Hamburg ground Madder, old Logwood, new Redwood, Alum, Copperas, &c. Chocolate warranted pure, Spices of all kinds, choice Cheshire Cheese, ditto exceeding low-priced if applied for soon, ditto Weymouth, rich and mild, ditto Connecticut, in good order for shipping. With a general Assortment of West-India GOODS. Choice Table Fifth, Half Boxes eighteen Inch TD Pipes, fifteen ditto. All at the lowest Rates for Cash.
WHEREAS the Co-partnership of SCOTT and GILL was mutually dissolved the 21st of February last: All Persons indebted are requested to make immediate Payment to MOSES GILL: And all to whom the Company is indebted, are desired to bring in their Accounts to said GILL, for Adjustment, and receive their Balances. Boston, 6th April 1774. N. B. The Business is carried on as usual, by MOSES GILL, where the Customers of the late Company, and all others, may be well served.
GUN POWDER, just imported, and choice Connecticut PORK, to be sold cheap by said GILL.
THIS is to forewarn all persons from trusting SARAH the wife of me the subscriber, who has behaved in a very unbecoming manner, as I will pay no debts of her contracting from the date hereof. EDWARD BUNCH. Boston, April 4th 1774.
POTASH. CASH given for POTASH by JONATHAN MASON, at his shop next door to the sign of the Buck and Glove near the State-House, Boston. N. B. To be sold by said MASON, choice Gun Powder, and best Philadelphia Bar Iron.
To the PRINTER. TWO COMPOSITORS, who understand the Business, and will keep steadily at work, are wanted immediately by the Printer hereof. N. B. Constant employ, and good wages.
Just arrived and now opening at the store of DUNCAN INGRAHAM, jun. In Union-Street, Boston, A variety of English, India, Irish and Scotch GOODS, which will be Sold by Wholesale and Retail, At his usual low prices for Cash. The following articles are part of his assortment, viz. Clints, Mozzens for Waistcoats, Almonds, Calicoes, Loetras for ditto, Lute strings, Nankeens, Branswicks, Perfumery, Mullins, Bread-Cloaths, Fine Chip Hats, Sattins, Serges, Skellings, Irish Linens, Baizes, Pound Wires, Dowlaties, Brocks, Dutch Laces, Oznabrigs, Jubiles, Writing Paper, Ticklinsburgs, Callimancoes, Royal Ribbs, Diapers, Ruffles, Satinets, Russia Drabs, Shalloons, Looking Glass, Cambricks, Tamnies, Neat dress. do. Lawns, Sagathees, Ravens Ducks, Checks, Gauzes, Russia ditto, Fultians, Gauze Handkerchiefs, Black fin Cap, Jeans, Nettings, Black Plume, Striped Hollands, Millies Court Heel Morocco Pumps, India Jeans, Infants ditto, China Ware. A L S O, Gun Powder, Shott, Spices, Scythes, Sickles, Loaf Sugar, &c. &c.
THE Gentlemen and Ladies of the town are hereby made acquainted that THOMAS TURNER has taken charge of the DANCING SCHOOL, on behalf of his brother who is absent. Those who please to send their children, may depend there will be the strictest regard paid to their being instructed in the polite and most approved method; likewise the utmost order and decorum preserved.
GENTEL Boarding for Gentlemen, Strangers and others, may be had of THOMAS RUSSELL, at the house lately occupied by Mr. Benjamin Bagnall, deceased, near the State-House, Boston, a very noted place for this business, being in a good situation and well known to be a large and commodious house, where persons have only to apply to be convinced how agreeably they can be accommodated. N. B. Said Russell continues his Taylor's business as usual at the above place.
A SMART LAD is wanted, as an Apprentice, to the BRICKLAYERS BUSINESS, Enquire of the Printers.
CHOICE Madder, the growth of this province, to be SOLD by JOHN BARRETT, Near the MILL-BRIDGE, BOSTON.
SILKS And Superfine BROAD CLOTHS.
A PRIME assortment of Padufoys, Ducapes, Lute strings; plain and figured Sattins, Damasks, Sarinets, &c.—superfine fashionable coloured Broad Cloths, with suitable Linings and Trimmings; To be Sold at an exceeding low rate, by JOHN BARRETT and 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.
RUSSIA duck, best Petersburg hemp, Dutch rope yarns, also a quantity of choice junk, do to make into cordage of any size, great part of which will fit for rigging small vessels without working over, to be sold at THOMAS WALLEY'S Store on Dock-Square, Where is to sell by wholesale or retail, Dutch looking-glasses of various sizes, Dutch brushes, single or by the set, hampers of stone ware, viz. quart and pint Mugs and Chamber Pots; a few casks choice Rice, all sorts of Spices very low, Oatmeal per bushel, parcel of fine Narragansett and Pomfret Cheese, new Raisins, Currants, and all sorts of Groceries as usual—except TEA. N. B. A quantity of choice 3-threaded Seine Twine, for Salmon, Mackerel or Herring Nets. Also, White Beans per bushel.
The excessive high price of the NEW Voyage round the WORLD, undertaken by his Majesty's command, performed by Captain COOK, Commander of the Ship Endeavour, and lately published by the Lords of the Admiralty, proving an insuperable objection with most readers to the purchase of that book, and many gentlemen having expressed a desire for an addition that might be procured at a reasonable rate; the public are hereby informed that JAMES RIVINGTON, Of the city of New-York, has for some time past been employed in printing a neat Edition of it in two Volumes at the very moderate price of One Dollar and an half, although the London Edition cannot be purchased under three Guineas. Also speedily will be published, Upon the same cheap PLAN, Lord CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS to his Son PHILIP STANHOE, Esq; together with several Pieces on various Subjects. Published by Mrs. EUGENIA STANHOE. DIALOGUES on the LAWS and CONSTITUTION of GREAT-BRITAIN. SUBSCRIPTIONS for the above are received by HENRY KNOX, Bookseller, Boston.
CHOICE PEAS, Isle of Shoals DUMB FISH, BEEF, RYE, a few barrels RYE FLOUR and PORK, to be SOLD by JOHN BARRETT and SONS.

POSTSCRIPT to the MASSACHUSETTS SPY Or THOMAS'S BOSTON JOURNAL.
263 235 200 120 88 66 50 278
A W VOL. IV.
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1774.
No. 171.
L O N D O N, APRIL 4. The following is the much-talked-of BOSTON PORT-BILL, which on Thursday last received the Royal Assent, and after the FIRST of JUNE becomes a Law. Anno Regni GEORGI II III. Regis Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, and Hiberniæ.
An ACT to discontinue, in such manner, and for such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading or shipping of Goods, Wares, and Merchandise, at the town, and within the harbour of Boston, in the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, in North America. W HEREAS dangerous commotions and insurrections have been fomented and raised in the town of Boston, in the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, by divers ill-affected persons, to the subversion of his Majesty's government, and to the utter destruction of the public peace, and good order of the said Town; in which commotions and insurrections certain valuable cargoes of Teas, being the property of the East-India Company, and on board certain Vessels lying within the bay or harbour of Boston, were seized and destroyed: And whereas, in the present condition of the said town and harbour, the commerce of his Majesty's subjects cannot be safely carried on there, nor the customs payable to his Majesty duly collected; and it is therefore expedient that the officers of his Majesty's Customs should be forthwith removed from the said town: May it please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the FIRST DAY OF JUNE, One thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever to lade or put, or cause or procure to be laden or put, off or from any quay, wharf, or other place, within the said town of Boston, or in or upon any part of the shore of the bay, commonly called the harbour of Boston, between a certain headland or point called NAHANT POINT, on the Eastern side of the entrance into the said bay, and a certain other headland or point called ALDERMAN POINT, on the western side of the entrance into the said bay, or in or upon any island, creek, landing-place, bank, or other place, within the said bay or headlands, into any ship, vessel, lighter, boat, or bottom, any goods, wares, or merchandise whatsoever, to be transported or carried into any other country, province, or place whatsoever, or into any other part of the said province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England; or to take up, discharge, or lay on land, or cause or procure to be taken up, discharged, or laid on land, within the said town, or in or upon any of the places aforesaid, out of any boat, lighter, ship, vessel, or bottom, any goods, wares, or merchandise whatsoever, to be brought from any other country, province or place, or any other part of the said province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, upon pain of the forfeiture of the said goods, wares, and merchandise, and of the said boat, lighter, ship, vessel, or other bottom into which the same shall be put, or out of which the same shall be taken, and of the guns, ammunition, tackle, furniture, and stores, in or belonging to the same: And if any such goods, wares, or merchandise, shall, within the said town, or in any the places aforesaid, be laden or taken in from the shore into any barge, hoy, lighter, wherry, or boat, to be carried on board any ship or vessel outward-bound to any other country or province, or other part of the said province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, or be laden or taken into such barge, hoy, lighter, wherry, or boat, from or out of any ship or vessel coming in and arriving from any other country or province, or other part of the said province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, such barge, hoy, lighter, wherry, or boat, shall be forfeited and lost.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any wharfinger, or keeper of any wharf, crane, or quay, or their Servants, or any of them, shall take up or land, or knowingly suffer to be taken up or landed, or shall ship off, or suffer to be waterborne, at or from any of their said wharfs, cranes, or quays, and such goods wares, or merchandise; in every such case, all and every such wharfinger, and keeper of such wharf; crane, or
quay, and every person whatever who shall be assisting, or otherwise concerned in the shipping or in the loading or putting on board any boat, or other vessel, for that purpose, or in the unshipping such goods, wares, and merchandise, or to whose hands the same shall knowingly come after the loading, shipping, or unshipping thereof, shall forfeit and lose treble the value thereof, to be computed at the highest price which such sort of goods, wares, and merchandise, shall bear at the place where such offence shall be committed, at the time when the same shall be so committed, together with the vessels and boats, and all the horses, cattle, and carriages, whatsoever made use of in the shipping, unshipping, landing, removing, carriage, or conveyance of any of the aforesaid goods, wares, and merchandise.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any ship or vessel shall be moored or lie at anchor, or be seen hovering within the said bay, described and bounded as aforesaid, or within one league from the said bay so described, or the said headlands, or any of the islands lying between or within the same, it shall and may be lawful for any Admiral, Chief Commander, or commissioned Officer of his Majesty's fleet or ships of war, or for any Officer of his Majesty's Customs, to compel such ship or vessel to depart to some other port or harbour, or to such station as the said officer shall appoint, and to use such force for that purpose as shall be found necessary: And if such ship or vessel shall not depart accordingly, within six hours after notice for that purpose given by such person as aforesaid, such ship or vessel, together with all the goods laden on board thereon, and all the guns, ammunition, tackle, and furniture, shall be forfeited and lost, whether bulk shall have been broken or not.
Provided always, That nothing in this act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to any military or other stores for his Majesty's use, or to the ships or vessels when the same shall be laden, which shall be commissioned by, and in the immediate pay of, his Majesty, his heirs or successors; nor to any fuel or victual brought coastwise from any part of the Continent of America, for the necessary use and sustenance of the inhabitants of the said town of Boston, provided the vessel which in the same are to be carried shall be duly furnished with a cocked and let-pass, after having been duly searched by the proper Officers of his Majesty's custom's at Marblehead, in the port of Salem, in the said province of Massachusetts-Bay; and that some Officer of his Majesty's customs be also there put on board the said vessel, who is hereby authorised to go on board, and proceed with the said vessel, together with a sufficient number of persons, properly armed, for his defence, to the said town or harbour of Boston; nor to any ships or vessels which may happen to be within the said harbour of Boston on or before the first day of June, One thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, and may have either laden or taken on board, or be there with intent to load or take on board, or to land or discharge any goods, wares, and merchandise, provided the said ships and vessels do depart the said harbour within fourteen days after the said first Day of June, One thousand seven hundred and seventy-four.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all seizures, penalties and forfeitures, inflicted by this act, shall be made and prosecuted by any Admiral, Chief Commander, or commissioned Officer, of his Majesty's fleet, or ships of war, or by the Officers of his Majesty's Customs, or some of them, or by some other person deputed or authorised, by warrant from the Lord High Treasurer, or the Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury for the time being, and by no other person whatsoever: And if any such Officer, or other person authorised as aforesaid, shall, directly or indirectly, take or receive any bribe or reward, to connive at such lading or unlading, or shall make or commence any collusive seizure, information, or agreement for that purpose, or shall do any other act whatsoever, whereby the goods, wares or merchandise, prohibited as aforesaid, shall be suffered to pass either inwards or outwards, or whereby the forfeitures and penalties inflicted by this act may be evaded, every such offender shall forfeit the sum of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS for every such offence, and shall become incapable of any office or employment, civil or military; and every person who shall give, offer or promise any such bribe or reward, or shall contract, agree, or treat with any person, so authorised as aforesaid,
to commit any such offence, shall forfeit the sum of FIFTY POUNDS.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the forfeitures and penalties inflicted by this act shall and may be prosecuted, sued for, and recovered, and be divided, paid and applied, in like manner as other penalties and forfeitures inflicted by any act or acts of Parliament, relating to the trade or revenues of the British colonies or plantations in America, are directed to be prosecuted, sued for, or recovered, divided, paid and applied by two special acts of Parliament, the one passed in the fourth year of his present Majesty (intitled an act for granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations in America; for continuing, amending, and making perpetual, an act passed in the sixth year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Second, intitled An act for the better securing and encouraging the trade of his Majesty's sugar colonies in America; for applying the produce of such duties, and of the duties to arise by virtue of the said act, towards defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing, the said colonies and plantations; for explaining an act made in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, intitled An act for the encouragement of the Greenland and Eastland Trades, and for the better securing the plantation trade; and for altering and disallowing several drawbacks on exports from this kingdom, and more effectually preventing the clandestine conveyance of goods to and from the said colonies and plantations, and improving and securing the trade between the same and Great-Britain) the other passed in the eighth year of his present Majesty's reign (intitled An act for the more easy and effectual recovery of the penalties and forfeitures inflicted by the acts of Parliament relating to the trade or revenues of the British colonies and plantations in America.)
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every charter party bill of lading, and other contract for consigning, shipping, or carrying any goods, wares, and merchandise whatsoever, to or from the said town of Boston, or any part of the bay or harbour thereof, described as aforesaid, which have been made or entered into, or which shall be made or entered into, so long as this act shall remain in full force, relating to any ship which shall arrive at the said town or harbour, after the first day of June, One thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, shall be, and the same are hereby declared to be, utterly void, to all intents and purposes whatsoever.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That whenever it shall be made to appear to his Majesty, in his Privy Council, that peace and obedience to the laws shall be so far restored in the said town of Boston, that the trade of Great-Britain may safely be carried on there, and his Majesty's Customs duly collected, and his Majesty, in his Privy Council, shall adjudge the same to be true, it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty, by proclamation, or order of Council, to assign and appoint the extent, bounds and limits, of the port or harbour of Boston, and of every creek or haven within the same, or in the islands within the precinct thereof; and also to assign and appoint such and so many open places, quays and wharfs, within the said harbour, creeks, havens and islands, for the landing, discharging, lading, and shipping of goods, as his Majesty, his heirs or successors, shall judge necessary and expedient; and also to appoint such and so many officers of the Customs therein, as his Majesty shall think fit; after which it shall be lawful for any person or persons to lade or put off from, or to discharge and land upon, such wharfs, quays, and places, so appointed within the said harbour, and none other, any goods, wares, and merchandise whatever.
Provided always, That if any goods, wares, or merchandise, shall be laden or put off from, or discharged or landed upon, any other place than the quays, wharfs, or places so appointed, the same, together with the ships, boats, and other vessels employed therein, and the horses, or other cattle and carriages used to convey the same, and the person or persons concerned or assisting therein, or to whose hands the same shall knowingly come, shall suffer all the forfeitures and penalties imposed by this or any other act on the illegal shipping or landing of goods.
Provided also, and it is hereby declared and enacted, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed, to enable his Majesty to appoint
Rye and Millings, being part of the estate of Samuel Snow, late of Boston, Mariner, deceased, intestate. Boston, please to give notice to John... It we aim to...

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any action or suit shall be commenced, either in Great-Britain or America, against any person or persons, for any thing done in pursuance of this act of Parliament, the defendant or defendants, in such action or suit, may plead the general issue, and give the said act, and the general matter, in evidence, at any trial to be had thereupon, and that the same was done in pursuance and by the authority of this act: And if it shall appear to have been done, the jury shall find for the defendant or defendants; and if the plaintiff shall be nonsuited, or discontinue his action, after the defendant or defendants shall have appeared; or if judgment shall be given upon any verdict or demurrer, against the plaintiff, the defendant or defendants shall recover treble costs, and have the like remedy for the same, as defendants have in other cases by law.
such port, harbour, creeks, quays, wharfs, places, or officers, in the said town of Boston, or in the said bay or islands, until it shall sufficiently appear to his Majesty that full satisfaction hath been made by or on behalf of the inhabitants of the said town of Boston to the united company of merchants of England trading to the East-Indies, for the damage sustained by the said company by the destruction of their goods sent to the said town of Boston, on board certain ships or vessels as aforesaid; and until it shall be certified to his Majesty, in Council, by the Governor, or Lieutenant Governor, of the said province, that reasonable satisfaction hath been made to the officers of his Majesty's revenue, and others, who suffered by the riots and insurrections above mentioned, in the months of November and December, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three, and in the month of January, in the year of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four.
L O N D O N, March 30. ON Friday last Mr. Edmund Burke spoke as if he had been inspired, AGAINST the Bill for prohibiting Commerce in the Town of Boston. The sublimity and force of his argument never was exceeded in the House of Commons. It is difficult to catch the words of this great Orator, his manner is so various and rapid; but we are endeavouring to get some chasms in the materials we have collected accurately filled up, and hope to be able to give the whole to the Public, for the HONOUR OF THIS NATION. In the mean while, we give the substance of what was said by another Member, on the same side.
GOVERNOR JOHNSTONE'S SPEECH on the BILL for BLOCKADING the Town of BOSTON.
MR. SPEAKER, I FIND so much difficulty in pronouncing my sentiments at any time, that, unless the House is kindly disposed to hear me, at this late hour, I shall patiently sit down, because I am conscious it will require their greatest indulgence, to enable me to express myself in a manner worthy of their attention. A modesty, becoming my situation, prevented me from offering my opinion before, when I saw men of so much superior ability rising from the beginning of the debate.
It may appear arrogant in a Member so inferior, as I confess myself to be, to offer objections to a Bill so extensive in its consequences under every consideration, especially after it must have been so maturely considered, in every article, by men so distinguished by their talents and high situations in office, besides the general applause which has followed the Bill in its rapid progress through this House. Nevertheless, though naturally diffident of my opinion, when I had the good or bad fortune (I don't know which to term it) of prognosticating to the Chairman of the East India Company the consequences of sending this Tea, on their own account, to America, and that the event has literally fulfilled my words, as it is well known to some Members now in my eye, it makes me more confident in warning the House of what I apprehend will be the consequences of this Bill.
I told the Chairman of the East-India Company, first in conversation, on asking my opinion, and afterwards by letter, that the evidence might appear in the progress of things; that I conceived the East-India Company exporting Tea on their own account, was, under every consideration of their situation and institution, WRONG, but, under the present discontents and disputed matters of Government in America, CRIMINALLY ABSURD, because they were presenting themselves as the butt in the controversy, where they would probably come off with the loss of the whole. The event has justified my prediction; for whatever re-payment the Company may obtain from the town of Boston, under those cruel coercive measures now proposed, (the effect of which I still doubt,) yet the Company must remain great losers, even if the other Provinces, equally culpable, are made to refund the loss arising from their conduct, because it was not supplies of cash at a distant period the Company wanted, but an IMMEDIATE SUPPLY, to answer a temporary exigency, which a combination of the enemies of the Company had produced.
I now venture to predict to this House, that the effect of the present Bill must be productive of a general confederacy, to resist the power of this country. It is irritating tempting, nay inviting men to those deeds, by ineffectual expedients, the abortions of an undevise mind, incapable of comprehending the chain of consequences which must result from such a Law.—I am not one of those who believe that distant Provinces can be retained in their duty by preaching or enchantments; I believe that FORCE or POWER, conducted with wisdom,
are the means of securing regular obedience under every establishment, but that such force should never be applied to any degree of rigour, unless it shall carry the general approbation of mankind in the execution. However much such approbation may prevail at the particular moment in this House, it is impossible to believe the sense of Great Britain, or the sense of America, can go to the punishing a PARTICULAR TOWN, for resisting the payment of the Tea-Tax, which is universally odious throughout America, and is held in ridicule and contempt by every thinking man in this country.—The question of taxing America is sufficiently nice to palliate resistance, if the subject had never been litigated in this country; but, after the highest characters in the State had declared against the Right of this Country to impose Taxes on America, for the purposes of Revenue; after the general voice of the Senate had concurred in REPEALING THE STAMP ACT, upon that principle; after those men, who had maintained these doctrines, had been promoted by his Majesty to the first stations in the administration of civil and judicial affairs, there is so much mitigation to be pleaded in favour of the Americans, from those circumstances, (allowing them in an error at present,) that every man must feel the height of cruelty, by enforcing contrary maxims, with any degree of severity, at first, before due warning is given.
It is in vain to say that Boston is more culpable than the other Colonies; sending the ships from thence, and obliging them to return to England, is a more solemn and deliberate act of resistance than the outrage committed by persons in disguise in the night, when the ship refused to depart. That of blocking up the harbour of Boston to prevent the importation of British manufactures, or the exportation of goods which are to pay for them, is a measure equally as absurd as if the Parliament here, upon the resistance which was made to their resolution, by the riots at Brentford, and other disturbances in the County of Middlesex, had decreed, by way of punishment, that the Freeholders should have been prohibited from sowing of wheat. For whose benefit do the inhabitants of Boston toil and labour? The springs in the circle of commerce bear so nicely on each other, that few men can tell by interrupting one, the degree and extent to which the rest may be exposed. By excluding the importation of Molasses, and the exportation of that spirit which is distilled at Boston, the whole Guinea Trade will be affected, and in consequence the Sugar Trade that depends upon it. In extending this kind of punishment to the other Colonies, every one must see the danger; and yet, if it can be approved for one, the same arguments will hold good to approve or reject it respecting the other. But let any man figure to himself the consequences to this country, if a similar punishment was applied to the Colony of Virginia; 300,000. a year diminution in Revenue, besides the loss of all the foreign Contracts, and perhaps of that beneficial trade for ever! Notwithstanding the general approbation which has been given to this Bill, and the loud applauses which have been re-echoed to every word of the noble Lord in explaining it, yet no man will be bold enough to say, that this PARTIAL PUNISHMENT is a remedy for the general disease, and yet without knowing what is to follow, no man can be vindicated (even supposing the Bill right in part) for giving his assent to it. Those Gentlemen who are in the secrets of the Cabinet, and know how assuredly every proposition from them is adopted by this House, may be excused for their sanguine acclamations in favour of the measure. But the general mass, who must be equally ignorant with myself of what is to follow, can have no excuse for giving their assent so readily for punishing their fellow subjects in so unprecedented a manner, and their eager zeal serves only to shew how ready they are to obey the will of another, without exercising their own judgment in the case. If the Government of this Country is resisted in America, my opinion is, instead of removing the seat of Government in the Colony, and forcing the elements to bend to our will, which is impossible, that an effectual force should be carried to the heart of the Colony resisting, to crush rebellion in the bud before a general confederacy can be formed. In the present case we abandon the Government, and drive the inhabitants to despair, leaving the multitude a prey to any ambitious spirit that may arise. For my own part I am convinced, from experience in the Colonies, that good Government may be conducted there upon rational grounds, as well as in this Country; but the power and means of governing, rewards and punishments, are taken from your supreme executive Magistrate in every sense, and then you are surprised that all order and obedience should cease. The colonies can only be governed by their Assemblies, as England by the House of Commons; the Patent Offices, as well as those in the Customs, which were formerly given at the recommendation of the Governors, to men supporting Government, and residing in the Provinces, are now given in reversion three or four lives deep, to men living in this Country. The command of the Military, which was another great source of respect and obedience, is likewise taken from the Governor; so that in TRUTH he remains an insignificant Pageant of State, fit only to transmit tedious accounts of his own ridiculous situation; or, like a Doctor of the Sorbonne, to debate with his Assembly about abstract doctrines in Government.
I am far from wishing to throw any blame upon Governor Hutchinson, or to condemn him, like the town of Boston, unheard. The absence of the man, and the general clamour against him will restrain me from saying many things respecting his conduct, which appear reprehensible. But I cannot admit a passage in the speech of a noble Lord to pass unnoticed. His Lordship alledged, "that the Governor could not apply to the Admiral in the harbour, or to the commanding officer of the troops in the castle, for the protection of the Custom-house officers, as well as to those in question, WITHOUT the advice of his Council." But I beg leave to in-
form the noble Lord, as I served in that station myself that there is a volume of instructions to every Governor on this subject, whereby he is commanded, under severest penalties, "to give all kind of protection to trade and commerce, as well as to the officers of Majesty's Customs, by his own authority, without necessity of acting through his Council." Nor can conceive a possible excuse for the destruction of the teas, while two men of war lay in the harbour, with the least application having been made to the Admiral for protection, during so long a transaction.
The first essential point in those disputes which are now likely to become so serious by the weakness of Administration in this country in following no connected plan, either of force or favour, but constantly vibrating between the two, is to put ourselves in the right, and for this purpose I would recommend the immediate REPEAL OF THE TEA DUTY, which can be vindicated upon no principles, either of commerce or policy. Men may alledge this would be giving up the point. But if we have no better points to dispute upon, I am ready to yield the argument. Raising taxes in America for the purposes of REVENUE, I maintain to be unnecessary and dangerous. A Stamp Act, as a measure of police, varied for the different Governments, and leaving the Revenue raised thereby to be appropriated by the respective legislatures, I hold to be a measure of the highest efficacy, for maintaining a due obedience to the authority of this country, and prolonging that dependence for ages to come. How far it can be executed after what has already passed, I am rather doubtful, but of this I am certain, that in case Great-Britain is deprived of executing a measure of that nature, which by pervading every transaction secures the execution in itself, she has lost one of the greatest engines for supporting her influence throughout the Empire without oppression. Some men who are for simplifying Government to their own comprehensions will not allow they can conceive that the supreme legislative authority shall not be paramount in all things, and taxation being fully comprehended in legislation, they argue, that the power of the one must necessarily follow that of the other; and yet we find mankind possessed of privileges which are not to be violated in the most arbitrary countries. The Province of Languedoc is a striking example in refutation of the doctrines respecting taxation, which are held by such narrow observers. The kingdom of Ireland is another instance in our dominions. There is not one argument which can apply for exempting Ireland from taxation by the Parliament of Great Britain, that does not equally protect the Colonies from the power of such partial judges. Every man should now call to his remembrance by what obstinate infatuation Philip II. came to lose the United Provinces. Can it be supposed that in a nation so wise as Spain was at that time, that no man perceived the injustice and futility of the measure in dispute? But I can easily suppose, from the pride of authority where our vanity is so much flattered, that no man durst venture a proposition for receding from that cruel measure, after it had been resisted by violence.
These are the general heads. The particular objections to the Bill are, first for continuing the punishment "until satisfaction shall be made to the India Company," without stating the amount, or what that satisfaction shall be. Next, "until peace and good order shall be certified to be restored;" when it is impossible as to the subject in dispute that such certificate can ever be granted, because the custom-house officers are removed, and all trade and commerce prohibited. The numerous dispute and litigations which must necessarily arise in carrying this law into execution, on contract made by parties before they could be apprized of it, and the dispatch of ships in harbour, under the limited time, without any exception for the detention of seamen, or wind and weather, is altogether melancholy to consider! The power given to the Admiral or Chief Commander to order the ships returning from foreign voyages, to such stations as he shall direct, is wild, vexatious, and infinite. That of permitting his Majesty to alter the value of all the property in the town of Boston, upon restoring the Port, by affixing such quays and wharfs as HE ONLY shall appoint for landing and shipping of goods, is liable to such misrepresentation and abuse, that I expect to see every evil follow the exercise of it, and it must create infinite jealousies and distraction among the people.
I am therefore of opinion, that this Bill, both from the principle and manner in which it has been passed, and from fore-running the general regulations that are intended, and which ought at least to accompany it; instead of quieting the disturbances in America, will promote them still further, and induce the inhabitants to cut off all communication with your ships of war, which may be productive of mutual hostilities, and most probably will end in a GENERAL REVOLT.
L O N D O N.
March 11. The miscreant Ministerial Writers labour hard to misrepresent the present controversy between Great-Britain and her Colonies. It is not, as they shamefully insinuate, reducible to the following question, "Whether the Mother Country shall or shall not retain her supremacy?" Her right of supremacy is indisputable; but if she abuses that right by every effort of illegal taxation; if she protects a set of scoundrel Governors in their base designs to enslave a brave, and, by Charter, a free people; if Great-Britain does all this, and the Bostonians, rouzed with sensibility at the injuries they sustain, happen to express their resentments in an imprudent manner, the question then is, "Whether they shall or shall not be put to the sword?" This is the query; the debates on which now occupy the British Councils.