The Massachusetts spy (Boston [Mass.]), 1772-02-20 00:00:00

THE Massachusetts Spy
A Weekly, Political, and Commercial PAPER:--Open to ALL Parties, but Influenced by None.
Published by I. THOMAS, near the Mill-Bridge, BOSTON.
DO THOU Great LIBERTY INSPIRE our Souls, -And make our Lives in THY Possession happy, -Or, our Deaths glorious in THY JUST Defence!
VOL. I.]
THURSDAY, February 20, 1772.
[NUMB. 51.]
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY. The CENTINEL. No. XXXV. Yet Fortune, when she meant to wreak her hate, From foreign foes preserv'd the Roman state; To Rome herself for enemies she sought, And Rome herself her own destruction wrought. ROMIS LUCAN.
It is curious to observe what kind of attention, we in general pay to the events of past ages. We read of the rise of kingdoms and the fall of empires with a degree of carelessness, and treat them as fables of antiquity, in which we are but little concerned. We turn over a few pages, are pleased with the relation of battles and feats of valour, close the book, and suffer the impression to die away, not reflecting that they are beacons to warn posterity, and teach a powerful though silent lesson, which future periods should learn and apply. On the other hand, by attending to their misfortunes, we may avoid our own, and by separating what was beautiful and noble in their constitutions from what was defective, we may be able to raise a superstructure that may be durable and permanent. In this view of history, one of the most powerful instructions it conveys is, the consequences that inevitably follow certain actions. These as they might not at first have appeared fatal, were disregarded. Experience fully disclosed them, and opened a scene of horror human prudence might not have foreseen. Time has at length fully attested that the chain and connection between these causes and effects, is inevitable and certain. May this truth be impressed on this people, and the most happy, the most salutary consequences will ensue.
It is difficult to evince the truth of these observations from an inspection of the annals of the Assyrian, the Persian and the more ancient monarchies of the world. There does not seem to be any period in their history, when the people can be called freemen, or when the government was anything but despotic. The foundations of the Assyrian were laid very early, and were erected by force and violence. Nimrod by the law of arms acquired sovereignty, and laid the basis of this empire in blood. The people bred as it were from their infancy in slavery, became familiar and pleased with their condition, and having never tasted the sweets of freedom, had no inclination to grasp after them. Every faculty seems to be sunk in a lethargy, and if ever we meet with any display of genius, the subject renders it disgusting. The race of their Kings exhibit scenes of cruelty and horror, and what Nimrod founded with the sword, Nebuchadnezzar supported with the dagger.
Leaving the history of these dark ages, to men of a romantic turn of mind, who can amuse themselves with the tale of Gods, Goddesses and the actions of heroes, whose illustrious cruelty paved a way to deity, let us have recourse to the Roman constitution: The truth of our remarks will now appear in the most striking light. From the first consulship of Junius Brutus, to those unhappy periods, when Sylla first attempted and Cæsar after him completed the tragedy of Roman freedom, a cluster of great men and a series of noble actions present themselves to view. It was from the conduct of heroes in this period, that in the name of a Roman every thing virtuous and manly is contained. Perhaps the annals of no nation can produce greater instances of patriotism and every thing illus-
trious, than what were now exhibited. Shift the scene, pass by the revolution of a few centuries, and contemplate an Æra, when Rome was vulgarly said to have reached the summit of grandeur; I mean in the fourth and fifth centuries, when the various provinces of Europe were added to its dominions. Produce me an instance in all this length of time, of that true magnanimity of mind, disinterested conduct, and refined patriotism, as once dazzled us in Cincinnatus, Decius, and the two Brutus's. Instead of this we are disgusted with the fight of Emperors sacrificing the honour of government to luxury and intemperance, acting only as they were acted on, and dividing their moments between sensuality and cruelty: of subordinate rulers, who lived only to be scourges to mankind, and whose only glory was to be the oppressors and the plunderers of the people; of an army, who sunk in voluptuousness, could not bear the hardships of the field, and whose discipline being relaxed, trembled at the face of rude barbarians, and whose acts of valour were only exhibited in rapes and murders on the citizens; of subjects who thus oppressed and harassed, had lost every sentiment, had long been strangers to any ideas of virtue or patriotism, and had sunk below the character of men. How can we account for this difference in the manners of the same nation? Perhaps these extremes were never seen in any people before. In the early Æra of the common-wealth, Rome gave law to the world, and the most distant nations trembled even at her name. In the fourth century she was contemptible, and she seemed only to exist as an empire, to be the sport of mankind, and to be exposed to the insults and ravages of ignorant, unmeaning barbarians. Such was Rome, such have been other kingdoms, and to such instances in history, O Britain, be attentive and learn wisdom!
We will now my countrymen, endeavour to investigate the reasons of so extraordinary phenomena, and we may perhaps collect some TRUTHS, which WE in a peculiar manner ought to know. We are not to impute it to such causes as the barbarian general mentioned by Liutprandus, that the arts and sciences were the occasion, and that he who trembled under the rod of a pedagogue, never could look undaunted on a sword. No, the reasons must be fetched from their constitution, and here they will naturally and justly apply themselves. When Rome was republic, and each part of their constitution was so balanced that the whole was naturally productive of freedom; the manners and sentiments of the people were noble. It was this form of their constitution, that animated their thoughts and actions, and inspirited those deeds, that will ever make them illustrious: And although luxury so frequently, but I think unmeaningly, mentioned, had appeared ever so formidable, it never would have produced so remarkable a change as ensued, had their constitution remained unimpaired. Hence it is notorious, the spirit of liberty and virtue was uniformly preserved the whole of this period, even to the verge of the mutation, and there we meet with as rigid manners and true Roman sentiment in Cato and Cicero, as was ever exhibited in Junius Brutus and Cincinnatus. But how was it when the government changed, and Rome became an empire? When Quod placuit principi, habet Legis Vigorem became the standard of law, and the constitutional barriers of liberty gradually diminished? They were a mean race, and by rules founded in
the fitness of things, their misery was owing to themselves. It is true Brutus and a few men struggled hard for their constitution; but the fatal issue of their attempt damped the spirit of the Romans. They were deterred from again encountering a tide which proved superior to their efforts. And through the reign of the twelve Cæsars, we meet with no other attempt to vindicate their freedom. The kingdom exhibited during this period, the appearance of an old constitution struggling and expiring in agonies, and a new one, which founded in violence began to appear dreadful. Even in the times of Otho and Vitellius, the people were amazingly debased, and had lost all that magnanimity and sense of honour which before characterised them. And by gradual steps in proportion to the increase of the strength of the new government, their minds were still more debased, and they finally became a contemptible herd, universally ridiculed and despised. And oh! my countrymen, permit me to urge it home to you, let these things have a proper influence on you. God knows I have no sinister view in being thus animated and importunate with you. But I feel, because I know the certain consequence of measures prosecuted for your destruction. I am uneasy because mankind in general are not so well acquainted with these connections. Look over, and seriously and cautiously ponder the above representation of the two different states of Rome. You may perhaps feel as you read, and if so you may find some better improvement than mere historic knowledge. You have been and are still brave and virtuous. You have been celebrated for a bold republican spirit. May heaven for ever preserve to you this character. But these things are greatly dependant on your form of government. A Roman, existed a noble idea in a republic; in an empire, was only mean, pitiful and contemptible. If after having read my former numbers, you will coolly tell me the constitution is not changed, and the measures now pursued will not inevitably issue in your destruction, you may throw by the paper and read no more. But if you think otherwise, for mercy sake, what, where are you? Should you permit these new innovations to grow strong and your old constitution miserably to decay, in a period not far distant, you will lose all power to assert your rights as men. But not only so, with the constitution every sentiment which now honours you will die away, and you will be as mean and despicable as you are now the reverse. I dare affirm it, and the philosopher and the historian will believe me, the former, because he knows it is a truth founded in the nature of things; the latter, because the experience of ages confirms it, and the above account of Rome is a clear but melancholy instance. Oh, my countrymen, the miseries crouding on you I would pity; the insults offered you I would resent. And he who made my heart knows these are its sentiments: I deprecate from my soul, the idea of civil wars, confusion, anarchy, carnage and blood. But I equally deprecate the thought of seeing the constitution given up without a struggle, and this people with their posterity after them, dragging on a miserable existence, in cursing the chains incautiously rivetted on them: And my prayer is, that by a prudent, wise, cautious, determined, brave, manly and virtuous conduct, we may secure, defend and preserve the form of government, so dearly purchased by our ancestors, that latest ages may rise up and call us blessed.
From the POLITICAL REGISTER. On the PERVERSION of LAW from its CONSTITUTIONAL COURSE.
Indignum est in ea Civitate, quæ Legibus continetur, discidi a Legibus. Legum Ministri Magistratus: Legum Interpretes, Judices. Cicero pro Cluentio.
OF all the grievances under which this nation labours, no one furnishes a greater or more just cause of complaint, than the perversion of law from its equal and constitutional course. Upon the principles of our government, the people have a right in executing no less than in making the laws. But as the ministers of kings have been perpetually invading the legislative rights of the people, by endeavouring to give our monarchs a power which our constitution abhors; the dispensers of justice in like manner, and with greater success, have encroached on our judicial rights, and have affected to be considered as the interpreters, and not what they really are, the mere ministers of the law. The verdict of a jury is with us the only obligatory interpretation of law. The opinion of a judge is respectable, if he be an honest man, but neither the opinion of a judge, or of any Court of Justice, was intended to determine any issue. They may advise, and if their arguments convince the jury, the jury is in conscience bound to find as they advise but; it is the finding of the jury which is the determination and interpretation of the law. From giving advice, which was their duty, judges and courts (as juries have fallen into the service of the lowest of the people) are become powerful enough to dictate. Yet even where they exert this power with the highest hand, the very methods they have taken to establish it, are proofs against their right of using it. In those instances, where the determination of the law is in substance taken from the people, judges have not as yet been hardy enough to take away the form, and that form bears testimony against their usurpations. Special verdicts and motions for a new trial, are the great means by which courts have of late years taken the decision out of the hands of the people. Yet still the record is made up as determined by the verdict of a jury, not by the opinion of the court; still the people, if they will exert themselves, have an acknowledged right to find a general verdict, which determines the law: and although the court should order a new trial, the jury on that new trial may find as the former jury found, and thereby establish their verdict against the opinion of the court. All this power which courts and judges arrogate, of directing juries, and taking from them the determination of the law, if it be fairly examined, is no more than a right to advise, however arbitrarily that advice may operate; and the people may accept or refuse that advice, as their consciences direct them. At present, they are certainly apt to follow the advice too implicitly.
This encroachment of judges and courts on the power of juries in civil cases, is a great grievance, but a much greater in criminal. Indeed, the cause of our complaint in this respect, is to be sought for elsewhere, and higher, no less than in judges and courts of justice. An Englishman in no criminal case whatever can be found guilty, or punished as such, but by the verdict of two juries. This is so essential a part of our constitution, that the liberty of the subject is violated, whenever the least attempt is made to break

through this sacred rule, which will admit of no exception. Too true it is, that the practice has been in some cases to depart from it, and this practice has even been established by some acts of parliament. This, however proves nothing, but that such practice is a disgrace to our laws, and that such acts ought to be repealed. The high commissioned and star-chamber courts were established by acts of parliament: were they the less unconstitutional? as the lust of unbounded power has begun to fester in the hearts of our former kings, or as the love of liberty has abated in the hearts of the people, bad practices have prevailed, and even bad laws have been enacted; but when our kings have been better instructed, and our ancestors have roused themselves from their lethargy, these practices and these laws have been torn up by the roots, and have often with the repeal brought ruin on the advisers and defenders of them. And when the time shall come, that laws of this sort shall be thought more sacred than the constitution, and that we shall patiently lie down bound with fetters of our own forging; or that some future king, whose heart may not, like that of his present Majesty, be animated by the love of his people, but burning with the desire of arbitrary power, instead of attending to the complaints of his subjects, when they suffer prehaps from legal oppression, shall strain the cords tight, and strangle the constitution by means of the laws, there will be an end of all constitution and all law, but the will of the monarch; and the sacred flame of liberty will be smothered by the heaping on of its own fuel. All informations ex officio , all summary proceedings before justices of the peace, tend to this. They should be expressly forbidden, instead of being established, as some of them are, by law. Attachments to answer interrogatories on oath, by any person or on any account, are unconstitutional: They are the abuse of a power incident to all courts and all magistrates. That courts and magistrates should have the power to attach or commit any man whatever, who insults or interrupts them, is highly reasonable, it is necessary; but when the offended is attached, there is an end of the necessity, and there should be an end of the extraordinary method of proceeding against him. The rest of the process against him should be conducted by the same rule of law as for any other offence, and by a jury, a jury judges of the law, as well as of the fact, he should be acquitted or condemned, according to the ordinary and reasonable method of proceeding established by our laws, and not by the unconstitutional mode of answering interrogatories upon oath, and thereby of being reduced to the unnatural necessity of accusing himself. Nothing can be more contrary, not only to the spirit of our laws, but to the dictates of natural justice: And shall we suffer the spirit of our laws to be offended, and the common rules of natural justice to be violated, for the pretended support of the dignity of courts? In all proceedings between the king and the subject, even in the case of treason, the party accused has a right to require the most exact adherence to the general laws in conducting the prosecution against him. This country could never be brought to submit to the absolute will of the sovereign, and shall we suffer courts to be absolute? to invert the first principles of law and right reason, where they themselves are parties? Nay, let them go still higher for instruction, if their pride look even beyond kings, for a case in point to their dignity; and let them recollect (with reverence be it spoken) that the almighty himself has been pleased to modify his infinite power in this respect with his justice, and has permitted his creatures to say unto him, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?"
The corruption of the best juices, produces the foulest ulcers. The laws are the measure of right and wrong: We refer to them in all cases as citizens, and on that reference is founded the security of our properties, our persons, and our rights. They are the spirit of the community which sustain its infirmity, but this spirit wounded how can we bear? In truth, this grievance calls for a total amendment, and that amendment can be procured only by recurring to the first principles, and by bringing back the practice of all courts, in every respect, to the primitive simplicity of our Saxon ancestors. The numerous officers in the law should be reduced,
an end should be put to the nicety of pleadings, and the enormous fees of lawyers abridged, or utterly taken away, as was the case during the freedom of Rome by the Cincian law. So long as the Romans preserved their freedom, that law subsisted, and it expired with expiring liberty:—This one expedient might perhaps effect the reformation sought for. All proceedings should be brought back to the simplest method of a quick determination, in all cases by a jury of the neighbourhood. This is the true characteristic of the English law, the grand privilege of Englishmen, unknown to other nations. But this privilege is in danger of being soon at an end, and by the channel of informations ex officio in criminal cases, and of special cases, and motions for a new trial of civil actions, is swallowed up in the vortex of the courts at Westminster. These courts were originally the fountains of justice; all proceedings at law had their source in these fountains, and from them flowed throughout the whole land, to the ease and quiet of the people. Now, they not only act as fountains, but by a violent and unnatural reflux draw back the determination to themselves, and therewith draw the houses, the lands, the goods, chattels, and domestic peace of the subject, which are plunged and lost for ever in those bottomless gulphs.
It were endless to enumerate the fictions our courts have invented to alter the laws for their purpose, without the authority of the legislature, and in direct opposition (some of them) to the spirit of the constitution. Of these fictions, some were devised to bring suits into one court, which ought to be carried on in another: Or, to drag the subject to the most distant part of the kingdom, to answer for an offence which our laws expressly declare shall be tried by the neighbourhood where it was committed; others, to elude laws in force, which if inexpedient, ought to be repealed. But, a law to effect what is done by means of these fictions, will never be suffered to pass, by the good will of the lawyers, as it would curtail their fees, and the perquisites of courts. In the single article of cutting off entails, the subject would be freed from an incredible tax, if a law were passed to enable those to dock an entail by deed, whom the fages of the law suffer now to do it by means of a palpable falsehood. To what purpose are laws made, if the ministers of them are allowed to defeat their provisions by such fictions, as in private life would be held equally infamous and ridiculous? If this right of legal lying be admitted to be in courts, where will they stop in the use of it? What law will be sacred? or rather, what law valued, unless it have the allowance of this fourth branch of the legislature? Who can assure us they will not break through the provisions of the Habeas Corpus act, as they have, to dock entails, broken through those of 2 Westminster, which provides, that the will of the donor shall be observed, and those of 2 Ric. II. cap. 6. which enacts, that writs of debt shall be commenced in the county where the contract was made? Fictions of law, are perversions of law; they are an affectation of arbitrary power, which neither the law nor the constitution, nor the people of England, will suffer to be in any man, or body of men, but the three branches of the legislature united. Yet, to heighten the absurdity, many laws have been passed to support and regulate these fictions which violate laws unrepealed, and the courts have had influence enough to make the legislature itself the tool of their oppressions. I here needs an act to obviate these absurdities, to revise all proceedings at law, and to bring them back from the regions of fiction to truth and right reason: to regulate the fees of lawyers; the perquisites of judges, and their power: To forbid the alteration of records; attachments to answer interrogatories on oath; all informations ex officio ; and all summary proceedings before justices of the peace: To limit suits which may be, and are in a fair way to be, many of them, eternal: To abolish all unnecessary offices; and to make the law, a speedy, certain, cheap, and convenient defence against all attacks on our persons, our liberties, and our properties.—Trials by juries, laws in their purpose so clear as that he who runs may read, in their administration so speedy and effectual, as to follow the complaint with an immediate decision, at the door of the contending parties, are left us in word, but deni-
ed to us in fact. The interest of all the ministers of the law, from the highest judge down to the lowest pettifogging a torney, is concerned to perplex what should be clear, to procrastinate what should be speedy, and to make expensive, to a degree beyond believe, what should be gratuitous. All is become confused and absurd; reason is lost in fiction, and justice hampered with forms. This more than Gordian knot cannot be untied, it must be cut: There is not any grievance more intolerable from its burden, or more increasing in its course, or more dangerous to our liberties in its consequences, or more worthy of the strictest scrutiny of parliamentary wisdom, which only can, and which ought forthwith, to procure to us a remedy for this dire disease.
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
Mr. THOMAS,
IN my country retirement, on my little farm, so far secluded from the world, as to be free from that agitation of spirits which attends the ambition and ostentation of courts, or the vanity and dissipation of cities. I find my contentment (that balm of the soul, the peculiar blessing of heaven, to that first and most laudable occupation of mankind) often interrupted by reflections on the unhappy situation of my country. Liberty has been considered in all, even the most barbarous ages, as a great blessing, and in ages and nations enlightened and refined by learning and knowledge, as the basis of all happiness. But it is to be lamented, that however right and well founded this sentiment is, it has seldom produced consequences adequate to the importance of it. So far from it, that in this age when arts, sciences and learning are carried to as high a pitch as we can suppose the human mind capable of, and when liberty and the blessings consequent from it are well understood, it has been so little attended to, and so feebly defended, that very little appearance of it is now to be found in the world. Europe where it flourished longest, is now reduced to nearly the same state with Asia and Africa, and (in a very few states excepted) there remains not the shadow of that liberty which was so long the glory of that quarter of the world. And in these few states luxury, corruption, standing armies, &c. the ruin of liberty wherever they prevail, have such footing, that their constitutions sicken and decay so fast, as leaves but little hopes of their recovery. Lawless despotism and tyranny have subverted the happiness of many nations once free, and are now rioting upon their spoils. After reducing them to a state very little superior to that of beasts, who neither know their true interest, or are sensible of the strength the God of nature has furnished them with, to remove every obstacle to it. Thus they are governed and abused, from one age to another, without one effort to assume that dignity and majesty which are due only to the people, and only serve to support that which is claimed by the arrogance of a few, who have impudence enough to pretend, that all the rest of mankind were made to be subservient to their purposes. But I need not enlarge on these heads, the blessing of liberty, the miseries of tyranny, have often been exhibited in their proper colours; and I am sorry to say, without such effects as might have been expected from men. Tyranny which spreads its baleful influence far and wide, though often defeated in England, by the virtue of patriotism, while that remained, now threatens that once happy people with the devastations it has already brought on other nations, once as free and happy as they were, and as a prelude and introduction to theirs, the ruin of America is to take place, and seems to be determined, while that unhappy people, lost to the policy and virtuous sentiments of their ancestors, unite with the oppressors of the whole, in sacrificing at the shrine of injustice and oppression, the rights of America, to what they foolishly imagine their interest; and yet we are so inattentive to matters of this importance, and so engaged in trifling business, or still more trifling amusements, as to neglect an object of the greatest consequence. We are really got to a stage, not only dangerous but shameful. We are not only oppressed, but insulted, and suffer with tameness, unworthy of men, both the oppression and insult, while to the dis-
grace of this generation, the executioners of this vile and infamous plan are suffered to parade our streets and public places, in all the pomp of pride and ostentation. What can it be owing to, that a people naturally brave, descended from heroes, whose virtues and magnanimity we revere and boast of, should have so little regard to their own characters, as well as interest, as to suffer such indignities? Will neither reason, argument, or even the history and example of other nations rouse us? The present situation of Spain does excite horror in the minds of Englishmen, and with great reason, for their civil and ecclesiastical domination prevail with every possible mark of horror; and yet this people, a few ages ago, enjoyed freedom, and as fine a constitution of government, as ever mankind in any age or nation were blessed with, were as sensible of the blessing as ever we were, and perhaps thought their constitution in as little danger, as Chronus and other tools would make us think ours is. If this be fact, and nobody ever so little acquainted with the history of that country will question it. It naturally excites a curiosity to enquire by what ways and means so great a change could be effected; and perhaps it may startle some people who are inattentive to matters of this kind, though true, to be told, that this very great change was effected by the very same ways and means, which are now practised here, for the same purpose. Standing armies, creating and fomenting divisions and artfully managing them, so as to command the attention, while first legislation, and then taxation, were assumed and exercised, and before the people were aware of the consequences, while each party promised itself some advantage, they were all involved in the same fate. Their Kings had acquired an independence, had no further occasion for their parliaments, which for that reason were very seldom called, and then only to keep up the form, and by that means lull the common people into greater security, while they when met were suffered to transact nothing of importance, and in some instances, before the Prince had established a settled tyranny, and while the people had some check, by his being dependant on them, and it was necessary for him to consult their parliament, and receive such grant as they thought proper to make. He called them to places unusual and inconvenient, in order to force them into such measures as were agreeable to him, and accorded with the system he pursued: and to secure an influence, not only to make the people easy and acquiescent, but aiding and assisting in their own destruction, all offices were given to creatures who had sold themselves to work wickedness, and no other qualification was requisite in any, even for the first and most exalted seats of justice, but a thorough and steady support of what they thought proper to call government. At last that brave and once free people saw their error, but they saw it too late to hope for redress but from the point of the sword, and even that, by the wickedness of some and the timidity of others, was delayed too long to be successful, and after a manly struggle by a few choice spirits, without the support their cause deserved, and would have had from their countrymen in better times, they fell a sacrifice, and only glutted the revenge and cruelty of the tyrant, who upon the ruins of liberty established a despotism, to all appearance as lasting as the mountains and as dreadful as the unfeeling licentious rage of tyranny can exhibit. Spain is not the only country where the wickedness of some and the folly of others have produced such consequences. Every state in Europe, where absolute power prevails, exhibits scenes equally calamitous. A prince tyrannizing with unrelenting fury, and a people either insensible of their true interest, or tamely and ignominiously submitting to the tyranny, as miserable as can be conceived. Let us not then fall into the same ignominy and wretchedness, through supineness or timidity. What is property? What is life to secure this first of all earthly blessings to our country and posterity? Our fathers dared to sacrifice both, and left us to all generations an example worthy of imitation. Let us now imagine to ourselves what their conduct would have been under similar circumstances. Would H——n have had better success then, than Andross had? Would they have submitted to a tyrant or a tool of a tyrant,

because born and bred among them, rather than to one imported or sent from Britain? How would the Spaniards who lived in the days of Charles the fifth, lament their dastardly conduct? And what resolutions would they take if they could again tread the stage, and see with one view the consequences of tyranny and their own behaviour? They lived in an age of illiterate darkness, and might plead that as some excuse. We live in the meridian sunshine, and zenith of arts, sciences and learning, and have demonstration with its irresistible force, and examples without number to leave us, without any excuse. Resolve then as one man; form your sentiments of things not from the arts and intrigues or impudent assertions of despots, their tools and syco-phants, but from the nature and reason of things, and resolve accordingly. Resolve to be free, and I dare say no man will be audacious enough to attempt to enslave you. If you shew a firmness and resolution worthy of the importance of the cause, ways will be pointed out to you to secure your own and the happiness of posterity without the last appeal; if not let tyrants think of that and tremble. I shall only add here a copy of the oath of allegiance, the Spaniards formerly in the kingdom of Arrogan (for Spain was then divided into several kingdoms, of which this was one) took to their King, to shew the sense the people then had of their own inherent rights, and the majesty of the people, taken from Robertson's elegant history, which is as follows: "We who are each of us as good, and who are altogether more powerful than you, promise obedience to your government, if you maintain our rights and liberties, but if not, not." I am a well wisher to the rights of America and the Liberty of the Press.
Your friend, RUSTICUS.
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY. Mr. THOMAS.
AMONG all the party rage, slander, detraction and calumny, which has been so liberally scattered abroad by the tyrants, the placemen, the enemies of mankind, and levelled against those respectable Gentlemen who have particularly exerted themselves in support of the common cause, none is more injuriously and cruelly treated than a certain worthy patriotic Gentleman of this town, whose unalterable firmness and generosity is the true cause of it; and which will ever merit the respect and support of his fellow-citizens.
Not content with every invective, malice, falsehood and imagination could suggest, he is now represented as a person who has artfully imposed upon the town, under a pretence of relieving it, by persuading the unthinking rabble, as they call the people, to vote away the town's money, to carry on manufactures; but in fact, say they, to build himself on the town's ruin.
Whereas it is notoriously true, that this Gentleman, to whom the town voted 200l. and 300l. more on bond, without interest, payable in two years, has, to my certain knowledge, in order to employ the poor and introduce manufactures, so interesting to every community, and without which no country ever flourished, not only expended, by employing the poor for three years past, the said 500l. but also, 1300l. more of his own; for all which he has never received 40l. having now by him near six thousand yards of excellent stuffs, for men's and women's wear; all spun, wove, dyed and dressed in this town. It is as notorious, that he had no views in prosecuting this matter, but that of the public interest.
Instances of such public spirit, I confess are but few, which are reasons with the ungenerous and selfish part of mankind, why such liberality ought not to be credited. As all nations that have been raised to opulence and grandeur, was by the adventurous examples of such worthies; it is therefore the duty and interest of the well-wishers of every community to encourage and respect such characters; as it is also the business and practice of the enemies of society to decry and debase them. Such in general are the numerous caterpillars in the revenue department, who revel upon the spoils and plunders of the public. The catalogue of these worthless beings is impressed in the minds of every worthy citizen, who views them with abhorrence and detestation.
GRATITUDE
AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.
CHARLESTOWN, [S. Carolina] Decem. 30. LETTERS received over land from Pensacola, of November 4th, inform us, that the hon. John Stuart, Esq; Superintendent of Indian affairs, had concluded a treaty with the Creek Indians, whereby they had ceded to his Majesty a large body of land, extending thirty miles up the Coosaw River, in addition to the province of West-Florida.
NEW-YORK, February 6. The brigantine Hero, Capt. Johnston, arrived here last Friday in seventeen weeks from Air, in Scotland, but last from Dublin Bay in ten weeks. On his passage he spoke with the following vessels, viz. Decem. 21, in lat. 33, 40, lon. 50, with the Charming Polly, Capt. Joyce, from Piscataway for St. Vincent's, who had lost his boat, anchors, cables, &c. off his deck; the 15th of January, lat. 36, 47, lon. 69, 30, with a brigantine four days from Rhode-Island for Grenada, with stock on board; the 19th, lat. 37, 37, with the sloop Two-Brothers, Captain Seed, from Cape François, for Rhode-Island.
The General Assembly have appointed five of the Members of the house, to be a committee to examine and see what repairs are necessary to be made to the fortifications of this city, and to report their opinion thereupon to the house, with all convenient speed.
Yesterday the new snow Mercury Packet, Captain Dillon, failed for London, with whom went passenger the ingenious Mrs. Wright, whose skill in taking likenesses, expressing the passions, and many curious devices in wax-work, has deservedly recommended her to public notice, especially among persons of distinction, from many of whom we hear she carries letters to their friends in England.
Capt. Smith Odel, of Stratford, in Connecticut, who has for many years been a coaster from that place to Boston and New-York, was on Monday last, opposite to Hempstead, struck overboard by the boom and drowned.
NEW-YORK, February 13. The Ship York, Captain Provoost, arrived here last Friday, in nine weeks and two days from Portsmouth, having failed from thence in company with his Majesty's ship the Portland, of sixty guns, for Antigua, but parted with her a few days after they came out, in a gale of wind. Captain Provoost informs us, that his Majesty's ships the Royal Oak, Terrible, Worcester, and Lenox, were to sail from Portsmouth for Spithead, the day after him, in order to join Admiral Pye, who lay there with nine ships of the line.
THURSDAY, February 20. BOSTON.
WE are informed, that at the request of a Committee appointed by this town, an ORATION is to be publicly delivered next Month by JOSEPH WARREN, Esq; on the dangerous tendency of STANDING ARMIES to the Rights of CIVIL SOCIETY; and in commemoration of the horrid MASSACRE perpetrated on the 5th of March 1770.
We hear that the unfortunate Charles Stuart has lately had several private conferences with his Sardinian Majesty, and it has been discovered it was to settle a plan for the placing the crown of Poland upon the head of the Chevalier, in this undertaking, France, Spain, Portugal, and all the Roman Catholic Princes in Germany, had promised to give their assistance; but the King of Prussia, who by some means had got intelligence of their design, marched an army well disciplined to the borders of Poland, which so intimidated the King of Sardinia, that he laid by all thoughts of carrying this favourite project into execution. It is said several persons from Great-Britain went thither to assist into this service in hopes of sharing the spoils of their conquest; and we hear they went after the Chevalier to Genoa.
On Friday last Faneuil-hall lottery began to be drawn.
"Moderate men, (says a writer in favour of the liberty of the press) are apt to cry down the present licentiousness of the press; let us ask them, will they hazard all the benefits
that arise from an open and free publication, merely to suppress, 'the growing evil,' as they term it? Will such men be hardy enough to venture upon the destruction of so noble a fabric? Will they be so daring as to strike immediately at the root, the very foundation of that roof which protects them from the inclemencies of the weather? And all this to get rid of an imaginary inconvenience? Upon these terms I think we may safely answer for these men of moderation; for they have prudence too. Shall we attempt to disengage ourselves from so trifling a mischief by the entire sacrifice of our lives and properties? Certainly no; here the question comes home, and nature prompts every individual to self-preservation. If we eradicate the genuine stamina of our freedom, by choking up the channels of public intelligence—farewell all the learning, wit and genius of the nation—farewell that generous emulation in the cause of liberty and our country, which was wont to animate the bosoms of our glorious ancestors; we shall, by such false proceedings, open a sluice for every species of corruption and abhorred tyranny."
Last Tuesday his Majesty's Superior Court of Judicature, &c. met here, the Rev. Dr. Pemberton opened the sessions with prayer, the honourable Judge Oliver, gave the charge to the grand Jury. His Excellency the Governor the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary and Admiral Montagu and a number of other gentlemen were present.
Eleven persons, were baptized, by plunging, at the Rev. Mr. Stillman's Meeting-house, last Sunday.
A Light House has lately been erected, at the expence of the province of New-Hampshire, on Fort Point, at the entrance of the harbour of Piscataqua, for the greater safety of all vessels trading thereto.
Tuesday se'nnight the house of Mr. Richard Lowden, innholder at Duxborough, was entirely consumed with fire, with most of the household furniture.
We hear that the large donation of the late Nicolas Boylston, Esq; to Harvard College, was paid by his executors on Tuesday se'nnight, to the Hon. Thomas Hubbard, Esq; Treasurer of the College, the Corporation being present. After the Treasurer had given a discharge for the money, the President delivered to the executors a vote of the corporation, a copy of which is as follows, viz.
"At a Meeting of the Corporation of HARVARD COLLEGE, February 11th, 1772. THE late NICOLAS BOYLSTON, Esq; having given in his last will to Harvard College, the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Pounds, lawful money, for founding a Professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory; and his executors, Joseph Green, Esq; and Mr. Thomas Boylston having this day paid the said sum into the hands of the College Treasurer; the corporation embrace this opportunity to express their most grateful respect to the memory of Mr. BOYLSTON, whose name will be distinguished in future ages among the first patrons and benefactors to the interest of Literature in his native country."
"At the same time, the Corporation return their thanks to his executors, for the obliging manner in which they have discharged this part of their trust, assuring them, and the near relations of the generous founder, that nothing in their power shall be wanting to render this new and important institution answerable to his noble intention, and honorary to his memory."
"The Corporation also ask the favour of Mr. Thomas Boylston, That he would permit a full length portrait of his deceased brother, to be drawn at the expence of the College, from an original in his possession, to be placed in the Philosophy room, with the portraits of Thomas Hollis and the Hon. Thomas Hancock, Esqrs the founders of the other Professorships in this College."
[Copy] SAMUEL LOCKE, President." Extract of a letter from Trenton, New-Jersey, January 30.
"This morning, a most terrible fire broke out in this town, which, in a few hours, consumed eight dwelling houses with several stables. The consternation of the inhabitants upon this occasion cannot be described. I have not time to add particulars. Several gentlemen have sustained heavy losses, among whom is our worthy friend Dunlap Adams, whose loss it is said, amounts to near seven thousand pounds."
Capt. Brown in a brig from Bristol for
this place put into Cape-Ann the beginning of last week, and sent the letters up by land: And on Saturday the vessel also arrived here.
We are informed that the meeting-house in Brattle-square, is to be pulled down the week after next; a sum sufficient, for the purpose of erecting a new building, having been already subscribed by the members of said church and congregation. Among the cheerful contributors to this good work, that respectable and unshaken friend to the civil and religious rights of his country, the honourable John Hancock, Esq; has generously given seven hundred and fifty pounds sterling.
DIED.] Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, widow, sister to William Vassall, Esq.—Mr. Tut-hill.—Mrs. Sarah Hewes, wife of Mr. Solomon Hewes.—Mr. Nathan Foster, Shipwright.—Mrs. Esther Hill, widow.—At Stamford, Connecticut, Dr. Nathaniel Hubbard.—At New-Haven, Monsieur Laurent Maillon, of Hispaniola.
ARRIVED here. Bosworth from Maryland; Silvester from North Carolina.
Tom Long came too late for this day's paper.
ROBERTS & LEE, JEWELLERS,
TAKE this method to acquaint the public, that they have removed to the shop lately occupied by Mrs. De Jersey, nearly opposite the Old Brick meeting house, Cornhill, Boston; where they have for Sale, A Large and Valuable Assortment of JEWELLERY, London, Birmingham and Sheffield Hard Ware Goods, sold as reasonable as at any Shop or Store in Town. Most of the above Goods arrived in the last Ship from London. Every article in the Jewellery Branches made and repaired, as neat and as reasonable as in London.
Mourning Rings made with expedition. N. B. The utmost value given for old Gold and Silver Lace.
To be SOLD, For little more than half the worth, A NEW Dutch SLEY that will carry fourteen persons, fitted for four horses. Enquire of the Printer.
Just imported, and to be sold by WILLIAM WINGFIELD, At his shop in Union street, Boston, A GENTEEL Assortment of flowered and plain lute-strings of all colours, rich brocades, pink, rose, green, and cloth coloured English damasks, padusoys, ducapes, English and india taffaties, best hair griffets, a very neat assortment of flowered and plain fatten, yard wide and 6-4ths. book muslin, yard wide and 6-4ths. flowered muslins for ladies sacks, a great variety of gauze of all sorts, chintses, calicoes and patches, lawn and cambricks, paste combs, and all sorts of goods suitable for all seasons, too many to enumerate in an advertisement, which he will sell very low for cash only.
Said Wingfield calls on all those that are indebted to him on bond, book or notes, to make immediate payment; or their accounts, &c. will certainly be put in suit the next Inferior Court without exception, as he intends for London soon, and desires all those that have any account to settle with him to bring them in, in order for a settlement.
LOST, wrapped up in a Newspaper, a fifty shillings (old tenor) piece, whoever has found it, is desired to return it to the Printer hereof.
ALL Persons indebted to the Estate of DAVID BELL, late of Boston, Brick-layer, deceased, are desired to make immediate payment to William Bell, and Elizabeth Bell, Sole Executrix to the last Will and Testament of the deceased; and all who have demands upon said Estate, are desired to bring in their accounts in order for a speedy Settlement.
TO be sold by Samuel Sloane, at his Distil-House, opposite the Blue-ball and Mason's-Arms, formerly Green-Dragon, New-England RUM, and all sorts of SPIRITS, cheap for cash or Molasses; and as he makes those articles himself, he will warrant them fit for any market.

By his Excellency the Hon. JOHN BYRON, Esq; Governor and Commander in chief in and over the Island of Newfoundland the coast of Labrador, &c. &c. &c.
WHEREAS it hath been represented to the King, that great disorders have been committed at the Magdalen Islands, within my Government by crews of vessels fitted out from New-England, and other parts of North America, to the great annoyance and prejudice of the Sea-Cow fishery of those islands, and which if not prevented will totally destroy the same: And his Majesty having been pleased to direct me to take the most effectual measures for preventing such abuses in future; I therefore, in obedience to his Majesty's commands, hereby order and direct, that all his Majesty's subjects arriving with vessels on the coast of the aforementioned islands, do not in any wise disturb and destroy the said sea cows without licence from me, as they will answer the contrary at their peril. Given under my hand at St. John's, this 29th of August, 1771.
J. BYRON. By his Excellency's command JOHN WILLIAMS.
W I N E S.
To be sold at BLANCHARD'S Wine-Cellar, Dock-Square, Boston, CHOICE old sterling Madeira, Fine generous Old Red Port, Teneriffe, Malaga, and All other WINE as usual. London Porter, Brandy, West-India and New-England Rum, Old JAMAICA SPIRIT, Ringslas. Brass and Iron Wire, properly prepared for wiring bottles; Brass Cocks. N.B. A few choice Narraganset Cheese, Flask Oyl.
IRISH LINENS.
Just imported from the manufacturers at BELFAST, in the north of Ireland, by WILLIAM BEATTY, Linen-draper from that place, A PARCEL of Irish Linens of all widths and prices, of an excellent fabrick, well manufactured and carefully bleached, and will be sold by said Beatty at his store on Green's wharf, on as low terms as they can be imported from any part of Great-Britain, which his prices will prove.
JUST IMPORTED, and To be sold cheap for CASH, by JOSEPH PALMER, At his store in King-street, Boston, A GOOD assortment of Scots Handkerchiefs, Irish Linens, brown and white Sheeting, Housewife Linen, Dow- las, Russia Linen, Osnaburgs, Ticklingburgs, Broad Cloths, Shallons, German Serges, Colchester Baize, Lambkins, a few fashion- able Silks, a few hogheads of Bristol Beer, and some other articles. Also, Spermacet Candles, as usual.
ALL Persons, who have any de- mands on the estate of MARY STORER, late of Boston, deceased, are de- sired to bring in their accounts to EBENE- ZER STORER, Administrator on said e- state, in order to a settlement.
Said STORER has for sale, an excellent pair of Horses, and a Curricule with Harnesses, &c. compleat. Also, choice Nar- raganset Cheese, and Dorchester Ale, with a general Assortment of ENGLISH GOODS, cheap for cash.
ALL Persons having any De- mands on the Estate of JOHN PAY- SON, late of Roxbury, deceased, are de- sired to bring in their Accounts in order for a Settlement; and those who are in- debted to said Estate are desired to pay im- mediately.
STEPHEN PAYSON, Administrator. Roxbury, January-18th, 1772.
JOSEPH MORTON, At the sign of the White Horse, in Boston, HEREBY informs all those Gentlemen in town and country, that chuse to favour him with their custom, that he is determined to accom- modate them with Board and Lodging at the cheapest rate, and will keep their HORSES at the reasonable price of ONE SHILLING lawful money per night.
TO BE LET, A Commodious STORE in Butler's-Row. En- quire of the Printer.
TO BE SOLD,
Cheap as can be purchased in the province, A FARM about ten Miles from Boston, con- taining about Fifty Acres of Good Land, suitable for the Gentleman, the Tradesman, or the Farmer. Enquire of John Waldo, Esq; near Liberty Tree, Boston.
To be SOLD, And may be entered upon immediately, (Lying in the town of Har- vard and county of Worcest- er, pleasantly situated, adjoin- ing to the line between Harvard and Groton)
A FARM, containing One Hundred and Seventy Acres, about ninety Acres of which being now under im- provement, consisting of Meadow, Pasture and Tillage Land, the remainder Wood Land, on the premises there is a fine young Orchard, a large double Dwelling-House in very good repair, a Barn and Corn-house, a Pot-Ash House with Utensils for carrying on that Business, for which the situation is well calculated, the whole very well watered, a- bout one mile from a Saw and Grist-Mill, and two and a half miles from the Meeting- House, with other conveniencies. For fur- ther particulars enquire of Col. Prescott, or Mr. John Conn, of Groton, or Mr. Richard Smith of Boston.
MATHEMATICAL INSTRUMENTS.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Mathematical Instrument Maker, Has to sell At his SHOP, formerly known by the name of The CROWN Coffee-house, At the Head of the Long-Wharf, King-street, BOSTON, A Large Assortment of
HADLEY's and Davis's QUAD- RANTS, hanging and standing Com- passes in Brass and Wood, Gauging and Sur- veying Instruments, Cases for Instruments, large and small Perspective Glasses in Ivory, Wood and Fish Skin; plotted Scales, Gun- ter Scales and Dividers, Surveyors Chains, Artificial Magnets with Cases, Sand-Glasses, from two Hours to a Quarter of a Minute, Instruments of a new Construction to mea- sure Boards, Quarter Waggoner's, Atkinson's Epitomes, Wilson's ditto, Pattou's Naviga- tion, Seamen's assistants, Calendars, Mari- ner's Compasses rectified, Young Man's Com- panion, Journal Books, Ink-Powder, Quills and Paper, Paper-Hangings. An Assortment of Brass Pocket-Compasses with and without Cards, Box Rules, Slates and Pencils, Jack- Knives, plated Shoe and Knee Buckles, Pinch- beck, Block-Tin, and Brass ditto, Compass Seals, and Watch Keys, &c. &c.
N.B. All sorts of Mathematical Instru- ments are made and repaired by the above WILLIAMS. Those who will favour him with their Custom may depend upon being well used, and have their work done with fidelity and dispatch.
BOOKS. JOHN LANGDON, At the New Book and Stationary Store, op- posite the Post-Office in Cornhill, Boston, Has just received from LONDON, A Large and fine Assortment of the most Modern BOOKS, In all branches of Literature, Arts and Sci- ences, which will be sold Remarkably Cheap for the cash;
Among which are the following, viz. HENRY on the Bible, 5 Vol. folio. Ditto on Prayer. Ditto on the Sacrament. Mrs. Macaulay's History of England, 4 Vol. Montesquieu Spirit of Law, 2 Vol. Universal History, 20 Vol.
SCHOOL BOOKS of every kind. With a variety of the newest and best Books in LAW, PHYSICK, HISTORY, and the CLASSICKS.
BIBLES of all sorts, viz. Large Church Bibles, Folio, Family, Quarto, Octavo, Mi- nion and Pocket ditto, by the Dozen, or single. Likewise, a large and compleat assortment of STATIONARY, Accompt-Books of all sorts, Paper of all sorts and sizes, Ink-Powder, Quills, Sealing-Wax and Wafers, Press-Pa- per, some of a superior sort to any ever im- ported, &c. &c. &c.
Imported in the last Ships from LONDON, by CYRUS BALDWIN, And sold at the lowest rates by Wholesale and Retail, at his Store near the Town- House, in Cornhill, Boston;
SCARLET, crimson, and other coloured Broad-Cloaths of all prices, Forest Cloths, German Serges, Kerseys, Beaver-Coatings, Lambkins, Ratteens, Baizes, Flannel. A fine Assortment of Shoe, Coat and Quality Bindings; Eng- lish Shoes, Clogs and Goldshoes; English Soles. Irish Linens of all widths and prices. A good Assortment of Hosiery, Men's and Women's Pompadore and other coloured Leather Gloves; Scotch Carpets and Car- peting, with other articles too many to be enumerated in an advertisement of this kind. At the same place may be had, Choice Narraganset Cheese, Furkin But- &c. &c.
ALL Persons having any de- mands on the estate of Dr. SAMUEL WHEAT, late of Boston, deceased, are here- by desired to bring in their accounts to Han- nah Wheat, of Newton, Executrix, Alexan- der Sheppard, of said Newton, or to William Wheat, of Boston, her attorneys, in order for an immediate settlement. And all persons indebted to said estate are, ONCE MORE! de- sired to pay their balances to either the a- bove, as they may expect otherwise to be su- ed at the inferior Court to be holden in Charlestown in March next, without any further notice.
** Said HANNAH WHEAT, having suitable accommodations, would be glad to take Boarders, either Gentlemen or Ladies, who are sick and like to retire into the coun- try for the benefit of their health.
General Post Office New-York, Nov. 1, 1771. NOTICE is hereby given, that on account of the new Regulation of the Post to Canada, which is to arrive every Tuesday evening at this Office; and the weekly post from the Eastward and South- ward, arriving every Wednesday; the mail going from hence by the packet, will for the future, be closed at twelve o'clock at night, on the first Wednesday in every month, (be- ing the same time it closes at the general post-office in London for America) and a packet dispatched therewith the next day for Falmouth. By command of the Deputy Post-Master-General.
To be SOLD by JOSEPH ROTCH & Sons, At their store in King-street.
BEST Petersburg Hemp, Rus- fia and Ravens Duck, Cables and Cor- dage of all sizes; Allum, and Copperas, in barrels; also, a small quantity of Gloucester Cheese.
For the TEETH and GUMS.
JACOB HEMET, DENTIST to her Majesty and the Prin- cess Amelia.
BEGS Leave to recommend to the Public, his newly discovered Es- sence of Pearl, and Pearl Dentifrice, which he has found to be greatly superior not only in elegance, but also in efficacy; to any thing hitherto made use of for complaints of the Teeth and Gums: Particularly they will pre- serve the Teeth in a perfect sound state, even to old age; they render them white and beautiful, without in the least impairing the enamel; soften such as are loose, keep such as are already decayed from becoming worse, prevent the Tooth-Ach, perfectly cure the Scurvy in the Gums, and make them grow firm and close to the teeth; they likewise render the breath delicate, sweet, and re- medy almost all those disorders that are the consequence of scorbatic gums.
Sold (by appointment of Mr. Hemet) wholesale and retail, by W. Bayley, Perfu- mer, in Cockspur Street, near the bottom of the Hay-market, London, and at Wil- iam Scott's Irish Linen Store, near the Draw- Bridge, Boston, New England.
THIS is to give Notice to the Public, that there is a large Tract of good Land to be given off in Lots, from one Hundred to a Thousand Acres per Family; upon the Estates or Lordships of Berthier, and New-York, the property of the Honour- able Captain James Cuthbert, Esq; lying on the North-West side of the River St. Law- rence, Province of Quebec, distant from that City forty-six Leagues, from three Rivers fifteen, from Montreal fifteen, and about the same distance from Lake Champlain, where the River from said Lake, empties it- self into St. Lawrence, opposite to said Estates.
The Conditions are, viz. The Lands to be given off forever: The Quit-rents at the rate of two Bushels and a half of Wheat, and one Spanish Dollar, per hundred Acres, per Annum, with the customary alienation Fines upon a Sale, and the first two years free of rents.
Any Person, or Persons, that inclines to take up any of said Lands, may apply to Mr. Stephen Tuttle, Land Surveyor at Fort Mil- ler, in the County of Albany; or to the Pro- prietor at his Manor of Berthier, who will in- form them of the quality and situation of the said Tracts: They are esteemed among the best Lands in the Province, for raising all sorts of Grain, and hath already, settled on them, above six hundred Families, (there is also good Fishing and Hunting) and the Land now proposed to be given off, lies about two Leagues back from the River St. Lawrence.
GOODS extremely CHEAP,
SOLD by JOHN NAZRO, At his shop the corner of Queen-street, opposite the Town-House, for CASH only, Where constant attendance will be given.
BROAD Cloaths, ratteens, ker- seys, half-thicks, lambkins, coatings, beavers, forest cloths, striped duffsils, milled flannels, baizes, velveretts and velvets, breaches pieces, shallons, tammies, durants, callamancoes, camblets, furniture checks, cam- brieks, lawns, figured stuffs, brilliants, pop- lins, dorfeteens, duryes, drawboys, checks, Irish linens, men's and women's leather gloves, and mitts, glazed linens, buckrams, silks and mouselin gauze, figured and plain sattins, rich black plain ditto, alomodes, figured modes, Persians, serfets, Scotch lawns figured and plain. Kenting handkerchiefs with and with- out borders, figured lawns, (apron width) striped cottons, bed ticks, bed bunts, men's and women's hose; linen handkerchiefs very handsome patterns; women's silk gloves and mitts, sewing silks, ribbons, silk ferrits, qua- lities, shoe and coat binding, tapes, milliner's needles, &c. &c. &c.
N.B. Garnet necklaces, French beads, pearle necklaces, French bead and purple ear- rings; Souchong and Hyson tea; common gar- net beads, &c. &c.
BOSTON: Printed by ISAIAH THOMAS,
At the South Corner of MARSHAL'S LANE, leading from the MILL-BRIDGE into UNION-STREET.
Where all Persons may be supplied with this Paper at Six Shillings and Eight Pence, Lawful Money, per Annum; and where Articles of Intelligence, &c. are thankfully received, ADVERTISEMENTS taken in---PRINTING, in its various Branches, performed in a neat Manner with the greatest Care and Dispatch, on the most reasonable Terms.---Small HAND-BILLS at an Hour's Notice. SUBSCRIPTIONS for the SPY are also taken in by J. Larkin, chairmaker, and Mr. W. Calder, painter, in Charles-town; Mr. J. Hiller, Watch-maker in Salem; Mr. B. Emerson, Bookseller, in Newbury-Port; and Mr. M. Belcher, in Bridgewater.