The Massachusetts spy (Boston [Mass.]), 1770-10-23 00:00:00

The Massachusetts Spy.
VOL. I.] From SATURDAY, October 20, to TUESDAY, October 23, 1770. [N o . 35.
M O N D A Y, October 22.
LONDON, August 12.
A MORNING paper says, An old Lady of fortune, lately dead, has left her man-servant, who lived with her many years, a considerable legacy, in the following words: "I leave to Robert ----- 100 l. in gratitude for the faithful services he has rendered me upwards of thirty years, the greatest part of which time I have loved him as my husband, though I was too proud to make him so, or even to let him know it. But as I have now done with the world, and have nobody to answer to but God, I desire he will mourn for me as his wife one year; and I farther bequeath him my house, my coach and horses, my plate, my furniture, and all my personal estate, whether in goods or money, which shall remain after my debts and legacies aforesaid are discharged." It is said the bequest amounts to upwards of 11,000 l.
Several Plays are to be acted this summer at Mr. F-----'s theatre which he has lately built at his country seat; among the rest one of Sir Richard Steele's, called The Tender Husband, or the Accomplished Fools, the part of the Tender Husband by Lord G-----r, and the Accomplished Fools, by the D. of C. and Lady G-----r.
A ridiculous accident happened at Versailles the night of the Grand Banquet , given on account of the royal marriage. The young bridegroom, having trop manger at supper, b-----t the state bed , and so incommenced the young Dauphiness's tender person , and nasal nerves , that she got up in her night dress, and run out of the royal apartment! Much intreaty was used before she would return to her sweet husband's bed. This made much noise, but in the French court they may forbid either to spell or smell at pleasure.
It is said that Commodore Gambier is sailed for Boston with orders upon the least pretence, or most trifling provocation, to pursue violent and coercive measures, in order to reduce those rebellious Americans to proper subjection.
A person of high rank, who makes frequent visits to a lady of distinction at Barnes, is obliged to go through a brewer's yard, just before he can arrive at his goddess's palace, which occasions no small diversion among the dray-men, and with whom the cant phrase is, "Smoke the Bible oath , Here comes the Commodore."
August 17. We are advised from Hull, that a few days ago a person, who adopted the name of Will. -----, and in that character had served several gentlemen of that place as a domestic servant, giving general satisfaction, was safely delivered of a fine girl, to the great astonishment of all who knew him.
B O S T O N.
Last Friday night came on, and continued the most part of the next day, a most terrible storm of wind and rain. The wind was variable from N. W. to N. E. The tide was swelled to a greater height than has been known for forty-seven years past, by which great damage has been sustained by the loss of sugars, salt, and other articles in store on the wharfs, which were overflowed in all parts of the town.
Captain Dunn's ship from Glasgow, but last from Newbury, being at anchor in Nantasket road, parted her cables, was drove upon the flats in Braintree bay, and obliged to have her masts cut away. And we hear fifteen or sixteen other vessels, which lay at anchor between the town and light-house, are cast ashore at the different islands; but it is thought most of them will be got off again. Capt. Higgins, in a sloop bound to Connecticut, was obliged to cut away his mast and bowsprit, and is since towed up to town; another sloop shared the same fate, and a schooner came ashore on Deer-Island without any person on board, supposed to have drifted from Lynn or Marblehead.
By a Gentleman from Plymouth, who was passenger on board Capt. Ellis, bound from Rhode-Island to this place, whose vessel was cast away there in the above storm, we learn, that near sixty other vessels were also drove ashore at that place, and forty or fifty lives lost, and that a number of the dead bodies were taken up before he came away; also that many of the stores were blown down, and considerable other damage done in that town.
T U E S D A Y, October 23.
PHILADELPHIA, October 11.
ON Monday next the General Assembly of this province meets here.
The beginning of August last departed this life at Pilesgrove, in West New-Jersey, Mr. Mounce Keen, aged 105 years and eight months. He was born of Swedish parents, at Chester, in Pennsylvania, and always enjoyed his health and understanding well, till within the few last years of his life. About three years before his death, he rode alone three miles, and home again.
NEWPORT, October 15. Last Tuesday morning, about four o'clock, died at South-Kingstown, in the 35th year of his age, Oliver Arnold, Esq; a Gentleman who for several years past sustained the office of Attorney-General of this colony with great honour to himself and advantage to the public.
At the superior court, holden at Taunton last week, one Bliss was found guilty of assaulting and attempting a rape on Mary Turner, for which he was sentenced to

set on the gallows one hour with a halter round his neck and one end thereof thrown over the gallows : to be whipped twenty lashes on his naked back under the gallows ; to suffer three months imprisonment ; to give security in the sum of 100 l. and two securities in 50 l. each, for his good behaviour seven years, and stand committed till all costs of prosecution be paid ; and accordingly he was placed on the gallows last Friday in the afternoon, pursuant to his sentence.
Thursday morning last, came on before the superior court, at South-Kingstown, the trial of Samuel Casey, who was indicted for felony, in making and uttering counterfeit dollars. The trial lasted till eight o'clock in the evening, when the jury went out, who did not agree till near four in the morning. They brought in their verdict Not Guilty : upon which the court told them, that their verdict was so contrary to law and evidence, that it could not be accepted, and they were sent out again ; and between two and three o'clock in the afternoon returned a special verdict, which was accepted by the court. We hear the counsel for the prisoner have moved in arrest of judgment, which is to be heard this day.
PORTSMOUTH, October 19. Notwithstanding the many excellent things which have been written of Mr. WHITEFIELD, one of the most distinguished parts of his amiable and illustrious Character, has been omitted, viz. his PATRIOTISM ;---a Virtue near to Religion, which most adorns the human mind : and next to the love of GOD, man's highest duty : A virtue which shone conspicuous, and with distinguished lustre in the godly life of this benevolent lover of GOD and man---Let Britain, let America, let all the Friends to Liberty and mankind, mingle their tears in one common stream, and pay the tribute so justly due to this shining PATRIOT !---Let just Applause embalm his name, and deathless Fame record his deeds, and hand them down unsullied to latest time !---May the same heavenly fire that warmed his manly soul, touch every mind ! and like him, disdain to act beneath the honour of the soul ! Compared with him, how low, how vile, how despicable, the wretch, who for sordid gain, and empty sound, blown from the servile breath of cringing slaves, would sell his country's richest blood ! and doom to chains, LIBERTY's fairest daughters, and most shining sons !---To enrich a few, enslave the rest ; to feast themselves, butcher the world ; involve in blackest gloom, the most enlightened realms, and for momentary pleasure, give eternal pain !---When all this vile Herd are struck off the list of Time, and hurled in one ignominious throng, down Oblivion's stream !---WHITEFIELD's name, unimpaired by Time, will shine like a brilliant star in Heaven's eternal sphere !
B O S T O N.
We hear that great damage was done by the storm on Saturday last at Charlestown, several stores, which stood upon the wharfs, in that town and in this, were removed, and some carried away and entirely destroyed, by the violence of the wind and seas. Many houses and barns were unroofed, fences thrown down, and trees tore up, in different parts of the country.
MARRIED.] At New-York, Sir William Knight of the Bath, to the amiable Miss Susan Lancey, daughter of the Hon. Oliver De Lancey. In Boston, Mr. Ellis Gray, merchant, to Miss Dolbeare, daughter of Benjamin Dolbeare, Esq. agreeable young lady.
From the PROVIDENCE GAZETTE. To the PRINTER.
IT is with great concern, and an heart-felt pain that I have beheld the threatening omens that hung over this land, in respect of our civil privileges and I have carefully observed, and pondered them in my heart, and upon the best judgment that I have been able to inform of the same, I apprehend that GOD is angry with the inhabitants of this land, for their sins of oppression, especially in matters of religion, meting out to us such measures as we have been meted out to one another, I mean those oppressive laws that have been made and executed, especially in this colony as well as elsewhere, by which many have been sufferers, by having their estates taken from them, their bodies imprisoned, to procure a support for the established ministry. And it has been matter of amazement to me, to behold such opposition to the acts of Parliament, both in the time of the Stamp-Act, and the late Duty Acts have been in force amongst us, by rulers and ruled, complaining of said acts as unconstitutional, and yet here hath been so little notice taken of the above said oppressive laws among ourselves, that at the highest degree unconstitutional, when compared by the rules of the gospel.---That mankind have a right to be free in the choice of religion, is a truth that cannot be denied, and is a privilege dearer to every sober Christian than any civil privilege whatsoever ; and no authority on earth have a right to deprive their subjects of the same ; nor can without being guilty of assuming that power or dominion over others that God never gave them : For, to allow mankind, as individuals, the free choice of their own religion, and yet to take by force their estates from them, to support a religion or worship that they do not choose, is a piece of oppression that would make even a moral heathen blush. Yet many instances of the same have we had, and still have !---
I might now address myself to all those that are complaining of oppression by acts of Parliament, and yet are holding a heavier yoke of oppression on the necks of their own countrymen ; but this I will leave to the serious reflection of the candid reader.
A PROTESTANT.
STRAYED or stolen from the Parish-stable in Brattle-street, last evening, being the 21st of October, instant, a large red roan HORSE, fifteen hands high, about twelve years old. The horse belongs to Capt. Ebenezer Stedman of Cambridge. Whoever will give notice of said horse to the owner, or to John Adams in Brattle-street, so that he may be had again, shall be well rewarded.