The New-Hampshire gazette and historical chronicle (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1771-12-20 00:00:00

NEW-HAMPSHIRE AND HISTORICAL
CONTAINING the FRESHEST ADVICES
Friday Dec. 20, 1771.
GAZETTE, CHRONICLE, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
NO. 791 { Weeks since this Paper was first Publish'd. }
To the Publishers of the New-Hampshire Gazette. Please to give the following a place in your Paper. Proximus egomet mihi. Every one for himself.
THAT no man ought to be a witness in his own case, [ Nemo in propria causa testis esse debet ] is a maxim of reason and common sense, founded on the observation contained in our motto: and almost all systems of municipal laws pretend to establish or adopt it. But it is more emphatically enforced & more explicitly recognized by the common law of England, than, perhaps, by any other system of municipal laws under Heaven. This law, wisely supposing it probable, that a man who would institute an unjust or groundless suit, would seldom fail of gaining the cause, if his own evidence might be admitted, allows no party to any suit to be a witness in it. — 'Tis true (and a sad truth it is) that statutes have introduced many exceptions to this most wise and necessary rule, to the no small hazard of that pious awe and fear of an oath, which is the surest defence of private property and public tranquility: being that to which courts of justice, conscious of their own weakness, make their final resort for the decision of matters of fact.
But the most enormous deviation from this most wise and reasonable maxim is made by a custom which has prevailed in this province, perhaps almost from its first settlement: I mean the practice of swearing to accompts, which, as it is used here, is big with the most shocking absurdities, and threatens to deluge the province with perjuries.
But here the writer of this cannot be insensible of the disadvantages under which any man must appear, who dares attack any practice or opinion which is supported and countenanced by public authority, long usage, and thence popular favour or prejudice. He only prays the publick to whom he submits his reasonings, to examine them with a candid and unprejudiced mind: always considering, that, as in the infancy of persons, so in the infancy of States, many errors may be committed, which the maturer judgment and experience of adult years, or the enlightened jurisprudence of a more advanced government may correct. Without further apology therefore he will proceed in his design.
Since it is no defect of charity to suppose every man biased in his own favour, if at any time a man be admitted a witness in his own case, he can have no cause of complaint if we keep a most watchful eye over him to prevent his deceiving us by perjuring himself. But so lax in this respect is the practice under consideration, that it allows a man swearing in his own case, under the strongest temptations to perjury, a greater latitude than the law of the province allows any witness swearing in the cause of another.
In the cause of another, the witness, present in court, swears that the evidence he shall give relating to the cause in hearing, shall be the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth: & each party has free liberty to examine him. But a man produces his accompt in court, to swear money into his own pocket, and makes oath by the great, that his accompt is just and true : And the most prevailing opinion with us is, that without further examination, his account is proved true in every particular (except perhaps, a few large cash articles, concerning the quantity of which no certain rule
seems to be adopted by the courts): unless the adverse party can by other evidence invalidate it: a case which can seldom happen, be the accompt ever so false. This form of swearing must I think appear more absurd and dangerous than swearing to the formula of an oath with an &c. at the end of it.
The law of the province concerning depositions taken out of court (though it has been long beheld by sensible men as teeming with dangerous consequences) recognizes that most equitable maxim of the common law, & in some latitude of the imperial law too, "that every person ought to have opportunity to cross-examine every witness, produced against him"; by ordering that convenient notice shall be given to the adverse party of the time and place of the intended caption of depositions. But a man, to charge his neighbour on accompt, may, without giving him any notice, go before any justice of peace whom he shall choose, who, perhaps, scarce knows how to administer an oath from the book to a town officer, and swear by the great, that his accompt is just and true , and at most, shew him a few scrawls on a scrap of paper which he calls his book; and the justices certificate of this shall be full evidence in any of his Majesty's courts in this province, of the truth of the accompt: unless the adverse party can disprove it; that is, do a legal impossibility, prove a negative. How strong a temptation is here laid before every defendant who finds himself charged with an unjust accompt which he cannot disprove, to trump up another to match it on Off-set , which is no difficult thing in this province, while no man is obliged to produce in Court the original entries of his accompt on his day-book. Thus does one perjury induce and lead the way to another.
But absurd as is the practice of admitting oaths to be taken to accompts out of Court without notice to the adverse party, it has been supposed justifiable by the following proviso in the law of the province above-mentioned, viz. "Provided nevertheless, that witnesses to bonds, specialties, letters of attorney and other instruments in writing under the hand of the party executing the same, or to accompts, or testimonies relating to persons out of this government, or to be sent beyond sea, may be sworn without such notification as aforesaid." To this it is a sufficient answer; that in a general act, the word witnesses must mean witnesses at common law, and not parties to a suit; unless the words or intention of the act cannot be answered without such interpretation: which cannot be pretended to be the case with this act, which through the whole supposes at least three persons to be the objects of its purview, viz. The party desiring the affidavit: The witness deposing; and, the adverse party, to be notified, or not.
Having heretofore mentioned first, or original entries of accompts, I would add, that nothing can appear more reasonable than, that when a man charges another on accompt, by his own oath he should be obliged to produce in Court his first entries thereof that it may appear to the court and jury by view of them, whether the articles were honestly charged at the time of doing or delivery, or mustered up all at once to serve some special purpose. The first entries of any accompt are certainly better evidence than any transcript: for the transcript of a true and false accompt may appear equally fair and unexceptionable: and it is a maxim of the common law, that in every case the best evidence attainable should be produced.
ced: though even that is not proof in every case, because some facts, in certain circumstances, do not admit of proof. It would introduce the utmost confusion and uncertainty to suffer a man to charge another with any article which originally he thought not worth charging, or deemed himself satisfied for: one of which must be presumed, if he did not charge it in his accompt at or near the time of delivery. And it is a maxim of the imperial or civil law, the parent of the custom under consideration (which is the reason why I now cite it) "that what was once designed as a gift, and to be done gratis, shall not be recovered afterwards as a debt." (Wood's new institute of the imperial or civil law. B. 3. C. 6. Ff. 3. 5. 34.)
But, perhaps, some will say, I would never have charged several articles of my accompt, if my adversary had not charged several in his, which he ought not to have done. Therefore, supposing he would not charge these, I never noted those in my book: but now I cannot have justice unless I charge them. — The answer is; That if the rule be established, that no man shall charge by his oath any article which he did not make entry of at the time of delivery, it will extend to plaintiff, as well as defendant. And if no man can charge me with articles not originally entered on his accompt against me, I shall have no occasion to charge him in the same manner. So that the objection here made arises from the practice by us condemned: and putting an end to this practice will immediately remove the objection.
One absurd custom usually leads the way to thousands of absurdities and difficulties. Two or three instances of the abuse of an oath to accompts are so curious, that I cannot well avoid laying them before the publick.
One is: A young man of the trade of a shoemaker works at his business, at above thirty miles distance from his father; and keeps some kind of account of his dealings. At length, finding the state of his affairs to require secrecy and dispatch, he leaves those accompts with his father, who very orderly swears them before a justice to be just & true ; and recovers them of the debtors.
Another is: A man carries a quantity of tobacco to a town a dozen miles or upwards from his habitation to sell: but not being able to find chapmen, he procures leave of an honest man in that neighbourhood to deposit it in his house to be delivered upon payment of a certain price to any persons inclining to purchase: but without any further agreement on purchase by him with whom it was deposited, no chapmen appear: but the honest man takes one pound of it for his own use; and at the return of the owner pays him the price of this, and delivers him the remainder; which he receives. Soon after, the good man is surprised by a precept requiring him to answer the tobacconist in an action of the case; which turns out to be on account for this tobacco. The tobacconist makes oath in common form, that the accompt is just and true ; and recovers the value. 'Tis true that in this case, the honest man might according to the practice of this province, have charged the tobacconist for the money paid, and the tobacco re-delivered. But he was not so well skilled in the chicanery of the practice of law. In the first of these cases; no regular practice can admit the agent to make oath to an accompt made by his principal without his knowledge. In the other; had the tobacconist been duly ex-

amined on his oath to make true answers, the fraud must have been discovered, and justice obtained to, without the aid of that novel maxim of law, "two cheats make an even bargain."
[To be Continued.]
A further Account of the late Famine in the East-Indies.
L O N D O N, September 18.
By the last letters from Bengal, dated in Feb. 1771. it appears they were under great apprehensions of a second famine, rice being then at from 15 to 17 Seers per Rupee. A gentleman gives the following account of the first famine in a letter to his friend:
"As soon as the dryness of the season foretold the approaching dearth of rice our gentlemen in the company's service were as early as possible in buying up all they could lay hold of. The natives complained that the English had engrossed all the rice; the complaint was laid before the president and council by the Nabob's minister who resided at Calcutta; but the complaint was only laughed at and thrown out. Our gentlemen in many places purchased the rice at 120 and 140 Seers for a Rupee, which they afterwards sold for 15 Seers for a Rupee to the black merchants; so that the persons principally concerned have made great fortunes by it; and one of our writers, not worth a thousand Rupees last year, has 60,000. sterl. to be remitted home this year."
"By the time the famine had been about a fortnight over the land, we were greatly affected at Calcutta, many thousands falling daily in the streets and fields, whose bodies mangled by dogs, jackals and vultures, in that hot season, (when at best the air is very infectious) made us dread the consequences of a plague. We had 100 people employed upon the Cutcherry list on the company's account with doolys, sledges and bearers to carry the dead and throw them into the river Ganges. I have counted from my bed chamber window in the morning when I got up forty dead bodies lying within twenty yards of the wall, besides many hundreds lying in the agonies of death, bending double with their stomachs quite close contracted to their back bone. I have sent my servant to desire those who had strength to remove farther off, whilst the poor creatures, looking up with arms extended have cried out, Baba! Baba! my Father! my Father! This affliction comes from the hand of your country men, and I am come here to die, if it please God in your presence, I cannot move; do rabat you will with me. In the month of June our condition was still worse, only three Seers of rice to be had in the Bazar for a Rupee and that very bad, which when bought must be carried home secretly to avoid being plundered by the famished multitude on the road. One could not pass along the streets without seeing multitude in their last agonies, crying out as you passed, My God! My God have mercy upon me, I am starving; whilst on other sides numbers of dead were seen with dogs, jackals, hogs, vultures, and other birds of prey feeding on their carcasses. It was remarked by the natives, that a greater number of those animals came down at this time than was ever known, which upon this melancholy occasion was of great service; as the vultures and other birds take the eyes and intestines, whilst the other animals gnaw the feet and hands; so that very little of the body remained for the Cutcherry people to carry to the river, notwithstanding they had very hard work of it. I have observed two of them with a dooly carrying twenty heads, and the remains of the carcasses that had been left by the beasts of prey, to the river at a time. At this time we could not touch fish, the river was full of carcasses; and of those who did eat, many died suddenly. Pork, ducks and geese also lived mostly on Carriage; so that our only meat was mutton when we could get it, which was very dear, and from the dryness of the season so poor, that a quarter would not weigh a pound and a half. Of this I used to make a little broth, and after I had dined, perhaps there were 100 poor waiting for the remains which I have often sent among them cut up into little pieces; so that as many as could might partake of it; and after one had sucked the bones quite dry, and thrown away, I have seen another take them up, and all upon them, and so by a third, and so on. In the month of August we had a very alarming phenomenon appeared of a black cloud at a distance in the air, which sometimes obscured the Sun, and seemed to extend a great way all over and about Calcutta. The hotter the day proved, the lower this cloud seemed to descend, and for three days it caused great speculation. The Bramins pretended that this phenomenon, which is a cloud of insects, should make its appearance three times and if ever it descended to the earth, the country would be destroyed by some untimely misfortune. They say that about 150 years ago they had such another bad time, when the ground was burnt up for want of rain; this is the second time of this phenomenon's appearing, and that they came much lower than is recorded of the former. On the 3d day, the weather being very hot and cloudy, with much rain, we could perceive them with the naked eye, hearing a continual buzzing."
"About one o'clock they were so low as 30 feet from the ground, when we saw them distinctly to be a number of large insects, about the size of a horse fly, with a long red body, long wings, and a large head and eyes, keeping close together like a swarm of bees, seemingly flying quite on a line. I did not hear that any were caught, as the country people were much frightened at the prognostications of the Bramins. Whilst it rained, they continued in that position for near a quarter of an hour; they then rose five or six feet at once, and in a little time descended as much, until a strong north west wind came and blew for two days successively, when they gradually ascended in the same manner, but more precipitately, until the next morning, when the air was quite clear. It was very remarkable that for some days before the appearance of this phenomenon, that toads, frogs, and insects, which in numbers innumerable always make a continued noise here, the whole night, during the rains disappeared, and were neither seen nor heard except in the river."
"Whilst the famine continued news came down privately to Calcutta, that the Nabob was dead, and had died in his garden of the small-pox. Many people would not give credit to the report, as the governor and council pretended they did not know it for 3 weeks afterwards, when Mahomed Reza Cawn came down from Muxadavad, and brought with him the young brother of the deceased Nabob, the only male heir remaining of Meer Jaffier's family, whom the said governor and council in the presence of some of their friends proclaimed Nabob the very next day at the court-house."
From the Morning Chronicle.
As the rheumatism or ague in the head is a disorder very ripe at present, and proves mortal to many; a correspondent, who has laboured under every stage of it for upwards of two years past, who had had the advice of many of the most eminent of the faculty, and took their several prescriptions without effect: being at length happily cured by the application of the following family secret, has favoured us with a copy of the same; and most earnestly recommends it to all those who are or may be afflicted with the above disorder, as
a safe and infallible cure.
R E C I P T.
Spread a pennyworth of venous treacle upon a piece of wash leather, about the size of a crown piece, and grate thereon as much nutmeg as it will conveniently hold. This is to be applied to the mold or opening of the head, first shaving the same according to the size of the plaster. It is to lie on for about 12 days, keeping the part very warmly covered with flannel, both during the time of the plaster's being on, and afterwards till the hair grows. Note, The patient is desired not to despair, though the first application may not prove successful, (which our correspondent observes, from experience, is sometimes the case) but to rely most assuredly upon the cure of a second.
Extract of a letter from Calcutta, Feb. 25.
"This is a most rascally climate; figure to yourself a number of dead human carcasses laying without ceremony, in the public streets, occasioned by a famine of rice. It is computed that 30,000 inhabitants of Calcutta alone have died within these few months."
Sept. 1. A shocking Circumstance had very near happened last Sunday at a Methodist Meeting, commonly known by the Name of Madam Gin's, or the Old Meeting, in Snow's Fields, Southwark. A Person in Long-Lane having some Time past laboured under a gloomy State, occasioned, as it is supposed, by too close Attendance on an illiterate Enthusiast, this Person, with his Wife and four Children, being at the same Meeting on Sunday last, and the Preacher taking his Text from the Hundred and thirty seventh Psalm, Verse the last "Happy shall he be who taketh and dasheth thy little Ones against the Stones," the Person said out aloud "Come, come we have enough of that, proceed to something else;" and presently after, the Preacher rioting his Text, the Person suddenly catch up one of the least of his Children, and had in all Probability dashed it against the Floor, had not a lusty Man providentially interfered, who, after having saved the Child, closed with and took the unhappy Father out of the Meeting.
Anecdote of LEWIS XIII. King of France
THERE was a grand masquerade ball held at Paris in the reign of the above weak monarch, who notwithstanding his dress was discovered by two young Gentlemen, walking in the ball room with his arm round the waist of one of his mistresses. The Gentlemen soon came close up to his Majesty, when one of them complained of the heat of the room, and made a motion to the other for them to adjourn to the King's Arms. No (replied he) that will not do, the King's Arms is full; but if you think proper we will retire to the King's head, for that is quite EMPTY.
L O N D O N, Sept. 25.
It is reported, that the King of Prussia has lately sent a memorial to the Court of Madrid, requiring a categorical answer as to the great warlike preparations making in the Spanish dominions; and whether his most Catholic Majesty intends to oppose the treaty now on foot for putting an end to the destructive war between the Turks and Russians.
Sept. 21. One of the Morning Papers says, the Publick may be assured, that the Ministry are in actual Possession of other information respecting the Conflagration of Portsmouth Dock, than what has been given them either by Dudley or Britain; and that the said Information will be scrupulously discussed at the Meeting of the Parliament, when some Great Men will be called to account for their wilful Negligence in suffering not only Count de Guignes, but some other Persons employed by the French Court withdrew themselves from this Kingdom, subsequent to such Information.
Province of New Hampshire, Rockingham, ff. In the House of Representatives, December 16, 1771.
Whereas a number of the Inhabitants of that Part of New Boston, which is called the addition, together with some of the Inhabitants of the SOCIETY LAND, so called, have petitioned the General Assembly, praying to be erected into a Township, for reasons in their Petition set forth: Voted, that the Petitioners, cause the substance of this Petition to be Printed in the New Hampshire Gazette, three Weeks successively, and that any persons may be heard, to show cause why the prayer thereof should not be granted on the third Day of the sitting of the General Assembly, next after the 15th of January next.
Attest. WILLIAM PARKER, Clerk.
In Council Esdem Die. Read, and Concurred, GEO. KING, Dept. Sec'y.
Oliver Whipple
Late a Practitioner of Law in the Colony of Rhode Island,
Having been duly admitted and sworn, At November Court last, in The County of Rockingham,
G I V E S N O T I C E,
To the Public, that he has opened his Office at Portsmouth, opposite the Post-Office, and next Door to the Hon. DANIEL RINDGE, Esq; where he will give faithful Attendance on Gentlemen, at all Times, who shall have Occasion for an Attorney to transact their Business in the LAW.
Portsmouth, December 16th, 1771.
Tar, Turpentine,
Pitch, New FLOUR, a Quantity of CORDIALS by the Cask, consisting of Doctor Stevens, — Orange, — Aniseed, — Snakeroot, and Clove Water. — Also TOBACCO of every Kind, to be sold as cheap as can be bought in Boston, by Neal McIntyre, at his Store on Spring-Hill, Portsmouth.
TO BE SOLD,
THREE TRACTS of LAND in the Town of Rochester, viz. 80 Acres in the second Division, being No. 85. Original Proprietor John Hall. 90 Acres in ditto, No. 114, Original Proprietor Thomas Drew. 50 Acres in the third Division, No. 31, Original Proprietor Thomas Drew. Any Person inclining to purchase the above Lands, may by applying to the Printers hereof, know the Terms.
TO BE SOLD,
By Joseph Bass,
Next Door to the Printing-Office, the following GOODS at the very lowest Rate for Cash, viz.
S Even-eight and nine Quarter Bed Blankets, nine and ten quarter Bed Quilts, Crimson and green Harrateen; crimson, green and blue Chaney, green and blue Lincey, ell wide Irish Sheeting, Looking and Dressing Glasses with Draws, green, blue, yellow, scarlet and crimson None-so pretties, silk and worsted Laces and Braids for Curtains, brass and pewter Curtain Rings, crimson, green, blue and yellow, worsted and mixt Line and Tossels for Window Curtains; Girth and Sadler's Webbing, brass Nails; 14 oz Tacks, Shoe Nails, Cloak Pins, Leather Casters, Truckles, Writing Paper, TEA, Ginger, Lady's paste and plain Hair Combs, stone and silver Sleve Buttons, Pinchbeck ditto, Carpit Coverlids, handsome green & blue Chaney and Lincey Curtains; English and Scotch Bed-Ticks, Sea Beds and Rugs, Mattrasses, black figur'd Horse Hair for Chair Bottoms, Oznabrigs, Quality Bindings, Garterings, Silk and Linnen Handkerchiefs, Buckrams, colored Threads, sewing Silk, No. 4 and 12 Pins, Needles, best Roman Violon Strings, Wool Cards, Pidgeon, Duck and Goose Shot by the Hundred, Pewter Quart and Pint Pots, Basins and Porringers, Seive and Seive Bottoms by the Dozen, Horn & Ivory Combs, check Linnen, scarlet and green Worsted Caps, and Stocking Crewills, Snuff Boxes, & GRINDSTONES, with a Variety of other Articles.
NOTICE is hereby given to all Persons having any Claims against the Estate of John Titcomb late of Dover Esq; Deceased intestate and insolvent, that six Months more are allowed us the Subscribers by the Judge of Probate for the County of Rockingham, to examine any further Claims on said Estate, and that we will attend that business on the last Mondays of the six following Months, at the late Dwelling House of said Titcomb from two to five of the clock afternoon on each of said Mondays.
Dover Dec. 19th 1771. John Gage junr. J. Commis. Joseph Roberts, S. sione,

To the Printers. 'Tis with much pleasure I bear that there is like to be a scarcity of Rum this winter, and I would take this opportunity to recommend to all that have indulged too much love to that mighty Destroyer, the following extracts from the late worthy Dr. Stephen Hale's observations and experiments on the immediate use of strong liquors, hoping that the convictions which must arise from these remarks will tend to make them thankful and cheapness of Providence for denying them the usual plenty and cheapness of such liquors.
A LL people that have any regard to their health and lives ought to tremble at the first cravings for such poisonous liquors; the ladies begin by them bring forth necessity upon necessity of drams and jills, till at last a kind dropsy, nervous convulsions, a nervous consumption or flux it not a fever or phrenzy sets the poor soul free. It is observed that many mad people have been great drinkers of drams, these fiery spirits destroying the tender fibres of the brain. The plentiful devouring of those spirits has killed as many thousands of them as there are stars in the sky: Nay, ten times ten thousand have died by these, more than by all the rest of the poisons whatever. Wherefore if such spirits deserve not the name of poison, I neither can learn nor conjecture by what else they should be called. The more I reflect on the mischief done by distilled spirits the more I am confirmed that the human race had been happier had drams never been known.
It is the known observation of dealers in hair for wigs, that the dram drinker's hair by the touch, finding it dry, harsh, deadened and unfit for use. And in the same manner it spots the stomach and bowels, the liver and lungs, and the whole body of the unhappy persons. And it is very observable, that these pernicious spirits not only hurt the bodies but spoil the tempers even of hogs; for if a distiller's hog (who is kept upon the wash of a still-house, as is common in Germany) cries out with the voice of distress, the other hogs will fall on him and destroy him, if he is not taken from them, whereas it is well known that the Farmer's hogs are zealous in defending each other when they cry out in distress.
An eminent surgeon informs me, that he has observed the stomachs of great dram drinkers to be contracted into half the common natural size, and to be hard somewhat like leather that has been held to the fire, the consequence of which is loss of appetite and wasting consumption.
It is pretended that drams comfort, warm and defend from the severe cold, to which men are sometimes exposed; without which they say, they should perish with cold; which is probably in a great measure true of those who are much habituated to them; the good of such being thereby so much impoverished, that it is well known many of the habitual drinkers of drams are cold and lifeless in the midst of summer, without frequent fresh draughts of it; this is what some of them have owned to me. But on the other hand, how much abler are sober persons to endure cold and bear hardships! Their vital heat not being extinguished with intemperance, does, by its kindly genial warmth, more effectually secure them from the inclemency of the weather, than the false flash which a dram gives. Besides it is well known, that men did not perish in the coldest countries for want of drams formerly, when they were not to be had.
As to pernicious effects of spirituous liquors in very hot climates, as on the coast of Guinea, it is observed that the French and Portuguese, who do not indulge distilled spirits, are very healthy there; but that the English who drink them die fast. Thus also it is observed of the Women in Barbados and Jamaica, that being sober, they live long, but it is not so with the Men who are more generally intemperate.
That most destructive distemper the SCURVY, is much increased even to mortality by distilled spirituous liquors, which sailors are too apt greedy to swallow down. To prevent the ill-consequences of which, Admiral VERNON, in his expedition to Porto Bello, very prudently mixed a good proportion of water with the spirituous liquors, which had the desired good effect on the health and lives of his sailors. And it is with pleasure I hear that it is become a more general practice at sea to mix water with the distilled liquors at all kinds, which it is therefore the bounden duty of all commanders of vessels to do, who have any value, any bowels of compassion for the health and lives of their sailors. In our royal navy all distilled spirits are forbid, and Wine wisely provided.
And the like good effects have of late years been found useful in our colonies, by mixing a greater proportion of water with the Rum; for when punch was frozen it destroyed many: which great unhealthiness as I well remember was then attributed to the lime juice, being both to accuse their too well beloved Rum of such pernicious effects; but they are now happily convinced that the weaker the punch the more wholesome.
One of the best ways of leaving off the bad habits of drinking drams is by degrees to mix water with the dram, to lessen the quantity of the dram every day and keep to the same quantity of Water, 'till in about the course of a Week, nothing of the dram kind be mixed along with the water. By this means the person
will suffer no inconvenience, but reap great benefit upon leaving off drams; as has been tried by many. I: any gnawing be left in the stomach afterwards a little hot broth is a very good remedy.
The appetite always increases in a few days, unless by the too long use of drams, the tone of the stomach is destroyed; in which melancholy state, take an ounce of elixir proprietatis, three drams of elixir of vitriol and one dram of elixir of steel, mix these together and let the unhappy sufferer take a tea spoon full in a glass of white wine or a cup of carduus or camomile tea every morning fasting, and every evening."
BOSTON, December 16.
A Girl of about four Years of Age, was found dead Yesterday Morning in one of the Tenements in Boarded Alley so called. A Jury of Inquest was summoned, who brought in their Verdict, died of excessive Drinking. It appeared that a Woman in the Tenement the Evening before had brought in a Pitcher with Rum therein, and while she went out to get a Candle, it's supposed the Child being thirsty, took the Pitcher and drank great Part of the Liquor, which stupified it till it died.
We can with pleasure assure the publick that several Gentlemen in the country have lately entered upon the culture of that valuable root called MADDEN. It is a considerable article of importation from London, great quantities of it are wanted for dying. It is three years from planting this root before it is fit to dig, but large compensation is made by the valuable crop, which upon a moderate computation, one acre only, is worth One Hundred Pounds Sterling. The method of cultivation we shall collect and lay before the public as soon as possible. Every stone should be turned now and every art investigated, that will help to forward our INDEPENDENCE upon that state that makes use of every possible means to oppress us. A few additions to the articles of fish, oil, bone, lumber, pot-ash, silk and madder, together with GOOD OECOLOGY, will effect it in a few years, if providence continues to smile on us, and the inhabitants increase in their usual proportion.
MONDAY, December 16.
The late severe Snow Storm made travelling very difficult in the Country; which prevented the Southern Post with the Mails due last Saturday sennight from arriving till Tuesday Evening following. The Hartford Post performed his Stage the usual Time, and they both set out again on Thursday, and neither are expected to return before the middle of this Week. It is said the Snow fell in great abundance at Newport and along the Narraganset Country inasmuch that the Post Rider was one whole Day in travelling 13 Miles.
By Capt. Coffin from Nantucket, we learn that the Sloop Paoli Capt. Dufay, belonging to Mr. Gerrish, of Halifax, and bound from that Place to Philadelphia, having 11 Persons on board, was on the 5th Instant, in a terrible Storm of Snow drove ashore at Nantucket, and stove to Pieces: The Master, and Mr. Amos Quis the Mate, were both Drowned, whose Bodies were afterwards taken up and buried in one Grave: One Mr. Cochran, a Passenger, who had with him a considerable Quantity of Money, was missing and supposed to be drowned; the other eight Persons got safe ashore.
We hear that the Schooner lately seen bottom upwards in the Bay, is the Vessel belonging to Duxbury, which some time since ran upon the Rocks soon after she came out of Plymouth Harbour, and after the People were taken out overset and floated off again.
Yesterday Morning Captain Tucker in a Ship from Glasgow, in coming up ran aground on Georges Island: He left Glasgow the 12th of October, but neither Letters or Papers are yet come to Hand.
A Snow from the West Indies, Capt. Bartlet, belonging to this Port, being at Anchor in Barnstable Bay, drove ashore, but it is tho't the Vessel and Cargo of Molasses will be saved.
S A L E M, December 17.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to reprieve Bryan Sheehan for the Space of 14 Days beyond the Time fixed for his Execution. He was to have been hanged next Thursday, but it is now put off till the second Day of January.
PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 20, 1771.
On Tuesday Night the 12th Inst. about one o' Clock, came on and continued most part of the next Day, a violent snow Storm, Wind E. N. E. in which a number of Vessels were cast away, viz. Capt. Mathews, in a Schooner belonging to Marblehead, on Odiorne's Point, at the Entrance of this Harbour, having sailed the Day before for the Eastward, but taking the Wind as above, put back for the Harbour, but being very thick of Snow, could not make the Light, and came to an Anchor off the Whale's Back, and Rode with both Anchors a Head 'till Day Break, when the Wind increasing, they parted both her Anchors, and drove on Shore as above, and in one Hours time Stove entirely to Pieces, the People saved their Lives in the Boat. — Capt. Tycross, in a Sloop belonging to the Eastward, on Frost's Point, uncertain yet whether she will be got off again, having her Keel, &c. stove in. — Capt. Bell, from Philadelphia, on Hampton Beach, Vessel and Cargo 'tis tho't will be saved. — One on York Ledge, Master and Vessel unknown, 'tis thought the People were drowned. — A Sloop at Winter-Harbour, entirely lost, and another cast ashore, but it's tho't will be got off again.
We fear there a Number more ashore farther to the Eastward, that we have not yet heard of.
We hear from Sanbornton, that on Wednesday the 13th instant, a Church was embodied there, and the Rev. Mr. Joseph Woodman, ordained to the Pastoral Office. The Rev. Mr. Noble of Newbury, opened the Solemnity with Prayer; the Rev. Mr. Hale, of Newbury, Preached a Sermon suitable to the Occasion, from 5th Cor. I. 21. — The Rev. Mr. Walker of Concord, gave the Charge. The Rev. Mr. Stearns of Epping, the Right Hand of Fellowship, and the Rev. Mr. Emery of Pembroke closed with Prayer. The whole was conducted with a Solemnity and Decency becoming the Occasion. The singular unanimity of the People, the approved Character and Gifts of the Pastor, with the distinguished richness of the Soil, afford a very pleasing Prospect. We rejoice to see our common Wealth growing fast, through the Smiles of a benign Providence: Our Churches multiplying and settling in Gospel Order, and the Wilderness blossoming like the Rose: Of the increase of the Redeemer's Kingdom: here may there be no end till it bath filled the Land.
A CARD.
Messrs Fowles, Please to let poor Sybax know, in answer to his elaborate Performance in your last, that he has as far outdone Pronus, as a Monkey does a Baboon, in describing a Lady's Head-dress; and for the present they shall be coupled together, in the two following Lines in Honor to them. Is this the Fruit of your Study? — What's all the noisy Jargon of the Schools, But idle Nonsense of laborious Fools? Unhappy Men! who thro' successive Years, From early Youth, to Life's last Childhood errs. Alas! Dame Nature is lug'd in to represent Woman as a prating Figure, a moving Pyramid of Galleries, with Streamers flying, from the Toppgallant to the humble Keel, &c. Oh! Sybax, you seem to want the Essentials of the masculine Gender! — thy empty Noddle is so full of mechanick Phrases, that you seem to be an entire Stranger to the Charms of the Fair Sex, or has forgot that there is more humanity, more address, politeness and ingenuity to be learned in an Hour, by the Influence of their Beauty, and the force of their Example, than for Years in the cynical Dogmas of the Schools; which was undoubtedly what the Philosopher of old meant, when he advised an unpolished Fellow to sacrifice to the Graces: It is to be feared by the stiffness of thy Address that thou art a Batchelor, and unacquainted with the fairest Part of the Creation, otherwise a little of that Buckram would have been extracted from you, which would have made you more pliable, For as the Poet lays,
There is that sweetness in a Female Mind, Which in a Man's we cannot hope to find. To this fair Creature I'd sometimes retire, Her Conversation would new Joys inspire. For the present shall say no more, as I find you are wholly insensible of the more noble Part you have undertaken to satirize, according to your own Sexes acknowledgement. But should you or any of your Accomplices attempt in that Way to tarnish that which you have such false Ideas of, you will be treated as an unlicked Cub, not with sincere Milk, least by your vitiated Stomachs it should curdle there; but will have prepared for you a more whole some Pap, which may be easily digested.
Messrs Fowles, Please to insert in your Paper, the following ODE for Christmas Day, a Day, which ought never to be forgot, while Salvation is dear to us. Yours, &c. A. B.
H AIL, thou bles'd Spirit, come and Sing, Thy heav'nly Influences bring, Our drooping Souls inspire; Let Seraphs their sweet Voices raise, Let all Creation join the Lays, And make one glorious Choir. He's come, the great Messiah's come! So often by the Prophets Sung, With Truth and conqu'ring Grace, Fall, fall before him hated Foes, Nor dare this mighty Prince oppose Of royal David's Race. See! Zion's Daughter meets her King, With noblest Offerings, She can bring, To Heav'n her Soul aspires. O! let Mankind his Voice obey, And bow submissive to his Sway, The humble he admires. This valiant Chief, no Danger shuns, Receives the most rebellious ones, That in his Strength confide. To young and old, and ev'ry Age, To rich and poor, the Hero, Sage, He proves a faithful Guide. Where's the Prince, that's more victorious? Shew the Monarch that's more glorious, A Prophet, Priest and King; He conquers Death with all his Powers, And on the World Salvation Showers, To him, all Nature, Sing.
Portsmouth, Dec. 18th, 1771.     CUSTOM-HOUSE, PISCATAQUA, Dec. 18.   Inward-Entries FROM.     Sloop John, Abner Lowel, Quebec.   Sloop Cynthia, Joseph Harris, Nevis.   Brig William, Samuel Paul, Antigua.   Clear'd for Departure FOR.   Schooner Judith, Josiah Browne, Virginia.   Schooner Blossom, Joseph Dearing, North-Carolina.   Schooner Mark, Samuel Fowler, Corks.   Sloop William & Mary, Robert Adams, North-Carolina.   Sloop Dolly, Benjamin Lurvey, Virginia.   Ship Recovery, John Salter, North Carolina.   Ship Clitus, George Rolland, West-Indies.   Ship Rockingham, Joseph Jones, Ditto.   Brig Nathaniel, Samuel Newhall, Ditto.   Brig Irish Oak, Edmund Butler, Ditto.   Brig Charming Molly, John Parrott, Ditto.   Schooner Merriam, Robert White, Ditto.  
THE Brethren of
The Ancient and Honourable Society of FREE and ACCEPTED MASONS, are hereby NOTIFIED, That the Right Worshipful SAMUEL LIVERMORE, Esq; Master of the New Hampshire LODGE, designs to celebrate the Festival of SAINT JOHN the EVANGELIST, on FRIDAY NEXT, being the 27th of December Inst. at the House of Brother Stavers, the Halifax Tavern in Pitt-Street, Portsmouth, where all the Brethren are desired to attend at One o'Clock.
By Order of the Master and Wardens, ROBERT FOWLE, Secretary. Portsmouth, Dec. 20th, 1771. Dinner precisely at Two o'Clock.
Runaway from the Subscriber, a Lad of about Eighteen Years of age; he had a bald spot on his Forehead, with Coat and Breeches of home spun Linnen Cloth, and Jacket of stripe Stuff; named Amos Giley. Any Person who takes up said Runaway, and returns him to me, shall have a handsome Reward, of Alexander Houston. Londonderry, Nov. 26th, 1771.

St. JOHN's (in Antigua) October 12.
On Tuesday last about two in the afternoon we had here two violent shocks of an Earthquake, which threw every body in the utmost consternation; but we do not hear any damage being done by it.
On Friday at half past six in the morning we had another smart shock of an earthquake but far less considerable than that we felt on Tuesday.
Last Wednesday arrived at English Harbour two of his Majesty's sloops of war, on this station, viz. Favourite 16 guns, Captain Biggs, Falcon 18 guns, Captain Bains; and the two following are daily expected, viz. Portland 50 guns, Capt. Sterling, Active 28 guns, Capt. Williams.
October 26. The sloop Sally, belonging to Tortola, James Prince master, from Philadelphia, in Lat. 38d. 7m. Long. 67d. 17m. met with a violent gale of wind, which obliged him to clear the decks of lumber and stock, and stow three water casks. The day after the gale he saw a sloop which had been over-set, from Cape-Ann, bound for Cape Nichola Mole, the Capt. of which, with six of his hands, he saved from the wreck, and carried them into St. Vincents.
N E W-Y O R K, Dec. 5.
Last Wednesday Captain Thomas Randle, jun. of this Port, inward bound from the West-Indies, a few Leagues from Sandy-Hook, was knock'd over board, with the Boom, & drowned. He was a promising Youth, and his Death is greatly lamented by all his Acquaintance.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 28.
Captain Peter, from Cadiz, informs, that while he lay there the Queen of Spain was delivered of a Prince Royal, for which event there were illuminations, and great rejoicings for three days: That the ship St. Francis, Captain Butler, belonging to Bristol, homeward bound from Cadiz, took fire off Cape St. Mary, the day after she sailed, and was entirely burnt to the water's edge; the Captain and crew saved themselves in their boat; and got back to Cadiz; that five sail of transports were arrived there from La Vera Cruz and the Havanna, with troops, & more daily expected; that they were fitting out the Flota with all expedition, to go under convoy of a 74 gun ship; that there was only one man of war of 80 guns at that place, which lately arrived from Carthagena, and was laid up; and that about the 1st of October an English frigate passed by there, with his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester on board, bound up the Mediterranean.
The brig Dolphin, Capt. Shewel, of this port, bound to Amsterdam, was drove ashore in the Texel, in a hard gale of wind, about the 8th of Sept. the people, and most of the sails and rigging saved, but the vessel and cargo it is feared will be lost.
Capt. Dyson from Antigua, the 22d inst. in lat. 27, 20, long. 72, fell in with the sloop Ruth, from Jamaica, for New-London, out 40 days, belonging to Boston, to whom he spared some fire-wood.
Friday last arrived here the Brig Diamond Captain John Toman, in 22 Days from Hispaniola, who the 12th Ult. took 12 Frenchmen off a Raft about a League from the West Caucas, they having been cast away on said Caucas 9 Days before; the same Day he spoke with Captain Munro, in a Sloop bound to Providence, in this Colony, and put 3 of the Frenchmen on Board him and brought the other 9 in here.
N E W-Y O R K, December 2.
"On the Ninth Ult. a Rev'd Doctor who is at the Head of a neighbouring College, sail'd for Charles-Town, South-Carolina, where he is to return by way of Virginia, in order to heal the Division that subsists among his Brethren there, and he has not the least doubt of being able to prevail on all the Clergy in the Southern Provinces to follow their Brethren to the Northward, in a general Supplication for an American Bishop".
On Thursday last, died at Morrisania, Henry Bioks, aged one hundred & one years. As his mother was not blessed with a family name he took that of his sire, a distinguished sea officer in the service of the States General who dispossessed the English of this province.
We hear from the Nine Partners, in Dutchess County, that about three weeks ago, in the dead time of the night, the store house of Messrs. James and Ezra Reed, of that Place, (merchants, of very considerable and extensive business, who are brothers and partners) by some unknown accident took fire, and was entirely consumed, together with a large Quantity of Goods of all Kinds, lately received,—a large Quantity of country produce, & all their Books of Account, &c. the whole supposed to be the Value of 14 or 15,000.
Just Published,
And TO BE SOLD by the Printers hereof, A Civil, Military & Ecclesiastical REGISTER of the Province of New-Hampshire, for the YEAR 1772.
CONTAINING a List of the Governor, Council and House of Representatives. Judges and Officers of the Superior Court, and Court of Admiralty. Division of the Province into Counties, Bounds of the several Counties, and the Towns and Parishes included in each County. Justices and Clerks of the Inferior Courts, Sheriffs, Judges and Registers of Probate, Recorders of Deeds and Treasurers of each County. Justices of the Peace through the Province and for each County, with those of the Quorum distinguished. Barristers of Law and Practising Attorneys with their respective Places of Residence. Custom House Officers and Notaries Public. Field Officers of the several Regiments in each County, Trustees and Officers of Dartmouth-College. Ministers, Churches and religious Assemblies of the several Denominations in each County. Times and Places of holding the several Courts in each County. Deputy Sheriffs in the several Counties. Road to Dartmouth-College and the upper Cohos, by the Way of Keene; another by Way of Plymouth, and a third by Way of Wolfborough, with the most noted Houses of Entertainment, &c. &c. &c.
Every Gentleman who holds an Office, and has the Honor of having it recorded in the above Register, undoubtedly ought and will furnish himself with one,—and other Persons should have them, in order rightly to know their Superiors. Price half a Pisterdeen only.
For LONDON,
A Fine New BRIGANTINE, called the THOMAS, Burthen'd One Hundred and Fifty Tons, JAMES NICOLL Master, Has Excellent Accommodations for Passengers, Will sail some Time in January, having some Part of her CARGO on Board, and most Part of the Remainder engag'd: For Freight or Passage, apply to the Master on Board said Brig, at Upper Long Wharf, Newbury Port.
[ Hanover. ]
WHEREAS at a legal Meeting of the Proprietors of the Township of HANOVER, in the Province of New Hampshire, in Nov. last, a TAX was raised on all the Lands in Hanover, both divided and undivided, of a penny half penny per Acre, and is for making a ROAD through said Hanover, leading to Wolfborough. This is therefore to warn all the Owners of Land in said Hanover, to pay their respective Taxes to me the Subscriber, at my House in Hanover, by the first Monday in February next, or their Lands will be advertised for sale according to LAW, in the New Hampshire Gazette. Isaac Bridgman, Collector.
Hanover, Decemb 7. 1771.
Rockingham, ss.
ALL Persons who have any Demands on the Estate of Mr. William Fullerton, late of Portsmouth, Painter, deceased, represented Insolvent, are notified, to bring in their Claims to us the Subscribers, who are appointed by the Honorable Judge of Probate for said County, Commissioners to examine said Claims, and that we will attend that Business on the second Monday of the six following Months at the House of James Steedly, Esq; Innholder in Portsmouth, at six o'Clock P. M. THOMAS MARTIN, Portsmouth, Nov. 29, 1771. SAMUEL HALE, jr.
To be sold, a Dwelling-House, being a corner one, bounded on Cross street, leading to the North End. Enquire of Joseph Brewster.
The Managers of Newmarket
and Stratbam LOTTERY purpose to commence drawing the Fifth Class on New Year's Day next, at the Ferry-House in Stratbam, when & where the Adventurers may attend if they see cause. And the MANAGERS heartily wish it may be a happy New Year to every Adventurer in said Class; and that if every one should not be so fortunate as to obtain a Prize, that at least they may have the Happiness & Satisfaction of having promoted a Scheme of very great Utility to the Public.
At the said Time and Place will be lit to the lowest Bidder, some Jobs of Work on the Bridge.
A Few Tickets to be sold yet by the Managers. Newmarket 3'd December 1771.
[ Saville. ]
APPLICATION being made to me the Subscriber by more than one sixteenth part of the proprietors of SAVILLE, to call a Meeting of said proprietors, I do hereby Notify the said proprietors to meet at the House of Capt. Zachariah Foss, Innholder in Portsmouth, on Friday the 21st Day of December inst. at 2 o'Clock, P. M. Then and there to act upon the following Matters.
1st. To Chuse a Moderator. 2dly. To appoint a standing Committee, to determine where all necessary Reads shall be laid out in said Township, for the Accommodation of the Settlers. 3dly. To appoint another Committee to defend the proprietors Rights under his Majesty's Grant against any Encroachments or imaginary Claims, of any Persons whatever, holding or Claiming under any other Title, and to give said Committee full power to prosecute any Trespassers on said Grant. 4thly. To see whether the proprietors will employ the Settlers, in cutting and clearing any part of the Town Lots to prevent the Settlers Labouring out of the Township, and to Lett out said Improvements, to reimburse the expence. 5thly. To fix a Time for the drawing the Remainder of the first Divisional Lots. 6thly. To chuse a Person to run and have the Town Lines well marked. 7thly. To see whether the proprietors will Vote any Sums of Money for the above purposes, and to chuse Collectors. 8thly. To receive the Reports of the Committee for adjusting the Collectors, Treasurers, and Persons Accounts who have any Claims on the Propriety. 9thly. To act upon any other Matters, as may be thought serviceable to the propriety. It is desired the Meeting may be full, as it will be of Consequence.
JOHN WENDELL, Proprietors Clerk.
Portsmouth, Dec. 3d, 1771.
ALL PERSONS indebted to, or that have Demands on the Estate of the Hon. THOMAS WALLINGFORD, Esq; late of Somersworth, deceased, are desired to bring in their Accounts to Elisabeth Wallingford, of Somersworth aforesaid, sole Administratrix to said Estate, in order for settlement.
Whereas the Proprietors of the
Town of ACWORTH, in the Province of New-Hampshire, at sundry legal Meetings, voted and laid Eight Dollars on each Right in said Town, and chose me the Subscriber, Collector of said Taxes—This is therefore to give Notice to all said proprietors, that unless payment thereof be made to me at my House in Merrimack, by the first & Day of January next, so much of each original proprietors Right or share of Land in said Acworth, will be advertized for sale, agreeable to Law, as will answer the Demand aforesaid and Charges. Dec. 3. Jonathan Blanchard, Collector.
* Haverhill. *
WHEREAS at sundry legal Meetings of the Proprietors of Haverhill, in the Province of New Hampshire, several Taxes have been voted to be raised on each original Right or Share of Land in said Town to pay for laying out hundred acre Lots, and making Roads, &c. which has been Notified in the New Hampshire Gazette, according to the Laws of said Province, yet notwithstanding these Persons have neglected to pay the same to the Collector of said Proprietors, This is therefore to notify those who are delinquent that unless they pay the following Sums in Lawful Money annexed to each owners Name, at or before the twenty eighth Day of December next, at my House in Haverhill, so much of their original Rights or Shares of Land will be sold at public Vendue, at the Dwelling House of Ezekiel Ladd, Freeholder in said Haverhill, on the said twenty eighth of December next, as will discharge said Sums or Tax, with all incidental Charges.
John T'aggat, 5 2 0 Tho's Johnson, 5 2 0 Haverhill, Nov. 20th 1771.
Stray'd away from Rachel Hayes of Barrington, 12 Week old, an OX 6 Years old, red and white, branded on one Horn, R. H. end cut off the other. Whoever has or shall take up said Ox, and convey him to the Owner, shall be well Rewarded.