The New-Hampshire gazette and historical chronicle (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1774-03-18 00:00:00

TAXATION, without REPRESENTATION, is subversive of our constitutional LIBERTY.
THIS Maxim is universally adopted, and is a Part of the American's political Creed, yet not so much in Practice as in Theory; for tho' it is of the greatest Consequence to a Community, and is the Birth-Right of every Englishman; yet we annually see this very Right violated and infringed upon in almost every Province in America, by Taxing many Towns and Districts without the Privilege of sending their Representatives to the General-Assembly. Is not this a political Solecism, & acting counter to our express Declarations, and the solemn Resolves of every Assembly on the Continent in our present grand Controversy with the Parliament of Great-Britain? who having usurped the Right of Taxation, without Representation, have been violently opposed, and that Right denied, as derogatory and unconstitutional. Leaving the Individuals of each Province who are thus aggrieved, to examine into the Right, and to seek Redress for themselves, I shall take the Liberty to address a few Thoughts to the Public, and confine myself within the Sphere of our own Province, in which I am sorry to say, there are many of his Majesty's Subjects, who are deprived of this inherent Right of Representation, and yet are annually taxed large Sums for the Support of Government, and even of the Representatives of other Towns, not near so populous, as those that are thus unrepresented.
The Town of Nottingham has never had this Priviledge; and it is now one of the primary Towns in the Province.— The whole County of Grafton, (which consists of several Thousand Inhabitants, and daily greatly encreasing, and wherein there is two embodied Regiments of Militia,) and in short near one Third of the Province, is unrepresented; yet are annually taxed. The Doctrine of virtual Representation has been so learnedly discussed, and shown to be void of every rational Principle, that I will not presume to offend, by mentioning it as the supposed Basis, upon which our Rulers have hitherto proceeded, in issuing his Majesty's Writ for the Election of Members. I presume to assert, that upon the established Maxim first laid down, there is not a Freeholder in the Province but has an absolute Right of an actual Representation, without which his Estate ought not to be liable to a Province Tax. If it is asserted such a Thing is not practicable, I beg Leave to differ from such an Assertion, and say, that by clashing Towns together, to choose a Representative, for such Clashes, the whole may be thereby actually represented, and though it may not be convenient for the People to attend, yet having the Right of attending, if they think proper, is effectually securing and preserving the Priviledge, and will quadrat with the Constitution. There is wanting an Act of the Legislature, that every Town which sends a Representative, should pay the Expence; as the Law now stands, near one Third of the Province pay for the Expence of a Representation, in which they have no Voice; and is in the highest Degree taking away our Money, without our Consent; if the Resolves of the late Assembly were intended to have any Meaning or any Effect, as they were made in Behalf of the whole
Body, and if they were thus actually represented the Whole ought to have the Benefit of it; or I think such Resolves should be expunged, obliterated and rescinded as inconsistent, sooner by a Petition from the unrepresented Part of the Province, than by the most peremptory ministerial Mandates whatsoever. There is no drawing a Line of Representation. Every Freeholder in the most distant Part of the Province has an equal Right thereto, with those of the Metropolis; I should therefore rejoice to see our next Assembly protecting that Right; and with a becoming Fortitude endeavouring for its extending to the whole Body. It has been said, that such a classical Representation would be strengthening the Power of the Crown; which is a very great Absurdity; for the contrary would be the Effect; unless we would mean to pass the grossest Obliquy and Reflection on such Gentlemen as may be chosen. And as the Election of a new Assembly now draws near, let us be circumspect in our Choice, and elect only such Gentlemen to represent us as we can confide in. And as a good Rule for our Government, let us choose only such Men as we would intrust with our whole Estates, for their Honesty, Honor and Integrity; those to whom we (on a dying Bed) could commit the Care of our Wives and Children, Men of known honest Principles; who would detest betraying of a Trust; and are commonly reputed, the Friends of Mankind. To such let us apply, and we may be sure of being a happy People; and having found such Men, let us instruct them in our public Sentiments, and what we would with they might do for us as a Body Politic. And here I beg Leave to suggest a few Things that are obviously necessary: First and principally, that they would use their utmost Endeavours, to procure his Majesty's Writ for a classical Representation of the whole Province, as thereby they will do themselves great Honor, and will give the Lead to every American Assembly to do the same; secondly, that they would promote an internal Provincial Commerce, by opening, encouraging and procuring good Waggon-Roads, through the Province, thirdly, to promote the Establishment of a PAPER MEDIUM, if to be done on a proper Foundation, fourthly, to do their utmost that PUBLIC GALLERIES should be erected, that every Individual who inclines, may hear the Debates, and see for themselves, who are the Friends of the People; and lastly, that we may have annual, instead of triennial Assemblies, which are certainly more beneficial to the People for many obvious Reasons. PUBLICUS.
CHARLESTOWN, S. Carolina, Feb. 4.
The Assembly of Georgia have passed an unlimited Vote of Credit, to enable his Excellency Sir James Wright to take such Measures as the present Exigencies may require; his Excellency has augmented the Rangers in the Pay of that Province, and ordered every third Man in the Militia to be draughted, in order to form separate Bodies, to be properly stationed for the Protection of the Inhabitants.
The Settlement at Wrightsborough was nearly abandoned, when an old Quaker named Maddox, declared his Intention of making a stand against the Indians, and was thereupon joined by some others, who, under his Direction, immediately set about building a Fort.
The People on the Frontiers of this Province seem resolved to defend themselves, if attacked, and are busy in erecting Forts for the Safety of the Women, Children, and those unfit to bear Arms, as well as for the preservation of their Effects, particularly the Settlers at New-Bourdeaux, Long Canes, &c.
Earl of Halifax PACKET, Capt. Boulter on at New-York, and 11 Weeks Passage from Falmouth; and brings no later Advices than the 2d of December.
Mr. FOWLE,
AS I am a constant Reader of your impartial Paper, I cou'd not help taking Notice of a Piece in your No. 905, design'd Pro Bono Publico. The Author seems well disposed, and I applaud him for his concern and Regard for the Town of Portsmouth, but, "actuated (as he is,) by that "Philanthropy which every good Man must "wish to possess" I beg Leave to observe, in Behalf of the Town of Falmouth, (which he says is at this Moment blowing into Consequence") that it is a maritime Town, so well situated for an extensive Commerce, and favoured with so fine a Harbour, and other Advantages, which naturally tend to the Increase of it's Trade, and is so much nearer to many of the new Settlements in the Province of New-Hampshire, than any other Sea-Port, that I think it is not at all unnatural, if the new Settlers bring their Produce, not in a bended, but in a direct Course to this Port; especially when they can be supplied with such Articles as they need, at as cheap a Rate as at any Town on the Continent.
I should indeed pity Portsmouth, should it be so unfortunate, as to be reduced to a mere fishing Village, but if Falmouth is so situated by Nature, as thereby to be preferred by it's neighbouring Settlements, on a commercial Account, who will say that Nature shall not rule, or who dare aim to counteract her Course.
I have not Leisure to enlarge, but thus much in behalf of MY fellow Citizens, I thought it my Duty to observe. Yours, Z. Y.
Falmouth, March 8, 1774.
WELLS, MARCH 12, 1774.
ON the 2d Instant departed this Life, in the 68th Year of his Age, after a tedious Indisposition of almost five Years, and on the 7th was interred, the Hon. JOSEPH SAYER, Esq. A Gentleman who for more than 40 Years has sustained several Commissions Civil and Military with Honor. But more respectable for his personal Accomplishments and Virtues than for any external Honors and Distinctions. In the early Part of Life he studied Physick, and practised in that Profession for some Years with Reputation. But as his active Genius and Inclination soon led him into a larger Circle of Business, he quitted the Practice of Physick, applying himself with great Diligence and Prudence, and with good Success to Trade, Navigation and Husbandry: In him there was a Quickness of Discernment joined with Soundness of Judgment: He was careful and circumspect in projecting, vigorous and active in executing whatsoever he took in Hand. His Care and Attention extended to his minutest Concerns. But it was the Virtues of his Heart that formed the brightest and most honorable Part of his Character. He was from his early Youth an exemplary Professor of our Holy Religion, and was careful to have always a Conscience void of Offence, toward God and toward Man. He was pious and devout, without Affection, in him Orthodoxy and Charity were wisely and happily united. He was constant and exact in his Attendance on the Worship of GOD, in public & in his Family. Upright in his Commerce with Mankind: Charitable to the Poor and Afflicted: A good agreeable Neighbour: A steady faithful Friend: A careful, wise and affectionate Parent and Relative: He managed the Government and ordering of his Family with admirable wisdom and skill; and had the happy Art of engaging the Love, and commanding the Honor of all his Domestics: And though he was a Person of very quick sensibility, yet he maintained such a rare self Government that he scarce ever spoke or acted rashly. And so tender was he of the Reputation of others, that Persons who were long and intimately acquainted with him, have declared, that they never heard him speak reproachfully of any Person whatsoever: It was a Rule with him to express himself with Candour, even of those whom he thought most blameable: In a Word, though he was no doubt subject to the Imperfections of Humanity, of which he appeared more humbly and tenderly sensible than most Men, yet he was doubtless a worthy, great, exemplary, useful Man, and his Name will be remembered with Honor by those who have had the Happiness of being most acquainted with him.
CHOICE PORK
Fit for FISHERY, by the large or small Quantity, to be sold at a reasonable Price. Enquire of DANIEL EVANS at the South End, Portsmouth, March 17, 1774.

BOSTON, March 10. Proceedings of the GOVERNOR, COUNCIL and House of REPRESENTATIVES of the Massachusetts.
I N an Address of the Council the 7th Inst. to Governor HUTCHINSON, relating to the Impeachment of PETER OLIVER, Esq; mentioned in our last, they declare, that the Clause of the Charter that relates to the Subject under Consideration runs thus, "The Governor with the Assistants or Councillors, or seven of them at least, shall and may from Time to Time hold and keep a Council for the Ordering and directing the Affairs of our said Province"—The Governor and Councillors are here blended, and together constitute a Council, which in all Cases, proper for their Cognizance, are jointly, (and not as two Branches having a Negative on each other) authorised and appointed for the ordering and directing the Affairs of the Province, excepting certain Places (particularly mentioned in other Parts of the Charter) wherein seven or more Councillors are to be advising and assisting to the Governor. The End of this Appointment, viz. The ordering and directing the Affairs of the Province includes among other Things, the Removal of bad Officers from Office, and consequently includes a Jurisdiction to hear, try and determine on all Complaints, Remonstrances and Impeachments, for that Purpose, which perfectly coincides with the Idea of a Court of Judicature; and therefore, according to the Spirit & Intention of the Charter, the Governor & Council must have that Jurisdiction, without which their Power for the well ordering & directing the Affairs of the Province would be essentially deficient.—
Upon the whole, we are humbly of Opinion, that although, "there are no Species of Crimes committed within this Province, which are not cognizable by some establish'd Judicatory" although "the Governor and Council have no concurrent Jurisdiction with any Judicatory in criminal Cases, nor any Authority to try and determine any Species of Crimes" (except at least for the Purpose of Removal from Office) it does not thence follow, that "the Process by Impeachment," or the Governor & Council's proceeding and determining upon it, "is unconstitutional;" nor that their so doing "will be an assuming of a new or unwarrantable Jurisdiction, and make your Excellency liable to answer for it," nor that "his Majesty's Subjects would have just Cause to complain of being deprived of a Trial by Jury." And we are further of Opinion, that the Denial of the Right of complaining, or remonstrating against, and impeaching for, Mal-administration of Office, and a Refusal to hear and determine on such Complaint, Remonstrance or Impeachment, are unconstitutional; will have an unhappy Tendency to encourage the executive Officers of the Government to deviations from their Duty; and are incompatible with the Safety & Happiness of the People. Wherefore this Board declare their Readiness to hear, and determine on the Impeachment abovementioned, or to hear and determine on the Charge & Complaint since exhibited by the House of Representatives on the same Subject, & desire that your Excellency with the Council, would appoint a Time for that Purpose.
And on Tuesday the 8th the House sent a Message to the Governor, in which they observe,
Y OUR Excellency in your Message the 15th of February is pleased to say, "If you should comply with our Request, or take any Steps in order to the Removal of the chief Justice from his Place merely for receiving a Salary thus granted him by the King, you should make yourself chargeable with counteracting his Majesty, and endeavouring to defeat his Royal Intention expressly signified to you, and you should fear some Mark of his Royal Displeasure;" and therefore you say, "In Duty to the King, you are obliged to decline our Request." To this we beg Leave to answer; that the Articles of Impeachment referred to, in your Excellency's Message of the 26th of February, and which
your Excellency therein Signified your Refusal to receive, contain other Matters beside merely receiving the Grants of the King; and such Matters as the Representative Body of this Province thought themselves in Duty bound to complain of to your Excellency and Council, in order that Enquiry and Determination might be had thereon.
We apprehend, that we can clearly prove, that the Articles of our Complaint, are of the same Kind with great Numbers made by the House of Commons in England, against high Officers. As Instances of this kind must be fresh in your Excellency's Memory, we think it needless at present to adduce them. And as it never was supposed in England, that the Dignity of the King was affected by any Charges against his Officers, we cannot conceive why it should here: for though it is a Maxim, that the King can do no Wrong, yet, by the Misrepresentation of his Officers much Wrong hath been & may again be brought to pass. If any Person may by his Conduct, break through the Constitution of the Province, grounded on the Charter, and confirmed by constant Usage, without being liable to be called to Account by any Judicatory here, merely because the Royal Assent to such Construction hath been procured, we do not know where such Practices will stop; and we fear, that by Degrees, without our even having an Opportunity of being heard, one Innovation after another may be forced upon us, till there will be not only "an Abridgment of what are called English Liberties," but a total subversion of the Constitution.
We assure ourselves, that were the Nature of our Grievances fully understood by our Sovereign, we should soon have Reason to rejoice in the Redress of them. But if we must still be exposed to the continual false Representations of Persons who get themselves advanced to places of Honor & Profit by Means of false Representations, & when we complain, we cannot even be heard, we have yet the Pleasure of contemplating, that Posterity, for whom we are now struggling, will do us Justice, by abhorring the Memory of those Men, "who owe their Greatness to their Country's Ruin."
And on Wednesday his Excellency sent the following Message to both Houses, viz.
Gentlemen of the Council, and
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, I Have omitted nothing in my Power, consistent with my Duty to the King, which had a Tendency to promote Harmony and good Agreement in the Legislature, the present Session. I have passed over without Notice, the groundless, unkind and illiberal Charges & Insinuations made by each of the other Branches against the Governor, rather than any Part of the public Business of the Province should be left unfinished; but as some of your Votes, Resolves, and other Proceedings, which you have suffered to be made publick, strike directly at the Honor and Authority of the King & of the Parliament, I may not neglect bearing public Testimony against them, and making Use of the Powers vested in me by the Constitution, to prevent you from proceeding any further in the same Way.
T. HUTCHINSON.
Province-House, March 8. 1774.
Yesterday his Excellency prorogued the Great and General Court or Assembly of this Province to Wednesday the 13th of April.
Mr. FOWLE, Please to insert the following, with the additional Questions and Queries, and you will much oblige an Inhabitant, and Freeholder of the County of Grafton. Z. Z.
A s our General Assembly has of late been dissolved, and new Writs issued, to various favourite Towns in this Province, for the triennial Election of Members to represent them in our next Sessions of Assembly; The Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, in the County of Grafton, presuming they have a Right and Claim to a proportionate Representation, in the Assembly of this Province with other Towns (or at least with the little Town of Atkinson) lately addressed his Excellency, and the honorable
Board, by Petition from that Town, praying a Writ might be sent for the electing a Member to represent this now growing and flourishing Part of the Country; which Petition we are surprised to find rejected; the Reasons of this Rejection have not yet transpired to us, nor are we able to comprehend them, which leaves our Minds in many perplexing Doubts, till the Principles of this problematical State Policy are solved;
The more especially, as we learn that his Excellency the Governor, who has ever been attentive to his Majesty's Service, and the general Good of this Province, strongly recommended to the honorable Board, that the Prayer of the Petition, might be granted, as it apparently tended to the Peace and Quiet of that Town and County, and to the Advancement of his Majesty's service in general.
The excellent Judge Blackstone, and many other Authors of Merit, have laid it down, as a certain Principle of the English Constitution, that Representation is founded on, and originates from these several Considerations, viz. from that of Property, the Extent and Situation of Territory, and from the Number of its Inhabitants, and is ever in a proportionate Degree thereto.
Upon this Proposition I would put the following Questions and Queries.
Question 1st. Are not the Lands in the County of Grafton nearly equal in Value to those of other Counties in this Province, save the County of Rockingham?
Q. 2d. Is not, denying a Representation to any qualified Town in the County of Grafton, evidently tending to discourage its Growth and Settlement, and consequently in a great Degree to decrease and diminish the Value of its Lands, and Property in general?
Q. 3d. Does not the County of Grafton exceed all the Counties in this Province, in its Extent, and Number of Towns, and is it not Part of said Province?
Q. 4th. Has not the County of Grafton, one Third the Number of Inhabitants, with any County of this Province; save the County of Rockingham, and are they not good and loyal Subjects, equally intitled, with others, to the Privileges and Liberties of the same, or have they in any Manner forfeited, or relinquished their Right of Representation?
Q. 5th. Is there any County in the King's Dominions duly incorporated, equal in Value, Extent and Number of its Inhabitants, that is not represented either by some Member for the County, or some Town within the same?
Q. 6th. What can intitle the County of Strafford to 5 Members, the County of Hillsborough to 4 Members, and the County of Cheshire to 3 Members, and the County of Rockingham to 22 Members, when it is a Fact well known, that neither of those Counties, save the County of Rockingham, thrively exceed the County of Grafton either in its Number of Inhabitants, or Value of its Lands?
Quere , Then if the Rejection of our Plymouth Petition, does not appear to all the World glaringly partial?
Q. 8. If it can be said with any Propriety that the Inhabitants of the County of Grafton, or any Town thereof are represented, in any manner in General Assembly, when the several Members, that will compose it, are expressly elected to represent the several Towns or Parishes, to which they belong, and especially as they have not joined with any other County or Town, or had an elective Voice in the Choice of their Members?
Q. 9. Does not the Paying of Taxes necessarily, and agreeable to the English Constitution, follow Representation? If so,
Quere , Then if the County of Grafton, or any Town or Inhabitant thereof, which have lately been put into the List of rateable Towns in this Province, can be liable, consistently with the true Spirit and Liberty of the English Constitution, to pay any governmental Taxes or Impositions, precedent to their actual Representation?
Warrantes and Quitclaim Deeds, Justice Blanks, Bail Bonds, Shipping Papers, &c. Sold at the Printing Office.

Conclusion of the Piece begun in our last.
IN this Epistle, directed to the Roman Converts, we may collect the Duty of our English Clergymen; for it is observable, that the Government of Rome was just changed from a State of perfect Freedom, where the People were all and all, where they chose Consuls and Generals, and sometimes even Dictators, appointed their own Judges, allotted Provinces to their different Commanders, raised Taxes, try'd Offenders, and in fine, held all the Reins of Power. But the Virtue of this People, corrupted by their Luxury and Riches, gave way to Bribery and Venality. Even honest CATO helped to make a Purse to get a favourite Consul elected. This Government had been subverted but a few Years, for this Epistle was wrote in the Third or Fourth Year of Nero's Reign, and I am sure the ancient Constitution of Rome had not been destroyed so long as to make the Usurpations of Julius Cæsar, Augustus, &c. legal Establishments, and therefore it was but just in the Patriots of that Day to bring the Government back to its primitive Principles and Form, and had I then lived, should perhaps even have joined with Brutus to assassinate Cæsar . But the Apostle had quite a different Mode of thinking, he knew that Christians were but Sojourners here below, seeking a better Country, and would not permit them to intermeddle with political Disputes. Obedience and Subjection, he points out to them to be their Duty, exhorting them to lead their Lives in all Godliness and Honesty.
The Apostle is more explicit with the Romans than with any other Christians, knowing that they perhaps were the most likely to rebel, having been so lately a People in a State of such Freedom, now in a State of such Slavery and Despotism.
In his other Epistles, it being a Matter of such Consequence, and the Persons to whom he wrote, being mostly in a State similar to the then present State of the Romans, he hath not failed to settle the same Point. He tells the Galatians that "seditious Persons shall not inherit the Kingdom of God." He calls Sedition a Work of the Flesh. The Thessalonians he exhorts to make it their Ambition to live quietly, and to do their PROPER BUSINESS . In one of his Letters to Timothy, says he, "let Supplications, Prayers, &c. be made for all Men, for Kings and all who are exalted in high Places." A Bishop must be blameless. Titus is directed to put the primitive Christians in mind "to be subject to Principalities and Powers, to obey Magistrates, &c." Paul was not the only Apostle that enjoined the Christian Duty of Obedience. James lays it down as one part of pure and undefiled Religion to keep themselves unspotted from the World. Peter Commands Christians of every Country "to submit themselves to every Human Ordinance," or rather different Form of Government "for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the King as Supreme, or Governors as sent by him." In short, all the primitive Writers of Christianity enjoined Obedience to the Powers then being, & were ever good Subjects to the King, de facto , without examining whether he existed de jure or not, knowing that the Men of this World were solicitous enough about their temporal Concerns without any Interference of theirs. I believe this mode of Conduct may be proved from the Testimony and Behaviour of the Writers and Martyrs of the first four Ages of the Church, and also from the Declarations and Actions of some of the Sufferers at the Dawn of the Reformation, should the contrary Doctrine be advanced: and further upon Examination it will appear, that Christians derived their Right of Resistance from the School of that precious Disciple Ignatius Loyola . From what has been said, we may I think fairly conclude, 1st. In determining the legality of a Tax imposed by the British Parliament, a Christian Minister, if he follows the Example of his Divine Master, will not pretend to decide, nor will he aver that the legality of Resistance begins, when the Inclinations of the People become general to resist. 2dly, He will not, having no Right so to do, assist in Town Meetings,
drawing Resolves (unless perchance it should happen that there is nobody else in the Community who understands common English) or regulating Schools, because in so doing he cannot keep himself unspotted from the World, but must inevitably enter into the different Factions, Cabals and Parties, of the different Candidates, nor as I conceive is he about his proper Business. I am not certain whether a different Conduct in Clergymen from what the Apostles took, has not a dangerous Tendency in Society, to blow the Trumpet of Sedition, raise and inflame Parties, create domestic Feuds, and public Quarrels, and to exclude Men of acknowledged Abilities and Integrity, from Places and Offices, where they may be of eminent Use to their Country; only for Difference in speculative Matters. I mean not to injure the good old Cause, for which Heroes have bled and Patriots died; we want not such Helps. Let but the Yoke of ecclesiastical Tyranny be broken, and Men once be admitted to judge and examine for themselves, I believe we may safely predict, that under those Circumstances there is no danger of Political Slavery. PROBUS.
On the 9th of this Instant died at Berwick, Mrs. SARAH LIBBEY, Æ 88, Relick of Deacon Benjamin Libbey of this Town, who died Nov. 9, 1768. She was a virtuous Woman, had lived with her Husband 61 Years from her Virginity. From her has proceeded 10 Children, 92 Grand-Children, and 152 Great-Grand-Children, in all 254. This Pair were married on the 25th Day of December, 1707. So that this remarkable Increase was in 67 Years.
God said to Man when he had made him, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the Earth. Berwick March 12, 1774.
Province Excise.
ON THURSDAY the Thirty-First Day of MARCH Inst. will be exposed to SALE at PUBLIC VENDUE, to the highest Bidder, by the Committee appointed by Vote of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, for that Purpose, at the House of James Stoodly , Esq; in Portsmouth, the PROVINCE EXCISE on SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, granted by an Act passed in the 5th Year of his late Majesty's Reign, entitled an Act for granting unto his Majesty an Excise on several Liquors, &c. &c. The said EXCISE will be sold for only one Year, to commence from the second Tuesday in November last, and in Five separate Divisions, in the following Manner.
 COUNTY of ROCKINGHAM.  The First Division to include all the Towns & Parishes within the County of Rockingham.  COUNTY of STRAFFORD.  The Second Division to include all the Towns & Parishes within the County of Strafford.  COUNTY of HILLSBOROUGH.  The Third Division to include all the Towns & Parishes within the County of Hillsborough.  COUNTY of CHESHIRE.  The Fourth Division to include all the Towns & Parishes within the County of Cheshire.  COUNTY of GRAFTON.  The Fifth Division to contain all the Lands in the Province, not comprehended in the other Divisions, including all the Towns and Parishes within the County of Grafton. 
Conditions of Sale shall be made known at the Time and Place of Sale.
JONATHAN WARNER, Chairman. Portsmouth, March 1st 1774.
EDWARD HACKETT
Opens his DANCING SCHOOL on the 24th of March Instant, at the Assembly House in Portsmouth, where he will instruct such GENTLEMEN and LADIES as incline to attend; and the utmost Pains and Care will be taken with them—The times for Attendance will be on Thursdays in the Afternoon, and Fridays in the Forenoon. Said Hackett gives Notice also, that he keeps School at Newbury Port and Haverhill.
To be sold a small Schooner
About 18 Tons Burthen, suitable for Fishing, one half to be paid in Cash on delivery, the other in 12 Months. Enquire of Edward Sargent at New Castle.
JUST PUBLISH'D, THE Royal American Magazine, OR, UNIVERSAL REPOSITORY AND AMUSEMENT, FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1774. THE Subscribers in Portsmouth, York, Barwick, New Castle, Dover, Windham, and Kittery, are desir'd to apply to Mr ISAAC WILLIAMS of Portsmouth for their BOOKS. PRINTED by I. THOMAS of BOSTON.
A FARM in Kittery, TO BE SOLD OR LETT, By JOHN NEWMARCH, Esq; Of PORTSMOUTH, Together with a large Dwelling HOUSE, BARN and ORCHARD, with upwards of 40 Acres of Mowing, Planting and Pasture Land, well water'd, adjoining the Country Road, leading from Kittery Ferry to Old York, and near the Ferry For further information, enquire of said NEWMARCH.
TO BE SOLD OR LETT, An exceeding good FARM, Lying all together, well Fenced, in Deerfield, within half a Mile of the Meeting House, well wooded, together with good Pasturing, Plowing and Mowing, with a young Orchard; and is well watered: On the Premises is a good House, Barn and Well, &c. with other Accommodations; now in the Occupation of THOMAS SIMPSON, Esq; Whoever inclines to buy or hire the same, must apply to CLEMENT MARCH, Esq; of Greenland, before the 25th of March, for then it is to be enter'd upon.
[ Samborton. ] WHEREAS the Proprietors of the Township of Samborton, have been legally notified to pay an Assessment on each Proprietor's Right or Letts of Land in said Township, to me the Subscriber, and several of them being yet delinquent in the Whole or Part; this is therefore to notify such Persons, that those delinquent Proprietors Lands will be exposed to Sale at public Vendue, at the House of Mr. Simon Dearborn, Innholder in Epping, the 20th Day of April next, at one of the Clock, in the Afternoon, to pay said Taxes, with incidental Charges, the delinquent Proprietors Names are as follows, with the Sums due.
   1st. Division. 2d. Division.   l. s. d. l. s. d.     Daniel Samborn 0 0 0 0 4 7   Jonathan Samborn 0 4 0 0 0 0   Asa Rawlins 0 8 0 0 0 0   John Fogg 0 4 0 0 0 0   Jonathan Longfellow 0 8 0 0 16 0   Jethro Pearson 0 0 0 0 5 6   John Rawlins 0 0 0 0 16 0   Josiah Fogg 0 4 0 0 0 0   Josiah Samborn 0 0 0 0 13 6   Josiah Smith 0 8 0 0 16 0   Thomas Rawlins 0 0 0 0 7 6   Joseph Hott 0 1 5 0 0 0   Caleb Rawlins 0 0 0 0 12 0   Benjamin Mason 0 4 0 0 0 0   Jonathan Chase 0 0 0 0 2 6   Edward Taylor 0 0 0 0 7 3   William Chase 0 0 0 0 16 0    Epping March 1, 1774. SETH FOGG, Collector.
Three Months is further allowed From the first Day of January last, by the Honorable JOHN SHERBURNE, Esq; Judge of Probate of Wills, &c. for the County of Rockingham, for the Commissioners to receive and examine the Claims of the several Creditors to the Estate of Elisha Bryard, late of Portsmouth, in said County, deceased, Intestate, represented Intestate. We the Subscribers do hereby Notify said Creditors, that we will attend that Business at the House of Capt. Jacob Tilton, Innholder in Portsmouth, on the first and last Mondays in March next, from 5 to 8 o'Clock P. M. on said Days. Portsmouth, Feb, 25, 1774. GEORGE HART, JOSHUA BRACKETT.
LOST, by the Subscriber, between Durham and Portsmouth, on the Road, over Stratham Bridge, about the 10th of February last, Sundry Notes of Hand, Receipts & other Papers, wrapped up in an old News Paper, and tied with a red String. Whoever shall take up or procure the same, so that the Subscriber may have them again shall be handsomely Rewarded, by JOHN SULLIVAN. Portsmouth, March 2d, 1774.
ALL PERSONS Indebted to, or that have Demands on the Estate of Lt Thomas Hutchins, late of Kittery, deceased, are desir'd to bring in their Accounts to Nicholas Weeks, junr. of Kittery, aforesaid, Executor to the last Will of said deceased, in order for settlement.

Boston, Monday March 14:
We are informed, that the House of Representatives had some previous Notice of the Governor's Design to put an End suddenly to the Session, and ordered their Door to be locked, 'till they finished some important Business, among which was a Resolve that they had the Satisfaction of having done all in their Power in the Capacity of Representatives, to effect the Removal of the Chief Justice OLIVER, and the Governor's Refusal was presumed to be, "because he himself recieved his Support from the Crown" independent of the People.-----The Court however was prorogued before the House could compleat all the necessary Business.
Monday Evening last, the TEA that arrived in Capt. Gorham from London, belonging to some private Persons, was thrown into the Sea, in the same Manner as that was in December last. Capt. Sweet arrived at Newport, brings Advice, that the New-York Tea-Ship was arrived at Antigua, in a very shattered Condition; and a Number of other Vessels, having been blown off this Coast, were also arrived in the West-Indies.
Last Tuesday Afternoon, were very respectfully interred, the Remains of the Hon. ANDREW OLIVER, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor of this Province: A Gentleman of a respectable Family, and liberal Education; and, however some may have represented him,---of an intelligent, virtuous, religious, and very reverend Character--- An Honor to the Choice of the Town in the Representative Assembly, and to the Province at the Council Board, the KING was pleased to distinguish him with the Commission of Provincial Secretary; and afterwards with that of Lieutenant-Governor. He discharged the Duties of his several Stations with Integrity and Ability; and sedately approached Death, in Expectation of the Honors of Heaven.
His Excellency the Hon. General Gage, his Lady, Family, & Suite, are expected back from England early in the Summer. On Monday Evening the horrid Tragedy of the 5th of March was observed with the usual Solemnity, by exhibiting to public View a Portrait of that inhuman and cruel Massacre perpetrated by Preston, and his infamous Butchers: On the Right, a Figure of America pointing to her slaughtered Sons, on the Left a Monument to the Memory of Gray, Attucks, Maverick, Caldwell and Carr. In one of the Windows was a Representation of H-----n and J-----O-----n, in the Horrors, occasioned by the Appearance of the two Ghosts of Empson and Dudley, advising them to think of their Fate. They appeared to be worshipping their ill-gotten Gold, the modern Deity of the North.
YE TRAITORS! "Is there not some chosen Curse, Some hidden Thunder in the Stores of Heaven, Red with uncommon Wrath, to blast the Men Who owe their Greatness to their Country's Ruin!
We hear that at the earnest Request of a Number of Persons of the different Society's at Newbury-Port, the Rev. Mr. PARSONS, of that Place, delivered a Discourse in his Meeting-House there on the ever memorable 5th of March, from Gal. 5th, 1st, Extract of a Letter from one Friend to another in this Town.
"A desire of communicating my Sentiments to my Friends prompts me perhaps too often to trouble you with my Epistles,---but I know your generous Heart expands at the Praises of your Friends, especially when they so richly deserve them; as our much esteemed American Orator! Who far surpassed my most sanguine Hopes and Expectations. Had I the Pencil (with half the Genius) of the inimitable Raphael; I could have delineated Mr. H-----n's figure from the Life, to more Advantage than his so much celebrated one of St. Paul, when preaching before Agrippa.
Indeed I admired Mr. H-----n's elegant Composition as much as I did the Manner in which it was delivered---my Heart swelled with Indignation, when he described the Russian Hand who patrolled our Streets, to the prejudice of young People of both Sexes, but the pathetic Address to the unfortunate M-----n (who was so conspicuously placed) melted my very Soul. Then he made me Smile with Pleasure, at the lively Manner in which he described the flight of those Wretches, who had brought such Destruction and Wretchedness among us, but when he so gracefully address'd the amiable Mr. A-----n, as the first of Patriots and Friend's in his Country's Cause,---my Admiration and Gratitude were excited almost to Ecstasy.---Thus he awakened, such a Variety of Sensations, that my Ideas were Galloping from one Scene to another till he had done Speaking."
The General Assembly of New-York, have voted the Sum of 5000l. that Currency, to Governor Tryon, to compensate in some Measure his Loss sustained by Fire.
Thursday the 14th of April next, is appointed as a Day of Public Fasting and Prayer throughout this Province.
We hear the New-York TEA-SHIP was arrived at St. Eustatia, having been blown off the Coast.
His Majesty OKNOOKORTUNKOGOG King of the Narraganset Tribe of INDIANS, on receiving Information of the Arrival of another Cargo of that cursed Weed TEA, immediately summoned his Council at the Great Swamp by the River JORDAN, who did advise and consent to the immediate Destruction thereof, after resolving that the IMPORTATION of this Herb, by ANY Persons whatever, was attended with pernicious and dangerous Consequences to the Lives and Properties of all his Subjects throughout AMERICA. Orders were then issued to the Seizor & Destroyer general, and their Deputies to assemble the executive Body under their Command, to proceed directly to the Place where this noxious Herb was. They arrived last Monday Evening in Town, & finding the Vessel they emptied every CHEST, into the great Pacific OCEAN, and effectually destroyed the whole, (Twenty-Eight Chests & an half.) They are now returned to Narragansett to make Report of their doings to his Majesty, who we hear is determined to honour them with Commissions for the PEACE.
The Earl of Halifax Packet is arrived at New-York, in 12 Weeks, with the December Mail.
In the above Packet came Passenger John Bernard, Esquire, Merchant and Naval Officer for the Port of Boston.
We hear that Admiral Moore is to relieve Sir Geo. Rodney, at Jamaica; Admiral Hughes to relieve Sir Peter Dennis, in the Mediterranean; and Admiral Gayton is to relieve Admiral Montague, at Boston.
A Vessel arrived at New-London from St. Eustatia, informs that a Number of Vessels belonging to Connecticut, were there with swept Decks, having had bad Weather.-----That Capt.
Hatch belonging to Boston, was blown off the Coast of Cape Cod and arrived at St. Eustatia, where it soon died.
We learn that the Right Hon. Lord Charles Greville Montague, late Governor of South Carolina, is appointed to the Government of Dominica, said to be worth Four Thousand Pounds Sterling a Year.
On the Evening of the 17th of last Month, a Pedlar, with a Budget of TEA, made his Appearance at Montague, in the County of Hampshire, and put up at the Tavern there; which taking Air, a Number of Persons (well fraught with TAR and FEATHERS) went to the Inn, determining to give him the modern Dress, thinking this a more lenient as well as ready Measure to put an immediate Stop to a Conduct so injurious to the Community, than the Rigour of Law; but as the Man appeared very humble, plead Innocence, promised to return the TEA to the Place from whence it came, not to offend in the like Manner for the future, and to submit to whatever Terms they should think reasonable to impose; they dismissed him, determining to apply an effectual Remedy to the next Offender.
Capt. Samuel Caswell, who arrived here Yesterday in seven Weeks from Madeira informs, That on Saturday the 8th of January, they had there a most violent Gale of Wind, the Violence of which was from 4 to seven o'clock, in which a Ship from London, bound to the Grenades, Capt. McIntosh, Commander, was drove ashore, stove to Pieces and every Soul perished, except the Captain, she had 13,000l. sterling in Specie, besides a valuable Cargo.---A Brig from Liverpool, bound to the West Indies stove to Pieces, the People saved.---A Brig Captain Saunders, and a Sloop, Captain Angley, from New-York, both drove ashore, a Man out of one, & a Boy out of the other saved, the rest perished. Captain Dickerson in a Sloop from South-Carolina, drove ashore, dashed to Pieces & every Person perished.---A Portuguese Snow & Schooner stove to Pieces, the People saved.---A Swedish Snow stove to Pieces, the People saved.---The Evening following, 9 Sail of Vessels that rode out the Gale, put to Sea, but all returned back again, in 5 or 6 Days, except an Irish Brig whose Captain was left ashore.---Captain Caswell left Madeira one Week after the Storm.---The Irish Brig above-mentioned, was bound to New-York with Servants.
We hear that the 52d and 59th Regiments, now in America, will certainly go to England next Spring.
PORTSMOUTH.
On the 1st of February last was killed in the Barn of Capt. Aaron Willard of Lunenburg, three hundred and thirty-six RATS in one Day by one Man; one hundred of them were large old RATS.
Thursday the 14th of APRIL next, is appointed by AUTHORITY, as a DAY of public FASTING and PRAYER throughout this Province.
DIED In England, the Right Rev. Dr. Willes, Lord Bp. of Bath and Wells, aged 80.---Lt. Gen. Webb.---Dr. Hawkesworth, Author of the Adventurer, and Compiler of the last Voyage round the World.
   CUSTOM-HOUSE, PISCATAQUA, March, 17th, FROM.     Inward Entries,   Brig Sally, John Hill, St. Lucia.   Schooner Speedwell, Thomas Jones, Ditto.   Schooner Brittania, William Gee, Virginia.   Clear'd Outwards   Ship Nancy, John Brown, Philadelphia.   Schooner Hannah, Samuel Sewall, West-Indies.   Schooner Speedwell, Thomas Jones, Ditto.  
NEW-YORK, March 3.
On Thursday the 17th ult. as Mr. John Keating, of this City, and another Man, were coming with Mr. Samuel Warren, in his Sleigh with two Horses, driven by himself, in descending the Hill at Wapping's Creek (where there is a short Turn in the Road, to go over a Bridge, not rail'd at the Sides) the Horses took fright, and ran so violently, that without turning, they sprang off the Bridge, between that & a Mill House, the upper Windows whereof were broken by the Sleigh in its Fall, which was upwards of 30 Feet; whereby Mr. Warren, the Driver, was so bruised, that he died next Day, Mr. Keating was a little bruised on the Cheek, near the Eye, but the other Man and the Horses escaped unhurt.
The Halifax Packet, Capt. Boulderson, is ready to sail this Day, with the Mail for Falmouth.
Feb. 28. By Letters from Santa Croix, we are informed, that they have received a Royal Edict from Copenhagen, dat. Sept. 16th, 1773, in which the Duties upon Importation into that Island, from North-America of Salt-Beef, Fish, Pork, Pease, Lime, &c. &c. are reduced from 25 per Cent. to no more than 5 per Cent. and that a Stamp-Act was to be enforced in the ensuing Spring, which, from its unpalatable Operation upon the Minds of the Inhabitants of that Country, evinces them to possess that Spirit of genuine Liberty which is breathed by all the good People in the British Empire.
Terrible Destruction by the Plague.
A L E P P O , (in Turkey) August 31. The Turks say, that they have not for 86 Years past experienced the Calamity of the Plague to that Degree they have lately at Bassora and Bagdad. On the 19th of January last the Plague broke out in the Suburbs of the last mentioned Place, and began to spread into the City; and in the Months of February, March, and April, its Progress was so rapid, that out of Four Hundred Thousand Inhabitants, there remained but a Fourth Part. The Inhabitants of Hela, Iman Ally, Iman Hussein, and Iman Moussa, all proved the Victims of the Contagion. The Pilgrims who came to those Places in April, as usual, to pay their Devotions, found nothing but dead Carcases and empty Habitations. The Pilgrims from Iman Ally, and the Jew Families who had escaped from Bagdad, went to Bassora, and carried the Contagion there.---Towards the End of March the Christians and Francs took the necessary Precautions to escape the Infection: but the Mussulmen felt the Effects of it most dreadfully.---Eight Thousand Turks in one quarter of the Town only, died between the 15th and 25th of April; and out of 500 Domestick belonging to the Governor, he had but one Slave left alive, who was employed in fetching Rice for the Subsistence of his Master. There were 100,000 in that City, out of which 30,000 died, 5000 escaped into the Persian Gulph, 5000 others recovered from the Distemper, and 10,000 were so happy to escape the Infection.
L O N D O N , November 13. In the Irish Parliament, notwithstanding the favourable Opinion conceived of Lord Harcourt, on his Arrival in Ireland, the Ministerial Party are as powerful as ever, and carry every Question as they please, so that that devoted Nation seems to have no Chance to avoid Ruin and Slavery.
A most distressing Picture of their Oppression and general Distress was exhibited by several of the Members in the Debates,
on Motions for laying new Taxes and impositions upon them, when they are already burdened with more than they are able to bear. Mr. Fitzgibbon, in his Speech against new Taxes, among many other Affecting Passages, has these Words,-----"I find at last, that the Ministry of England, jealous of our abridged Privileges, have their Eye on a general Land Tax, for all other Schemes they see are ineffectual; if they tax our Soap, the Poor must rot in Filth, for they would not have wherewith to wash the Rags of wretchedness;---If a Tax was laid on Leather, even the harden'd Brogue they wear at present must be laid aside; if a Tax on Candles, the dreary Night of Winter must be a Night of Darkness to them;---and if on Malt, the cold Cup of Water must allay their Thirst; upward, Sir, of two Millions of our poor People are unable to pay any Tax at all, whose Distresses are so great, & whose Poverty is so well known, that instead of the Two shillings exacted for their single Hearth, when to them the Tremendous gatherers appear, they have often been obliged to part with the Pot that was to boil their Potatoes."
Besides the Expences of Government, augmented by extravagant Salaries to a great Number of useless Officers, these poor People are burdened with the Payment of a List of Pensions amounting to about 79,000l. per Annum, to Persons with whom they have no Concern, and from whom they never received any benefit.
L O N D O N, Dec. 16.
In the Course of last Week it was actually whispered in many Places in the City, that the King of Prussia has been secretly Tampering with the Bostonians, but with what Success has not yet transpired. Certain it is, he leaves no Stone unturned to Distress and Perplex England, in which tis feared, he will prove too successful, if Government does not Watch him with a careful Eye.
Philadelphia FLOUR,
Of a superior Quality, just imported, And to be sold by JOHN EVANS. Portsmouth, March 15, 1774.
Wanted one hundred thousand Feet of good MERCHANTABLE Pine BOARDS (without any Plank or Joist) Enquire of the Printer.
To be sold a SLOOP of about 58 Tons. And two Schooners of about thirty Tons, suitable for Fishing, on Reasonable Terms; and any Person or Persons that has a Mind to purchase One or all, must apply every Joem, to THOMAS BELL, or MATHEW BELL, at New Castle.
John Fogarty,
BREECHES MAKER & LEATHER DRESSER, Respectfully acquaints his Customers and the Public, That he has at his Shop, nearly opposite Maj. Samuel Hale's in Queen Street Portsmouth a large Assortment OF BUCK, DOE, and MOOSE SKIN BREECHES, and all sorts of GLOVES, which he makes and fits in the neatest and best Manner; therefore prays the Favour of their Custom. Constant Attendance is given, and the smallest Faver thankfully acknowledged.
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE Cheshire ss. || UNITY. ||
WHEREAS Application hath been made to me the subscriber, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Cheshire aforesaid, by more than one sixteenth part of the proprietors of the Township of Unity in the County aforesaid, desiring that a Meeting of said proprietors be warned to be held at the Dwelling House of Abner Chase in said Unity, on Thursday the 14th Day of April next, at ten o'Clock A. M. then and there when met, to act if they cause, on the following Articles, 1. To chuse a Moderator to govern said Meeting. 2. To chuse a Proprietors Clerk, Assessors, Collector, and other necessary Officers. 3. To chuse a Committee to lay out Land. 4. To vote some Encouragement (if they see cause) to build Mills in the Easterly part of said Town. 5. To levy a Tax for raising Money for making or repairing of Roads or other necessary Charges. 6. To agree upon a Method how to call or warn proprietors Meetings for the future, These are therefore to warn the proprietors and owners of the aforesaid Township of Unity, to meet at the time and place aforesaid, to act on the foregoing Articles. BENJAMIN GILES, Justice of Peace. Cheshire, March 10. 1774.
WHEREAS one John Clark, a Pedler, unjustly detains in his Possession a NOTE of Hand signed by the subscriber, which is paid, and is given for the Sum of £. 18 19 s. 10 d. Lawful Money, dated in 1771; This is to desire, that no Person purchase said Note, as I shall not pay it again, unless compelled by LAW. Epping, March 12. 1774. Phinehas Blake
TO BE SOLD
A Likely Negro Wench,
About Nineteen Years of Age, born in this Country, and can do any Sort of Housebold Work, with a fine healthy Female Child three Weeks old. Enquire of the Printer.
Lisbon FEATHERS,
TO BE SOLD BY Joseph Bafs,