The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-01-23
For the MASSACHUSETTS Spy.
Mr.. THOMAS,

10E are detI'fa 10 fDS'f ne JollalOing, BY
one Sobo rtadJ Jour paper ScTtb bleajnys.
TINE public muif th:nk that Chronus
I is ftranger to the weekly pubIca-
tons, when be requires the writers apainlt
Administration to ipesify what rights and IL
berries the Americans are deprived of, and
fronely intimatcs wha, he has before aiicrt-
ed, that we have no grievances to complain
Of. He, by implication, acknowledge, that
if our property lays at the mercy of defpo-
tic rulers, or task-mafters, we are in fate
of tyranny. If the following petition be
true, that agreeable to the Britili confiitu-
ton of government, the property of Britifh
fubje6ts cannot BE- taken from them without
their content : and it can be made to an
pear that the property of the Americans is
every hour taken from them without their
content /; il evidently follows that the pro-
perty of the Americans lays at the mercy of
defpotic rulers, or task-mafters, and con(e-
quently, that they are in fate of Aavery.
To prove that our property is taken from
US nconititutionally, would at this time of
the day be unnecefary. | take this for
granted, and think it neceG1ry that nv
countrymen fhoud vigourouAy endcavour
to put flop to thole mealures, which have
introduced us into this unhappy fate. The
rational Chronus, to prove that we have nor
loft any rights or Liberties, has told us that
tire roads re almoit continually crowded
with coaches, chariots and chaifes, filled
with people making executions upon parties
OF PIeafure. am obliged to him for this
argument in fupport of thofe grievances we
complain of. 1t is true, the roads are filed
withthe carriages ofthofe very people whom
we call our Task Matters and it is the
money taken out of our pockets, that pays
for ihefe conveyances, and maintains the
indolent tribe which fill them. That our
ihops and flores, in general, are filled with
goods, do not deny, and think it evinces
that our money is taken from US in duties
upon Tea, MoshtS, &c. which prevents us
conlumingBntiih goods as we formerly did.
Whether money taken from US in duties
to fupport many in idlenels, does as much
good as that which is obtained in the way
OF trade, TO maintain a vaf number of ho-
nett tradelmen, may be determined without
the a6iaance of Chronus. Chronus feems
to difcover comfortable modefy, for him,
in not directly aHsrting that the farmers iit
under their own vine, and under their own
hg-ues, and enjoy with their families both
the profits and pleafures of county life,
without mobilization. am of opinion, thar
the Hinfdale people have good reafon to
think that they have met, and do fill meet
with molefation,a and are like not to remain
long under their cum vine and their GUN
hg-tree, unle(s they contend with fpirit for
it, which | truR is their determination.
This impartial writer views the Patriots
as group of gloomy mortals, who are PEI
petually difrc1irs themielves and others,
about Tome things that want mending in
the fate; and confidently affirms that our
affairs may be much worfe, and tharif they
are not in 70 good condition as they for
merly have been, il is owing to the impro-
per conduct of lome among US. This be-
lleve, and think it not very difficult task
to pitch upon the yPerions, among whom
would be him. So long as governnsnt