The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-03-03
This day is publifhed,
And to be fold at
R U S E L LIS Printing Office

Next the Cornfcld, Union-hrsst, near the Market,
Price One Shilling, large allowance to Travelling Traders
and ethen, who purchalc TO eel again;
A N Argument in the cafe of JAMES SOM
4 n MERSETT, a Negro, lately determined in tbs
court of KINGS Bench Wherein il is attempted to de-
monirate the prcent unlawfulnef Of domeic SLAVERY
in ENGLAND. To which pretxsd Gate Of the cafe.
BY Mr.. HARCRAVE, one Of the council for the Negro.
- This remarkable and interehing trial, which has 70
much engaged the attention Of every friend Of PerOna and
civil LIBERTY in Europe, is Fubifhed BY the en-
couragcment and reque OF number of It's votares in this
FREE AMERICAN cline, and was 70 much admired tor
its precon and elegance, that edition Of lce thouiands
has been vendedin England the rate Of two hng ter
ling per book, but now pubhed the humble price Of
of fhilng lawful, in view that all Peons may be m
pofelon of this uieu entertaining and cheap pamphlet.
Surely cannot fail Of having the mott autay effect at
any time, but Especially when matter of the geateit
moment, reipeetng PERSONAL FREEpoM 70 be argued
before the hyperion court the next term We mean thn
tral of ABRAHAM STocRRRID6E. Perhaps thele
two important and deciye trials may depend the future
happiness Of millions yet unborn Should this be the cafe,
what ncee friend liberty and the natural rights of man
kind, but mutt with luch let Of Jurors may be found,
the trial of ABRAHAM, who uninuenced either by intee
partly will venture give vcrda in favour of liberty
uftcc, and humanity. Sure %e are they will have their
enrolled with honour among the flint patriots of theirs
country, having been Instrumental in abohng niquitous
and dgraoeful practice of ENsLAvIEG fellow men,
which 70 diihoncrs the human peee, but Especially
thofe who dwell in free chrfian country cuifom
which the law of God fobids, and uddes at
the thought We hall here give fhor fpccmen of
the ingenious Mr.. HARcRAvEs file, which we uuit, may
be unentertainng thole who have tae for polite
literature Our author when fpeaIing the importance
of the cafe ys; Though the learning and abilities Of the
gentlemen With whom am joined this location, havS
greatly anticipated the Arguments prepared by me yet
think, that the importance of the cafe will execute for
of IN 0rdeP
which originally found convenient to adopt. The cafe
" before the court when expreed in few words, is this
Mr.. Steuart Purchafes negro aye Virginia, where BY
the law of the place negroes aye, and faleabe as
g Other property. He into England and brings the
negro with him. Here the negro leaves Mr.. Steuarts
iervee without his content and afterwards perions
Poyed by him feize the negro, and carry him on board
" ihp bound to jamaica for the ayowed Pupoie Of uan
porting him to that i1and, and there telling him
Ave. On an application BY the nego' he ds, awrit
e ofhabeas corpus granted and In obedience TO the writ
he produced before this court, and here fues FOR the
" refitutiOn Ofhs lbery--The queAiOns, arifng on
this cafe, do not merely the unfortunate PeroA
who the fubjed oft, and fuch may be under
like unhappy circumstances. They highly inereft-
ing to the whole community, and cannot be deededs
without having the mO consequences without extern
five influence private happiness and public fccurity.
The right, claimed by Mr.. Steuart the detention Of
I" the negro founded the condition ofayeTy,n which
he before his matter brought him into England
and if that right here recognized, domefc ave, with
IT'S horrid train Of evils, may be lawfully imported into
this country, the dcreton Of every individual foreign
and native. viii come not only from thofe Of our
colonies, and other European nations, but from Poland,
Ruiia, SPAIN and Turkey, from the Coat of Batbay,
from the we9em and eafern COATS of Africa and from
eyeryPart of the world, where il Gill continues to tor
and dhonor the human fPecies. II will be tran
mittsdt in all its various forms, al the gradatons
of inventive cruelty and by univerfa reception Of
layery, this country 70 famous for pubic liberty viii
become the chief feat ofprivste tyranny"
The above pamphlet is recommended 10 the Perual
of the gentlemen of the law, it contains great number
of citations from the mott approved ancient and modem
thorities, in favour Of peronaIliberty.
AT the fame place may be had few Of the fourth edi
ton of STILLMAE's Sermons to LEVI ANS. This is
the only edition, that contains the life, dialogue, &c.