The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-12-16

In ProTDafIaI Ccngfc1, Lds55ridSe, Dsc 10. l77ds
! 20 tb FREEHOLDERS and altar ISHABl-
TiNTs Of fbf foacss and 6ieyT6s sf Malta.
| ebuietts Bay
! FRIENDS and BRETHRRE,
| A IT time when the good people of this CO.
| IN lony were deprived of their laws, and the
Naturalization of Jultice, civil aud criminal
when the cruel oppreflions brought on their cs~-
ital had fagnated almce all their ccmIne1. -
when aaanding army was illegally poQed among
Ius for the cxpreis purpole ofenforcing fubmiiioI
TO lyfem of tyranny and when the General
Court was with the fame deiign prohibited &c
lit we were ehoien and empowered by you TO
lehemble and coniult upon meaiures neceaary for
our common fafety and defence.
With much anxiety for the common welfar
we have attended this iervice and upon Il.
coolel deliberation haaf adopted the meafuies
recommended to you.
We have fill confidence in the wifdom, juaice
and goodness of our Sovereign, a: we'll as the IN
Itegrity, humanity and good lenir Of the nation
And il we had reafonable expectation tina, the
truth Of facts would be made known in Enelan
we ihould entertain the moit peaiing hope, thu.
The meaiures concerted by the colonies, JointlkA
and fsvcrally, would procure "a full redrefs
our grievances But we arc conitralned IN Ju
ice TO you, TO ourieyes and poierity, TO FAY, th3
the inceifant and ungelenring malice of our en-
mics, has been 70 fucceisful as TO fill the cot
and Kingdom of Great Britain with IA
and calumnies concerning us, and to exc
mott bitter ard groundlefs prejudice, again
that the fuddcn diHolution of parliament, arA
hafy fammons for new election, gives us
fon TO apprehend that a majority ofthe houi(
commons will be again elected under the I'M
ence Of an arbitrary miniilrY and that the
neral tenor of our intelligence from Great L
tain, with the fiequent reinforcements of the 4 !,
my and navy at Bottom, excitcs the itrongcf jes-%
oufy that the fyitem of colony administration,
unfriendly to the protetanI religion, and deArIl
i've of American liberty, is Rail 10 be pun
and attempted with force to be carried into
Icution.
You are placed by providence in the pc
honor, becauie il is poft of danger-AndN
trugglirg for the noble objects, The ibsvfies q ys
eoaatry, the 6apYinsG of pgarriy, and right IF BIZ
man naiRrs, the eyes not only OF -North-Amcrica
and the whole Britiih EN- pire, bur Of all Europe,
are upon you--Let us be therefore altogether TO
licious, that no diiorderly behaviour, nothing
unbecoming our characters as Americans, as citi.
zens, and chriltians, DO juitly chargeable TO us.
Whoever with fmall degree of attention,
contemplates the commerce between Greats Bri-.
AIN and America, will be convinced that total
II foppage thercofwill ioon produce IN Great-Rsi-
tam uch dangerous effects, cannot fail TO con-
vince the miniltry, Psrliamentan people. Thai
Il IS their Intereltand duty TO grant US rcicf--I
n Whoever confiders the number Of brave men inll
nabiting North. America will know, that gene
raj attention to military difcipline, mutt 70 eaa'
lilh their rights and Liberties, as under God,
render it impofibIc for an arbitrary miniitry
Britain to deltroy them. Thefe are faeh
our enemies are appriisd Of, and ifthey
be influenced by principles Of jufiee, to all Y
cruel meaures towards America, theie ougn, K
lead them thereto. They however hope to efe9t
II by aratagem what they maynot obtain by power,
and are uEng arts, by aitance of baie lcribblers.
Iwho undoubtedly receive their brides and by many
IIather MEANS to raiie doubts and dvfons through.
Jour the colonies To defear their ubiquitous de-
lIGgSs, we think IL necsGary for each town to be
/ particularly careful fricl" to execute the N
Nof the Continental and Provincial Coner n
and while it centuries It's own individuals. COZ 4,
acting theie plans, thatit be not deceived M
lverted from its duty by rumours, ihould an
place. to the prejudice Of other commrE:.::>>s-
Your Provincial Congrefes We have feaion TO
Ilhope will HOLD UP the towns,if any Hould be 70
loa az not TO aes their parts, and n x can doubt
the Continental CongreiIes Will re6tify efrors
3 any take place N any colony through the
siliGy of our enemics-Surely mo arguments
Ican be neoeHary to exoi:e you to rhe mott ftrief
adherence TO the American a1ociation, Ince the
minuriea deviation in one colony, Especially in
this, will probably be mireprefsnted in the others,
10 difcourage their general zeal and perseverance,
which however we allure ourieves cannot be at
feeted.
II Whit the Britiih miniary are fufered viii @
Il high hand to tyrannize over America, ne fi'
of it we Preiume can be negI;7eui1in. guy
laoainft the ravaoes threatened NV rheNa}s1 n