The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-12-22
MAssAcHUsETTs SPY.

w "A SIS II u y i is r Y.
Mr.. THOMAS,
TINE prcicnt difpptc between Great Britain
1 and the colonies, 70 big with ruin 10 both
countries if not amieably terminated, turns ON
the quellon of parliamentary power. The par
lament have within few years claimed power
to make laws binding on the colonies IN ALI
CASES wHATsoEvRR, and have lately exerted
that power in an alioniihing manner. The adj
vocass for the colonies aledgc, that if this exor-
bitant power, in which is included the power Of
rAxATIor, be conceded TO, the colonies are re-
duced 70 itate of as abjed fayery as any people
upon earth can be, and have nothing they can
call their own. They hold their lives, liberties
and properties, by the mere VIII and Pleaiure OF
a body, in whole appointment they have not the
lean mare, over whole reiolutons they have not the
Leaf controul. On the other hand, fbs frissaS Of
gsvermenf, as they call themielves lby which they
mean miaiReriai gov1amssf) tell Us tkat iuch is
the wildom. the integrity, the impartiality, the
equity of neutrality-suspicious., that we may iecure-
" repofc ourieyes upon them, and that our lives
liberties and properties will be as fate in their
hands as in our own.--As few perhaps In Ame-
RIGA have the opportunity Of obtaining an exact
knowledge of the contribution Of thar HIzfrioss
ailembly, | fend you fomc exrratts from book
publilhed this year in London, entised PsGiieaI
| Di,SniEtions,--a Book which highly deferves the
perufsl of every fubieet in the Britifh empire -
The author treats largely on three important
articles,-the Inadequate rsprst1f0tioS IN Pariia-
Iment---the Syg duration OF II And the MI
uiRey;al influence exerted at elections, and on the
members afterwards. He has given aPaFticuiar
| LIT of zs boroughs in England, with the number
of electors in each, which makes choice, ana
the numbers they iend to parliament from
which 1t appears, sEhat two hundred ana my
four members are actually elected by s7z3 votes.
/ g Now (fays the above author) the mott numer-
Gus meeting, Of the commons ever known,
was on the occaGon Of the debate about
Walpole, A. d. I7+I.--lhere were
then Goa in the houie, therefore asa comes very
near majority Of the houie, or the whole acting
and efficient number And the greater part OF
theie luxurious 3,who have the power OF con
iturine law rivers over the property ofthe nation,
are themielves perions of no properly.
In Norrh-Briton the number of fouls - about
100000 the males between 10 and So are
zco, 900, allowing one third part TO be their own
matters, and to be above receiving charity. No
Scotch member ought 70 be elected by fswer than
majority of 1000 votes. But there are many
;naances of members elected in North Britain BY
aImof as finaIl number as in Englend.--Tak-
ing the whole Representative for South and North
Britain. Themembers for counties are oniyI3l
Of tine ssS, of which i3I, a are tor Scotland
and Wales.
The members therefore for the Borcughs and
c;noue ports which ought Tot to be one in ten,
comnarei with thoie for the counties, are $50,
,boye four times as many, i. e. four tenths)
q, thar for one member whe may be iuPPoed TO
come fairly into the houie, four (if We excerpts.
g.: Of tbe great eisies) are Ent BY the Pooreit Of
,he peo5le. Directed by court influence. Dividing
,he l;oht Of eleeing as ii ought TO BE-. ne men,
bsr mould be eleaed by fever than the majority
- soo yo.s., bps We find that not one msnh~