The record-union., 1893-07-31
NOT 4 LARGE SHEET.
Description Of Four-Page Paper
Printed in l777.
Quaint Specimen of American Jour-
naiistic Effort When the Repub-
lie Was Fighting.

Walter D. Davis, now of Wells, Me-,
but formerly a resident of Springfield,
Mass, has presented to the city library of
the latter place valuable original docu-
nent in the shape Of newspaper, which
was printed in the year I777. The tiny
sheet, which was so big with news to the
anxious people of the newt born nation,
is called the Massachusetts Spy, Or Amer
acon Ordcte Of Liberty. At the head
stands the valiant motto, "Undaunted by
tyrants, we'll die or be free" The paper
is dated from "W orcester, Thursday,
June II, I777," and is 'vol VI, mum 3l9."
1t is yellowed with age, but otherwise is
in good preservation. 1t is described by
che Republican as about IA by inches,
and has only four rather solidly printed
pages, which are largely given up to
advertisements and public printing. On
the first page is list Of the members
returned TO represent the towns and dis
bricts in this state, before whom the Rev
Samuel Webster of Shrewsb bury, deliv-
cred an excellent discourse from Ezekiel
XIV. 80" The second page is chiefly
gwen up to an Act permitting one or
more 'inoculating hospitals in each
county for the smallpox. An interesting
provision Is that no one shall carry pa
Der money into these hospitals on the
penalty of E5." On the same page Joshua
houghton Of ChiXit, post rider TO Fitch
3urg, informs his kind customers that
The time for which he IS engaged TO ride
IS expired next week. He, therefore,
viii take it extremely kind if they would
leave the money that is due him at the
several places where the papers are left"
RECORD OF COLONIAL VICTORIES.
The third page is largely devoted to
war, that is to say, there are four news
paragraphs" and Boston letter." The
Philadelphia correspondent, evidently a
man with a biting quil, writes: 'It is re-
ported that the great and mighty George
Ihe Third, who never heard a gun fired
n his life but at a show, has applied in
very humble terms to the laudrrave OF
Besse for reinforcement of 500 men. A
vast affair. indeed" The war correspond
onts of III were evidently quite equal to
hose of modern times in constructing a
bright and cheerful picture to comfort
heir readers with the persuasion that
llelr friends, the enemy, were really mot
n It," The correspondent from tiskhilI
writes June 9th: ION Monday last party
OF our men fell in with a considerable
number Of the enemy, when a pretty
smart engagement ensued, which ended
much to our satisfaction. We killed one
Iour Highlanders, and wounded, it is
Baid,. great many. our loss was only
TWO men slightly wounded. Since that
they have been pretty quiet, not being
able to pay 80 dear for 50 little travelling"
ON the seas one triumph seems to have
been equally noteworthy at that date, for
IN the next paragraph, in a letter from
New Haven OF June 4th, we read: Capt
ain David Hawley of Stratford in q small
pr1vateer IN the states service one dav
last week captured three small vessels
10 the westward of Huntington; two Of
them were loaded with wood from Long
Island, bound to New York: the other
had taken in cargo of provisions at
Derby"
In the Hartford Ne3rs we find that the
General Assembly in their late session or
dered two battalions to be raised for the
defense of this State. They also ordered
that the title of Excellencv instead of
Honor should be given to the Governor.
IN the Boston letter we read the eucour-
aging news that there We're 300 men of
the British Army stationed at the AK
NOlx, "and number Of others uuaruered
up and down the country to keep the Ca
nadians in order, who very generally re-
fuse to take up arms; some Of them suffer
imprisonment rather than enter the Eng
llsh serVlce-the Indians, too, have deter
mined not TO take up arms against the
Americans; they have dispersed and gone
10 their homes"
CASUALTIES AND DOMESTIC STRIFE.
The happenings of the day were not
however, confined to military news. The
column of casualties" consists of one
solitary paragraph, with pious sermon
at the end, on the wickedness and peril
OF breaking the Sabbath: ''On the 3d dav
of June INST, by very surprising provi-
dence, near the house of Mr.. John Claves,
Jr., in Framingham, i've persons were,
by thunder and lightning, instantly
struck to the ground. At the same time
The horse which they were viewing was
struck dead; all which ought to be pub
hshed to the world OF sorrow and death
rs a menento for the improvement Of
life"
Domestic cares, too. perpIexed the hus-
bands head as much then as now, or in
the days Of Bacon of Veruam. Solomon
Goodell of Grafton inserts the following
plaintlve notice: Whereas, Mary. the
wife of me, the subscriber, hath absented
herself from my house almost two years.
and has neglected taking care of my fam
lily; when | offered her. If she would come
home and take care of my children, L
would provide for her and them; but She
has refused, and said the Lord called her
from me; and she has gone; and l do for
ever renounce her as my wife, and from
henceforth and forever, never more to
nave any concerns with her as a wife, and
account, for l shall not pay any debts She
may contract nom the date hereof 1t is
not often that more complete chapter of
Life is put into one advertisement.
On the same third page Timothy Bige-
low, Colonel, once more orders the Off
GERS and soldiers Of his battalion to repair
10 the place Of rendezvous. Apparently
the parting with sweethearts had taken
TOO long, and the Colonel is quite peremp-
tory III his demands. On the last page we
md that tickets in the United states lot
terry are still selling, and there is a de-
scription OF a notorious character. who
mas been a villainOus traitor TO his coun-
try, and especially of late has been guilty
OF counterielting Continental bills. On
the whole ii is q decidedly newsy little
sheet, and an editor of the present day
may count himself fortunate If his paper
IS as interesting reading in one hundred
years.
CLOCK WITH A HISTORY.