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Lieutenant Dudington the commander of the late armed fchooner the Gafpee, had been remarkably affiduous in fupporting the laws against fmuggling, and in fearching after contraband goods, by which he had given great offence. He had alfo brought upon himself the refentments of many, by firing at the Providence packets (employed in tranfporting goods and paffengers from thence to Newport, and vice verfa,) in order to oblige the masters to take down their colours, and by chafing them even into the docks when it had been refufed. The Providence packet coming up as ufual with colours flying and company on board, probably a party of pleafure, as is frequent in the fummer season, and refufing to take them down, the lieutenant fired a fhot, which being June difregarded he chafed. It was near upon or quite high 9. water. The packet ftood in with the land as close as confifted with fafety, defigning that the Gafpee should be run a-ground in the chafe. The defign fucceeded. The Gafpee was foon faft, and could not ftir, the tide having done flowing. The packet proceeded to town. The fituation of the Gafpee and resentment against the commander, excited the thought of attacking and deftroying her. Mr. John Brown, a confiderable merchant of Providence, was the principal in the bufinefs. Captain Whipple was immediately employed to beat up for volunteers, and a number offered and engaged to go upon any service for which they were wanted. Several whale boats were procured and filled with armed men. Mr. Brown accompanied them in the expedition. Captain Whipple, as they proceeded, obferved to Mr. Brown, that he might lose his life, and that he had a family, and therefore he required that care fhould be taken

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taken of them in cafe of his death. Mr. Brown engaged to do it should that happen. About two o'clock in the morning, they boarded and carried the fchooner, as fhe lay a-ground about feven miles below Providence. Mr. Brown was himself the firft on board, The lieutenant was wounded. He and the crew were put on fhore, and every thing valuable belonging to him, was taken out and faved for him; after which the Gafpee, with all her ftores, was burned.

Though a reward of five hundred pounds, together with a pardon, if claimed by an accomplice, has been offered by proclamation for discovering and apprehending any of the perfons concerned; yet the commiffioners appointed to try the matter, have tranfinitted accounts to miniftry, that they can obtain no evidence. If any one had wished to give evidence, that he might get the reward; yet the thought that he should risk his life, or be obliged to fly the country and become a perpetual exile, would naturally have overcome fuch propenfity, It was too hazardous to turn informer. Some who were fecured, in expectation that they would give intelligence, were affifted by the populace in making their escape, before any thing material could be learnt from them by the commiffioners.

Governor Hutchinfon and his adherents having been used to reprefent the party in oppofition, as only an uneafy factious few in Bofton, while the body of the people were quite contented; Mr. Samuel Adams was thereby induced to vifit Mr. James Warren of Plymouth. After converfing upon the fubject, the latter propofed to originate and establish committees of correfpondence in the several towns of the colony, in order to learn the ftrength of

the friends to the rights of the continent, and to unite and increase their force. Mr. Samuel Adams returned to Bofton, pleased with the propofal, and communicated the fame to his confidents. Some doubted whether the measure would profper, and dreaded a disappointment which might injure the cause of liberty, But it was concluded to proceed. The prime managers were about fix in number; each of whom when feparate, headed a divifion; the feveral individuals of which, collected and led diftinct fubdivifions. In this manner the political engine has been conftructed. The different parts are not equally good and operative. Like other bodies, its compofition includes numbers who act mechanically, as they are preffed this or that way by those who judge for them; and divers of the wicked, fitted for evil practices when the adoption of them is thought neceffary to particular purposes, and a part of whofe creed it is, that in political matters the public good is above every other confideration, and that all rules of morality when in competition with it, may be fafely difpenfed with. When any important tranfaction is to be brought forward, it is thoroughly confidered by the prime managers. If they approve, each communicates it to his own division; from thence, if adopted, it paffes to the feveral fubdivifions, which form a general meeting in order to canvass the bufinefs. The prime managers being known only by few to be the promoters of it, are defired to be prefent at the debate, that they may give their opinion when it clofes. If they obferve, that the collected body is in general strongly against the measure they wish to have carried, they declare it to be improper; is it oppofed by great numbers, but not warmly,

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they advife to a re-confideration at another meeting, and prepare for its being then adopted; if the oppofition is not confiderable, either in number or weight of perfons, they give their reafons, and then recommend the adoption of the meafure. The principal actors are determined upon fecuring the liberties of their country, or perishing in the attempt.

The news of his majefty's granting falaries to the juftices of the fuperior court, afforded them a fair op, portunity for executing the plan of eftablishing committees of correfpondence through the colony. The moft fpirited pieces were publifhed, and an alarm spread, that the granting fuch falaries tended rapidly to complete the fyftem of their flavery.

Nov, A town meeting was called, and a committee of correfpondence appointed, to write circular letters to all the towns in the province, and to induce them to unite in measures. The committee made a report, containing feveral refolutions contradictory to the fupremacy of the British legislature. After fetting forth, that all men have a right to remain in a ftate of nature as long as they please, they proceed to a report upon the natural rights of the colonists as men, chriftians and fubjects; and then form a lift of infringements and violations of their rights. They enumerate and dwell upon the British parliament's having affumed the power of legiflation for the colonies in all cafes whatever the appointment of a number of new officers to fuperintend the revenues-the granting of falaries out of the American revenue, to the governor, the judges of the fuperior court, the king's attorney and folicitor general. The report was accepted; copies printed, and fix hundred

circulated through the towns and diftricts of the province, with a pathetic letter addreffed to the inhabitants, who were called upon not to doze any longer, or fit supinely in indifference, while the iron hand of oppreffion was daily tearing the choiceft fruits from the fair tree of liberty. The circular letter requested of each town a free communication of fentiments on the fubjects of the report, and was directed to the felect men, who were defired to lay the fame before a town meeting, which has been generally practised, and the proceedings of the town upon the business have been tranfmitted to the committee at Boston. This committee have their particular correfpondents in the feveral towns, who upon receiving any special information, are ready to spread it with dispatch among the inhabitants. It confists of twenty-one perfons, of heterogeneous qualities and profeffions. The governor, in expectation of exciting prejudice, and fixing a ftigma upon them, their connections and proceedings, has written to a gentleman in -power, Strange that a government, which within a century would fuffer no perfon to be free of the commonwealth who was not one of their church members, fhould now take for their leaders men, who openly contemn all religion, and fhould join deacons and atheists in one truft; and that they should be inftigated to this by fome of the clergy, who make the highest pretences to devotion; and yet the fpirit of political party produces all this." He would gladly receive them all into his own arms, and be devoutly thankful for them, were they to change fides and join in fupporting his administration. But he has unwarily acknowledged, that the government, or the great body of the people in

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