day, and a part of Friday, the queftion was put and negatived by a great majority, 12 being for granting the Impoft, and 52 against it. BOSTON July 8. Laft Monday the anniversary of Our Independence, was obferved here. The joy of the day. was announced by the ringing of bells, and difcharge of cannon. At twelve o'clock his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor this Excellency being abfent, hy reafon of indifpofition) the Hon. Council, Senate and Reprefentatives, repaired to the Old South Church, where an able and well adapted pray. er was made by the Rev. Mr. Eckly, and an ingenious Oration was pronounced by, Benjamin Hitchbourne, Efquire. At one o'clock the train of artillery, commanded by Robert Davis, Efq; marched into State Street, and honoured the day with the difcharge of 26 rounds, after which they repaired to Mt. Woart's tavern, where an elegant dinner was provided, and a number of patriotic toats were drank. The day was concluded with that joy and feftivity, which ought to have animated every real friend to the Independence of America. The glorious Independence of the American States, was alfo celebrated in the town of Roxbury. The Hon James Level, Efq; formerly a member of Congrefs, from this State, is appointed by the Hon. General Court, Naval Officer of the port of Boften. 12. Friday laft his Excellency the Governor was pleafed to prorogue the Great and General Court of this Commonwealth, to Wednesday, the #3th day of October next, then to meet at the State House in this town. were of opinion that only fuch as were actually due ought to be provuled for, and that the remainder of the fum to be raised ought to be ap plied equally for redeeming a proportion of all the confolidated debt; but the Houfe, impreffed with the idea that the fecond clafs of the army notes would become due before other provifion could be made for paying them, and that in fuch a cafe, a tax muft iue for that purpose by a warrant from the Treasurer, agreeably to the act on which the notes originated, which would be an unpopular meafure, were of opi nion, that the bill in the form propo. fed was not eligible; and on thef principles adhered to their own plan. Thus the matter came to a fland, and each fide feemed to pause as if defircus of carrying their own fyftem nto effect, but at the fame time, cautious of doing it at the rifque of the Bill. The Senate, however, receded from their propofition, and at the fame time fent down to the House a bill for making the Continental: LeanOfficer's certificates for two years intereft due on his notes, receivable in difcharge of the last moiety of the Continental Tix.. Both bills have fince been enacted. Thus a part of the requifition relinquished by Congrefs was appropriated towards defraying this States quota of the Continental debt. The unfettled fituation of the ab fentees and their eftates required turned and were licenced to remain decifion. Several of them had rein the State by the Governor and Council agreeably to the act of the Jaft Seffion. This licence remained and to leave their perfons or their in force until the adjournment only, property without further attention Proceedings of the General was inexpedient upon every princi Court. NOTWITHSTANDING the favourable afpect which the money matters of the Commonwealth wore at the publication of our lafl number, they were afterwards thrown into great hazard by the difagreement of the two Houles. The Senate conceiving that too great preference was given by, the Tax bill to the army notes, ple. Still however, the event has proved, that there did not fubfift that cordiality for their interests which was neceffary to reinflate them in their former enjoyments, agree. ably to the recommendations of Congrefs. Their affairs were introduc ed with the Governor's meffage, when a lift of those who had been licenced was laid before the two Houfes. This was fuccceded by pe titions in force, to the time affigned for re fuming this fubject. Indeed the very peculiar cafe of Mr. Brattle, well known to the public, was noticed in a further manner. The Senate paff and fent it to the Houfe. It was read there the firft time; but, left it should feem to have been carried by management in a thin Houfe, it was referred over, for the second reading,to the next feffion: The revifion of the laws was attended to as ufual in every vacant opportunity. The acts which are publifhing, muft afford the beft idea of this bufinefs. The moft material alterations or explanation of the laws we recollect to have been made are the abolishing of the right of furvivor hip in joint-tenancy; the enabling of heirs to bring real actions for their inheritance jointly or feverally; the extending of the jurifdiction of juftices of the peace to actions where the damages may amount to four pounds, as has been already mentioned; the conftituting of the Sapreme judicial court, the court of appeal in probate matters, in the 100m of the governor and council; the giving of power to this Court to grant fale of the real eftates of perfons deceased, minors and perfons non compos mentis for payment of debts, and to licence executors or adminifrators to perform contracts made by deceafed perfons for the conveyance of fuch eftates. A great advantage that will refult from the revifion is, that the old code will, in all probability be reduced to one third of its prelent fize. titions from the perfons themselves praying to be naturalized. And Tometime afterwards a joint Committee was appointed to revife the law paffed the laft Seffion touching this lubject. This Committee reed a bill in order to naturalize him, 'ported a bill declaring the eftates of abfentees which were under leafe, to be confifcated to the value of 'fuch Jeafe, and topping the intereft on debts due to them for the time the warlafted; but making no mention of their perfons at all. As the paffing of this bill would concede a point that was found by no means to be granted; which was, that the principal of fuch debts was not confifcated, the report was early involved in debate. The bill was not oppofed upon this principle enly; for thofe who fuppofed that the debts, or rather the credits in quef. tion, were not confifcated, diffented from the report as being contrary to that article of the treaty, which provided that no creditors on either fide hould meet with any lawful impediment in the recovery of their juft debts. And they could not but fuppofe it a fhameful evafion, to confi der the character of abfentees in fuch a problematical view, as to make them of any fide or no fide as conve niency might fuggeft. So averfe did The Houfe appear from the bill, at one ftage of the debate, that an order palled for bringing in a refolve to prevent abfentees recovering judgment in any action brought by them against the citizens of the Commonwealth, till the further di rections of the Court. This measure however, died away in filence. Af ter much debate, the fubje& under confideration was found to involve in it a queftion of great magnitude, not only with refpect to the fums of money it would effect, but as it carried with it a conftruction of the treaty; a question too that no precedent was offered to determine, and which, if decided wrong, might be a fruitful fource of future contention. It was therefore referred to the next fitting, when the members might be better informed and relieved from the preffure of other important affairs and the whole bufinefs was wound up by a refolve for continu ing the licences granted to absentees 4 In the courfe of the feffion, a peti. tion was preferred by a committee in behalf of all the congregational minifters in the Commonwealth, to incorporate a fociety for the purpose of managing a fund for affifting the widows and orphans of the clergymen of that order. This petition was graciously received, and leave was given, without commitment, to bring in a bill for the purpofe requefed. On reading the bill it appeared, that the Govenor, the Prefident of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Re prefentatives for the time being, and other official and refpe&table charac ters ters were felected as truffees of the fund which was to be railed. This circumftance firft excited a jealously that arrefted the bill in its progrefs, and drew after it many other objec tions. It was urged that the fplendour which would be resected upon. the clergy from the union of fo many popular characters would give them an influence in fociety. y which would be far too weighty without this addition from the fund propofed. The Houfe were warned against this inBuence by the well known progrefs which the clergy had made in older Countries. Money was allowed by all to be the fource and means of power, and to throw this inftrument into the hands of men, who were, in one view, exculpated from the burthens of the community, by being exempted from taxation, and thereby rafing them to a fituation in which they might command the motions of the Commonwealth, was whol ly ineligible. Nor was it even conceded that this clafs of men were the objects of fuch favourable provifion as the bill pointed out on account of their poverty. The advocates for the bill averred their intention to be merely a charitable inftitution, which could not be denied in the prefent cafe without the plainef partiality; feeing a fimilar meafure had been taken in favour of the members of the epifcopal church. To obviate the difficulties which gentlemen had thought poffible, they confented that the incorporating claufe fhould be read with a blank for the names of the trustees, and the bill read in that manner was fuftained under a reference to the next affenbling... ra The encroachments fuppofed to have been made by the British on the eaftern boundary of this ftate, it was thought, could be beft afcertained, and the true river St. Croix agreed upon by commiffioners who might be upon the fpot. Three gentlemen were accordingly chofen, and vented with adequate powers for the purpofe. Connected with this object, both in importance and local fitua tion, the unappropriated lands in the County of Lincoln commanded the moft ferious attention of the legisla'ture. The committee appointed to examine into the claims of the le re ral proprietors were frequently called upon in the course of the debates, their condu& examined, and finally were empowered to proceed in the mofe expeditious manner, to ascertain and furvey the country,in order to divide it into townships, which are propo fed to be fold for governmental securities. Our readers, we hope, will allow us one oblervation on the foregoing. proceedings, which is, that although many affairs of importance were not concluded at this feffion of the legiflature, yet the finances of the Commonwealth were fo conftantly kept in view, and meafures to decicively adopted for their fupport, that, we conceive, the credit of government muft appear to ftand on a fecure foundation. An event the moft fortunate of any that could be effected; and the influence of which is already demonftrated in the appreciation of public fecurities. Some difpatches have been receiv ed by the English government, from the coaft of Africa. Matters are, by no means, fettled in that quarter. The French do not feem fatisfied, though they are in poffeffion of Goree and, the river Senegal, Fort Louis, Arguin, Galam, Porterrie, Podore, and Angoule, according to Lord Shelburn's treaty of peace. The Dutch are very unealy. They have a ftrong fquadron on the coast, and they leave no matters untried that can puzzle the British trade. Complaints are already come over on this head. Added to this, Commodore King has fent home a grievous memorial against the Dutch governor, at the Cape of Good Hope, in which he reprefents, that being driven in at the Cape, he was treated in a moft inhospitable, unfriendly manner, and, upon expoftulating with the governor, he received for anfwer, that the States of Holland had transmitted orders to the commanders, at each of their different dependencies, to give very little encouragement to fuch English veffeis as might enter their ports, but to give all good entertainment and encouragement to Americans and French. The Irifh will not have far to fend when they want affifiance. 19. 1 19. Congrefs, we hear, have fent à formal deputation to demand of Governor Haldermand the furrender of the frontier pofts in Canada, agreable to treaty. Col. Hull is employ. ed in this fervice, and arrived in Canada. In the last feflions of the General Attembly of the ftate of Connecticut, an A& paffed to enable the United States, in Congrefs affembled, to levy certain duties and impofts, in com> pliance with their refolution of April 18, 1783. 26. A Brig is arrived at Newbu ry, with 150 fettlers from Scotland. We hear they have purchafed lands in the flate of Vermont. Wednesday laft being the anniver Tary of Commencement, at the Uni verfity in Cambridge, about tea o'clock in the forenoon, his Honor the Lieutenant Governor (his Excellency the. Governor being fick) with a number of the Council and Senate, and other gentlemen of cha racter, arrived at Harvard hall, having been accompanied, on their tour from Boston, by the sheriff of the County of Middlefex, and officers of the militia: they were received by the Fellows of the Corporation; Profeffor, Librarian, and Tutors, and conduted to the Philofophy room, where the Board of Overfeers met. The bufinefs neceffary to be done previous to the falemnities of the day was here tranfacted; and about eleven o'clock, they all went in the ufu'al proceffion to the Meeting-house: On the entrance of the company, an anthem was performed by a number of the Scholars; the Prefident then prayed, and afterwards delivered an elegant Latin oration. The exercifes of the forenoon performed by the candidates for the degree of Batchelor of Arts, were as follows 1. A faluratory oration in the Latin tongue. By Mr. Joshua Paine. 2. A forenfic difputation, in EngTifh, upon this queffion, "Whether the fear of that cenfure which is the confequence of afting wrong, or defire of that approbation and applaufe which attend good actions, has the greatest influence in exciting men to a right "condu&t?" By Meffieure Beni. Green, and Thomas Greaves Ruffell. 3. A fyllogiftic difputation upo this thefis, Verum dicendi: talis eft obligatio; ut mendacium nunquam eft licitum." Mr. Babbit, refpondent; Meffi'rs Stacey, Parker,, Seaver, Willard, Wight, and Warren, opponents. 4. A fyllogiftic difputation upon this thefis, Ambitio in pectore ha mano plus boni quam mali hominibus efficit." Mr. Conant, refpon dert; Meffi'rs Robbins, Remington, and Parker, opponents 5 A conference, in English, upon the comparative advantages of agriculture, manufactures and commerce, to a nation. By M.fi's Lee, Pay fon, and Thomas Williams. 6. A Greek dialogue. By Meff'cs Sam. Abbot, and Joshua Green 7. A fyllogific difputation upon this thefis, "Radiorum folarium æftus vehemens a fole proximitate nou pendit" Mr. Henry Mellen, refpon dent; Meff'rs Little, Hobart, Hill,Hedge, and Griffiu, opponents. 8. A forensic.difputation; in Eng. lif, upon this question, "Whether the knowledge and practice of religi on are not more promoted by that diverfity in the fentiments and modes of worship which fubfifts among chriftians, than there would be by an entire uniformity?" By Mellirs Howard, and Prentifs Mellen. A fyllogific difputation upon this thefis, "Materiæ quantitas in rerom univerfitate nunquam diminuitur." Mr. Webber, refpondent; Meffi'rs Greenleaf, William Green, Gray, Gill, and Frazier, opponents." An oration on medicine and the healing art, in English, by Mr Amary. A fyllogific difputation upon this thefis, "Legi ad bonum publicam non fpeftanti obedientia non debetur." Mr. Timothy Williams, refpondent; Mefi's Dorr, Blake, Baylies, and Anderfon, opponents. An English oration. By Mr. Stedinan. In the afternoon the exercifes per: formed by the candidates for the de gree of Mafter of Arts, were. A forenfic difputation in Englf, upon this question, "Whether fump tuary tuary laws would be useful in a republic like that of the Miffachusetts? By Meffi'rs-Davis and Payne. An Eng! fh oration, by Mr. Dexter. The Prefident concluded the fervices of the day by a fhort prayer adapted to the occafion. A very refpe&able number of gentlemen and ladies attended the folemnities, and did honor to the day..... Their approbation of the performances were univerfal: And indeed the young gentlemen exhibited fuch marks of genius and learning, as well as of their improvement, in graceful elocution (a moft important qualification in a rifing and free republic) as muft give great pleasure to the friends of the Un verfity, and to all who are interested in the welfare of the State. The following young gentlemen then had the ufual degrees conferred on them. John Abbot, Samuel Abbot, Wm. Amory, Ja. Anderfon, Tho. Babbit, Gufta. Baylies, Caleb Blake, Jona. Burr, Ezra Conant, William Dorr, BACHELOR'S DEGREE. Silas Lee, Ezekiel Little, Henry Mellen, Prentifs Mellen, John Merrick, Joshua Payne, Fred. Parker, Benja. Parker, Tho. Payfon. Ben. Pickman, Jeffe Remington, Nat. J. Robbins, Tho. G. Ruffell, Eben. Seaver, George Stacey, Wm. Stedman, Mofes Warren, Sam. Webber, Job Wight, Jof. Willard, Tho. Williams, Zacha. Howard, Tim. Williams. Nath Frazier, Mofes Gill, Cadwal. Gray, Ben. Green, Joshua Green, William Green, Tho. Greenleaf, Samuel Griffin, Lemuel Hedge, Jona. C. Hill, Nath. Hobart, MASTER'S DEGREE. Dudley Atkins, John Bartlet, Ifaac Bayley, Charles Bulfinch, John Davis, Samuel Dexter, Elijah Doane, Peter French, Ifaiah Lewis Green, Jofeph Hall, George Holmes IIall, John Hafkins, Abiel Haywood, Bezaliel Haywood, Sam. Orne, Elifha Payne, Appleton Prentifs, Nathan Read, Nathaniel Ruggles, John Sanders, James Seaver, Edward Sohier, Edward Wendell. Meffi'rs Ebenezer Crafts. Thomas Chefter, Edmund Fofter, Mafter of Arts at Yale College; Mr Dwight Fofter, Maßter of Arts at Providence, were admitted ad eundem. 29. Laft Tuesday s'ennight, about one hour after funfet, Mr. Cyrus Baldwin, was attacked near the top, of Winter hill, in Charleftown, by three ruffins, who inftantly rufhed on him and robbed him of his watch, and about 14. in money, and fundry other articles; during the great eft part of the time they were fripping him one of the villains was dealing very heavy blows, with a club, on the left fide of his head, and cut his scalp in several places. Laft Friday evening, between the hours of nine and ten, Major James Swan was attempted to be robbed by three foot pads, a little fouth of the fortifications in this town. He was purfued by all three, and the one who was next to him prefented a piftol, which fnapped. Thefe candidates for the gallows, who call themfelves Richard Barrick, John Poor and John Sullivan, are committed to goal. A piftol, fword, and several other miffile weapons, and the watch, purfe, &c of which Mr. Baldwint was robbed, were found upon them. On monday the firft day of Au guft next Dr. Moyes will froith the delivery of his learned and ingenious lectures on the philofophy of chymiftry and natural hiftory. Bill of Mortality, for July, 1784. Male Whites, above 60, Male do. between 12, and 60, 8. do. White Children under 12, Black do. do. 3. |