The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
Mr. Thomas,
As this metropolis is threatened with an additional number of British troops, it behoves every one, especially the fair sex, to be upon their guard, against the crafty wiles, as well as violent attacks, of all enemies to virtue and morality-therefore your inserting the following in your valuable paper, will much oblige your affectionate friend,
AMORALIST.
Oh ! When will the Locust leave the land ? Church.
The price of a virtuous woman is above rubies. Solomon.

HAT political and private happiness are invariably
connected with religion and virtue, is a self evident proposition. As morals decline, so will the health, courage, and public spirit of a people decline also ; above all, the favour of God, without which nothing can exist, much less prosper will only accompany such as love and obey him; those whom God delights in must be happy.; those whom he detests must be miserable. That the morals of this people, since the fleets and armies, of George the Third, have been crowded in upon us, are very much corrupted, is alas ! but too visible ; let us trace the causes of this corruption, in order that the remedies may be pointed out -
Perhaps, the most fruitful source of depravity in this land, is the scandalous prostitution to be seen in almost every place, that has been so unhappy, as to have soldiers contained in it ; an evil that causes and multiplies every species of wickedness. Pleasures of this kind, 'if they deserve the name, are commonly supported by fraud and rapine, and every act of injustice; loss of health, disease, distress in families are the usual consequences. The grand instruments of this iniquity, are the first seducers; for the unhappy wretches, when seduced, are compelled in a manner, to continue that bad course of life, 'from an impossibility almost of subsisting in any other-_-A high-wayman is a saint, compared to that man, tha villain, who first ruined an innocent creature, and then turns her loose like a wild beast, on the public---He has not only endangered to the highest degree, the temporary and eternal welfare of the unhappy creature, but has likewise extended and prolonged the interest of sin, by laying a snare for the destruction of many others-The first seducer, is justly chargeable, with all the complication of wickedness, that the abandoned female commits herself; and likewise with all the sin which she may be the alluring occasion, and instrument of in others. Oh! that it may never (with the least colour of truth) be told in Gath, or published in the streets of Akelon that any of the amiable daughters in America have ever suffered themselves to be seduced by the cursed intrigues and artful insinuations of the sons of Belial-And now Sir, to prevent as far as possible this great source of perdition, I would propose that human laws should be enacted agreeable to the law enacted by Divine authority among the Jews, namely, If a man entice a maid that is not betrothed and be with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife, If her father utterly refused to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins, Exod. xxii. 16, 17. A man who seduces a virgin ought either to marry or portion her; this law is actually put in execution in some countries-If the man be already married and likewise too poor to portion her, he should be punished in the severest manner--This last case would not very often happen, for it is well known that gentlemen most commonly are the first seducers---What can be more just. than that those who deprive others of the means of subsisting should be compelled to support them--We really Mr. Printer want suitable laws to preserve to women those means of subsistence which become their sex. If a youngwoman has a genteel education and a small fortune, she stands upon the brink of destruction ; and even if she is desirous, she scarcely knows whatbusiness to put herself to in order to be out of the way of temptation ; for excepting two or three trades which women still retain ; we have after the French fashion, men mantua-makers, men milliners men stay-makers, men shoemakers for womens shoes, men hair cutters for womens hair, &c. and very likely in time, we shall have sempstresses, laundresses and clear starchers of the same sex. Till our land is free from soldiers and prostitutes we shall never have morals ; and without morals, we never can have happiness.