The Newport Gazette

To the Printer of the Newport Gazette.

SIR,

In your last Week's Paper you published a Resolution or two, said to be issued by the Congress, as to Time, but so as to Place.

This Circumstance puzzles me exceedingly; as I wish to forward two or three Words to some of my old Friends, who, I have heard from common Report, have Seats in this renowned Assembly.

Surely these Lords and Governors of the Western World are not ashamed or afraid to tell us where they are, and from what Region they issue forth their Mandates to bind People (as they do by their Resolutions) in all Cases whatsoever. Besides all this, I have heard of so many Shifts and Changes in this said Congress of late, that really I cannot for the Life of me, guess whom we have got together now. There is indeed at the Bottom the Name of my old P-t-companion, Charles Thomson the Schoolmaster; but I should hardly think that dull Rogue to be a proper Representative of those Representatives in Congress, who represent the Representatives in all the Assemblies, who are the true Representatives of the Committee-Representatives, who choose them to re-represent the 'represented good People' of all these Colonies. I fancy Master Charley must have taken a Cup too much, when he subscribed those Resolutions, and therefore naturally did not know whereabouts he was. Formerly, we were indulged with the Acts of these Apostles, or rather with some choice Extracts from the Minutes of their Proceedings. Now they have got the Staff in their Hands, these brave Champions of our Lives and Liberties begin to use us with very little Ceremony, and instead of recommending Things to us, as they used to do; they resolve, and they order, and they command, upon pain of close Goals, and God knows what. They have told us, that we were under arbitrary, Cruel and Tyrannical Government, when the British Constitution was the Law of the Land: but I would allow Charles Thomson to flog me like one of his Boys, if I did not prove, upon a fair Occasion, that there never were Such arbitrary, cruel and tyrannical Proceedings in any Part of the British Dominions in America, till these worshipful Maroons set up for Our Lords and Masters-- and who are they?

What are they?-- from whence do they spring?

Out of their Bull and Anathemas like Pope of Rome? I am told, that a Man of moderate Fortune may buy up a Dozen of them, which, However, is one very good Reason for them to continue in Congress, since they have little or nothing to lose out of it.

Some of them (I hear) are so obscure, that their Names might be safely not published. In the style of Corygil's third-rate Heroes; upon which Account I should not choose to bid Money for them; because 'tis just as good a Bargain to buy a Pig in a Poke, as it would be to purchase Arms in a Wood. I am afraid, they would be worth but little more than the Halter, which must be used to bring them Home.

However, Mr. Printer, if you can favour us with List of their Names, that we may know (as the saying is) who and who are together; you will oblige a multitude of your Customers, and, among the rest,

Your humble Servant,

TOM. DOUBT.