The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.

To Mr. HUTCHINSON.

The succession of interesting events flowing from your Machiavellian projects is so rapid that the genius of a Voltaire would find itself embarrassed, were it solely devoted to the task of registering and exposing them. Would God they might innocently be passed over! But carnage and destruction on the one hand, chains and slavery on the other, by your means staring us full in the face, oblige us to expostulate with you, and lay our calamities at the door of the most unfeeling ingrate that ever disgraced this country. The tea you say shall not go back: Six thousand of your fellow countrymen have resolved at all events that it shall. What must be the consequence of such obstinacy, Mr. Hutchinson, but bloodshed and confusion? You tell us your duty to government obliges you to act in this manner. Consider Mr. Hutchinson what kind of government that must be, which acts in direct opposition to the general voice of the people! Your party long affected to represent the opposers of your innovations a small and inconsiderable faction. The greater part of Europe, are now satisfied of the fallacy of this position. You can therefore have no other pretence than that of forcing terms upon the community against their wills; and what greater violence than this was ever exercised in Spain or Morocco? This government therefore, of which you are so zealous an abettor, and indefatigable a supporter, is a government of violence and force, which in all ages and countries has been esteemed the scourge and curse of mankind. A great majority of this people are conscious of this dreadful truth. and thoroughly alarmed at the consequences of a submission to such an usurpation. They see your three pence on tea acquiesced in, will invite a six pence on something else, and that sixpence digested, a shilling; and so on, till this pretty little revenue will support a standing army sufficient to exact a tax of every tenth or fifth maiden to make wives for this soldiery. They perceive that a country taxable without a representative, will soon be in the condition of France, where the crown has its spies and informers throughout the whole nation, and by them understanding that such a man has ten thousand pounds in cash, sends a letter demanding a loan of the whole sum, which the owner refuses at his utmost peril as you sometimes express yourself. They look upon these ravishments of property, and the cruel inflictions of punishment, inseparable from arbitrary government, which being an entirely system of wrong and violence, can only by the terror of greater violence coerce to its obedience, to be intolerable to men of sense and spirit, and will therefore, like the brave Carthaginians, bury themselves in the ruins of their inflamed cities before they will submit to such unjust and ignominious tyranny. In Great-Britain and Ireland, Sir, you are sensible that men having knowledge of these things and wills of their own, are bought up with prices proportioned to their respective importance, but Americans it seems are a much inferior species of animals, and may with a little cunning and some bluster be bullied out of their rights. We have a recent whisper of twelve ships of the line. and fifteen thousand land forces, which may speedily be expected; doubtless to reward the very deserving exiles in Boston, and probably guard their persons and houses for a twelve month or two. No doubt, part of their commission, will also be to burn some GUN POWDER in the hearing of the Boston Committee of Correspondence. It will hardly answer to shoot them for advertising their brethren throughout the province of the incontestable state of facts respecting their rights and grievances. The city of London, even under the King's nose, takes these liberties. This armament. say the well affected, would soon lay your capital in ashes, and reduce your stubborn stomach, to what terms the minister pleases to impose on you. That such a force might demolish Boston is granted, but that a quiet submission of the province to ministerial measures would be the consequence, I utterly deny. Tea, the idol of America, is now upon trial, and maugre all the efforts of administration, I dare assert, the sums the indulged company will realize by it, in the coming seven years, will hardly incite them to petition the minister to duty any more of their articles of commerce. Besides,Mr. Hutchinson, I should conceive that the state of Great-Britain, with respect to her European neighbours is hardly so flattering. that she could safely send such a force across the Atlantic, to remain four or five years in America. And less time you know, would hardly suffice to inure this wild people to a well confirmed habit of slavery.-As for murdering them indiscriminately, or even taking off their leaders;the former would destroy all prospect of gain by them, and the spirit of the said leaders is now so universally diffused, that you must go to Canada before you can come at the last of their partisans. To quell this faction, must therefore require nothing less than the depopulation of the continent; and how advantageous this would be to the manufacturing and commercial interests of Great Britain and Ireland, or how agreeable to the millions of oppressed people there, whose longing looks respect it as an asylum from their woes, inflicted by such Masters as you pant to become, let all men judge! Still further, an army of fifteen thousand men to send out of the kingdom would require some time to be got in readiness, and probably some money might be wanted to put the necessaries for such a distant expedition. Where this would come from, St. Anthony knows as well as I do. The London merchants have of late had no such endearing treatment from the ministry, as to excite them, to be very zealous in espousing their quarrel against the people on whom their very beings depend, as a commercial body. The treasury has been so over-loaded with salary men, insecure pensioners, and half pay lieutenants* in the past ten years, that it is certainly pretty low. The difficulty of squeezing any more out of Ireland, put the contrivers of ways and means upon the scheme of draining America: but hitherto I presume the net income from her has been no ways inviting. To do any thing to purpose with her will therefore require an expense much superior to that laid out in the conquest of Canada, Martinico, and Guadaloupe, and when all is done, an irreconcilable hatred will be established between the parent and her children forever. For the bringing about of these desirable ends, in this country at least, you will ever have the honour of being accounted a principal. Your two friends Paxton and Hallowell. and your two hopeful children, will share with you in the resentment of millions. The present age, the future historian, will gibbet your name, among the most infamous and atrocious parricides that ever plagued mankind, and the Judge of all, will fill up the cup for you in unerring justice, and one day cause you to reflect with bitterness the infernal part you have, for such a number of years, been acting to his creatures. To his almighty protection, I recommend my distressed country, imploring his righteous interposition, against the miscreants which have well nigh completed its destruction.

E. LUDLOW.

* Shoals of these I am told are continually making in this manner. A ministerial parliament-man, after providing for all his sons, nephews, &c. is presented with a coach, or six which tail greys; and for this he gives Master Jackey a recommendation to the proper office, where a warrant is made out, for his being received on board as Midshipman; in a few months he is Mate, and then Lieutenant; on which with half-pay he retires to whip tops and hoops, till he is capable of debauching his neighbours daughters, and chattering in favour of the Minister; who in consideration of the great service of this useful set of men, have procured the advancement of their pay, from two to three shillings sterling per day.