The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.

Mr. THOMAS,

Plimouth, January 7th, 1774:

When you have nothing of more importance, you will gratify many of your customers by inserting the following impartial history of Plymouth protest.

Who has the immortal honour of being the father of this ill-shaped brat is not certainly known. Some not without reason have conjectured that it originated from the great author of all our political commotions Mr. Hutchinson : but it is most generally supposed that it was with great labour brought forth in the custom-house, and that Philalethes stood midwife. But notwithstanding all the assiduity with which it was nursed, it never could have sustained the light, had it not been for an unfortunate event which took place at that time, and which will be mentioned in the sequel. It seems the tories did not adorn the town meeting with their presence: but manifested that sovereign contempt, with which they have always affected to treat the meetings of their fellow-countrymen. Immediately after the appearance of the resolves the party were greatly disturbed : the second resolve was particularly disgustful; that the consignees, men informed with the same soul, governed by the same views, and acting the same part as themselves, should be adjudged to have forfeited that protection to which good citizens are entitled, was something infinitely shocking to their delicate natures. But conscious that an oppugnation to proceedings and resolves so judicious, so necessary, must vanish at the face of day, they had recourse to their usual method of effecting their flagitious purposes—plotting in secret, and tampering with individuals.

About this time happened a circumstance just hinted at before, very favourable to the protest. Mr. Robbins returned from Boston, and had been informed by some of his friends very suspicious men, that the most eminent patriots were apprehensive the people through the impetuosity of their zeal had carried matters to too great a length; that they shuddered at the consequences. This report coming from the mouth of a clergyman (the innate integrity of whose heart may perhaps render him of too easy a credulity) sanctified the truth of it; and industriously propagated with this curious addition, that in case the tea should be destroyed, and the province compelled to compensate the company for the loss, a protest against the proceedings would exempt the signers from any part of the tax, operated powerfully on weak and avaricious minds. Flushed with their success in obtaining so goodly a number of signers as twenty five, for there were no more then ; they mustered all their artillery at the adjournment of the meeting, and moved for a reconsideration of the former vote respecting the resolves. The elder of the C-O-rs displayed all the powers of his soul in a premeditated harangue, replete with sophistry and the most illiberal abuse. He averred as a custom-house officer. that it was utterly impossible the tea should be sent back. I will agree with him now in regard to the much greater part of it ; but why that impossibility existed in this province rather than in Philadelphia, or any other, provided the governor and consignees here had shown as much virtue and wisdom as they did in Philadelphia, and elsewhere, would puzzle him and his rippling nephew with all their eloquence to make appear. As no notice was taken of it in meeting, I shall make no remark upon any thing said by the O-- C- D-n, who increasing in obstinacy and stupidity, as he advances in age, has become the derision even of children. When the motion was put, and it was determined that there was a very great majority against it, the aforementioned speaker informed the moderator, that he had a protest in his pocket signed by a number of the inhabitants, and requested leave to read it, which he would have blushed to have done, if he had not been callous to every honest feeling, for a knowledge of the signers would have convinced every body, what vast pains they must have been at, and what low artifices they must have used. He was answered, that the town would have nothing to do with any protest. The subsequent conduct of the tories with some remarks on the protest itself, shall be the subject of another letter.

TRUTH.

* All the signers did not attend the meeting.