Some good writers appear to have aided in conducting the Gazette, during the years that preceded the passage of the Stamp Act, and the progress of the Revolution. One of their communications here follows, published in 1765:

Since the late Impositions on the American Colonies by the Parliament of Great-Britain, our Papers have been filled with woeful Exclamations against Slavery and arbitrary power. One would have thought, by this mighty outcry, that all America, to a Man, had a noble Sense of Freedom, and would risque their Lives and Fortunes in the Defence of it. Had this been really the Spirit of the Colonies, they would have deserved Commiseration and Relief.

Nothing can fill a generous Breast with greater Indignation than to see a free, brave, and virtuous People unjustly sunk and debased by Tyranny and Oppression. But who can pity the heartless Wretches whose only Fortitude is in the Tongue and Pen? If we may judge of the whole by those who have been already tampered with, the Colonies are now ripe for Slavery and incapable of freedom.

Have three hundred Pounds a Year, or even a more trifling Consideration, been found sufficient to debauch from their Interest those who have been intrusted with the most important Concerns by the Colonies ? If so, O Britain! heap on your Burthens without Fear of Disturbance. We shall bear your Yoke as tamely as the overloaded Ass. If we bray with the Pain, we shall not have the Heart to throw off the Load, or spurn the Rider. Have many already become the Tools of your Oppression? and are Numbers now cringing to become the Tools of those Tools, to slay their wretched Brethren? "Tis impossible! But alas! if so, who could have thought it! Those who lately set themselves up for Patriots and boasted a generous Love for their Country, are they now suing (O Disgrace to humanity!) are THEY now creeping after the Profits of collecting the Unrighteous American Stamp Duty! If THIS is credible, what may we not believe? Where are the Mercenary Publicans who delight in Nothing so much as the dearest Blood of their Country? Will the Cries of your despairing, dying Brethren be Music pleasing to your Ears? If so, go on, bend the Knee to your Master Horseleach, and beg a share in the Pillage of your Country.—No, you'll say, I don't delight in the Ruin of my Country, but, since 'tis decreed she must fall, who can blame me for taking a Part in the Plunder? Tenderly said! why did you not

rather say,- If my father must die, who can accuse me as defective in filial Duty, in becoming his Executioner, that so much of the Estate, at least, as goes to the Hangman, may be retained in the Family.

Never pretend, whoever you are, that freely undertake to put in Execution a Law prejudicial to your Country, that you have the least Spark of Affection for her. Rather own you would gladly see her in Flames, if you might be allowed to pillage with Impunity.

sure.

But had you not rather these Duties should be collected by your Brethren, than by Foreigners? No! vile Miscreant! indeed we had not. The same rapacious and base Spirit which prompted you to undertake the ignominious Task, will urge you on to every cruel and oppressive MeaYou will serve to put us continually in Mind of our abject Condition. A Foreigner we could more cheerfully endure, because he might be supposed not to feel our Distresses; but for one of our Fellow Slaves, who equally shares in our Pains, to rise up and beg the Favour of inflicting them, is intolerable. The only Advantage that can be hoped for from this is, that it will rouse the most indolent of us to a Sense of our Slavery, and make us use our strongest Efforts to be free. Some, I hope there are, notwithstanding your base Defection, that feel the Patriotic Flame, glowing in their Bosoms, and would esteem it glorious to die for their country! From such as these you are to expect perpetual Opposition. These are Men whose Existence and Importance does not depend on Gold. When, therefore, you have pillaged from them their Estates, they will still live and blast your wicked Designs, by all lawful Means. You are to look for Nothing but the Hatred and Detestation of all the Good and Virtuous. And as you live on the Distresses, you will inherit the Curses of Widows and Orphans. The present Generation will treat you as the Authors of their Misery, and Posterity will pursue your Memory with the most terrible Imprecations. CATO.

There is a small collection of stray numbers of the Connecticut Gazette in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, reaching from its beginning to 1783. They are all in one volume. They are chiefly filled with communications in favor of the freedom of the country from British misrule,—many of them original, and many from the Boston Gazette, and other whig journals. The editor appears to have taken great interest in all the patriotic proceedings in Massachusetts, and

to have felt much sympathy with the Bostonians during the Siege of their town by the British army. The Song annexed appeared as original in the Gazette of February 23, 1776. The sentiment is a sufficient apology for the defects in the poetry :

Smile, Massachusetts, smile;
Thy virtue still outbraves
The frowns of Britain's isle,
And rage of home-born slaves.
Thy free-born sons disdain their ease,
When purchased by their liberties.

Thy Genius, once the pride
Of Britain's ancient isle,
Brought o'er the raging tide,

By our forefather's toil;

In spite of N-th's despotic power,
Shines glorious on this western shore.

In Hancock's generous mind
Awakes the noble strife,
Which so conspicuous shined
In gallant Sydney's life :

While in its cause the hero bled,
Immortal honors crowned his head.

Let zeal your breasts inspire;
Let wisdom guide your plans;
'Tis not your cause entire
On doubtful conflict hangs :
The fate of this vast continent,
And unborn millions share th' event.

To close the gloomy scenes
Of this alarming day,

A happy union reigns
Through wide America,

While awful Wisdom hourly waits
To adorn the councils of her states.

Brave Washington arrives,

Arrayed in warlike fame;
(While in his soul revives

Great Marlboro's martial flame ;)

To lead your conquering armies on
To lasting glory and renown.

To aid the glorious cause
Experienced Lee is come,
Renowned in foreign wars,
A patriot at home.

While valiant Putnam's warlike deeds
Amongst the foe a terror spreads.

Let Britons proudly boast

"That their two thousand slaves Can drive our numerous host And make us all their slaves."

While twice six thousand quake with fear,

Nor dare without their lines appear.

Kind Heaven has deigned to own

Our bold resistance just ;

Since murderous G-e begun
The bloody carnage first,

Near ten to one has been their cost,
For each American we 've lost.

Stand firm in your defence,
Like Sons of Freedom fight:
Your haughty foes convince
That you'll maintain your right.
Defiance bid to tyrant's frown,
And glory will your valor crown.

THE HERALD OF FREEDOM,

AND THE

FEDERAL ADVERTISER.

On the fifteenth of September, 1788, Edmund FREEMAN and LORING ANDREWS, issued a paper in Boston, with the title recited above. It was published twice a week, on Monday and Thursday. In the centre of the head was a cut, on which Justice, Wisdom, Liberty, and Fortitude were represented by four standing figures, each holding its appropriate emblem. The first number contains no exposition of the editor's principles, nor any notice of the intended mode of publication. The second number has a note of five or six lines, containing a request of "such of their patrons, as can make it convenient, to advance a quarter or half a year's pay; they can do this, without detriment to themselves, they will confer a great obligation on the editors." The paper was well supplied with original communications, on morals and manners, religion and politics. It was the intention of the editors that it should be an impartial journal, and their intention seems to have been permanently adhered to. Political affairs were discussed with freedom, by their correspondents; and so far as the private views of the editors are developed, there is no

if