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On a COUNTRY LIFE.

MUCH fofter than a well-tun'd ftring

Doth the fweet harmless linnet fing; The nightingales melodious throat, Ecchoing thro' the grove her note. To hail the rifing beauteous morn The lark its early fongs adorn: The lambkins on the hills do run, Attended by the lucid fun;

The fhepherd tends his sheep along, Humming oft a rustic song; No care or trouble fill his breaft, But sweet contentment, peace and reft: And when his daily labour's done, With pleasure he returneth home To his kind wife, and children dear, Whofe love doth prove their mutual care The jolly reapers, honeft clowns, Now begin their harvest rounds; And from one to th' other fly, Their aid to lend most willingly: Thrice welcome to the parfon's barn, Are the good tithes !-his labours earn: Full welcome to the farmer's yard Is the ripe corn-his due reward. For nipping froft, and winter's fnow, When chilling Boreas fierce did blow; See the good lads with mufic come, To celebrate their harveft home, Harvest home with joyful heart Eccho's from the last fill'd cart: Thrice happy they, and free from ftrife, Who thus enjoy a Country Lite.

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When the vapours that rife from the earth in the
Seem to hang on its furface like smoke,[morn
'Til difpers'd by the fun that gilds over the
Within doors let us prattle and joke. [corn,
But when we fee clear all the hues of the leaves,
And at work in the fields are all hands,
Some in reaping the wheat, others binding the
Let us carelefly ftrole o'er the lands. [fheaves,
How pleafing the fight of the toiling they make,
To collect what kind Nature has fent!
'Heaven grant we may not of their labour par-
But, oh! give us their happy content. [take;
And fometimes on a bank, under fhade, by a
Let us filently fit at our ease, [brook,
And there gaze on the stream, till the fish on the
Struggles hard to procure its release. [hook
And now when the hufbandman fings harvest

And the corn's all got into the house; [home, When the long-wifh'd-for time of their meeting

To frolic, and feaft, and caroufe; [is come, When the leaves from the trees are begun to be And are leaving the branches all bare, [shed, Either ftrew'd at the roots, fhrivell'd, wither'd,

Or elfe blown to and fro in the air; [and dead, When the ways are fo miry, that bogs they might

And the axle-tree's ready to break, [feem, While the waggoner whiftles in stopping his

team,

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And then claps the poor jades on the neck; In the morning let's follow the cry of the Or the fearful young covey befet; [hounds, Which, tho' skulking in ftubble, and weeds on the grounds,

Are becoming a prey to the net. Let's enjoy all the pleasure retirement affords, Still amus'd with these innocent sports, Nor once envy the pomp of fine ladies and lords, With their grand entertainments in courts. In the ev'ning, when lovers are leaning on ftiles, Deep engag'd in fome amorous chat, And 'tis very well known by his grin, and her fmiles,

What they both have a mind to be at; To our dwelling, tho' homely, well-pleas'd to repair,

Let our mutual endearments revive. And let no fingle action, or look, but declare, How contented and happy we live. Should ideas arife that may ruffle the foul,

Let foft mufic the phantoms remove, For 'tis harmony only has force to controul, And unite all the paffions in love. With her eyes but half open, her cap all awry, When the lafs is preparing for bed; And the fleepy dull clown, who fits nodding ju Sometimes rouzes and scratches his head.[by In the night when 'tis cloudy, and rainy, and And the labourers fnore as they lie, [dark, Not a noife to difturb us, unless a dog bark

In the farm, or the village hard by. At the time of fweet reft, and of quiet like this, Let us welcome the feafon, and taste of that blifs, E're our eyes are clos'd up in their lids, Which the funfhine and daylight forbids.

Foreign

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

Befton, Sept. 26. On Saturday five gentle men were appointed to wait on his excellency governor Bernard with the following meffage:

Meffage to the GOVERNOR. May it please your Excellency, THE committee from a number of towns in this province, now convened at Faneuil-Hall, having received from your Ex cellency a meffage, containing a remonftrance against our thus meeting, and an admonition to break up and feparate ourselves inftantly, and before we do any bufinefs, have taken the fame into our ferious and attentive confideration; and we affure your Excellency, that though, according to the best of our abilities, we have confidered the matters that are hinted by your Excellency as the foundation of your meffage, yet we are not able to collect fufficient information therefrom to place our prefent meeting and proceedings in the fame light in which they feem to lie in your Excellency's mind. We do affure your Excellency moft freely, that neither the views of our conftituents in fending us, nor the defign of any of us in this meeting, was to do, propofe, or confent to any thing oppugnant to, or inconfiftent with, the regular execu tion of Government in this his Majefty's province and that though the letters from the felect-men of the town of Bofton, to the refpective towns from which we came, might firft give rife to our being chofen and fent; yet that neither the faid letter from the felectmen of the town of Bofton, nor any votes of the faid town accompanying the fame, were confidered by our refpective towns in the choofing, nor by us in our affembling, as the foundation and warrant of our convening. But may it please your Excellency, being affured, that our conftituents, as well as ourfelves, have the most loyal and affectionate Attachment to the perfon and government of our rightful fovereign king George the third, we beg leave to explain to your Excellency, the true caufe and intention of our thus conening.

Your Excellency cannot be unacquainted with the many difficulties under which his majefty's fubjects on the whole continent of America, appréhend themfelves to labour, and of the uneafinefs which the fubjects in this province have repeatedly expreffed on the fame account. The minds of the people who have fent us, are greatly difturbed that the humble and dutiful petition of their reprefentatives, for the removal of thofe difficulties, has not been permitted to reach the royal ear; and they are greatly agitated with the expectation of a ftanding army being poft ed among us, and of the full exertion of a military government; alarmed with thefe apprehenfions, and deprived of a house of re

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prefentatives, their attention is too much ta ken off from their daily occupations; their morals and induftry are in danger of being damaged, and their peaceable behaviour difturbed, for want of fuch perfons as they can confide in, to advife them in thefe matters, and to make application for their redrefs.

Your Excellency will further naturally conceive, that those of his majesty's subjects who live remote from Befton, the center of their intelligence, and whole occupations do not admit of much knowledge of public affairs, are fubjected to many mifrepresentations of their public concerns, and thofe generally of a moft aggravated kind; nor is it in the power of the moft knowing perfons amongst us, to wipe off the pernicious effects of fuch rumours, without the appearance of a public enquiry.

Induced by thefe motives, and others of the fame kind, cur conftituents thought it no ways inconfiftent with good order and regular government, to fend committee-men to meet with fuch committees as might be fent from the feveral towns in the province, to confer upon thefe matters, and learn the certainty of thofe rumours prevailing amongst us, and to confult and advife, as far as comes legally within their power, on fuch measures, as would have the greateft tendency to preferve the peace and good order among his majesty's fubjects, and promote their due fubmiffion and at the fame time to confult the most regu lar and dutiful manner of laying oar griev ances before our most gracious fovereign, and obtaining a redrefs of the fame. This wa affure your Excellency is the only cause and intention of our thus convening; and we are exceeding forry it should be viewed by your Excellency in an obnoxious light.

Your Excellency may be affured, that had our conftituents conceived, or did their com→ mittee thus convened, conceive this proceeding to be illegal, they had never fent to, nor. fhould we pretend to continue our convention: but as your Excellency, in the meffage with which you have been pleafed to favour us, has not been fo explicit in pointing out the criminality of our prefent proceeding as we could have 'wifhed, but has. left us to our own judgment and underítanding, to fearch it out, we would with all duty to your Excellency, as the reprefentative of eur rightful fovereign, requeft of your Excellency to point out to us wherein the crimina→ hy of our proceedings confifts, being affured we cautioully mean to avoid every thing that has the leaft appearance of ufurpation of government, in any of its branches, or any of the rights of his majesty's fovereignty, or that is in the leat incentive of rebellion, or even a mental difaffection to the government by law eftablished and exercifed, C &

VOL. I.

Your

Your Excellency will be pleafed, in your well-known knowledge of human nature, and the delicacy of British privileges, to be fparing in your frowns on our prefent proceedings, we being at prefent inclined to think, till better informed, that if criminality be imputed to us, it will be applied only to our doings, and not to the professed manner and defign of our meeting; but if your Excellency has a different apprehenfion of the matter, we intreat an explanation of the fame, and affure your Excellency we fhall deliberately attend to it. Nothing could give us more uneafinefs, than a fuggeftion that our proceedings are criminal; not fo much from a fear of perfonal punishment, as from a fixed averfion we have to any thing inconfiftent with the dignity of our fovereign, and the happiness of his extended dominion; and we flatter ourselves, that when the real defign of this convention is understood, it will prove an argument to evince the entire loyalty of his majefty's fubjects in this province, and their difpofition to peace and good order.

In the name and behalf of the committee of a number of towns in this province, convened in Boston, September 24, 1768.

THO. CUSHING, Chairman.

Bofon, Sept. 28. Advice received, that the men of war and transports from Hallifax, with about 900 troops, collected from feveral parts of America, were fafe arrived at Nantasket harbour, having very narrowly escaped shipwreck on the back of Cape Cod, which difafter would have left the extenfive fea-coaft of North-America almoft bare of ships of war and troops, but in no worse state than are the inland fortreffes and fettlements from whence the garrifons had been before withdrawn. Time must account for fuch extraordinary steps in our miniftry.

29. The fleet was brought to anchor near Caftle-William ; that evening there was throwing of fky-rockets, &c. and thofe paffing in boats obferved great rejoicings, and that the Yanky Dudle Song was the capital piece in their band of mufic. This day his majesty's council received a billet from governor Bernard, requiring their attendance at Castle William; and informing them, that the officers of his majesty's fleet and army would be prefent: They attended accordingy; and notwithstanding all intimidations, adhered ftrictly to their votes published in the laft papers: the governor's arts were ineffectual, to induce them to give the leaft countetenance to any troops being brought into Bofton, as the barracks at Castle William were fufficient to receive the whole of thofe arrived from Hallifax. The treatment they received from his Excellency during their arry at the cafle, was very uncourtly, and even rude.

30. Early this morning a number of boats, were obferved round the town making foundings, &c. At three o'clock in the afternoon the Launceflon of 40 guns, the Mermaid of 28, Glasgow 20, the Beaver 14, Senegal 14, Bonetta 10, and feveral armed fchooners, which, together with the Romney of 60 guns, and the other ships of war before in the harbour, all commanded by Capt. Smith, came up to town, bringing with them the 14th regiment, col. Dalrymple, and 29th regiment, col. Carr, none having been difembarked at Cafile Ifland; fo that we now behold Bofton furrounded, at a time of profound peace, with about 14 fhips of war, with fprings on their cabies, and their broadfides to the town. If the people of England could but look into the town, they would fmile, to fee the utmost good order and obfervance of the laws, and that this mighty armament has no other rebellion to fubdue, than what has exifted in the brain or letters of the inveterate G------r B-----d, and the detefted Commiff-----s of the Board of Cuft--s. What advantages the court of Verfailles may take of the prefent policy of the British miniftry, can be better determined in fome hereafter.

October 1. This morning rumours, that reprefentations had gone from hence to general Gage at N---w-York, from our good friend, &c. that we are in a ftate of rebellion; an exprefs it is faid has arrived in confequence, with advice, that more troops may be expected from New-York. Sheriff Greenleaf and his deputy preffing carts, &c. for the use of the troops; this, and other motions, indicate, that they meditate a landing this day, to encamp in the Common, in hopes of intimidating the magiftrates to find them quarters, which they cannot force, until the barracks are filled, without flying in the face of a plain act of parliament. At about one o'clock, all the troops landed, under cover of the cannon of the fhips of war, and marched into the common with mufkets charged, bayonets fixed, colours flying, drums beating, fifes, &c. playing, making with the train of artillery upwards of 700 men. In the afternoon, it is faid, an officer from the colonel went to the Manufactory-Houfe, with an order from the governor, and required Mr. Brown, and the other occupiers, to remove within two hours, that the troops might take poffeffion; inftead of a compliance, the doors were barred and bolted against them. This evening the felectmen were required by the colonel to quarter the two regiments in this town, which they abfolutely refused, as his majesty's council had done before, knowing, that whoever fhould in this matter conduct in violation of an act of parliament, must be anfwerable for the confequentes, The colonel,

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AMERICAN AFFAIR S.

as it is faid, waving a demand for quartering, earnestly intreated, that out of compaffion to the troops, one regiment of which were without their camp equipage, they would allow Faneuil hall and chambers as a fhelter for that and the following night, the next day being the fabbath, on which all confufion fhould be avoided: At nine o'clock this night, they were permitted to enter faid hall, in which were a large number of ftands of the town arms: thus the humanity of the city magiftrates permitted them a temporary fhelter, which no menaces could have procured. October 2. Being Lord's day, the town quiet, no diforders having arisen on any fide: This evening, by order of governor Bernard, the fecretary of the province opened the town houfe, and even the reprefentatives chamber, for the reception of the troops.

G&tober 3. We now behold the reprefenta tives chamber, the court-houfe, and Faneuilhall, thefe feats of freedom and justice, occupied with troops, and guards placed at the doors; the common covered with tents, and alive with foldiers; marchings and countermarchings to relieve the guards; in short, the town is now a perfect garrifon. This day the Court of Seffions met at the courthoufe, when a motion was made by one of the Bench, that the troops be ordered to remove at a distance, he being determined not to affift in adminiftering juftice under the points of bayonets: the motion is to be confidered next Wednesday, to which time the court was adjourned. In the afternoon, our artillery company appeared in the field, and were exercifed; their captain was informed by the officer of the regulars, that it was not customary to beat drum, or fire, after the evening cannon was difcharged; the hint was taken. In King-ftreet, the foldiers being gathered, a proclamation was read, offering a reward of ten guineas, to fuch foldier as fhould inform of any one who fhould attempt to feduce him from the fervice; after which, it is faid, the colonel advised them not to refuse any money offered as a temptation to defert, but to bring rhe offender to him, when he would take care that it should be the laft offer he fhould make. This day the council met, when col. Dalrymple informed them, he had procured quarters, and demanded billetting for the troops.

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from commodore Smith's fhip came alongfide, and acquainted him, that it was capt. Smith's orders, that he do not leave this harbour without his permiffion.

October 5. The council now met, and were obliged to pafs the guard placed in the paffageway entering their chamber; col. Dalrymple again informed them, that he had provided quarters for his troops in this town, and again required them, in confequence thereof, to billet them, and this, notwithfanding the barracks, built at the charge of this government for the reception of the king's troops, were ftanding empty. It is faid, that after confultation had thereon, the council advised the governor to appoint a person to make provifion accordingly, provided faid perfon would be willing to rifque his being repaid therefor by the next general court. Thus we fee the provifion made by act of parliament for the ease and safety of the subjects, and the convenience and benefit of the troops, may be fet afide. and rendered useless, by any commanding officer who will take upon himfelf to hire quarters among the inhabitants. at any rate, in expectation that fuch expence will be finally thrown upon the people.

October 6. In the morning nine or ten foldiers, of col. Carr's regiment, for fundry mifdemeanors, were feverely whipped on the common. To behold Britons, fcourged by negro drummers, was a new and difagreeable fpectacle! We are told that capt. Allen, of the Gafpee, goes paffenger in the Lydia, capt. Scott, for London, with dispatches from the commander of the troops on the New England expedition. No doubt the glorious news, that he had effected a landing in the heart of the country, without the leaft lofs or oppofition to his majesty's troops. This day, by order of governor Bernard, the fouth battery was delivered up to col. Dalrymple. If this people had not more patience and loyalty, than fome others have tenderness and found policy, what a scene would foon open! From Cambridge we learn, that last evening the picture of G------r B-----d, hanging in the college hall, had a piece cut out of the breaft, exactly describing a heart. A most charitable attempt to deprive him of that part, which a retrospect upon his adminiftration must have rendered exquifitely painful.

October 4. Report that James Murray, Efq; Foreign and Domeftic Intelligence a Scotch J------te, from Scotland fince 1745, had let his dwelling-house and fugar-house for the quartering of troops, at 151. fterling per month; and that Mr. Forrest, from Ireland, had let them a houfe, lately purchased, for about 50 l. fterling, at the rate of about 601. fterling per annum. Capt. James Scott, mafter of the brig Lydia, owned by John Hancock. Efq; having his clearance and pass, and being ready for failing, informs, that a boat

Berne, Nov. 1. A woman here, whofe fon was named Ifaac, and the husband Abraham, took it into her head that she was under an obligation to facrifice her fon, for the expiation of her fins, and actually performed the facrifice upon her toilet, which the converted into a kind of altar; perfuading her husband it was a laudable act. They are both taken up and im prifoned; and, excepting their fanaticifm, an pear to be both in their right fenfes, Cc 2

Tuesday, Nov. 1. A female cheat the beginning of last week tricked feveral Mercers in the liberty of Weftminder out of quantities of filk, and (as is fuppofed) defrauded other tradelmen. The following was her fcheme, viz. She took lodgings at Chelfen, hired a gay chariot by way of jobb, painted a deep crimson with gold borders, &c. got a copperplate card for her addrefs, with a ceronet upon it, aflumed the title of a lady of quality, and by that means obtained the goods. One mercer being more cautious than the reft, fent a parcel of filks, which the had bespoke, by his man, to Chelfea, with orders not to part with the goods without the money; however, the good lady perfuaded the man by no means to take the money, but fuffer her to call and pay it at the hop the next day, left he fhould be robbed of it in crofing the Five Fields; which advice the man took, and the next morning the lady decamped, and managed her affairs fo well, as even to cheat the poor coachman, for though he drove her much about the town, fhe never fuffered him to fee what house he went to, except the fhops where he went to defraud, and used to be fet down either at St. James's, Lincoln's Inn, or Gray's Inn; at the laft of which places the coachman loft her. She is of middle ftature, rather jolly, fresh-coloured, and round-faced, and has with her a little girl about two years old, which appears to be her daughter.

On Wednesday laft a young man was taken near Lewis, charged with putting off a counterfeit note, on Fuller and Co. Bankers, in Lombard-Street, of 181. 18s. in payment for a horse, to Mr. Frith, at the Blue Anchor, near East Grimstead, whereby he got in change for his note 81. 185. above the value of his horfe. He was carried before Henry Shelley, Eq; (to whom he refufed being examined) who committed him to the houfe of correction. He was fearched, but no other note, or any pocket-book were found upon him. It is believed he is a Jew, though he denies it. He had an accomplice with him, whom they let pafs, though he was taken with him, and of whom this perfon fays he borrowed the note, and which he really did, in prefence of the man who fold the horfe.

On Monday laft a gentleman of diftinction and his lady put up at an inn at Darford in Kent, having arrived from Dover, where they had landed that morning from France, when two Cuftom-houfe officers came into the faid inn, and having had previous information, in-` fifted on fearching the lady, when they difcovered a large quantity of the finct Buffels and other foreign lace, artfully concealed in a quilted petticoat, amounting in value to about 6ccl.

On Saturday a gentleman was taken, by a special warrant, at his lodgings at Weft

minker-bridge foot, for bigamy, in marging two ladies of fathion within these five years. He was taken to a Lock-up house, and offered 5000l. bail for his appearance to take his trial, which, we hear, is objected against by the injured parties.

As fome labourers were undermining a wall in the Park of the Earl of Waldegrave, at Knavestock, in Effex, the wall fell down, and four of them were killed on the fpot; two others were dug from the ruins much hurt.

About feven in the evening, as Mr. Reynolds, one of his Majefty's coroners for Deyon, was returning to Plymouth from Plymouth Dock, in the road leading from Stonehoufe ills to Hoplace Hofpital, he was topped by two foldiers of the 22d regiment, who den anded his money, and threatened to murder him if he refufed; and as he was putting his hand in his pocket to take out his money to deliver to them, a third foldier, whe had fecreted himself, came behind Mr. Reynolds, and, with a large bludgeon, gave him a violent blow on the back and right shoulder; and endeavouring to frike a fecond time, the villain miffed his aim, and the bludgeon fell on the back part of Mr. Reynolds's horse; on which the horfe jumped forward, and bit one of the foldiers before him by the fhoulder; then another foldier making a pafs (with a drawn fword) at Mr. Reynolds, his horse feeling fomething behind him, kicked fo fudden and violent against the foldier, that he fell down on his back; and before the third foldier, who was behind, could come up to repeat his blow, the horfe fprung forward, and never topped galloping, till he brought Mr. Reynolds fafe home to his houfe at Plymouth.

Wednesday, Nov. 2. The matter of a fmuggling veffel being boarded by a King's cutter, near Torbay, defperately threw himself overboard, with a box of very rich lace, valued at nine hundred pounds, and both funk to the bottom.

Thursday, No. 3. Five ladies were convicted before the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the penaltry o. 51. each, for wearing Chintz gowns.

At Portmouth, a fhip carpenter coming home to his houfe, found his wife in liquor; upon which he propofed to cut her throat, to effect a perfect cure; but this the most vociferously objected to. The next propofition he made was to break her arm, to which the aflented, hoping it might be for her future good. Accordingly he performed the operation across his knee, and then immediately went for a furgeon to mend the mischief.

Friday, Nov. 4. A court of Delegates fet at Serjeant's Inn, in Chancery-Lane, on an appeal from the Dean at the arches fentence, confirming the marriage of a lady of 19 y ars

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