We are very fure the great author of Heaven and earth, and preferver of this universe, does not leave us in uncertainties and perplexities, to be under the lawless domination of Endor, and the guardians of evil deities, and malevolent fpirits. Neither fcripture nor reafon affert, that Satan and his infernal myrmidons, can play bide and feek, and do as they please here on earth. So far otherwise, the holy records acquaint us, that the Prince of darkness," the power of the air," is chained down with the damned in hell; and to believe in his power, on this fubject, is the highest blafphemy against Heaven itfelf!-Where are we taught to believe the devil is permitted to run up and down, amufing himself in feducing and deluding the ignorant part of the creation, and peftering people walking the ftreets at noon day-killing pigs and cattle, or making them mifcarry-entering into cats, and making noifes, and playing monkey tricks in church yards or empty houses? Thefe are merely the pitiable phantoms of empty skulls, and the growth of no generous or gentle foil-they are the ravings of warm and unrestrained imaginations, tempted into boundless regions of ignorance and conjecture-nurfed up by melancholy, enthusiastick old men and women, or by crazy young ones, whofe heads are giddy and intoxicated, and prepared for the marvellous ftories long before; or elfe they are the tricks and juggles of conjurers, or of men worfe than conjurers, and of a more busy wicked invention,to cheat and deceive the credulous and unwary, in order to promote the purposes of errour and fuperftition, and pave the way for abfolute fraud and impofition. In one word, it is well obferved, the heathen poets first invented thefe ftories, and the heathen priests ftole them from them, as badgers dig holes for themselves, and afterwards are fkunked out of them, by the foxes. An accomplished Orator speaking, before the revolution, of the enterprifing genius of the Americans, delivered the following eulogiam : "Whilst we trace them among the tumbling mountains of ice, and behold them penetrating into the deepest frozen receffes of Hudson's Bay, and Davis's Streights; whilst we are looking for them beneath the artick circle, we hear that they have pierced into the oppofite region of polar cold, that they are at the Antipodes, and engaged under the frozen ferpent of the north. Falkland's Inand, which feemed too remote and romantick an object, for the grafp of national ambition, is but a ftage and refting place in the progreis of their victorious induftry. Noris the equinoctial heat more difcouraging to them, than the accumulated winter of both the poles. We know that while fome of them draw the line, and ftrike the harpoon upon the coast of Africa, others run the longitude, and purfue their gigantick game, along the coaft of Brazil. No fea but what is vexed with their fifheries: No climate that is not witnefs to their toils. Neither the perfeverance of Holland, nor the activity of France, nor the dexterous and firm fagacity of English enterprize, ever carried this moft perilous mode of hardy induftry, to the extent to which it has been pushed, by this recent people; a people who are ftill, as it were, but in the griftle, and not yet hardened into the bone of manhood."-To this eloquent, but just picture of the enterprizing genius of America,may be added one trait from a scene, to which her citizens could only have been introduced, by their emancipation from the British dominion. India, hitherto the exclufive and productive refource of European avarice, has extended her invitations to this country, and promifes, by a diligent cultivation of her favours, to render ample compenfation, for the vigourous prohibitions of the British navigation act. POUGHKEEPSIE, (New York) May 30. On Wednesday evening laft a most shocking accident happened at the houfe of Mr. Jeffe Oakly, merchant, in the Nine Partners. He having received five or fix quarter casks of gunpowder, with other goods, and through hurry of business neglecting to fecure the powder by conveying it from the ftore room, put it in a clofet in one corner of it. Having feveral perfons in the ftore with him, one of them taking a candle which had burnt in a manner to the fnuff, and carelessly going to the clofet, unobserved by Mr. Oakly, let what was left of the candle falf into one of the kegs, which taking fire inftantly, blew up the whole-by which melancholy affair the perfon who had the candle was torn to pieces, and one, who stood next to him, was thrown through the window into the ftreet, another carried into the cellar, and there buried in rubbish, and the remainder in the ftore very confiderably burnt and bruifed. We are however informed that they are all alive except the one who had the candle, though it is expected the perfon thrown into the street, and the one in the cellar, will not recover, the reft are likely to do well, amongst whom is Mr. Oakly. We fincerely regret that our merchants in general are too carelefs with this very dangerous article, and ardently with this dreadful catastrophe may "be duly regarded, and be a fufficient warning to thofe who keep the article of gunpowder for fale. It appears to be very extraordinary that the powder, when going off, carried away the corner of the ftore in which it flood, and instead of taking its courfe upward, went through the lower floor in the cellar, where the most damage was done, by ftarting feveral hogfheads of liquor and half a dozen barrels of fish. 1 NEW YORK, June 6. Monday last being the birth day of his Britannick Majefty, a very elegant entertainment was given upon the occafion, by Sir John Temple, Baronet, his Majesty's Refident in the United States. PORTSMOUTH, June 12. On Wednesday laft the Great and General Court of this State convened at Concord, and proceeded to bufinefs in the following order: About fixty of the gentlemen returned to ferve as reprefentatives in General Court, af. fembled in the State Houfe, and taking the ufual oaths, made choice of the Hon. Jobn Sparhawk, Efq; for their Speaker, and John Calfe, Efq; for their Clerk. Then fuch of the members of the Hon. Senate as were chofen by the people at large, affembled in one room with the Hon. House of Reprefentatives, and proceeded to examine, fort and count the votes for a President; the whole number of which, throughout the state, amounted to 9285, and were divided in the following manner, viz. for His Excellency John Sullivan, Efq; 3642 628 603 About 378 votes for fundry other gentlemen, by which it appeared that the people had not made choice of a Prefident agreeably to the conftitution. The Court then proceeded to fill the vacancies in the Senate. Died on Friday evening laft, Daniel Fowle, Efq; aged 72, original proprieter and publisher of the New Hampshire Gazette, and yes. terday his remains were respectfully interred, attended by a large number of citizens, the Brethren of the Type walking as mourners. He was the oldeft Printer in the United States. PORTLAND, (Massachujetts) June 8. The three Eaftern Counties have but 10 Reprefentatives in Court-York 7, Lincoln 3, and Cumberland none; while the county of Worcester alone has near 50. BOSTON, June 18. The following is a copy of a Meffage fent by his Excellency the Governour, to the two Barnches of the General Court, on the 5th inftant, upon the fubject of continuing the Forces in the Western Counties, viz. Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Reprefentatives, THE Secretary will lay before you a letter I have just received from Colonel Badlam, Commanding Officer of the Troops ftationed in the County of Hampfhire, reprefenting his fituation, and the complexion of our publick affairs, in that quarter, by which it appears, that after the time for which the Troops ftationed there is expired, the inhabitauts, in and near that County, will live very uncomfortably. You will find, upon perufing this letter, that those who have been in oppofition to Government, have, fron Vermont and New Hampshire, repeatedly made incurfions into this State, with an intention to plunder and carry off the friends to Government, and in two 1 inftances have accomplished their purpofe, by taking off Doctor Pomeroy and Mr. Metcalf, both refpectable characters: That the Colonel has been obliged to ftation a detachment of his Regiment in particular towns to guard the friends of Government, and that he has had application from other towns for the like protection. I therefore fubmit it, Gentlemen, to your confideration, whether it will not be ABSOLUTELY neceffary, for the support and protection of Government; to continue in fervice, the Troops now ftationed in the Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire, for fo long a time after the term of their enliftment expires, as you may judge neceffary to refore peace, tranquillity, and fecurity to thofe CounJOHN HANCOCK. Council Chamber, June 5th, 1787. ties. On Saturday fennight, the House of Reprefentatives, amended the Resolve of Senate which had been before them for feveral days, for raifing eight hundred men, to be flationed in the Western Counties,-The fubftance of the amendment was, that the Refolve fhould be confidered as a part of a conciliatory fyftem, to be adopted for restoring peace to the Commonwealth, upon broad and liberal principles. But the remainder of this fyftem being in commitment, it was thought beft, that the Refolve should be referred until to morrow, when the whole measures might be brought more definitely before the Houfe. In order, however, that the friends and defenders of the Government -might not mifconftrue this reference into a fymptom of affection for lawless men, or an indifference to them, the following fpirited Refolve, moved by Dr. Jarvis, was u nanimously agreed to: Refolved unanimoufiy, As the fenfe of this Houfe, that the end of the focial compact, is to fecure the existence of the body politick, and to furnish the individuals who compofe it, with the power of enjoying in safety and tranquillity their natural rights, and the bleffings of life; and that therefore, this Houfe do confider it, as their firft, greatest, and most effential duty, not only to take the moft effectual methods to establish and confirm them, but that they will employ all the powers vefted in them by the Constitution, civil and military, to give permanency and effect to thefe important objects. The Hon. James Sullivan, Efq; was on Monday laft, by the Han. Legislature, elected Counsellor, in the room of the Hon. Jofeph B. Varnum, Efq; who declined accepting a feat at the board. Yesterday both Houfes of the Legislature affembled in Convention, for the purpose of qualifying the gentlemen elected Counsellors to advife the Governour in the Executive part of government, for the enfuing 4 year, when the Hon. Nathan Cufbing, Jonatban Greenleaf, Edward Cutts, James Sullivan, and Ifrael Hutchinson, Efquires, took and fubfcribed the oaths and declarations required by the Conftitution, to qualify them to exercise the important truft. The Hon. Legislature on Monday last elected the Hon. Jofeph Hofmer, Efq; Jobn Carnes Efq; and the Hon. Noah Goodman, Efq; a Committee for the prefent year, for examining and paffing on publick accounts. HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES, Wednes day, June 13, 1787. P. M. The Houfe proceeded to the confideration of the refolve reported by the Committee appointed to confider the expediency of repealing the difqualifying act, &c. for raifing a number of troops, not exceeding Sco, nor lefs than 5co men, to be ftationed in the western counties, and for pardoning all perfons concerned in the late rebellion, excepting as is therein mentioned, with the proceedings of Senate thereon. And the fame being taken up by paragraphs, it was moved and feconded, that the names of fix of the excepted perfons might be expunged, and the question being put, paffed in the negative, 210 voters, yeas 72 only. It was then moved, and feconded, that the names of all the excepted perfons might be expunged, so that the refolve might operate as a general pardon, and the question being put, paffed in the negative, 214 voters, yeas 67 only. It was then moved, and feconded, that four of the names of the excepted perfons might be expunged, and the question being put, paffed in the negative, 214 voters, yeas 94 only. It was then moved, and feconded, that the claufe, limiting the operation of the refolves as to perfons convicted of crimes, might be expunged, and the question being put, paffed in the negative, 210 voters, yeas 81 only. The confideration of the faid report, by paragraphs, being finished, the question, whether Houfe would concur with the vote of the Senate, in accepting the said report, was determined by yeas and nays, as follows, viz. Caleb Davis, Samuel A. Otis, Thomas Dawes, Charles Jarvis, Samuel Breck, John Coffin Jones, John Winthrop, Thomas Clarke John Read, YE A S. James Bowdoin jun. Parker Varnum, Eben. Thayer, jun. John Webber, Thomas Noyes, Eleazer Brooks, Samuel Read, Samuel Lyman, William Stebbins, John Whiting, Benja. Sheldon, John Goddard, William Lyman, Enoch Ellis, Oliver Smith, Richard Ward, Noah Goodman, Ebenez. Beckford, Benjamin Smith, Edward Pulling,. Samuel Fowler, Richard Manning, Robert Willfon, Jonathan Glover, Giles Hubbard, John Carnes, Elitha Hunt, Peter Ofgood, jun. Jofeph Browning, Larkin Thorndike, Abel Goodell, Jofeph Wood, Lemuel Pomeroy, Thomas Mighill, Timothy Robinson, Jofeph Smith, Jonathan Brewfter, Jofeph March, Ifaac Ofgood, William Pearfon, Benjamin Bonney, Thomas Emerfon, Ifaac Coit, Daniel Thurston, Stephen Dana, Ifaac Hubbard, Sylvester Judd, Thomp. Maxwell, Thomas Davis, Elisha Mitchel, Lemuel Curtis, Jacob Smith, jun. Soloman Freeman, Jeremiah Bickford Seth Smith, jun. SilvefterRichmond, Jofiah Dean, Samuel Brooks, Samuel Robinson, Rufus Putnam, David Widider, Motes Gill, Benj. Richardfon, Jeremiah Hill, Jofeph Noyes, John Fox, Wm. Thompfon, John Ashley, jun. William King, Theodo. Sedgwick, HenryVanschaack, William Lufk, Jonathan Smith, Reuben Hinman, Nath. Kingfley, William Brunton, Daniel Taylor, Joshua Lawton, Henry Badger, Azariah Athley, James Ayrault, Jofiah Yale, David Sylvester, William Jones, David Gardner, 103 NAY S. Villiam Muzzy, Seth Newton, Steph. Maynard, Ifaac Harrington, John Fuller, Daniel Putnam, Samuel Willard, Jonah Whitney, Jonathan Day, Simon Houghton, Thomas M. Baker, Joth. Harding, jun. Martin Kingsley, Jofiah Stratton, Ifaac Gleafon, John Taylor, Luke Drury, Jonathan Grout, Samuel Peckham, Jofiah Puffer, Ezek. Knowlton, Jacob Willard, Jofiah Wood, Samuel Eddy, Jefle Kendall, David Stearns, Jonas Temple, Efais Preble, Mark Adams, Jofeph Hubbard, Samuel Nafon, Wm. Wedgery, Daniel Coney, Benj. Warren. 100. So the question was determined in the affirmative, We are informed that the Federal Convention, among other things, has refoived, that Rhode Island fhould be confidered as having virtually withdrawn herfelf from the union, and that the right of emitting paper money by the ftates jointly, or feverally, ought to be abrogated. It is propofed in the firft cafe, that for the proportion of the federal debt now due from Rhode Island, the fhall be held, and, if gentler means will not avail, the fhall be compelled to be refponible; but upon no account fhall the be reftored to her ftation in the Union. And in the other cafe, it is propofed to establish a mint for the receipt of Bullion, from which the states are to draw coin, in proportion to their refpective contributions. The Convention has fent to New York for the laft return of the accounts between the individual states and the confederated body. Col. William Lyman, of Northampton, is appointed Commandant of the troops lately granted by the Hon. Legiflature to do duty in the Western counties. The House of Reprefentatives, on Thurfday, paffed a Refolve for removing the seat of government from this townz and have made choice of one member from each county to fix on fome place in this Commonwealth, fuitable for the reception of the honourable legiflature. Since our laft arrived here the Ship Fair Slave, Capt. Dumora, from Cadiz, in Spain-the Captain on his arrival entered at the Nayal Office, Twelve Thoufand Dollars. WORCESTE R. A gentleman from the county of Hampfhire informs us, that the two prifoners under fentence of death, for treafon, who were confined in prifon at Great Barrington, in the county of Berkshire, on Friday night latt week effected their efcape, having previously found means to intoxicate the guard. We have received intelligence from the county of Berkshire, that a few days fince, a number of thofe men who ftill remain in arms against this Commonwealth, and hover on the confines of Vermont, made an incurfion in the town of New Afhford, and entered the house of Mr. Starkweather, at New Afhford, and robbed him of about 150 dollars in cash, a quantity of beef and pork, and a number of other articles. It is faid, Luke Day was feen a few days fince riding, with a cutlafs drawn, through a bye road in the town of Williamston, county of Berkshire; he was purfued, and came near being taken, but finally efcaped in a wood. On Tuefday last two companies of the fe deral train of Artillery, in new and complete uniform, paffed through this town. They are from the caftle, and bound to the federal arfenal at Springfield. DIED.]-In Italy, the celebrated ma thematician, Father Bofenvich, aged 76. TH ANECDOTE HE letters of Junius having excit ed the admiration of all Europe, it may not be unacceptable to our readers, to make them acquainted with the 'elegant author of them. Not long before Junius terminated his literary career, the Duke of Richmond was one day taking a morning walk, when he accidentally met with the right Hon. William Gerrard Hamilton, who afked his grace if he had that day read Juni. us, for that he was greater than ever. Mr. H- then began to recite feveral parts of the letter, which led the duke to return home, in order to peruse the remainder, when, to his great furprife, he found that no fuch letter had made its appearance in the Publick Advertiser of that day. His grace mentioned the circumftance to several of his friends, and on the day following, the identical letter appeared; having by accident or miftake, been omitted to be inferted as intended by Mr. H, the preceding TH of JUNIUS. day. This led to the long wished for difcovery of the author of Junius, and a cabinet council was forthwith affembled, to determine on what was neceffary to be done. The Earl of Suffolk, at that time, one of his Majefty's principal fecretaries of ftate, was very violent on the occafion, and recommended committing Mr. H- (he being a member of parliament, and privy counsellor in Ireland) clofe prifoner to the Tower. This meafure, the fagacious Lord Mansfield as violently oppofed; wifely observing, that the letters of Junius, had already fufficiently roufed and alarmed the fpirit of the nation, and the fooner it was quieted, the better. In confequence of this falutary counfel, a meffage was fent to Mr. H to acquaint him, that he awas known, and that it was his Majef ty's pleafure, he should continue to hold for life, the apartments which he has ever fince occupied on the palace of Hamp ton court. ANECDOTE of a diftinguifhed Lord Chief Juftice. greffion, he would affuredly repay him. felf, in a way moft agreeable to his withes.-Bufinefs calling him the next day to town, he was abfent about a fortnight, and on his return home, one of his ferve ants defired to know, whether he had given permiffion to a young woman, to carry away faggots from fuch a pile, for that he had done it every evening fince his departure.-It immediately occurred to him, that it must be the girl he had HIS celebrated judge, being on the Midland circuit, a Mr. Shirley, of the county of Leicester, was brought before him, charged with having committed a rape on the body of one of his ten ant's daughters.-The judge was re markable for poffeffing an uncommon fhare of delicacy, and therefore on the day preceding that of the intended trial, ordered the crier of the court, to give publick notice, that it would come on the next morning, at feven o'clock, there-feen before, and about the fame hour, he by trusting that the female fex would ab, fent themselves, on fuch an occafion.Instead of which, the ladies came pouring in numbers into the court, and filled the gallery by fix o'clock. At length the judge having heard all that the witneffes had to fay in fupport of the charge, defired the prifoner would enter upon his defence. Mr. Shirley, therefore, in formed the court, that as he was one evening walking over his grounds, he efpied his profecutrix carrying away a bundle of faggots, from a pile that belonged to him, and obferving the was a handfome girl, he jocofely told her, if ever he caught her repeating the tranf repaired to the old fpot, where he had not waited long, before the made her ap. pearance. To be brief-he jocularly defired the girl to make perfonal restitution, which, without hesitation or reluctance, the complied with.-Mr. Shirley, in fhort, was honourably acquitted; but before he departed the court, the judge defired to give him one piece of advice. If, fays his Lordship, you should ever find a woman ftealing your faggots again, do not threaten her with fuch a punishment, for if you do, believe me, that the ladies in the gallery will not leave you a ftake in your hedge. RELIGIO O profefs Chriftianity, or to be a Chriftian in name, is all the religion of thoufands; while to poffefs the internal evidence of religion, or a confcience void of offence, and the love of N. God in the heart, together with unaffected piety in the life, is the happy lot of hardly one in a thoufand: Many are called, but few chofen. VOL. III.] THE [NUMB. XIII. WORCESTER MAGAZINE. ON For the fourth Week in June, 1787. HISTORY of the late WAR in AMERICA. From the BRITISH ANNUAL REGISTER, for 1779. N the day preceding the departure of the British fleet from Portfmouth, the French fleet failed from Breft, amounting to 32 fail of the line, and a cloud of frigates. They were divided in three squadrons or divifions, the whole being under the command of the Count d'Orvilliers, who was affifted in his own particular divifion, by Admiral the Count de Guichen. The fecond was commanded by the Count Duchaffault, affifted by M. de Rochechovart; and the third by the Duke of Chartres, (prince of the blood) who was feconded by Admiral the Count de Graffe. M. de la Motte Piquet, although an admiral, acted as firft captain in the Duke of Chartres' fhip. On their departure from Breft, the Lively frigate, which had been fent to watch their motions, got fo involved amongst them that he could not poffibly escape, and was accordingly taken. The English fleet was likewise thrown into three divifions; the van being commanded by Sir Robert Harland, Vice Admiral of the Red; and the rear by Sir Hugh Pallifer, Vice Admiral of the Blue. The commander in chief was affifted by the voluntary fervices of Rear Admiral Campbell, a brave and experienced officer, who from ancient friendhip, and a long participation of danger and fervice, condescended to act as firft captain in his own ship the Victory. The two fleets came in fight of each other on the afternoon of the 23d of July. It appears from the movements and conduct, both then and after, of the French admiral, that he had no knowledge of the increase of Mr. Keppel's trength, at their first meeting; but confidered his fleet as being fill in about the fame ftate as to number, in which it had been at the time of quitting its ftaon before Breft. Under this impref fion, he feemed difpofed for bringing on an immediate engagement; but as foon as the fleets had approached fo near, as pretty well to difcover each others force, he feemed evidently to relinquish that determination, and continued afterwards to evade with great caution and knowledge in his profeffion, all those endea vours which were conftantly used on the other fide to bring on an action. As night was near, and that general actions by fea are always to be avoided at that season, the British admiral only brought the fleet to, in a line of battle, leaving the option of attack to the ene my. A fresh gale, and a change of wind in the night, made fome confiderable alteration in the relative fituation of the oppofed fleets. The French had now gained the weather gage, which afforded them the great advantage, of either bringing on an action, nearly in the time and manner they liked, or of avoiding it totally. Two of their line of battle fhips had, however, fallen confiderably in the night to leeward; and the admiral now seeing that they studioufly avoided an engagement, and be ing fenfible of the difficulty of forcing them to that decifion, while the wind held in its prefent ftate, determined if poffible to profit of this separation, and to reduce his opponent to the alterna tive, of either facrificing two of his ca pital ships, or of hazarding a general action. The French commander chose to submit to the rifque of the former. Although the two fhips were not taken, they were fo effectually cut off from the rest of the fleet, that they were never a ble to rejoin them during the remainder of the cruize and another ship, which had fuftained fome damage during the night in the gale, was expofed to fuch imminent danger of being taken, as to |