by Miss E. S. Quincy, and was then printed in the Proceedings (xx. 30), but not so accurately as could be desired. It is now reproduced in fac-simile. Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull, in the Brinley Catalogue, attributes the authorship of the verses to Joseph Green, a wit of some note in his day, but long since forgotten. A Mournful Lamentation | For the sad and deplorable Death of | Mr. Old Tenor, | A Native of New-England, who, after a long Confinement, by a deep and mortal Wound which he received above Twelve Months before, expired on the 31st Day of March, 1750. Sold at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill, Boston; Price, Three Half Pence. Apart from any sentimental feelings that could be entertained for these bills of credit, feelings that were again experienced after 1865, when the "blood-stained greenback" became a phrase by which to conjure, it appears there existed an extreme sensitiveness to criticism on the part of the members of the General Court. What seem to us doggerel lines were then regarded as dangerous to the State, in that they tended to bring into contempt and even to subvert the constitution of the government. Action began in the House of Representatives, and the following resolution became of force: In the House of Repives April 12, 1751 Voted that His Honour the Lieutenant Governour be desired with the advice of the Council to Issue out a Proclamation (offering a Suitable Reward) for Apprehending the Bodies of Robert Howland of Duxborough and Fobes Little of Little Compton who are suspected of Publishing and Dispersing a Printed Paper containing sundry Expressions tending to bring into Contempt and Subvert the Constitution of this Government. Sent up for concurrence T. HUBBARD Spk! In Council April 13 1751 Read and Concurr'd. J. WILLARD Secry1 Accordingly, Spencer Phips, then Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, issued a Proclamation, dated April 18, 1751. A 1 Mass. Archives, cII. 582, 583; Mass. Prov. Laws, xiv. 517. copy is also in the Society's Library, and it is reproduced in By the Honourable SPENCER PHIPS, Esq; Lieutenant-Governour W A Proclamation. HEREAS there has been lately published and dispersed within this Province, an anonymous Paper in the Form of a Ballad, called, A sad and deplorable Lamentation, &c. wherein are contained many Expressions horribly prophane and impious, and such also as reflect the greatest Indignity and Contempt upon the Authority of the Legislature, and tend very much to weaken, if not subvert the happy Constitution of this Government: And whereas one Robert Howland of Duxbury, and one Fobes Little of Little-Compton, are informed against for industriously publishing and dispersing, and one or both of them strongly suspected to be the Authors of the Paper aforesaid: I Do therefore, with the Advice of His Majesty's Council, and at the Desire of the House of Representatives, hereby require His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, and other Officers, with other His Majesty's Subjects, to use their utmost Endeavours for the seizing, apprehending and securing the said Robert Howland and Fobes Little, that so they may be brought to Justice: And for the Encouragement of the said Officers and others concerned, any Person or Persons that shall seize upon and secure the said Robert Howland and Fobes Little, or either of them, so that they, or either of them, shall be delivered up to Authority, he or they shall receive out of the publick Treasury the Sum of TEN POUNDS Lawful Money for each of the said Persons they shall so secure and deliver up as aforesaid, together with all necessary Charges. GIVEN at the Council- Chamber in Boston, the Eighteenth Day of April 1751, in the Twenty-fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c. By Order of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governour, with the Advice of the Council, J. WILLARD, Secr. GOD Save the KING. S. Phips. BOSTON: Printed by John Draper, Printer to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governour and Council. 1751. |