658 A. D. 1780, 



Notwithftanding the embarrafTments infeparable from the degrad- 

 ed ftate of the continental currency, the council and aflembly of Maf- 

 fachufets bay incorporated The American academy of arts and Jciences 

 for promoting improvements in agriculture, arts, manufadures, and 

 commerce, and every art and fcience tending to advance the intereft, 

 honour, dignity, and happinefs, of a free, independent, and virtuous, 

 people (May 4'*"). Even if fome of thefe expreffions might be afcribed 

 to oftentation and the eagernefs of the citizens of a young flate to make 

 a parade of their independence, yet a friend of mankind muft be pleafed 

 to fee the arts, which polifh and improve human nature, and which 

 generally (brink from the rude blafl: of war, attempt to raife their heads 

 amidfl its ftorms and ravages. 



June a^-Sth — The metropolis was in the greatefl: danger of utter de- 

 ftrudion by conflagration. A mob, fuppofed to confift of about 50,000 

 perfons calling themfelves the Protejlant ojjbciation, after prefenting to the 

 houfe of commons a petition, faid to be ligned by above 100,000 people, 

 praying for the repeal of an adt, which the more liberal policy of the 

 prefent age had induced the legiflature to pafs, for moderating the hard- 

 ihips impofed upon the Roman catholics by an ad of King William III, 

 proceeded to demoHfli the Roman chapels, not fparing thofe of the 

 foreign ambafladors, kept the whole town in terrors, and trampled 

 under foot all law and authority. In refentment for the imprifonment 

 of fome of their companions, they fet the gaol of Newgate on fire, and 

 gave liberty to the prifoners of all defcriptions. Many of thefe im- 

 mediately took advantage of the general confufion to fet open fome of 

 the other prifons ; and then, reinforced by the abandoned inmates of 

 them, demolilhed the furniture, and every other kind of property they 

 could lay their hands on, belonging to Lord Mansfield, Sir John Field- 

 ing, and other magiftrates who were obnoxious to them. They threat- 

 ened to deflroy the bank, the inns of court, the palaces, and the arfenal 

 at Woolwich ; and they adually fet fire to the King's-bench and Fleet 

 prifons, New Bridewell, and many houfes in various quarters of the 

 town. The bank, the royal exchange, Gildhall, the inns of court, the 

 pod-office, S'. James's park, Hyde-park, and many private houfes, be- 

 came camps or garrifons for the army and militia, by whofe exertions 

 the rioters were at laft fupprefl'ed, after keeping the town in rhe moll: 

 defperate ftate of anarchy and diftrefs for a whole week. Such were the 

 unhappy effects of religious bigotry and intolerance. 



June — Tobacco, the produce of the American colonies now at war 

 with the mother country, ufed frequently to be bought at the neutral 

 iflands in the Weft-Indies, and carried thence to fome of the Britifli 

 iflands, where it was refliipped for Britain. As it was thought advan- 

 tageous to receive it, even with the load of all the circuitous freight, 

 infurance, &c. the doubts, which had arifen concerning the legality of 



