Massachusetts Bay 



fisheries too have not been equally successful: they 

 have had also a considerable number of provincial 

 troops* in pay during the course of the present war, 

 and have been burthened with heavy taxes. These 

 have been laid upon estates, real and personal. 

 Some merchants in Boston, I have been credibly 

 informed, have paid near 400 1. sterling annually. 

 Assessments are made by particular officers, who, 

 with the selectmen, constables, overseers, and sev- 

 eral others, are elected annually by the freemen, 

 for the direction and management of each particular 

 township. 



There is less paper money in this colony, than in 

 any other of America : the current coin is chiefly gold 

 and silver: and Boston is the only place, I believe, 

 where there ever was a mint to coin money. 



I was told of a very impolitic law in force in this 

 province, which forbids any master, or commander 

 of a vessel, to bring strangers into the colony, with- 

 out giving security that they shall not become charge- 

 able to it. 



However, notwithstanding what has been said, 

 Massachusetts Bay is a rich, populous, and well-cul- 

 tivated province. 



I cannot take leave of it without relating a very 

 extraordinary story, communicated to me by persons 

 of undoubted credit, as it further tends to illustrate 

 the character and manners of its inhabitants. 



* Between six and seven thousand, I believe. 



[143] 



