A memorial of the present deplorable state of New-England, with the many disadvantages it…

This being really the State of New-England, and its Provinces, it may very well be called Deplorable, when it is rendered the very Scene of Arbitrary Power, with all that's Miserable: But to proceed, before I come down to the several Affidavits upon these Heads, it is Convenient to Recite some Letters from the Inhabitants of that Place, who, under a deep Sense of their Approaching Ruin, have breathed forth their Complaints in the following Words.

This being realy the State of New-England, and its Provinces, it may very well be called Deplorable, when it is render'd the very Scene of Arbitrary Power, with all that's Miserable: But to proceed, before I come down to the several Affidavits upon these Heads, it is Convenient to Recite some Letters from the Inhabitants of that Place, who, under a deep Sense of their Approaching Ruin, have breath'd forth their Complaints in the following Words.

Boston, New-England, October 2. 1706. SIR! Inasmuch, as you have Expected from me, a true and brief Representation of several Matters, relating to this Province, I shall, with all possible Faithfulness, endeavour it. Our present Governor is not without a number of those, whom he has by Promotions and Flatteries made his Friends; but this hinders not a much more considerable number, from wishing, that we had a Governor, who would put an end unto the horrid Reign of Bribery, in our Administration, and who would not infinitely Incommode Her Majesty's Service, by keeping the People in continual Jealousies of his Plots, upon their most Valuable Interests. What the disposition of the People towards him is, you may guess by this: There was lately prepared an Address from hence, to the Queen, upon many important Articles; but by certain Arts there was got into it a Clause, to desire of the Queen, that this Governor might be continued, the Representatives Voted all the rest of the Address, but this Clause they absolutely Rejected; they could not get above Five or Six Votes for it, so the whole Address, (which was contrived by a Party for nothing but that Clause) fell to the ground. ⟨p. 8⟩There happened lately a number of Persons, namely, Boreland Vetch, Rouse, Lawson, Philips and Cauplin to be taken managing an unlawful Trade with the French and Indians, the Commodities wherein they Traded, were such, that the late Act of Parliament made their Crime to be High-Treason, and we had no Act of the Province relating to that Matter, but was defectively Expressed: Our merciful Assembly was mighty loathe to proceed unto so severe a Judgment as that of Death, upon these Offenders. The Offenders Petitioning for it, the General Assembly were (very much by the Governors influence) drawn into it, to take the Trial of them into their own Hands; and as only Guilty of an High Misdemeanour, the Vote for it was obtained in a Thin House, upon an hurry at breaking up; and some Clauses in the Charter were so Construed, as to Countenance it. Upon their coming together again, they would fain have revoked their Votes, as fearing, that the very Persons who had been their Tempters into it, would turn their Accusers, and improve it by way of Complaint, for the Enemies of our Charter to work upon;