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BOSTON, 'January Commonwealth of Majfachufetts. By His Excellency JAMES BOWDOIN, Esq. Governor ©f the Commonwealth of Mafiachufetts. j4n ADDRESS to the good people of the Commonwealth. A SPIRIT of difc'onterit, originating in supposed grievances, having in the course of the last fall, stimulated many of the citizens in several of the coouties of this commonwealth,- to the commiffionof acts subversive of government, and of the peace and security derived from it, I thought it expedient to aflcmble, and accordingly did affembfe, the general court, for the special purpose of considering those grievances, and all complaints whatever, and, if possible, removing the causes of them. A patient and candid attention was paid to the business of the fefiion, and every relief given, confident with the existence of Government, apd the principles of equal justice. These the legillature could not infringe, without bringing upon themferves the detestation of mankind, and the frowns of Heaven. But relief was nos the only objeft, upon which the general court bellowed their attention. In tenderness to the misguid ed, and in hopes of reclaiming the obstinate, an aft of in demnity was passed tor all the outrages which had been com mitted against law, and the officers of it, upon this mild con dition alone, that the perpetrators ftjould return to a due submission to lawful anthority ; and as a ted of their sincerity, ffiould, before the firrt day of January following, take and fubferibe the oaths of allegiance, required by the cofiftitution. In addition to these measures, the state of the treasury, the expenditure of monies received, the fituarion of our foreign and domestic debt, and other important matters, were in particular detail, communicated to the people, by an address from the Legislature. In that address they were also informed of the dangerous and deftruCtive tendency of popular infur reCtions ; and the insurgents were conjured, in the moll serious and persuasive maimer, to deftft from their lawless condurt, left they should involve themfelVes and their country in ruin. But what have been the confequenceS ? The mea sures intended for giving them fatisfaCtion, aud indemnity have been spurned at: and fincc the publication of those mea sures, the fame insurgents have frequently embodied, and 1 with a military force, repeatedly interrupted the judicial courts in the county of Hamplhire and Worcester :—which demonstrates that the government is held by them at open defiance ; and the laws are, in those counties, laid prostrate. By a rcfolve of the 24th of-OCtober, the lcgiftature ex prefled their full confidence, that the Governor would per l'evere in the exercise of the powers veiled in him by the cou llitution, fer enforcing due obedience to- the authority and laws of and for preventing any attempts to interrupt the adminiftratiou of law and justice j upon which the peace and fafety Os the commonwealth so eflentially depend. In the present dangerous and critical fixation of affairs, I* feci myfeif couftrained, bv the molt sacred obligations of duty, and for the purposes intended by the late legillature, to call those powers into immediate exercise, for the protection of the commonwealth, against the attempts of all persons who thall enterprise its dell ruts ion, invasion,, detriment, or annoyance :and I have accordingly, pursuant to my own ideas of duty, as well as the expectations of the general court, or dered apart of the militia to afiemble inarms, for the pur pose of protecting the judicial court next to be holden in the county of YVorcefter ; of aiding die civil magistrate to exe cute the laws ; of repelling all insurgents against the govern ment, and of apprehending all disturbers of the public peace. It is now become evident, that the object of the insurgents is to annihilate our present happy constitution, or to force the general court into measures repugnant to- every idea, of justice, good faith, and uational policy : and those who en courage, or in any way aftift them, either individually, or in a corporate capacity, do partake of their guilt, au‘d willbe legally refponlible for it. Success, on the part of the insurgents, in either of those views, rauft be deftruCtive of civil liberty, and of the impor tant bldlings derived from it: and as it would be the refolt of force, undirected by any moral principle, it mult finally terminate m despotism in the worst of its forms. Is then the goodly fabric of freedom, which cost us so much blood and treasure, so loon to be throwm into ruins ? Is it to Hand but just long enough, and for no other purpose, than to hatter the tyrants of the earth in their darling maxim, that mankind is not made to be free ? The pfefent is certainly a moil interesting period ; and if we wifli tofupport that goodie-fabric, and to avoid domestic slavery, men of principle, the friends of justice and the con ilitirtion, mull now take their ftatiocs, and unite under the government in every effort for fupprelling the present commo tions and all infurre&ions whatever, or be infamoufly acceffary to their own and their country’s ruin. But in such a union, should they prove as firm in the iupport of jullice and the con flitution, as the insurgents have been obstinate in trampling them under their feet, the tide of government will have so decided a superiority as to put au end to the present convul sions, and restore a regular administration of law, without the horrors of bloodshed, and a civil war : which I mod ardently deprecate j and will fludiouily endeavour to prevent. But unless such aforce appears, thole which indeed are the greatest of national civils, leem inevitable. If the couftitutioii is to be deltroyed, and infurreflion ttalk unopposed by authority, individuals as they regard their own happiness and freedom, Will from' necessity, combine for defence, and meet force with force ; or voluntarily and ingloriously rclinquilh the bleflings, without which life would ctafeto be desirable; and which, by the laws of God and nature, ought pever to be tamely surrendered. What would be the end of such events; is known only to him who can open- the volume and read the pages of futurity* Strongly impressed with the thrutb of these ideas, I mull conjure the good people of the commonwealth, as they value life and the enjoyments of it, as they regard their own cha racters, and the dignity of human nature, to summon up every virtuous principle within them, and to co-'operate with government in every necessary exertion, for restoring to the commonwealth that order, harmony ami peace, upon which its character and happiness do elTentially depend. Given at the council-chamber, in Bolton, the twelfth day of January, 1787, and in the eleventh year of the independence of the confederated Bates of America. JAMES BOWDOIN. By his Excellency's command JOHN AVERY, jun. Secretary. MIDDLETON, January 15. We hear from Worcester, that about 500 men, under the ' command of Gen. ; Lincoln, have arrived there,- to proted the court, which according to adjournment, is to fit there to > morrow ; and that captain Shays is forming a body of men (who are calling their pewter into bullets) to oppose them! Therefore we may exped soon to hear of bloodshed. REGIMENTAL ORDERS. ; * Barracks Hartford , Jan. 10. Colouel Humphreys, having cftablifhed the head quarters of his regiment at Hartford ; and having made arrangements of barracks,ffuel and provisions j delires the recruiting officers to use their utmost exertions to obtain and forward imme ■’ diately the full number of men to the rendezvous. In addition to the encouragements of pay and very liberal rations, the following articles of cloathing will be allowed to each soldier annually : 1 Coat, 1 Veil, 2 Pairs woollen overalls, 2 Pairs linen ditto, 4 Pairs ofihoes, 4 ffiirts, 1 Leather Bock, 1 Stock clap, 1 Hat or cap, 1 Pair ffioe buckles, 4 Pairs of socks, I Blanket. The uniform of the regiment will be, blue ground,- red fac ings and cuffs.—White veils and overalls. The non-commissioned officers will be diilingtiifiied by ffioulcler-knots ; and the cloathing of the ferjeants will be oS a better quality than that of the privates. Permission. will be given to such non-commissioned offi i cers, &c. fofdiers of the former continental army, as appear by their difeharges to have been entitled to honorable di ttinft'ions for three or fix years faithful services, to refurae the fame badges of merit they formerly wore. Every occasion ! shall be taken to notice and reward extraordinary merit. Regimental colours and uniform drums are expeited be fore the regiment takes the field. Uniformity of appearance wilTbe studiously attended to, in the minutest articles, from the firft formation. of the corps. The men are to wear their hair platted, and fattened up behind under their hats. As the term of inliftment is only for three'years, unless soon er difeharged as the/weftern country in which the corps is expected to operate, will afford a fine opportunity to young men for locating excellent farms at a moderate expence; and as more than seventy recruits have already arrived ; the lieu tenant- colonel-commandant (in conformity to the recruiting < inflruilions he has ittued) earneftiy requeuing none but the