" A few days ago, a sale by auction of
goods distrained for poor-rates took place in the market-place, Boston. A considerable number of persons collected, with a determination, apparently, not to bid for the goods; and a cry of " Poor's rate ! poor's rate !" was raised, in order to deter any stranger from becoming a purchaser. After some disturbance, the lots were knocked down ; but whether they were sold or not, we could not ascertain. A strong disposition was evinced at one time to proceed to acts of violence ; but the prompt appearance of some constables soon checked this demonstration."—Boston Herald.
The stupidity of these Bostonians is almost beyond belief. That they should oppose themselves to the collection of tithes and taxes, is perhaps to be expected ; for it would be hard to prove that they derive any direct benefit from them. But of the rioters in the Boston market-place, it is probable that one half received parish relief; and yet the blockheads were determined to prevent the collection of the poor's rate. We would recommend Lord BROUGHAMS Useful Knowledge Society to forward a cargo of treatises to Boston, in which a full explanation should be given of the necessity of collecting money from those who have it, in order to procure bread for those who can get none themselves. But then, un- fortunately, the poor people do not read the Society's cheap publi- cations; they prefer the Poor Man's Guardian and the Cosmopo- lite. Perhaps, therefore, the Boston overseers would do well to try the effects of a little wholesome starvation for a week; for when the body is in a state of depletion, it sometimes happens that the intellects become clearer. ; and then it is not impossible that even these pauper opponents to poor-rates may be made to comprehend the absurdity of their course of proceeding.
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