XXII MEMOIR OF ISAIAH THOMAS. servitude was repugnant to the feelings of the young New- England man, as he was then called. An editorial paragraph caused the printer to be summoned before the public authority. He exculpated himself by cast- ing the blame upon his apprentice, who had the charge of the paper. A second paragraph occasioned a call upon the young man himself, who was finally dismissed with a slight reprimand, and with an admonition to remember, that he was not in Boston. The reams of paper in the office were secretly divested of the stamps, and the Gazette was afterwards issued without this obnoxious mark. In March, 1767, he left Halifax, and, after working some time in New Hampshire, returned to the employment of his former master in Boston. He separated from him again, by agreement, and attempted to establish himself at Wilmington, North Carolina. From this place he went to Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked for two years. In consequence of declining health, he abandoned a project he had formed of going to England to acquire a more perfect knowledge of his trade. In 1770 he returned to his native town, and in connexion with Z. Fowle, commenced the " Massachusetts Spy," then a small paper, published three times a week. Three months after this he purchased the establishment and issued the paper upon a half sheet, until December of that year, when it was discontinued. On the 7th of March, 1771, he commenced the present " Massachusetts Spy," which he published weekly upon a large sheet. Although firmly attached to the popular side in the rising political contest, Mr. Thomas opened his columns to both parties ; but the Royalists soon withdrew their patronage, and the paper was thereupon devoted exclusively to the Whig interest. Overtures were made by the Royalists to obtain his influence, but were rejected. Attempts were then made to coerce him, by embarrassing the pecuniary concerns of the establishment. The interposition of friends prevented any
