ars past,
there has been only one Person taken down in this Town with
the Small-Pox, which is upwards of a Month past, who upon
discovery of it was immediately removed to the Hospital, and
there died, and no other Person has had it, or any Symptoms of
it since.--That Yesterday there was a general Visitation of
the Town by the Justices of the Peace, Selectmen and Overseers
of the Poor, and upon their Report last Evening of the State
and Circumstances of the Inhabitants, I hereby Certify that
there is not an Infectious Distemper of any Sort, known to be
in Town.--AND as the above false Reports have been Propagated
to the great Prejudice of this Town by those who employ
themselves in Engrossing Provisions and Forestalling the
Market, (many of whom are known to the Selectmen:) They are
hereby particularly Notified, That unless they desist from
such wicked and abusive Practices, they will be prosecuted on
the Act of the Province, for making and publishing such Lyes
and false Reports.----By Order of the Selectmen,

Ezekiel Goldthwait, Town Clerk.

Many Country-People have imagined by seeing Silks hanging on
Poles, that the Small-Pox is in such Houses; but their
Surmises are entirely groundless, they being hung out at the
Silk Dyers for drying.

_Boston Gazette._

* * * * *

In 1760 the Committee of Tradesmen advise voters to "put on Sabbath Day
Clothes" and "wash their Hands and Faces" before going to town meeting the
next day. They also speak of the "New and Grand Corcas," meaning probably
caucus. This is from the "Boston Gazette," May 12.

THE Committee of Tradesmen hereby advise their Constituents
and others to set apart a decent Portion of Time (at least one
Hour) previous to the Opening of the Town-Meeting To-Morrow to
shift themselves and put on their Sabbath Day Clothes, also
to wash their Hands and Faces, that they may appear neat and
cleanly; Inasmuch as it hath been reported to said Committee
of Tradesmen that Votes are to be GIVEN AWAY by the delicate
Hands of the _New and Grand Corcas_; and they would have no
Offence given to Turk or Jew, much less to Gentlemen who
attend upon so _charitable_ a design.--Nothing of the _least
Significancy_ was transacted at a late Meeting