Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-29 00:00:00, page 2

General Hflital at Cambridge, "January I, l//6 #
To THE P U B L I C.
"IMPRESSED with a lively sense of the ipirit
JL of patriotism which lo eminently adorns the
good people of this country, the fubferiber, who
b appointed to the chief direction of the lick a d
wounded, thinks it incumbent on him to make
known the seasonable aid he has lately received
from the towns^f Concord, Bedford, firtt and Se
cond pariflies of Sudbury, Adon, Mar borough,
Stow and Lincoln. The Hospital having, for fame
time past, been in great want of old linen for ban
dages, corapreffes and lint; of fine tow for dief
fings; fadlers or foie leather, and web or gartering
for tourniquets ; of tape, thread, needles, pins, and
other articles of a like nature; application was
made to the inhabitants of,the above-named pla
ces for a supply, at fueh prices as they themselves
should think reasonable. No sooner were our
wants thus made known to them, than with an
alacrity and zeal truly charaaeriftic of the peo
ple, the business of collecting thole tilings was
immediately undertaken by feme of their Select-
Men, and other proper persons. The Clergy in
particular of the several congregations engaged
warmly in the work. To their pious and animat
ed exhortations, from the sacred deft, may be as
cribed much of that Christian charity, and those
laudable effufions of philanthropy which were ma
nifefted on this occasion, and which cannot fail to
fecufe to them the esteem of the public, and to re
fc^ a falling honour on their attachment to ths
cause of liberty, and the rights of human nature.
What they could, they furnished with an unspar
ing hand: Offer of pay they nobly reje&ed, pre
ferring the confeious pieafure that arises from
deeds of charity to every fdfrh, sordid gratifica
tion that interest inspires: An instance of benevo
lence worthy of admiration! Neither is its im
portance Emitted by the intrinsic value of the do
nation : It holds up a bright example of imitation
to others.
Ever since the 6rR eftablifiment of a military
hospital among us, there has been too great a fear
city of those essential articles; and though the
present supply is truly liberal in refped to the num
bers who furnifhed it, yet its salutary influence can
not be laying, unless it is still continued from
other quarters. May we not therefore exps&
that a spirit of emulation will be kindled in every
humane brcaS, and an affectionate concern to yield
all possible assistance to the wants and distresses of
tiA lick folfiery/ ' Meri who chearfully and hourly
expose their lives for their country's welfare; and
• who,amidft the deftruaire rage of battle, willing
ly encounter danger in all shapes, for its defence,
may surely challenge the companion of those who
reap the advantage of their courage, without any
of that risk which is inseparable from it. Can it
be once doubted, then, whether the inhabitants of
other places will be backward to contribute what
heed to cost them 'o little, towards laying in a fuf
ficieut store of thole articles to secure against all
future apprehensions of further scarcity or want of
them ? But wofft they are of a low price in them
felvrs, yet money cannot always purchase them,
and from their exceeding utility, in cases of need,
they become of inestimable value.
As it is impracticable for the fubferiber to make
personal application to people at a distance to fur
nifh a supply of what is wanted of this foft for
the patients in the hospital, he hopes all printers of
the public news will be pleased to give this address
a place in their papers: He alto flatters himfelf
the Committees eftaßlifhed in different places, es
pecially in all large towns, will be pleased to set
on foot a further collection of fueh of the articles
already enumerated, as may be most easy for them
to procure, elpeciihy of old sheets and foft worn
linen ; and tn Jo-ward the fame to the Crimp with
all poffiNe dispatch. The expence of conveyance,
i any, will be cheerfully paid, and the generous
donors may rest allured their contributions will
be man iged with the 'tripled care to prevent waste,
and meet with due acknowledgment from their
humble servant, JOHN MORGAN,
Director General ofthe Continental Hospital,
a d Chief Physician to the Army.
N. B. Blankets are 'greatly wanted for the
Hospital; for which a fuicable price will be given,
if feat toCtyridge. Any persons having blankets
to difoole of,who live at a distance, if they will
be to kind as to fend notice thereof by the post,
mentioning the quality and price of them, shall
have an immediate anfwer.'
$ /^^'f''*-r-*^-^
L 0 N D 0 N, OCtober 23.
Extras of a better from Gofeort, Off. 19,
«' Q I R Peter Parker, who now commands
O his MajNly's fliip Barffeur of 90 guns,
vnehr Sir James Douglas, who is Admiral of the
faubonbe e, is appointed to command his Ma
ieryl 0? Brifioi, of 56 gu^s, now at Chatham ;
zrh is to be feco^d in command at Boston, in
America, with a broad pendant."
bore than four hundred hogs end dead ffieep
were driven on bore in the h : gb winds on Thurs
day in Cowes Road.
T O W E R of L ONDO N.
00. 24. Between the hours of nine and ten yes
terday morning. N.r. Stavel,, of Half-moon Greet,
Piccadilly, and Mr. Mann, of Queen Anne street,
Westminster (both King's messengers) attended
bv a constable, repaired to the house of Stephen
Sayre, Ebi; in Oxford Greet. As an excuse to
obtain an interview with Mr Sayre, the'e beggar
ly catchpoles of power pretended, that a forged
draught, for two hundred pounds. , had been iflued
by the bank of which Mr. Savre is a proprietor.
Obtaining by such rascally means the interview
fey desired. Mr. Sayre no sooner appeared than
toe catchpoles acquainted him, that "they had
" an order signed by Lord Rochford, one of the
" Secretaries of State, to take him into custody,
" on a charge of High Treason; and to search
" fr, seize, and carry with them, such of his
" papers as they might deem effectual for their
66 purpose!”
^ir, Sayre heard the summons with composure,
?J obeyed it: dilates with a manly dignity. Con
feious of bis innocence, he foiled at the heinous
ness of the charge, and, in a perfed reliance on his
own integrity, be permitted the government-riflers
to plunder his efcrutores, to ra,lack his boxes, and
to pillage his bureaus. No sooner did they lay
their hands on a letter from Mrs. Macauley
(sister to the Lord Mayor eled) and another let
ter, addressed to “ the Livery of London," un
der the signature cf " Barnard's Ghost," than
they seized them with the hand of rapacity, and
carried them off 0 ith as little feeling as men un
accustomed to honesty, in the Service of govern
ment, usually experience.
Mr. Sayre exprefled his readiness to accompa
ny the King's Catdipoles unto Lord Rochford's
house, having previbi^y dispatched a servant to
Mr. Reynolds, requiring his attendance with the
utmost expedition. The King's Messengers, Thief
takers, or Catchpoles (call them which you will)
conducted Mr. Sayre to the presence ®f Lord
Rochford ; andjeft justice should perceive the vil
lainy of oppreflion, her eyes were blinded for
Sir John Fielding was present. An information
from one Richardson (an Adjutant of the guards)
was read. The charge contained in this informa
tion, was to the following purport:
" That Stephen Sayre, Esq; had expressed to
him, the said Richardson, an intention of seizing
the King's person, as his Majesty went on Thurs
day to the Parliament House; allo an intention of
taking possession of the Tower, and of overturning
the present government."
After this information had been read, Mr. Sayre
replied to the separate charges with that fort of
composure which ever accompanies heart felt in
nocence; he stated how very slightly he was ac
quainted with Adjutant Richardson, the informer :
he mentioned the only conversation which had
ever passed between them; and he was about to
enter more largely into the futility of the charge,
when it was announced to Lord Rochford and
the blind Justice, “ that Mr. Reynolds demanded
immediate admittance to his client." That the
chicanery of courts might not be laid aside, fcveral
messages passed, but that which could not be deni
ed as a matter of right, was soon, very courteously,
granted as a matter of favour. Mr. Reynolds
was admitted, because it was iinpoffible, confid
ent with justice, to refufe his admittance. Having
been introduced to Lord Rochford and Sir John
Fielding, the latter put the following question to
Mr. Reynolds :
“ Is it Mr. Sayre's desire that you should at
tend in his behalf ?"
Mr. Reynolds replied in the affirmative. Sir
John Fielding, with a greater share of audacity
than decorum, said “ that this was not true." Mr.
Reynolds, with a very proper degree of spirit, re
plied, “ that Sir John Fielding, as a Magiftrste,
might fay that which, as a Gentleman, he could
not juftify." The blind Knight then desired that
it might be asked of Mr. Sayre “ Whether he had
sent for Mr. Reynolds?" Mr. Sayre replied, "he
had sent for him, without mentioning the place
where he was to attend."
These particulars being adjusted, it was agreed
that Mr. Reynolds might attend the private exa
mination of his friend. The firft advice Mr. Rey
nolds gave to Mr. Sayre, was this, “ That he
should answer no interrogatories which Lord
Rochford or Sir John Fielding might propound;
and that he should not sign any paper."
The information which contained the charge
was a second time read at the request of Mr. Sayre,
who smiling at the recital, Mr. Reynolds joined
in the laugh, and said, " that the whole was too
ridiculous to be ferioufy attended to." An alter
cation then ensued between Mr. Reynolds and
Adjutant Richardson the Informer. The two
Middlesex Justices Lord Rochford and Sir John
Fielding, were requeued by the informer to silence
Mr. Reynolds. He saved them the trouble by
observing " that he should always pay a pro
per deference to authority, but whatever he had
there said of the informer, he would repeat in any
other place whatever."
Mr. Reynolds then told Lord Rochford, " that
if, after consulting the great law-officers of state
(which his Lqrdfhip would do of course) as the
information did not amount to a direct charge
against Mr. Sayre, his Lordihip should think him
felf warranted to receive bail, ample and luffici
ent bail should be given ; but if it was thought
warrantable to commit, he scorned to ask a favour
for his client."
Mr. Sayre was ordered into an adjacent apart
ment, and he was soon afterwards committed a
close prisoner to the TOWER.
It would be a scandalous omission to conclude
this narrative without doing justice to the beha
viour of Mr Sayre. As a fubjed of a free
State, his demeanor was manly ; as a Patriot it
was intrepid ; as a Gentleman it was polite. He
treated the malice of informers with the utmost
contempt, the futility of informations, when pre
ferred by the creatures, and countenanced by the
authority of government, this he smiled at with
ineffable disdain. " The unhappy effe&s offuch
informations, government (Mr. Sayre fafd) had
amply experienced by giving ear to Bernard and
Hutchinson. By falfe informations, and the vilest
of suggestions, these men had consented to become
the willing inttruments io carrying on the purpof.
es o' a bloody-minded administration. But what
ever informers government might encourage, inte
grity was a shield which would protest men of
honour from their fhafts. Defended by that shield,
Mr. Sayre said, he should enter the apartments of
a prison confeious that they would prove a fafe
a'ylura for virtue."
Oct. 30. We hear that Lord North's Declara
tion in the House of Commons, “ that notwirh
ftanding theoffers of foreign assistance his Majeffy
had received, he was not fond of accepting ofany
such, unless in cases of the most urgent necessity;
aad that he intended to fend, at one and tfre fame
time, the most equitable terms of Keconcilia
tlon to our fellow-fubje&s in America, and a
most refpeAable part of our army and navy, to en
force obedience in case those terms should be r'e
j^ed,"—meets with uniy^fal approbation.
The Duke of Grafton on TEurfday im the House
of Lords, to the aftonifhmen-tof almost every bo
dy, drew out his whole artillery against administra
tion; he said, the part they were taking against
America, was equally difgraceful to ftatelmen and
Britons, as it was injurious to the rights of huma
nity,—that he trembled for the dismemberment of
so great a part of* our empire, which he had no
doubt would be effected, if some special check was
not given to the dreadful operations of war; that
if Administration was determined to go on, ail he
'could do would be to give them every opposition
in bis power, and that he would not be retrained
from th s on any consideration whatfover—that he
should make all kind of business nay even sickness
itfelf bend to this duty, for that if his health would
not otherwise permit it, he would be carried in a
litter to the house. Likewise the Bishop of Peter
borough, in'a strain fu'itable to the dignity of his
profeffion, prefled with great humanity the flop
page of human blood.
Mr. Sayre very politely thanked Lord Mans
field for his readiness in granting the writ, and
consequently giving him his personal liberty, at
the fame time observing, that he hoped his Lord
ship wouldjoin with him " in looking back with
veneration on the wisdom and spirit of our ancest
ors, in guarding the fubjed by such effectual bar
riers against the inroads of despotism in the worst
of times," To which his Lordship replied, "I hope
so too, Mr. S. let us both a& coaftitutionally, and
we shall fall into no difficulties or dangers."
Mr. Sayre afterwards returned with his Lady
to their house in Oxford-ftreet ; and his friends
to their refpedive homes.,
The Lord Mayor was present, and received ve
ry politely by Lord Mansfield.
Nov. 2. Last night's Gazette contains the fol
lowing addresses to his Majesty, relative to the
proceedings of the Americans, viz. of the High
Sheriff, Justices, Gentlemen, Clergy, and Free
holders of the county of Carmarthen ; of the
Corporation and Inhabitants of Arundal in Sussex;
of the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the
University of Oxford; of the Provost, Magistrates,
ard Town Council of the city of Stirling ; of the
Bailiffs and Citizens of Litchfield ; of the Corpo
ration and principal Inhabitants of Barnftable ;
of the Corporation and Inhabitants of Bridgewa
ter; of the Provost, Magistrates, a^d Town Coun
cil of Dundee ; of the Corporation of Abington,
Berks ; and of the Provost, Magistrates, and
Council of Aberdeen.
The Argo, a transport, bound from Corke to
Quebec, with three' companies of the 46th regi
ment on board, left Corke on the iß:h instant, and
has not been face heard of.
Upwards of fix hundred vessels which used
to be employed in the American trade, are now
laid up in the River, without employ.
HOUSE of COMMONS, Tuefd,, Oft. 31.
THIS Day, though the House fat but a short
time, they went through a great deal of
private business.
The resolution of Monday, “ that a supply be
granted to his Majesty," was reported and agreed
to, and a Committee of Supply accordingly ap
pointed.
Hon. Mr. Mafham gave notice, that if no fatis
fa&ion was inended to be given relative to the
measures of introducing Hanoverian troops into
the dominions of Great Britain without the pre
vious consent of Parliament, he would in a few
days move for leave to bring in a bill of indem i
ty ; but it would spa e him the trouble, if the Mi
, miler would now rife and tell him, whether he of
his friends had such a bill in contemplation.
Lord North said, that he could not. with all the
I attention and little abilities he was mailer of, fee
the measure in the light that he understood several
other gentlemen did; that however, as an iadivi
The popular party is strengthened this session
with the Duke of Grafton, the Bishop of Peter
borough, General Conway, and most of their con
ne^ioos in both houses.
Extras of a letter from Chatham, Oft. 26.
“ Tuesday failed from hence for America, hav
ing co board a detachment of marines, confining
of one Lieutenant, one Serjeant, one Corporal,
one Drummer, and forty private men, the Boreas
frigate of 48 guns, Capt. Thompson p (he has
flopped at Black stakes to take in her powder and
artillery, after which she is to proceed directly on
her voyage.
" Same day also, the Bristol, a fine new ffiip
°f 5 c g uns > was launched from his Majesty's dock
yard at Sheerness; she is put into commission,
bound for America, and on board of her Com
modore Sir Peter Parker is to hoist his broad
pendent."
A letter from Pembroke, dated the 25th inst.
mentions, that fevcral pieces of wrecks, and a great
many dead bodies were continually coming on
shore there, some without legs, and others with
out arms, &c. two more were seen floating with
out heads.
By virtue of a habeas corpus granted on Thurs
day night by Lord Mansfield, Stephen Sayre,
Esq; was on Saturday morning at ten o'clock con
veyed by the proper officers from the Tower to
Lord Mansfield's house in Bloomfbary-fquare.
Mefffs. Adair, Dayrell, Lucas, Alleyne and Lee,
attended on the part of Mr. Sayre; and White,
partner with the Solicitor of the Treasury ci the
part of the Crown. After the two firft mentioned
counsel had defeated for some little time on the
impropriety of Mr. Sayre's being committed to elofe
confinement by virtue of the warrant of commit
ment, which only conveyed a genera! charge; and
Mr. White having declared that he had no instruc
tions to oppose the bail, his Lord/hip called for the
warrant of commitment; and immediately after
perusing it pronounced, that he had not the least
doubt of Mr. Sayre's being entitled to bail; as he
observed, that, that Gentleman was only charged
with treasonable practices, and that he (Lord M.)
should not have refufed the bail if Mr. Sayre had
come without any counsel. Bail was accordingly
dire&ly offered and accepted, viz. Mr. Sayre him
felf in 5001. and John Reynolds and Coote Pur
don, Efqrs. in 2501. each.
dual member he fliculd net oppose it. He said be
had confultcd several persons on whose judgment
he could confide, and they all agreed a bill of in
demnity was never passed but in cases where pri
vate actions lay, and damages might be fought ;,
that in the only two instances, wh ; ch happened of
late years the permitting the importation of raw
hides, and prohibiting the exportation of corn; the
reasons aligned for palling bills of indemnity ora
both those occasions were, that private reparation
might be pursued by an a&ion at law. These, his
Lordfllip said, were his ideas. If taken upon any
other ground, it might go to an impeachment, a>d
might affea: his head ; but he was quite easy cm
that head, because he could not be yer persuaded
that he had afled improperly or illegally in advif-;
ing the measure. He concluded by offering to the
confederation of the House a resolution which be
was willing to submit to, and which be hoped,
would fatisfy all parties. He read part ofit, but
it did not seem relived. It expressed great thanks
to his Majesty for his care and folieitude for the
interest ofhis people; and by dark, conftru&ive
implication, it might be supposed to bear a meaning
that might be again interpreted into something
like a claim, that the present meafnre should not
be brought into precedent on any future occafioa.
Mr. Mafham replied, the resolution was by no
means fatisfa&ory, and that a vote ofone House of
Parliament ought never to be permitted to luper
fede the law of the land ; besides it would be d@£i
tute of the ascertainment of those fa&s always ne
cessary to afeertain what is or is not the law cf
the land.
The Duke of Manchester then made an intro
dudory Speech to the following motion; that this
House is of opinion, that introducing any part of
the King's Electoral troops, or any other foreign
troops whatever, into the service of the Crown
of Great-Britain, previous to the consent of Par
liament, is dangerous and uncornftitutional.
Lord Rochford, in reply, entered into a jolli
fication of the measure, as fafe, constitutional,
and expedient, on which ground he moved the
previous question ; that is, to take the ferfe of the
House whether the depending motion (hall be pur.
An interesting debate followed : and the speak
ers in support of the previous question, or, in fa
vour of the legality and expediency of the mea
sure of employing the Electoral troops, were the
Lords 1 albot, Rochford, W eymouth, Denbigh,
and the Lord Chancellor. In support of the D.
of Maochefter' smotion, the Dukes of Grafton
and Richmond, and the Lords Effingham, Lyt
tleton, Shelburne and Camden
In the course of the debate all the old argu
ments, refpe&ing the American contest, were re
peated, pro and con, but
The Duke of Grafton threw out some new in
formation; purporting, that at a proper time, he
would lay before the House a sketch of the force
and expences required to carry ora the war against
America, and of the burthenfome taxes tha
would follow: His Grace no^ly declared, tha
he could no longer support administration, unleri•
the ministry changed their conduct against Amen
ca; and in the strongest terms he condemned th
measure of embarking the Hanoverian troops be
fore the meeting of Parliament.
Lord Camden spoke for a considerable time.
His Lord/hip, after having gone shortly into the
question firft moved, left it on a sudden and went
into the great field of American disputes, and the
measures taken by Parliament the last session —
He observed the Ministers bad acknowledged
themselves to have been deceived. He said the
great deceiver lay fomewbere hid, and called up
on him to come forth and declare him elf. He
pointed out several instances where they had been'
deceived, and by reason of which the flower ^
his Majesty's army had been destroyed. He tekh
the House it was not now too late to fewle the
unhappy dispute to the honour and happiness of
both countries. His Lofdfhip spoke with hs ufiirl
greatness, though at the fame time, with much
cooinefs and moderation.
Lord Shelburne and the Duke of F ichmond
called upon the Lords in Administration to de
clare, whether they meant to lay the Berrien of 1
the CopgreL to the King before the Hoofer and
they said, that as there were grounds in that Pe^
tition for an honorable reconciliation with Ameri
ca, they would move it to be lad before the
House, if the Ministry wou'd not. Lord Shel
burne also declared, that the most extensive ope
rati ns that' coull be required to be carried co
lad year, or for the year enmug, might be efhb
ed without employing one bugle foreigner, amt
therefore that the measure of contract gfm the
Electoral troops wdsiccxpcdie.il as tilk? J.
Lord North answered, that if a vote of one
House was not fufficient, a conference might be
held with the other, and the matter laid before
his Majesty by way of address, by which meansit
would come under the cognizance of every branch
of the legislature.
Gov. Johofon said, he was neither Satisfied with
the intended motion, nor proposed refelution. He
remembered very well at the time of passing the
last bill cf indemnity, for prohibiting the expor
tation of corn, there was a speech attributed to
Lord Mansfield, who, when he pleads, fays the
Governor, can ride the horse of liberty, most ably ;
where, instead of speaking of private anions, or
approving of bills of indemnity, he contended that
nothing but a downright pardon, reciting the crime,
should be a proper indemnification for those who
fnould advise his Majesty to supersede the laws.
Mr. Mafham then gave notice, that he should,
in purfaance of what he firft suggested, move the
House for leave to bring in a bill of indemnity.
House of Lords, Wednesday, November 1.
THE Duke of Richmond moved in the House
of Lords, for leave to enter a Protsft, ia
the name of himfelf and other Lords, against the
Address of the House presented to the King on
Friday last, which was agreed to. It is a rule of
the House, that Protests should be entered the
next day after the decision of any business, which
made it necessary to ask leave of the House, upon
this occasion.