Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-05-29 00:00:00, page 5

Saturday afternoon, (the zoth inst.) arrived at New-
York, the Brig Charming Peggy, Capt. John
Lawrence, from Falmouth, ix fix weeks ; by him
we learn, that all the a&s depending in parliament
relative to American affairs, had received the
Royal Assent ; and that the Packet for that port,
was to fail the day after him.
WESTMINSTER, April 1.
THIS day's Gazette contains a Proclamation of
the States General of the united provinces,
prohibiting the exportation of warlike (tores from
Holland in Englifli, Foreign or Dutch drips, to the
British Plantations in America, for fix months.
Yesterday at one o'clock, Mr. Lane, Mr. Mol
lefon, and Mr. Bridgen, from the Committee of
North-American merchants, waited on his Majes
ty at St. James's, and presented the petition of the
merchants of the city of London, trading to North
America, which his Majesty received very gracionfly.
It is strongly reported in the city, that the mini
stry ha ve received within these two days, some ve
ry alarming intelligence from cur ambassador at
Berlin. It is also said, that his Pruflian Majesty
has an eye upon Hanover till he is paid the three
millions of subsidy due to him ever lin.e Lord Chat
ham went out of administration, and which Lord
Bute, who succeeded Lord Chatham, peremptorily
refufed to pay.
In the Lower Assembly on Monday night a moti
on was made for a bill to suspend the Boston Port
ift for three years ; also for a bill to suspend the aft
or the administration of justice in Massachusetts?
lay for two years; which motions palled in the
.egative, without a division.
A motion was also made for leave to bring in a
ill to suspend the act for regulating the govern
ent of Massachusetts-Bay for three years. Passed
Ithe negative.
A motion was likewise made, that an hum
eaddrefs be presented to his Majesty, that he will
>e graciously pleased to give orders that letters of
equifition be written to the several provinces of A
aerica, to make provision for the defence and pro
ection of the said colonies, &c. and that his Maje
y will be pleased to order all such addresses as he
tall receive in answer to such requisitions to be laid
efore the house. Passed in the negative.
WORCESTER, May to.
We hear that the Senecas, one of the Six Na
sons of Indians, are determined to support the
mericans against the arbitrary exactions of the
itifh Parliament, and, if defired,will lend their
Jp in this day of general distress, expecting if
e Colonies are fubje&cd, they shall also fall a
icrifice to the relentless fury of Great-Britain.
The General Assembly of the Colony of Con
tedicut have passed an aft for immediately raising
.nd paying 6000 effective men, for the defence of
he colony, &c. (
We hear that the master of a fifhing schooner,
arrived at Marblehead last week, on his voyage
met with the wreck of a Spanish galeon, out of
which they saved and brought oft with them, the
crew, a chest containing a large sum in gold, and
40,000 dollars.
The tories in Boston seem in general as desirous
of quitting that capital as the whigs, many have
embarkedia a flrip, Capt. Calahan,mafter, for Lon
don, some have gone to Halifax, and others,
among whom are a number of addressers to the
late Governor Hutchinson, chufe rather to put
confidence in the people, and are retiring into the
country.
Some Gentlemen of opposite principles in poli
tics, we are informed, are not permitted to come
out of Boston ; among whom, it is said, is the
Hon. Mr. Pitts, a friend to his country, who is in
a very poor state ofhealth, and Mr. SheriffGreen
leaf, on the opposite fide.
It is confidently averted, that several houses in
Boston belonging to persons who had removed out
of that distressed town, have been plundered of
effects left therein, by the soldiery. Tire Hon. John
Hancock, Efqr's. house, we hear was entered by
a number of soldiers, who began to pillage and
break down the fences; but upon complaint being
made by the feled men to Gen. Gage, he order
ed the fences to be repaired, and Earl Piercy to
take possession of the house.
All accounts agree that five or fix hundred ma
rines, to reinforce the King's troops, arrived at
Boston on Saturday last from Halifax.
Our army have began an entrenchment at Cam
bridge.
General Gage is making Boston as secure from
an attack as he possibly can. However it is thought
by some that the bulwarks are not so strong as to
be impregnable.
One Mansfield, a breeches-maker, in Boston,
who went out with the troops in the late engage
ment, was in the skirmish fired at by the regulars
through mistake, they taking him to be one of
our men. The ball entered his neck and came
out of his mouth— Wretches like him often meet
their just reward.
Some officers in the King's army, it is said,
have sworn that the Americans fired firft. Their
method of cheating the Devil, we are told, has
been by some means brought out. They procu
red three or four traitors to their God and coun
try, born among us, and took with them, and
they firft fired upon their countrymen which was
immediately followed by the regulars. It is also said
these wretches were dreged in soldiers eloathing.
POSTSCRIPT to the Pennsylvania Packet. No. 188.
When the second brigade marched out of Bos
ton to reinforce the firft, nothing was played by
the fifes and drums but Yankee Doodle, (which
had become their favourite tune ever since that
notable exploit,which did such honour to the troops
of Britain's King, of tarring and feathering a poor
countryman in Boston, and parading with him
through the principal streets, under arms witli
their bayonets fixed :) Upon their return to Bos
ton, one asked his brother officer how he liked the
tune now, — D—n them returned he, they made us
dance it till we were tired." —Since which Yankee
Doodle founds less sweet to their ears.
The commanding officer at Cambridge, has
given leave to the regulars who were taken pri
soners, either to go to Boston and join their re
fpe&ive regiments, or have liberty to work in the
country for those who would employ them. In
consequence of which those who were confined in
this town, fifteen in number heartily requeued to'
be employed by the people, not chufing to return
to their regiments to fight against their Ameri
can brethren, tho' some of them expressed their
willingness to spill their blood in defence of their
King in a righteous cause. They all fat out ye
flerday for different towns.
CAMBRIDGE, % 12.
Copy of a letter to his Excellency General Gage,
from the Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Elq;
Governor of his Majesty's Colony of Connecti
cut, in behalf of the General Assembly of said
Colony, dated Hartford, April 28, 1775.
SI R,
TH E alarming situation of public affairs in this
country, and the late unfortunate transactions
in the province of the Maflachufetts-Bay, have in
duced the General Assembly of this Colony, now
fitting in this place, to appoint a committee of their
body to wait upon your Excellency, and to desire
me, in their name, to write to you relative to these
very interesting matters.
The inhabitants of this colony are intimately
connected with the people of your province, and
esteem themselves bound by the Rrongeft ties of
friendship, as well as of common interest, to re
gard with attention whatever concerns them. Yow
will not therefore be furpri fed that your firft arrival
at Boston, with a body of his Majesty's troeps, for
the declared purpose of carrying into execution,
certain a&s of parliament, which, in their appre
hension, were unconstitutional and oppressive, Should
have given the good people of this colony a very
just and general alarm; your subsequent proceed
ings in fortifying the town of Botton, and other mi
litary preparations, greatly increased their appre
hension for the Safety of their friends and brethren ;
they could not be unconcerned fpedtators of their
Sufferings in that which they esteemed the common
cause of this country; but the late hostile and Secret
inroads of some of the troops under your command
into the heart of the country, and the violences' they
have committed, have driven them almost into a state
of desperation. They feel now not only for their
friends, but for themselves, and their dearest inte
rests and connexions. We wish not to exaggerate,
we are not sure of every part ®f our information :
but, by the best intelligence' that we have yet been
able to obtain, the late translation was a most un
provoked attack upon the lives and property of his
Majesty's fubjeXs; and it is represented to us, that
such outrages have been committed, as would dis
grace even barbarians, and much more Britons, so
highly famed for humanity as well as bravery : It
is feared therefore that we are devoted to deftru&i
on, and that you have it in command and intenti
on, to ravage and desolate the country. If this is
not the case, permit us to alk, why have these out
rages been committed ? Why is the town of Boston
now Shut up, and to what end are all the hostile
preparations that are daily making, and why do we
continually hear of freSh destination of troops for
this country? The people of this colony, you may
rely upon it, abhor the idea of taking arms againff
the troops of their Sovereign, and dread nothing so
much as the horrors ofa civil war; but at the fame
time we beg leave to assure your Excellency, that
as they apprehend themselves juftified by the prin
ciple of felt defence, so they are molt firmly resolv
ed to defend their rights and privileges to the last
extremity; nor will they be retrained from giving
aid to their brethren, if any unjuftifiable attack
is made upon them. Be so good, therefore, as to
explain yourfelf upon this most important funjeft,
as far as is confident with your duty to our common
Sovereign.—ls there no way to prevent this unhap
py dispute from coming to extremities ?—ls there
no alternative but absolute fuhmiffion, or the de
solations of war ? By that humanity which con
stitutes so amiable a part of your character, for
the honour of our Sovereign, and by the glory of
the British empire, we intreat you to prevent it, if
it be possible; surely it is to be hoped, that the
temperate wisdom of the empire might, even yet,
find expedients to restore poace, that so all parts of
the empire may enjoy their particular rights, ho
nours, and immunities : Certainly this is an event
most devoutly to be wished for; and will it not be
confident with your duty, to suspend the operations
of war on your part, and enable us on ours to quiet
the minds of the people, at least, till the result of
some further deliberations may be known. The
importance of the occasion, will, we doubt not, fuf
ficiently.apologize for the earnestness with which
we address you, and any seeming impropriety which
may attend it, as well as induce you to give us the
most explicit and favourable answer in your power.
I am, with great esteem and refpe&,
In behalf of the General Assembly, Sir, &c.
(Signed) JON. TRUMBULL.
His Excellency Thomas Gage, Esq;
His Excellency General Gage's Answer to the fore
going Letter, dated Bolton, May 3d, 1775.
SIR,
I A Mto acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
28//) of April last, in behalf of the General Afcmblj
of your Colony, relative to the alarming ftuation of
public affairs in this country, and the late tranfaEtions
in this province : That this Jituation is greatly alarm
ing, and that these tranfaftions are truly unfortunate,
• are truths to be regretted by every friend to America,
and by every well-wisher for the peace, prosperity and
bappinefs if this province. The intimate connexion
andfrong ties of friendjhip between the inhabitants of
your Colony, and the deluded people of this province,
cannot Jail of inducing the former, to interpose their
good offices, to convince the latter of the impropriety of
their pafl conduct, and to persuade them to return to
their allegiance, and to seek redress oj any supposed
grievances, in thoje decent and confitutional methods
in which alone they can hope to be fac,efsjul.
That troops Jbould be employed for the purpose of pro
telling the magfrates in the execution of their duty,
when opposed with violence, is not a new thing in the
Englifli or any other government : That any acts oj the
British parliament are unconfitutional or ofprefive,
lam not to suppose; if any such there are, in the ap
prebenfon oj the people of this province, it bad been
happy for them if they bad fought relief, only in the way
which the canfitution, their reason, and their inters,
pointed out.
You cannot wonder at my fortifying the town of
Bofan, or making any other military preparations,when
you arc assured, that previous to my taking these feps,
such was the open threats, and such the warlike pre
parations throughout this province, as rendered it my
indtfpenfable duty to take every precaution in my power,
for the protection of bis MajeJiy's troops under my com
mand, against all hostile attempts. The inteligence
you seem to have received, relative to the late excur
fan of a body of troops into the country, is altogether
injurious and contrary to the true fate of faCts: the
troops difdaim, with indignation, the barbarous out
rages of which they are accused, so contrary to their
known humanity. I have taken the greateJipains to
difeover if any were committed, and have found ex
amples of thetr tenderness both to tbeyoung and the old,
but no veflage of cruelty or barbarity. It is very pos
sible that in firing into houses, from whence they were
fired upon, that old people, women or children, may
have fuffered; but if any such thing has happened, it
was in their defence, and undesigned. I have no com
mand to ravage^aud deflate the country, and were it
my intention, I have had pretence to begin it, upon the
seaports, who are at the mercy of the fleet. For your
better information I enclose you a narrative of that af
fair, taken from gentlemen of indisputable honour and
veracity, who were eye-witnesses of all the tranfafii
ors of that day. The leaders here have taken pains tv
prevent any account of this affair getting abroad, but
fuel) as the, have thought proper to publifb themselves ;
and to that end the pf has been flopped, the mails
broke open, and letters taken out, and by these means
the most injurious and inflammatory accounts have been
spread throughout the continent, which has served to
deceive and inflame the minds of the people.
When the resolves of the Provincial Congress breath
ed nothing but war, when those two great and essenti
al prerogatives oj the King, the levying of troops, and
difpojing oj the public monies, were wreJledjrom him ;
and when magazines were forming by an assembly of
men, unknown to the conflitution, for the declared pur
pose of levy ing war against the King,you must acknow
ledge it was my duty, as it was the diflate of humani
ty to prevent, if pofkihle, the calamities of civil war,
by deflroying such magazines. This, and this alone, I
attempted. You ask why is the town of Boston nonu
Jbut up ? I can only referyou, for an answer, to th,e
bodies of armed men who now farround the town, anJ
prevent all access to it. The hostile preparations you
mention, are such, as the conduct of the people of this
province has rendered it prudent to make, for the de
fence of those under my command.
You assure me the people of, our Colon, abhor the idea
of taking arms against the trotfs of their Sovereign ;
I wish the people of this province, for their own fakes,
could make the fame declaration. You enquire, is there
no way to prevent this unhappy diffeutefrom coming to
extremities ? Is there no alternative, but absolute sub
mission, or the deflations of war ? I answer, I hope
there is; the King and Parliament seem to I dd out
terms of reconciliation, confident with the honour and
interest of Great- Britain, and the rights and privileges
of the Colonies; they have mutually'declared their rea
diness to attend to any real grievances of the Colonies,
and to afford them ever, just and reasonable indulgence
which Jball, in a dutiful and conflitutiunal manner, be
laid before them ; and bis Majesty adds, it is his ardent
wish, that this difpojition may have a happ, effect on
the temper and condufl of his fubjefh in America : I
must add likewise the resolution of the 27th of February,
on the grand diftute of taxation and revenue, leaving
it to the Colonies to tax themselves, under certain con
ditions ; here is furef a foundation for an accommoda
tion, to people who wish a reconciliation, rather than a
defirufiive war, between countries so nearly connected
by the ties of blood and interest; but I fear that the
leaders of this province have been, and fill are intent
only on foedding blood.
I am much obliged by your favourable sentiments of
m J personal charafler, and assure, ou, as it has been
my constant wish and endeavour hitherto, so I foatl
continue to exert my utmost efforts, to proted? all Its
Majesty's liege fubjeffs under my care, in their persons
and property. You ask whether it will not be confid
ent with my duty to suspend the operations of war on
my part ? I have commenced no operations of war but
, defenfive ; such you cannot wish me to suspend, while
lam surrounded b, an armed country, who have al
ready begun, and threaten farther to prosecute an of
fenjive war, and are now violently depriving me,
the King's troops, and man, others of the King's fub
jefls under m, immediate protection, of all the conveni
ences and necessaries of life, with which the country
abounds; but it must quiet the minds of all reasonable
people, when I assure you, that I have no difpojition to
injure or molefl quiet and peaceable fubjecls ; but on the,