Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-08 00:00:00, page 2

Fr^tb PUBLIC LEDGER.
To the PEOPL E.
“ Aadiet cive) acuiffe ferrum,
" ^ 9 graves Perfe melius perirent :
" Aadset pugnos, vitio parentum
" Rarajuventus.
Lefs numerous by their parents' crimes,
Our lons fall hear, shall hear to lately times,
Of British arms with civil gore embru'd,
Which better had their natural foes fubdu'd.
EVERY confederate, unprejudiced person,
views with the most dismal apprehensions
the inactivity and supineness in which you are im
roerfed at this important crisis. Frequent addres
ses, repeated warnings of the danger of your fi
]ence and feeding acquiescence with the measures
of Adminiffration have had little or no efftft.
Nothing can be more encouraging than such a dis
position for ill-designing men to introduce arbitra
ry principles. .A political indolence in the peo
people always paves the way for oppression. There
needs no reafoping to prove that it has been more
owing to the' Nt of vigilance and vigour in the
fubjeSs, than to the superior address or power of
the rulers and their abettors that defpo'ifm hath
' so generally prevailed. The advances of tyranny
'are for the molt part gradual, disguised under falfe
pretences and fpecidus rights, until it hath acquir
ed fufficient force openly to rivet the chains it hath
infidi u fly forged. The people, teo apt to flatter
themselves that every ad of injustice will be the
last, become at length familiarifed to grievances
and an easy prey to their spoilers. Every new
concession they make encreafes the infol^nce of
their cppreffors; every thing extorted from them,
is an accession to their power, while it renders
themselves less able to counteract their violence.
Your brethren of America, happily forefeeing
such fatal confequendes, have opposed oppression
in its infancy, before it could colled strength from
continuance, or claim right from prescription.
They naturally expected that you would have se
conded their laudable efforts, as you are deeply
interested in their struggle; for, on their subjuga
tion, the loss of your freedom must ensue. "The
palladium of your liberties is the dependence of
the Monarch upon the People for Supplies. If
you are made the instruments of bereaving Ame
rica of the privilege of granting or refufing them,
according to expedience, Administration may draw
from thence, independently of ycu, the means of
supporting their invasions of your freedom.
In a wide extended empire, the form of govern
ment must be uniform, or upon the fame mo lel
as nearly as local and ether circumstances will ad
mit. If^defpotic power gains the afeendant in
any one part, the rvbo/e mutt eventually fall under
the fame. The arbitrary mode of governing rhe
Roman provinces was one great cause of the intro
duction of despotism into Italy.
If America should be brought into fubjedtion,
mark rhe obvious consequences !—The Kingmuft
neceffardy maintain a large Sanding army in order
to secure the obedience of that vast continent; for
this purple great revenues will be requisite.
These revenues and this disciplined army, inured
incurring the throats of their fellow fubjeds, may
eafi'y eff/Date the extinction of your freedom.
The Americans themselves may conspire and give
their aid for accomplishing it. without any im
peachment of the generous principles they culti
vate. To retaliate unmerited injuries is juftifiable,
the nature and feelings of mankind must be chan^.
ed, before it can be deemed otherwise. You can
not therefore expert that the Americans will per
mit you to enjoy those rights and privileges, of
which ycu concurred in depriving them. Such,
or your falling under the dominion of some foreign
power, may be the result of enforcing the impoli
tic schemes of Ministry—New, reflectbut for a
moment upon the intermediate evils.
Behold the most valuable branch of your com
merce, that which chiefly enables you to pay the
taxes which oppress 'vou, totally obstructed and in
danger ofbeing irreparably loft. Yourtaxes must
be still encrefed by every possible method, tocon
du& and defray the expences of a most ruinous
deftruaive war. All wars atediftreffing and bur
thenf;me, but this will prove peculiarly so. The
wealth and affiance you drew from America, aid
ed you to support other wars. Nevertheless the
nation has incurred an immense debt, that even in
time of peace requires the imposition of grievous
taxes, without the profited of its being much di
minished in any realpnable time. In a war with
the Colonies you must almost entirely rely on your
own internal resources.—Contemplate the proba
ble ruin of many of your merchants and factors,
the distress of your manufacturers and artificers,
unable to procure their wonted employment.
Contemplate too the difeontents, murmurs and
commotions that this ft^te of unrelievable distress
and involuntary idleness must engender Confider
the inteOine diffentions that may diftrad England.
America has many friends here, many there are
convinced of the righteoufoe's of her cause, and
many are equally convinced of the rath impo
licy of attempting its subjugation, who will there
fore oppose it by all the means intheir power. Add
now the incident grievous miseries of civil war, in
which even over vidory humanity must mourn.
When civil conteftsbave drained your treasures,
and exhausted your strength, how will you be
able to frustrate the machinations, or repel the as
saults of foreign foes? Should a war with them
happen on the back of this with America, you will
be in danger of irretrievable ruin. Nor is there
any thing more probable than such a war happen
ing. Although you should furnifh your natural
eremies with no ground, they will lay hold of force
pretext or other for a rupture. The juncture it
felf will excite them. Nations do not stand much
upon justice, when the dazzling profpe& of success
p/efents itfelf. It is not unlikely that they may
take part in the present war. The Continental
Congress have intimated, that foreign aid is attain
able. Who can with reason blame them, if find
ii g themselves in dagger of fubjedion, they avail
themselves of such affittance; they may pocure it
perhaps on more tolerable terms than any Great-
Every valuable consideration, every equitable
motive, justice and interest most powerfully exhort
you to make some legal and juftifiable opposition
to the present measures of Administration Ex
press in the language of Liberty your universal dis
approbation of, before you are drawn to engage
too deeply in them. You are brought to the verge
of a horrid precipice; nothing but some timely ex
ertion can save you from falling into inextricable
calamities—“ Tempus, res, vepra pericula, magis
" quam mea verba, v®s bortentur."
GRACCHUS AMERICANUS.
Q-p-i ; •.-^- A so J- #4--$ -4 —f. -J —|- -fyfrft-
L 0 N D 0 N, Oflober 5.
AT a meeting of the Livery of London, in
Common-Hall assembled, on Friday the
29th of September, 1775:
Mr. Deputy Piper acquainted the Livery, that
at a previous meeting of the Livery at the Half-
Moon Tavern in Cheapfide, on Monday evening
last, at which meeting he was Chairman, it was by
them agreed, that an Address to the Electors of
Great-Britain on the present alarming crisis of pub
lic grievances, be recommended from that meeting
to the consideration of the next Common-Hall.
And an address being accordingly produced, a
motion was made, and the qaeftion put, that the
said Address be now read; it was resolved in the
affirmative, and the said Address was read accord
ingly.
Resolved, That the Address to the Electors of
Great-Britain now read, be entitled, The Address
of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of Lon
don, in Common-Hall assembled, and be entered
in the city records, and published in the papers,
tigned by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, and coun
ter signed by the '1 own Clerk; which address
follows in these words :
To the ELECTORS of Great-Britain.
Gentlemen,
THE mifehiefs which have already arisen,
and the great calamities which are threatned from
the unnatural war excited in America by the arbi
trary and inexorable spirit cf his Majesty's minis
ters, and advisers, have impressed our minds with
alarms and apprehensions, which occasions this
Address to you.
Efofn would grant, if flic proved faccefsfu!. It
will be the interest of either nations to support the
Americans, if they had no other end in view than
to weaken this kingdon), whose grandeur excites
their envy and dread, by so capital a dismember
ment. It is very obferveable too, that they may
derive vast advantages from a friendly intercourse
and free trade with the Colonies. Do not there
fore reduce America to the disagreeable necessity
of throwing off her dependence, and by so great a
diminution of your power and opulence, augment
those of yout natural enemies. What infatuation
urges you to hazard so fatal an event? No rati
onal motives can induce you. Those who persuade
you that there are, basely endeavour to delude you.
The Ministry, with their pensioned fyeophants and
hireling scribblers, pretend “ that it is to ease you
“ of the weight of taxes." If that be the real
scope of their projects, the cofiteft would be but
of Short continuance, or rather wo^ld have never
commenced. The Americans have repeatedly tef
tified their readiness to contribute their Share in
the just and constitutional mode, that is, in the
mode evidently most conducive to your and their
welfare. If on due requisition they refufe, it will
be then, and not till then, time to have retourfe to
compulsory means. But a moment's reflection
will convince you, that your relief is not what they
have in view. Needy dependents and idle favou
rites are to be provided for; unnecessary place
men and worthless petitioners are to be prodigally
maintained, if for any purpose, only to strengthen
their patrons authority; and these things would
continually, as they have heretofore done, multi
ply in proportion to the encreafes of the revenues.
Was there ever a time during peace, when you
were more grievously taxed than the present?
Yet was there ever a time when there was less
profpe& of having taxes made lighter? Were the
revenues to be ever so great, it is more likely that
you would have demands for an augmentation, than
the pleasure of a reduction.
The Ministry and court parasites pretend, that
“ the honour and glory of the nation are interest
" ed;" they have been at all times, to be sure,
very scrupulous of averting them. One would be
apt to infer from such a pretence, that the Ame
ricans were quite a diftin& people. Are they not
as much a part of this nation as those who are sent
against them? Have not many of you children,
brothers, and other relatives and friends? What
great honour will even victory yield? Can you
expert to acquire much renown from regular troops,
ftandmg armies, butchering their worthy fellow
fuojeris, whose labours, co operating with your's,
.ve raised this empire to so exalted a pitch of
glory and opulence. There is no need further to
enumerate the dreadful circumstances that must
flow from Ministry prosecuting their present sys
tem; they will occur to your reflection quicker
than I can write; an impartial review of them will
evince that nothing will accrue therefrom but los
ses, dangers, infamy, RUIN.,
Rest not fatisfied because their schemes have the
approbation and fandion of a majority in Parlia
ment; you may be as effectually ruined by seven
hundred as by seven men. The most august body
of men, when corrupted or milled by passion or
prejudice, often commit greater faults than indi
viduals, “ übi femel a'reflo deeratum est, in pree
cipiti pervenitur," when they once deviate from
justice, they run/ headlong into iniquity. The
Ministers who can, by bribery and corruption, or
by artful and falfe pretences, gain an undue in
fluence over the Representatives of the people, are
the more criminal and dangerous. Is there one
man Conspicuous for his patriotic qualities; is
there one man eminent for his zeal in the defence
of,he People's Rights; or is there one man' fam
ous for tl,e disinterested exertion of his abilities,
who concurs with the Ministry? No; all such
have vehemently opposed them. This tingle cir-,
cueftance is fufficient to rouse you from your
lethargy.
As Ele&ors we are more particularly called up
on to take into coufideration these dangerous pro
ceedings against our fellow fubje&s in America; be
cause the Representatives of the people are unhap
pily made the instruments of these measures.
It is impossible we can fee without the utmost
alarm, preparations making for the prosecution of
an extensive and ruinous war with our own Colo
nies, from which so much of our commerce, and
therefore the sources of our wealth, are derived.
The inevitable con sequence of this must be, an in
crease of taxes, already too heavy, and an addition
to the national debt, which presses us with intole
rable weight. We beg you to confider, what must
be the situation of this kingdom, under an augmen
tation of taxes, and a diminution of commerce ;
an increase of national debt, and an equal decrease
of national resources.
These are the immediate and unavoidable con
sequences of this war. The probable ones are still
more fatal. If our natural and inveterate enemies
should fall upon us when we are exhausted of men
and money=—when our most valuable commerce is
ruined, and our bravest and veteran troops facri
ficed, —what is it that can shield us from immedi
ate ruin ?—lf we involve ourselves, then, in this
obstinate and expensive civil war, we must oweour
fafety to the forbearance of our enemies. Neither
do we think it improbable, from the desperate va
lour with which the Americans defend their dear
est liberties, that all our efforts will be unfuccefs
ful, and that we shall at last be obliged to fit down
under a grievous addition of debt, the shame of
defeated armaments, and the fatal loss of our ufe
ful and affectionate Colonies.
We cannot therefore difeover any real object,
or possible event of this dispute, should we be
fuccefsful, but that of establishing the arbitrary
power of the crown over our fellow fubjeds in
America, which must greatly endanger the con
stitution here, and increasing the number of
placemen and pensioners, already so enormous, as
to threaten the utter deftrudion of freedom and
independance among us.
The people of the. colonies have appealed to
their fellow fubjeds in Great-Britain, for the jus
tice and necessity of their conduct.- We are con
vinced of their having been injured and opprefT
ed. We fympathife in their griefs, and revere
their fortitude; every motive of humanity, of
justice, and of interest call upon us to condemn
the measures of which they complain, and to de
clare that we will never willingly contribute to
urge their oppreflions, or abridge their liberties.
It has been our grief and our misfortune to fee,
that the repeated petitions from his Majesty's
lubje&s in America, supported by many in this
country, have not availed to prevent the dread
ful extremities we now lament. Tl e petitioners
have been studiously driven to the last resources
of despair, by a denial of redress, and an accu
mulation of grievances, too severe to be endured
by a free people.
In the united petition last year from all the
colonies, to the King, they asked for peace, li
berty and fafety. Did it become us to refufe
such a request ? Or to persist in violating the
peace, liberty and fafety of any part of our fel
low fubjeds ? They pledged themselves, that in
time of war, they will be ready and willing to
demonstrate their loyalty to his Majesty, by ex
erting their most flrenuous efforts, in granting
supplies and railing forces. What can we in jus
tice require more from a part of the empire, re
strained, in points of commercial advantages, for
our benefit; and labouring, in consequence of that
restraint, under a heavy and accumulating debt ?
Can we expert success from a war, founded in
such flagrant injustice? Appealing, fay they, “ to
that Being, who searches thoroughly the hearts
of his creatures, we solemnly profefs, that our
councils have been influenced by no other motive,
than a dread of impending deftrudtion."
That dread has been resized. Famine, fire
and sword have answered their reasonable requests,
and earned applications. Utter deftruaion, or
unconditional submission, is the only alternative
left them, by this imperious and intemperate ad
rriniftration.
The provision that is making for the introduc
tion of Hanoverian and Hessian troops, instead of
removing, confirms our apprehensions; because we
cannot have any confidence in the protection of
foreign mercenaries; and feel at once the shame
and foily of that policy, which is to burthen us
with taxes for the payment of foreign protestors,
while our own brave troops are flaughttfred in an
unnatural, unnecessary, inglorious contest.
for the certain expences of this war, we feeno
reparation, even in conquest. Desolated fields,
and depopulated provinces, are little likely to con
tribute to our necessities, either by revenue or com
merce. No complaint from the merchants and ma
nufacturers in Great-Britain, of illicit trade, and
ads of navigation infringed, has called for these
coercive measures. On the contrary, they have
repeatedly petitioned against the principles upon
which the war was founded. To secure our com
merce therefore, can neither be the aim nor issue
of this war.
Neither can it be to fettle a due subordination
of the Colonies upon the Parent State, since they
have repeatedly and solemnly acknowledged their
subordination, and Submitted to our cootroul.
Vet Hill they were determined to try the force
of frefh supplication. This they have done in
their late petition to the Throne, more humble,
but still fruitless as the former. They fay,
" knowing to what violent resentments and incur
able animosities, civil discords are apt to exaspe
rate and inflame the contending parties, we think
ourselves required by indifpenfible obligations to
Almighty God, to your Majesty, to our fellow
fubje&s, and ourselves, immediately to use all
the means in our power, not incompatible with
our fafety, for flopping the further effiifion of
blood, and for averting the impending calamities
which threaten the British empire."
We feel these as the most amiable sentiments
of men, cordially interefled in our welfare, and
earnestly aiming at peace and reconciliation.
Im pursuit of these laudable purpofcs, they so
Signed m obedience to the order of the Com
mon Hall, JOHN WILKES, Mayor.
GEO. HAYLEY, ?
NATH. NEWNHAMJ
Counter-signed by order,
William Rix, Town-Clerk.
It is said that a great Lady has made Lady Gage
a present of a valuable diamond stomacher.
Their Majesties will reside at the Queen's Pa
lace until to-morrow—this evening they will go
to Drury-Lane Theatre to fee Every Man in his
Humour.
Some dispatches arrived in town early yesterday
morning from Admiral Mann, commander in chief
of his Majesty's fleet in the Mediterranean, said
to contain an account of a fleet of French men of
war arriving in the Gut of Gibraltar.
All the officers in the army now in America, we
are informed, have an actual promise of advance
ment on their return from thence.
Orders are given for four engineers to embark
forthwith for Boston.
The Spaniards work night and day at Ferro!
and Carthagena, in getting ready a fleet; and at
the latter place every thing in the naval department
is under thediredtion ofMr.Beal, anEnglifh builder.
C A M B R I D G E, December 28.
Last week both Houses of AfTembly came to the
choice of five Delegates to represent this Colony
in American Congress, for the year 1776, by
joint ballot, and the following Gentlemen were
chosen, viz.
The Hon. John Hancock, Esq;
Samuel Adams, Esq;
John Adams, Esq;
Robert Trea tPa 1N e, Esq;
Elbridge Gerry, Esq;
We hear that a brig from Portugal, bound to
New-York, which had been taken by the enemy,
and ordered to Boston, was retaken a few days
£g°' by one of the Continental Cruizers, and car
ried into Plymouth. She was laden with salt, and
had on board, when retaken, a Midshipman and
fix or eight feame? belonging to the enemy.
A deserter came efffrom Bunkers-Hill last Sab
bath, about noon. Several others have deferred
from the enemy within a few nights past.
The toast of the day is, The American
GENERAL and A DMIR A L.
Nature is now forming a capacious bridge of ice,
over to Boston, across Charles River. It is nearly
closed a little above the ferry.
The following Gentlemen are Appointed, and
commithoned, by the major p^rt ci the Council,
'Judges of /Idmkult, for this colony, agreeable to
an Ad lately passed by the Gen.Affembly, viz.
NATHAN CUSHING, Esq; for the Southern
dilbia, containing the counties of Plymouth,
Barnftable, Bristol, Nantucket, and Duke's-
County.
TIMOTHY PICKERING, jhn. Esq; for
the Middle diftria, containing the counties of
Suffolk, Middfefex, and Efl'ex.
JAMES SULLIVAN, Esq; for the EaCera
district, containing the counties of Y ork, Cumber
land, and Lincoln.
Captain Nowell, of Newbury-port, was one es
the ship-masters who made his escape from Boston;
as mentioned in our last. He informs that Gen.
Burgoyne failed for England on the 16th instant,
in the Tamar man of war; and that Gen. Howe,
besides ordering houses to be taken down for fuel,
has dirtied, for the fame purpose, all the W carves,
from the north battery round to thatUdoWK ferry,
tube taken up.
lemnly declare their most aiders delfre, that
“ the former harmony between the two coun
tries may be restored, and a concord may be es
tablished between them, upon so firm a basis, as
to perpetuate its blessings, uninterrupied by any
future diffentions, to succeeding generations in
both countries." They declare that “ they do
not request inch a reconciliation, as might, in
any manner, be inconsistent witl ithe dignity or
welfare of Great-Baitain ;" that “ they arc rea
dy and willing, at all times, as they have ever
been, with their lives and fortunes, to assert and
maintain the rights and interests of his Majesty,
and of their mother country." They therefore
implore his Majesty, “ to take measures for pre
venting the further deftruaion of the lives of his
fubje&s; and that he will be pleased to hired
some mode, by which the united applications cf
his faithful Colonists to the Throne, in pursuance
of their common councils, maybe improved into
a happy and permanent reconciliation; and that
the wished for opportunity may soon be restored
to them, of evincing the sincerity of their pro
feffions, by every testimony cf devotion, becom
ing the most dutiful fubjeds, and the most affec
tionate Colonists."
To this petition an answer has been refufed.
The unhappy petitioners are left to deplore the
profped of inexorable war and desolation, and to
seek prote&ion in those fatal resources, which,
felf preservation suggests against impending de-'
fhu&ioa.
This, Gentlemen, is the alarming state of A
aerica, which fills us with anxiety and appre
hensions.
We lament the blood that has been already
shed; we deplore the fate of those brave men 2
who are devoted to hazard their lives, not against
the enemies cf the British name, but against the
friends of the prosperity and glory of Great-
Britain. We feel for the honour of the British
arms, sullied not by the mifbehaviour of those who
bore them, but by the mifeondud of the minis
ters, who employed them, to the oppreflion of
their Fellow fubjeds. We are alarmed at the im
mediate, insupportable expence, and the proba
ble confequeaces of a war, which we are con
vinced originate in violence and injustice, and must
end in ruin.
These are the sentiments, Gentlemen, which
we take the liberty of communicating to you, as
the reasons upon which we have a&ed, trusting
that, if they meet with your approbation, you
will co-operate with us, in endeavouring to bring
the authors of these evils to the justice of their
country.