The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-02-06 00:00:00, page 3

Whatever methods we Drill think it advifeable to
pursue, either in support of the mere authority of
Parliament, which seems to be the Sole considera
tion with some, or for reconciling that authority
with the peace and fatisfadlion of the whole empire,
which has ever been our conflaht and invariable
objed, it will certainly add to the weight and ef
ficacy of our proceedings, if they appear the result
of full information, mature deliberation, and tem
perate enquiry.„
No materials for such an enquiry have been laid
before us; nor have any such been so much as pro
mised in the Speech from the throne, or even in any
verbal assurance from ministers.
In this Situation we are called upon to make an
address, arbitrarily imposing qualities and descripti
ons upon ads done in the colonies, of the true na
ture, and just extent of which, we are as yet in a
great meaSure unapprifed: A procedure which ap
pears to us by no means confenant to that purity
which we ought ever to preServe in our judicial and
to that caution which ought to guide us in our deli
berate capacity.
2 Because this address does in effe&, imply an
approbation of the system adopted with regard to the
colonies in the last Parliament. This unfortunate
system, conceived with so little prudence, and pur
sued with so little temper, consistency or foiefight;
we were in hopes would be at length abandoned,
from an experience of the mifehiefs which it has pro
duced, in proportion to the time in whih it was
continued; and the diligence with whichit has been
pursued ; a fyftenl which has created the utmost con
fufion in the colonies, without any rational hope of
advantage to the revenue, and with certain detri
ment to the commence of the mother country. And
it affords us a melancholy profpeft of the dispositi
ons of Lords in the prefect Parliament, " when we
66 See the House, under the pressure of so severe and
" uniform an experience, again ready, without any
" enquiry, to countenance, if not adopt the spirit
" of the former fatal proceedings."
But whatever may be the mischievous designs, or
the inconsiderate temerity, which leads others to
this desperate course, we wish to be known as persons
who have ever disapproved of mcafures so pernici
ous in their past effe&s, and their future tendency,
and who are not in haste, without enquiry or in
formation, to commit ourfclves in declarations which
may precipitate our country into all the calamities
of a civil war.
Richmond, Stamford, Ponfoby,
Portland, Stanhope, Wycombe,
Rockingham, Torrington, Cambden,
LOND O N, Nov. 30.
z Yeferday morning about eleven o'clock, the Lord Mayor
4vent from Guildhall to the house of commons, and was
sworn in member for the county of Middlesex.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Dec.fr
This day some few members were sworn in, and the
federal usual funding orders relative to privileges, trade,
religion, controverted elections, the interference of peers,
and double returns, read and agreed to.
Lord Beauchamp moved for an address to his Majefly,
to return his Majefly the thanks of this house for his Ma
jefly's m °f gracious speech from the throne. Refdes the
ufaal form of addressing, his Lordfeip introduced federal
pertinent observations on the Jpirit of the colonials, their
resolves, meetings, andin particular, their intended non
importation agreement. His speech was in general well
received and much approved of.
His Lordjhip wasfeconded by Mr. De Grey,jun. who
said very little material. Lord John Cavendijb now rose,
and having previously condemned the conduct of adminij
tration, and the turbulent spirit of the colonies, moved an
amendment in calling for such papers relative to America
as had been received face the las sessions, without which
bis Lordship remarked, it wonld be impossible for the
boufe to determine with propriety or certainty, whether it
might or might not be necessary to adopt other measures.
Lord North answered Lord fohn Cavendijh in a Jhort
speech, and said he fbould give himfelf or the house very
little trouble, as be imagined when be came in that there
was not a member prejent, who would not perceive the
necessity for a^ing in the manner proposed by the speech.
His Lordfoip owned himfelf to be the fabricator of it,
and said that it was drawn up Jhort purely to avoid all
cavil, and to promote an unanimity of opinion at this im
portant crifis.\
Governor fohnfone contended very ably that America
was not worth keeping on the terms and priciples contained
in the address. He was followed by Mr. Fox, who
was very pointed in his observations on the manner the
gallery was cleared. He said it was a mere minferial
trick to fife enquiry and shorten debate ; for if the galle
rs baa '"" open, adminifration must have been obliged
10 break thal fil encc ati ^ unconcern they now affifled to bold.
It was ext^meb ^f^ be & ^ tba/ ^°” s ^°“^. ^
„ , / / •„fent at the difeuffion of a quefton,
fat out from being p. 5
^d^.f ^^^^ ^^fr; ^
eluded by S faefo ^V ^'f and severe ^
madverfom on the conduct of the (is.
Col. Barre said the febeme of reding the colonies by
> force, was wild, incoherent, and impeccable ; and
though it were not, that a dominion J ported by „rce,
would answer no end whatever.,
Mr. T. Townfandwas firthe amendment, ana was
^ severe on the get cm^ of adminif ration.
cles, viz. , . . .
LONDON, December 12.
ALL the great trading towns will either address the
throne, or infirua their servants in parliament,
upon the decline of trade, and the high price of provisions.
. Dec. 13. fieferday the 'boufe of commons, in a commit
tee of the whole house, on the,fa„ly, came into the follow
ing reflations, —That 16,000 men be employed for the
sea-service 1775, including 4382 marines. That 4.L
per man per month, be allowed for the maintaining the
Jaid men, including the ordnance for the sea-service.
It it said that orders are given for all bis majefy's mi
litary fations in America to be immediately reinforced by
federal detachments of land forces from Great-Bilain and
Ireland.,
Mr. Burke wasfor the amendment. + -
The qutfion being put at about half after tch, the
boufe divided. For the amendment 73, againf it 264.;
and the quefion for the address being then put, it feafka
of course in the affirmative.
Dec., 10. It is reported the French king fas sent a
memorial here concerning his right of claim in America ;
and that till it is answered, nd ambassador will appear at
the Britifo court.
It is reported that orders are given for four regiments
of foot to be embarked from Ireland for Boson, and that
the neceffar) transports are all taken up.
'BOSTON, (Thursday) February 2.
Yesterday a vessel arrived at Marblehead from Fal
mouth, with papers to the 19th of December,
from which we have feleded the following arti-
On a motion that the committee do agree that
16,000 seamen Should be employed in the fea-fervite
for the year 1775, including 2400 marines, feyeral
questions were alked of Mr. Buller concerning the
State of opr marine forces at home, and the increase
of it in North-America Since last year ; the gentle
men in opposition Seeming to think that to provide
men for the Ships sent out against America, we were
left in a defenceless State at home ; but Mr. Buller
in his reply endeavoured to prove the very contrary ;
arid that every fort, as well as the guardships, had
their full compliment of men The committee a
greed to the supply, and then the house broke up.
HOUSE of COMMONS, December 13.
This day immediately after the resolutions of the
committee of supply of Monday were reported and
agreed to, Mr. Rose Fuller moved for leave to bring
in a bill to prevent the inconveniencies arising in
large counties to the freeholders, from being too
far distant from the place where the poll for members
to Serve in Parliament is usually taken, and to ap
point others less remote for the above purpose,
which was agreed to.
Lord John Cavendilh therr'rofe, and begged leave
to Date to the House the conduct of administration
in one or two points, particularly refpecling the na
val establishment for the ensuing year. He observ
ed, that there were 4000 seamen voted the present,
less than the preceeding year, notwithstanding the
speech from the throne announced the very critical
and alarming Situation of affairs in America. This
was a conduct he could by no means reconcile ; for
taking the speech to have been framed upon right
information, as calling for measures of a spirited de
cisive nature, what fort of correspondence there was
between the contents of the speech and the naval
establishment, was more than he could possible diff
cover. But were he to declare his sentiments, he
feared it would be found to be a mere ministerial
trick. A forming estimates in the firft instance, that
were never intended to be adhered to, or rather de
signed as mere waste paper, and afterwards furprize
and drive the House into grants of a very improper
and burdensome nature. Such beinghis suspicions,
for his part, he said, he could not face his constitu
ents without previously knowing what he must tell
them, both in relation to further burdens, and what
was involved in such an enquiry, if compulsive
measures were really intended to be pursued towards
the Americans ; for to talk of enforcing the ads up
on a reduced establishment, either rtayal or military
was a fort of language fit to be held only to children.
Lord Beauchamp said, that the noble Lord who
spoke last had communicated to him that morning
his intentions of moving something on the fubjedt
matter of the present conversation ; that he had ac
cordingly apprized the noble Lord who preside at
the Treasury therewith ; and, that his Lordlhip had
authorized him to acquaint the house, that he had
no information whatever to lay before it, nor mea
sures proposed refpeding America. He was there
fore of opinion, that as the noble Lord was indispos
ed and absent, it would be better, particularly as
there was a very thin house, to suspend all further
Solicitude, till his Lord Ship Should have an oppor
tunity of fully explaining the motives ofhis conduft
in person.
Mr. Cornwall next rose, and endeavoured to ap
pologize for the ministers conduct. He infilled,
that the present was not a proper time to enter into
any difeuffion relative to American affairs ; that the
naval reduflion, he presumed, was founded on good
arid substantial reasons ; that however, the motives
which gave birth to them, might vary with the cir
cumstances ; and, that when the question concern
ing Great- Britain and the colonies came into a par
?iamentary way before the House, every member
We bear that a late protest has given more uncafaefs to
a Great Personage, than the whole of the city addrefks
put together. „ c l be latter be only bore bis part in, as they
remonjirated against government in general ; this befeels
personally.
Lafl week a gentleman of this town having been m.
ployed by thefelea men to procure a quantity of powder for
a i own-flock, went to New-York for that purpose, and
having purcbafed the fame, loaded it into a cart, andim
mediately set out on bit return home ; but puffing through
tbk town of Stanford, it was seized by, and taken into
the custody of a cuftoni-boufe officer in that place. An ac+
count of tbe above having reached this town on Saturday,
about 30 re^eflable gentlemen immediately set out for that
place in order to recover the powder % For cn account of
their success we must refer our readers to our next.
Several rejolves of the Continental Congress are pub
lished in the London papers. Tbefe refolvcs seem to flag
ger the ministry. In Jbort, the scale is likely to turn in
our favour, if we continue FIRM and UNITED.
The toast of the day is,—The Nine protefling Lora's.
Last Wednesday, (being Fast Day) as Capt. JOHN
KIETH of this Town, was attending Public Wo?Jhip
in the North Meeting- House, he was feiz'd with an
apopleffic Fit, and expired in a Moment. His Remains
were carried to Middletown the Frida, following, and
decently defeofted in Capt. Mortimer's Tomb.
Las Thursday departed this Life, after a lingering lll
nefs, Mrs./TALCOTT, Wife of Col. SAMUEL TAL
COTT, of this Place. And,
On Saturday lafl, died of a quick Consumption, Mr.
SAMUEL WESTCOTE, for Jeveral Years a Mer
chant of Note in this Place.
The Committees of Correspondence add tnfpeaioh in the
Count, of New-London, regularly convened at New-
London, on Monday lift, in general approved of the Pro
ceedings of this County ; but as there are some Matters
therein contained, namely the promoting Agreculture, Arts,
and the Mamfadures of this Colony, which are Subjeds
so important, delicate, nice and intricate, as to require not
only Time, but the Weight and Wisdom of the whole Colo
ny, properly to digest, plan out and encourage. It was
therefore their Opinion, that it was highly expedient and,
necessary that there fauld be a General Convention of the
Colony, id. Order to difeufs, consult, digeji and plan cut
Measures that will, better answer those important Ends;
and they request the Count, of Hartford with all conveni
ent Speed, to call a Colon, Convention for the above Pur
[The Lofdg Hyde Packet arrived at Neve-York on Tuefda,
last, in 6 Weeks front Falmouth, but the Intelligence
brought b, her is not so late as that received by Way
of Bofon.]
The MANAGERS of'
HARTFORDLOTTERY,
Present their compliments to those Gentlemen
that are indebted to them for Tickets, to make im
mediate Payment, that they may be enabled to pay
off the fortunate Tickets in said Lottery.---On fai
lure, They must expert to be sued immediately
without diftindion.
Hartford February 3, 1774.
would then be foliy at liberty to. deliver his Sq
meats, and maintain his opinions.
Mr. Burke anfwered.the gentlemen en the trea
sury bench in a vety marierly manner, and was ex
tremely severe on the conduct of administration.
Among a variety of other things, he. complied the^
House of commons to a dead fenfefefs inafs, which
had neither sense, foul or activity, hirt.^ it derived
from the mirifter. If his Lordship chufes to tell'
them one day, that America is in State -little Short
of actual rebellion, it is all very well ;if in,a few
days after he acquaints them at second Land, that
he had no .information whatever to authorise such an
assertion, who can doubt his candor and his veracity?
Both affections Hill remain unccritra&eed, and all
must be Silencer We despise the parliament, who
are our only proper and.constitutional councellors,;
but when we have blundered and ruined pur affairs
perhaps beyond a possibility of redress, then we will
come to parliament to do what? to remedy what
is incurable, and to recover what can never be re-
At Sunrise, ' - - - - 2 5°,9
At Noon - -- 38°,7
At Sunset; - - - . 31°,$
Mean of tfie whole Day, - - 3z e ,i
January warmer than the December proceeding ,4
tenth of a Degree. O.
gained.,-•
Sir William Mayne, in a Short speech, condemn
ed the very extraordinary conduct of those in power,
in with-holding from the house, the necessary in
formation, or at least the best they had; and lad
ing his hand on his breast, folemhlf protested lie
would never have voted for the address without &
proposed amendment, had he imagined they meant
to refufe the necessary explanations on which the
speech was supposed to be founded.
[Parliamentary Proceedings, together with many other
important Matters, brought by the late arrivals, will h
continued, (according to their Dates) in our next.]
H A R T, F ORD, February 6.
The Mean Heights of the Mercury in Farenheit,
Thermometer through the Month of January past,
were as follows;