The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-02-13 00:00:00, page 2

did the farrt^; the people of England (loft in cor
ruption arid lethargy as they are) could never be pre
vailed upon to fuffer barracks amongst them; even
thecourtly Blackstone is startled at the idea. No
feperate camps, no barracks, no inland fortreffes
fays he, shall be allowed; in faft, wherever bar
racks are, freedom cannot be said to exist, or she
Clifts so lamely as scarcely to deserve the name.
It is worth yout consideration, Americans, whe
ther these badges should remain or no. I shall
conclude, brave citizens, with invoking the Al
mighty God, from whom all virtues flow, to con
tinue you in that spirit of unanimity and vigour,
which must insure your success, and immortalize
'you through ^1 ages, as the champions and patrons
of the human race *
Advices from LONDON, continued ( according to Dat<)
from our last.
L O N D O,N, December 12.
A gentleman who is a member of a certain af
"fembly, asked theLord Mayor, a few days ago,
how he liked the King's speech. what speech!
answers the Lord Mayor. Why, that printed speech
in your hand, replies the member. You millake,
cries my Lord, this is no speech, it is the American
Death warrant. You are merry, cries the member.
Yes, returns the Lord Mayor, I thank God it is not
my death warrant. But to be serious, fays the
member, don't you think the speech is a good one?
Yes, returns the Lord Mayor, it is a bloody good
one.
If one may judge of the expectations of a certain
aflembly, from the price many of them have given,
and others offer, for a feat there, a certain great man,
who is to purchase a majority, must give a high price,
for four thousand pounds is the lowed offer made in
the city by the borough-mongers ; and a certain
North Briton, who has a feat to dispose of, will not
bate a bawbee of five thousand pounds, in hand, with
other profitable terms ; and a gentleman who lately
gave three thousand pounds, declares to al! his
'friends, and has repeated it so often as to begin to
think it true, that he came in for nothing.
The majority have shewn their strength of power
with a proof, that all they can do shall be exerted tor
the R of this country and her colonics.
Ic is said that orders are given for all his Majes
ty's militarisations in North-America to be imme
diately reinforced by several detachments of land
forces from Great-Britain and Ireland.
Though the two Royal Dukes of G. and C. did
not vote the firft day, it arose from a delicacy of not
being personally opposed to their brother ; the next
division of the house will produce them the true
friends of the people and the country, not from facti
ous principles, but from patriot feelings.
Dec. 14. The house of Commons went into a
committee on ways and means, came to the follow
ing resolutions:
That the duties on malt, mum, cyder, and perry,
be continued for 1775.
That three (hillings in the pound land tax be laid
on all lands, tenements, &c. for 1775.
Mr. Bur ke, according to order, presented a bill
for permitting the importation of Indian corn into
Great-Brita in on paying a duty of one penney per
quarter, when barley is allowed to be imported on
paying a duty of two pence per quarter.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Dec. 16.,
The house was this day remarkably full, consider
ing the occasion, upwards of 300 members being
present, including those in the gallery. Mr. Cooper
presented the malt-bill, which was read, and order
ed to a committee. Mr. Burke took the chair, in a
committee on the Indian corn bill, which, with thea
mendments, was ordered to be reported on Monday.
Ordered that the house be called over on Wednes
day, theist of February next.
The order of the.day was now called for the house
to gointo a committee of supply ; and Sir Charles
Whitworth having taken the chair of the committee
Lord Barrington amoved that 17,542 effective men be
employed forthelind service, for the year 1775.
Mr. R. Fuller rode and said, he had no motion
to make, but he woSid be glad to know from the no
ble Lord at the head of the treasury, if he had any
information to lay before the house, or any mea
sures to propose refpe&ing America : because if he
had not. he drought it the duty of parliament to
interpole ml cad for papers, and proceed on such
information,h< wever defective, as well as they could.
He added that he looked on the measures adopted
by the lad parliament impolitic and impracticable ;
and that they could never have been prudently or
effectually putin execution.
Lord North corifeffed the very great consequence
and importance of the fubjed, the hon. member
now mentioned; said, it would require the utmost
diligence and attention, as a matter of the greater
magnitude ever debated within those walls, he could
no; he said, entirely acquiefee in the condemnation
of measures hastily, which had been taken up and
adopted on such weighty motives ; that at the time
it was impossible to foretel precisely how they might
an swer ; but the ffiortnefs of the time and other cir
gum^necs confidcred, they should have a fair trial
before they were reprobated; and that the wifdem
and policy of them could be only finally known in
the event. He concluded, by alluring the house
that he had information to lay before it Ihortly after
the holidays ; and that he would so far adopt his hon.
friend's ideas behind him, (Mr. Fuller)as to propose
to appint a committee for taking the affairs of
America into consideration.
Mr. Cruger, as a young member, gave his opinion
on the date of the colonies with great becoming
diffidence ; and was heard with a considerable deal of
attention. He recommended conciliatory measures;
but rather went a little out of his way to compliment
the minister;
Lord North, on the whole, was plausible senten
tious, and affected great moderation. Governor
Johnftone having alluded to something his Loralhip
had said on a former occasion, relative to Great-
Britain never receding or relaxing, till America was
at her feet ; his Lordship observed that it was hard
ly fair to quote what a man had said seven years be
fore, and what he had explained on the spot before
he left the house; this explanation then, and now
was, he said, that by being at the feet of Greats
Britain, he meant obedience to the mother country.
Such as if they thought themselves agrieved to apply
by petitions and dutiful remonfttances to the par
liament or the throne. He said, he thought it the
duty of every member, as well in the house as sut
of it, to interpret what might fall in the heat of de
bate, or warm difeuffion, in the manner it was ex
plained by the speaker: That if he had been thus
candidly dealt with, the author of a late pamphlet,
written in America, could never have asserted, that
he infilled that Britain should never recede, till the
laws and liberties of America were at her feet ; for
as he never meant the one, so he never said the o
ther. And he wifned, that on the.prefent occasion
he should be underlined according to his present ex
planation and no other.
Mr. Haley was for making the Americans contri
bute to the general defence of the empire, by way of
requisition, and read in his place one or two of the
resolutions entered into by the Continental Congress,
to shew their willingness to comply with fetch a
measure.
A correspondent fays, it was observed at Court
on Wednesday, that the King did not read his an
swer to the Lords address, with his usual graceful
nefs----very much otherways. It was taken no
tice ofby all present.
All persons who have read and considered the late
minilierial speech, do with great concern take no
tice, that it is written too much in the stile of hoc
volo fie jubeo, and convey all the dreadful ideas of an
arbitrary power: But however, it is to be hoped the
Almighty Providence will interpose, and preserve
this nation, as well as its colonies, from the terrible
calamities of a tyrannical government.
There is not the leak foundation for the report
of General Gage's being ordered from Boston, 'till
he has accomplished his designs.
Lord Percey, we are well informed, is shortly
expected from Boston.
Dec. 13. Nothing can shew the poverty, despi
cable abilities, and desperate situation of the mi
nistry, so strongly as their not daring to bring for
ward the affairs of America, though the considera
tion is of the utmost importance, and though the
delay may be productive of the greatest injury. This
conduct not only shews they have no plan, but have
no ideas. Their desire of keeping their offices as
long as they can, makes them afraid to ask advice
of those who are capable of giving it them. And
now they are quarreling with each other, for doing
that which was not the work of any of them, z. e.
planning the present measures against America.
These measures originate in another quarter, and
the puppet prime minister is only the Jack Ketch of
the business.
The official puppets fay not a word to any of the
foreign ministers on the affairs of America. Last
summer they boasted they had taken such effclual
The Ministry, it is said, are much offended with
General Gage. They certainly have great reason ;
for he has molt grievously disappointed them. They
had great hopes of throwing the blame on him ; but
he anting upon the defensive has thrown it upon
them.
The queffion was at length put on Lord Barring
ton's motion, and agreed to; as Were the others in
course, providing for the whole of the military esta
blishments.
London, December 17. Were the people of A
merica once clearly quit of their prejudices, or ra
ther their affection to this country, how evidently
must it appear to be their interest to trade with
France, who take their corn, fifh, haves, hoops, and
every kind of produce, and in return give them
cheap clcathirig either for winter or summer, toge
ther with wine, oil, fruit, &c. &c.
The Provincial Cong efs at Boston, have resolved,
that the militia should be railed, and that arms and
ammunition be provided, where wanted; and that
the inhabitants perfeft themselves in the military
fki.l.
steps with America, as C/ould infallibly put an end
to all disturbances from that quarter. They are now
ashamed of their own bragging fpecches, and are si
lent.---This is the firft aft of prudence they were e
ver guilty of.
Lord North has loft all confidence in the closet, if
ever be bad any in it.
In the absence of Lord Percey from Boston, Bri
gadier Pigot will be fecohd in command.
The premier being suddenly struck lame and
speechless on the firft day of the sessions of the ne^
parliament, is hot a little ortlinouH Let him look
to it, the affairs of America most probably will do
his business effectually.
ft is strongly agitated amohgft the American mer
chants, to wait upon the King with a very spirited
address relative to American affairs, and the deplo
rable date of our trade and manufactures, which is
immediately to be backed with a strong remonstrance
from the three branches of the corporation of Lon
don, in Common-Hall assembled, upon the gene
ral score of public grievances, when, it is said, the
Livery at large will absolutely inhll upon their
fi^ht to accompany the Lord Mayor to St. James's.
° BOSTON, (Monday) Feb. 6.
Wednesday last the Provincial Cengrefs met at Cam
bridge, when the Hon. 'fohn Hancock, Fjq; avas cbofen
Prefdent---Prefcnt 178 Members.
BOSTON, (Thursday) February 9.
We hear that Josiah Quincy, Esq; of this town,
now in London, has had a conference with Lord
North.
The whole of the Continental Association was
published in the London Papers of December ; also
the Resolutions of the Provincial Congress for regu
lating and disciplining the militia, and appointing
Henry Gardner, Esq; Treasurer, &c.
In PROVINCIAL CONGRESS,
At Cambridge, February 7th, 1775.
V X7HEREAS it appears to this Congress, that
VV certain Persons are employed in divers kinds
cf work for the army, now Rationed in Boston, for
the purpose of carrying into execution the late Adis
of Parliament, and in Applying them with iron for
waggons, canvass, tent poles, and other articles of
Field eonipage, whereby said army may be enaoled
to take the Field, and distress the inhabitants of this
country.
Therefore, Refolded, as the opinion of this Con
gref, and it is accordingly strongly recommended
to the inhabitants of the several town; and diftrils
of this province, that should any perlon or persons,
presume to supply the troops, now Rationed at Bohen
or elsewhere in said province, with timber, boards,
fparsj pickets, tent-poles, capvafs, bricks, iron,
waggons, carts, carriages, intrenching tools, or any
materials for making any of the carriages or imple
ments aforefaid, with horses, or oxen for draught,
or any other materials whatever, which may enable
them to annoy, or in any manner distress said inha
bitants, he or they so offending fhali be held in the
highest detestation, and deemed inveterate enemies
to America, and ought to be prevented and opposed
by all reasonable means whatever.
And whereas it appears to this Congress, that
! ar g e quantities of draw will be wanted by the inha
bitants of this province, in case we should be driven
to the hard necessity of taking up arms in our own
defence.
Therefore, Resolved, That no person or persons
ought to fell or dispose of any straw, which he or
they may have on hand, except to the inhabitants of
this province for their own private use, or the use of
said province, And it is strongly recommended by
this Congress, to the Committees of Correspondence
and Infection in the several towns and diftri&s in
this province, to fee that the above Resolves be ftri&.
ly and faithfully adhered to, till othprwife ordered by
this or some other Provincial Congress, or house of
Representatives.
H true extract from the minutes,
BENJAMIN LINCOLN, Secretary.
Last funday the Rev. Mr. Howard (Pastor of the
weft church in this town) baptifed his new-born in
fant by the name of ALGERNON SIDNEY.
We hear that almost every county in Virginia,
Maryland, and the counties cf New-Castle, Kent,
and Suftex on Delaware, have chosen their officers,
and are learning the military exercise with the greats
est diligence.
By a Currier jufl arrived from Cambridge we learns
that the Provincial Congress, new fitting there, have ah
pointed a Committee to examine into and answer tbeKing',
most gracious Speech ! Had to assure him that there is
not a prevailing Difpoftion to infringe the Laws, at
has been malicioujl, and falfely represented to Lis &,§.
efy. [Draper's G%.j
N E W-Y O R K, (Thursday) February p.
Extra& ofa Letter from London, dated December 6.
“ Inclofed you have a Paper which contains the
Lords Protest against the Address to the King's
Speech which you will no doubt receive by the Pack
et. It is very unusual to have any Divifon, though
tliere is commonly a Debate on such Addresses, and
still more unusual for such Division to be followed
with a Pfoteft.---YeOerday there were strong Do-