The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-04-10 00:00:00, page 3

lawful 1& of power, to our attempts td rob them
of their property and liberties, as they imagine; I
do not determine, This I know, a faccefsful re
fittance is a Revolution, hot a Rebellion. Who can
tell, Sir, whether in conference of this very days
violent and mad address to his Majesty, the scab
bard may not be thrown away by them as well as by
us, arid should success attend them, whether in a
few years the Americans may not celebrate the glori
ous a:ra of 1775, as we do that of 1688? Success
crowned the generous efforts of our forefathers for
freedom, else they had died On the fcaffbld as trai
tors and rebels and the period of our history which
does us the most honour, would have been deemed
a Rebellion against lawful authority; not a refinance
authorifed by all the laws of God and man, het
the expulsion of a tyrant.
The policy, Sir; of this measure, I can no more
comprehend, than I can acknowledge the justice of
it. Is your force adequate to the attempt ?I am fa
tisfied it is not. What are your armies, and how
are they to be recruited ?Do you recollect that the
single province of Massachusetts-Bay has at this mo
ment above 30,000 men, well trained and discipli
ned, and can bring near 90,000 into the field ? They
will do it, when they are fighting for their liberties;
You will riot be able to conquer and keep even that
single province: The noble Lord proposes only
10,060 of our troops to be there, including the four
regimentsnow going from Ireland, and he acknow
ledges very truly that the army cannot enforce the
late Ads of Parliament. Why then is it sent ? Bos
ton indeed you may lay in aft.es, or it may be made
a strong garrison, bit the province will be loft to you.
Boston will be like Gibraltar. You will hold in
the province of Massachusetts-Bay, as you do in
Spain,a single town, the whole country in the power
And porfeffion of the enemy. Your fleets and armies
may, keep a few towns on the coast, for sortie at
lead, Borton, New-York, St. Augurtine, The vast
continent of America will be loft to you. A few
fortreffes on the ccaft and some sea-ports only you
will keep, all the back fcttlemehts will be indepen
dent of you, arid will thrive in the rapid progres
sion of your violences and tiniuft exactions on the
towns. The antient story of the Carthagenian hide
will be verified as to you. Where you tread, it
will be kept down, but it will rife the more in all
the other parts. Where your fleets and armies are
Rationed, the possession will be yours; but all the
left will be loft. I fear from this day in the great
scale of empire you will decline, and the Americans
will rife to independence, to power, to all the great
hefs of the most renowned states, for they build on
the solid basis of public liberty.
Sir, this address is founded on injustice and cru
elty. It is equally contrary to the found maxims of
true policy, and to the unerring rule of natural
fright. The Americans will defend their property
And their liberties with the spirit of freemen, with
the spirit I hope we (hould. They will feoner de
clare themselves independent, and rifque every con
sequence of such a contest, than submit to the yoke
which Administration is preparing for them. An
Address of so sanguinary a nature cannot fail of
driving them to despair. They will fee that you
are preparing not only to draw the sword, but to
burn the scabbard. You are declaring them rebels.
Every idea of a reconciliation will vanish. They
will pursue the molt vigorous measures in their own
defence. The whole continent will be dismember
ed from Great-Britain, and the ^ide arch of the raised
empire fall. But I hope the just vengeance of the
people will overtake the author of these pernicious
counsels, and the loss of the firft province of the
empire be speedily followed by the loss of the heads
of those Minirters who advised those wicked and fa
tal measures.
. In the Public Advertiser of yerterday, an insinu
ation was thrown out, that possibly Bills of At
tainder might be passed against the Bostonians.
The complexion of the Paper wherein this Para
graph appeared, has for some time part given rife
to suspicions of a secret communication with, or
underhand fubferviency to government. If this is
the case, the paragraph may be considered as com
ingfrom AUTHORITY: But, before the court
had, with unblushing effrontery, presumed to talk
of" bills of attainder," HIS MAJESTY Ihould
have considered the crisis of Affairs such, that the
bill of attainder most to be dreaded, is one which
may very constitutionally be passed by the
PEOPLE of ENGLAND.
Jan. 23, The report propagated by the mini
sterial party in conversation and in print," that par
liament means to pass Bills of Attainder
against the Americans, is merely calculated to found
the dispositions of the people. There is no man
ner of doubt but LORD BUTE would be hap
py in adopting this, or any other expedient which
might plunge the nation into a civil war; there is
no question but LORD MANSFIELD would
securely ENJOY the fterm, as he would finite
LONDO N, Jan. 21.
From the Public Ledger.
with infernal complacency at the bloody carriage of
the Englifo nation. The R EBEL JACOBITES
think themselves in our debt; never will they for
get, (and to forgive is not in their natures) the to
tal defeat of their Prince, and the overthrow of all
their hopes, on the plains of Culloden; by a
spirited herd of the Brunswick Line. Hence
the machinations of TORIES, firft to engross
the affedions of the prince, to poifori his mind a'
gainft the most faithful of his fubjefts; then Wreak
their vengeance on his devoted head, and lead hint
by their cursed arts of facination, to the precipice
of ruin. Is not this nearly the case at prefect?
When were we a more happy, when a more united,
When a more loyal people, than at the firft acces
sion of the Monarch on the throne? Are the peo
ple changed, or is their Sovereign altered? Since
rity may propound, jet candour reply to the ques
tion. Thus much may be urged for the people,
they are not that factious difeontented set the Jaco
bites represent them. True it is, that the English
conceive themselves to be a FREE nation; they
burn with more than Roman ardor for civil and re
ligions liberty; but then they will always revere
the firft magistrate, While the firft magistrate re
veres—'tlle constitution. They would flock in mul
titudes to the Sovereign's standard, if it wadieot e
reded on the ruins of their freedom; in th& case,
they Would teach the Prince who made the experi
ment, that his power was pageantry, his despo
tism the mere abortion of a distempered brain. In
times of national struggles, therefore, the Prince
who is obstinate, is fare to be undone; as the
People can raise, the PEOPLE ONLY can
puli down; and to suppose, as they are invert
ed with the weight of power, they will not direct
its force with vengeance, if millions of their fel
low fubjeds mould be declared TRAITORS
by an Aft of Parliament is to suppose them ma
chines, incapable of°being influenced by even the
laws of Mechanism. For what are the Americans
to be “ ATTAINTED?" for defending their
rights from usurpation, their liberties from inva
rton, their lives from the daughter of mercenary
troops! Can the people of England think that
they Ihall escape, if their fellow-fubjeds in Ame
rica are butchered as TRAITORS? The plan
of LORD BUTE and his subalterns would be
" to pass the ads of ATTAINDER, that the
Americans might be MASSACRED under the
SANCTION or LAW; and thus the Minis
try would keep out of the scrape, as the whole odi
um of THEIR measures would fall, not on this
or that man, but on the legislature at large." Will
Engliffimen fuffer an artifice so Ihallow, a scheme
so villainous; to disgrace the annals of their natif"
on! The Parliament that attaints the AMERI
CANS for refiftihg a plan "of defpotifih, will af
terwards vote each man in England a TRAITOR
who Ihall presume tofpeak, write, or think in op
position to their sovereign authority. Let us, there
fore, be vigilant, for on the fate of America, de
pends the fate of Britain. Let the FIRST mo
tion for attainders excite an alarm throughout the
British nation. Before either we or our American
brethren are voted TRAITORS; before either
we or they are put to the sword; let us take the
field---of argument; let us contend with vehemence
againrt oppreflion, nor ever be appealed, but by the
HEAD oFa MISCREANT FAVOURITE,
who would extirpate the whole race of HANO
VER, as he cannot exalt those of STUART to
the throne.
From a late calculation in the various depart
ments of government, it appears, that the sala
ries of the several Placemen, do not on an ave
rage, bear a proportion of thirty per cent, to the
perquisites of office.
St. James's; Jan. 4. It is his Majefty'b plea
fare, That all officers belonging to his Majesty's
17th regiment of light dragoons, 35th, 49 th, and
63d regiments of foot, now serving in Ireland,
do immediately repair to (heir refpte&ive corps
Lord Chatham made a motion to address his Ma
jesty foraß EPEAL of ALL the AMERICAN
ACTS, which were passed last Seflian. His Lord
ffiip spoke several hours in support of the RE
PEAL of those I NFAMOUS ACTS.
The House were left fitting late last night.
The ministry were never in a more critical fitu
atiqn than the present: They seem to be greatly a
fraid that our natural enemies, the French and Spa
niards should avail themselves of the disputes be
tween Great-Britain and her colonies, and involve
England in a war. If this should happen, they
know they mult make a difgraceful and precipitate
retreat, from ports which the nation will then deem
them by no means qualified to fill.
Lord Dartmouth, agreeable to the order of hit
Majesty, laid before the House, several papers re
lative to the Americans.
HOUSE of LOR D S.
Yesterday the House of Peers met, pursuant to
their last adjournment.
The fajd resolution wai repdrtted immediately,.and
a bill ordered in pursuant thereto; Committee or
dered to fit again on Friday.
London, February 10. A noble L--dther
night in a debate assured the H--, that after va
rious services in the Mediterranean, Weft Indies,
Leeward Islands, and North America, the naval force
for home protection Would consist of seventeen men
of war of the line, besides frigates, 7200 seamen, and
800 marines ; that after the peace of AixlaChapelle
in 1748, our whole naval eftablefhment did not ex
ceed that now reserved for the channel alone, Boco
seamen, including marines, being voted ; and that he
would pledge himfelf to answer all the demands, and
co-operate with the intentions ofadminiftratio 1 -, with
only an augmentation of 2000 men. He added
further on the fame head, that we had a fleet superior
to any that the combined force of France and Spain
could fit out ; that our ships were all clean, well pro
vided, rigged, and ready to proceed to sea on a few
days notice ; and that we had a supply of seasoned
timber in our yards equal to three years consump
tion.
Yerterday a meffertger was sent to Falmouth, with
dispatches for General Gage at Borton, to be for
warded by a packet-boat detained there for that
purpose.
Feb. 11. Yefferday h court of common council
was held at Guildhall for the purpose of filling up
the vacancies in the several committees belonging to
the city, and on other business.
[For more London News, fee Supplement.]
All Persons havingany Demands
on the estate of Lieutenant John Cole, late of
Hartford, deceased f are desired to exhibit their
accounts; and those indebted to laid estate, are de
sired to make immediate payment to
Barnabas Hinsdal, and) . ...
Aaron Bull, f Ad mm itator%
iufhat kingdom, except iuch as may be employee
inUreland on the recruiting Service. Rochf ~it.
7%3>. Ir was proposed at the lag Cabinet
Council to fen<Tover fix more regiments to Borton
with all speed.
H OUB E of C OMMO NS, Feb. 7.
Yerterday, about four o'clock, Sir Charles Whit
worth, from the committee appointed to take into
consideration the papers presented by Lord North
on the 19th of January, by his Majesty's com
ihand, reported the resolution of Thurfay, “ that
an humble address be presented to his Majesty."
The Speaker was proceeding to put the question
to agree with the report, when Lord Cavendish
moved that the said resolution be recommitted. A
very able debate now ensued, which continued till
half part two o'clock in the morning, when the
question being put on Lord John's motion, the house
divided, ayes 205, noes 288.
The report was theh received, and Lord North
ordered, in purfuahce thereof to draw up an ad
dress, which being, complied with, the fame was
read and agreed to by the house, and ordered" to
be communicated to the Lords, at a conference, to
desire their concurrence thereto.
Lord John Cavendilh was seconded by Lord
Lumley, who was followed on that fide by the
Lord Mayor: The other principal speakers for the
motion were, Sir William Mayne, Lord Imham,
Mr. Scott, Mr. T. Townfhend, Governor John
ftone, Mr. Burke, Col. Barre, Mn Mackworth,
and Mr. Alderman Sawbridge; against it, Hon.
Mr. Greville, Admiral Harvey, Mr. Joliffe, Mr.
Hans Stanley, Mr. Adam, Colonel Campbell, Mr.
A. Paulet, Sir Robert Smith, Mr. Solicitor Ge
neral, Colonel Grant, and Lord North.
House of Commons, February ty
At half after five o'clock the house resolved itfelf
into a committee of the Whole house, on theAmerican
papers ; when, after a speech of above an hour long,
in which the propriety and necessity of the measures
was fully explained, Lord North moved " that the
chairman be directed to move the house, that leave
b e given to bring in a bill to restrain the trade and
commerce of the provinces of Massachusetts-Bay,
New-Hampshire, Conneaicut, Providence, and
Rhode-Ifland colonies in North-America, to Great-
Britain, Ireland, and the Weft-Indies, and to prohi
bit such provinces and colonies from carrying on any
fifhery on the banks of Newfoundland, or other parts
therein mentioned, under certain conditions, and
for a time to be limited." This produced a debate
which continued till part eleven o'clock, when the
question being put, thetommittee divided, ayes 261,
noes 8$. < ~
THOMAS HOPKINS,
At his Store opposite North Meeting-House in
Hartford,
HAS just received a complete and elegant AN
fortment of Engliih and India goods, suita
ble for the season, which he will fell on the very
lowed terms for Cash.
A. B. Best French Indico, Pepper, JHfpice, Cofa,
Chocolate, loaf and broavn Sugar, German Steele, &r,
April id, 1775.