Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-05-22 00:00:00, page 7

Lofton belonging to persons who had removed out
of that diftrehed town, have been plundered of
effects left therein, by the soldiery. The 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.
Genera! Gage is making Boston as secure from
an attack as he possibly can. However it is thought
by force that the bulwarks are not lo flrong as to
be impregnable'.
One Manrheid, a breeches-maker, in Boston,
who went out with the troops in the late engage
ment, was in the fkirmifb fired at by the regulars
through miftakc, they taking him to be one of
cur inert. I lie ball entered his neck and came
out of his mouth— Wretches like him often meet
theirjuft reward.
Some officers in the King's a r my, it is ftid,
have sworn that the Americans fired firft. Their
method of cheating the Devil, we are told, has
been by force means brought out. They procu
red three or four traitors to their God and coun
try, born among us, and tock with them, and
they fitli fired upon their countrymen which was
immediately followed by rhe regulars. It is also said
there wretches were d'refled iuluThtrs dcathing.
POSTSCRIPT to the Pennsylvania Packet. May 24, 1775.
Saturday afternoon, (the 20th inst.) arrived at New-
York, the Brig Charming Peggy, Capt. Jolin
Lawrence, from Falmouth, in fix weeks; by him
we learn, tkat all the a&s depending in parliament
relative to American affairs, had received the
Royal Arfent ; and that the Packet for that port,
was to fail the day after him.
WESTMI NSTE R, April 1.
rt^HIS day's Gazette contains a Proclamation of
I the States General of the united provinces,
prohibiting the exportation of warlike ttores from
Holland in English, Foreign or Dutch (hips, 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 Majel
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 itrongly reported in the city, that the mini
stry ha ve received within thtfe two days, some ve
ry alarming intelligence from our ambaflador at
Berlin. It isalfo laid, that his Fruffim Majeity
has an eye upon Hanover till he is paid the three
millions of fublidy due to him ever knee Loid Chat
ham went but of administration, and which Lord
Bute, who fueceeded Lord Chatham, peremptorily
refilled to pay.
In the Lower Affenibly on Monday night a moti
on was made for a bill to suspend the Lofton Port
al tor three years ; aifo for a bill to suspend the aft
for the administration of justice in Massachusetts-
Bay for two years; which motions palled in the
negative, without a division.
A motion was also made for leave to bring in a
bill to suspend the act for regulating the govern
ment of Mdlachuktts-Bay for three years. Palled
in the negative.
A motion was likewise made, that an hum
ble address be presented to his Majesty, that he will
be graciously pleated to give orders that letters of
requisition be written tj the several provinces of A
mcrica, to make provision for the defence and pro
tection of the Did colonies, &c. and that his Maje
fly will be pleated to order ail such addrefles as he
shall receive in aafwer to fitch requisitions to be laid
before the house. Failed in the negative.
W ORCESTE R, May 10.
We hear that the Senecas, one of the Six Na
tions of Indians, are determined to support the
Americans against the arbitrary exactions of the
British Parliament, and, if detired, will lend their
help in this day of general didrefs, expelling if
the Colonies are fubjeded, they shall also fall a
facrifice td the telentlefs fury of Great-Britain.
The General Assembly of the Colony of Con
.neAicut have pafled an aft for immediately railing
and paying 6000 effective men, for the defence of
the colony, fee.
We hear that the master of a filing schooner,
arrived at Marblehead Lift week, on his voyage
met wi h 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
40,006 dollars.
The tories in BoProa seem in general as defifous
of quitting that capital as the whigs, many have
embarkedi\ a lhip,Capt. Calahan,mafter, for Lon
don, force have gone to Halifax, and others,
among Whom are a number cf addreflers to the
late Governor Hutchinson, diufe rather to put
confidence in the people, and are retiring into the
country.
Some Gentlemen ofoppofite principles in poli
tics, we are informed, are not permitted to come
cut cf 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. Sheriff Green
leaf, oh the oppofiic fide.
It is confidently averted, that several houses in
When the fccond 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 with
their bayonets fixed:) Upon their return to Bos
ton, one afleed 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
fpedive 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 chuting to return
to their regi,bents to fight against their Ameri
can brethren, tho' fame of them exprefTed their
willingness to Ipill their blood in defence of their
King in a righteous cause. They all fat out ye-
Berday for different towns.
CAMBRIDGE, May 12.
Copy cf a letter to his Excellency General Gage,
from the Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, E'q;
Governor of his Misty's Colony of Connt&i
cut, in behalf of the General Anembly of said
Colony, dated Hartford, April 28, 1775.
SI R,
TH E alarming situation of public affairs in this
country, and the late unfortunate 'ranf^fions
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 Jixcellency, and to desire
ine, in their name, to write to you relative to these
very interfting matters.
The inhabitants of this colony are intimately
conceded with the people cf ycur province, and
esteem themselves bound by the Itrongelt ties of
friendship, as well as of common interest, to re
gard with attention whatever concerns them. You
wil not therefore be surprised jthalt , our firft arrival
at Boston, with a body of his Mgelty's troops, for
the declared purpose of carrying into execution,
certain a&s of parliament, which, in their appre
henfioß, were unconstitutional ano oppressive, Should
have,given the good people of this colony a very
jult and general alarm ; your subsequent proceed
ings in fortifying the town of Boston, and other mi
litary preparations, greatly increased their appre
henlion for the fafety of their friends and brethren ;
they could not be unconcerned fpe&at©rs of their
fufteringsin that which they elleemed the common
cause of this country; but the late hostile and Secret
inroads of Some of the troops under your command
into rhe heart of the country, and the violences they
have committed, have driven them almost into a Rate
of desperation. They feel now not only for their
friends, but for themfelyes, and their dearest inte
rests and connections. We with not to exaggerate,
we are not lure of every part of onr information :
but, by the best intelligence that we have yet been
able to obtain, thelate tranfa&ion was a mod un
provoked attack upon the lives and property of his
Majelty's fubj^fts; and it is ieprefented to u«, that
inch outrages have been committed, as would dis
grace even barbarians, and much more Britons, so
highly famed lor humanity as well as bravery : It
is feared therefore that we are devoted to destructi
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 ask, why have these out
rages been committed? Why is the town of Boston
now flint up, and to what end are all the boftile
preparations that are daily making, and why do we
continually hear of frefh dedication of troops for
this country? The people of this colony, you may
rely upon it, abhor the idea of taking arms again*
the troops of their Sovereign, and dread nothing so
much as the horrors ofa civil war; but at the lame
time we beg leave to affaire your Excellency, that
as they apprehend themselves jollified by the prin
ciple of felt defence, so they are melt firmly retolv
ed to defend their rights and privileges to the lift
extremity ; nor will they be retrained from giving
aid to their brethren, if any unjustifiable attack
is made upon them. Be so good, therefore, as to
explain youifdf upon this mod important fir j Cf,
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 abfofute fubiniffion, or the de-
Dotations of war ? By that humanity which con-
Ititutes so amiable a part of your character, for
the honour of our Sovereign, and by the glory of
the Britilh empire, we intreat you to prevent it, if
it be pollible; furtlv it is 10 be hoped, that the
temperate widom of the empire might, even vet,
find expedients to restore peace, that so all parts of
the empire may enjoy their particular rights, ho
nours, and immunities : Certainly this is an event
molt 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 relult of
some further deliberations may be known. Tire
importance of the occasion, will, we doubt not, fuf
ficiently apologize for the earneftneis with which
we address you, and any teeming impropriety which
may attend it, as well as induce you to give us the
molt explicit and favourable answer in your power.
I am, with great esteem and refpe&,
lu behalf of the General Atlemblv, Sir, &c.
(Signed) JON. TRUMBULL.
Hi; Excellency Thomas Gage, Efy
His Excellency General Gage's Anfierto the fore
going Letter, dated Boltov, May 3d, 1775.
S I R,
I A Mto acknowledge the, receipt cf jour'letter cf the
i%tb of April lajt, in behalfof the 'General Afembi,
of your Colony, relative to the alarming ftuanon of
public affairs in this country, and the lute tfanfadionf
in this pr vines : 'That this situation is.great) alarm
ing, and that these tranfadions are truly yyjfrtunate,
are truths to be regretted by every jrieM to America,
and by every weli-wiferfor the peace; pro,peril, and
bappinefs cf this province. The intimate connection
andfrong ties of friendship between the inhabitants cf
your Colon,) and the deluded people of this province,
cannot fail of inducing the Jormcr, to interpole their
go?d offices, to convince the latter of the impropriety of
their paji conduct, and to persuade ikem to return 10
their allegiance, and to seek redrefc 0, any fu,,fed
grievances, in thoje decent and confitftdual mtibods
in which alone they can hope to be fwccefjhl.
Khat troops Jbculd be employedfor the purfofe of pro,
telling the magistrates in the execution of then duty,
when opposed with vicince, is not a new thing in tee
Englifo or an, other government: That any acts c; the
Brinfb parliament are unconf iiutional or opprefroe,
lam not to fappefe; if any fucb there are, in the ap^
frrebenfon 0) the people ej this province, it ixai been
happy for them if the, had fought reiiej, on) in the way
which the conjtitution, their reason, and their intofl
pointed cut.
You cannot wonder at ray fortifing the town ff
Bofion, or making ad, other militar, preparations,When
you are assured, that previous to „, taking thefefce„
juib was the open threats, and fueb the wan like / re-:
,orations throughout this province, as rendered it n,
indispensable du, to take ever, precaution in myjcwtr,
Jor the protection of bis Majejty's troops under a, con^
mand, againf all hojiile attempts. The inlet igelice
yasfeem 10 have received, relative to the late exine
fon cj a k?d, oj troops into the country, is altogGkci'
injurious and conhar, to the true fate cfjadis: ire
troops dife 'aim, with indignation, the barbarous out
rages cj which tby ar e ac cused, so contrary to tiaf
known bumanit). 1 have taken tie greatefpains to
difeo uer if any were committed, and have jeund ex
amples o, their tekdernefs both to the young and the old,
but 110 vefage of cruelty or bar! anty. it is very pf-
Jible that in firing into boufes, from whence they were
fired upon, that old people, wun.tn or cbibocn, may
have Jtfered; but fan, such thing has bap/cned, it
was in their defence, and undefgned. 1 have no com
mand to ravag&and deflate the country, and were it
my Intention, 1 have had pretence to begin it, upon the
fcapoi ts, who arc at the mercy cf the feet. dor,oo/
better information 1 enclose you a narrative oj ibai af
fair, taken from gentlemen cf bidifrutatte honour and
veracity, who were eye-wanefits cf all the tea,bat
ons cf that day. The leaders here have taken pains to
prevent an, account of this affair getting abroad, but
fueb as th, have thought proper to publif) tbtmykves 3
and to that end the pfl has keen flopped, the maps
broke ofen, and letters taken out, and by tb,fe taans
the myt injurious and inflammatory accounts have been
f read throughout the c ntinent, which has joved io
deceive and infante the mine's of the people.
When the revives of the Provincial Congress breath
ed nothing but war, when those two great and (genti
al prerogatives of the ding, the levying cf'troops, and
dfpofiig cj the public monies, were wrejied /rem him ;
and when magazines were forming bv an cfembly of
men, unknown to the confituticn, jor the dekkuredpur-
Pf e of Kvj ing war againf the King,,on mujt acknow
ledge it was my duty; as it was the dictate cj humani
ty to prevent, ij pofible, the calamities of civil war,
by dejlroying fucb magazines. This, and this alone, I
attempted. You ajk why is the town of Refion now
Jkut up P I can only refer,on, for an answer, to th je
bodies of armed men who now surround the town, and
prevent ad access to it. The bojrile preparations you
mention, are such, as the condufl cf the people of this
province has rendered it prudent 10 make, for the de
fence of those under my command.
You afare me the people of,our Colon, abhor the idea
of taking arms against the troops of their Sovereign ;
I wijb the people of tbsprovince, for their own fakes,
could make the fame declaration. You enquire, is there
no way to prevent this unhappy disputefrom coming to
extremities ? Is there no alternative, but absolute fub
mifion,or tee deflations of war ? I answer, I hope
there is; the King and Parliament seem to held out
terms cf reconciliation, cerffent with the honour and
interef of Great- Britain, and the rights and privileges
of the Colonies; the, have mutually declared thtir rea
diness to attend to an, real grievances of the Colonies,
and to afford them every just and reafonahie indulgence
which Jball, in a dutiful and conflitutwnal manner, be
laid before them ; and his Majef, adds, it is bis ardent
nvijo, that tris difptftion may have a bapp, tfedt on
the temper and condor of bis fobjeEls in America : I
mufl add likewise the resolution of the 2.7 th of February,
on the grand difeute of taxation" and revenue, Lavf.g
it to the Colonies to tax tbemfelves, under certain con
ditions ; here is fare) a foundation jor an accommoda
tion, to people who wi, a reconciliation, rather than a
de/iruflive war, between countries so nearly connected
I, the ties of blood and interest; but I fear that the
leaders of this province leave been, and fill are intent
only on jbedding blood.
I am much obliged by your favourable sentiments cf
%'perfonal character, and afurcyou, as it has beta
tn, confant wi, and endeavur hitherto, so I ,a'l
continue to exert my utmost efforts, to protect all bis
Majeftys liege fubjefis under my car., in their persons
and property. You a, whether it will not be confft
ent with my duty to suspend the operations of war cn
m, pa r t ? I have commenced no c, orations of war but
defenfove ; suchy n u cannot will) me to suspend, while
lam surrounded by an armed country, who have al*
ready begun, and threaten fa ther to prosecute an cf
fenjive war, and are now violent) depriving me,
the King's troops, and many others of the King's fub
jedls under m, immediate protemon, of all the conveni
ences and necessaries of life, with aubicb the country
abounds ; but it mus quiet the minds cj all reafonabx
people, when 1 afure you, that I have no difpoftion 10
injure ^ mfr, quiet @dpcaceffefefedt \ k.a on the