Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-15 00:00:00, page 1

O R,
G E.NERAL
' M O' N D A Y,
“ The rebellious war now levied is become
more general, and is mamfeTy carried on for the
purpose of establishing an independent empire. I
need r.&t dwell upon the fatal effe&s of the luccefs
of luch a plan.
" The obj^a is too important, th" spirit of
t'eßiifh nation too high, the resources with
which God hath bldhd her two numerous to
gve up so many colonies which she has planted
^hh gre^t industry, nursed with great tender
taeft, encouraged with many commercial advan
c ^es, and protected ane defended at much ex
pe- ce of blood and treasure.
" It is now become the part of wisdom, and
fa is effects) of clemency, to put afpeedy eod
to these disorders by the most decisive exerti
£s. For this purpose I have encreafed my na
val eftablfthment, and greatly augmented my
la: forces; but in fuco a manner as may be
the lead burthenfome to my kingdoms.
" I have also the fatisfaaion to inform you,
that I have received the most friendly offers of
f reign affitLuce and iff Shall make any trea-
C s 11 ponfequence thereof, they Shall be laid
] f p you. And I have, in testimony of ray
: fihhion for my people, who can have no cause
;,uhch lam n fb t q ally interested, sent to the
rarifmiof Gibraltar and Port Mahon a part
c°my E aural troops, in order that a larger
1 r über of the established forces of this king
c in maube applied to die maintenance of its
Minority ; and the national militia, planned
an^ r galated <ah equal regard to the rights,
fifetv ^1 protection of my crown and people,
mavgive a farther extent and activity to our
military cp< rations.
“ Wh^nte unhappy and deluded multitude,
agninh whom this for e will be directed, shall
become itn Ac of their error, I shall be ready
to revive the milled with tenderness and mer
cy ! and in order to prevent the inconvenien
ces which may arise from the great distance of
their fcu^ion, anc! to remove as feon as possible
toe calamities which they fuffer, I shall give
^ ^. ^ ^T^ESTERT) AY about noon his
^ %,^ ^ Majesty went from the Queen's
^^' '\^' Palace to St. fames's, attends
Q ^* erf only by two footmen behind
^ '^.7/ ^ bis coach. About ten minutes
C ^%^%, so ^ fore ™° his Ma i eft v^ ot inr °
" ^ ' ^j^ fy e st ate coac h, attended by the
Duke of An-after and Lord Bruce, and proceeded
to the House of Peers, where being seated on the
Throne and a mefTage having been sent to the
Commons, requiring their attendance, his Majesty
opened the prelent session of Parliament with the
following Speech:
“ fly Lords, and Gent 'emen,
" THE prefect situation of America, and my
eonfhnt desire to have your advice, concurrence,
and assistance on every important occasion, have
determined me to call you thus early together.
" 1 hose who have long too fucceisfully la
boured to inflame my people in America by gross
Mufreprefentathns, and to infuse into their minds
a system of opinions repugnant to the true confti
tation of the cohni?s, and to their subordinate
relation to Great-Britain. now openly avow their
revolt, hostility, and rebellion. They have raised
rather to reclaim than to subdue. The 'resolutions
of Parliament breathed a spirit of moderation and
forbearance ; conciliatory proportions accompa
nied the measures taken to enforce authority; and
the coercive a&s were adapted to cases of criminal
combinations amongst fubjeda not then in arms. I
have a&ed with the fame temper; anxious to pre
vent, if it had been poliible, the effufion of the
blood of my fubjeds; and the calamities which
are inseparable from a state of war; still hoping
that my people in America would have difeerned
the trairerous views of their leaders, and have
been convinced, that to be a fubjeTof Great
Britain, with all its conferences, is to be the
freed member of any civil society in the known
world;
troops, and are colkaing a naval force; they
Jiave seized the public revenue, a?d assumed to
themselves legislative, executive, and judicial
powers, which they already exercise in the most
arbitrary manner, over the persons and properties
of their fellow fubje^ts : And although many of
theie unhappy people may still retain their loyalty,
and may be too wife not to fee the fatal conse
quence of this usurpation, and wish to resist it,
vet the torrent of violence has been strong enough
to c mpe! their acquiefeence till a fufficient force
shall appear to support them.
-" The audio.sand promoters of this desperate
conspiracy have, in the conduct of it, derived g cat
advantage from the diTerence of our intentions
and theirs. They meant only to amuse by vague
exprefions of attachment to the! Parent Srate, and
the RrongeA protettarions of loyalty to me, whilst
they were preparing for a general revolt. On our
part, though it was declared in yout last feffibn that
a rebellion exited within the province of the Mas
sachusetts Bay; yet even that province we wished
VOL.. V. NUMB. 221.
D UN L A P's
LONDON, O3ober 28, 1775.
The Houe again divided upon the Address as
origin-Tv moved for; Contents 66, Proxies tq;
Not Contents
The Hoofe broke up about eleven o'clock, and
adjourned tid next day.
Fhe arguments in the House of Peers turned en
tirely on American affrirs. The Lords in Admi
^ration candidly owned they had been misinformed
rift year, and that their nuafures were confequeht
ly founded in error, and had therefore failed of
Success. This concession furnifhed matter of Severe
remark to the Lords of the Minority ; the Bishop
of P pointed out the Idie policy of conti
nuing the dispute with the Colonies, and urged
Administration to stop the further ravages of fire
and (word. The Duke ofR d followed the
R——e P—re's argument with his usual inaccura
cy and inelegance of manner; but with much force
of matte. Lord Shelburne, in a most warm and
pi&oiefque flow of words, tainted the present ill
effe&s ot the contest, and Shewed how much more
fatal the confluences might be if the unnatural
war was pursued. His Lerdfhip was extremely se
vere on Administration for the impotency and in
expediency of their measures ; and after intimating
that the introduction of foreign troops without
leave of Parliament, was high treason to the cotfitu
tion, hoped that the day would come, when tbofe
who put that part of the speech into his Majesty's
mouth, which mentions their being sent to Gibral
tar and Minorca, would be called to a proper ac
count, and undergo an exemplary punishment.
Lord G -— — r spoke to the fallacy of the Address
es, and the unfair means dfed to procure them,
which he proved by citing an infiance of shameful
partiality and undue influence, which fell within
his own knowledge. Lord Ferrers opposed the
Address.
As soon as his Maje Hy's Speech had been read
in the Upper AfDmbly by the Lord Chancellor
and Clerk of that Honourable Assembly, Lord
Townfeud role up, end in a very manly and maf
teriy manner went fully into the unhappy disputes
betwixt America aid this country ; at the conclu
don of which he moved an humble Address to his
Majefly for his most gracious Speech. His Lord-
Chip was seconded by Lord Dudley. The Marquis
of Rockingham «„ the next who spoke; he dif
fe.*% etc, in opinion from the two firft-mention
ed Lords, and at the end of his speech proposed an
amendment to the Address, which brought on a
very interfiling and long debate, in which the
following Right Hon. Members affixed with the
three above, Lord Rochfort. Lord Coventry, the
Duke of Grafton, Lord Sandwich, Lord Lyttleton,
the Bishop of Peterborough, Lord Dartmouth,
Lord Effingham, Lord Grolvenor, the Duke of
Mancheftcr, Lo d Gower, the Duke of Richmond,
Lord Shelburne, Lord Warwich, 3nd Lord Ferrers;
alter which the question was put for agreeingto the
amendment, ino the h°ufe divided, when the num
bers were as follow ; N it Contents 69, Proxies 11 ;
Contents 29, Proxies o.
The business of Parliament w.?s opened in the
House of Commons by (wearing in Several Mem
bers § after which the Speaker read twice iris Ma
jesty's most gracious Speech from the Throne;
whereupon Mr. Ackland, son of Sir Thomas Ack
l*rd, moved fora dutiful and loyal Address to his
Majesty in a very elaborate speech, highly com
mending the lenity and forbearance of government
with respect to America, and enforcing the necel'-
£'y of alluring his Mjetty of the -approbation of
the measures already taken against the Americans,
and of firm support from kis faithful Commons in
the prosecution of the war.
The motion for an Address was seconded by Mr.
Lyttleton, late Governor of Jamaica, who likewise
expatiated on the necessity of Strengthening the
hands of Government.
" Gentlemen of the Houte of Commons,
“ I h,ve ordered the proper tfiimates for the en
suing year to be laid before you ; and 1 rely on your
affection to me, and vour re fo'ution to maintain the
ju I rights of this country, for such supplies as the
present circumstances of our affairs require. Among
the many unavoidable ill confluences of this rebel
lion, none affe&s me more fenfi>ly than the extra
ordinary burthen which it mult create to my faith
ful fubje&s.
“ My Lords and Gentlemen,
" I have fully opened to you my views and in
tentions. The coriftaht employment of my thoughts,
and the molt earnest wishes of my heart, tend wholly
to the fafety and hapoinels of all my people, and to
the re-eHablilhmentot order and tranquility through
the feverrl parts of my dominions, in a close con
n &ion and constitutional dependance. You fee
the tendency of the present disorders, and I have
ft.rted to you the measures which I mean to puriue
for fuppreffog them Whatever remins to be done,
that my farther contribute to this end, I commit
to your wisdom. And lam happy to add, that, as
well from the assurances I have received, as from
the general appearance of affairs in Europe, I fee no
probability that the measures which you may adopt
will be interrupted by'difputes with any foreign
power "
Lord John Cavendish moved for an amendment,
which occifioncd a long and warm conversation, in
which the Ministry were pretty roundly told of the
fatal effects of the measures of the last sessions.
authority to certain persons upon the spot to
grant general or particular pardons and indem
nities, in such manner, and to such persons as
they fh/1 th nk fit, and to receive the fubmif
fi n of any province or colony which fhail be
di,ofd to return to its allegiance. It may be
also proper to authorife the persons so com
missioned to restore such province or colony, so
returning to its allegiance, to the free exercise
of its trade and commerce, and to the fame
protection and security as if such province or
colonv had never revolted.
BJ^^^^^^
Lord Barrington answered Governor Johirfton
and Col. Barre, and denied the difaffeaion of the
officers, &c. allured the House, that they would
receive fatisfc&Qry accounts to the contrary in seven
or eight days.
The Solicitor General likewise replied t@ Col.
Barre, accused him of chawing faife inferences
from his own premifop entered with great spirit in
to the merit of the present vigorous measures (ad
mitting we had loft all the places they would u:fi
nuate) in order to put us upon a proper footing to
enter even upon a negociation with the Ameri
cans.
At ten o'clock Mr. Burke rose, and spoke for
near two hours. He raffed the laugh of the House
at Lord North's expence, by repeating some vaunt
ing expressions (which he declared had fallen from
his Lordship in Parliament heretofore) and placing
them in a ridiculous contrast with the unfortunate
events which have of late taken place, Speaking
seriously of the present fituatibn of affairs, he com
pared America to a people who had emancipated
themselves, and described the Mother Country as
a piratical disturber of the ports and the naval trade
of the Colonies, The disgraceful blocking up of
our troops in Boston, he pourtrayed with hi^ wont
ed ability of description ; and after lamenting the
danger of this country, if the dispute with Ame
rica continued, he advised Administration nolong
er to make England appear like a porcupine, arm
ed at all points with a&s of Parliament, opprsdive
to the trade and freedom of America, but to Shew
a friendly countenance, and to meet the Colonists
with open arms.
Mr. Cha- les Fox followed Mr. Burke, arid with
bis usual vehemence and asperity aimed his satire
personally at Lord North, describing bis Lordship
as the blunde 'tn/- pilot who had brought us into
our present difficulties. “ Administration (fays
Mr. Fox) exult at having brought us into such a
dilemma as the ablest es men cannot extricate us
from ; they have rebfon to cry aloud in triumph,
Lord Chatham, the King of Prussia, nay, Alexan
der the Great, never gained more in nie campaign
than the noble Lord has loft——he has loft a whole
continent most able adviser, most accomplished
General!" Mr. Fox mixed his raillery with some
very serious obfervatiens on the conduit of the Mi
nistry, and took occasion to mention the old politi
cal diftin&ions of Whig and Tory, describing
the prefect members of Administration as enemies
to freedom, and rank Tories.
The Right Hon. th^ Lord Mayor spoke against
the Address; called the war agAnft the Americans
a murderous war ; and Gid, th t he should confider
every lu fact who i?ll on either fide as aff^ffinated
by the Mmifter, and their blood to be laid to his
charge ; he concluded with recommending an Ad
dress to the Kmg, that he would be ph^fed to
point out some method of conciliating the affections
of the fubjefts of all parts of the empire.
Governor Johnston tpkeon the insufficiency of
the present forces, to carry this favourite point of
Administration !He averred, t h at a general diffatis
fa&ion prevailed amongst the King's troops already
at Boston; and that three fr Id-officers of the five
regiments, lat-ly embarked at Cork, solicited leave
to resign; of this he pledged himfelf to bring evi
dence to the bar, and dared them to call fr it.
General Conway defended the Americans with
an unafual warmth of argument : He called for in
formation from the Treatury Bench, what part of
America we might deem our own : Asked whether
Canada, whether Hbhfx, nay, whether Boston it
^lf owned at this time the superiority of the Bri
fiirrarms ?—He declared his conscience forbad his
assent to the butchery of the Provincials; and
therefore he firmly protested against the Address.
Lord George Germaine replied to him in favour
of the Address, and consequently supported the
measure of Government ; but threw out nothing
new, except that he had received a letter from Ge
neral Burgoyne, who said, that notwithstanding
the distresses and obfiaces the King's troops met
with, they were zealous and determined in defence
of their country.
Col. Barre entered minutely into the consequen
ces of the summer campaign, described the situation
of the King's forces as on a wen, or little excre
scence of land, blocked up within the wall* of Bos
ton, and the fleet not ev^m matter of the river in
which it lies : He drew a conclusion, that if ary
army of 22,000 of our forces, vih 20,000 Provin
cials and a fleet of 22 fail of the line, with more
than as many frigates, were three years in subduing
Canada, though cqmpleated every spring—what
little profpe& could there be for 10,,00 men to ef
fect the conquest of all America.—He told the Mi
nister, that as he expected but little information
from him, he would give him fome: —that he bad
received a letter from a Major Caldwell who was
fettled on a large edate in Canada, who assured him,
toat the Canadians were not by any means to be
driven into the war; that he had tried the arts of
persuasion in vain ; that he zffembled about 1200
of them together, who came with large fticki, but
had concealed 400 firelocks in the woods, which
they were determined to make use of against the
Engliffi, if they forced them to take either fide :
Col. Barre further added, thrt General Carleton
and Lord P tt, were within a quarter of an hour of
falling into the oand* of Johnny Herbert, a barber,
who was now a Major in the Provincial service : he
observed, that he and his friends were censured by
the Ministry as the leaders of fa&ion; that their
conversation with each other was, which of them
fliould go to the Tower firlt ; but this they regard
ed not ; oppose the King they could not wish to do,
for their ancestors seated his family on the throne,
but to carry their point against the prefect unfeel
ing AiminiHration, he would readily go to the
block.
As loon as he concluded, Lord North rose, and
after entering into a long justification of bimtelf,
and the plan of conduct he had pursued while in of
fice (replying with cenfideraule spirit t& the infinu
T II E
ADVERTISER.
j'X'x u" A~ R-~Y yth, j^
Majority 170
The following ri a Copy of the Petition ofthe Com
mon Council to the House of Lords and Com
mons, which was presented to each H. use by
the Sheriffs on Thursday last. Thev ara both
in the fame words with only a variation of the
Address.
The humble PETITION ofthe Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commons of the City of
London in Common Council assembled,
Sbenuetb, ,
^^HAT this Court having taken into i:s most fe
,| rious consideration the present diftieff^d filia
tion of our fellow fuhj &s in America, are exceed
ingly alai med for the consequences of those coercive
measures, which are pursued against them-—rcea
fures that must (notwithstanding the gr at un.~, 1-
tainty of their success) eventually be productive of
new and more burthenfome taxes, t' e encre?'e of
an enormous national debt; and finally, we fear
the loss ofthe most valuable branch of our commer<v,
on which the exigence of an infinite number of in
dustrious manufacturers and mechanics entirely
depends.
Th^t hi# M^jtHy had,~ been grAcreufly pirafed,
in answer to a late humble and dutiful addiefs anl
petition to the Throne, praying a reflation of h ft -
lities with America for the purpose of obtaining
time, and thereby giving an opportunity for a brp
py and last ng reconciliation with hi sMaiehy's
American colonies, to declare that be Jbould abide
by tbefenfe oj bis Parliament, this court conceive it
to be their indifpenfinle duty, thus early in the fe'-
fion, in the mrit refy ftful manner to apply to this
Right Hen. House, that it will be pleated to a&opt
such measures for thebeding of the peßni unhap
py disputes between the Mother Counriy and the
Colonies, as may be speedy, permanent, and ho
norable.
On Thurfdav a new petition of Mr. Sayre to the
House of Commons, complaining ol an undue elec
tion for the borough of Seaford in Suff x, was pre
ferried to the House by Mr. S^wbridge, Lord Mayor
ele&, and seconded by Sir George Young.
An account of what p ffed yesterday on his Ma
jeky'sgoing to the House of Pe^.— Mr. Sa-re'g
cemrpitment to theTowet having railed P e curiofry
o' the public to an extravagant piTh, the Streets of
Westminster were crouded by ii in the morning.—
On Tuesday a hand bill, Signed; “ A Poor Mecha
nic," was distributed in great numbers, which pro
duced an answer on the following da\, intimating
that the Magistrates had provided effu&ual means to
apprehend, and bring to justice, perform attempting
to violate the laws. Fifty thousand of thef- la&
papers were distributed. Sir John Fielding's adver
tisement combined with the above circumstances to
make people imagine Somethin, vei y extraordinary
was to happen. The Middlesex Justices attended
at the house of the Guildhall, Wettminfter, at an
early hour, and about go of their constables weru
Stationed in the Court-room. Another large body
of constables placed tbemfelves at the door of the
Swan Tavern, Wedminfter-biidge. 'At a quarter
before one o'clock a body of about 40 constables
palfed thro' the Pxrk to the Palace ; and by this
time the number of people, in the Park only, could
not be lels than 25,000 ; but their looks spoke peacd
and good humour; nothing like treason, or mi fori
fion of treason.-—His Majesty left the Palace about
two; and the procession was in the following orders
two borfe grenadiers, with swords drawn, to cie^r
the way ; three state coaches and fix, filled with no
blemen and gentlemen in waiting ; a body of horta
guards; trumpets; a body of yeomen of Pa
guards; fourteen of his Majesty's footmen, two and
two; his Majetty's coach, drawn tv eig^t cream
coloured horses, with footmen on each fide ; a par
ty of horse-guards, followed by the constables alroo^
under the heels of the horses. All was quiet in t£
Park, save a few faint hiftA, and a few kill fainfoc
huzzas. At the door of the Parliament houea lit
tle biffing. When th< King drived, the guns at
Stangare weie fired, and a^am on his leaving th#
Houleand during the peri # d of bis bring tbeie,
tw/of the horse-guards paraded Parliament-brut
to fee that all was quiet. Hi' Majority wig in the
House just zo minutes, and he leturned as peacea
bly as he went. The whole number of the people
affemhled on this occasion were cßiraated at Sixty
tooufend.
If his M had been taken into custody yes
terday, it mult have been by the ia/ies; for there
were five women to three nun, the Park through.
FRIDAY O^ber 27.
Resolved and 'read Several petitions for bringing
in appeals.
(For the remainder fee the Fourth Page.)
a'ions which had been thrown out ag^inft him by
lord John Cavandifn, Mr. Broke, °Mr. Fex and
other speakers in oppofitior) his Lordship justified
the measures of Administration, foewing, by (tron,
arguments, that they were founded as much in pru
dence and wildom as the situation of affairs would
allows His Lordfllip next entered into a dhquifiti
on of the terms Whig aad Tory, and proved thrt
the present Ministers a*ed on the true principles of
Whiggifm, and that the measures sketched out in
the speech, and echoed back in the Adding, as pro
per to be offered to America, were most likely to
efh& an honourable reconciliation.
At 20 minutes after one Mr. Dunning rose. He
pointed out the illegality of introducing foreign
troops into ary part of his Majefty'sdominions,
without the consent of Parliament, and shewed the
bad tendency of such a measure, and of what evil
consequences it might hereafter be productive, weie
it now fuffered to pass into a precedent. He was
replied to by the Attorney General.
The House did n^t rife till past four o'clock on
Friday morning. Upon a division there appeared.
For the Address without any amendment 278
Against it t ng