Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-05-16 00:00:00, page 2

Thefollowing is his b^jffs message, Gisich was
pt :ted to the Houfeof Commons las Monday.
“ his .jell; upon information of the unwar
.rantable pia& cos which hate been lately concert
ed and carried on in North-America, and parti
cularly of the violences and outrageous proceed
ings ot the town and port of Boston, in the pro
vince of Mafiachufett s-Bay, with a view of ob
ftru&ing rhe commerce of this kingdom, and upon
giounds and pretences immediately subversive of
the constitution thereof, has thought fit to lay the
whole matter before his two houEs'of Parliament,
fully confiding aS well in their zeal for the main
tenance of his Majefty'§ authority, as in their at
tachment to the common interest and welfare of all
his dominions, that they will not only enable his
Majesty effectually to take such measures, as may
be molt likely to put an immediate stop to the
present disorders, but will allo take into their molt
Grams consideration, what further regulations and
permanent provisions may be needfoy to be eltab
inhed, ror better lecuring the execution of the
laws, and the just dependance of the colonies up
on the crown and Parliament of Great-Britain."
Ytiterday the Speaker took the Chair at half past
two o clock; very little private business was done,
zit 25 minutes after 3 o'clock, the clerks began
to read the letters to and from America, confiding
of 109 in number, which took up three hours
heart:; ~ The House broke up at half past 6 o'clock,
and so,mined until Monday next, when the
American business will come on. No debates ensued.
jhie gallery doors were locked all day, and the
k ys. delivered to the Speaker; 110 perlons, except
the two Secretaries from the trade and plantation
O.WCC, were admitted in the gallery.
An c^pr Is was on Thuilday sent from the Ad
r.:.ratty onice to Portsmouth, with orders for fitting
for fea:a,met lately fcveral frigates, which are
intendedto go with the men of war already appoint
ed for the American Nation;
HOUSE of COMMON S, Friday, March 11.
I he Speaker took the Chair at 3 o'clock : L.
North came in about a quarter after. The com
mon business being over, the American papers
\~cbcgmTto be read. It appeared from them
that the town of Bolton had Inch a # fhare in the
tranladtions relative to the tea-iliips, that it advan
ces into real and adual rebellion. That the peo
ple of that town and country had actually made
and levied war on the legal authority of his Ma
jetty, derived not from custom, or prelcription
only, but from the absolute and explicit letter of
various ads of Parliament; that this rebellion had
proceetfed to such lengths, that it flowed from
avowed principles or rehdance, superiority and
independence ; and that it was the opinion of Go
vernors, and other writers of thole letters and
dilpatchos, that if affairs in that part of the world
were left co their prefers fixation, all legal go
vernment would be lubverted, and the independ
ancy of the colonies be established.
A correspondent observes the willies of some
writers in the newspapers against our taking any
c,oncife measures with the Americans, alks how the
Parliament can 'poffibly decline a concise plan of
operation, when the colonies have left them no al
ternative ? ihe inhabitants of Bolton have not
waiiT for the resolution of the Mother-Country.
EGorethe ^termination cf the Mother-Country
was entered Upon, they proceeded to hostilities;
they huC. the firft blow; hint our I'hips out of
our ova ha;hours, maltreated our fubjeds and de
ft.ryo. our property. Ifwe can fit tamely down
u. :erijuries like tnefe; ifwe can put up with a
ft: ..; nay a downright threshing fiom our own
fubjeHs, and ifwe can take from them what the
great A power in Europe would tremble to offer
us, tht;e is an instant end of England; and out
01 reject to what the Britilh name formerly has
been, the feat of government should be immedi
rttd, removed to Maffachufett's-Bay, since the
ple of that province aiethe only pcopleon earth
who could trample on our once boasted spirit with
ferity.
March 14. All forcible as well as pacific mea-
Gres will be nugatory and ineffectual with the
P bon rebels, unless their Charter is vacated. It
is me spring and source of all their insolent and
m iuilifiab-.e afts. The Council, being chosen by
he people yearly, must vote according to their
rfafure, so that, in fad, they are not Councillors
of the King, but the Tools of the fabfion. The
people of the Maflachufetts province are also over
represented ; the number ought to be reduced to a
fourth part of the prefect. Boston, instead of fend
ing four members, Ihould fend but two at most,
ore would do better. Without this previous ne
cessary step, every other attempt to bring them to
leafon will be inflammatory, whether the method
be gentle or vigorous, it will only be pruning and
watering the tree of sedition, instead of striking at
its root.
March Is. Yesterday Lord North made the
following motion in the House of Commons,
“ That leave be given to bring in a bill, for the
immediate removal of the officers concerned in the
collection and management of his Majesty's duties
and outturns from the town of Boston, in the pro
vince of Massachusetts-Bay, in North-America,
and to difeontinue the landing and difeharging,
lading and Dipping of goods, wares and merchan
dize, at the laid town of Boston, or within the
ha.bcur thereof."
Lord North fopported the motion in a speech
of near an hour. He was Supported by Mr. R.
Fuller, Mr. Cavendish, Capt. Phipps, Mr. C. Fox,
Col Barre, Governor Pownal, and Mr. Calvert.
The motion was strongly opposed by Col. Jen
rfmgs, Nr. Dempfter, Mr. Sawbridge, Mr. Byihg,
Nr. Dowdefwell, and Lord Cavendish.
On Friday next the whole House will refofye
itfelf into a committee for a further consideration
of American affairs.
From the Whitehall EveningTost,
of March 15.
Sulfaace of the American papers read before the
House of Commons on Friday last, with remarks.
H E%E papers consist of copies and extracts
l of letters from the commander of the forces
aid from the several Governors in America ; of
threats and prophetic warnings to the gentlemen
to whom the Tea was consigned ; narratives
of tranfaftions; of copies of letters from the
several Consignees at Boston to a ringleader of
the faction in that town; of votes of the town of
Boston, previous to the arrival of the Tea; of a
petition of the Consignees to the Council of Mas
sachusetts, praying, “ that they and their pro
perty might be taken under their proteaion," with
the absolute denial of the Council (observe, cf his
Mayfly's Council) to afford the least support or
abidance, or even a promise of it ; of notes from
the India House ; of letters from the Admiral,
commanding in Boston harbour, and front Lieut.
Col. Leslie, of the 64th regiment, in barracks at
Castle-William; of a 'proclamation of the Gover
nor against the factious meetings of the inhabitants,
which they treated with ineffable contempt ; of
copies of treasonable papers printed in Ameri
ca; of a copy of the tranfa&ions of the Maflachu
fetts Council, condemning the deftrudion of the
Tea, and advising legal prosecutions against the
perpetrators, which they well knew no person
would dare to carry on, and expressing their own
. abhorrence of the unjuflifiable deed, although they
would not take any previous step to prevent it,
even when petitioned for that very purpose. So
far relative to the Massachusetts.
The papers written and printed from the other
colonies are exad of the fame nature. They are
the regular official information of the different
Governors, t'ranfmitted to the American Secreta
ry of State, with copies of all the inflammatory
fugitive papers, hand-bills, alarms, resolves of
town meetings, and minutes of Council: In short,
the whole budget of abuse that has been vented
against Parliament and the Ministry, from New-
England to the Carolinas, was read to themselves
on Saturday last.
As there was no outrage committed but at Bos
ton, it would be fuperfluous to narrate all the in
cendiary scribbling and printing in the different
colonies; it may fuffice just to observe, that all
the printed bills read were fully larded with the
phrases of “ desperate plans of delpotifm," “ mi
n.fterial designs to ruin their liberties," “ slavery,"
" galling fetters," “ forging infernal chains,"
" popery," “ despotic rule," &c.
1 he Massachusetts Council appeared in a very
Jefuitical point of view : They would not give the
least assistance or protection to the Consignees, or
to the East-India Company's property : They
would not even take into consideration the land
ing and securing the Teas. By their replies it
would seem that they rather rejoiced in the op
position formed by the faction ; and if they did
not openly range themselves on its fide, at least
by their neutrality, and the purport of their an
swer, it was Efficiently evident, that they did not
even wish to interpose as mediators. The Con
fgnees prayed " to resign themselves, and the
property entrusted to their care, to the Council,
not only as their guardians and protestors, but
a!fo those of the people at large." But these wor
thy gentlemen thought proper to have nothing to
do with them ; and rather hinted that the Tea
scheme was calculated to difeurb the peace of the
town and province.
The letters from the different Governors contain
a minute and regular detail of the state cf their
different provinces, but particularly of the capitals
of each, from the firft intelligence of the Teas
being Shipped at home to its arrival in America,
and return back or deftru&ion.
Above all the rest of the advices, Governor
Hutchinson's letters are most precise, exatt and
circumstantial. He endeavoured both to sooth and
intimidate the fadion. It was he himfelf who ad
vised the Consignees to apply to Council for their
perlopal fafety, and security of their property; for
his two eldest sons were two of the Consignees.
He also, during the heighth of their turbulent,
unlawful and seditious affcmblings, before the de
ftrudion of the Tea, sent the Sheriff to the town
meeting at Boston, commanding them to break up
and depart. When the Sheriff, Mr. Greenleaf,
arrived in the Hall, and intimated, " that he had
a paper to read from the Governor," the faction
put it to vote, “ whether he fliould be permitted
to read it or not ?" After some debate, permis
sion was granted, and the Sheriff accordingly pro
nounced the Governor's orders for them to disperse.
The instant he had finished, the fadion saluted him
with an universal hiss, which continued, and ac
companied him out of doors. The proclamation
was afterwards published in the Gazette, from
whence it was copied into the other papers, and
criticifed and commented upon with every mark of
contempt and indignity. Before the arrival of the
Tea, the Governor, who is very insinuating, ap
peared to have taken every measure that reason
could suggest, both for the fafety of the India
property and the fafety of the Consignees. The
principal leader of the fadion was applied to; lie
commanded the Governor's company of cadets, but
it was not to be expeded that the leader of the
fadion would muster the cadets to oppose his own
party and his own plots. The applications, of
course, had no effed. Perhaps acquiescence was
not expeded, though it might be deemed proper,
in point of duty, to make the request, or rather
to issue the order.
By Governor Hutchinson's letters, the people of
the town, or the faction, obliged Mr. Rotch, the
owner of Capt. Hail's veflel, to demand a clear
ance outwards from the Custom-house, in order
that the Tea might be carried back. Mr. Rotch
resisted a long time, but his person being threaten
ed, nay his life, made him comply. The Custom
house refufed to grant him an illegal clearance.
The Governor was then applied to for a pass,
without which the veiTel would have been flopped
at Castle William; but this was also refufed to
Mr. Rotch, because it was totally inconfittent with
the duty of a Governor to grant a pass to a vessel,
that had not been regularly cleared at the Custom
house. This negotiation, or infurre ^ion, or re
bellion, came to a crisis about the middle of De
cember. The faaion, fitting in town-meeting,
heard the account of the refufais above-,mentioned
from Mr. Rotch. It appears they expelled such
answers, and were prepared for the e/ent; for
immediately after Ms. Rotch's account, signals
were given both from within and without the meet
ing. A number of men, disguised, boarded the
vcffels containing the Tea, and, as it is laid, threw
the whole into the sea, though some unbelievers
may think not a little of it might be purloined, and
that Madam Thetis had not so strong a dilli of
Tea that evening as some people may imagine.
This is a recolleded summary of what was heard
with regard to the fads as they happened in regu
lar progression. The opinions of the writers, as
far as may be judged from what is exprefled in
their letters, now come to be mentioned.
Upon the face of the whole tranfadion, in every
colony where the Tea arrived, it is evident that
the Governors aded with the utmost prudence and
circumfpedion. It happened that the ship bound
for Boston was the firlt that reached her destined
port: Every civil precaution seems to have been
tried, to preserve the peace of the town ; his Ma
jesty's Council, the cadets and the militia, were
all applied to, without effed ; the Sheriff read a
proclamation to the fadious, commanding them to
dissolve their assembly, and this proclamation was
immediately afterwards inferred in the Gazette:
Both the Sheriff and the proclamation were treat
ed with insult. The people of Boston seem, on
this occasion, to have been fairly tried; the Go
vernor seems to have taken, from the beginning,
a determination not to call either on the naval or
military force, then in the Bay and at Caftle-Illand.
The loyal and peaceable people of that town were
altogether left to the exercise of their own judg
ment, and they have given all the world a notable
proof of it, by wantonly destroying a valuable pro
perty, when all they had to do was to keep firm
in their resolution not to buy or drink any of it;
they will, however, pay for their outrageous pal
time ; they must make good the loss ; and they
will feel the indemnification the more bitter, as
they must pay for a commodity which they declare
they did not taste, and which they pretend to abhor.
The other Governors, after the accomplishment
of the Boston exploit, wifely agreed to let the Tea
be carried back, as what had already happened
was fufficient to arouse the English nation and
Parliament ; and by this prudent conduct, they
put it out of the power of the people under their
government to act in the fame foolifh and frantic
manner as the people of Boston.
As to Governor Hutchinson, if it had not been
for his resolution not to irritate the people by call
ing in the assistance of the navy, the Tea would
have been saved ; but as the Bostonians always
made great complaints of the interposition of the
navy and army, and not only declared, but swore,
they had always begun every disturbance, every
rational man will be glad to find that their Gover
nor gave them no such plea on this occasion: They
were left to their own will and pleafare, and be
haved ten times worse than ever.
It appears, by all the letters from America, that
nothing can be done there by officers, civil, mili
tary or naval, to effectuate there-establishment of
peace in that country; they can make no move
ment, even the most trifling, but what is exclaim
ed against by the licentious Bostonians, as an in
fringement of their liberties. They have therefore
remained, for these three last years, in total in
activity, submitting to the insults of faction with
the most patient endurance, in hopes that Parlia
ment, by an alteration and regulation of absurd
charters, will at last relieve them, and all the rest
of his Majesty's good fubje&s in the colonies.
Governor Hutchinson's fettled opinion is," That
no efforts in the colonies by any body of men,
civil or military, can remove the evils that now
reign amongst them. It is Parliament, and Par
liament only, which can restore that turbulent
country to peace and order out of confufion."
And it is said that his letters, for these fix years
past, have uniformly inculcated and held forth the
fame dodrine.
By the bri, Concord, Capt. Dawson, from
Poole, the Jhip Sampson, Capt. Coupar,
from London, and the Jhip Grace, Capt.
Chambers, from Bristol, arrived at New-
York, ive have the following advices.
LONDO N, March 19.
IT is to be hoped the wisdom of government will
adopt some more lenient, effectual, and con
stitutional measures towards the Bostonians than
the argument of military force, for who knows to
what lengths a people driven to desperate opposition
may run ? Be the fuccefles what they will on either
fide, the loss is a national one, and both sides,
like a divided family, will at once feel the effects,
as being equally injured by triumph or fubjedion.
The American cause certainly buffers for want
of Lord Chatham's presence; but he is too lame
to take any step in the business.
March 26. The Ruffian Ambassador waited up
on Lord North on Thursday, and acquainted him
that he had received certain intelligence from bis
Court of the general arming of the French in the
Mediterranean sea.
Yesterday Earl Percy took leave of his Majesty,
and this day will set off for Ireland to join his re
giment, and from thence to North-America.
It is said a certain assembly were never so pozed
by any public question, as on the present occasion;
when to save or destroy their best inter efts is become
the fubjed of debate.
HOUSE cf COMMONS, March 25.
This day a petition from Borland, Ejq; ^as
offered to be presented by Mr. Crofbie, in behalf of
the province and Council of Maffachufett's Bay, in
New-Englani, which produced a foort but warm
debate, whether the said petition fl-ould be then re
ceived, and the question being put the House divided,
/lyes, 40: Noes, 107.
after which another petition Was presented by the
Lord Mayor, in behalf of all the natives of North
rimerica. It was' ordered to lie on the table.
The order of the day for the third reading of the
Boston port bill being then read, a very warm debate
endued, which continued till half pafl eight oc:och,
when the queflion being put, it was carriedby a great
majority without a divijivn.
Mi. C. Fox prpfd one or two teffrg amend
ments relative to the dates, which were agreed to.
Mr. Dowdf well fob for near an hour, and ofer
ed two long amendments, which were rejected. Lord
North went into a general defence of th^ principle of
the bill, and answered fcveral of Mr. Dowdefwelfs
objeCions with great ability. Mr. Eelibore Ellis
observed, that if thefepreme power was in the Mo
ther Country, rue had likewfe the right of taxation,
for they were inseparable. Ms. Burhe dwelt much
on the fatal and bloody confquence< such a measure
might produce, and that probably faxe of our invete
rate foreign enemies might interpose, and we Jbouhl
at once find ourselves involved in both a foreign and a
civil war. Mr. A. Bacon jpoke oj the detriment it
would be of to the trade and commerce of this country.
Mr. C. Cooper contended t hat the bill was a most le
nient, and, he hoped, a salutary Nil, and thought
that those who wished well to the Bostonians, foould
be very glad that it flopped where it did. Mr. T.
Town,Lend (poke much in favour of the bill; and
Mr. Sawbridge and Lord fohn Cavendish against
it. Lord North in reply said, that he could not, nor
would not pretend to predif iwhat the event of the
bill won 'd be, whether bloodfoed, or whether it might
affeft our trade and commerce; but he thought that
neither Par lament nor the King's servants could
fit fill and do nothing till they hear what punfoment
the Bostonians will approve of; nor could he think
that bringing an aflion would be a proper or efficaci
ous measure; and as to the gentleman (Mr. Burke)
fayinga foreign power might interpose, and occasion
the loss of the colonies ; are we then, concluded he,
to forbear till that event is likely to happen, or take
the opportunity in a season of perfefk tranquillity to
afert ourjuft rights ? Mr. Sawbridgefaid, that the
minifler might hate done this, or this, and that per
nicious measure he had adopted. Lord North in re
ply said, he was fully fatisfied of the honourable gen
tleman's attachment and regard to prerogative, but he
did not choose to proceed on that alone, when he con'd
come to Parliament for advice, not grope in the dark,
when be could walk in open day.
From //^London Gazette, of April 5, 1774.
Published by Authority.
THE following a& of Parliament, paHed in
the present felons, and which takes place
on the First of June next, is printed for the in
formation of the merchants of Great-Britdin and
Ireland trading to North-America, viz.
An all to difeontinue in such manner and for such
time as are therein mentioned, the landing and
difeharging, lading or flipping of goods, wares,
or merchandize, at the town, and within the har
bour of Boston, in the province of Maffaebufetts
Bay, in North- America.
WHEREAS dangerons commotions and in
furredions have been fomented and railed in
the town of Boston, in the province of Massachu
setts Bay, in New-England, by divers illaffe&ed
persons, to the subversion of his Majesty's govern
ment, and to the utter deftrudion of the public
peace, and good order of the said town, in which
commotions and infurredtions certain valuable car
goes ofTeas, being the property of the East-India
Company, and on board certain vessels lying with
in the bay or harbour of Boston, were seized and
destroyed: And whereas, in the present condition
of the said town and harbour, the commerce of his
Majesty's fubjeds cannot be fafely carried on there,
nor the customs payable to his Majesty duly coB
le&ed; and it is therefore expedient that the offi
cers of his Majesty's customs should be forthwith
removed from the said town : May it please your
Majesty that it may be enabled; and be it enabled
by the King's most excellent Majesty, by anJ with
the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parlia
ment assembled, and by the authority of the fame,
That from and after the firft day of June, one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-sour, it (hall
not be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever
to lade or put, or cause er procure to be laden or
put, off or from any quay, wharf, or other place,
within the said town of Boston, or in or upon any
part of the shore or the Bay commonly called the
harbour of Boston, between a certain headland or
point called Nahant Point, on the eastern fide of
the entrance into said Bay, and a certain other
headland or point commonly called Alderton Point,
on the western fide oftheentrance into the said Bay,
or in or upon any island, creek, landing, place,
bank, or other place, within the said Bay or head
lands, into any (hip, vessel, lighter, boat, or bot
tom, any goods, wares, or merchandize whatso
ever, to be transported or carried into any other
country, province, or place whatsoever, or into any
other part of the said province of the Massachusetts
Bay, in New-England; or to takeup, difeharge,
or lay on land, or cause or procure, to be taken up,
difeharged, or laid on land, within the said town,
or in or upon any of the places aforefaid, out of
any boat, lighter, ship, vcfel, or bottom, any*
goods, wares, or merchandize whatsoever, to be
brought from any other country, province, or
place, or any other part of the said province, cf
the MafTachufetts Bay in New-England, upon pain
of the forfeiture cf the said goods, wares, and
merchandize, and cf the said boat, lighter, ship,
veffcl, or other bottom into wh : ch the fame shall be
put, or outofwhich the fame (ball be taken, and
of guns, ammunition, tackle, furniture, and
ftoresj in or belonging to the fame:' And if anv
such goods, wares, or merchandize, fhatt witidh
the said town, or in any the places aforefaid, be
laden or. taken in from the shore into any barge,
hoy, lighter, wherry, or boat, from or out of
any ship or vessel coming in and arriving from anv
other country or province,ol other past of the pro
vince of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England,
such barge, hoy, lighter, wherry, or boat, fhaß
be forfeited and loft.
And be it further enabled by the authority afore
faid, that if any warfinger, or keeper of any whaif,
crane, or quay, or their servants, or ary of them,
shall take up or land, or knowingly fufier to be ta
ken up or landed, or shall ship off ot Infer to be
waterborne, at or from any cf their said wharfs,
cranes, or quays, any such goods, wares, or mer
chandize ; in every such case, all and every v haif
inger, and keeper of such vE^E, crane, cr quay.