Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-11-14 00:00:00, page 5

“ My Lord,
.<< TT is with rhe most poignant regret that I
find mvfelf greatly necessitated to demand
a total exemption from all those reftridions, which
are laid upon me by the private orders, and a ful
ler scope to exert more immediate powers, as the
only means left me to form any hopes of effecting
the great and arduous talk I have undertaken. I
have, my Lord, long known the people I have
now to deal with; and am well assured, they are
in the extent bitter enemies to all Conciliatory
measures, where they think the entrance upon
them may throw an^odium on their unanimity, or
put their public spirit to the least doubt. I had
the honour to deliver my sentiments and opinion
to your Lordfllip, before my embarkation, on
these people and their prejudices, which, to my
great astonishment, I now find most obstinately
rooted; and every day brings me new fears, that
I shall be reduced to the cruel necessity of doing
my duty to my country and my Royal Master, in
a way that will, 1 am certain, be as painful to
your Lordfllip as to myfelf, and which I have
most studiously endeavoured to avoid. Accord
ing to the express commands of my most gracious
master, which I had the honour to receive from
him before my departure, I entered on the most
lenient measures at firft, and a£led with circum
fpedion and secrecy, as my arrival added fuel to
the flame of the party, as it was universally pro
pagated and believed that I came to aR more in
my military capacity than my civil. I found the
means, my Lord, to gain the ferrets of the party,
and endeavoured, by every means to convince
some of the leaders, that I came more as a medi
ator than to enforce. I gave them to know, that
the most soothing measures would be used if they
would deserve them ;that the King desired nothing
fubje&s, and a good understanding with his Co
lonies, but<hat it was firmly resolved to gain an
honourable and just reparation for the insults of
fered, and the great disobedience to his Majesty's
government and authority; and this reparation
POSTSCRIPT to «^ Pennfyhama Packet. No, 160.
more ardently than the affection of his American
paCed in violation of that right since the year
1763; and the universal excise, so r notoriously in
compatible w th every principle of British liberty,
which has been lately substituted in the colonies
instead of the laws of customs.
Sept. 13. The following is said to be an au
thentic copy of a letter very recently received
from a General Officer some time since sent to
America, in a very important and critical fitaation,
by a noble Lord in a very high office:
(C O P Y.)
F^^^T the meeting of the Bill of Rights on
„ A ^ Tuesday last, the Gentlemen who
^ ^ compose that society took the liberty
k^^^ of recommending to the independent
' '° electors of Great-Britain, to form the
3d. You shall promote to the utmost of your
power, a full and equal representation of the
peoplein Parliament.
4th. You shall endeavour to restore annual
Parliaments.
sth. You (hall promote a Pension and a Place
bill, enabling, that any member who receives a
place, pension, contrast, lottery tickets or any other
emolument whatsoever, from the crown, or enjoys
profit from any such place, pension, &c. shall not
only vacate his feat, but be absolutely ineligible
during his continuance under such undue influence.
6th. You shall impeach the ministers, who ad
vised the violating the right of the freeholders in
the Middlesex election, and the military murders
in St. George's Fields.
7th. You (hall make ftfd enquiry into the con
duct of Judges touching Juries.
Bth. You shall make Arid enquiry into the ap
plication of the public money.
9th. You shall use your utmost endeavours to
have the resolution of the House of Commons ex
punged, by which the the Magistrates of the city
of London were arbitrarily imprisoned, for ftridly
adhering to their charter and their oaths, and also
that resolution by which a judicial record was
erased, to stop the course of justice.
10th. You (hall attend to the grievances of our
fellow-fubjeCts in Ireland, and second the com
plaints they may bring to the throne.
lith You (hall endeavour to restore to Ame
rica the eflemiil right of taxation\by reprefenta
tives of their own free election ; repealing the ads
following articles into a solemn declaration, which
the candidates whom they support, (hall be requir
ed, as the indifpenfible condition of their being
supported, to sign and leal publickly at the gene
ral meeting, or at the place of election, binding
themselves by oath to a due and sacred obser
vance of what is therein contained:
ift. You (ball confect to no' supplies without a
previous tedrefs of grievances.
2d. You (hall promote a law fubje^ing each
candidate to an oath against having used bribery,
or any other illegal means of comparing his elec
tion.
LONDO N, Aug. 30.
Wherefore, it is the opinion of this Congrefs—
that notwithstanding nothing but slavery ought
more to be deprecated than hostilities with Great-
Britain—notwithstanding the province has not the
most distant design of attacking, annoying, or
molesting his Majesty's troops aforefaid, but on
the other hand will confider and treat every at
tempt of the kind, as well as all measures tending
to prevent a reconciliation between Britain and
the Colonies as the highest degree of enmity to
the province. Nevertheless there is great reason,
from the considerations aforefaid, to be apprehen
sive of the most fatal confequenees; and that the
province may be in some degree provided against
the fame, and under full persuasion that the mea
sures expressed in the following resolves are per
fectly consistent with such resolves of the conti
nental Congress as have been communicated to us:
It is Resolved, and hereby recommended to the
several companies of militia in this province, who
have not already chosen and appointed officers,
that they meet forthwith and elect officers to
command their refpe&ive companies; and that the
officers so chosen affembla as soon as may be ; and
where said officers (hall judge the limits of the
present regiments too extensive, that they divide
them and fettle and determine their limits, and
must be gained; this return to obedience must be
established by means the most coerfive and severe;
but such is their fatal obstinacy, that every effort
for conciliation was refafed. As the military
force was indeed feared, the cunning and policy
of these people immediately suggested the means
of debauching the soldiers from their duty, in
which they had too great fuccels, before I could
have the power of exerting my authority in flop
ping a defection, which a Ihort time would have
rendered very general. I have, my Lord, offered
such terms to these deluded men, as are infinitely
more lenient than they deserve, and which, should
they refufe accepting, I am determined to make
some very,fevere examples, which I am very cer
tain will prove the ultimate resource I (hall reap
any benefit from, refpe&ing the intent I am to
accomplish. 1 must assure your Lordship, that [
shall have occasion for a considerable reinforce
ment of troops, on whose duty and obedience de
pendance can be placed; and the more immediate
the fuppply, the more effectual service it will ren
der me. Your Lordfllip's judgment will point out
the nioft proper, but I could wi(h that . .
may be preferred, as my intimate knowledge with
them leaves no doubt of their affection to the ser
vice. I have peafure; however, of affirming to
your Lordfllip, that a confiderable'number of the
most refpeCtahle people here are well affected to
his Majesty, and have very much distinguished
themselves in opposition to the most extravagant
schemes of the party, which is indeed a most vio
lent and large majority. I have, my Lord, to
the utmost extent of my power, executed thole
private matters given to me in charge by your
Lordship, and by their success am still more con
firmed in your Lord/hip's profound political re
searches, and extensive knowledge of mankind in
general. I need not use argument to assure your
Lordship, that I am most firmly attached to an
honourable difeharge of my commission, or that I
have the honour to be, My Lord,
lit Provincial CO NGRESS, October 26, 1774.
WHEREAS in consequence of the present
unhappy dilputes between Great-Britain
and the Colonies, a formidable body of troops,
with warlike preparations of every fort, are already
arrived at, and others destined for the metropolis
of this province; and the exprefled design of their
being sent is to execute acts of the British Parlia
ment, utterly subversive of the coriftitution of rhe
province: And whereas his Excellency General
Gage has attempted by his troops to disperse the
inhabitants of Salem, whilst afTembTed to consult
naeafures for preferring their freedom; and to
lubjugate the province to arbitrary government:
—And proceeding still to more unjuftifiible and
alarming lengths, has fortified against the country
the capital of the province, and thus greatly en
dangered the lives, liberties and properties of its
oppressed citizens: Invaded private property, by
unlawfully seizing and retaining large quantities
of ammunition in the arsenal at Bottom, and sun
dry pieces of ordnance in the fame town, commit
ted to the custody of his troops the arms, ammu
nition, ordnance and warlike stores of all forts,
provided for the use of the province, and by all
possible means endeavoured to place the province
entirely in a defencelefs state; —at the fame time
having neglected and altogether disregarded assu
rances from this Congress of the pacific disposition
of the inhabitants of the province, and intreaties
that he should cease from measures, which tended
to prevent a restoration ofharmony between Great-
Britain and the Colonies.
BOST O N, Offober 31.
Your Lordfnip's, in all sincerity,
proceed to ele& field officers to command the ref
pedive regiments so formed; and that the field
officers so elected, forthwith endeavour to enlist
one quarter at least of the number of the refpeCtive
companies, and form them into companies of fifty
private at the least, who shall equip and hold
themselves in readiness to march at the shortest
notice; and that each and every company so form
ed, choose a Captain and two Lieutenants to com
mand them on any necessary and emergent service:
And that the said Captain and subalterns to be so
elected, form the Lid companies into battalions,
to consist of nine companies each; and that the
Captains and subalterns of each battalion so form
ed proceed to eleCt field officers to command the
fame. And this Congress doth most earnestly re
commend that all the aforefaid elections be pro
ceeded in, and made with, due deliberation and
general regard to the public service.
Allo Resolved, That as the security of the lives,
liberties and properties of the inhabitants of this
province depends under Providence on their know
ledge and (kill in theart military, and in their being
properly and effectually armed and equipt; if any
of said inhabitants are not provided with arms and
ammunition according to law they immediately pro
vide themselves forthwith ; and that they use their
utmost diligence to perfect themselves in Military
(kill; and that if any town or diftriCt within the
province is not provided with the full town stock of
arms and ammunition according to law, the Select
men of such town or diftrid take effectual care
without delay to provide the fame.
A true Extract from the minutes,
Benjamin Lincoln, Secry.
In Provincial CONGRESS, October 2^, 1774.
WHEREAS this province has not as yet
received from the Continental Congress
such explicit directions, refpe&ing nonimporta
tion and non-confumptien agreements, as are ex
pected ; and whereas the greatest part of the in
habitants of this colony have entered into non
importation and consumption agreements, the good
effects of which are very confpicuous.—Therefore,
Resolved, That this Congress approve of the
said agreements, and earnestly recommend to all
the inhabitants of this colony, ftri&ly to conform
to the fame, until the further fenle of the Conti
nental or of this Provincial Congress is made pub
lic. And further, this Congress highly applaud
the conduct of those patriotic merchants, who
have generously refrained from importing British
goods since the commencement of the cruel Boston
port-bill; at the fame time reflect with pain on
the conduct of those who have sordidly preferred
their private interest to the filiation of their fuf
fering country, by continuing to import as usual ;
and recommend it to the inhabitants of this pro
vince, that they discourage the conduct offuch im
porters, by refufing to purchase any article what
soever of them. A true extract from the minutes,
Benjamin Lincoln, Secry.
In Provincial CONGRESS, OR. 28, 1774,
If has be^n recommended by the Congress,
1 hat whereas the monies heretofore granted
and ordered to be afTeffed by the General Court
of this province, and not paid into the province
treasury, the feme should not be paid to the Hon.
Harrison Gray, Esq ; for reasons most obvious.
Therefore, Resolved, That Henry Gardner,
Esq; of Stow, be, and hereby is appointed Receiv
er-General until the further order of this or some
other Congress, of House of Representatives of
this province ; whose buYinefs it (hall be to re
ceive all such monies as (hall be offered to be paid
into his hands, to the use of the province, by the
several eondables, collectors or other persons, by
Order of the several towns and diftrids, and to
give his receipt for the fame. And it is hereby
recommended to the several towns or dittricts
within this province, that they immediately call
town and diftriClmeetings, and give directions to
all constables, collectors and other persons, who
may have any part of the province tax of such
town or diftriCt in their refpe&jve hands or posses
sions, in consequence of any late order and direc
tions of any town or diftriCt, that he or they im
mediately pay the fame to the said Henry Gard
ner, Esq; for the purpose aforefaid. And it is also
recommended, that the several towns and diftrids
in said directions fignify and exprefly engage to
such constable, collector or other person, as shall
have the said monies in their hands, that their
paying the fame to Henry Gardner, Esq; afore
faid, and producing his receipt therefor, shall ever
hereafter operate as an effectual difeharge to such
person for the fame. And it is hereby recom
mended, that the like order be observed refpeCting
the tax ordered by the Great and General Court
at their last May fefiion. And it is farther re
commended to all fheriffs, deputy-fheriffs and
coroners, who may have in their hands any mo
nies belonging to the province, that they imme
diately pay the fame to the laid Receiver-General,
taking his receipt therefor. And the laid Henry
Gardner, Esq; the Receiver-General, (hall be
accountable to this or some other Congress, or
Houle of Representatives of this province.