Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-11-28 00:00:00, page 5

Yesterday the Lord Mayor, the two Sheriff's, Ai
dermen Wilkes and Sawbridge, and a number of the
freeholders ofMiddlefex, met at the Mile End Assem
bly room, in order to nominate proper persons to repre
sent the said county in the ensuing Parliament. The
firft business was to determine on the different articles
that the candidates to be put in nomination should sub
scribe, which were to the following purport: That, if
chosen, they should endeavour to obtain a bill for the
shortening the duration of Parliament, a bill for the
exclusion of Placemen and Pensioners, a bill for the
more equal representation of the people; and a bill to
repeal the four late a&s refpe&ing the Americans.
The Sheriffs asked the Freeholders if they were
willing their candidates should be bound to the afore
faid articles; when about fix persons held up their
hands against the question. This being decided in the
affirmative, John Wilkes, Esq; was nominated as a
candidate, and all hands held up for him, except five
or fix. The Sheriffs next put up Serjeant Glynn, who
had every hand held up in his favour. Upon Mr.
Sawbridge's motion the two candidates were jointly
put up, which was received with the greatest applause.
Lastly the Sheriffs enquired if any other gentleman
was mentioned, but no person seconded the motion.
The nomination being thus concluded, Mr, Wilkes
assured the Freeholders he was ready to bird himfelfby
the terms they proposed, as he agreed to every one of
them. He thanked the Freeholders for that farther
mark of their approbation, and begged leave to assure
them every part of his condud should be uniformly such
as he hoped would continue that confidence, as he was
determined through life to pursue the fame great end.
This speech was received with applause.
It is now generally known that Lord Mansfield's vi
sit to the French court is entirely a political one. Some
particular matters were entrusted to him, which could
not be committed to the care of any other person.
Sept. 29. No more troops will be sent from Ireland
to America, but from Great-Britain. This regulation
has been occasioned by the great desertions of the Irish
regiments under General Gage.
This being Michaelmas day the Right Hon, the Lord
Mayor, attended by the Aldermen, Sheriffs, Recorder,
and other city officers met at Guildhall, where the two
Sheriffs mounted the Hustings and proceeded to the
eledion of a Lord Mayor. The several Aldermen
below having been separately put up, the Lord Mayor
was then nominated, when the show of hands appeared
in favor of his Lordship and Mr. Alderman Wilkes ;
but a poll was demanded in behalf of Sir James Efdaile,
and Mr. Alderman Kennet, which begun immediately,
Ohl. 1. At the elofe of the poll for Lord Mayor this
day, the number was as follows:
Lord Mayor, — 605
Alderman Wilkes, — 602
Sir J. Efdaile, — 588
Alderman Kennet, — 566
We hear administration intends to be before-hand
with the patriots, by bringing in abill next session of
Parliament to make a final settlement of American af
fairs, if the Colonies furnifh them with any pretence
to save their honor.
From the London Gazette, Oflober I, 1774.
By the KI N G.
A PROCLAMATION
For dlffolvir.g the present Parliament, and declaring the
calling cf another.
GEORGE R.
, ^*^"R HEREAS we have thought fit, by
^ M and with the advice of our privy council,
*. W * to dissolve the present Parliament, which
now stands prorogued to Tuesday the
fifteenth day of November next: Wedo,
for that end, publish this our Royal Proclamation ; and
hereby dissolve the said Parliament accordingly. And
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights,
Citizens, and Burgesses, and the Commissioners for
Shires and Burghs, of the House of Commons, are
difeharged from their meeting and attendance, on
Tuesday the said fifteenth day of November next. And
we being desirous and resolved, as soon as may be, to
meet our people, and to have their advice in Parlia
ment, do hereby make known to all our loving fubjeds,
our Royal will and pleasure to call a new Parliament,
And do hereby further declare, that, with the advice
of our Privy Council, we have this day given order to
cur Chancellor of Great-Britain, to issue our writs, in
due form, for calling a new Parliament; which writs
are to bear tefte on Saturday the firft day of Odober
next, and to be returnable on Tuesday the Twenty
ninth day of November following.
Given at our Court at St. James's, the thirtieth day of
September, one thoufandfeven hundred and feventy
four, in the fourteenth year of our reign.
It is affined that government is much deceived in the
conduct of the Americans; their cool, deliberate and
prudent measures, having confounded their foes, and
gained them many friends.
POSTSCRIPT to the Pennfrlvania Packet. November 29.
By the Boston Packet, Capt. Shephard, arrived at
Salem, from London, cue have the following frejh
advices, viz.
LONDO N, September 27.
A freeholder now moved, that the gentlemen to be
returned as proper persons to represent the county in
Parliament, should sign a declaration to the following
effect: That they would endeavour to obtain ads for
shortening the duration of Parliament; for limitting the
number of placemen and pensioners, &c. and to procure
the repeal of the Quebec ad, the Boston port bill, the
bill for the administration of justice in the province of
the Massachusetts, and the bill to fubjed persons offend
ing in America to be brought to England for trial. Mr.
Sawbridge proposed, in addition hereto, that the can
didates should alfc sign a general declaration of their
principles, as being founded on those of the revolution.
After some debate, the last article was put separately,
and when it had appeared that it was the general sense
of the freeholders that this article should make part of
the declaration to be signed by the candidates, a gentle
man objected to the proceedings as irregular, insisting
that the other part of the proceedings should have been
firft proposed. This occasioned some hesitation, till
Mr. Sawbridge set the company right, by informing
them, that it was a rule in the House of Commons,
when any question was proposed, and an amendment
afterwards offered, to submit the amendment firft, and
then the whole question as amended.
The whole conditions were therefore now submitted
to the opinion of the freeholders, which, with only
seven dissenting hands, were, that the candidates should
sign a declaration to the purport above mentioned.—
Mr. Wilkes declared his perfect readiness to sign the
paper, and said, that Mr. Glynn had seen all of it but
the proposed amendment, which he was likewise rea
dy to sign. There seemed to be no doubt of Mr.
Glynns equal readiness to sign the declaration re
fpeding the revolution principles; and it was proposed,
firft the name of each candidate separately, and then
both together, “ That John Wilkes and John Glynn,
Efqrs. be proper persons to represent this county in
Parliament, on condition of their signing the above
mentioned obligation ; to which ail hands, except a
bout five, readily assented, with the loudest plaudits.
Mr. Wilkes informed the freeholders that Mr. Glynn
would have paid his refpeds to them, but he was in
disposed with the gout.
Fhere was a considerable share of diversion during
the bifinefs of the day. One gentleman was violent
against the candidates signing any paper that might in
fluence them to procure a repeal of the Boston port
bill; insisting that the Americans, who receive the
protection of this country, should pay a partof the pub
lic expences, though some people said he, " has no
right to tax the Americans :"—“ Nor have they," was
issued from twenty mouths. This last gentleman was
very angry, because some goods he had sent to Boston
were returned on his hands.
Mr. Mafcall was very warm. He conjured his
countrymen, by all that was dear and sacred, to pre
serve their rights and liberties. Speaking of the Que
bec bill, he recognized the old prostitute, the whore
of Babylon, and mentioning the Premier, called him
" the butcher of a Minister." “ Aye, (cried he) he
is RELIGIONIS IT LIBERTATIS ANGLIC CARNIFEX,
and thats his true character.
The Lord Mayor moved for the thanks of the free
holders to the Sheriff's for their candid conduct, which
were put by Mr. Alderman Sawbridge, and voted una
nimously; and thus ended the tranfadioas of the day;
—a large number being present considering the unfa
vourablenefs of the weather.
It is now expected that a general change of the Mi
nistry will take place before the meeting of Parliament.
The sadden dissolution of parliament has given rile
to a great variety of conjectures, among which are the
following : 1 hat it is principally occasioned by the pre
sent critical situation of affairsin North-America, which
renders the advice of a new Parliament necessary.
" At twelve o'clock about forty freeholders were
afTembled, who had paid each one (hilling for admit
tance. They now began to come in fafter, and several
gentlemen refufed to pay the admittance money. At
this instant the two Sheriffs arrived, and a contest arose
about paying the previous (hilling, which at length sub
sided on the fheriffs agreeing to pay ten guineas for the
use of the room, and those gentlemen who had paid re
ceived their money again, and the doors were thrown
open. About one o'clock the fheriffs took the chair,
and Mr. Sheriff Sayre having apologized for the ob
ftru&ion that had happened, which arose from a mis
understanding between the under fheriff and the matter
of the house: The business began.
Mr. Sayre, in a very handsome speech, reminded
the freeholders of the important occasion of their being
afTembled; he expatiated on the rights and privileges
of Englishmen, and hoped they would, while they
were yet at liberty to assemble, nominate such men for
their representatives in Parliament as would be zealous
to transmit their rights to the latest posterity.
Mr. SherifF Lee then desired leave to read a letter,
which intimated the wish of several gentlemen, to know
whether persons pofTefTed of freeholds in London, had
a rightto vote as freeholders ofMiddlefex, and request
ing that the question might be agitated at the Mile-End
meeting; but no person in company avowing the letter,
the matter fuhfided,
Account of the transactions yesterday at the meeting at
Mile-End, of the Freeholders of the county of
Middlesex.
BOSTO N, November 21.
Extras of a letter from Quebec, dated ON. 24, 1774.
" At the requefl oj the Gentlemen of a Committee from Mon
treat, I fend the eneffed, ivitb an assurance that it is a true
truncation from the trench original, and beg you would in
sert it inyour ufeful paper, that the sentiments of a very (if
not most) considerable number of our Canadian Brethren and
Fellow Subjects in this province may appear in a just light ta
our Brethren in the province of the" Massachusetts.
Yours, &c.
IN STRUCTIONS to the English Gentlemen of
the Committee at Montreal, from the Canadian Far
mers, &c.
^,^7 E, the Canadian Farmers and others, being greatly
alarmed at the late afl of Parliament, which re-efla
blifoes the ancient laws of this country, the bad effects of which
we too severely felt during the French Government, and be
ing entirely fatisfed under the English laws as admimfered
in this province, beg leave to acquaint the Gentlemen of the
Committee for Montreal, That any legalfle/s they /ball take
for the repeal of thefaid afl, will be approved of by us, and
we Jincerely hope and pray that they will use all means in
their power for the fame, by petitioning kis Majefy and re
presenting to the merchants of London the flourifting fate of
the trade and agricid ure of this province face the conquejt
thereof, which we attribute to that freedom which every
one has enjoyed under the English laws 1 And we hereby de
clare that we never had any band in a certain petition Jaid
to be sent to his Majefly in the name and in behalf of all the
Canad ans for obtaining said afl, n^r have we, nor any
pa r t of the country where we rejide, been in any wife con
fulled thereupon ; therefore we verily believe the said peti
tion was contrived and obtained in a clandejline and frau
dulent manner, by a few def ning men, in order to get
themselves into pofl, of profit and honour.
It is said some advices of the most important natuie
were received on Tuesday from America.
A letter from Philadelphia, of Augult 4th, gives the
following account, viz. “ In the colony of Maffachu.
setts-Bay, about eight weeks ago, the militia was mus
tered, which confided of 119,600 effective men, be
longing to that colony only, all trained and disciplined
as well as the bed troops in Great-Britain. They were
exercised afew days ago at the place where the regu
lars were encamped; the commanding officer of whom
ordered them to disperse, or that he would bring his
troops against them. This occasioned some words, and
the Col. of the militia told the commanding officer of
the King s troops, that ifhe would bring double the
number of regulars into the field, he with his men would
decide the fate of America with him ; however, mat
ters being amicably fettled, the Colonel of the militia
desired the officer of the regulars to exercise his men,
when the militia fired nine times in a minute by compa
nies to the furprize of all present."
General Gage hath ahfolute. orders from the Court to
prevent the meetings of the Congress, and to seize all
such people as attempt to assemble.
A report prevails that General Gage is killed, and that
two regiments of his troops had revolted.
It was yesterday reported, that advice had been received
o. there having been some commotions at Boston, and
that a great number of the army have deserted, and
that some mifehitf had been done.
I he idea of fending another cargo of Tea to Boston,
with a military force, is most contemptibly ridiculous,
^nd is likely to serve no other end than that of making
the exporters more laughed ar, if possible, than they are
at prelent. Good Heavens !isit is reasonable that we
should compel the people to drink Tea whether they will
or not ? If we have injudiciously overstocked ourselves
with a commodity, can reason or jultice warrant us in
forcing a fare ? Does not common sense rather fay, we
should day till they fend for it; the exporters in this in
stance may, in the ftri&eft sense, be termed hawkers and
pedlars, who, it their accidental customers are not in
immediate want of their wares, must be content to take
them home again, and rather by a civil demeanor insure
their future favours, than by any insolent imposition lose
tnem, which is exactly similar to a parent Or governor
Itanding over a child who has no appetite, and with rod
in hand infitting on its eating its bread and butter. You
(hall eat your bread and butter, or mark the conse
quence, )ou shall be whipped. Away, away, with such
ridiculous filly politics.
It is not the people of Boston only, who are resolved
not to pay the tax upon Tea, but the common cause of
ail the American Colonies ; and it is not improbable,
that the offenfive heps now going to be taken, may in
duce the Americans to apply to France and Spain, and
open a commerce with them ; the con sequences of which
may produce a war with England.
A constant reader fays, that all persons who favour
the dragooning the Boftorians, Indicate as little found
policy as they do of humanity ; what a savage difpofitiort
mult thele betray, who can be gratified with nothing less
than the unnatural butchery of their fellow fubje&s, by
recommending the horrors of the sword ; such would,
no doubt, have been joyful fpe&ators of the French and
Irish maflacres, and have chuckled at the carnage.
In aniwer to all and every the inconsistent persecuting
political bigots who may propole holtile violence against
the Americans, let such be told that the Americans are
convinced of their indubitable right of equal and univer
sal freedom with the rest of their fellow fubjefts, and that
they are not represented, but misrepresented.
Others more confidently assert, that the many spirited
resolutions entered into by the several candidates for
feats in the new Parliament, hastened the dissolution of
the old, as the Ministry did not know to what lengths
such proceedings might be carried, and what trouble
such spirited exertions in favour of the patriotic party
might cause them.—Some fay the accounts lately re
ceived from the courts of Sweden, Vienna, France and
Spain, have been of so perplexing a nature, that a new
Parliament was become absolutely necessary, to advise
and aflift his Majesty in the present alarming Rate of
affairs.