Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-04-24 00:00:00, page 2

weeks for the continent of America.
The Lord Mayor is making great preparations
at the Mansion House, for the grand feßivalwhich
is to be given to -he patriotic Peers. The Royal
Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland are request
ed to honour the city with their presence on that
dav, as the great body of merchants who are 'in
jured by the perfection of the Americans, wish to
teftify their gratitude and refped to those illustri
ous supporters of their liberties and their com
merce.
Feb. iS. At a very numerous meeting of inde
pendent merchants of the city of London, yester
day, at the London tavern, it was unanimously
agreed to contribute to the relief of the Ameri
cans. A fubfeription was opened, and in Lfs than
an hour 15,000!. was fubferibed.
In the letter from Lord Dunmqre, Governor
o' Virginia, brought into the House of Lords on
Tuesday last by Lord Dartmouth,there is the fol
lowing paragraph, which - created no small amufe
ment+at lead among the minority Lords.
" Tint he (Lord Dunmore) was much oblig
ed to Lord Dartmouth for his repeated assurances
<f the countenance and warmed protection of
Government, but he was as. aid it would avail him
nothing, as the very name of government was held
in the created contempt; and the greater part of
them (: te Virginians) could accept of no ppo
te&ion of that kind."
L O N D O N, February 16.
The force which is expected to rendezvous at
Boston and its neighbourhood by the i@th of
April next, we hear, will consist of 13,000 ef
fedive men, consisting of fifteen regiments of foot,
one of light dragoons, seven companies of artille
ry, and twenty-fiven ®f marines.
Returns are ordered to be made of all the out
pe^fioners in England, Scotland, and Ireland, to
compose the new independent companies.
The consequence of an American war (which
Heaven avert!) to England will be, estates in
houses felling for nought; in land high; money
very scarce, and public credit low; no debts pay
ing, no trade birring; the manufaaurers Starving;
poor rates railing, and thieves encreafing.
It is beyond doubt, that fix large ships failed
lately, three from Holland, and the rest from
France, with arms and ammunition and other im
plements of war, for our colonies in America, and
more are preparing for the fame place.
Numbers of Gentlemen here are about to em
bark for America, to ad with the Americans as
Volunteers..
- This day arrived a mail from Holland and Flan
ders, which brings advice, that an open rupture
between two northern Powers is expeded very soon.
By some private letters which arrived a few
days fierce, at the office of one of the Secretaries
of State, from Several of the sea-port towns in
Spain, information was brought that the greatest
warlike preparations are carrying on with the ut
-most Secrecy and dispatch.
An intelligent correspondent assures us, he has
received advice from the Indies, that the French
have eight thouland mtn in the Mauritius, ready
armed, to' execute any scheme in that part of the
world.
A Gentleman of fortune and probity at the weft
end of the town received a copy of the address to
his Majesty, with his answer, about an hour after
it was presented, which he immediately sent by
an express, ready for that purpose, to the north of
Scotland, where a vefl'el was ready to fail at a
minute's warning. This is the fourth veflcl that
has faded from the fame quarter within these three
T; toe Captains Deane and Coupar. arrived at j
New Fork fr^n London, and Ca,t. Shrovdy, ;
arrived here from Bristol, me have the following
advices. ,
b IF fl R S, -A IF, Jacuar, to.
T T is said that fevcr d | letters have been inter
-1 cepted, by which, it is difeovereeLthit forne
detectable plot is again carrying an ag^nft the
life of our monarch.
Moscow, ( Rufa) Jan. 23. On Saturday last,
the zift iaft the rebel Pugatcheft, and four of
his accomplices were executed according to theit
fentenccs. PugatchefF and his pricipal afTociate
named Perfilieff were beheaded; the three others
were hanged; eighteen were knouted and lent to
Siberia, am.ongft whom was an officer who had
been inflrumentai in fomenting the rebellion. As
loon as Pugatcheff was brought upon the Scaffold,
the detail of his crimes and his condemnation were
twice deliberately read ; he acknowledged the
justice of his sentence, and declared to the people
in a short speech, that he was not the person he
had given himfelf out to be, kurthat he'was R N
Don Coffick, by name Pugatcheff. His head is
fixed on an iron spike over a wheel, on which his
body and Perfilieffs ate placed; and his limbs are
exposed in four different parts of the town, where
they are to remain till to-morrow: when, it is
said, all the bodies are to be burnt, together with
the fcaffold. The whole of this execution passed
without the least tumult, and tranquility seems to
be perfectly re-eflabli'hed. A general pardon is
said to have been published in the provinces which
were the feat of rebellion.
Florence, Feb. 18. On Tuesday last Cardinal
Brrfchi was unanimously ele&ed Pope. He was
born at Cefena, near Ravenna, in the Romagna;
is 58 years of age ; was created- Cardinal by the
late Pope in the year 1773; and loon after ap
pointed Treafner to the Apostolic Chambers —
He his now affirmed the name of Pius VI.
Dublin, Feb. 2. The order for the embarka
tion for America, of the 17th regiment of light
drag ions, the 35th, 49th, and 63d regiments of
foot, is sudden. These regiments will embarK at
Cork in the beginning of March. The dragoons
will be completed to 30 a troop; each troop
takes 20 horses, and ten dismounted dragoons.
Seven hundred recruits are railing; no questions
afxed them about religion.
Edinburgh, Feb. 28. On Friday evening an ex
press arrived , countermanding the troops that
were ordered for Ireland, as the regiments in
Ireland that were to go to America have received
contrary orders.
The accounts from Lord Durimcre of the spirit
I of the people of Virginia, and t^eequal vigour of
the other American provinces, have thrown the
ministry into a Rate of despondency. The san
guine firings which they screwed up so high begin
to relax, and an universal change of men and mea
sures mud be adopted.
Fxt,aft of a letter from Fork, Feb. Ift
“ This day there was a meeting of a number of
the inhabitants at the Guildhall, for the purpose
of petitioning the Houle of Commons to enforce
the American acts, 'in imitation of that presented
from Birmingham. The business was opened by
a Gentleman in a very forcible speech, butthe pro
posal was qualhed without a division."
Feb. 23. Yesterday about a quarter past four
o'clock, in the House of Commons, the Lord
Mayor got up in his place, and moved that the
proceedings of that House, of the 17th of Febru
ary, 1769, mighthe read, which being done, forne
other extracts which his Lard(hip called for, were
likewise read. He then made an excellent speech
Upon what he called proceedings unjuftifiable, il
legal, and unwarrantable ; and moved, that the
resolution of the 17th of February, 1769, which
declares, “ That John Wilkes, Esq; having been
in this present session of Parliament expelled this
House, mar, and is incapable of being elected a
member to serve in this Parliament," be expunged
from the Journals of this House, as subversive of
the rights of the whole body of electors of this
kingdom. Mr. Serjeant Glynn Seconded the
motion, and then a general debate ensued, in which
Lord North, the Hon. Charles Fox, Col. Fitz
roy, Sir George Seville, the Attorney and Soli
citor Generals, Col. Barre, Mr. Burke, Mr. Wal
lace. the two Mr. Grenvilles, Mr. Onflow, Mr.
Adair, Capt. Luttrel, and several others,' were
speakers. The arguments were warm, and to the
point. Most of the speakers were in favour of the
motion, and plainly proved that the book of num
bers does not prove that those who divide with the
majority always think with them. Several who
spoke, rose more than once.
The question was repeatedly attempted to be
put, but was as often prevented by the dew speak
ers rising. A little after eleven however, “ the
Quefion," the ^uefionf was so far the prevailing
call, that it was put, and the House divided, when
the numbers were,-
For the motion 173 Against-it 229.
Yesterday a meeting of rhe North-American
merchants was held ar the King's Arms Tavern,
Cornhill, when a new Petition to the House of
Feb. 28. Private letters from New-York,
brought by a Packet arrived this day, mention,
that the AfTembly there have protested against
the Resolutions of the Congress, have begged the
protection cf Government, and are determined to
trade as usual.
March I. O^ Tuesday Mr. Alderman Oliver
presented a petition from the society of Quakers,
against the " bill to reflrain the trade and com
merce of the province of Maffichufetts Bay and
New Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut
and Rhode-lfland, and Providence Plantations,
in North-America, to Great-Britain, Ireland,
and the British iOands in the Weft Indies; and to
prohibit such provinces and Colonies from carry
ing on any filhery on the Banks of Newfoundland,
or other places therein to be mentioned, under
certain conditions, and for a time to be limited
and setting forth, that the petitioners are inform
ed, that in the island cf Nantucket, on the coast
of New-England, there are about 5000 inhabi
tants, nine tenths of whom are of the people cal
led Quakers; and that the said island is for the
most part barren and sandy, not yielding provi
sion for a twentieth part of its inhabitants; and
that the inhabitants, alraoft wholly depend upon
the whale fishery for their subsistence, purchasing
with the produce of the said occupation, grain and
other necessaries from the neighbouring Colonies;
and that, if the said bill should pass into,a law.
these people would unavoidably be exposed to all
the haidlbips of famine, as no pfovifibns can be
imported from any of the neighbouring Colonies,
and their trade by which they subsist, will be
totally prohibited; and that the said inhabitants,
to the best of the petitioners information and be
lief, are entirely innocent, in refpea to the pre
sent disturbances in America: Wherefore, in con
sideration of the miseries impending over so large
a part of their brethren, and others their fellow
Commons on the present critical situation of Ame-,
rican affairs, was proposed, read, agreed to, and
was presented this day at noon.
We are told that the conciliatory measures
adopted by the Minister, have been occasioned by
forne difeoveries made relative to the latent de
signs ^f the French Cabinet.
Feb. 25. Tlds day the Sheriff's of London pre
sented a petition to the House of Commons from
the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Coun
cil, against the Bill for restrain ngthe Commerce,
and prohibiting the fishery of the New-England
provinces, which was ordered to lie on the table.
It is confidently asserted, that theminiftry have
received certain information that the French are
bent upon a war, as soon as ever thev foall be in
a condition to commence hoftifties; and that their
fixed intention is to make England the theatre of
it, by carrying the sword into the very heart of
the kingdom.
A private letter from Madrid has the follow
ing art.cle:—“ The English A'inhaffador is treat
ed here by the Spaniards with great contempt, on
what account is not known ; he has however, de-'
fired to be recalled, being greatly dilpieafed at
his tineafy situation. It is therefore expe&ed that
a war will very soon break out between England
and Spain; and what confirms this conjecture is,
that the greatest preparations are making for war
in all the sea ports in this kingdom."
Ihe petition of the city of London against the
New England retraining hill was presented, and
referred to a Committee of the whole hoofed
Read a fecund time in .the House of Commons,
and committed, the bill to retrain the trade and
commerce of the North American Colonics, and
also to restrain them from fifhing on the Banks of
Newfoundland. &c.
the former ads, by which such trade and navi
gation were permitted, it enads.
THAT during the combination and disor
ders which at this time prevail within the
province of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire,
and Colonies of Connedicut and Rhode-Ifland,
it being unfit that the inhabitants of the said pro
vinces and Colonies (hould enjoy the said privi
leges of trade to which his Majesty's obedient fub
je&s are entitled, after a time to be limited, and
during the continuance of this ad, no merchan
dizes enumerated by former ads, being the ma
nufacture of the above provinces; which are to
- be brought to forne other Britiih Colony, or to
fyGreat-Britain; or any merchandize, which (hall
at that time have been imported into the said Pro
vince or Colonies, fliall be (hipped from any of
the said Provinces or Colonies to any place what
soever, other than to Great Britain, or forne of
the British islands in the Weft-Indies; and that
no other merchandizes whatsoever, of the manu
fadure of the said provinces or Colonies, or which
fubjeas, in that island, and in the neighbourhood,
under the like ciicuni Stances, the petitioners en
treat the house that the said bill may not pass into
a law, as thereby a most grievous punishment
would be inflicted on the innocent, and a body of
men, whose occupation is hazardous, their gains
uncertain, and their labours necessary to them
selves and the community, would be Subjected to
inevitable ruin and deftruCtion."
Which petition was referred to the Committee
of the whole House on that bill.
Thiec thousand butts of porter are ordered on
board the feet bound to Boston, for the use of
the army which are already there, and who are in
'a bad ftatc cfhealth for the want of beer, &c.
A great personage has infixed that no Colonel,
whatever, of any regiment intended for America,
or at present there, (hall stay from their corps.
Commodore Duff, in the Romney, is to have
the command of the Newfoundland Ration.
Orders are sent to Portsmouth for the men of
war destined to fail for Boson, to be ready at
Spithead by the 12th instant, to receive on board
the ticap% with the Generals.
It is said that orders were sent from the Admi
ralty for a clean frigate to hold herfelf in readi
ness to fail on the shortest notice, which is to take
a Nobleman of abilities over to New-York, in
order to improve and confirm the conciliating spi
rit which has taken place there, by giving the in
habitants the strongest assurances from government
of protection, and every other encouragement
which they can reasonably defife.
March 4. We hear a motion of the firft im
portance will be made in the House of Lords, in
the course of the next week, by one of the lead
ing members of Administration.
March 7. The expence of the transports to
carry the troops to America, will, on the most
moderate estimate, amount to 80,0001.
A man of war of 74 guns, two frigates, and
two (loops, are fitting out at Woolwich with the
utmost dispatch, destined for the American ex
pedition.
March 10. Deputations^ are sent from hence
to Boston, to try several persons in America.
This morning upwards of I^oo drums were sent
down the river, to be carried to the Downs, in
order to be put on board the transports bound to
America.
By the bill now depending for retraining the
commerce and navigation of the American Co
lonies, particularly their fifhery, after reciting
NE W - Y OR K, April 20.
This day the deputies from the several coun
ties, preempts, and townships of this Colony, are
to meet and hold a Provincial Convention in this
city.
We hear by Capt. Coupar ; that his Excel
lency Governor Tryon, our Governor, was Ihortly
to embark for New-York.
Likewise, that jf any vessel, not belonging to
Great Britain or Ireland, or the idands of Gueru
fey or Jersey shall be found, after the limited time,
carrying on any fishery upon any part of North-
America, or having on board materials for such
filhery, unless the master produce to the com
mander of any of his Majesty's ffiips of war Rati
oned for the fuperintendance of the American
fifheries, a certificate under the hand of the Go
vernor of the Colonies of Quebec, Newfoundland,
Saint John, Nova Scotia, New-York, New-
Jersey, Peanfylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North-
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, East Flori
da, or Weft Florida, setting forth that such vef-
fel hath cleared out from foroe oxe of the said
Colonies, and that Iheadually belongs to his Ma
jePy's fubje&s, inhabitants of the said Colony, it
shall be lawful for any of the commanders of his
Maje'y's fy'ps of war Rationed for the protection
of the fishery up > n the coast of North America,
to seize, and prosecute all such vessels, with a
proviso, that nothing herein contained shall ex
tend to any vehcl belonging to the French King,
which shall be found fishing, and not carrying on
any illicit trade.
These constraints to be discontinued, so founts
obedience to the laws shall be restored. Per sons
giving fahe certificates to be declared incapable
of serving his Majesty, and lubje& to other pains
and penalties.
Shall at any time have been imported into the fame,
Shall after the Said limited time, be Shipped from
any of the said Colonies to any place whatsoever,
except Great Britain or Ireland, or the Britiih
islands, in the Weft-Indies, on forfeiture of Ship
and cargo.
Also, that after a limited time, and during
this aft, no fort of wines, salt, or any goods or
commodities, whatsoever (except horses, victuals,
and linen cloth, the produce and manufacture of
Ireland, and goods for the victualling his Majes
ty's ships, and for his Majesty's forces or garrisons,
or the produce of the Britiih Islands in the Weft-
Indies) fliall be imported on any pretence what
soever, unless such goods be Shipped in Great-
Britain, and carried directly from thence, upon
foi fixture of goods and vessel.
The present unhappy and unnatural disputes
between the Parent State and your Majesty's Ame
rican dominions, give us the deepest and most un
feigned concern—We lament it as one of the
greatest misfortunes,, that the happy and peaceful
harmony, which has hitherto subsisted between us,
ffiould now by any means be interrupted; and 'tis
the earned and firft wish of our hearts, thatitmay /
be speedily restored, and placed upon so perma
nent a basis, as thatneither time or accident may
beeper able to disturb it.,
We.acknowledge /with the warmest gratitude,
the favour and propion bf our mother country;
which flowing from policy, dictated by wifdona
and humanity, hath enabled us to become so im
portant a part of the British empire; and we be
seech your Majesty to believe us, when we assure
you, that we still retain the duty and ^ffedion of
children, —that we love and reverence our vene
rable parent, and that no Calamity would be so
truly afflicting to us, as a separation from her. We
acknowledge there are appearances which may be
confirmed to our disadvantage, and that several of
the meafurcs purfaed by the colonies are by no
means juflifiable; ye':, while we disapprove and
co demo them, we entreat you as the indulgent
father of your people, to view them in the most
favourable light, and to consider them as the ho
nest, tho' disorderly, /toggles of liberty, not the
licentious efforts of independence. , ~
Your Majesty's American Subjects have hither
to been in a date of infancy, and till lately, have
submitted implicitly, and without repining, to the
authority of the parent Rate: They have now
reached the period of maturity, and think them
felv es intitled to their birth-right, an equal parti
cipation of freedom with their fellow fubjeas id
Britain. It is with this view we now address your
Majesty. IVe mean not to become -independent:
of the British Parliament; on the contrary, we
chearfully acknowledge our subordination to it as
the grand legislature of the empire ; we wish only
to enjoy the rights of Englishmen, and to have
that Share of liberty, and those privileges Secured,
to us, which'we are intitled to, upon the principles
of our free and happy Constitution. Per
mit us, therefore, most gracious Sovereign, to lay
our grievances before you, which we now do with
the greatest humility, and in the fulleft assurance.
that your royal justice and clemency will be ex
erted in our behalf.
To the King's Most Excellent Majesty.
The humble Petition of theGFNERAL Assembly
of the Colony of New-York.
Most Gracious Sovereign,'
' y°" r Majesty's m °ft dutiful and loyal
VV fubjeds, the General Assembly of the co
lony of New-York, beg leave most humbly to ap
proach your Majesty.
Inviolably attached to your person and govern
ment, to which we are bound by the strongest ties
of duty and attedion, and in the fulLft assurance
that your paternal care is extended over all your
People, as well the inhabitants of the new world,
as those who flourilh and are happy under your
more immediate influence in the old; we are em
boldened to throw ourselves at your Majesty's
feet, humble petitioners, in behalf of the loyal co
lony which we represent.
Vouchfafe, then, most gracious Sovereign, to at
tend to the prayer of your faithful fubje&%
and while we are pleading our own cause, and the
cause of liberty and humanity, deign to consider
us as advocates for our After colonies also.
[We have no papers from Boston by ,c'e:day's
port.—The report is, that as the printers were
moving their types out of the town the packages
were flopped and broken open by the fojdiery,
and the letters scattered or thrown into disorder.
so that no paper could be got ready for the poft.]
Your Majesty's fubje&s in this colony, think it
eflential to freedom, and the undoubted right of
Eng'ifhmen, that no taxes should be imposed ora
them without their consent given personally.
or by their representatives.—This right we do not
at present enjoy, inasmuch as the British Parlia
ment (in which we have no representation) have
claimed and exercised a right of making laws,
binding upon us in all cases whatsoever. This
claim, and this exercise of unlimited power by the
Parliament, we esteem a grievance of the most
dangerous nature, anddire&ly tending to the sub
version of our constitutional liberties. We are
willing, to the utmost of our abilities, to contri
bute our proportion to the support of government;
but we would do it in a constitutional manner, by
the interpolation of the Colony Legislature.
We likewise beg leave to declare to your Ma
jefty,that we comfider the a&s of Parliament rai
ling a revenue in America, but more especially
thofeto provide for the support of civil govern
ment, and the administration of justice in the co
lonies, and extending the courts of admiralty be
yond their ancient limits, giving thep a concurrent
jurisdiction, in causes heretofore cognizable only
in the courts of common law, and by that mqans
depriving the American fubjeds of a trial by jury,
as grievous and deftruQive of our rights and pri-,
vileges.
I hat the a& of Parliament authorizing the ap
prehension of persons resident in the colonies, on
suspicion of certain offences, and fending them cut
of the fame to be tried, is dangerous to the lives
and liberties of your Majesty's American fubje&s,
as it deprives them of a trial by a Jury of the vi
cinage, which in all cases, is the grand fecdrity
and birth-right of Englishmen.
1 hat we humbly conceive, the ^& requiring tbd
legislature of this colony to provde for the servi
ces therein mentioned, and the other for fufperd
ing the legislative power thereof, till such requi
sition should be complied with, were unconftituri
onal, and tended to destroy that confidence, which
we had always reposed in the mother country.
I hat the imposition of duties upon articles of
commerce imported from Great-Britain is oppres
sive and impolitic, as it gives the greatest encou
ragement to illicit trade, and operates as a prohi
bition on our commerce with the mother country,
which for the mutual advantage o' b^th, we con
ceive, ought to be free and anrefr^. ed.