Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-04-17 00:00:00, page 8

Published by authority of the C ommittee.
THOMAS LANE, Chairman.
January 26.
To the Honourable the C 0 M M 0 NS of GREAT-BRt
tain, in Parliament afembled:
The humble Petition of the Merchants, 'I raders, and
others, of the city of London, concerned in the com
merce of North America,
SHE^hTH,
THAT your Petitioners, did, on Monday the 23d
instant, present an humble petition to this Honour
able House, dating the nature and importance of the
commerce between Great-Britain and America. The
repeated interruptions which of late years have happen
ed therein : The alarming date to which that commerce
is at present reduced ; and the true cause, as your Peti
tioners apprehend, of the fame : And relying on the
justice of this Honourable House to take the whole of the
weighty matters so stated, into their molt serious consi
deration, did humbly pray, That this House would en
ter into a full and immediate examination of that system
of commercial policy, which had formerly been adopted,
and uniformly maintained to the happiness and advan
tage of both countries, and would apply such healing re
medies, as can alone rettore and establish the commerce
between Great-Britain and America, on a permanent
foundation.
Your Petitioners have ever conceived an opinion, re
sulting from education, and confirmed by reason and ex
perience, that the connexion between Great-Briiain and
America, originally was, and ought to be, of a commer
cial kind ; and that the benefits derived therefrom to the
Mother Country, are of the fame nature. And observ
ing the conftint attention which the British legislature
had for more than a cent try given to these valuable ob
jects, they have been taught to admire the regulations;
by which that connection had been preferved', and those
bin-fits secured, as the most effectual institution which
human w flora could have framed, for thole salutary
purpofts ; presuming therefore on this opinion, and flip
ported by this observation, your Petitioners beg leave to
repefent to this Honourable House, that the fundamen
tal policy of those laws of which they complain, and the
propriety of enforcing, relaxing, or amending the fame,
are questions inseparably united with the commerce be
tween Great Britain and America ; and consequently,
that the consideration of the one, cannot be entered on
without a full difeuffion of the other.
Your Petitioners observe, by the votes of this Honour
able House, that a Commit ee hath been appointed to
take into consideration, certain papers presented to this
House by Lord North, on Thursday the 19th instant ;
and by the titles and dates of said papers, and in parti
cular of No. 148 and 149, of the fame : Your Petitioners
are warranted in presuming, that the said papers contain
matters refpe&ing the present situation of America, and
essentially concerning the mutual interests of your Peti
oners, and th t country.
Under all these ciicumftances, your Petitioners find
reason sincerely to lament, that this Honourable House
has thought fit to refer the consideration of their said
petition to any other Committee, than that, to which
the laid papers had previously been referred : And jour
Petitioners conceive, that by the resolution to which this
House hath come, refpe&ing the reference of their said
petition, they are absolutely precluded from the benefit
of such a hearing, in support of their said petition as can
alone procure them that relief which the importance, and
present deplorable Rate of their trade require.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray this Honour
able House, that they will take the premises into their
immediate consideration, and will direct, that your Pe
titioners may be heard by themselves, or tftir Agents,
in Support of their said former petition; and that no re
solution refpe&ing America, may be taken by this Ho
nourable House, er by any Committee thereof, until
your Petitioners shall have been Sully heard in support of
their said Petition.
Published by authority of the Committee.
THOMAS LANE, Chairman.
Jan. 31. The William, Lamb, from the Bay of
Honduras; the Friendship, Bean, from Antigua; and
the Fortitude, Crabtree, from Cafco Bay, all bound
to London, are fafe arrived in the Downs, after
being out in very blowing weather.
Mr. Wooldridge's Oration the other day at the
bar of the House of Commons, has it is said, embar
rassed administration more than the most celebrated
ones delivered by Chatham, Burke and Barre, during
thethree last years.
Yesterday a number of artificers in the cloth-work
.ng and hot-prelling business, failed with their fami
]Sies for New York.
A very eminent corn-factor his sent over cornmiffi
ons for twenty thousand quarters of corn, to be im
ported in different bottoms from New-York, Maryland,
and Philadelphia, by which several American fliips are
kept employed, which mult otherwise have been laid
up.
tern of commercial policy, which was formerly adopt
ed and uniformly maintained, to the happiness and ad
vantage of both countries : And will apply such seal
ing remedies, as can alone restore and establish the com
merce between Great-Britain and her colonies, on a per
manent foundation.
And your petitioners also humbly pray, that they
be heard by themselves or agents, in support of this pe
tition.
Feb. 2. It is the fafhion at the Court end of the town
in most companies to represent the Americans as despi
cably poor, and little better than a banditti ; but does
the Ministry think that a military force is the belt
method of civilizing a people? and if the Americans
are so poor, why Should the Ministry contend with so
much zeal to load thera with taxes? but however his
creatures may talk, the Minister well knows that the
Mother Country did receive two millions a year from
the poor uncivilized banditti of America.
Feb. 3. 1 he King of Spain has taken up a number
of Dutch vefftls of burden in the Texel, for the
purpole of exporting ftures to the Mediterranean and
Welt Indies; and has ordered the Bland of Majorca,
in the Mcdiurrar.cau (about twenty leagues from Mi-
norca,) to be fortified and repaired, great quantities
of building materials and Stores having lately been
exported from Spain for that purpole.
Feb. 4. An intelligent correspondent assures us, that
the Spanilh Court have offered the French an extra
present of 2,000,000!. besides the loan of 3,000,000!.
for twelve of her third-rate Ships of war.
Sir J y A twe are well informed, has been
applied to, to fupercede General Gage, who, front the
dread of foiling human blood on one fide, and the
contempt Shewn him and his army on the other, begs
to be recalled. Sir J y, in confidence of this,
has been twice clofett<d; but that General politicly
refufes to embark till he has 20,000 men sent with him,
beside the army already in America.
Feb. 6. Two clean sloops of 18 guns each are order
ed from Chatham for the Weft-Indies immediately, to
serve as advice boats under command of the English
Admiral at Jamaica.
Feb. 7. All our advices from the Weft-Indies agree
that the French and Spaniards were never so busily
employed in fortifying their refpedive settlements as at
present.
Feb. 10. The merchants, &c.of Whitehaven, trading
td America, have forwarded a petition to Sir James
Lowther, and Henry Fletcher, Esq; in order to be pre
sented to Parliament.
The petition of the hosiers of Nottingham, which was
presented to the Houle of Commons on Wednesday
last, sets forth, " That the pet tio ers, with great hu
mility, approach the natural guardians of all that is
valuable to them, and beg leave to represent the im
pending ruin of the trade and commerce of the said
flourishing town and neighbourhood ; that the produce
of the manufactories under their direction, has hitherto,
in a very great proportion, been exported to the Ame
rican colonies, and on the demand from thence depends
the employment of many thousands of their ingenious
and induftrions artificers. The entire cessation of this
important trade has not only Shut up in their wafehouf
es a great part of their property, in different forts of
goods provided for the American market alone, but
obliges them daily to difraifs from employment their
dependent workmen, who have no resource but in the
exercise of that trade. Every day will add to the
number, from the utter inability of the petitioners to
proceed in the accumulation of an useless Rock, and a
Short time must consign great part of the most ufeful,
but most necessitous members of their community, to
absolute idleness, and all its dreadful train of evils;
Distressed in themselves, they have no hopes of admi
niftring that relief to their wants, which, in every or
dinary exigence, humanity has prompted them to; and,
if not prevented by the timely interposition of Parlia
ment, they fee no possibility of repelling that poverty, dis
tress and ruin, in which the said town and neigh
bourhood must ba soon involved, whatever be the fate
of the kingdom at large. Abhorring the thought of
stimulating the diffehtions of this nation, and urged on
ly by sober important truth, interesting in its extensive
operation to every individual, they humbly recur to
the wisdom of Parliament in this their alarming situa
tion ; trusting that the faithful depositaries of the peo
ple's welfare, will find some temperate and honourable
means of conciliating the differences of the British em
pire, which will revive the hopes of the manufacturer,
and enable him to call back into the arms of industry,
the poor distressed artificer."
Feb. I 1. We hear that a great General Officer's re
fufing to undertake the reduction of the Bostonians to
obedience, without the aid of so large a body of forces
as 20,000 men, was only a feint to get off the appoint
ment, he having privately declared, no command Should
tempt him to meet those men in lioftility, whom he
had for such a number of years lived with on the great
est terms of friendship and honourable confederacy.
Feb. 21. The Ship Betley, Capt. Dyfert, arrived at
Liverpool from Virginia, was, on the firft inst. at sea,
struck with lightning, which took the sore-mast and
defeended downwards on the deck, taking some splinters
out of the sore-mast, burning two of the shrouds, and
knocking the bell out of the gallows, then entered the
steerage at the companion door, and running forwards
between deck^, made its way out at the starboard-bow,
starting off three or four planks several feet in length,
just above the water's edge. One man who happened
to be in the foretop, was killed, and no Signs of any
thing belonging to him to be seen afterwards, except a
check handkerchief, which was found hanging to the
rigging ; several more of the crew were much hurt in
the steerage, but recovered again.
Feb. 22. Last night a messenger arrived from Sir
Jpfeph Yorke, at the Hague, with some intelligence,
which was immediately sent to his Majeity at the-
Queen's Palace.
A Gentleman of distinction has obtained a grant of
working the royal ' mines in the province of New
foundland, on condition of paying a part of the pro
duce to the crown.
PHILADELPHIA, ^/ ^.
We hear Mr. QUINCEY of Boston, on his re
turn from England, intends to meet the Continental
Congress in this city next month.
Extras of a Letter from London, February 13.
“ Take care of traitors in Philadelphia, viz.
as well as in New-York.
“ The determination of the ensuing Congress will
be final and decisive. They cannot have too many
lights nor too mature deliberation to guide them.—
The united dfifdoin of our country will best judge
whether anyrraxation can be made in their petition of
rights, and whether they can afford to purchase such a
" The ministry, as might be expected, carry every
measure they chufe to propose, though not without some
opposition. The papers will give you some idea of the
debates in the House ofLords, on the motion for con
curring with the Commonsin their address. 1 he petition
of the merchants to the Lurds has been treated with
negleC t and contempt. A petition to the King is pre
paring as their last effort, but no hopes of present success
can be expected."
A number of families are moving themselves, and
their most valuable effeds, from the town of Boston in
to the country, in confeqUence of the late advices front
England.
Committee Chamber, April 17, 1775.
WHEREAS it is now under the consideration of
the Committee, to lufpend all trade and inter
course with such Colonies as have not acceded to the
Association of the Continental Congrefs,the Committee
therefore have thought it proper to apprize their fellow
citizens of this matter that they govern themselves ac
cordingly, and avoid entering into any engagements
with relpeftto such colonies, from which they may
be f^bjeded to great inconveniencies hereafter.
By Order of the Committee,
Jonathan B. Smith, Secretary.
The Committee for the City and Liberties of Phila
delphia will meet on Thursday evening at 4 o'clock.
To the Honourable the CO MMONS of 6RE AT
BRITAIN, in Parliament assembled.
confirmation as Lord Chatham's Bill proposes, by a
perpetual revenue 01 300,000!. Hurling per annum;
such is the sum .which he experts. lam ct opinion
that nothing will move the King and his Minivers, but
absolute submission, or a fuccelsful ohihnce. But an
offer from you of such a contribution to the relief of
this country from its debt, would disarm them of their
only popular argument, and therefore arreH the fatal
measures by which they mean to establish arbitrary go
vernment over us. If it will be practicable 1 think it
would be eligible; our forefathers purchased their un
doubted rights in Magna Charta, by the gift cf a Sum
of money to the King, and I think we naed not blulii
to follow so great an example.
“ I do believe the Ministry do not with any such pro
position, because they do no desire an accommodation;
but if we muff draw the sword, let us do it with as
much apparent reluctance and jufticc on our fide as pol
fible; —this will be hanging a mill ftohe round the ene
my's neck, which must sooner or later draw them down
to deftrudion.
The Humble Petition of the Merchants and Manufac
turers, of the town of Manchester, interested in
American commerce.
Most Humb'y She\vetb,
THAT your petitioners have, for; several years,
carried on a very extensive and beneficial trade
with the Continent of America.
That the payments for goods exported to that coun
try, have been such, as to encourage the merchants and
manufacturers to execute orders from thence with
chearfulnefe and confidence.
That the stoppage of trade, occasioned by the late
unhappy difference with the Americans, will loon ren
der it necessary to difeharge vast numbers of workmen,
who have been maintained by this commerce.
That it is not requisite w^re it poflible, to enumerate
the evils, that must arise from the precarious situation,
on which our intercourse with America now Hands ,
ue, therefore, humbly recommend ouHelves to the
care and protection of Parliament; we rely on your
justice, your wisdom, and your attention to the public
welfare, by which our present apprehensions miy nor
only be removed, but a lyllem for our latuie commerce
lot med on a bi^aud latbn; Labs.
with that delicacy which the suspicion of so dishonour
able and wicked a conduct requires, at the fame time
guarding against the dangerous confequencts of it to the
Public Cause, Should it be true. If I can get any fur
ther intelligence concerning him you Shall have it.
" Whatever measures you resolve upon will, I am fa
tisfied, be well weighed, and measured by your ability
to execute them; for it is on a belief that you cannot
hold out under your non-import and non export agree
ment, and a total flop put to your commerce by the
British naty, that our enemies build all their hopes of
reducing you 10 a speedy and entire submission. lam
fully Satisfied that one year's faithful observation of
your agreements, and facrifice of you r trade, will com
pel the justice you demand, and eßablith your rights
for ever. It is impoffi'&le for me to believe that re
sources can be wanting, or spirit to Search for them,
when the prize is so great and important.
“ War is determined on—you Should be prepared to
meet it with success, or submit at once, and be Slaves."
Extraft of another 'etter of thefame date.
66 It is not expelled that you will refill, at least rhe
Ministry affeC t to believe so, and theyaffare themselves
of the defection of New-York. 1 think it my duty to
inform, that there is a report here, and it comes through
ministerial channels, that is in correspond
ence with the Ministry; from this they pretend to de
rive information of what you have not thought proper
to publish ; among othertbings Lord Sandwich asserted
in the House of Lords, That the Congress came to a
resolution to confider of a plan of fubmillion and conci
liation, and next day ordered the resolution to be ex
punged. From this he argued your intention to throw off
all dependency on this country, and that when your
present demands were gratified, you would frame others,
till you had annihilated the authority of Parliament.
You will life this information touching ,