The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-03-20 00:00:00, page 2

^ tie Durie of Cun&rland, Packet, arrived at New-
Tork,.i4 7 /Peeks from Falmouth; and Capt. Spain,
arrived at Philadelphia, in a fort Rafage from Bris
tol, me have the following Advices, viz.
LON D'O N,, December 21.
THE report from the committee of ways and
means being made yesterday in the house of
Commons, on putting the question for agreeing to
the Land- Fax of 3s. in .the pound, Mr. Hartley,
member for Kingflon, afofe, and after remarking
upon the alarming accounts from the congress in
America, wished that the determination of thatquef
tion might be postponed till after the holidays, as it
was impossible to determine what measures were
meant to be pursued with refpedt to America, and
ti 1 it was known what part administration meant to
take, no one could fay whether the peace establish
ment, now proposed, and in part agreed to, was a
proper one or not. Inis introduced a spirited de
bate, in which Mr. T. Townsend, Mr. Rigby, Sir
Meredith and Mr. Cornwall, had a considerable
Share ; but Mr. Burke spoke much longer than the
rest, and molt pathetically lamented the situation of
America, highly ridiculed the.conduct of Adminif
ttation, andplaced the situation of General Gage in
a clear point ofview.. .He observed, that he knew
not for what purpose administration had sent an ar
my there; but that if it was judged expedient at
all, it fliould have been an army of execution, not
an army of observation. That the General in his
last letters had represented himfclf as being at once
besieged and besieging ; that he complained his can
hon had been ilolen, and other insults offered to his
troops ; but that he had the happiness to command
a patient army ; on the idea of a patient army, the
honorable member expatiated with great free
dom, and kept to his point, that if an army was at
all necessary, it should be executive ; but that he
knew no business Gen. Gage had there, in so la
mentable a situation ; that if he shed a drop
of the biood .of his fellow-fubjefls, he would
open the fluices' for a torrent on both lides, and God
knows where it might end ; while on the other, if he
did not, he must be exposed with his army to such
tameness and patience as no army ever shewed be
fore/ He observed that they had a speech breath
ing nothing but war with America, for which thanks
had been voted, and now they had supplies breath
ing nothing but peace, for which he supposed
1 hanks were likewise to be given. On the whole,
the Gentlemen on this fide the question, apprehensive
that a vote of credit might be moved for at the
cloff of the session, were willing to postpone the Re-
Llution concerning the land-tax, till after the holi
days, when being better informed of the date of
our own country, they might be enabled to judge of
the prudence of having reduced the navy eftablifh<
ment, and of the fafficiency of the proposed land
tax aidof gs.
On the other hind, Sir Wm. Meredith complain
ed of the impropriety of the present conversation
tending to inflame the minds of the people, by fur
nishing matter for the news-papers; wished it had
been avoided, as the gentleman had no proposition
to offer, and then juftified the' measures 'already ta
ken by administration. He observed in reply toMr.
Burke, that Gen. Gage had been sent to Boston for
three very good purposes ; firft, to proted the Ma
gistrates, secondly, to protest the property of the
Merchants, which had been grofly violated, thirdly,
to enforce the execution of the ads of the British
Parliament, which points he had in a great measure
accomplished ; and he added, that such Reps would
mot have been necessary if the Declaratory Bill, re
pealing the damp atl, had never been brought into
that house. Mr. Burke retorted, that if the Decla
ratory A& was the accursed thing that had caused
all the mifehief, they had nothing to do but to toss
it overboard. For his part, he was ready to facrifice
every thing for peace with America ; but he still was
of opinion that Gen, Gage and his troops had no
business at Boston : That the Magistrates of Boston
were said to b:in an asylum ; he had heard of afy
lumns for thieves, but never of asylums for Magis
trates ;nor could he conceive how they could be said
to be protested, while they could not officiate, but
were only in an asylum : That the troops had been
dent to protect the commerce of the Merchants after
all trade was at an end ; and that as the execution
of the Afis ofParliament, Gen. Gage could not be
said to have enforced them, since the Americans had
not yet submitted to them. His severe sarcasms on
the Ministry were more proper for the ears of the
Members than the public.---A very candid, ffiert
speech from Mr. Cornwall closed the conyerfation,
and the House agreed with the Committee,
Lb N D O N,
Dec, 22% Three expresses have arrived within
these few days from the continent, and our ambassa
dor at the court of France ; their contents have en
gaged the utmost attention of the premier.
It is said that a plan is now agitating in the cabi
net, to conciliate matters between the mother coun
try and the Americans, by repealing the difagreable
afis, and admitting them to be represented by 8o
members in the house of commons.
Dec. 28. A privy council is summoned to meet
this day at St. James's, said to be on American af
fairs.
Dec. 31. The petition from the American con
gress to the king has been presented to his Majesty
by Lord Dartmouth.
The above petition is to be laid before the two
houses of parliament at their next meeting.
It is said that orders are given for several frigates
to be fitted out immediately to fail for America, to
be Rationed there, in order to cruize along the coasts
to prevent any ammunition or arms being sent to
the Americans by any foreign power.
J aH ° g^Orders are ienfto Ireland to take up 2000
tons of (hipping on government service.
%*' 4- It has been intimated to some considera
ble merchants that the ministry will be ready to meet
any conciliatory measures that may be proposed with
reipect to America ; and it is wished by many that,
the meeting of theAmericrn merchants this day may
be productive of some scheme that may bring about
matters before they are carried to too great lengths.
I' has been calculated that Great-Britain sustains
a loss of upwards of one thousand pounds per day,
exclufiye of government duties, while this nation
continues at variance with her American Colonies.
Jan. 5. Yesterday, in pursuance of an adver
tisement for a meeting of the Merchants and others
concerned in the North-American trade, there was
a very numerous and refpeclable meeting at the
King s arras tavern in Cornhill, of the most eminent
Merchants and Fraders of the city, to confider of a
petition to Parliament on the present alarming situ
ation of affairs with refpe& to America, the total
ft o pp^g e of all commerce to those parts ; and the
present decline of the trade and manufactures in the
kingdom . A motion was made by Mr. Alderman
Hayley, and seconded, that Thomas Lane, Esq; an
eminent North-American Merchant, be placed in
the chair; which was carried unanimously. After
the Chairman had informed the company of the in
tent of the meeting, Mr. Barclay moved, that an
address be prepared presented immediately to Par
liament, and a Committee appointed to draw up the
fame. A more refpeaable meeting was scarcely
ever known in the city of London, and every motion
can red & unanimously, except one gentleman well
known in the room, who observed that there was no
need of petitioning atprefent till theyhad information
what the Parliament would do after they had taken
into consideration the petition from the Congress of
America to his Majesty ; which petition his Majesty
had promised to lay before the House the earliest
opportunity, and that it would then be a proper
time for the Merchants to meet and to take the mat
ter into consideration; but this appearing as a Mi
nisterial manoeuvre, it was absolutely and unani
mously rejected.
Lieutenant Dundas is arrived express from Gene
ral Gage;on board the St. Lawrence armed schooner.
Jan. 5° "' have the pleasure to hear, that re
peating the American afts is a measure determined
on in the Cabinet.
A Great Personage is said to have infpeded all
the papers which have been received relating to the
unhappy tranfadions at Bolton, and that he has been
pleased to make memorandums on the most remark
able passages they contain.
Jan. 9. Lord North has publicly declared, that
so far from the meetings of American and Wed-In
dia Merchants being disagreeable to him, he, on the
contrary, wishes for nothing more than as much in
formation as possible on the American business to be
laid before the Parliament as speedily as possible.
It is reported that two Noblemen of distinguished
abilities will speedily embark for America, by com
mission, in order to enquire into the grievances com
plained of, and other matters of consequence.
An evening paper fays, than an express arrived
ye^erday from Spain, with an account that the King
of Spain had retired from the Sovereignty, and that
the Prince of Aufturias has assumed the reins of go
vernment. °
King s Arms Tavern, Cornhill, Jan. 4, 1775.
At a meeting of the Merchants and others concern
'd American Commerce held here this day.
Thomas Lane, Esq; was called to the chair.
,It was unanimously resolved, “ That it is the o
pinion of this meeting, that the alarming date,of the
trade to North-America makes it expedient to pe
tition Parliament for redress."
It was also Resolved, " That a Committee be ap
pointed to prepare a Petition to the House cf Com
mons, and lay the fame before a general meeting, to
be held at this place this day fe'ennight."
rJ a V° R e f°l v ed, “ That the Committee con
lilt of the following Gentlemen :
For New . England, Mr. Lane, Mr. Champion,
Mr, Broomfield. For New-York, Mr. Pigou, Mr.
blackburn, Mr. Sargent. For Pcnnfylvania, Mr
Barclay, Mr. Mildred, Mr. Neate. For Maryland'
Mr. Hanbury, Mr. Mollefon, Mr. Campbell. For
Virginia, Mr. Norton, Mr. Gift, Mr. Athawes.
Mr. Bridgeon, Mr. Clark, Mr.
Wooldridge. For South-Carolina, Mr, Green
wood, Mr, Nutt, and Mr.'Rolkfton.~
Moved that the said petition be read. It was
read accordingly. 1
Refolded unammoufly, That the petition now pre
fen'e° and read 9 is approved of by this meeting.
Rejoined ftfo,,. That the above mentioned
be fairl y. en grossed, under the infpedion
that prepared it, with the
addition of Mr. Strettle, Mr. Watson, Mr Hun
ter, for the province of Quebec; and that the said
committee be desired to attend the signing and pre
fentmg of the fame to the House of Commons, and
to prepare and digest such evidence as may be ne
cessary for proving the alegations of the said peti
tion, ana for supporting the fame.
Refolded unanimoujly. That the committee be de
sired to call another meeting of the merchants, tra
ders, aud others concerned in the American com
merce (as soon as they know the fate of the peti
tion in the House of Common) in order that the
public may be properly informed thereof.
Refolded unawmoifo, That the minutes of this
meeting be fairly tranferibed in the public morn
ing and evening papers, signed by the chairman.
(Copy) Thomas Lane, Chairman.
< c °' a l etter from Bristol, Jan. if.
day tbe 'Gaiety of merchant adventurers
a \ to c . on fi der of a petition to parliament
refpeding American affairs; the heads of a ve
ry unexceptionable commercial petition were
read; and another hall is to be held on man
day to determine on the question. " A meet
ing of the merchants, manufacturers, and trades
men, is to be held at Guild-Hall on friday next at
eleven o clock, on the fame business."
At a meeting of the North-American merchants,
on wednefday last at the King's Arms tavern, the
business of the meeting was opened about eleven
0 clock, by reading the petition, the fubflance of
which was as follows.
,F'^ /? 4tin g to the House the federalparticulars of
the extenfae trade carried on between this country and
America, as it reffected the barter of commodities-^-tbe
balance of case a s cwell a , the negotiation of exchange in
several parts of Europe ;-it next fed so this^ry
trade avas b urt by t he federal revenue bills %
feting North-America,paffedface the rfralofthe fe
all to the year 1773. J t then concluded, praying redref,
tn these particulars, as ^ell as on the operation of all other
M'B'k e a °° Ve 'e^^emen were added, Mr. Lee,
It was aho resolved, “ That the Committee be
desired to entitle the Petition,
" A Petition.of the Merchants, Traders and o
thers, concerned in theNorth-American Commerce."
^ aS Resolved, “ That the Minutes of this
Meeting be in ferted in the public Morning and E
vening Papers, signed by the Chairman."
It was also Resolved, “ That this Meeting be
adjourned to Wednesday next; at Ten o'clock in the
forenoon, at this house; then' to receive the Report
of the Committtee."'
r , W PHOMAS LANE, Chairmans
London Tavern, Bifhopfgate street, Jan. 3,
AT a general Meeting of the Welt-Lidia Mer
chants, the Chairman produced a letter which
w by Several Gentlemen of the
xA ia I",pi„of which the following is a copy;
7 , London, Jan 1,1775.
alarmin g situation in which the Weft In
dia Islands are placed, by the late American Pro-
ceedings, induces us to apply to you, as Chairman
the Society of Weft.lndia Merchants, to renuefr
that they will not come to any Reflation, as / fe
perate body, at their next Meeting, but that they
?' h " s m callin g a general Meeting of the
b° dy of Renters, and Weft-India Merchants,
to deliberate on the steps necessary to be taken by u &
jointly on the prelent important crifis." r
T , (Signed)
In consequence of which it was resolved, That
this Society do very chearfully concur in opinion
witn the Gentlemen Planters, that we ought not to
come to any Resolution as a feperate bodv, at this
and d ° alf ° readil Y join in calling a ge
^"^ ° f th ^ whole body of Platers and
vVeft-India Merchants..
And having been informed that the 18th of the
present month is a day recommended by the sub-
Icribers to the above letter, as proper for such Meet
f^'." 1S Either Resolved, That immediate notice
be given in the public papers, that such general
Meeting be called and held on the day aforefaid, at
h °r r ° fTsve l ve , at the London Tavern, in
Bifhopfgate-ftreet, then and there to deliberate on
the measures neceflWy to be taken for the pieferva
bon of toe general interest of theWeft-Indialflands,
in the present important crisis.
JAMES ALLEN, Secretary.
King s Arms Tavern, Cornhill, Jan. 11.
At a very numerous meeting of the Merchants,
traders, and others concerned in the American
Commerce, agreeable to adjournment.
_ T, 0 S Lane, Esq; in the Chair.
The Committee informed the Meeting, that they
had prepared the petition proposed at their last
meeting.