The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-05-08 00:00:00, page 2

My the Ship L'Ar^tr, Capt Fooxs, from Antigua, and the Ship
Darragh, Capt.' Bayne, from Dublin, arrived at New-
Yok, we have the following Advices, visa.
L O N D O N.
HOU SE of COMMONS, Tuesday, March 4,
ft S soon as Mr. Ord brought tip the report of rhe resolutions
f\ of the Committee of Su: ply on the fubje& nf' the ordi
naries of the army, Mr. David Hartley refe, and intimating his
intention of moving for the recommitment of that resolution,
^bich declares it to be. the opinion of the Committee, “ that a
sum not exceeding 376 zogl. be voted for 13,472 men, troops of
Hesse Calftl and fuotidy," desired the Speaker to call to him,
when he came to that resolution. The Clek then proceeded
to r ead the defoliations a firft and second time, and the Speaker
took the ferie of the H use upon each separately. When the
resolution was read for voting, that the Provincial Corps of Ame
rican Loyalists Should be put on the ellabhihment, and thence
becoroe entitled to half-pay, Sir Philip 'Jennings Clerke rose, and
offered a few objections, which gave rife to a desultory converfa
ti<n of an hour, in which the Secretary at War, (Sir William
Yonge,) Sir Philip Jennings, Clerke, Sir Cecil Wray, General
Smith, Colonel Onflow, Sir Edward Aftley, Mr. Huffey, and
other gentlemen were the speakers.
The chief purport of what was said by Sir Philip, and those
who supported his argument, was, that he and they had no ob
jeftion to giving the officers of the Provincial Corps half-pay, as
a reward for their services, but that allowing them rank was
an injuflice to the old corps on the establishment, because the
officers of the Provincial Corps would by that means be allowed
to leap over the heads ot other officers, who had been much lon
ger in the service, and were thence undoubtedly entitled to rank,
in preference to any officers of less Handing.
General Smith in particular repeated his question, if the Pro
vincial Corps obtained this favour, how it could with any decen
cy, or at least regard to justice, be refufed to the new raised En
glish corps that had been lent to India ?
The Secretary at War answered this. He declared, that the
English cirps alluded to, had been raised exprefly on condition
that they Should have no claim to rank on half-pay. He said
farther, that he heartily willed more of the Loyalists could be
provided lor in the fame manner. It was a fair and honorable
mode of rewarding their feivices, and in his opinion much less
exceptionable than the mode of granting them secret pensions
and annuiti s.
Mr. Hufo afleed, whether allowing the resolution to pass,
would not be tacitly admitting a precedent, upon which the o
toer new raised regiments could claim rank and half-pay.
The Secre ary at War declared, that it could not in justice and
fair condruftion be considered as any such precedent, because the
nature of the pretensions of the Provincial Corps, and of the o
ther new raised regiments, were widely different. But if ever
such a claim should be made, and that upon the grounds of the
pre'ent indance, it would then be fit time of diluting the claim,
and (hewing that the present indance was a single one, and did
not apply to any other case whatever.
Sir Cecil Wray charged the Secretary at War, wth holding lan
guage reflecting the Provincial Corps now diametrically opposite
to that he had formerly held. Sir Cecil thought Sir George had
feme years since opposed the Provincial Corps, whenever the ar
my extraordinaries were under confederation, as corps that the
Hcufe had nothing to do with.
The Secretary at War, in reply, appealed to the House, whether
the exatl reverse had not been the tad, and whether he had net
uniformly complained, that the Provincial Corps were not put
into the eflimates, instead of the extraordinaries of the army;
arguing constantly, that if they had been inserted in the estimates,
the House would then know what they were, and for what service
the public money was voted.
Mr Huffy said, he had a few days since heard a great deal of
the little care that had been taken of the Loyalists, and now it
appeared to him as if they were running into an opposite extreme,
and were anxious to take more care than enough of them.
Ge eral Smith said the question was net, whether the Loyalists
ihould be taken care of or not, but whether the old established
rules of military rank should or should not be voted.
After some more consideration, Sir Philip Jennings Clerke moved,
that the resolution be recommitted, upon which the House divi
ded.-.-Noe* 76. Ayes, 37, Majority for the Half-Pay 39.
The Speaker then proceeded to put the question severally on the
other resolutions, and when he came to that refpe£ting the troops
of Hesse Cartel and subsidy, Mr. David Hartley role, and observed,
tht his declaration of the preceding day, that he would move
for in address to the Crown, to intreat his Majerty to give orders
that the troops Should be withdrawn from New-York, had, he
understood, been regarded woh feme jealousy, and such a motion
had been considered as a motion that might do harm. Undoubtedly
he bad no with to move any thing that was at all likely to produce
ill consequences; he therefore would forego his firft intention; but
as he was fully pe: fuaded, the resolution, if it parted, as it flood,
was liable to much mifconftruaion by the German Princes, and by
the peopleof America, he should move, that the resolution be re
committed, in order to introduce a motion in the Committee, which
he held in his hand, and would read to the House. Mr. Hartley then
went into a recapitulation of his arguments of the preceding day,
in order to prove that voting the pay of the Hefle Cartel troops for
a year, being the full treat of any vote for military service,
would give America some fuf|icion that it was not our intention
to withdraw the troops from New-York is soon as possible, and
might lead to. jealcufies extremely prejudicial to the amity that
had been profeffed by both countries. After expatiating on this
idea for feme short time, Mr. Hartley read his intended motion to
the House: The words of it were, “ That a sum not exceeding
“ be voted for 13472 men, troops of Hefle Caffel and
" subsidy, up to the gift of September (or October next, as the
" House should choole) for the purpose of removing them from
" New-York with all convenient feted."
Mr. Hartley said, that mutatis mutandis he should apply this
motion to every other resolution refpe&ing foreign troops, and
concluded with moving, " That the resolution be recommitted."
Sir Ceil Wray said, he had been so much astonished at the lan
guage that had been held in that House the preceding day, when
trie resolution was under the consideration of the Committee of
Supply, that he would second the motion. Sir Cecil added, that
he had heard it asserted that New-York was to be kept, in
order to force the Americans to do that justice to the Loyalists,
whch the Hou e was willing to impute as the true conftruaion
and meaning of the Fifth Article of the Provisional Treaty. If
such was the intention of Government, and New-York was to
be kept as a coercion of the execution of the Provisional Treaty,
we had a new war dire&ly upon our hands, and there was an end
to the reconciliation with America, which the House and the
people at large had expressed themselves so anxioufty bent on ef
fecting.
Thu Chancellor of the Exchequer rose to fay a few words in reply
to the later part of the Honorable Baronet's speech. Sure he
was, that the Honorable Baronet had not heard any thing in the
fmdileft degree corresponding with what he had mentioned from
any person the fide of the House on which he flood, and he be
lieved, that no person whatever had suggested that New-York
was to be kept for the purpose alluded to. Those of his Maje
sty's Ministers who had negotiated the Provisional Treaty, could
not entertain the most distant intention of holding New-York, or
of keeping the troops there longer than was unavoidably neces
sary. Their with and object were to bring them away with all
convenient speed, the only queftim that remained with them be
ing a question as to the means of carrying their intention into
immediate practice. It was not that they did not intend and
anxiously define to bring away the troops as soon as possible, but
whether the means were adequate to the object, and whether they
bould bring them away within nine months, or any other given
titne. For thele reasons, and for these reasons only, Mr. Chan
cellor Pitt said, he thought the resolution ought to hand as it did;
and here he begged leave to repeat, that he ever would hold it to
be a found, a necessary, and a wife parliamentary principle, to
reduce every matter of expence that the House was called hpon to
vote as, much as possible to estimate, and to leave as little as pos
sible to extraordinary. By such a mode of conduct alone ceuld
Parliament duly exetcife its 'controlling power, and prevent im
provident or lavish expenditure of the public money. Ever since
he had been called upon to turn his thoughts to public affairs, he
had studied to aft up to this principle, and it was his intention as
long as he should have the honour of serving his Majesty, to have
Endeavoured to have reduced every part of the public expence to
eftirhate; an idea, which he had flattered himfelf, he should not
have found impracticable, and tlfen no money could have been
voted for any service, but with the previous fanflion of that
House. With regard to the prefentqueftion, the time and the means
of bringing away the troops from New-York should, with his
will, have been fpecified in the resolution, but that was absolute
ly impossible; and therefore as it could not be afeertained pre
cisely, whether the troops could be brought home in fix months
from that day or not, he most declare himfelf in favour of the
resolution as it flood at present.
Lord North rose immediately, and said, feeling himfelf in
some fort alluded to by the honorable gentleman who had moved
for the recommitment of the fefolution, he would fay a few
words: And firft, it could not but raise his astonishment, how it
happened that a suspicion was entertained of there being any
other intention than to withdraw the troops as soon as possible
from New-York. He was amazed, that such an idea could have
entered into the mind of man. That the idea had any the small
est foundation was a matter absolutely impossible. To what pur
pose delay the bringing away the troops from New-York an hour
longer than was unavoidable ? The war we had been engaged in
with America was at an end; the sooner, therefore, every part
of the expence occasioned by that war was put a flop to, the bet
ter. It was a matter that every body must with. The troops
could not be kept in New-York for any hostile purpose. In fatt,
the more the matter was considered, the more it would be found,
as the honorable gentleman over the way had so well explained it,
that no person could have an interest in keeping the troops at
New-York, and that nothing but the want of means to bring
them away, could be the reason for detaining them even so long
at the amendment of the motion, that had been read to the House,
fitted. But what end could that amendment answer, supposing
it parted ? It would only (if his honorable friend would give him
leave to fay so) defeat the very purpose for which it was profeffed
to be moved, and embarrass government in the execution of the
measure, which his honorable friend wilhed to expedite. Be
lides, what harm was there in the original resolution ? It put
the public to not one shilling more expence than the amendment.
The money stated in the resolution was not the sum to be paid to
the Landgrave of Hefle, nor were the sums stated in the Other re
solutions the sums to be paid to any other of the German Prin
ces. The sums they were to receive, were to be found in the
treaties with those princes, and depended altogether on the time
at which the troops should arrive in the territories of their re
fpedtive Sovereigns. If the resolution as it flood called for a
little more money than the expence might eventually amount to;
that was no injury to the public ; should more be issued than the
service requited, the overplus would doubtless be brought to the
public account; in every point of view therefore his Lordship
thought the resolution had better pass as it was.
Mr. H. W. Hartley rose to fu,port his brother's motion, and
again went over the old ground of argument, that the sooner the
troops were brought away the better, and that voting the estimate
for a year involved a principle, and might mislead. Mr. Hartley
concluded with asking why so many transports were daly paying
off at home, when they might be so much better employed in be
ing sent to bring away the troops from New-York?
Mr. Brett answered this by faying the transports now paying
oti at home, were such as were wholly unfit for service. Mr.
Brett added, that all the transports that could be got together iri
America were now collecting at New-York, to bring away the
troops.
Mr. H. W. Hartley rose to reply rather warmly, and said he
thought all the transports that could be engaged here at home fit
for the service, should be engaged and sent to New-York to bring
away the troops, and that a work of so much importance should
not depend solely on such transports as could be collected in Ame
rica.
L O NDO N.
March 7. The Duke of Bridgewater on Saturday last waited
upon the King as an independent Peer, and offered his services to
aft as firft Lord of the Treasury, without any emolument whatever,
until his Majesty should be able to stem the present torrent of
fadion ; his Majesty thanked his Grace for his loyal offer, and
said he would duly confider it.
All the mips that have cargoes for America are ordered to wait
till a final commercial settlement has taken place between this
country and the United States.
Addresses on the peace are certainly preparing in the most parts
of the great trading towns of the kingdom. The stocks have been
but little altered by the late miracles wrought in St. Stephen's
Chapel, nothing can alter the flocks, but the entire confidence
of the people in the Ministry. The Non Confols are at 68 i-Bth,
and Bank Stock at
The public may depend on the following : Lord North was
last night, at nine o'clock, with the King at Buckingham-house;
he staid with his Majesty two hours. The many who knew of
the interview, conceived an arrangement to be the immediate
consequence, and that the Duke of Portland would be sent for :
But the event was a disinclination on the King's part to employ
the whigs, and a most honourable and absolute denial on the part
of Lord North, to be concerned on any other ground but on the
broad bans of such a coahron, so that the country is abfulutely
and literally without any government whatever. The Chancel
lor of the Exchequer (Mr. Pitt) and Mr. Secretary Townfhend,
now created Lord Sydney, hold their places merely till their suc
cessors are nominated.
The Cabinet is evidently in a very perplexed situation. It
is now near two weeks since the resignation of the principal
Ministers was in part announced, and we have as yet none to
succeed them. Perhaps it were well to try how to do with
out a Ministry. For as Mr. Powys observed of the
Sailor looking well without his head we know that a Mini
ster depends more upon the lower extremities than upon the up
per. It is well known that a great Personage has declared in the
prefer.ee of several leading men, who prerted him to sign an ar
rangement of a New Ministry, that he would now aft for him
felf, and not in future be guided by men of any party, whose
sole aim was only to monopolize power and appointments. The
treaty with the Dutch is compleatly fettled ; but before it can be
formally announced, it must ph ths different States of that
Republic, and the provinces must all approve of it, previous to
its being ratified.
The Bill for the removal of all doubts, relative to the Inde
pendency of the legislation and jurifdi<ftion of the Parliament of
Ireland, passed the British House of Commons without any par
ticle of opposition, and was ordered to the Peers by the hands of
Mr. Grenville.
The two Members of Parliament, Mr. Cook and Mr. Wilmot
who were appointed some time ago to revize the Lift of Pensions
given to the American Refugees, having, with no less humanity
and ability, examined and investigated the merits and ejaufes of
each Peafioner, made a report to the Lords of the Treasury, by
whith a saving of upwards of zo,oool. a-year, will accrue to
the nation, by the reduction of such of the above pensions as
they deem unnecessary and unmerited.
DUBLI N, March §.
The change in administration will, by way of firft fruits, fm
pofe a tax upon this country of 12 cool, per annum, for before
Lord Thurlow accepted the seals, he frpulated for a pension of
50001. a year, to commence when he should cease to be Chancel
lor; Colonel Barre becomes entitled to a pension of 32001. per
annum, on ceasing to be employed in his Maiefty's service; and:
Lord Ashburton is provided with one of 4000!. a rear.
By a ffiip arrived at Hastings from Cherburg, it'is learned that
the privateers are all fitting out for trading vertels, being in hopes
of carrying on a considerable trade to America : that an order
was come there from Paris, for the bafon to be cleared out and
enlarged, and made fit to contain a large fleet of men of war, and
two rtrong batteries are ordered to be built to guard the entrance:
into the harbour.
From the ANTIGUA GAZETTE.
St. John's, April q.
We are informed that the 4th day of next month is the time
Appointed for delivering up the different captured islands.
A lift of the New Ministry.
Duke of Portland, First Lord of the Treasury, vice Lord Shel
burne. Lord North, Privy Seal, and created a Peer, vice Lord
Camden. Mr. Burke, Paymaster General, vice the Lord Advo
cate. The Hon. Mr. Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, vice
Mr. Pitt. Lord Stormont Secretary of State, vice T. Townfhend,
now a Peer.
NT W :Y O R K, May%
Letters received from London, dated the 14th of March, inti
mate, that, since Lord Shelburne resigned the guidance of the
helm, no Minister had been appointed for fourteen days. The
Duke of Devonshire was much talked of as Viceroy of Ireland,
and Lord Loughborough for Lord high Chancellor, he will be the
firft North Briton who has held the Seals; Lord Mansfield never
would accept of that department, knowing the uncertainty of a
continuation in it ; but the noble Wedderburne has hitherto
proved invincible to all faction, and may remain unmoved in that
dignified rtation, to the lart syllable of his Lordship's exigence.
By letters from Antigua we are informed, of the
happy arrival there, after a passage of eleven weeks
from Halifax, of his majesty's ship Le Caton, of 64.
guns ; die was difmafled and greatly damaged by ex
treme bad weather., The lady of fir Andrew Snape
Hamond, and Mrs. Douglass, the lady of captain Doug
lah, late commander of his majesty's ship Chatham,
were passengers. This ship was bound for England,
but forced, in great difirefs, to bear away for the a^
bove port.
The following is an abftraa of a bill for the provifon
al eflablifhment and regulation of trade and inter
course between the fubje&s of Great Britain and,
those of the united states of North-America.
I r recites, that the provinces of New-Hampshire,
Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-lfiand and Providence
Plantations, Connefticut, New York, New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Noi th-
Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, in North-
America, have lately been lolemnly acknowledged by
his majesty, to be independent and sovereign Hates, by
the description of the united dates of America.
It therefore enaßs, that all flatuses heretofore made
to regulate the trade between Great Britain and Ame
rica, or to prohibit any intercourse between th® fame,
shall, so far as they prohibit the interc orfe between
Great-Britain and the territories now composing the
said united dates, wholly and absolutely be repealed.
It recites, that whilst the aforefaid provinces were
annexed to Great-Britain, the inhabitants of the said
provinces enjeyed all rights, franchifes, privileges and
benefits of British fubje&s, as well in refped to the.
trade and commerce with Great-Britain as in other in
stances : and in consequence thereof their ships and
vessels, being navigated as Britilh ships and vessels are
by law navigated, were admitted into the ports of
Great-Britain, with all the privileges and advantages
of British built ships.
Therefore, for the purpose of making a temporary
regulation of commerce and intercourse between Great-
Britain and America, and in order to evince the di.po
firion of Great Britain to be on terms of the most per
feft amity with America, and in confidence of a like,
friendly disposition on the part of the said slates to
wards Great Britain, it further enads, that after (a
time to be named in the bill) the ships and vessels of
the fubjeds of America, with the merchandises on board
the fame, shall b- admitted into all the ports of Great-
Britain in the fame manner as vessels of the fubjeHs
of other independent states; but the merchandizes and
goods on board such vessels, being of the produce of
the said states, shall be liable to the fame duties only,
as the merchandizes would be fubjeft to, if they were
the property of British fubjefts, and imported in Bri
tish built vessels.
That by the several laws now existing for regulati
on of the trade with foreign states, the fubjeds of the.
latter are, as aliens, liable to various commercial re
ftri6tions, as also to various duties and cufloms at the
ports of Great Britain, which hitherto have not been
applicable to, or demandable from the inhabitants of
the said several provinces of America.
That it is highly expedient the intercourse between
Great Britain and the said states should be eflablifhed.
on the most enlarged principles of reciprocal benefit to
both countries ; but from the distance between Great-
Britain add America, it must be a considerable time
before any convention for establishing the trade andl
intercourse between Great Britain and the said states
of America, upon a permanent foundation can be
concluded :
It further enafts, That during the time aforefaid,
the ships and vessels of the fat'd United States, shall be
admitted into the ports of his Majesty's Islands, Co
lonies, or Plantations in America, with any merchant