Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-01-30 00:00:00, page 5

% Hyde Packet, C©. Jefferies,
^New-York, in fa ^eks from Fal-
MOU ru, ^ ^ the fait ^ces.
L O N D 0 N, November 30.
r TESTER DAY morning near 300 of the Mem-
Y' bers of the New House of Commons were
horn in, before the % came to the Hoofe of
Lords. The following B the form of the decla
ration signed and delivered on Of th by each Mem
ber, to the Deputies appointed by the Lord Stew
and to swear him in:., +
“ The lands, tenements, and hereditaments
whereby I make out my qualification to serve as
a (a bTnk left for Knight, Citizen or Burgess)
in the present Parliament do lie. (a blank left for
die topographical description) and Ido declare
ray estate in the fame to be of the annual value of
(another blank for the sum) above reprizes.
''The Lord Mayor came down to the House of
Commons yesterday morning at a little past ten
o'clock, and was one of the firft who took the
oaths before the Lord Steward.
Dec. I. Yesterday his Majesty went in state to
the House of Peers, attended by the Duke of An
cafter and Lord Bruce; and the House of Com
mons being sent for, they presented Sir Fletcher
Norton for their Speaker, of whom his Majesty
approved; after which his Majesty made the fol
lowing most gracious Speech from the Throve:
My Lords and Gentlemen,
c< r T gives me much concern, that I am obliged,
j at'the opening of this Parliament, to inform
yott, that a most daring spirit of refinance and
disobedience to the law still unhappily prevails in
the province of the Massachusetts Bay, and has, in
divers parts of it, broke forth in frefh violences
of a very criminal nature. These proceedings
have been countenanced and encouraged in other
ofmy colanies, and unwarrantable attempts have
been made to obftrud the commerce of this king
dom/ by unlawful combinations. I have taken
fich measures, and given such orders, as I judged
most proper and effe^^ual for carrying into execu
tion the laws which were palled in the last session of
the late Parliament, for the prote^ion and security
ofthe commerce ofmyfubjeds, and for the restoring
and preferring peace, order; and good govern
ment in the province of the Massachusetts Bay;
and you may depend upon my firm and ftedfaft re
foldtion to withstand every attempt to weaken or
impair the supreme authority of this legislature
over all the dominions of my crown; the mainte
nance of which [ confider as essential to the dig
nity, the fafety, and the welfare of the British
empire; assuring myfelf, that, while I a& upon
these principles, I shall never fail to receive your
abidance and support.
I have the greatest fausfa&ion in being able to
inform you, That a treaty of peace is concluded
between Russia and the Porte. By this happy
event, the troubles which have so long prevailed
in one part of Europe are composed, and the ge
neral tranquility rendered complete. It fhal be
my constant aim and endeavour to prevent the
breaking out of frefh disturbances; and I cannot
but flatter myfelf I shall succeed, as I continue to
receive the strongest assurances from other powers of
their being equally dilpofed to preserve the peace.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
I have ordered the proper estimates for the ser
vice ofthe ensuing year to be laid before you ; and I
doubt not but that, in this House of Commons, I
shall meet with the fame affectionate confidence, and
the fame proofs of zeal and attachment to my person
and government, which I have always, during the
eourfe of my reign, received from my faithful
Commons.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Let me particularly recommend to you, at this
time, to proceed with temper in your delibera
tions, and with unanimity in your resolutions.
Let my people, in every part of my dominions, be
taught by your example, to have a due reverence
for the laws, and a just sense of the blessings of
our excellent constitution. They may be assured
that, on my part, I have nothing so much at
heart, as the real prosperity and lifting happiness
of all my fubjeAs.
Yesterday the Upper AfTembly ordered an ad
dress to be presented, on his Majesty's most gra
cious speech; 43 against 7.
Yesterday the Right Hon. the Earl of Bute was
nt St. James's before the King went to the Houle,
and afterwards appeared in his place in the House
of Peers.
Diary ofthe Proceedings oftheHouSE ^Commons.
November 29.
This day at half past One o'clock, Sir Francis
-Molyneux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod,
delivered a message which was received by the
Clerk from his Majesty, commanding their im
mediate attendance in the House of Peers.
The House went up accordingly, and having
flaid a few minutes, returned, when Lord Guern
sey moved the House to proceed to the choice of
a Speaker, and proposed the Right Hon. Sir
Fletcher Norton: His Lordflhip was seconded by
Lord Robert Spencer ; and the question being put
by the Clerk, it was carried nemine contradicente.
As soon as the choice was declared, Sir Fletcher
rose in his place, and thanked the House general
ly for this second proof of the confidence they had
been pleased to place in him, assuring them that
he would always have one merit to plead with
them, which was a punctual and prompt obedi
ence to their commands.
I he two Noble Lords then waited on Sir
Fletcher in his place, and conducted him to the
firft Rep of the chair, where he again addressed
the House, and proposed to alter the prayer re
lative to the preservation of the ancient privileges
of the Commons of Great-Britain, on his being
presented to hrs Majesty for his approbation. He
tnen fat down, and the mace being taken from
under the table, Sir John Shelley, Treasurer of
the Household, congratulated the House on their
choice, and moved to adjourn, which was carried
•f courie.
$ TSCRIP T to the Pennsylvania Packet.
November 30.
The House having met a little after One o'clock,
a message was brought by Sir Francis Molyneux,
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, from his
Majesty, commanding the immediate attendance
of this Hon. House, in the House of Peers. The
Speaker eled, with the House, went up accord
ingly, where Mr. Speaker having addressed his
Majesty in the customary form, was approved of;
and the house returning in about half an hour, Mr.
Speaker reported that he had been in the House of
Peers, where his Majesty approved of him for
their Speaker.
He then acquainted the House, that he had in
their name, and on their.behalf, by humble peti
tion to his Majesty, laid claim to all their ancient
rights and privileges; particularly that their per
sons, their estates, and servants, might be free
from all arrests, and all molestations, not taken
away or abridged by Parliament ; that they might
enjoy liberty of speech in all their debates; might
have access to his Majesty's royal person when
ever occasion ffiould require; and that all their
proceedings might receive from his Majesty the
most favourable conftruHion; all which his Ma
jesty had been graciously pleased to grant in as
free and ample a manner as they had been grant
ed or allowed, by any of his Royal Predecessors.
Mr. Speaker then addressed the House, and re
peated his most refpe&ful acknowledgments for
this diftinguilhing mark of their good opinion.
He assured them, that it would be the strongest
incitement to him to difeharge the great truß
they had reposed in him with the greatest dili
gence and fidelity, which could not, in his opi
nion, be better manifefted, than by adhering
ftriftly to the ancient forms of the House; by a
punctual obedience to whatever they might ordain
or command; and in procuring a hearing and at
tention for each individual who might think pro
per to address the House.
The Speaker then put them in mind, that the
firft thing to be done was, to take the oaths and
make and fubferibe the declaration, and to take
and subscribe the oaths of abjuration and qualifi
cation by law required. He accordingly, Land
ing on the upper step of the chair, took the laid
oaths alone ; and after eighty members, whose
names were called c^ver, forty at a time, took the
said firft mentioned' oaths, and made and sub
scribed the said declaration, and took and fubferib
ed the said oath of abjuration, and delivered in
refpedively an account of their qualification, and
took and fubferibed the oath contained in the qua
lification so delivered io. It being then about
four o'clock, the House adjourned to Thursday.
"December 5.
This day some few members were sworn in,
and the several usual standing orders relative to
privileges, trade, religion, controverted elections,
the interference of Peers, and double returns,
read and agreed to.
Lord Beauchamp rose and moved for an address
to his Majesty, to return his Majesty the thanks
of tliis House for his Majesty's most gracious
speech from the throne. Betides the usual forms
of addressing, his Lordship introduced several per
tinent observations on the present spirit of the
Colonists, their resolves, meetings, and in particu
lar their intended non-importation agreement.
His speech was in general well received 2nd much
approved of.
His Lordship was feconed by Mr. de Grey, jun.
who said very little material. Lord John Caven
dish now rose, and having previously condemned
the condud of administration, and the turbulent
spirit of the Colonies, moved an amendment, in
calling for such papers relative to America, as had
been received since the last sessions, without which
his Lordship remarked, it would bejmpoffible for
the House to determine with propriety or certain
ty, whether it might or might not be necessary to
adopt other measures.
Lord North answered Lord John Cavendish in
a fliort speech, and said he should give himfelf or
the House very little trouble, as he imagined
when he came in that there was not a member
present who would not perceive the necessity for
anting in the manner proposed by the speech.
His Lordship owned himfelf to be'the fabricator
of it, and said that it was drawn up shortly pure
ly to avoid all cavil, and to promote an unanimity
of opinion at this important crisis.
He was answered by Mr. Frederick Montagu,
who in general disapproved of the address, and
who seconded the motion for the amendment very
strenuously.
Governor Johnftone spoke very fully on the
fame fide, and was heard with a good deal of at
tention. He contended very ably that America
was not worth keeping on the terms and princi
ples contained in the address.
Mr. Hartley (a new member) spoke next, and
entered pretty fully into the contents of the speech
and address, and urged strongly the necessity of
Lord John Cavendish's proposed amendments.
Col. Barre was very able on the fame fide. He
was of the fame opinion with Governor Johnftone.
He said the fcheroe of reducing the Colonies by
force, was wild, incoherent, and impracticable ;
and though it were not, that a dominion support
ed by force, would answer no end whatever. He
frid a report prevailed, that General Gage was
shortly to be recalled, but that would fignify no
thing, for fend whom you may, fend a second,
recal him, and fend a third, fays he, it will be all
to no effectual or substantial purpose.
Sir George Macartney answered the Colonel,
and spoke with great facility and tolerable pre
cision. He was against the amendment, and in
general for spirited measures.
Lord Carmarthen entered fully into the con
tents of the proposed amendment, and dwelt
much on the spirit of sedition, turbulence, and re
bellion, which had manifefted itfelf from one end
to the other of the American continent
Sir William Mayne declared himfelf uncon
nected with either fide of thehoufe; said, his mind
was unbiased, and his conduct should be unfetter-
ed; that on the present occasion he was against
the amendment, but reserved his opinion till the
question, and the information necessary to difeufs
and determine on it, came properly before the
House. He was heard with great attention and
general approbation.
General Smith was ofthe fame opinion, obser
ving, that the present was no proper time to take
so great and important question into confederation ;
and that his being now againft,he amendment,
would not hereafter preclude him from giving his
thoughts freely when the matter came before the
Houle in another form.
Mr. T. Townshend was for the amendment,
and was very severe on the general conduct of ad
ministration.
Mr. Burke was rather witty than solid, ingenius
than convincing. He put the House into great
good humour, but seemed willing to avoid the
real merit, He was for the amendment.
Mr. Van was fiery, as usual, and spoke strongly
for the most firm and decisive measures.
Mr. Solicitor General spoke very fully and ably,
and endeavoured to answer every thing that had
been offered on the other fide. Besides the above,
Mr. Drake, and one or two other gentlemen spoke
in the debate.
The question being put at about half after ten,
the House divided. For the amendment 73,
against it 264; and the question for the addrels
being then put, it passed of course in the affirmative.
December 8.
This day the House met a little after two
o'clock. As soon as the speaker took the Chair
he informed the House, that his Majesty had
been waited on the preceding day with the address
agreed to on Tuesday, and then read his Majes
ty's most gracious answer, as follows:
" Gentlemen,
" I return you my particular thanks for this
" very loyal and dutiful address. I receive with
" the highest fatisfa&ion and approbation your
“ assurances of assistance and support, ip main
" taining the supreme authority ofthe legislature
" over all the dominions of my crown. It shall
" be my care to juftify by my conduct the confi
" dence you so affectionately express and to shew
" that I have no interests separate from those of
“ my people."
December 12.
A little after Four the House went into a com
mittee of supply, and after some spirited observa
tions of Captain Luttrel, and a few questions
from him, Colonel Barre, Mr. T. Townfhend,
and Mr. Hartley proposed to Mr. Buller, who
laid the navy climates before the House, the
committee came to the two following resolutions,
which are to be reported to morrow.
That 16 ,000 seamen, including 4284 marines
be employed for the lea service for the year 1775.
That the expence, paying and victualling the
fame, be at the rate of 41. per month per man.
The House rose at Five o'clock, and adjourned
till to-morrow.
The legislative authority over all the British
dominions is a power lately much talked of, and
greatly infilled upon; but we can recoiled the
time when the Parliament asserted that right in a
certain bill, nud was opposed by King George the
second, who took his pen and absolutely crossed
out th: words which claimed an extensive and
unlimited authority over Ireland; the good old
Ki°g Tyi^g at the fame time, that “ the Irifo
" bad a rarliament es their cmvri."
Dec. z. By letters from Button camp, of Sept.
26, we are inforrhed, that letters have been drop
ped in different parts of the Boston camp, to inform
the army of the intention of Adams, Quincy, Han
cock, Barker, &c. heading the provincial people,
and that they may beapprifed of a riling of the
people in different parts ofthe province. They do
therefore declare to the soldiers, if that should be
the case, that the lives of those unhappy men th ,11
be the firft taken, as from theirs &ious and obsti
nate dispositions they have brought ruin cn that mi
serable province. In short, every thing grows daily
worfe,and horrid consequences most eniue in the^nd.
Dec. 3. When the Lords waited on the King last
Thursday, with their address on his speech, they
received from his Majesty the followirg most graci
ous answer.
" My Lor's I thank you for your affe&ionate as
surances of duty and loyalty. The zeal you express
for the support ofthe supreme authority ofthe legis
lature, which I shall constantly maintain, is very
agreeable to me, and your resolution to proceed
with temper and unanimity in your deliberations,
gives me the greater fatisfaaion, as it corresponds
with the hearty concern I fliall ever have for the
true interests of all my people."
Extract of a letter from Bayonne: Nov, 16.
“ Our deputy of trade at Paris has just sent us
the copy of a memorial which the Court of Eng
land has caused to be delivered to the Count de Ver
ftennes, that orders may be given to all owners
of vessels and French privateers trading to America
not to approach the English colonics ; ns the (hips
of war Rationed in those seas will receive orders, if
they meet with them to infpe& them, and if they
find more merchandize and manufactures than are
lor the consumption of the colony to which they
are bound, they wi.l be fiezed, and the profit given
to the vessel that takes them ; that the great quan
tity which has already been exported to the Colo
nies, has encouraged the Americans to perfitt in
their disobedience, from the hopes of being supplied
in this manner."
A letter from Madrid has the following article :
" England may deep secure in the arms &f peace,
for this kingdom has work enough cut out to war
with the Barbarians, who are become so powerful
both by sea and land, that [ believe the King of
Sp tin will be obliged to cdl in the affi/ance of some
chrihian power before they .will be able to bring
them to reason. The Emperor of Morocco has an
army 01'30,000 men, who are beater trained to arms
than any of tue Spa ifh S d Hers. I am afraid the
Moors will be too powerful for us."
It is apparent, fays a correfpond^nt, that whilst
the nation has been busied in the choice of Repre
sentatives, the Court has not been idle with reflect
to forming a chain of measures for America, which
. they feein determined to prosecute.
It is whispered, that if the tnuo patriotic Dukes
should make anv opposition in a great AT nibly this
season, they will betaken care of ; the Admit al will
be font with a command to the Weft Indies or Ame
rica, and the Gcneial to Ireland,
February 4, 1775.
Dec. 9. The following address of thanks to his
Majesty, for his most gracious speech from the
Throne, was presented cn Wednesday by the
Speaker of the House of Commons:
" Mod gracious Sovereign,
" WE, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal
fubje&s, the Commons of Great-Britain in Par
liament assembled, return your Majesty our hum
ble thanks for your most gracious Speech from
the Throne.
" Permit us to assure your Majefty^ that we
receive with the highest sense of your Majesty's
goodness the early information which, you have
been pleased to give us, of the state of the pro
vince of the Massachusetts Bay.
“ We feel the most sincere concern, that a
spirit of disobedience and resistance to the law
should still unhappily prevail in that province, and
that it has broke forth in frefh violences of a most
criminal nature: And we cannot but lament that
such proceedings should have been countenanced
and encouraged in any other of your Majesty's
Colonies, and that any of your fabjeds should
have been so far deluded and milled, as to make
rash and unwarrantable attempts to obftru& the
commerce of your Majesty's kingdoms by unlaw
ful combinations,
" We beg leave to present our most dutiful
thanks to your Majesty for having taken such
measures as your Majesty judged most proper and
effectual, for carrying into execution the laws,
which were passed in the lad fellion of the late
Parliament, for the protection and security of the
commerce of your Majesty's fubjedls, and for re
storing and preferring peace, order, and good
government, in the province of the Massachusetts
Bay.
" Your faithful Commons, animated by your
Majesty's gracious assurances, will use every
means in their power to assist your Majesty in
maintaining entire and inviolate the supreme au
thority of this legislature over all the dominions
of your crown ; being truly sensible that we should
betray the trust reposed in us, and be wanting in
every duty which we owe to your Majesty, and
to oar fellow-fubjecfts, if we failed to give our
most zealous support to those great constitutional
principles which govein your Majesty's condudh
in this important business, and which are so es
sential to the dignity, fafety, and welfare of the
British empire.
" We learn, with great fatisfa&on, that a
treaty of peace is concluded between Ruff aid
the Porte, and that, by this happy event, the ge
neral tranquility is rendered complete: And ^
entertain a well grounded hope that your Majes
ty's constant endeavours to prevent the breaking
out of frefh disturbances will be attended with
success, as your Majesty continues to receive th^
strongest assurances from other powers of their
being equally disposed to preserve the peace.
“ We a'ffure your Majesty, that we will, with
the utmost chearfulnefs, grant to your Maj-fly
every necessary supply; and that we confider our
selves bound by gratitude, as well .as duty, to
give every proof of the most affe&.ionate attach
ment to a Prince, who, during the wlfole course
of his reign, has made the happiness of his people
the objed of all his views, and the rule of all his
actions."
The fubfhnce of the late news from America,
is said to be as follows:
The Congress have unanimously voted a non
importation agreement.
The province of Virginia (by their Delegates
in the Chngrefs) have agreed not to plant any
more tobacco. The plan: now in the ground the
other Colonies have agreed to take. So that the
present year's crop is the last that will be sent to
Great-Britain, unless matters with America are
accommodated. The duty upon tobacco is a very
principle article of the revenue of Great-Britain.
They write from Cadiz, that an engagement
has happened in the Gut of Gibralter between
three Spanish frigates, and five Moorish cruizers,
wherein two ofthe latter were funk, and the other
three, after losing the greatest part of their crews,
were obliged to submit to the Spaniards.
Dec. 10. General Gage, 'tis reported, is now
on his passage for England, and is expected to
arrive in a short time.
A gentlemen who has been lately in France
assures us, that there are boats in readiness to
transport 20,C00 men into this kingdom, which
will probably be attempted the moment we involve
ourselves in a war with our Colonies.
Dec, 1% They write from Madrid, that the
Ministry there had received advice, that the Em
peror of Morocco met with so warm a reception
at Ceua, that great Lumbers of his people were
killed by the fire from the garrison, in consequence
of which he had drawn offhis troops fren; before
that place.
The majority have fliewn their frength of
power with a proof, that all they c^:; d)(Ihall be
exerted for the R—— of this Ventry and lie-
Colonies.
Though the two I oral De ^ \ r ~j j.
did rot vQ.te the firft day, it arose from a delicacy
of not being personally opposed to their brother;
the next dirifion ofthe House will produce them
the true friends of the people and the country, not
from factious principles,but from p triot feelings.
It is said that orders are given for all his Sfa
jetty's military Rations in North America to be
immediately reinforced by several detachments of
land forces from Great-Britain and Ireland.
A Gentleman who is a member of a certain
assembly, asked the Lord Mayor, a few days ago,
how he liked the King's Speech What Speech ?
answers the Lord Mayor. Why, that prin ed
speech in your hand, replies the member. You
mistake, cries my Lord, this is no speech, it is the
American death warrant. You are merry, cries
the member. Yes, returns the Lord Bfayor, I
thank God it is not my death warrant. But, to
be serious, fays the member, don't you think the
Speech is a good one? Yes, return^ the Lo>U
Mayor, it is a Moody good one.