The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-05-01 00:00:00, page 2

confluences a victory must produce to himfelf ahd
country, though often in his power, avoided blows as
much as possible. After the affair was over, the
Marihal was then reprimanded at court for not at haft
taking the Prince ;pourquoi ne I'vex vous feat pris ? but
that great General very sensibly replied, parceque,
Sire, fijel'avois fait tout Paris en revanche m'auroit pris.
" Should I take him, please your Majefly, I was
afraid all Paris would take me."
In this alarming crisis, this diftraded view of af
fairs, I come, my Lords, with this paper in my
hand (holding out his motion) to offer you the belt
of my experience and advice, which is " to beseech
his Majesty that he would be graciously pleased to
give immediate orders to Gen. Gage to withdraw
his troops from before the town of Boston, in order
to open the way for a plan of concord and reconcilia
tion ;" and this, my Lords, upon the most mature
and deliberate grounds, is the best advice I can give
you at this juncture. Such a condud will convince
America that you mean to try her cause in the spi
rit of freedom and enquiry, and not in letters of
blood ; it will be a pledge to her that you mean no
thing more than friendihip and equity, and she, I
trust, will meet you half way. But how can she
trust you with the bayonet at her bread? nay, how
docs ihe know, but after having submitted to the
sword, you mean to forge for her heavier chains, the
general consequence of ferocious victory.
I have crawled, my Lords, to this house to-day,
to tell you so---I think it my duty to give the whole
of my experience, and council to my country at all
times, but more particularly, when Ihe is in so much
need of it; and having thus entered on the threshold
of this business, I will knock at your gates of justice,
and never stop, except infirmities shall nail me to my
bed, until 1 have at lead, tried every thing in my
power, to heal those unhappy divisions.
There is no time to be loft—every hour is big with
danger---perhaps even whilst I am now speaking,
the decisive blow is struck, which may involve mil
lions in the consequence; and believe me, the very
firft drop of blood that is spilled, will not be a wound
easily Tinned over---it will be iritable vulvas; a
wound of that rancarous and feftering kind, that, in
ail probability, will mortify.the whole body. #
Let us then, my Lords, instantly begin with this
business, but let us not ad, as hitherto has been
aded—taking it up by bits and scraps, as exigen
cies pressed, without any regard to general relations
and dependencies. What fignifies merely repealing
this, or that particular ad? this is but meanly
J^nALifrAn^£^ Amenity perhaps to get into a
worse, and can never answer the purposes of a wife,
amicable, and constitutional system. The mere an
nihilation of a few, little dirty shreds of parchment
---can never produce any lading effect on the happi
ness and commerce of three millions of people, hi
therto ground down with miseries and wrongs, and
in hourly dread of having them occasionally re
hearsed.
We must look on this great business in one large
connected view, work on it, step by step, with cau
tion and liberality, and never lose fight of it until
it is accomplilhed ;---this is the way, not only to ob
tain confidence for the present, but solid and lading
happiness for the future : The line thus drawn, the
Americans will have something to trust to---and we
shall be taught not to transgress that line.---Thus
mutual confidence will be begun, and mutual be
nefit mud follow. I know that it has been in cir
culation, that if the ft amp afl had never been re
pealed, we Ihould be at this hour in peace and qui
etness with America; and from this many people
urge the danger, as well as inefficacy of conciliating
measures at present. Butthough I could readily re
fute the falfhood, and absurdity of this assertion, by
appealing to the very official letters from your Ame
rican Governors at that period---! shall wave this
ground, and only mention to your Lordships a cir
cumdance, which will set this matter in a dill clear
er light, and shew you the temper, firmnefs, and
complexion of the Bodonians on that eccafion.
Some time after the repeal of that a&, I happen
ed to be in company (at the house of a mutual friend
above 100 miles from this town) with one of the
most considerable, and intelligent merchants in this
country ; in a conversation I had with him upon
this fubjedt, I begged him to be as explicit as possi
ble in giving me his opinion on the repeal. This
gentleman then told me, and confirmed his account
By several written and refpedable evidences, that
the people of Boston, previous to the repeal, wait
ed in sullen silence the deliberations of the Britiffi
parliament, and were positively determined, if that
day's victory 'had not been obtained, immediately
to abandon the town, their residence, and all the
benefits of commerce ; to the country they were de
termined to retire with their families and friends,
more happy to be freemen, though tillers of the
earth, than saves under the greatest prosperity.
Does this resolution look like tamely submitting to
indignities ? or does .it shew that it is owing to this
jaf relaxation of government, that they have been
taught to ad with that firmnefs and perseverance
they have fir.ee that period pursued?
I would not, however, wifi, my Lords, by this
to encourage America to proceed beyond the line of
r ight---I reprobate as much as any of you those ads
of violence which a few of her mobility have com
mitted; but when her inherent, constitutional rights
are invaded, those rights she has an equitable claim
to the full enjoyment of, by the fundamental -laws
of the English constitution, and ingrafted on that
constitution by the unalterable laws of nature; then
I own myfelf an American; and feeling myfelf as
such, shall, to the.verge of my life, vindicate her
rights. If America, however, should, at any time,
lose fight of this line, I shall be an Englishmen, and
defend those rights again* any power, under Hea
ven, that would oppose them.
By Capt. Read, arrived at Philadelphia, from London,
but last from Cowes, we have received the following
Advices, viz.
LONDO N.
HOUSE yCOMMONS, February I.
THIS day, after the Speaker had quitted the
chair, the house went into a committee on
the American papers, when Lord North gave no
tice, as many of the members were withdrawing,
that the remainder of the papers would be soon gone
through, probably the fame evening, and that he
had something afterwards, (probably the next day)
to propose to the house. The reading of the papers
to a very thin house was finifhed about half after se
ven, including those brought to the house yester
day by Lord North. Gen. Gage's last letter is
dated Boston, Dec. 26, 1774; and the last letter
from Mr. Colden, Lieutenant-Governor of New-
York, is dated from thence January 4th. The most
remarkable incident contained in these frefh advices
is, that on the 14th of December 400 persons, arm
ed, attacked and seized Fort-William at New-
Hampshire, and made the commander of the fort,
with his whole garrison, confiftingof five men, pri
soners; after which they took away 100 barrels of
gunpowder belonging to his Majesty. The com
mittee desired leave to fit again, which was granted,
and then the house adjourned.
Feb. 10. There never was known so many of the
Bishops and Peers to attend an address to h:s Majes
ty as attended yesterday. There was also the great
est number of Commoners ever known on a like oc
casion.
At a Court of Common-Council held yesterday,
the Town-Clerk acquainted the court that he had
waited on the right hen. the Earl of Chatham with
the thanks of the court, agreed to on Friday last, to
which his Lordship returned the following answer:
“ Lord Chatham desires the favour of Mr. Town-
Clerk to offer to my Lord Mayor, the Aldermen,
and Commons in Common Council assembled, his
most refpeaful and grateful acknowledgments for
the signal honour they have been pleased to confer
on the mere difeharge of his day, in a moment, of
impending calamity.
“ Under deep impressions of former marks of fa
An eminent Quaker, at the meeting of the mer
chants, declared, however lightly and contemptu
oully their petition was treated, he was fully fatis
fied that the Americans would to a man die, if the
ad in his hand, which he held up, was not re
pealed.
Feb. 11. Lord North is already so harraffed by
the platoons of parliament, and the bulh-fighting
of Barre, that he is determined to resign; but
Lord Suffolk is resolved to persevere against Ame
rica.
It is computed that the martial preparations now
carrying on against Boston, will not cost this nation
less than 100,000 pounds sterling.
Feb. 13. It is said a motion is to be made on
Thursday next in an august assembly for an address
to his Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased
instantly to dismiss certain ministers from his ser
vice.
It is said to be certain, that the motion for an
additional number of 4000 seamen was not in conse
quence of the present disputes between the mother
country and America, but of some news lately re
ceived from Sir Joseph Yorke, at the Hague.
Feb. 14. Yesterday according to order the House
of Commons was pfit into a committee on a supply
to be granted to his ' Majesty, when Lord North got
up, and having made a speech suitable to the occa
sion, and then moved for an additional number of
seamen, to consist of two thousand men, including
290 marines; this brought on a debate which held
about two hours and an half, the committee came
afterwards to five other resolutions, which will be
reported this day.
Within these four months eight thousand tons of
Whipping have returned light to America.
At a Court of Common-Hall held on Friday last,
that court came to the following resolution:
“ That the thanks of this court be given to the
right hon. the Earl of Chatham, for having offered
to the House of Lords a plan for conciliating the
differences which unfortunately subsist between the
administration in this country and its American co
lonies ; and to all those who supported that noble
Lord in so humane and constitutional a measure."
vourable confiruaion of bis conduit during.the evil
hour of a dangerous foreign war, he now deems
himfelf too fortunate to find his efforts for preventing
the ruin and horrors ofa civil war, approved, hon
oured,and ft^ngtheued by the great ' corporate body
of the kingdom."
At the laid court the following resolutions were
come to :
HOUSE rs LOR DS.
Lord Radnor arose and complained much ofa pa
per called the Crisis, and that it contained the moll
infamous atufe of the sovereign, ever known ; that
it was in his opinion, a falfe, Scandalous, and sedi
tious libel, (the house called out tre^fonable) upon
which he added that epithet, and concluded with
Resolved, That as the opinion of this court hath
already been very fully and particularly declared,
against an aft of the late parliament, intituled, Mz
act for making more effeflual provision for the government
of Quebec, in North-America ;" we think it equally
our duty to bear testimony also against four other
ads of the said parliament, which we efteera highly
injurious to our fellow-fubjefb in America, viz.
An a^ for the better regulating the government of the pro
vince of Mafechufetts-Bay ; also, An aft for the impar
tial administration of justice in the cases of persons quefti
onedfor any aids done by them in the execution of the lave,
or for tbefuppreffion of riots and tumults in the province of
the Maffacbufats-Bay; and also, An a& to difeontinue
the landing and difeharging, &c. of goods, wares and
merchandizes at the town, and veitbin the harbour of
Boston ; and also an ad, intituled, An aa for tbe
better providing suitable quarters for officers and soldiers
in his Majefy's service, in North-America ; they ap
pearing to this court to be not only contrary to ma
ny of the fundamental principles of the English con
stitution, and most essential right of the fubjed, but
also apparently inconsistent with natural justice and
equity; and we are therefore of opinion, that our
fellow-fubjefts, the Americans, are juftified in eve
ry constitutional opposition to the said a&s.
HOUSE ^COMMONS, February 27.
At half after three a message was received from
the Lords, desiring a conference in the painted
chamber. A committee was accordingly appointed,
who went up to the conference, and being return
ed, Lord Stanley reported the resolutions which the
house had come to, refpe&ing a pamphlet, entitled,
The present Crisis with respect to America considered,
which resolutions were agreed to by the house.
(The pamphlet is supposed to have been written
by a noted pensioned apohtecary, or some other state
hireling, in favour of prerogative and the power of
the crown. The circumflance of having it burnt by
the common hangman, is locked upon by many as
one of those farces of government, which are at times
thought necessary to be praftifed by all states.)
Complaint being made by a member of the
house, of a paper called The Crisis, No. 3, it was
resolved, nem. con. that it was a most scandalous li
bel, and that it ihould be burnt by the hands of the
common hangman, and a conference with the Lords
was desired thereupon. A committee of the mem
bers who managed the former conference, was ap
pointed, and having met, their. Lordfltips returned,
and Lord Stanhope reported, that the committee
had left the papers with the Lords, and desired their
concurrence with the said resolutions.
Resolved, That the present fixation of our public
affairs, in consequence of the severe proceedings a
gainst the American colonies, is so exceedingly a
laiming, that it is the duty of this court to use eve
ry possible endeavour to prevent all further oppreffon,
and to obtain relief to so numerous and valuable a
part of our fellow-fubje&s.
Received, That as a bill is proposed to be brought
into parliament to prohibit the New-England fifh
ery, which, if complied- with, may materially in
jure the commercial interests of this city, and of the
kingdom in general, the Lord Mayor be requeued
by this court to convene the fame, to confider whe
ther it may not be the duty of this court to petition
parliament against the said proposed bill, the prin
ciples of which, so far as they have been hitherto
declared, appearing to be repugnant both to justice
and.the true in tereft of the British empire.
Feb. 22. Yesterday morning the two Secretaries
of State waited on his Majesty with some dispatches
of importance, which were received express qn Mon
day night, from Admiral Mann, commander in
chiefin the Mediterranean.
At a Court of Common-Council held yesterday at
Guildhall, (after the matters to be objected to in
the Massachusetts-Bay bill were referred to a com
mittee, who are to make their report to-morrow at
another Court of Common- Council to be then hol
den) the following resolutions were come to :
Resolved, That the measures of adraieigraticn,
refpedling our fellow-lubjeds in America, adopted
by the late parliament, appear to this court in the
hipheft degree dangerous and alarming, and demand
our most serious attention.
We are told that the conciliatory measures adopt
ed by the minifler, have been occasioned by some
discoveries lately made, relative to the latent designs
of the French cabinet.