Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-08-22 00:00:00, page 2

To th Printer of th Pennsylvania Packet.
SI R,
P.eafe to infest in your next paper, th following ex
tract's horn a report of a Committee of th Aoife
of Lords on Aiuei icon affairs. —These extracts will
°/hew in mb it an ohms light rimerican petitions
are conjidered at ILftmnfcr; and may ferae to
convince feme, who ajfefl the garb of moderation,
that th: m^ji probable means of obtaining redress
mill be our old friend Non Importation.
On the fifteenth of December, 1768, the House
came to the following resolutions:
I. Q ESOLVED, by the Lords Spiritual
jA and Temporal, in Parliament aflembbd,
That the votes, resolutions and proceedings, of
the House of Representatives of Maflachufett's
Bay, in the month of January and February lall,
refpeding several late ads of Parliament, lo far as
the laid votes, resolutions and proceedings, do
import a denial of, or to dam iab queflion, the.power
and authority of his Majesty, by and with the advice
and confnt oj the Lords Spiritual and Temporal,
and Commons, in Parliament affembhd, to make
laws and fl,dates of fufficient force and validity, to
had the colonies and people of America, fubjePs to
th mown of Great-Britain, in all cases whatfever,
ARE ILLEGAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND DE
ROGATORY OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CROWN
and Parliament of Great-Britain.
If. Retried, by the Lords Spiritual and Tem
poral, in Parliament assembled, That the resolu
tion of the laid House of Representatives of the
province of Maffachufett's Bay, in January last,
to write letters to the several Houses of Represen
tatives of the British colonies on the continent,
defying thert to join with the said House of Re
presentatives of the province of Maffachufett's
Bay, in petitions, which do deny or draw into
question the right of Parliament to impose duties
and taxes upon his Majesty's fubjeds in America ;
and, in purlnance of the said resolution, the writ
ing such letters, in which certain late ads ofPar
liament, imposing duties and taxes, are dated to
be infringements of the rights of his Majesty's
fubjeds or the said province, are proceedings of a
mos unwaPrantab e and dangerous nature, calcu'a-'
t.dto infame the minds of his Majefysjjubjefls in
-the other co 'oiri.es, tending to create unlawful combi
nations repugnant to the laws cf G reat- Britain ; and
fuherfce of the constitution.
111. Ref ved, by the Lords Spiritual and Tem
poral, in iaihament aflembled, That it appears,
That the town of Boston, in the province of Massa
chusetts Bay, I ^, for some time ft aft, been in a state
of great disorder and confufion; and that the peace
of the said town has, at several times, been disturb
ed by riots and tumults of a dangerous nature, in
which the officers of his Majesty's revenue there
have been obtruded by ads of violence, in the
execution of the laws, and their lives endangered.
IV. Rejived, by the Lords Spiritual and Tem
poral, in Parliament assembled, That it appears,
th^t neither the Council of the said province of
,laTachuf?tts-Bay, nor the ordinary Civil Ma
gidrares, did exert their authority for suppressing
the : id ri ts and tumults.
V. dm } ;, by the Lords Spiritual and Tem
poral, in Parhiment assembled, that in these cir
cum^mcesof the province of the Maffaehufetts-
Bay, a lof the < on of Boston, the preservation
ofthe p oh pj.<e, and the due execution of the
laws, b cameimprafticT/r, without the aid of a mi
litary fore etohp: rt ana / voted the civil magf rates,
ano the ? icers oj bis A, V-fy's revenue.
V!. Retried, by the Lords Spiritual and Tem
poral, i •P.M ament assembled, that the declarati
ons, resolutions, and proceedings, in the town
meeting at Boston, on the 14th of June and 12th of
September, were illegal and unconstitutional, and
calculated to excite sedition and - infurredions in
his Majesty's province of Massachusetts-Bay.
VII. Refs ted, by the Lords Spiritual and Tem
poral, in Failiamcnt assembled, That the appoint
ment at the town meeting, on the 12th of Septem
tor, of a convention to be he'd in the town of tSofton
on the 22d of that month, to confif of deputies from
the several towns and difrids in the province op the
M sash j^tts-Bay, and the suing a precept, by the
Selectmen of the town of Lofon, to each of the said
imams and dijb ills, for the eLdion of sch deputies,
were proceedings fdverfve of his Bhjefy'j govern
ment, and evident, manifefting a defy,, in the in
habitants of the said town of Bofen, to jet up a new '
and unconfitutional authority, independent of the
crown of Great-Britain.
VII. Refolded, by the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, in Parliament assembled, That the elec
tims, by feral trms and diftrids in the province
of Mafochuftts-Bry, cf deputies toft in the fame
convention, and. ^ meeting oj fuel convention in con
fq sice thereof, w^e daring infuits offered to his
Bl.fffs authority, and audacious USURPA-
T lONS OF THE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT.
Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson, in his letter
to the Earl of TiillSborough, April the 27th, 1770,
complins, “ That he has never been able to ob
tain the advice or consent of the council, to any
proposal made for the dife untenancing the usur
pation of the powers of government by the,town of
BCn: that he had used the negative powers giv
enhim by charter, in excluding Mr. Hancock from
being Speaker pro tempore, and Mr. Cubing from
the office of Commissary General, to which offices
they had been elected ;' but adds, “ That this
was doing but little, as he could not remove any
of those who were actually in office, some of whom
were more inflammatory than any out of office."
He farther fays, “ That they were then attempt
ing to compel all the importers of what they call
the contraband goods, to fend them back, and that
he was not sure they would not succeed : that all
goods which they have not enumerated, are called
contraband. That tea from Hollandraay lawfully
be fold: that it is a high crime to fell any from
England: That Mr. Hancock offered to fend one
or more of his ships back, and to lose the freight:
that several of the importers (during rhe non im
portation scheme) pleaded, that they Should be ut
teriy ruined; but that the Boston zealots had no
bowels; and gave for answer, that if a Ship was to
bring in the plague, nobody woulddoubt what was
Extracts fro n an excellent Pamphlet,) which was
particularly recommended to the House of Lords,)
/cabled, " Confderations on the MeaJures carrying
/ on with refped to the Britifo Colonies in North-
Hmerica."
" XT" O U cannot force them, nor is there any
I appearance that you can. The number
of free people in those colonies is reckoned at to
wards two millions. The common calculation is
of one fencible or fighting man in five persons, and
this is luppofeg to be rather under than over the
truth. This will give us at least between three
apd four hundred thousand lighting men on the
number before mentioned. Mr. Rome tells us
indeed in some letters, &c. lately published in op
potition to the colonies; " that there is hardly
“ any thing more common, than to hear them
“ boast of particular colonies that can rarfe on a
" fliort notice 100,000 fighting men." However
to have nothing to do with these exaggerations
and to take only the number before mentioned ;
what expe&ation can there be of fending from
hence an army fit to subdue that continent, a
country not defended indeed on the fide of the sea
with forts and castles built by men, but extreme
ly strong within by the natural fortifications of
forefts and rivers.
“ But can they arm so many? In any country
very greatly taxed and much more so than its in
habitants would willingly bear with, it is impoili
ble confidently with such a state of things to arm
the whole body of the people. These might be
apt to count noses and to confider who were the
stronger, they themselves or the tax-gatherers and
the red-coats or white-coats or black-coats or any
other, who support them. The difficulty would
be yet greater, were there any further diffatisfac
tion. But these are all democratical governments,
where the power is in the hands of the people and
where there is not the least difficulty or jealousy
about putting arms into the hands of every man in
the country.
“ But are they united among themselves? In
the cause of not being taxed by us it is well un
derstood, how much they are so. All accounts
and reports from thence of all men and of all par
ties run in that stile and concur in that circum
stance. It was so experienced to a very great de
gree concerning the damps and has now been
found the fame on the occasion of the tea. Their
conduct has in the case been every where alike
and correspondent. The tea is either returned
without being landed or received without being
fuffered to be fold, at New-York, at Pennsylvania,
at Carolina, at all the places to which it was sent.
We reckon entirely without our hod, if we don't
expe<d to have to do with a union of that conti
nent or depend on any measures inefficient to sub
due the whole.
“ But let me aft; how can we expe& other
wise ? They are not unacquainted with the hifto
ryof the mother country. They know the weight
of the taxing hand here. They have heard of
our debt of one hundred and forty millions of
pounds sterling incurred since the revolution, be
sides other hundreds of millions spent currently
within the fame period. The time to come is to
be judged ofby the time pad. Will our brethren
of America exped, that this hand diould be lighter
on them at a distance or that our breads will
feel more for them than for ourselves? Let an
Englishman make the case his own and question
himfelf; what he should think were he of that
country and his whole fortune and concerns there.
Would not he believe his all to be at stake upon the
cast? Dies any one in America or in England
imagine, that all these disputes and feuds are only
at the bottom about a duty of threepence upon a
pound of tea? How can then any candid man
doubt, whether there will be a general union and
concurrence on the fubjed or wonder if there is
so?
“ They are said to have already committees of
correfpofidence and no doubt necessity will teach
them other means of moving and aiding together.
Every thing is there by choice an( election ; they
will probably have at their head, as capable and
as wife men, as are to be found among them. The
power and influence of Governors and other civil
officers appointed from hence, must on an open
rupture have an end. Our authority would per
haps then extend little further than where it was
enforced by our own troops.
* But what are an untrained and undisciplined
multitude? Could not an experienced officer with
a few regular regiments do what he would in Ame
rica ? I answer, that a different Rory may be
necessary to be done with her, but the present case
is much worle than that. In the fameHetter, the
Lieutenant Governor observes, that the Boston
principles obtain more and more in the remote
parts of the province, and the representatives of
leven-eighths of the town appear, in the present
feflion, to be favourers of the non-importation
measures : That their internal diSlreffes may, in a
course of years, force them to deffft; but that the
difrefs at present, and it may be for some time to
come, lies principally upon the friends to govern
ment, who run the rife of importing goods, and then
are compelled by the ruling power to keep them
unfold,or to ship them back: That he made an at
tempt that day to prevail upon a merchant of the firft
eflate and charader, to induce him to promote an af
fotiation, butto no purpose; and that he gave him
for answer, that until Parliament made provision
for the punishment of the confederacies, all would
be ineffectual, and the associates would be exposed
to popular rage." He observed farther, " that
thelalt year, when the King's speech, and the ad
dresses of the Lords, and of the House of Com
mons, firft came to them, the heads ofthe opposi
tion were struck with terror, and the Seditious
News paper writers laid alide their pens for five
or fix weeks; but as soon as the apprehension of
vigorous measures ceased, their fears were over,
and they became more assuming and tyrannical than
before; and although the terror was not so great
the present year, yet it was visible; but now that
they expert nothing will be done, they are reco
vering their spirits, knowing there is no power
within the government to restrain them.
“ But weare masters at sea and wherever our
ships can come. We may do whatever a fleet can.
Very true ; butit cannot fail all over North-Ame
rica. It is said, that Marfnal Saxe had before the
declaration of the last war but one, and at the time
of our army being in Germany, conceived a design
to have landed on our coast with ten thousand men,
and to have tried the fortune of a brisk march to
London. He did not find this so easy to execute,
as he thought for. He was most happily disap
pointed. But there was an object. Noone can
tell the consequence, had he succeeded. The
present is a rery different matter. No immediate
impression upon the town of Boston nor poffeflion
taken of it by means of a fleet, nor the fame
circumstance with regard to any other towns
of America, liable thereto by their situation,
will carry the command of that whole continent,
or force it to fubrnit to measures so universally
against their bent and inclination.
" Some fay, that all the contradiction and op
position of America originates from home and that
it is only the faction of England, which catches
there. Nothing perhaps teftifies a greater igno
rance ofthe true state of that country, than such
a notion. What is all the spirit of patriotism or
of liberty now left in England, mo.e than the last
fnuff of an expiring lamp? It is not longer than
three and thirty years ago, that it was otherwise
with us. But who can fay whether the fame
flame, the fame sacred flame may not at this time
burn brightly and strongly in America, which once
fhow'd forth such wonders in Grece and in Rome
and from whose ashes it still enlightens a great
part of mankind, I mean, all who are not funk in
ignorance or barbarity. They have certainly
there excellent and free forms of government and
which partake perhaps in some degree of the prin
ciples, whereon were framed the ancient ones of
those eminent cities. They are themselves as yet
a new and uncorrupted people. They carried
with them formerly the spirit of liberty from Eng
land, at the timethat it was in its greatest purity
and perfection there, nor has it since degenerated
by the climate. Whoever fliall judge of their tem
per by that at home and proceed accordingly, will
perhaps in the end be scorched by that flame,
which he may find to burn too powerfully for
him, and ofthe nature and of the means to extin
guish which, he was totally ignorant."
(The above pamphlet fuppofdto be written by Lord
Camden, may be had at the Printer s next IVednefday.)
ss&,*%<¥,^
ALGIER S, April 24.
AN English man of war and two frigates,
commanded by Admiral Dennis, arrived in
our road the'zzd of this month, having on board
Mr. Frazer, the English Consul; this squadron
was saluted with twenty one guns, which were
returned. The fame day an officer came on fliore
with a letter from the King of England to the Dey,
in which his Majesty insists upon the Dey's agree
ing to the three following articles, which were
the cause of Mr. Frazer's being sent back. First,
That neither the Consul, nor any of the King of
England's fubjeCts residing here, shall be obliged
to kiss the Dey's hand. Secondly, That tie
Consul and his Chancellor may wear (words when
and where they please. Thirdly, That all chrif
tian llaves, who shall take refuge in any cutter or
boat, belonging to an English man of war or fri
gate, shall be free, and not liable to be reclaimed.
In fh®rt, that Mr. Frazer ihould reside here again
as Consul: but the Dey refufed to agree to these
three ai tides, and returned for answer that if the
Commander chose to come on shore he might, but
that Mr. Frazer must not on any account; and
that if these conditions did not please the English
Commander, he might set fail again.
PeterJburgb, Aj ril 29. We are assured, that the
Swedish minister hath received fioin Stockholm
certain advice, that the King his matter will come
hither in June next, and that his Swedish Majef
ty, in order to keep himfelf the more incognito,
will lodge with his said Ambafidor.
Vienna, Blay 14. The differences arisen some
time ago, on account of the damage done by the
Ruffian fleet to some merchant ships of a certain
Power, are just terminated; Admiral Spiriiow
hath engaged to pay 54,000 piastres to the pro
prietois of those vessels.
Paris, May 20. His Majesty finalizes the be
ginning of his reign by his prudence, wisdom, and
benignity; and his acceflion to the throne is con
fpicuotis 'by the love of his people. In palling
through the city, the people loaded him with blef
told. In the war before last our measures direct
ed at home were every where unfuccefsful. The
plains of Flanders were fattened with some ofthe
best blood of Britain and of Ireland. Our govern
ment was shaken almost to the foundation by a
rebellion contemptible in its beginning. Were
we more fortunate in our attempt by sea against
Pondicherry or that afterwards against Port I'Ori
ent ? but the people of New-England maintained at
that time the honour of our xrms. It is well known
that they carried on with their own counsels and with
their own foldicry and under the command of one of
their own planters against Cape Breton and Louif
bourg, an expedition, the event of which need not now
be told. We did not begin in a much better man
ner thelaft war. I am unwilling to call to mind our
firft campaigns in Germany, our fixation and trea
ty of Clofter-Seven, the fate of Minorca or the
histories of Bradock and Abercrombie. But who
were at that time the firft to stem the tide of our
ill-fortune? Was it not an American militia, who
commanded by Sir William Johnson, a Gentle
man at that time of the country, met^fought, and
beat the French and Indians under Monlieur Dief
kau, and made prisoner their commander ? But
what wonders were afterwards done by our peo
ple properly conducted and directed? It is very
true, and lam sure, that I have no inclination to
depreciate them. But neither did those of Ame
rica want their share therein. However the cou
rage of our countrymen was never yet qweftion
ed; but may they always unite and employ it
against our common enemies, and never be encamp
ed or embattled against one another either in
America or any where else.
fin,. " Now," Did they, " vice will disappear,
behold the pattern of virtue !"
Paris, May 30. Various are the accounts given
of the King's behaviour, expressive of the good
ness of his heart. It is reported that he said to
the two Princes his brothers, ' I insist upon it
' that you neither make life of Sire nor Majesty,
6 in speaking to me, Ifhould lose too much in the
' name of Brother, to which you have accustomed
' me.' There is to be for the future but ore ta
ble at court, the King being determined to eat
with his family.
L OND O N, % 21.
The new French King is supposed to be a great
Bigot, what will become of d'Alembert, Diderot,
&c. in the reign of a Prince who wishes perhaps
to restore the Jesuits, and to banifli the Philoso
phers?
The power of France was greatly augmented
during the minorities ofthe three last Kings, Louis
the Xllfth, XlVth, and XVth. The firft, in
deed, was a minor all his life time; for though
he hated Cardinal Richlieu, he was perpetually
governed by him. Cardinal Mazarino ruled France
despotically, till Louis the XlVth took on him
felf the reins of government at the Cardinal's death.
The Dukes of Orleans and Burgundy, in the in
fancy of the last King, never loft fight of the in
terest of France; and Cardinal Fleury pursued their
plan as far as was confident with his own and Sir
Robert Walpole's pacific disposition.
It is something remarkable, that there have been
no more than five Kings in France during the space
of two hundred years. The two last monarchs
reigned one hundred and thirty-one years.
It is not the length of a King's reign which gives
dignity to the monarch, unless his actions bestow
a luftre upon his government. The ffiort admi
nistration of Titus Vespasian, of two years and a
half, will be honourably distinguished by every
writer that has occasion to speak of it ; while the
very long period of seventy two years, during
which time Louis the Fourteenth enslaved his fub
je&s, and oppressed his neighbours, will be men
tioned with disgust and disapprobation.
May 23. It is said that a bill for obliging far
mers and graziers to enter the number of their
cattle in the public registers of the county they
reside in, is preparing to be submitted to the eon
fideration of Parliament.
May 25. A few days ago overtures were made
to Lord Chatham to take a post in administration,
but they were rejected, as being upon too narrow a
foundation.
The greatest stretch of power that has been ever
attempted in this country (fays a correspondent)
is the bill for providing for the more effectual go
vernment of Quebec. It in the firft place vests a
power in the crown of creating legislators: it esta
blishes the French laws instead of the laws of En
gland : it gives the Romifh religion a parliamenta
ry fandion : it authorizes the crown to appoint
French papists to the council board, and unites
with that appointment the power of enacting laws
by which Englishmen and Protestants are to be
bound, and by which they may be liable to fuffer
penalties, and even the pains of death; but more
than all (besides those positive powers) it autho
rizes the King, by implication, to dispense with or
set aside every ad of Parliament passed against Pa
pists, from the reign of Edward the Sixth to this
day.
May 28. Yesterday the Duke of Leinper was
at Court and had the honour of a conference with
his Majesty.
A letter from Stockholm fays, “ our naval and
military forces are supported and maintained at
the least expence of any in Europe; as both are
regulated under the immediate direction of his
Majesty."
May 30. A letter from Stockholm, dated May
6, has the following passage: “ His Majesty has
confirmed the liberty ofthe press on the footing it
was eftablilbed in 1766."
Since the commencement of the Stamp A& in
Ireland, the following news-papers have dropped
in Dublin; the Public Advertiser; the Monitor,
or the New Freeman's Journal ; the Oracle of Li
berty; the Ledger; Theatrical Chronicle; and
the Advertiser.
May 31. During the late debates on American
/measures in the Upper Assembly, a noble Duke, re
markably distinguished for his popularity, in the
course of his speech said, “ That if the Americans
were thus to be treated, he could not help wiring
them success in their refinance." Upon which
Lord Mansfield get up and after apologizing for
expressions spoken in the heat of argument, said,
" he was very sure the noble Duke would correct
himfelf." His Grace soon after rose but instead of
corroding himfelf, reworded his expression, and
formally appealed to the Bench of Bidio'ps, whether
it did not well become a chriftian to wish relief to
all those who were heavy laden.
The Captain of a Dutch vessel, arrived a few
days since at Havre de Grace from Ferrol, re
ports that on the 16th of last month he fair four
Spanish men of war of the line, two frigates and
several transports, which were steering their course
Westward.
A letter from France gives an account, that the
Felicite, Captain Du Clois, bound from the coast
of Africa to Guadaloupe, with slaves gold dust and
elephant's teeth, was cut off on the coast bv the
natives, who, after murdering all the crew, scut
tled the ship.
June 2. Two Algerine pirates were lately
brought into Gibraltar, who were taken in an at
tack on an English merchant flop.
Copy °f a private letter from Berne.
" The Council of the Deputies from the united
Cantons of Switzerland have agreed, in an una
nimous determination, that after May I, 1774, no
recruits (hall be raised for any power, except Hol
land and Sardinia; and that upon July 1, 1774,
all Swiss tropps in the service ofany foreign power,
excepting Holland and Sardinia, are to return to
Switzerland, to be disbanded in their Several Can
tons; and upon their neglect of obedience to Inch
orders, are then no linger to be regarded as the
subjects of the united Thirteen Cantons."