The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1781-03-10 00:00:00, page 4

Parliamentary Proceedings.
House ofLORDS, Monday, November 27.
AT a quarter before 3 o'clock his Majesty came in state to
the House, and being in his Royal robes, seated on the
Throne, Lord Chefterfield holding the cap, and Earl of Aylef
bury the sword, the Speaker of the House of Commons, pre
sented, with the usual solemnity, the Land Tax and Malt .bills,
the titles of which being read, they received the Royal assent.
The clerk of the House, then in his place, read the titles of
the bill for indemnifying Sheriffs and Gaolers, &c. of the bill
for punishing Persons fufpe&ed of High Treason, and of three
naturalization bills, all which having received the Royal assent,
his Majesty retired in the fame form as he came, under the dis
charge of 21 cannon.
An Enclosure bill was then brought up from the Commons,
which being a firft time read, the House adjourned until the
TWENTY FIFTH OF JANUARY NEXT.
A report from he commissioners appointed to infpeH the
publick accounts, was presented; and the fame being received,
was ordered to lie on the table.
House ^Commons, Monday, November 27.
The refolutidns of Friday last, on the Supply, viz.
That 39,666 effective men, commission and non-commission
ed officers, including 4213 invalids be employed for land-forces
for 1781.
That 1,490,7741. be granted for maintaining the said men.
That 1,488,9271. be granted for defraying the charge of the
forces in the garrisons at Minorca, Gibraltar, the plantations,
&c. for 1781.
That 42,9271. be granted for the pay of General and General
ftaff officers.
That 56,0741. be granted for the pay of five Hanoverian bat
talions serving in Gibraltar and Minorca, in British pay.
That 367,2031. be granted for the pay of the troops of the
Landgrave of Hesse Caffel, in ditto.
That 39,5971. be granted for the pay of two regiments of Ha
nau, in ditto.,.
That 17,4981. be granted sot one regiment of the troops of
Waldeck, in ditto.
That 93,9471. be granted for the pay of 4300 of the troops of
Brunswick, in ditto.
That 39,6441. be granted for the pay for the troops of the
Margrave of Brandenburg Anfpach, in ditto.
That 16,6301. be granted for the pay of the troops of the
Prince of Anhalt Zerbft, in ditto.
That 49,3731. be granted for defraying the charge of provisions
of the foreign troops serving in North-America, for 1781.
That 64631. be granted for the pay of the troops of the Prince
of Hefle, in Britiih pay, not before provided for.
That 27,6831. be granted for the charge of artillery for the
foreign troops, in Britiih service.
That 672,4571. be granted for defraying the charge of the mi
litia in South-Britain, and four regiments of Fencibles in
North-Britain.
That 99,6791. be granted for defraying the expence of pay
and eloathing for the militia for 1781.
The further report of the progress from the commissioners
Appointed by Parliament, to take and state the publick accounts,
Was delivered in at the bar by Mr. Pigot, which was ordered
to lie on the table ; and afterwards it was ordered on the mo
tion of Mr. Dunning, that the fame be printed.
Mr. Parker Goke, in consequence of the notice given by him ort
a former day, then rose to move the thanks of the House to
Earl Cornwallis, for his gallant behaviour at the battle of
Camden. He took occasion to remark, that he was sorry the
-talk had not fallen upon some Member not To infignificant as
himfelf: but finding that no other person had made any such
proposition, he could not dissuade himfelf from paying so just
and necessary a tribute of praise to a brave officer, who had
rendered such distinguished services to his country, and so gal
lantly supported its ancient character.
When he had firft conceived the idea of making this motion,
he had not thought ofthe services performed by any other offi
cer ; but Upon turning the matter in his mind, he saw that
there would be some impropriety in his moving a vote of
thanks to Earl Cornwallis, who was an inferior officer, for his
eminent services, without taking equal notice of the gallantry
and merits ofthe Commander in Chief, Sir Henry Clinton, for
the very important advantages gained by his arms in the cap
ture of Charleftown ; of which the affair at Camden was the
consequence.
The retrofped twhich he took ofthe affair at Charleftown,
would, he said, be an imputation on the former Parliament,
whose duty it properly was, to have taken notice of it, were
it not for the state of diffraction in which this metropolis was
at the time the news arrived of the reduction of that place. It
arrived at a time, when the late riots made it necessary to have
camps in Hyde Park, and St. James's Park, a fight which he
wished no Englilhmari might ever fee again. Immediately af
ter that period a prorogation ensued ; and before any further
meeting, a dissolution of that Parliament : so that this, al
though a late, was however the firft fair opportunity which Par
liament had, of Ihewing its refped for the services of General
Clinton.'
Upon these considerations he had united the two gallant offi
cers in the fame motion of thanks ; and so convinced was he,
in his own opinion, that no gentleman could have any reason
able objection to the motion, that he had not a doubt but that
it would meet the unanimous approbation of the House, and
that he had not confultcd any member upon it, or even applied
to any person to second it.
Some gentlemen had often expressed their dislike to the Ame
rican war; no man could view it in a more detested light than
be did: but since the Americans had declared themselves inde
pendent, and had pertinaciously disclaimed all subordinate con
nection with this country, the war with America was become a
war of neeffiy; and though he attributed all the present diffi
culties of this country, and even its poffble ruin to that war,
yet such was the present state of affairs, and such the certain
ruin of Great-Britain, if the fubferibed to the independency of
the colonies, that he thought it his duty to vote away the laji
Jbilling of his constituents, and the last ihilling of his own private
fortune, sooner than give up their dependency on this country.
Therefore to encourage the future spirit of our officers abroad,
and do justice to their past merits, he had prepared the motion
which he had then to offer to the House. It was not, he said,
a question about the original merit of our conduct with refpe&
to America. It was only to shew, that we approved of those
ads ofbravery in our officers, which have done honour to this
nation, as well as to them and the forces tinder their command.
He then moved, “ that the thanks of this House be given to
“ Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. commander iq chief of his Majef
“ ty's forces in America; and to Lieut. General Charles Earl
“ Cornwallis, for the eminent and important services render
" ed by them to his Majesty, and this country, against the re
" bels in America ; particularly in the reduction, of Charles
“ town, by the arms of Sir Henry Clinton ; and the glorious
" successes gained by the army under Earl Cornwallis, at the
“ battle of Camden, in which the bravery of our troops equal
" led their character in any age.".
Mr. Coke then acquainted the House, thrit he meant to fol
low this motion by another, which Was, " that those thanks
" be read at the head of the several armies in America." And
he looked so much for unanimity in those votes, that if he saw
any probability of opposition to them, he was determined, he
said, to leave the House and take his motions away with him.
Lord Lew'/feam fecouded the motion; he bellowed the ,
highest encomiums on the gallant Generals who were the ob
jects of the motion; and took some pains to ihew, that it
would not be fair to with-hold the praise due to the officers
who conducted the war against America, under any suppo
sition that this war was not a just one; for without considering
the original right of the disputes with that country, the contest
was now become of such a nature, that in contending for the
dependency of America, we were also contending for our
own glory, and existence as an Empire; and he should con
fider that the fame ad which gave up that dependency, signed
the death warrant of. this country. To destroy, therefore,
the league of American independence, should now be the una
nimous objed of this country, which could only be done
by a vigorous pursuit of the war; and no fafe or honourable
terms could be made by us, till we had destroyed the Marine
of France. Delenda est Carthago! If we wished to humble
Spain— deZenda efl Carthago —deftroy the marine of France!
If we wished to reyenge the perfidy with which we have been
treated by the French cabinet, whose politicks, full of art and
chicane, ever take advantage of our honest, open unfufpeding
honpur— delenda est Carthago —deftroy the marine of France !
—in short, if we wished ever to recover our loft sovereignty
over America, or preserve cur wealth and independence at
home— 'delenda est Carthago- —the French marine must firft be
destroyed—and the maxim should be repeated fropa every fide
of the House, until the people without doors caught the patri
otick spirit from within, and re-echoed it to every extremity
of the kingdom! , ~
, Mr. T. TovonJbendrofe to express his cohfent as an Individual,
to the simple object of the motion—passing many high eulo
giums on the two Generals in whose favour it, was made.—
And as he wished and hoped it might pass unanimously, he
just rose to suggest, that from some words which had caught
his ear jp the reading the motion, he feared, than in its pre
sent form, it would not meet that unanimous approbation
which the honourable mover, and, he hoped, every other
member would with it to receive. But he would not move
any amendment to this effect, as he thought it would be more
flattering to the officers in question, if the motion should pass
without an amendment : he therefore recommended it to
the honourable gentleman to expunge those words, and in
that case, the motion should have his support for one, and
he hoped, the concurrence ofthe whole house—but he begged
to be understood, that he pledged himfelf only for his own
vote, and not for the vote of any other gentleman, with whom
he usually aded: he added, by way of remark, some enco
miums upon the troops who fought so bravely at Camden, and
particularly on the 23d and 33d regiments, who had acquired
so much glory in three successive wars; and he expressed his
hopes, from the known candour, of the gentleman who moved
the thanks, that nothing was meant by them invidious to the
characters of former commanders.,
Lord North immediately adopted the idea of Mr. Town
fhend, and observed, that leaving out the words “ against
the rebels in America," would qualify the motion according
to the honourable gentleman's suggestion; which omission
would just leave the motion in the fame terms, in which mo
tions of thanks on similar occasions usually ran.
Mr. Coke declared, that he meant nothing invidious to for
mer commanders; and as to the words which seemed objecti
onable, he had not any particular motive for choosing them,
but had taken them in course from a similar motion of thanks
passed in favour of the Duke of Cumberlond, in the year 1746.
The motion being thus altered, in conformity with Mr.
Townfhend's hint, and the word “ rebels" omitted.
Lord Beauchamp rose to remind the House, that the command
er ofthe British fleet in America, had also his share in the reduc
tion of Charleftown ; and therefore adopting the idea thrown out
by the Hon. Gentleman who had made the motion, —not to
give offence to one officer in the zeal of acknowledging our
approbation of another—he moved, by way of amendment,
these words, after the word “ America," “ And to Mariot
“ Arbuthnot; Esq; Commander in Chief of his Majesty's
" fleet in America."
Mr. Wilkes then rose, and as an irreconcileable enemy to the
motion in toto, reprobated the American war; and particularly
with refped to Earl Cornwallis, as a man who had drawn his
sword in the support of a system which he had condemned
himfelf, when he signed a protest in parliament, in the year
1773, against the afiumed right of Great-Britain to tax Ame
rica. He observed, that in civil wars, the Romans never
granted a triumph to any General, as, in such cases, even
victories should be received with mourning. Had the fame
abilities, the fame spirit and valour been exerted against a
foreign enemy, then indeed he should have been hearty in
concurring with the motion; and like Hanibal, he should
have, fortius quifuerit is erit mihi Carthaginienfs.
Lord North defended Lord Cornwallis from the difhonour
able imputation of fighting against opinions declared under
his hand in Parliament. The protest alluded to, was only
against the right of taxation without representation—but that
was not the question now in dispute: the contest was for the
sovereignty of this country over America.—This was a right
which the Earl of Chatham held sacred to his latest moments,
though he disallowed the propriety of taxation; and for this
Earl Cornwallis had nobly drawn his sword. He was no sol
dier of fortune; he wanted not to acquire rank, consequence
or riches—and therefore, had not Sufficient temptation to
facfifice his principles. He had indeed facrificed his ease and
private happiness, in defence of the sovereign authority of this
country over America. This was our undoubted right—no
man would presume to deny it—for this therefore, and for
the essential interests of this country, Earl Cornwallis had
fought: and for this, it was now proposed that he should
receive the thanks of Parliament.
Mr. Wilkes said, the noble Lord had mistaken him, if he
supposed him to have said, that the Earl Cornwallis was a
soldier of fortune.
Sir Charles Bunbury agreed to the propriety of the thanks,
but as it was intended, thht they should be couched in terms
containing nothing disagreeable to any fide of the House, and
giving no' particular approbation to the American war, he
wished that instead of “ eminent and important services,"
the motion had mentioned “ gallant and exemplary con
dufy" and he thought the services of Prevoft and Barrington
ought not to be forgotten.
Sir Jefeph Maaube, entered into a very long argument, to
shew that there was no great merit in the victory at Camden,
as the left wing of the American army, which was composed
of the militia, gave way upon their very firft onset, and left
no force to oppose our prowess but the Continental regulars.
He then took a wide and tedious review of the American dis
putes, which seemed so contrary to the temper of the house,
that there was a continued coughing kept up during the half
hour that he was upon his legs. At length, however, coming
to the affair of Sir Hugh Pallifer, and censuring Government
for appointing him to the Mastership of Greenwich Hospital,
he was interrupted by
The Speaker, who acquainted him that the question then
before the house was, “ Whether the name of Admiral Ar
buthnot should or should not be included in the vote of thanks
then moved ?"
Mr. Fox attacked the Speaker for calling Sir Joseph Mawbey
to order. He irififted that the Honourable Baronet appeared
to him perfectly in order. For he was Ihewing the House, by
allusion, how ineffectual it would be to vote thanks to defcr
ving officers, without passing due censure upon the undefervirg.
Mr. Rigby observed, that the application made by the ingen -
out gentleman who fyeke last, was foreign to the question in
debate; but he called upon the House to declare, whether,
what the Honourable Baronet had said for himfelf, was any
thingiike what his ingenious interpreter had said for him, in
order to bring, within the line of order, the extended train
of argument, and pretty dull argument too, with which the
Honourable Baronet had been entertaining the House so much
against its inclination.
Mr. T. To^wnJbend rose here to call Mr. Rigby to order.
He denied .any right that a member of that House had, how
ever high or lucrative his situation or office might be, to be
stow such illiberal and ungentlemanlike epithets upon any Mem
ber of that House, much less upon the Honourable Baronet,
who was hs independent a member as any in the House.
The Speaker here interrupted Mr. Townihend. He observed
that the Honourable Baronet had clearly wandered from the
question, though the question, though the Honourable Gen
tleman under the gallery [Mr. Fox] had so ihgenioufly shewn
how an application of what he had said might be made to the
question. It was difficult, he said, to draw a ftri& line of ar
gument in liberal debate; and therefore, as he should not be
forward to restrain, he hoped gentlemen would not be perti
nacious when restrained. In such cases, it was not nice argu
ment, but good humour, that could best fettle the difference;
and, for his part, he should always cautiously avoid entering
personally into the debates of the House. He then adverted
to the expression used by Mr. Rigby, and pronounced it cen
surable.
, Mr. Rigby expressed his uneasiness, that any word had esca
ped him, which could be judged improper; and he was sorry
he had used any such word, on no other account than its ha
ving fubjeded him to the censure of the chair. He would,
therefore, no more venture to fay, that the Honourable Ba
ronet's arguments were dull; and yet on the other hand, he
could never prevail on himfelf to fay they were very brilliant.
He had often lamented the dulnefs of former Parliaments, and
was now happy to find it was decided, that dulnefs could no
longer exist in that House, —from that night it was banished
from their walls for ever. He then rallied Mr. Townfhend
for taking him up for a flight impropriety, and in the midst
of his censure, using words infinitely more censurable than
than those he rosed to rebuke. Such conduct seemed to carry
his condemnation and absolution together.
Then, losing fight of the question of order, he went for re
way into the raeritsof the motion and amendment; he repeated
his former opinion, that the thanks of Parliament oughtnot to
be too lightly given ; and apprehended, that the present motion
might be extended by so many amendments, that none of the
Gentlemen who were meant to be honoured by it, would feel,
any honour in it at all. [The Speaker interrupting him here]
He recollected himfelf, acknowledged he was not in order: and
since dulnefs was a prohibtied word, —he would fit down, and
leave the Honourable Baronet to resume his brilliancy.
Sir fofeph .then resumed—continued—and concluded his
speech, under the fame interruptions of coughing that he had
before so undauntedly braved. ;.
Sir Edouard ^flley gave his opinion in a few words against
the motion. ; ,
Mr. Sheridan then observed, that as Mr. Coke had expressed
his intention of withdrawing his, motion, if he saw a likeli
hood of its meeting opposition, it was then pretty clear that
from what had been said, it certainly would be opposed: and
therefore he recommended it to him, to do as he had proposed.
There were two descriptions of people who were evidently
inclined to oppose it. Those who opposed the American war 4
from policy, and those who opposed it from principle. He
spoke a few words refpeding the amendments already offered,
and that were likely to be offered: and he particularly ridicu
led the idea of not thanking him for the reduction of Charlef
town, till that capture was found to be of no use; but he
drew no conclusion from them; the only point of his speech
being to retaliate some strokes of irony given him a few nights
before by Mr. Rigby;—of whom he remarked, “ that his
conduit and his counsels were better than his politicks." He
apologized for presuming to talkgrnve/yupon any subject, left
it should be construed into dulnefs, by a gentleman who
treated all fubje&s with ridicule; but he apprehended there
some fubjeCts which might be treated without levity, and yet
without transgressing the bounds of propriety; notwithstand
ing the doCtrine and example of a Right Honourable Gen
tleman, who never had a serious idea about any thing but his
o<wn intereJl.
Mr. Courtney insisted strongly upon the advantages gained by
the conquests of Generals Sir Henry Clinton and Earl Cornwal
lis. This he did in serious argnment. After which he assumed
the argumentum ad ridiculum, which is more properly his fdr/e.
He observed, that it was a pity to check the career of any gen
tleman's argument by imputing dulnefs to him. Certain per
sons were formed to shine in particular spheres. Some gentle
men had been so used to drag the original merits of the Ameri
can war, or any other favourite topick, into every other case;
that they could not really avoid it. They were like the fool,
who had accustomed himfelf to count tke hours as they were
struck by the village clock, and who continued from the fame
association of ideas, to count them as regularly, long after the
clock had been damaged, and ceased to strike. They had not,
perhaps Crambo sagacity to form an abftrad idea of a Lord
Mayor, without his gown, chain and wig. They were per
haps like the eel, which could move falter in mud than any 0-
ther fifh.
He had heard, but did not know how true it was, that a
pig will cut his own throat a swimming, by the very means it
employed for its preservation, by the strokes of its feet. [This
created a loud laugh.] He then in a serious tone declared, he
meant no invidious application to the Honourable Baronet, but
confined the allusion to the tenour which his arguments had to
establish the dodrine most opposite to that he declared himfelf
for; and after some elucidation of this assertion, he conti
nued his allegorical allusions, by observing that letbarge which
is extracted from lead, is a powerful poison; and from this
he concluded, that even dulnefs itfelf might have mfhief in it.
[To be continued.]
THE fubferiber intending shortly to go to Europe for his health,
will dispose of, at private sale, a very valuable PLANTA
TION on the Neck, three miles and a half from town, an agreeable
situation, fronting the main road, and extending to Ashley-river,
where there is a high bluff, and schooners may come up through a
creek within a small distance of the house, which is a very good two
ftory bride tenement, wanting but little repair, having a cellar
kitchen underneath. The plantation contains One hundred and forty
five acres, more or less, has a never-failing spring of excellent wa
ter, is very fertile, producing a great quantity of hay, and all kinds
of vegetables suitable for the market ; and being known by the name
of the Rat-Trap, which was always considered the bed land on
the Neck, it need no farther commendation. Also,
EIGHT NEGROES, either separately or with the plantation, all
young and healthy, and have had the small pox, three of them fel
lows, who can mow, plough, take care of horses, and attend the
markets ; and four of them wenches, two of which have been
usually employed to fell milk and other produce of the planta
tion. Linetype,
A TRACT of Two hundred acres of land in Colleton County, on
the waters of Edifto, bounded, at the time of the survey, on all
sides, by vacant land. And,
'A TRACT of eight hundred acres, in the fame county, in the
Forks of Edifto, on Snake Swamp, on the road leading to Ninety-
Six, bounded also at the time of ths survey by vacant lands on all
sides. Apply at No. sa.in Kingfrftrect, to
MELCHIOR WARLEY.