The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1775-12-25 00:00:00, page 2

Though it was generally underßood that
this petition was merely set up in opposition
to the address, yet not the least obfirudion
was'made to it by any of the independent
merchants and citizens.
Thursday at tw Ive o'clock, Mr. Mayor
went from the Council-House to the Guild
hall, attended by the Sheriffs, with many
members of the corporation, and the greatest
number of refpefUble citizens ever known
on the like ociafion, his worship being in the
chair, the bufiuefs was opened in a manly,
sensible speech, by George Daubeny," Esq;
setting forth that he was dire&ed to return his
worship the thanks of the citizens of Bristol
for his readiness in granting them the half
and was desired to express the grateful' sense
they entertained of the honour of his presence
or. this occasion; he then begged leave to lay
before them an address, drawn up by a com
mittee of gentlemen appointed for that pur
pose, which he hoped would meet with gene
ral approbation.
To this the Mayor replied nearly as follows:
“ That he mould always retain the most
grateful remembrance of the honour this day
done him, and should be glad of every op
portunity to teftify his real regard for the true
interest and welfare of the city of Bristol."
A morion was then made for the address to
be read, it was much approved and desired to
be read a second time, an attempt to oppose
it uas then made by the persons who met to
petition the preceding day. Their Chairman
Mr. Haves, who was deputed by them to at
tend, was heard with candor; and in reply,
was informed that as no interruption had been
made to their proceedings the day before, it
was expected that they would not disturb this
day's meeting; they notwithstanding conti
nued to obstruct in a very indecent manner,
but numbers Ron prevailed, and they were
Silenced. The address was signed, and the
Mavor, Sheriffs, with some principal citizens,
were requested to present it to his Majesty in
the most refpeaful manner.
The address was immediately signed by a
great number of citizens, and we bear, that it
will be left in the' committee room of the
Taylor's had, till Monday next from 11 to
two o'clock, for such as are disposed to fi.n it.
To de KING'S My? Excellent Majesty.
The bumble Petition of the Merchants, Traders
Manufacturers, and other Citizens of Erifol.
May it please your Majefty',
%^ ,Evour Majesty's molt dutiful and loyal
yV fubje&s,the Merchants, headers, Ma
nufa&urers, and others Citizens of Bristol,
humbly beg leave to approach the Throne,
with the moll refpedful assurance of our un
alterable attachment and affection to your
Majeltv's royal perlon and family, and of our
unfeigned zeal for the support of your govern
ment, the glory of your reign, and the peace
and prosperity of your once united and flou
rishing, but now most unhappily dillra&ed
empire.
Ic'is with an affliction not to be expressed,
with the most anxious apprehensions for our
fejves and posterity that we behold the growing
bill factions in America threaten, unless pre
sented by the timely interposition of your
Majesty's wisdom and goodness, nothing less
than a laying and ruinous civil war. We are
ayrrehenfive that if the present measures are
adhered to, a total alienation of the affections
of our fellow fubjedts in the Colonies will
ensue ; to vhich affection, much more than to
a dread of any power, we have been hitherto
indebted for die ineliimable benefits which we
Day's Tranfac
-4 C6py of the Refolu
.vad them the Petition.
On Monday the ißth instant the following
letter was sent to the Right Worfhipful Charles
Hotchirin, Esq; Mayor.
“ S I R,
“ A great number of refpeaable fellow ci
tizens, being defirpus that an Address be lent
to his Majesty, on the present Situation of af
fairs. We take the liberty to request your
Worship will call a House for that purpose,
and are with great refpeft, Sir,
Your most obedient
And very humble servant,
(Signed) fho. Tyndall, John Hobboufe,
Michael Miller, William Miller, William
Hart, James Reed, Slade Baker, - Richard
Meyler, John Powell, John Vaughan, Ni
cholas Perry, Tho. Warre^."
In consequence of the above, summonses
were sent to the Members of the Corpora
tion, to attend at the Council Houfeon Thprl
day the.zift, but a fufficient number did not
attend to make a House.
Upon this man, citizens applied to the
Mayor for the use of Guildhall on Thursday
following, to aflemble in, to address bis Ma
jelly on the situation of affairs betwen Great-
Britain and the American Colonies; the hall
was readily granted, and notice thereof was
given in the public papers.
On Monday the 25th. Meifrs. Samuel Brailf
ford, John Fifher,Weare, and Richaid Cham
pion, applied to the Mayor for the hall on
Wednesday, that the American Merchants,
Traders, and the well-wishers to American
commerce, might meet there to consider of a
petition to his Majeffy; they met accordingly
on that day, to the number of about fifty per
iods ; Mr. Hayes a gentleman lately fettled
here, from New York, was called to the chair :
A petition was produced and read, a proposal
being made for the Chairman to sign it for the
whole, wlfch h'e very prudently declined; it
was then Signed by thole present, and it is
now industriously carried about, and every
influence exerted to obtain names to it.
._ ,rom those eftablillmals : We
I forefee no good effe&s to the commerce or
revenues of this kingdom, at a future period,
any victories which may be obtained by your
IMajefty'slMajefty's arms over desolated provinces and
an exafoerated people.
From the consequences of a reverse of things
J in the'eourfe of human events not impossible,
Iwe chufe to avert our eyes.
We apprehend that none can profit by the
continuance of this war, and therefore we
hope none can with it, except those nations
(who, envious of the diftufive liberty and con
f^quent power and prosperity of your domini
ons, are the natural enemies of Great-Britain.
We owe a 'testimony of justice to your Colo
nies, which is. that, in the midst of the pre
lent diftradtions we have received many une
quivocal proofs that our fellow subjects in that
part of the world, are very far from having
loft their ancient affection and regard to their
mother country, or departed from theprinciples
of cor;mercial honour and private justice ;
not) ithdanding the ceffuion of the, powers of
government throughout that tall continent,
we have reason to think. Judging by the im
ports into this city and by our extensive cor
refpor.dencies, that commodities of America,
enumerated by acts of Parliament, have been
as regularly brought to Great-Britain as in the
most quiet times ; we afiure your Majesty that
the trade of this port and the fubfißance of /
great part of y»ur kingdom ha, depended ve ^
much on the honorable and, in this inßance;
amicable behaviour ofyour American fubjeus.
We have, in this fingl city, received withir
one year from the firft of September, '774,
more than a million bushels of feheat, tv fay
nothing of the quantity of other \ zIuTT c^m
modities essential to bur navigation and com
merce. Those circumstances we humbly beg
leave, with the utmost deference, to submit to
your Majesty's consideration, in order to Shew
that whenever your royal clemency fh&l ex rt
itfeh in behalf ofyour Colonies, thb disposition
00 their part, to peace and reconciliation, are
by no means so unfavourable as many persons,
from paifon or misinformation, mav poffiMy
suggest. No pa r t of your Majesty's fubj^ts
chn wihi more earhefthy to preserve the con
stitutional fapcriority of the British Legisla
ture oven all parts of your dominons than the
citizens of Brirt'ol; but they are convince
from clelr reason and feVere experience th:t
this ftperiority can hardly be prpferild by
mere force, nor without acquiring the confi
dence and cultivating the affections of the
great and numerous people who inhabit the
British Plantations; we humbly conceive that
this authority would fuffer no Diminution in
I the leak prejudicial tq it, by healing concef
;fions by the relaxation of p^nal statutes, which<
! have been found ineffectual for their purpose,
l and by relinquishing the pursuit of an object
I the possible attainment of which, under any
Icircumftances of fortune, may admit of the
.most serious doubt: On the contrary, we have ;
reason, although things have been carried to|
unfortunate lengths of hohility on both fid ^ |
ito hope the most salutary effects from a return,|
• under your Majesty's provident and fugacious
direction, to the ancient, indulgent and happy
, usage of this kingdom with regard to its co
:lonies. We find ourselves under an indifpen
iftble,neceffity of making, with a refpeCtful
plainness, this dutiful' and most faithful repre
sentation of ottr sentiments to your Majesty,
left it might be supposed that, by our filence,'
we were consenting to the opinions and wiffies
for coercive proceedings, exprefled fn the late
address to your Majesty.—We assure your Ma-1
jefty, that we are men of peaceful diipohtions,.
that we detest the thought of obtruding on
your Majesty's wisdom and clemency any fort
of recommendation of force and rigour against
any part of yo^r people, that we who have'
long flourifhed by an amicable intercouife with
the Colonies should call for coercive measures,
as the probable means of future commerce#
would not only be arrogant and presumptu
ous, but unnatural and ungrateful : No expe
rience has hitherto taught us the good effects
of such measures, and it little becomes us to
recommend violent and hazardous proceedings;
we must always look back with fitisfiction and
gratitude, to that period of your Majesty's
reign, when a prudent concession restored tran
quility and commerce to all your Majesty's
dominions.
We trust, that after having humbly intrea
ted the exertion of your Majesty's wisdom,
for reconciling amicably the differences which
unhappily subsist among your fubjeCts, we have
cleared ourselves to our own consciences, and
acquitted ourselves in the eyes of Almighty
God, of our Sovereign, and of our Country,
from any share whatsoever in producing the
calamities which the present proceedings, so
inauspiciously begun, may yet bring upon this
nation. \
From the London CHRONICLE.
WT is with much concern that I fee so many
1 infamous and abominable letters and pa
ragraphs on both fide of the question, relative
to the present diffentions between parliament
and America ; not only letters, but pamphlets
tending to widen the unhappy breach, at a
time when every virtuous man should try to
close it. The views of each party have been
iflifunderftood and misrepresented, by fevetal
on each fide, wilfully and maliciously, as if
there was no God at all, no searcher of the
Opart, that had any power to punish. A mis
chievous lie is one of the greatest of crimes,
and in this question they have had but too
much effect. Is it not a greater crime to cause
the blood of thousands to be shed, and the
misery of the whole empire, than to commit
fifty robberies on the highway ? On one fide
parliament has been allured that the Americans
wanted to Shake off all allegiance to, and
By a centlen ^rc ariived last niyht from Virginia;
wc have the following agreeable intelligence, viz.
Prefab expfefs had arrived at Alexandria, from rhe
Virginia f -ces, near Norfolk, informing,- that they
had attacked. Lord Ddnmete "rith his troops in their
nt' raiments, which after an obftinarc engagement,
they forced and put I >rd Dunmore to flight, whh
the loss of i6u mt., killed on the fpet; the wounded
and pofoners were not afeertained when the express
came away, nor was the lose of the Virginians then
known : The provincial troops were pursuing the
enemy.
In' PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.
Annapolis, December 1:, 1775#
„ ESOLVED, That the parliamentary pest be
hot permitted pr buffered to travel in, or pass
through this province with any mail, packages or
letters ; and tire federal Committees cf Obfurfou;
hre requeued and directed to fee this refcltuionfiri&ly
bbferved and executed.
By order of the Convention,
G. DUVALL, Cik.
CAMBRIDGE, December 14.
'/flierday an express from Marblehead brought
advice that three men of war were fen off that har
bour, and. it was apprehended an attack would be
made upon the town. CoL Glover's regiment with
a company of artillery were immediately ordered to
the place. A good fortification, was lately erected at
the entrance of the harbour, with 20 pieces of cannon.
Since our lull rood of the brave Sons of New-En
gland, (;ceo of this colony, and 2000 from New-
Hampshire) have joined the Continental Army under
the command of his Excellency General Washing
ton#
By a gentleman arrived here on Wednefdar
last from Wilmington in North-Carolina, we
are informed, that the Scorpion floep of war
and a transport ship from Boston, arrived at-
Brunswick, 15 miles below, about the 12th
ult. it was imagined their intention was to
carry aw^y the guns belonging to fort John
son.—At the fame time arrived a ship from the
life of Sky in Scotland, with a number of
(report 4. or 500) Highlanders, all young men
no woman being on board; that they were
supposed to be foldidts, being all dressed in
the Highland manner, and 'twas said, some
officers in the fame dress were on board the
ship; upon this information coming to Wil
mington, the inhabitants were called upon
and chearfully agreed to take all neceffarv
measures to prevent their landing, for which
purpose they had determined upon laying some
booms and chains across the channel, and
were about erecting a fort at Hangman's Point,
where a camp was marked out, and 4.00 men
immediately took poll there.
, We are also informed that the Cruizer sloop
of -war was at Brunswick; that LordJVilliam
Campbell was on board the f amer, cruizing
to the southward as far as Charles-town Bar ;
that two final! tenders were on the flation off
Ocracock, and Che King-Fisher, Capt. Mon
tague, was Rationed between Ocracock and
Cape Henry in Virginia.
By a letter from North-Carolina, dated
Newbern, November 28, we are informed,
that the Governor had sent word he intends to
dine at the Palace at Christmas, and to have
the town in ashes before night. Yesterday 200
soldiers marched to Virginia, under the com
mand of Col. Howe. We have 4.000 men
raised in the provinces, they are thought equal
to any of the King's troops. Next Friday the
minute-men and soldiers go out to meet 500
men that are coming to take post here, where
they are to remain till the reit of the soldiers
come back. The Governor has got 300 sol
diers to assist him; it is expeded they have
burnt down one small place called Brunswick,
that had 8 or 9 houses in it.
Captain Price, from Bristol, in the beginning of
O&ober spoke a brig, from Cork for the Grenades,
the matter of which informed him, that twelve fail
of transports had Sailed from Cork for Boston some
time in September; that two or three days after a
yeffel was difoatched with orders for them to go to
Halifax, but She returned without (being them ; and
that five more transports afterwards failed from Cork
for Halifax.
“ AS I am juit informed you are ready to em
bark so? England, I cannot refrain from once more
trefpafli : , on your patience. An opportunity is now
presented of immortalizing yourfelf as the Saviour
of your country. The whole British empire Rands
tyindence on, the mother country. This
nvas, at least a horrible falfity. The people
of this country have another lie held out to
them, that America would not at all contribute
to the general charge of the empire, whereas
the whole question was about the mode.
The paflions of men on both fide have been
inflamed, and reason and argument have no
force in delirium. Shall we never grow cool ?
Arerthings to go on forever in this mad career ?
Will we never listen, but always ad without
having listened? When America is gone from
us forever, after rivers of blood, and heaps of
treasure, are fruitlefsly Squandered in a base
war, what amends can the liars on both Sides
make? God will find them all out. I have
very dear friends on both sides, carried away
by jealousies and fears; and not only I but
every virtuous person, must feel hurt by the
present state of things on both Sides. Could
not we be Silent and fafpend every thing till
some cool measures could be found out? Must
we needs break our necks; I know that the
heartily wicked on one fide despise the Ame
ricans^ and their Spirit, resentment, or cou
rage ; and that, on the "other fide, they trust
in their numbers and Spirits. But itis all ncn
fenfe and misery. Let bs do as lovers do: If
we must quarrel, let us kiss and be friends,
but not bieak off forever; let our quarrels
cement u# the more. Thu^eafoned, of old,
Philip de Mornay> and his successor
H. MORNAY.
PHILADELPHIA, December 16.
A Letter from General Lee, trGeneral Bvrgoyne.
Ca&pon Profpea Hill, Dec. 1, 1775.
“ Dear Sir,
B XLTIMORE, December 13,
tottering on the brink of ruin, and you have it in
your power to prevent the fatal catastrophe, bug it
will admit of no delay. For heayen's fake , avail
yourfelf of the precious moment; put an end to tie
delusion i exert the voice of a brave, virtuous citi
zen, and tell the people at home that they mult
immediately refeind all their impolitic, iniquitous,
tyrannical, murderous a&s; that they must over
turn the whole frantic system, or that they are un
dorfc. You ask me, in yohr letter, if it is indepen
dence at which the Americans aim ? I aufwer to,
the idea never entcred a tingle American's head until
a most intolerable oppression force it upon them. All
they required was to' remain makers of their own
property, and be governed by the fame equitable laws
which they had enjoyed from the firft formation of
the Colonies. The ties of connexion, which bound
them to their Parent Country, were so dear to them,
that he who would have ventured to have touched
them, would have been considered as the molt im
pious of mortals ; but these sacred tits, the fame
men who have violated or baffled the 'moll precious
laws and rights of the people at home, diffinated or
refilled to account for their tre.hu,ts, farniffted the
glory, and annihilated the importance 'of the Nation,
these sacred ties, I fay, so dear to every American,•
Bute and his Tory administration ate now tending
afundeA
" You ask whether it is the weight of taxes of
which they complain ? I answer no, it is the prin
ciple they combat, and they would be guilty in the
eyes of God and men, of the present world and all
posterity, did they not reject it, for if it were admit
ted, they would have nothing that they could call
their own. They would be in a woife condition than
the wretched TO^ in the Weft-India Inlands, whose
little peculiam has ever been esteemed inviolate.
But wherefore should I dwell on,this ? Is not the
case of Ireland the fame with their's ? They are
fuboydinate to the British empire, they are subordi
nate to the Parliament of Great-Britain, but they
tax themfriycs, 'Viry ^ tho case is similar, do not
you begin with them ? But you know, Mr. Bur
goyne, audacious as the ministry are, they dare not
attempt it. There is o^e part of your letter which
I confefs Ido not thoroughly underhand. If I re
, coiled right, for I unfortunately have not the letter
by ne, you fay that if the privilege of taxing them
selves is wh^t the Americans claim, the contest is at
an and. You Purely cannot allude to the proportions
of North. It is impossible that you Should not think
with %e and all mankind that these propositions are
no more or less than adding ta a most abominable
oppression a mere abominable insult. But to recur
to the question of America's aiming at independence?
Do any imlu&ion of any one of the Provinces to
ihtit Rcprefrwtibes or Delegates furnish the least
ground for the Suspicion ? On the contrary, do they
;not all br^ri -me Wronged attachment and filial piety
ifor their Parent Country? But if She difeards all the
natural tenderness of a mother, and ads the part of
I a cruel ftep-dume, it must. naturally be expected that
fheir afiedious ceafc ; the Ministry leave them no
alternative; cat feivire, cut alienarijubext ; it is in
human nature, it is a moral obligation to adopt the
latter ; but the fatal reparation has not yet taken
price, and yonrleif, your single felf, my friend;
may perhaps prevent it. Upon the Ministry, I am
afraid, you can make no impression ; for to repeat a
hackneyed quotation.
They are in blood,
Stepp'd info far, that foould they ^vaae in more.
To return queu'd be as tedious as go o'er.,
But if you wiil at once break off all connexions with
these pernicious men, if you will wave all considera
tion but the fah/ation of your country, Great-Britain
may hand as much indebted to General Burgoyne as
Rome was to lie# C##i;ulStis. Pc net, I entreat you,
thy dear Sir, think this the mad rhapsody of an
enthusiast, nor the cant of a fadious designing man,
for in these colours I am told I am frequently painted.
I swear, by all that's sacred, as I hope' for comfort
and honour in this world, and to avoid misery in the
next, that I most earnestly and devoutly love my
native country ; that I wish the fame happy relation
to subsist, for ages, betwixt her and her children,
which has raised the wide arch of her empire to so
Stupendous and enviable a height ; but- at the fame
time I avow, that it the Parliament and people Should
be depraved enough to support any longer the present
Ministry in their infernal ftheme, my zeal and
reverence for the rights of humanity are so much
greater than my fondnefs for any particular Spot,
even the place of my nativity, that had I any in
fluence in the Councils of America, I woulj advise
not to hesitate a Single instant, but decisively to cut the
Gordian knot now befineared with civil blood.
“ This I know is Strong emphatic language, and
might pal's with men, who are Grangers to the flame
which the love of Liberty is capable of lighting up in
the human breast, for a proof of my infancy ; but
you, Sir, you, unless I have mistaken you from the
beginning, will conceive that a man in his sober senses
may possess such feelings. In my sober senses,
therefore, permit me once more molt earnestly to in
rreat and conjure you to exert your whole force,
energy, and talents, to Stop the Ministry in this theic
headlong career. If you labour in vain (as I must
repeat I think will be the case) address yourfelf to
the people at large ; by adopting this method, I am.
so Sanguine as to allure myfelf of your success ; and
your public charter will be as illustrious as your
personal qualities are amiable to all who intimately
know you. By your means, the Colenifts will long
continue the farmers, planters, and Shipwrights of
Great-Britam ; but if the present course is persisted
in, an internal divorce must inevitably take place.
As to the idea of Subduing them into fervitud^, and
indemnify yourselves for the expence, you must b^
convinced, long before this, of its absurdity.
“ I should not, perhaps be extravagant, if I a &
yanced that all the fliips of the world would be too
few to transport force Efficient to conquer three mil
lions of people unanimously determined to facrifice
every thing to liberty ; but if it were possible, the
vi&bry would be not less ruinous than the defeat.
You wouln only destroy your own strength. No
revenue can possibly be extracted out of this country.
The army of placemen might be in'ereafed, but he,
circuitous commerce, founded on perfect freedom,
which alone can furnish riches to< the metropolis,
would fall to the ground. But the dignity of Great-
Britain it seems is at Rake. Would you, Sir, if in
the heat of passion you had Struck a simple drummer
of your regiment, and afterwards discovered it un
foftly, think it any forfeiture of your dignity to
acknowledge the wrong? No (I am well acquainted
with your disposition) you would ask his pardon at
the head of your regiment.
“ I Shall now conclude (if you will excuse the
pedantry) with a Sentence of Latin: '<Juftum est
bellum quibus neceffarium, etpa arma quibus nalla,
nifi tn armis, relinquiturfpes." I molt Sincerely wish
you a quick and prosperous voyage, and that your
happiness and glory may be equal to the idea I have
of your merits, as I am ? with the greatest truth ans
aff^on, yours, . C, LE ^j