The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1775-05-29 00:00:00, page 1

0 Printed by HUGH GAINE, Printer, Bookseller,
Monday, May ^ OTf " ~ '^^ ' 3 ' 'W/^'^^bj
N E ^- r 0 R Kra@a G A Z E T T E:
THE
AND e zK re ^rfflV
WEEKLY M E R C U R
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at i6a. per Cent.
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
A ]lb. 130 Z. for 4 Coppers.
Published 3d April, 1775<
Gentlemen of the Council, and
Gentlemen of the Assembly,
THE sole Occasion of my calling you together
at this Time is to lay before you a Revolution
of the House of Commons, wifely and hu
manely caculated to open a Door for the
Restoration of that Harmony between Great-
Britain and her American Colonies, on which their mu
tual Welfare and Happiness so greatly depend.
This Resolution having already appeared in the pub
lick Papers, and a great Variety of Interpretations put
upon it, mostly according to the different Views and
Dispositions by which Men are actuated, and scarcely any
having seen it in it's proper Light, I think I cannot, at
this critical Jundure, better answer the gracious Purposes
of his Majesty, nor do my Country more eflential Ser
vice, than to lay before you as full an Explanation of
the Occasion, Purport, and Intent ofit as is in my Power.
By this Means you, and the good People you represent,
will be enabled to judge for yourlelves how far you ought
or ought not to acquiesce with the Plan it contains, and
what Stepsit will be prudent for you to take oh this very
important Occasion. . .
You will fee in the King's Answer to the joint Address
of both Houses of Parliament, on the 7th of February,
how much Attention his Majesty was graciously plealed
to give to the Assurance held out in that Addrels, of the
Readiness of Parliament to afford every just and reasonable
Indulgence to the Colonies, whenever they should make
4 proper Application on the Ground of any real Grie
vance they might have to complain of. This Address
was accordingly soon after followed by the Resolution of
the House of Commons now laid before you. A Cir
cumstance which afforded his Majesty great Satisfaction,
as it gave Room to hope for a happy Effect, and would,
at all Events, ever remain an Evidence of their Justice
and Moderation, and manifeft the Temper which has
accompanied their Deliberations upon that Question,
which has been the Source of so much Difyuiet to the
King's Subjects in America..
His Majesty, ardently wishing to fee a Reconciliation
of the unhappy Differences by every Means thro' which
it may be obtained, without Prejudice to the just Au
thority of Parliament, which his Majesty will never
fuffer to be violated, has approved the Resolution of his
faithful Commons, and has commanded it to be transmit
ted to the Governors of his Colonies, not doubting that
this happy Disposition, to comply with every just and
reasonable With of the King's Subjects in America, will
meet with such a Return of Duty and Affection on their
Part, as will lead to a happy Issue of the present Dispute,
and to a Re-establishment of the publick Tranquility on
those Grounds of Equity, Jufticc and Moderation, which
this Resolution holos forth.
SPEECH
Of his Excellency
WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Esq;
Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and
over "the Province of N^-ferfy, and Territories thereon
depending in America, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of
the fame, &c.
To the General Assembly of the said Province,
convened at Burlington.
What has given the King the greater Satisfaction in
this Resolution, and the greater Confidence in the good
Efteds of it, is his having seen that, amidst all the In
temperance into which a People, jealous of their Liber
ties, have been unfortunately milled, they have neyer
thelefs avowed the Justice, the Equity, and the Propriety
of Subjedsof the fame State, contributing, according to
their Abilities and Situation, to the publick Burdens,
and this Resolution it is thought holds no Proposition
beyond that.
It would probably be deemed unjust to suppose that any
of the King's Subjects in the Colonies can have so far
forgot the Benefits they have received from the Parent
State as not to acknowledge that it is to her Support, held
forth at the Expence of her Blood and Creature, that
they principally owe that Security which hath railed them
to their present Stateof Opulence and Importance. In
this Situation, therefore, Justice requires that they Ihould,
in Return, contribute according to their refpeftive Abili
ties to the Common Defence ; and their own Welfare and
Interest demand that their Civil Eftablilhment should be
supported with a becoming Dignity.
It has been the Care, and it is the firm Determination
of Parliament, to fee that both these Ends are answered,
and their Wisdom and Moderation have suggested the Pro
priety of leaving to each Colony to judge of the Waysand
Means of making due Provision for these Purposes, re
fervir.g to themselves a discretionary Power of approving
or disapproving what fhaH be offered.
The Resolution neither points out what the Civil Esta
blishment should be, nor demands any fpecific Sum in
Aid of the publick Burdens. In both these Refpe&s it
leaves full Scope for that Justice and Liberality which
may be expected from Colonies, that, under all their
Prejudices, have never been wantingin Expressions of an
affectionate Attachment to the Mother Country, and a
zealous Regard for the general Welfare of the British
Empire, and therefore the King trusts that the Provision
they will engage to make for the Support of Civil Go
vernment, will be adequate to the Rank and Station of
every neceflary Officer, and that the Sum to be given in
Contribution to the Common Defence will be offered on
such Terms, and proposed in such a Way, as to increase
or diminish, according as the publick Burdens of Great-
Britain are from Time to Time augmented or reduced, in
so far as those Burdens consist of Taxes and Duties which
are not a Security for the National Debt.
By such a Mode of Contribution the Colonies will have
full Security that they can never be required to tax them
selves without Parliament's taxing the Subjects in Great-
Britain in a far greater Proportion, and it may be relied
upon, that any Proposition of this Nature made by any
of the Colonies, and accompanied with such a State of
their Faculties and Ability as may evince the Equity of
the Proposal, will be received with every possible Indul
gence ; provided it be at the fame Time unaccompanied
with any Declarations, and unmixed with any Claims
which will make it impossible for the King, consistently
with his own Dignity, or for Parliament, consistently
with their Constitutional Rights, to receive it. But it is
not supposed that any of the Colonies will, after this Ex
ample of the Temper and Moderation of Parliament,
adopt such a Condtia ; on the contrary, the pleating Hope
is cherished that the publick Peace will be restored, and
that the Colonies will enter into the Consideration of the
Resolution of the House of Commons with that Calm
ness and Deliberation which the Importance of it de
mands, and with that Good-will and Inclination to # a
Reconciliation which are due to the Candour and Justice
with which Parliament has taken up this Business, and
at once declared to the Colonies what will be ultimately
expected from them.
It has been already obferVed, that the King entirely
approves the Resolution of the House of Commons, and
I have his Majesty's Commands to fay, that a Compli
ance therewith by the General Assembly of New-jersey,
will be most graciously considered by his Majesty, not only
as a Testimony of their Reverence for Parliament, but
also as a Mark of their Duty and Attachment td their
Sovereign, who has no Object nearer to his Heart than
the Peace and Prosperity of his Subjects in every Part of
his Dominions. At the fame Time, 1 must tell you, his
Majesty confiders himfelf as bound by every Tie to exert
those Means the Conffitution has placed in his Hands,
for preferring that Constitution entire, and to resist with
Firmness every Attempt to violate the Rights of Parlia
ment, to distress and obftru£ tthe lawful Commerce of
his Subjects, or to encourage in the Colonies Ideas of
Independence inconsistent with their Connexion with
Great-Britain.
Here, Gentlemen, you have a full and candid State
of the Disposition and Expectations of his Majesty and
the Parliament. They require nothing of America but
what the Colonies have repeatedly profeffed themselves
ready arid willing to perform. A late Assembly of this
Province in their Petition to the King in 1766, express
themselves thus, " As no Danger can approach Britain,
" without giving us the most sensible Alarm ; so-your
'' Majesty may be assured, that with filial Duty we Ihall
« ever be ready to afford all the Afliftance in our I Qwer,
“ and stand or fall with that Kingdom, from which we
" boast our Defeent, and to which we are attached by
" the strongest Ties of Duty, Gratitude and Aflecbpn^
And, in a subsequent Petition, they fay, " Very far it
“ is from our Intentions to deny our Subordination to
" that august Body [the Parliament] or our Dependance
" On the Kingdom of Great-Britain : In these Con
“ nexions, and in the Settlement of our Liberties, under
'' the auspicious Influence of your royal House, we know
'' our Happiness consists ; arid therefore, to confirm those
" Connexions, and to ft'rengthen this Settlement, is at
" once our Interest, Duty anc Delight."
Similar Declarations have been repeatedly made in other
Colonies. The following Vote was passed i* the Aflere
bly of Pennsylvania many Years ago, to \ ," The
" House taking into Consideration the many Taxes their
“ Fellow Subjects in Great-Britain are obliged to pay
" towards supporting the Dignity of the Crown, and
" defrayingihe neceßary and Contingent Charges of Go
" vernmerit, and willing to demonstrate the Fidelity,
" Loyalty and Affection of the Inhabitants of this Pro
“ vince to our gracious Sovereign, by bearing a Share of
“ the Burden of our Fellow Subjects, proportionable to
" our Circumstances, do, therefore, cheerfully and una
" himoufy resolve, That Three Thoutand Pounds be
“ paid for the Use of the King, his Heirs and Succetfors,
“ to be applied to fdch Uses as he, in his Royal VVifdoin,
" Shall think fit to direCt and appoint." And the Said
3000 Pounds was afterwards paid into his Majesty's Ex
chequer, by the Agent of the Province accordingly.
Nor can I avoid mentioning what was done in the
Convention of Committees from every County in Penn
sylvania, who met in July last for the express Purpose of
giving Instructions to their Representative in Assembly
on this very Subje& Several of these InftruCtions ma
nifeft such a Candor and Liberality of Sentiment, such
just Ideas of the Importance of our Connexion with
Great-Britain, and point out so rational a Method to be
ptirfued for obtaining Redress for the supposed Grievances
(previous to any Attempts to distress the Trade of that
Kingdom) that it is greatly tv be regretted that the Con
duct of America, in a Matter of fach vast Importance to
its future Welfare, had not been regulated by the Princi
ples and Advice they suggested. In those InStruCtions;
speaking of the Powers Parliament had claimed and lately
tyercifed, the Convention fay, " We are thoroughly con
" vinced they will prove unfailing and plentiful Sources
" of Diffentions to our Mother Country and these Colb
" nies, unless some Expedients can be adopted to render
“ her secure of receiving from us every Emolument that
" can in Justice and Reason be expected, and us secure in
" our Lives, Properties, and an equitable Share of Com
" merce. Mournfully revolving in our Minds the Cala
“ mities, that, arising from these. Diffentions, will most
" probably fall on us and our Children, We will now lay
" before you the particular Points we request of you to
" procure, if poflible, to be finally decided; and the
" Meafares that appear to us most likely to produce such
" a deferable Period of our Dittrefles and Dangers."
Then, after enumerating the particular Afis of Parlia
ment which they confider as Grievances, and desire to
have repealed, they add, " In case of obtaining these
" Terms, it is our Opinion, that it will be reasonable
“ for the Colonies to engage their Obedience to the Acts
<c of Parliament, commonly called the A&s of Naviga
« tion, and to every other Aft of Parliament declared to
" have Force, at this Time, in these Colonies, other
“ than those above-mentioned, and to confirm such Sta
" tutes by Afts of the several Assemblies. It is also
" our Opinion, that taking Example from our Mother
“ Country in abolishing the Courts of Wards and Live
" ries, Tenures in Capite, and by Knight's Service and
" Purveyance, it will be reasonable for the Colonies, in
< c case of obtaining the Terms before-mentioned, to fettle
" a certain artnual Revenue on his Majesty, his Heirs and
“ Successors, fubje& to the Controul of Parliament,
" and to fatisfy all Damages done to the Eafl-India Com
" pany. This our Idea of fettling a Revenue, arises
“ from a Sense of Duty to our Sovereign, and of Esteem
" for our Mother Country. We know and have felt the
" Benefits of a subordinate Connexion with her. We
<<neither are so stupid as to be ignorarit of them, nor so
“ unjust as to deny them. We have also experienced
“ the Pleasures of Gratitude and Love, as well as Ad
" vantages from that Connexion. The Impressions are
" not yet erased. We confider her Circumstances with
c< tender Concern. We have not been wanting, when
" constitutionally called upon, to assist her to the utmost
" of our Abilities ; insomuch that She has judged it
" reasonable to make us Recompenees for our over
" strained Exertions : And we now think we ought to
Monday, 50 Min. after §
Tuesday, 27 Min. after 10
Wednesday, 59 Min. after to
Thursday, 50 Min. after 11
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
Friday, 31 Min. after 12
Saturday, 15 Min. after 1
Sunday, 59 Min. after 1
Ne^w-Moon this Day.
nd Stationer, at the Bible and Crown, in Hanover-Square.
" contribute more than we do to the Alleviation of her
“ Burdens. Whatever may be said of these Proposals on
“ either Side of the Atlantic, this is not a Time either
“ for Timidity or Rathnefs. We perfedly know that
“ the great Cause now agitated, is to be conducted to a
“ happy Conclofion, only by that well tempered Compo
“ fition of Counsels, which Firmness, Prudence, Loy
ft alty to our Sovereign, Refpe& to out Parent State,
“ arid Affection to our Native Country, united, must
r< form."---" In Case of War, or in any Emergency of
" Distress, we. shall also be ready and willing to contri
" bute all Aidt within our Power. And we folerrinly
'' declare, that on such Occasions, if vre or our Posterity
" ffiall refufe, neglect or decline thus to contribute, it
" will be a mean and manifeft Violation of a plain Duty,
“ and a weak and wicked Defection of the true Interests
" of this Province; which ever have been and must be
“ bound up in the Prosperity of our Mother Country.
" Our Union, founded on mutual Compacts and mutual
" Benefits, will be indissoluble, at least more firm than
" an Union perpetually disturbed by disputed Rights and
cc retorted Injuries." 1 could quote several more I affages
from these Inkrudioris which are expreflive of the fame
honest and generous Sentiments with Regard to G.Britain,
but I Ihall only make one more Extract, arid that lei
pe&ing the Mode which they recommended to be pursued
for the Redress of Grievances, viz. " But other Confi
" derations have Weight with us. We wish every Maik
" of Refpedt to be paid to his Majesty's Administration.
<c We have been taught from drir Youth to entertain
" tender and brotherly Affections for our Fellow Subjects
"at Home. The Interruption of our Commerce must
" greatly distress great Numbers of them, This we
“ earnestly, d^fire to avoid. We therefore requelly that
" the Deputies you shall appoint may be inilructed to
" exert themselves at the Congrefr/to induce the Mem
" bers of it to consent to make a full and Recife State of
" Grievances, and a decent, yet firm Claim of Redrets,
" and to wait the Event, before any other Step is taken.
" It is our G,uion that Persons should be appointed and
" sent Home to ptefent this State Rod Chiin at the Court
'' of Great-Britain." After mentioning their Confi
dence in the intended general Congress, and their Reso
lution to abide by their Determinations tor the Sake of
Unanimity, they declare that it is “ with a strong Hope
“ and Trust that they will not draw this Province into
" any Measure judged by us, who mus tbe better ac
« quainted with its State than Strangers, highly inex
“ pedient. Of thi, Kind, we khoW any other Stoppage
'' of Trade, bur of that with Great-Britain, will be.
, Eren this Step, We should be extremely afflicted to
" fee t^ken by the Cohgrefs before rh^ other Mode above
" pointed out is tried."
Happy would it have been at this Day, in all Proba
bility, if some filch healing Measures bad been pursued.
Some Plan of Union, or Proposal of/ " a mutual Com
pa&" for " mutual Benefit" was the grand Object
which every honest Man in the Colonies had at Heart.
An imperfect one (if not too glaringly so) was better
than none, as it would, if it had answered rio other Pur
pose, have laid a Foundation for Negotiation and 1 reaty.
It has been lately observed in Parliament, “ That it does
" not appear the Colonies were seriously inclined to come
'' into any reasonable Terms of Accommodation, as no
" body was authorised to make any Proposals to that
“ Effea."
However, it can be of little Avail no* to animadvert'
on past Tranfaaioris. Who has been most in the right
or most in the wrong can never be fatisfaaorily decided.
Many Things will ever happen, in the Course of a long
continued Dispute, which good Men of both Parties must
reflect on with Pain, and wish to have buried in Oblivion.
In the present Situation of Affairs we Should only look
forward, arid endeavour to fill on some Expedient that
may avert the impending Dahgeri To effect this desirable
Purpose a Plan is now formed, and recommended to you
by his Majesty, containing Terms greatly corresponding
with the avowed Sentiments of mariy of the Colonies,
and which, I think, can only want to be rightly under
stood in order to be generally adopted. It does not require
from the People of this Country any formal Acknow
ledgment of the Right of Taxation in the Parliament.
It waves all Dispute on that Head, and suspends the Ex
ercise of it for ever, if so long the Colonies Shall perform
their Part of the Compad. It does not even require, as
a Preliminary, that the Non-Importation and Nori-
Exportation Agreements Shall be abolished. It comes
before you in the old accustomed Manner, by Way of Re
quisition, being approved and adopted by the King, who
has dire^ed his several Governors to fignify to the tef
pe&ive Assemblies, his Desire that they Should grant such
Aids for the Common Defence, and the Support of Go
vernment within the Colonies, as Shall appear to them
just and equitable, and proportionate to their Abilities,
His Majesty and the Parliament, hit t+ue, are to judge
whether the Aids which each Colony may offer are
worth Acceptance, or adequate to their refpe&ive Abili
ties, as they did during the Course of the last War,
very much to the Satisfaction of those Colonies who
exerted themselves, often make them a CompenSation
' according as their a&ive Vigour and ftrendous Efforts
“ refpe&ively appeared to merit/ 'The Neceflity of
some such Supreme Judge is evident from the very
Nature of the Case, as otherwise some Colonies might
not contribute their due Proportion. During the last
War, I well remember, it was ardently wished by some
of the Colonies that others, who were thought to be
delinquent, might be compelled by Aft of Parliament to
bear an equal Share of the publick Burdens. It appears
by the Minutes of Assembly, in March and April 175^,
that some of the neighbouring Colonies thought New
jerfey had not at that Time contributed its due Share
towards the Expenses of the War, and that President
Reading (the then Commander in Chief of the Colony)
was of the fame Opinion. And since my Adntiniftration,
when the Assembly in 1764 was called upon to make
Provision for railing some Troops on Account of the
Indian War, they declined doing it for some Time, but,
“on Condition a Majority of the Eastern Colonies, as
“ far as to include Maflachufett's-Bay, should come into
“ his Majesty's Requisition on the Occasion." But, as
none of the Assemblies of the New-England Govern
ments thought themselves nearly concerned, nothing was
granted by them ; and the whole Burden of the Expedi
tions then carried on fell upon Great-Britain, and three
or four of the middle Colonics; with which this Colony
was diffatisfied, and the Assembly complained of it in
one of their Addresses to me on the Occasion.---But what
fully evinces that there is no Defya of Oppression 01
Wheatper Buffiel, 6s. od.
Flour, 15*' 'd*
Brown Bread, 15s. od.
Weft-India Rum, 3s. sd.
New-England, do. 2s. 6d.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufeovado Sugar, 645. od.
Single refin'd ditto, is. id.
Molasses, 2s. od.
Beef per Barrel; 48s. od.
Pork, 655. od.
Extortion in the proposed Reservation in his Majesty
and his Parliament of the Right of approving the
Aids which may be offered by the Colonies, is, his
Majesty's gracious Assurance that the Proportions
on this Head will be received with every possible In
dulgence. ---The Monies raised by the several Colo
nies as their Proportion to the common Defence, is
made fubjeff to the Disposal of Parliament, as in
Justice it ought, as they furnifh the whole Sum which
may be wanted for that necessary Purpose, according
to the Estimates annually laid before them by the
Crown; besides making Provision for the Civil Lift
and National Debt, towards which the Colonies are
not asked to contribute. The Army and Navy Etta
blifhment it is well known is necessarily increased since
the Extension of the British Dominions in America.
The whole American Civil and Military Eftablilh
ment, as paid by Great-Britain, after the Peace of
Aix la Chapelle was, it is said, only £. 70,000 Ster
ling ; but since the last Peace it amounts to upwards of
£. 350,000. As this great additional Expence was
chiefly incurred on an American Account; it cannot
but be reasonable that America ihould pay some Part
of it. To remove every Objeaion that other Taxes
may be raised upon America, under the Colour of
Regulations on Commerce, the Produce of all such
Duties is to be carried to the Account of that Pro
vince where it is to be levied.
We have now, thank Heaven, a happy Opportu
nity of getting entirely rid of this unnatural Contest,
by only complying with what, I think, has been
fully proved and acknowledged to be our mdifpenfa
ble Duty: Wherever a People enjoy Projection, and
the other common Benefits of the State, nothing can
be more reasonable than that they should bear their
Share of the common Burden.
It is much to be lamented that there is so much
Truth in the Observation, That Mankind generally
afl not according to Right, but according to present
Interest; and most according to present Passion. In
the present Case, there are no Difficulties but what
may be easily surmounted; if Men come together
sincerely disposed to serve their Country, unbiaffed
by any, sinister Views or improper Refentmehts.
This, Gentlemen, I trust; will be found to be your
Disposition in this most alarming Situation of pub
lick Affairs. Let me conjure you, however, not to
come to any precipitate Resolutions refpe&ing the
Plan of Accommodation now communicated to you.
I have no Objeaion to give you any Time you may
think necessary for the due Consideration of it. It
is, indeed, a Concern of a more interesting Nature
than ever before came under the Consideration of an
American Assembly. If it is adopted, all will yet
be well. It it is totally reje&ed, or nothing similar
to it proposed, or made the Basis of a Negotiation,
it will necessarily induce a Belief of what has been
lately so often mentioned in publick, " That it is
“ not a Dispute about Modes of Taxation---but
“ that the Americans have deeper Views, and mean
" to throw off all Dependance upon Great-Britain,
“ and to get rid of every Controul of their Legifla
'• ture." Should such Sentiments ever prevail, they
cannot but have the most fatal Effects to this Country.
I am, however, fully convinced that the Body of
the People in the Colonies do riot even entertain a
With of the Kind. Rather than lose the Protection
of Great-Britain, America, were it ever so constitu
tionally and allowedly independent, would find it for
its Advantage to purchase that Protection at an Ex
pence far beyond what Great-Britain would ever
think of requiring while we show her that Regard
and Obedience to which she is justly entitled, and
which our own Interest and Safety Should prompt us
to Shew if there were no other Considerations.
Taxation beihg the principal Source of the present
biforders, when that important Point is once fettled,
every other Subject of Complaint which has grown
out cf it will, no Doubt, of Course be removed.
For you may rely, Gentlemen, that notwithstanding
the many inimical and oppressive Designs which the
Jealousies and Silfpicions of incensed People have
attributed to Government, yet it is evident from the
whole Tenor of the Letters which I have had the
Honour to receive from the King's Ministers, that
his Majefly and they have nothing more at Heart
than to have these unhappy Differences accommoda
ted on some just and honourable Plan, which shall at
the fame Time secure the Liberties cf the People
without lefTening the necessary Power arid Dignity of
Parliament;
God grant that the Colonies may manifeft the
fame laudable Disposition, and that a hearty Recon
ciliation and Harmony may take Place of the prefect
Confufion and Diffention.
W M . FRANKLIN.
Council Chamber, May 16, 1775.
4 ——^wraara^fflo^iaß^^
King,on, Uljier County, May 10, 1775.
Mr. Gaine,
Please to insert the following Piece in your next Paper.
To the PUBLIC.
WHEN the characters of gentlemen who have
a&ed in a public capacity are impeached
(especially those who have taken upon them the exe
cution of the measures of the last Continental Con
gress) how disagreeable the task may be, it behoves
every one whois a friend to truth, honesty, and li
berty, to confider it as their duty, and incumbent on
them, with all their efforts, to support the proceed
ings of those gentlemen. This county in general, #
and Kingston in particular, have diftinguiflied them
selves by a ready compliance with the association of.
the congress, and some spirited measures to render
them effe&ual ; butas every dock contains some bad.
flieep, so the artic)e;of tea has discovered the infe&ed
[For the &mainW fee the last Page.]
Fine Salt, 3s. 3d
Coarse Salt, 3s. od
Bohea Tea, 4s. 6d
Indian Cornperßu. 3s. 4d