The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-17 00:00:00, page 2

Belfaft, Nov. 4. A general meeting of the prin
cipal inhabitants, at the Town-house, to confider
But his great objection to it was, that it did not
lead to a speedy decilion ; that the longer the war
continued, the greater chance there was for the
interference of the Bourbon powers, which in a
Jong protruded war, he coniKered not 'only pro
bable. but in a manner certain. That he was v^ry
hire that this country was utterly incapable of car
rying on a war with America, and these powers
acting in conjunction. He then entered into a long
and particular enumeration of all the dangers and
difficulties which unuß attend such a war.
He then &bfervc,d that, as he saw no probability
of success in tin; detail of any of the arrangements
that were proposed, neither did he fee any thing of
authority to induce him to believe that they would
filtered, mot onemilitary or naval officer having
given an opinion hi its favour; and many of the
greatest in both Cervices, having given their opinion
dire&ly againh it.
That as ro man of military experience had vouch
ed for the Sufficiency of the force, so no man in the
commifiariate would apfwer for its fubfißance from
the moment it left the sea coast; that therefore its
lubfiifance and its operation were become incom
patible.
To the objection, that at this rate the Americans
might always reduce us to unreasonable terms, by
the supposed impoßibility of reducing them by force,
he said that he could not help the difficulties which
arose from nature and the constitution of things;
that he could not make America nearer to us than
it is, or a country of another nature than what God
had made it. That people who cannot contrive to
reconcile their quarrels, rauft fuffer the evils that
happen to a divided nation. That he was^of opi
nion, that there was no dishonor at all in any' kind
of amicable adjuilment of domestic quarrels; and
that he would rather heal an hundred points, when
it was Englishmen that gave and received, than a
single point to a foreign nation.; and that we were
in such circumllances that we mull yield to either
one or the other.
[Our with to fatisfy the expectations of the pub
lic as early as possible, induced us to lay before them
so much of the outline of this celebrated Speech, this
night, as we could. As soon as possible we shall
give the remainder, the whole of which was ac
knowledges by all those who were happy enough
to hear it, one of the ablest in point of matter,
method and argumentative conviction ever deliver
ed in the house.
It fitted three hours and a half, and was listened
to with a mod profound and uninterrupted attention.
The motion made by Mr. Burke was, “ That leave
be given to bring in a bill to compose the present
troubles, and for quieting the minds of his Majeßy's
fubjeds in America."
Mr. Burke then read to the house a bill which he
had prepared, with such provisions and regulations
as he judged equal to the attainment of this mod
deferable end, which we hope will be made public,
as never could general curiosity be excited by dear
er, or greater interefts.]
Monday, November 20.
Made a progress on the ways and means and the
supply; and proceed again on Wednesday.
Deferred the further consideration of the Nova-
Scotia Memorial to Thursday.
Lord North made a motion to the following pur
port: For leave to bring in a bill to cut off all in
tercourse between Great-Britain and the colonies
of America, now in a&ual rebellion, so long as they
fliall continue in rebellion, and to repeal the Boston
Port-Bill, the Filhery Bills, and another bill passed
lad sessions against the Americans; and to authorize
his Majesty's naval commanders to seize all shipping
belonging to America as lawful prizes. He made a
very long fpcech to ffiew the propriety and necessity
for this measure.
Mr. Charles Fox proposed an amendment, viz. to
leave out that part of the motion, which proposes
to cut off all intercourse with the Americans. A
warm debate ensued: Sir George Hay spoke next
in support of the whole motion.
Mr. T. Townsend censured the severity and bad
policy of thus declaring war against the colonies,
at the moment administration would have it believed
in the house, that they were inclined to peace.
General Conivay also spoke against it, the Attor
ney General near two hours for it, and Mr. Burke
against it.
At half after ten the house divided, when the
numbers were for Lord North's motion 192, against
it 64. Adjourned to Tuesday.
Corke, Nov. 9. We are informed that orders have
been issued for the fix transports with the 28th and
part of the 46th regiments on board, to return here,
and the men to be disembarked, in consequence of a
discovery made by Lord North, that this is rather a
dangerous time of the year to fend troops to Quebec.
Nov. 16. Capt. Thomas, of the Clibborn on his
passage from St. Übes, spoke with the ship Loving
Peggy, Hezekiah Magruder, master, from Mary
land, laden with tobacco from London, about seven
leagues from Cape Clear, 48 days out from Cape
Virginia, having loft her tiller, and being out of
candles, both which Captain Thomas supplied him
with.
of an address or petition to his Majesty, was this
day held at noon (George Black, Esq; in the chair)
when a motion was made, and seconded, that “ An
humble address be presented to his Majesty, from
the merchants, traders and principal inhabitants of
Belfaft, Rating their grievances and apprehensions,
refusing from the-present unnatural Rate of things;
their concern, as members of the British empire,
for its present disturbed and endangered state; their
feelings, as men, for the horrors of civil war, now
raging in America; their hopes in the royal mercy
'for a ipeedy termination of these; and their prayers
for a refloration of the old constitutional fyftem.''
Which being agreed to, without a diflenting voice,
a suitable address was produced, and signed by al
moß every person present; and after such as were
not present have had an opportunity of signing it,
it is to be transmitted to his Majesty.
Limerick, Nov. 6. This morning the 20th reg.
>marchnd for Dublin; the 15th is on the road to
this city, to be ready to embark at Cork the begin
ning of December. It is thought one of the regi
ments coming from England will be ordered to this
garrison.
DUBLI N, November 14 .
By a letter from Castle Townfhend, that came
by yeßerday'spoß, we are informed, that the bows
and a great part of the deck of a large vessel were
discovered at Skiddy's island, at the mouth of the
harbour; on the 21st instant a man was found dead
under a heap of cordage, his leg broke and bleed
ing frelh. It is supposed (he was wrecked on Sa
turday night the 11th inst. on the Stags, which has
proved to be so, for on Monday afternoon a Kin
fale filhing boat came into the harbour, and brought
an account that there was a man on the Stags, who
called and made'hgns for help, but the Kinfale man
not having a small boat and the sea high, could not
get near him; that evening a boat was lent out,
but the furf on the rocks being very high, and too
late, nothing could be done, but reported that there
were five persons alive on the rocks; the next morn
ing a pinnace was lent out with a chosen crew, who
were fortunate enough to bring four on Riore, the
captain, mate and two of the men, the fifth died
the night before; the four are all likely to do well
having been taken particular care of. The vessel
proves to be the Abby, of Liverpool, from Virgi
nia,'with 20 hoglheads of tobacco, 1200 barrels
of tar, and some Raves, the Captain's name Her
bert. These unfortunate men were thrown on the
Lower Stags, which are washed over every tide
when the sea runs high. The Captain a Rout able
man, fatisfied that he with the rest must perilh if
they remained there, on Sunday afternoon swam
about 40 yards, to a high rock, where his situati
on was better, as he could walk about dry, and
what was of most consequence, from whence he
could be seen, which saved his and the lives of three
of his companions.
Monday the firft, and Tuesday the second divisi
on of the fifteenth regiment of foot marched from
the barrack for Cork, in order to embark for Ame
rica.
IRISH HOUSE of COMMONS, Thurfd. Nov. 23
Sir John Blaquiere presented to the house a mes
sage from his Excellency fignifying that, "he had
his Majesty's commands to acquaint the house, that
as the present exigencies of affairs required fending
an additional number of troops to America, he had
the firmed reliance on the loyalty of his faithful
Commons of Ireland to admit his fending abroad
a number of the troops on this establishment, not
exceeding 4000 men, which will no longer continue
a charge on this kingdom, but be immediately on
their leaving the fame, in the pay of Great-Britain.
" And to shew his Majesty's gracious regard for
the fafety and defence of this kingdom, if the Par
liament shall desire it he will replace the said 4000
men, with an equal number of foreign protestants
(fubjeds of the Prince or Brunswick and the Prince
of Hcffe Calfel) to be continued here, in the pay of
of Great-Britain, as soon as his Majesty fliall be en
abled to fend them, by his parliament of Ireland."
This message was read again by the speaker, and
ordered on the journals of the house.
Sir John Blaquiere moved, that the house do on
Saturday next resolve itfelf into a committee of the
whole house, to take his Excellency's message into
consideration.
The house was called over, and resolved into a
committee to take into consideration his Excellency's
message, and the inftrudion to confider on the belt
mode of defence for this kingdom. Mr. Malone in
the chair.
The order for going into the Committee, his Ex
cellency's message, and the order for the inftrudion
were read.
Sir Archebald Acheson rose, and made many
eulogiums on his Majesty, whom he said, we ought
to look upon as the father of a much favoured peo
ple, and then promised to offer two resolutions,
but they not being put into proper form, were
handed to Mr Vice-treasurer ; and as they took some
time to arrange, Mr. Ogle said the committee had
better adjourn till the resolutions were drawn. At
length they were produced in substance as follows,
1. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this com
mittee, that in the present exigency of affairs, a
Saturday, November 25.
number of troops not exceeding four thousand, out
of the number of 12000, voted as necessary to be
kept in Ireland for the defence thereof, be spared
for his Majesty's service abroad, provided that from
their quitting this kingdom they shall be of no
charge to the nation.
2. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this commit
tee, that a number of foreign protestant troops, not
exceeding 4000, be received into this kingdom, to
replace the number sent abroad, for the security
and defence thereof, provided they shall be of no
charge to the nation.
(Turn to the last page.)
WILLIAMSB U R G, Feb. 3.
Six white men and four negroes, last week, land
ed near to Mr. Narfworthy's in Isle of Wight coun
ty, in order to carry off some sheep which they knew
were on the plantation, and likewise to seize Mr.
Nafworthy, for whole ransom they expe&ed a large
quantity of Rock. A negro man who happened to
bem the yard, difeovering a negro dressed in the
uniform of the 14th regiment, immediately went
and informed his matter that some of the Governor's
men were landed; he dispatched the negro to a
guard, who were Rationed at a small distance; they
pursued them, took the negro in uniform, and
drove the others into their boat without any ftoc'k.
We hear that Lord Dunmore is under terrible
apprehensions, left the inhabitants on the sea coasts
and rivers should move off with their Rocks and
grain; and that he lias endeavoured to prevent this
by an artful proclamation, encouraging them to
Ray where they are.
A few days ago a schooner from Hingham in New-
England, bound in here for a load of corn, was
taken by a tender, and carried into Norfolk.
A new brig, the property of Mr. Michael Christi
an, of Northampton, just arrived from the Weft-
Indies with 3000 bushels of salt, &c. was drove a-
Ihore off the mouth of Cherryltones, and burnt by
the people of the Liverpool s tender, after dripping
her of all her fails, rigging &c. They have like
wise taken a quantity of Rock off Hog-island, on
the eastern shore; and on the fame day possessed
themselves of a brig belonging to Mr. Cornelius
Colvert, arrived from Glasgow in ballad, with
200 guineas on board.
W ATER T O W N, February 5.
LaR Tuesday Capt. House, with 4 whale boats,
look and carried into Barnftable a Hoop of 115 tons
burthen, bound from La Have for Boston, laden
with beef, hay, potatoes and turnips.
Saturday last was burnt in this town, pursuant
to an order of the General Court, by the door
keeper, a quantity of Bohea Tea, taken from one
John Brown, a person who for fifty dollars, res
cued and convey'd away, from the custody of the
court's messenger, Dr. Samuel Guilfon, who had
been apprehended by the court, for supplying the
enemy with provisions; he was retaken with the
said Brown at Rhode Island and brought back to
this town, where they are now under close guard.
N E WPOR T, February 5.
Mr. Stephen Congdon, who was taken out of his
house at Jamestown, by a party of Capt. Wallace's
men, at the time part of that town was plundered
and burnt, kept in irons 3 days, and then lent to
Boston and put on board the Admiral's ffiip, made
his escape and came to town with the Whalemen,
mentioned in our last.
Yesterday morning the whole ministerial fleet Ra
tioned here, went out of the harbour, with the wind
W. N. W. Rretched off near Block Island, then
Rood in under the east fide of Point-Judah Point,
where they anchored. This morning they went up
our Bay, toward Prudence.
On Sunday last arrived in town, from Boston,
several perlons who failed from this place last fall
in four whaling brigs, and inform that said veffils,
with a sloop from Dartmouth, were taken at Fayal,
by some of the Ihips of war lately arrived at Boston,
and sent to England; these men were brought to
Boston in one of the men of war, and made their
escape in a boat, and landed at Dorcheßer Point.
They fay the Ihips that took them were but misera
bly manned, and that many of the officers and men
greatly disliked the business they were sent upon.
We hear that a veil! from England, with a
quantity of medicines on board for the ministerial
troops, is taken at the Eastward by one of our pri
vateers.
PROVIDENC E, January 27.
Capt. Joseph Mancheftei, of this place, who in
Augull last was taken by two tenders in the river,
and sent to Boston, arrived here from thence on
Wednesday last.—He got to Chelsea in a veffcl
which had been ordered from Boston, witli a num
ber of the poor of that town.—He informs that
General Clinton failed from thence on Thursday
fe'nnight, with several transports. having on board
500 troops, under convoy of a man of war, iup
pofed to be bound to the southward.—Capt. Man
chatter also advises, that provisions and fuel coati
A small sloop loaded with pork, salted in bulk,
some beef in quarters, bread, &c. from New-York,
bound into Boston, was lately taken by a small
privateer, and carried into Plymouth.
Last l uefday night a prize brig, an armed
schooner, and a small tender belonging to the fleet
in this harbour, failed for Boston.