The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-27 00:00:00, page 2

Gaober go. We hear that Lord North's declaration in the
Houjc of Commons, " that notwithftanciing the offers of
'"/''&, afaftance his Majesty had received, he was not fond of
accepting any such, unleis in cases of the molt urgent neces
sity.; and that hejutehded to fend, at one and the sane time,
the molt equitable terms of REGONCILIA 1 lON to our fel-
J°W tumefy in America, and a most rApedtabj^ part of our
army and navy, to enforce obedience in dafe those terms
Ihduid be rejected",”— meets with universal approbation.,
"i lie Duke of Grafton on Thursday, in the House of Lords,
to Ineadonilhment of almost every body, drew out his whole
^tdcry against administration; he said, the part they were
raking against America was equally disgraceful to Ilatefmen
and Britons, as it was injurious to the rights of .humanity,—
that he trembled for the dismemberment of so great a part of
our empire, which he had no doubt would be effected, if feme
Special check was not given todhe dreadful operations of
war ; that if Administration was determined to go on, all he
could do would be to give them every opposition in his power,
and that he would not be retrained from this on any confider
tion whatsoever ; that he sh uld make all kind of business, nay
even sickness itfelf, bend to this duty, for that if his health
would not otherwise permit it, he would be carried in a litter
to the house. Likewise the Bishop of Peterborough, in a
strain suitable to the dignity of his profeffion, pressed with
great humanity the stoppage of human blood.
The minority is strengthened this session with the Duke of
Grafton, the Bishop of Peterborough, General Conway, and
most of their connexions in both, houses.
By virtue of a habeas corpus granted on Thursday night
by Lord Mansfield, Stephen Sayre, Esq; was, on Saturday
morning at ten o'clock, conveyed, by the proper officers of
the Tower, to Lord Mansfield's house in Bloomfbury-fquare.
Messrs. Adair, Dayrell, Lucas, Alleyne and Lee, attended on
the part of Mr. Sayre ; and White, partner with the Soli
citor of the Treasury, on the part of the crown. After the
two firft mentioned counsel had descanted for some little
time on the impropriety of Mr. Sayre's being committed to'
close confinement by virtue of the warrant of commitment,
which only conveyed a general charge ; and Mr. White hav
ing declared that he had no inftru&ions to oppose the bail,
his Lordship called for the warrant of commitment ; and, im
mediately after perusing it, pronounced that he had not the
least doubt of Mr. Sayre's being intitled to bail ; as he ob
served that that gentleman was only charged with treason
able practices, and that he (Lord M.) should not have re
fufed the bail if Mr. Sayre had come without any counsel.
Bail was accordingly diredly offered and accepted, viz. Mr.
Sayre himfelf in five hundred pounds, and John Reynolds
and Coote Furdon, Efqrs. in two hundred and fifty pounds
each.
Mr. Sayre very politely thanked Lord Mansfield for his
readiness in granting the writ, and consequently giving him
his personal liberty, at the fame tinte observing, that he
hoped his Lordship would join with him " in looking back
with veneration on the wisdom and spirit of our ancestors,
in guarding the fubje& by such effectual barriers against the
inroads of despotism in the worst of times." To which his
Lordship replied, “ I hope so too, Mr. Sayre let us both aft
constitutionally, and we shall fall into no difficulties or dan
gers."
Mr. Sayre afterwards returned with his lady to their house
in Oxford-ftreet, and his friends to their refp.aive homes.
The Lord Mayor was present, and received very politely
by Lord Mansfield.
48
Upwards of fix hundred vessels, which fifed to be employed
in the American trade, are now laid up in the river without
employ.
HOUSE of COMMONS, Tuesday, October 3 i.
This day, though the House fat but a short time, they went
through a great deal of private business.
# The resolution of Monday, “ that a supply be granted to
his Majesty," was reported and agreed to, and a Committee
ofSupply accordingly appointed.
The Hon. Mr. Matham gave notice, that if no fatisfaction
was intended to be given relative so the measures of introducing
Hanoverian troops into the dominions of Great-Britain, with
out the previous confentof Parliament, he would in a few days
move for leave to bring in a bill of indemnity; but it Would
spare him the trouble, if the Minister would now rife and tell
him, whether he or his friends had such a bill in contem
plation.
Lord North said, that he could not, with all the attention
and little abilities he was mailer of, fee the measure in the
light that lie understood several other gentlemen did ; that
however, as an individual member, he Ihould not oppose it. He
laid he had consulted several persons on whole judgment he
could confide, and they all agreed a bill of indemnity was ne
ver passed but in cases where private actions lay, and damages
might be fought ; that in the only two instances which hap,
pened of late years, the permitting the importation of raw
hides, and prohibiting the exportation of corn, the reasons
assigned for passing bills of indemnity on both those occasions
were, that private reparation might be pursued by an action
at law. These, his Lordship said, were his ideas. If
taken upon any other ground, it might extend to an im
peachment, and might endanger his head, but he was
quite easy on that head, because he could not be yet per
vaded that he had a&ed improperly or illegally in advising
the measure. He concluded by offering to the consideration
of the House a resolution which he was willing to submit to,
and which he hoped would fatisfy all parties. He read part
of it, but it did not seem feldhed. It ex pressed great thanks
to his Majesty, for his care and solicitude for the interest of his
people ; and, by dark conftruXive implication, it might be
supp fed to bear a meaning that might be again interpreted
into something like a claim, that the present measure should
not be brought into precedent on any future occasion.
ML Malham replied, the resolution was by no means fatis
faftory, and that a vote of one House of Parliament ought ne
ver to be permitted to fupercede the law of the land ; °befides
it would be destitute of the afeertainment of those fads always
necessary to afeertain what is or is not the law of the land.
Lord North answered, that if a vote of one house was' not
fufficent, a conference might be held with the other, and the
matter laid before his Majesty by way of address, by which
means it would come under the cognizance ofevery branch of
the legislature.
Gov. Johnftone said, he was neither fatisfied with the in
tended motion, nor proposed resolution. He remembered
very well at the time of passing the last bill of indemnity, for
prohibiting the exportation of corn, there was a ipeech attri
buted to Lord Mansfield, who when he pleases, fays the Go
vernor, can ride the horse of liberty molt ably; where inßead
of speaking of private actions, or approving of bills of indem
nity, he contended that nothing but a downright pardon, re
citing the crime, should be a proper indemnification for those
who should advise his Majesty to supersede the laws.
Mr. Mafham then gave notice that he should, in pursuance
of what he firft fuggeited, move the house for leave to brinp
in a bill of indemnity. °