The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1775-07-17 00:00:00, page 1

A DECLARATION by the Representatives
of the United Colonies of North-America, now
met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting
forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up
Arms.
IF it was possible for men, who exercise their
reason to believe, that the Divine Author of
our exigence intended a part of the human
race to hold an absolute property in, and an
unbounded power over others, marked out by his
infinite goodness and wisdom, as the obje&s of a
legal domination, never rightfully resistible, however
severe and oppressive, the inhabitants of these Colo
nies might at least require from the Parliament of
Great-Britain, some evidence, that this dreadful
authority over them has been granted to that b^dy.
But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of
humanity, and the dilates of common lente, must
convince all those who reflect upon the fub;e&, that
government was instituted to promote the welfare of
mankind, and ought to be adminiftred fcikthe attain
ment of that end. The legislature of Great-Britain,,
however stimulated by an inordinate passion for a
power not only unjuftifiable, but whiclithey know
to be peculiarly reprobated by the very constitution
of that kingdom, and desperate of fuccccfs in any
mode of contest, where regard should be had to truth,
law, or right, have at length, deferring those, at-,
tempted to effe& their cruel and impolitic purpose of
tnflaving these Colonies by violence, and have thereby
rendered it necessary for us to close with their last
appeal from Reason to Arms. Yet, however blinded
that assembly may be, by their intemperate rage
for unlimited rule, so to flight justice and the
opinion of mankind, we esteem ourfelvrs bound by
obligations of refpe& to the rest of the world to n^ke
known the justice of our cause.
Our forefathers, inhabirantsof the island of Great-
Britain, left their native laud, tofeek on these ihores
e residence for civil and religious freedom. At the
expence of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes,
without the least charge to the country from which 1
they removed, by unceasing labour and an uncon-1
quotable spirit, they effected settlements in the distant :
and inhospitable wilds of America, then filled with 1
numerous and warlike nations of barbarians. Soci-t
eties or governments, vested with perfect legislatures,
were formed undercharters from the crown, and ans
harmonious intercourse was efhblifhed between the
colonies and the kingdom from which they derived
their origin. The mutual benefits of this union
"became in a ihort time so extraordinary, as to excite
astonishment. It is universally confeffed, that the
amazing increase of the wealth, strength and naviga
tion of the realm, arose from this source; and the
minister who so wifely and futcefsfully dire&ed the
measures of Great-Britain in the late war, publickly
declared, that these colonies enabled her to triumph
over her enemies. Towards the conclusion of that
war, it pleased our sovereign to make a change in his
counsels. From that fatal moment, the affairs of
the Britiffi empire began to fall into confufion, and
gradually Aiding from the summit of glorious prof-I
peiity to which they had been advanced by the virtues |
and abilities of one man, are at length diftra&ed by|
the convulsions, that now (hake it to its deeped [
foundations. The new ministry finding the bravej
foes of Britiain, though frequently defeated, yet'
fill contending, took up the unfortunate idea of
granting them a hasty peace, and of then fubduingl
her faithful friends.
These devouted colonies were judged to be in such
a state, as to present victories without blood-shed,
and all the eaf, emoluments of ftatuteable plunder.
The uninterrupted tenor of their peaceable and re
fpeafiil behaviour from the beginning of coloniza
tion, their dutiful, zealous and ufeful services during
the war, though so recently and amply acknowledged
in the most honourable manner by his Majesty, by
the late king, and by Parliament, could not save
them from the meditated innovations. Parliamei*
was influenced to adopt the pernicious proje&, and
afluming a new power over them, have in the course
of eleven years given such decisive specimens of the
spirit and consequences attending this power, as to
leave no doubt concerning the effects pf acquiescence
under it. They have undertaken to give and grant
our money without our consent, though we have ever
exercised an exclusive right to dispose of our own
property ; statutes have' been passed for extending
the jurifdi&ion of Courts of Admiralty and Vice-
Admiralty beyond their ancient limits ; for depriv
ing us of the accustomed and inestimable privilege
of trial by jury in cases affe&ing both life and pro
perty ; for suspending the legislature of one of the
colonies; for interdicting all commerce of another ;
and for altering fundamentally the form of govern
ment established by charter, and secured by a&s of
its own legislature solemnly confirmed by the crown ;
for exempting the “ murderers" of colonies from
legal trial, and in effe&, from punishment ; for
erecting in a neighbouring province, acquired by the
joint arms of Great-Britain and America, a despo
tism dangerous to our very existence; and for quar
tering soldiers upon the colonists in time of profound
peace. It has also been resolved in Parliament, that
colonists charged with commtting certain offences,
Ihall be transported to England to be tried.
But why should we enumerate our injuries in de
tail ? By one statute it is declared, that Parliament
tan “ of right make laws to bind us in all cases
whatsoever." What is to defend us against so enor
mous, so unlimited a power ? Not a single man of
those who assume it, is chosen by us ; or is fubje&
to our controul or influence ; but on the contrary,
they are all of them exempt from the operation of
such laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted
from the ostensible purposes for which it is xaifed,
Monday, July 17, 1775.' THE [No. 1240]
NE^-rO R K^^^G A ZET T E:
AND THE
WEEKLY M ER C U R V.
Containing the fttfoefl ffrotces ——y=— —
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 18s. per Cent.
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
ilb. looz. i-z for 4 Coppers.
Published 3d July, 1775.
0 Printed by HUGH GAINE, Printer, Bookseller, and Stationer, at the Bible and Crown, in Hanover-Square.
would actually lighten their own burdens in propor
tion, as they increase ours. We law the misery to
which such despotism would reduce us. We for teh
years jnceffantly and ineffc&ually besieged theThrone
as supplicants ; we reasoned, we remonstrated with
parliament in the most mild and decent language.
But Administration sensible that we should regard
these oppreflive measures as freemen ought to do,
sent 6ver fleets and armies to enforce them. The
indignation of the Americans was routed it is true ;
but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and
affe&ionate people. A Congress of Delegates from
the united colonies was assembled at Philadelphia, on
the fifth day of lad September. We resolved again
to offer an humble and dutiful petition to the I.mg,
and also addressed our fellow fubjeds ot Great-Bri
tain. We have pursued every temperate, every re
pe&ful measure, we have even proceeded to break oft
our commercial interccurfe with oin fellow fubje&§
as the but peaceable admonition, that our attach
ment to no nation upon earth fliould fopplant our
attachment to Liberty.--Titis, We fluttered ourlclves,
was the ultimate step of the controversy : But sub
sequent events have fliewn, how vain was this hope
of finding moderation in our enemies.
Several threatening expressions against the colonies
were inferred in his Majesty's speech ; our petition,
though we were told it was a decent one, that his
Majesty had been pleased to receive it gracicutly, and
to promise laying it before his Parliament, was hud
dled into both houses amongst a bundle of American
papers, and there neglected. The 'Lords and Com
mons in their address, in the month of Febrmny,
said, that “ a rebellion at that time actually exited
within the province of Msirichufetts -Bay ; and that
those concerned in it, had been countenanced and
encouraged by unlawful combinations and engage
ments, entered into by his Majesty's fubjetrts in seve
ral of the other colonies ; and therefore they be
sought his Majesty, that he would take the most
efft&ml measures to inforce due obedience to the
laws and authority of the fit,feme legiflature/'-—
Soon after the commercial intercourse of whole co
lonies, with foreign countries and with each other,
was cut oft" by an aft of Parliament ; by another,
several of them were entirely prohibitted from the
fisheries inthe seas near their coasts, on which they al
ways depended for their sustenance; and large re
inforcements of mips and troops were immediately
sent over to General Gage.
Fruitless were all the entreaties, arguments and
eloquence of an illustrious band of the most ihhin
guifhed Peers and Commoners, who nobly and fire
nuoufly asserted the justice of our cause, to day or even
to mitigate the heedless fury with which these ac
cumulated and unexampled outrages were hurried
on.—Equally fruitless was the interference of the
city of London, of Briftdl, ^nd many other refpe&-
abie towns, in our favour. Parliament adopted an
insidious manoeuvre calculated to divide us, to efta
blifh a perpetual auction of taxations, where colony
should bid against colony, all of them uninformed
what ransom would redeem their lives, and thus to
extort from us at the point of the bayonet, the un
known sums that should be iuHiciewt to gratify, it
pofiible to gratify, minißerial rapacity, with the
mifaable indulgence left to tis of railing in our own
mode the prescribing tribute. What terms more
rigid and humiliating could have been dilated by re
morseless vigors to conquered enemies ? In otu cir
cumftauces to accept them would be to deserve them.
Soon after the intelligence of these proceedings
arrived on this continent, General Gage, who, in
the course of the last year, had taken poffefUon of
the town of Boston, in the province of the Mafla
chufetts-Bay, and still occupied it as a garrison, on
the 19th of April, sent out from that place a large
detachment of his army, who made an unprovoked
assault on the inhabitants of the laid province, at the
town of Lexington, as appears by the affidavits of a
great number of perlons, tome of whom were officers
and soldiers of that detebment, murdered eight of
the inhabitants, and wounded many others. 1 rum
thence the troops proceeded in warlike array to the
town of Concord, where they let upon another party
of the inhabitants of the fame province, killing
several and wounding more, until compelled to re
treat by the country people suddenly assembled to
repel this cruel aggrefiion.—Hoftilities thus com
menced by the British troops, have been since pro
secuted by them without regard to faith or reputa
tion.---The inhabitants of Boston being confined
within that town by the General their Governor,
and having in order to procure their difiniffion, enter
ed into a treaty with him, it was stipulated that the
laid inhabitants having deposited their arms with
their own magistrates, Should have liberty to depart,
taking with them their other effeas. They accord
ingly delivered up their arms, but in open violation
of honour, in defiance of the obligation of treaties,
which even savage nations esteem sacred, the Gover
nor ordered the arms deposited as aforefaid, that they
might be preserved for their owners, so be seized by
a body of soldiers ; detained the greatest part of the
inhabitants in the town, and compelled the few who
were permitted to retire, to leave their most valuable
effe&s behind.
By this perfidy, wives are separated from their
husbands, childred from their parents, the aged and
tick from their relations and friends, who wish to
attend and comfort them ; and those who have been
used to live in plenty, and even elegance, are reduced
to deplorable diftrefs.'
The General further emulating his ministerial
masters, by a proclamation bearing date on the 12th
day of June, after venting the grossest falsehoods and
calumnies against the good people of these colonies,
proceeds to “ desiare litre, all either by name or de^
Monday, 16 Min. after 1
Tuesday, 6 Min. after 2
Wednesday, 51 Min, after 2
Thursday, 37 Min. after 3
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
Friday, 25 Min. after 4
Saturday, 11 Min. after 5
Sunday, 58 Min. after 5
Left Quarter /be igth.
In a former Address, we affected our Rights, and
dated the injuries we had then received. We hoped,
that the mention of ohr wrongs, would have rotifed
that honest indignation, which has slept too long for
your honor, or the welfare of the empire#---But we
have not been permitted to entertain this pleasing
expectation ;—-every day brought an accumulation of
injuries, and the invention of the ministry has been
constantly exercised, in adding to the calamities of
your American Brethren#
The Twelve united Colonies, by their
Delegates in Cengrefe, to the Inhabitants of
Great-Britain.
Friends, Countrymen, and Brethren f
BY these, and by every other appellation, that
may designate the ties, Which bind us to each
other, we entreat your serious attention to this our
second attempt, to pievent their difl3lutiom---Re
membrar.ee of former friendships,---pride in the glo
rious atchievements of our common ancestors, and
affeaion for the heirs of their virtues, have hitherto
preserved our mutual connexion.---But when that
friendship is violated by the grofleft injuries ;---when
the pride of ancestry becomes our reproach, and we
are no otherwise allied than as tyrants and Ilaves,
when reduced to the melancholy alternative of re
nouncing your favor, or our Freedom,---can we he
titate about the choice ? Let the spirit of Britons
determine.
By order of Congress,
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
Attested,
Charles Thomson, Secretary.
Philadelphia, July 6th, 1775.
We have received certain intelligence, that General
Carleton, the Governor of Canada, is initiating
the people of that province, and the Indians to fall
upon os § and we have but too much reason to ap
prehend, that schemes have been formed to excite
domestic enemies against its. In brief, a part of
these colonies now feels, and all of them are lure of
feeling, as far as the vengeance of administration can
inflect them, the complicated calamities of fee, sword,
and famine.—We are reduced to the alternative of
choosing an unconditional fdbmiffion to the tyranny
of irritated ministers, or refinance by force.---'! he
latier is our choice.---We have counted the cost of
this conteft,and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary
slavery.---Honor, justice, and humanity forbid us
tamely to furiendet that freedom which we received
from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent
posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot
endure the infamy and guilt of ^diguing succeeding
generations to that wretchedness; which evitably
awaits them, if we basely entail heredita/y bondage
upon them.
Our cause is just. Our union is perfe&. Our
internal resources are great, and if necessary, foreign
abidance is undoubtedly attainable.—We gratefully
acknowledge, as ffral indances cf the Divine fa
vour towards us, that bis Providence would not per+
mit us to be called into this severe edntroverfy, until
we were grown up td our present strength, had been
previously exercised in warlike operations and pof
teffed of the means of defending ouffelves.---W.ith
hearts fortified with these animating retk&ions, we
most solemnly, before GOD and the World declare,
that, exerting the unnoft energy of those powers,
which our beneficient Creator hath gracioufiy bellow
ed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our
enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every
hazard, with unabating firmnefs and perseverance,
employ for the prefervatron cf our liberties, being
with onemind resolved, to die Freemen rather than
live Slaves.
In our own native land, in defence of the freedom
that is our birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till
the late violation of it---ror the pute&ion of our pro
perty, acquired solely by honest industry of our fore
fathrts and otu selves, against violence squally offer
ed, we have taken up arms. We flrall lay, them
down when hostilities Shall ceafh on the part of the
aggreflbrs, and all danger of their being renewed
shall be removed, and not before.
With an humble confidence in the mercies of the
faprefne and impartial Judge and Ruler of the uni
verse, we most devoutly implore Ids divide goodness
to condoa us happily through this great conflia, to
dispose our adversaries to reconciliation on reasonable
terms, and thereby to relieve the empire from the
calamities of civil war.
Left this declaration fmu.ld disquiet the minds of
our friends and fellow fidjefls in any part of the
empire, we allure th,'em, that We mean not to ddhrlve
that Union which has f> long, and so happily subsisted
between us, and which we sincerely with to fee reftop
ed.--Nrcrmiyhas not ytt drived us into that desperate
measure, or induced us to excite any other nation to
war against them. AVe have not railed armies
with ambitious deigns of fepurating from Great-
Britain, and efiablilhing independent ibtesi-AVe
fight not for glory or fur conduct. We exhibit to
mankind the remarkable Ipeatele of a peepieattacked
by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation, or
even fefyicion ot offince. They boast of then pri
vileges and civTzation, and yet proffer no milder
conditions titan servitude or death.-----
" fcription to be rebels and traitors, to ftiperfede the
" course of common law, and infiead thereof to
" publish a-.i order the use and exercise of the law
" martial."---His troops have butchered our coun
trymen ; have wantonly burnt Charledown, betides
a canfrderable number of houses in 'other places ;
our ships and vell'els are seized ; the necedary lupplies
of provilious are intercepted, and he is exerting his
utmost power to spread deftruttion and devaluation
around him.
Wheat per Bushel, 6s 91.
Flour, 17s. 6d.
Brown Bread, 15s. cd.
Wed-India Rum, 35. 6d.
New-England, do. 2s. 6d.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mulcovado Sugar, 6ys. od^
Single refin'd ditto, is. id,
Molasses, %$. od.
Beef per Barrel, 48s. od.
Pork, 655. od.
We might here observe on the cruelty and incon
sistency of those, who, while they publickly brand us
with reproachful and unworthy epithets, endeavour
to deprive us of the means of defence, by their inter
portion with foreign powers, and to deliver us to the
lawless ravages of a merciless soldiery. But happily
we are not without resources; and tho' the timid
and humiliating applications of a British ministry
Should prevail with foreign nations, yet industry,
prompted by necessity, will not leave us Without
supplies.
We could with to go no further—and, not to
wound the ear of humanity, leave untold those rigo
rous a&s of oppression which are daily exercised in
the town of Boston, did we not hope, that by de
claiming their deeds, and punishing the perpetrators,
you would Shortly vindicate the honor of the British
name, and re-eftablilh the violated laws of Justice.
That once populous, flourishing and commercial
town is now garrifoned'by ?n army sent, not to pro
test, but to enslave its inhabitants.---The civil go
vernment is overturned, and a military deSpotifin
ere&ed upon its ruins.--Without law, without righty
powers are assumed unknown to the constitution.---
Private property is UnjuStly invaded.---The inhabi
tants daily [objected to the licentioufheSs of the fol
diejy, are forbid to remove in defiance of their natural
rights, in violation of the most Solemn tompa&s.-->
Or if after long and wearisome felicitation, a pass is
procured, their effe&s are detained, and even those
who are most favoured, have no alternative but po
verty or Slavery. The distress of many thousand
people, wantonly deprived of the necessaries of life,
is a fubje& On which we would not with to enlarge.
Yvt we cannot but observe, that a British fleet (un
juitified even by a&s of your legislature) are daily
employed in ruining our commerce, Seizing otir Ships,
and depriving whole communities of their daily bread.
Nor will a regard for your honor, permit us to be
Silent, while British troops fully your glory, bv
actions which the most enveterate enmity will not
paliate among civilized nations; the wahton and
unnecessary deftru&ion of Charleftown, a large, an
cient, and once populous town, just before deserted
by its inhabitants, who had fled to avoid the fury of
your soldiery.
If you Still retain those sentiments of compassion by
which Britons have ever been diftingtiiShed—lf the
humanity which tempered the valour of our common
ancestors, has not degenerated into cruelty, you will
lament the miseries of their descendants.
To what are we to attribute this treatment , If to'
any Secret principle of the constitution, let it be men-*
tinned—let sis learn that the government we have
long revered, is not without its defe&s, and that
while it gives freedom to a part, it neceiarily enfl^vrf
After the most valuable right of legislation was
infringed,—when the powers, assumed by your par
liament, in which we are not represented, and from
our local and other circumstances, Cannot properly
be represented, rendered our property precarious.—
After being denied that mode of tryal to which we
have long been indebted for the fafety of our Persons,
and the preservation of our Liberties ;---after being
in many instances divested of those laws which were
transmitted to US by our common Ancestors, and
fubje&ed to an arbitrary code, compiled under the
auspices of Roman tyrants; after annulling those
charters, which encouraged our predecessors to brave
death and danger in every shape, on unknown seas,
in defarts unexplored, amidst barbarous and inbofpi*
table nations I —when, without the form of tryal,
without a public accusation, whole colonies were
condemned !--^their trade deployed ; their inhabi
tants impoverished,—When soldiers were encouraged
to embrue their hands in the blood of Americans, by
offers of impunity ;-—when new inodes of tryal wera
instituted for the ruin of the accused, where the
charge carried with it the horrors of conviction ;-—
when a despotic government was established in a
neighbouring province, and its limits extended to
every of our frontiers; we little imagined that any
thing could be added to this black catalogue of un
provoked injuries ;--^but wt have unhappily been
deceived ; and the late measures of the Britiih mini
dry fully convince us, that their object is the reduc
tion of these colonies to slavery and itiin.
To confirm this assertion, let us recal your atten
tion to the affairs of America, since our last address a
let us combat the calumnies if our enemies---and
let us warn you of the dangers that threaten you, in
our deftruaiun. Many of your fellow fubje&s,
whose fituktion deprived them of other support, drew
their maintainance from the sea ; but the deprivation
of our Liberty being infufficient to fatisfy the resent
ment of our enemies, the honors of famine were
fuperadded, and a British parliament, who, in better
times were the protectors of innocence and the pa
trons of humanity, have, without dittin&ion of age
or sex, robbed thoufards of the food which they were
accustomed to draw from that inexhauftahle source,
placed in their neighbourhood by the benevolent
Creators
Another a& of your legislature flints our ports,
^nd prohibits our trade with any but those States,
fionrwhom the great law of felf-prefervation renders
it absolutely necefiary we should at present withhold
our commerce.---But this aft (whatever may have
been its design) we confider rather as injurious to
your opulence, than our intereft.---A.ll our commerce
terminates with you ; and the wealth we procure
from other nations, is soon exchanged for your fu
perfluities.---Our (emittances muff then cease with
our trade ; and our refinements with our affluence.--
We trust however, that liws which deprive us of
every blessing, but a foil that teems with the Decena
ries of life, and that liberty which renders the enjoy
ment of them secure, will net relax our vigour in
their defence.
Fine Salt, 3s. 3d
Coarse Salt, 3s. od
Indian Cornper Bugs, 4d