The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-30 00:00:00, page 3

I cannot find any modern Kings particularly re
jelled by Heaven, but Mounseir the KING OF
France. It is in the 35th chapter of Ezekiel; and
I am fare our author, who is lb deeply versed in
scripture, could not have overlooked it, if it had
not been for the treaty he proposes with this King.
The reader will readily allow that the application
is much more natural than that which he has made
of the Bth chapter of ill book of Samuel.
Son of Man, set thy face against Mountseiß
(Heb. Mounseir, or Monsieur ) and prophesy a
gainst it (Heb. Him;) and fay unto him, thus faith
the Lord God; Behold 0 Mountfeir or Mounfier, I
am against thee—because thou haft had a perpetual
hatred, and haft feed the blood of the children of Is
rael that is the French protejlants] by the force of
the fword — Therefore, as I live faith the Lord God,
I mill prepare thee unto blood and blood foall purJue
thee —3ith thou haft not hated blood, even bloodfall
purJue thee. —The reader may perule and apply
the remainder of the chapter; which he may do as
well as the author of Common Sense; and, tome
may fay, perhaps as well as C A 1 0.
The substance of Mr. Hartley's proposition was,
that if there was any lincere desire for peace, he
would endeavour to join issue witli Lord North,
and to offer terms of accommodation; by which, if
Ministry would content to replace America to the
year 1763, he should, on the other part, propose,
that America should give full latisfadion to the
pointof honour; that he thought hrmfelf authorised
to engage for every thing that could in realon be
required from the Americans, under that declara
tion in their petition to the King; that they did
not even with for reconciliation, not withlfanding
all their dirtreffes, upon terms inconfiltent with the
dignity of Great Britain; that taking his ground
from this declaration, he should propose a recog
nition, not in words, but in lad, which would ef
fedually replace the authority of this country (be
it more or less, without any invidious line drawn)
where it was in 1763. The test proposed, was the
enrolling fame aft of Parliament by the afTembly
of each Province, supposing that the adt of Parlia
ment in view should be formed upon principles of
justice. and such as the Colonies would have re
ceived with a silent and thankful compliance in
1763. All recognitions in words being unavoid
ably both invidious and insidious, a tell bringing
no line of authority or obedience into question,
would be the only fafe proposition. The Americans
(hall be as they were in 1763, if they will likewise
admit an ad of test, such as they would not have
had the least scruple to have admitted in 1763.
Let us throw a veil over all the theoretical disputes
of the rights of fubjeds, either as Colonies, or as
men at large; let us not dilcufs the rights reserved
or supposed to be reserved, at their emigration,
whether tacitly or expiicitely;let mutual concessions
on both sides bring the two parties together; let
the Americans be replaced where they were in
1763, if they will admit and regitter in their af
fcrnblies, such an ad of Parliament as they them
selves shall confefs that they would have admitted
in 1763. It is not an unreasonable request to make
to America, that they should treat an ad of Par
liament, flowing from principles of general huma
nity andjuftice, with a different reception to what
has been given to ads of grievance.
It is certainly dangerous to dirturb questions of
the rights and extent of empire or obedience, be
eauie, after that, even ads of acquiescence may be
conltrued to involve hazardous conccilions, lup
pofed to be included in the principles which have
been brought under contest. But in the date of
human affairs, we mult not always be too scrupu
lous. Something must be given up for peace. A
civil war never comes too late. Let the Americans
take their situation as it were in 1763, for better
and for worse. In the present miierable profped
of things that is a fair and equitable bargain. The
objed ofthe actof Parliament to be be proposed to
America, may be perhaps in the event the abolition
but at present can only be considered as the firft
step to corred a vice, which has spread through the
continent of North-America, contrary to the laws
of God and man, and to the fundamental princi
THE plan of pacification with America, which
was moved on Ihurfday lail by Mr. Hartley,
and Seconded by Sir, Ceorge Saville, was opened
uponrhe following grounds; That Lord North ha
ving, in the beginning of the fellion, exprerted him
fcil to thiseffed. “ Would to God that all things
were as they were in 1763, if the authority of this
country could likewise be replaced into the fame
Rate that it was in 1763; but that an unconditional
repeal of all the ads since 1763, without some ho
nourable fatistadion to the authority ot this coun
try, would leave this country much disgraced; de
claring, at the fame time, that he would readily
Wave the point of revenue from America." Mr.
Hartley, who offered last year a draught of a letter
of requisition as a plan of settlement and accom
modation, while revenue was the declared objed of
administration, desired to offer a proposition to
Lord North upon the new ground that he had
taken.\
Mr. HARTLEY'S Plan of Reconciliation.
pies of the British Conftittition. That vice is fiave
ry. It would be infinitely absurd to fend over to
America an ad to abolish slavery at one word, be
cause, however repugnant the pradice may be to
the-laws of morality or policy, yet to expcll an
evil which has spread far, and which has been fuf
fered for such length of time, requires information
of fads and circumllances, and the greatest difereti
on to root it Out; and moreover the necerthry length
of fettleing such a point, would defeat the end of its
being proposed as an ad of compromise to fettle the
present unhappy troubles ; therefore the ad to be
proposed to America, as an auspicious beginning
to lay the firft stone of universal liberty to mankind,
should be what no American could hesitate an instant
to comply with, viz. that every Have in North-Ame
rica should be entitled to his trial by Jury in all cri
minal cases. America cannot refufe to accept and
to enroll such an ad as this, and thereby to re-es
tablish peace and harmony with the parent Rate.
Let us all be re-united in this, as a foundation to
extirpate slavery from the face of the earth. Let
those w 0 leek justice and liberty for themselves,
give that justice and liberty to their fellow-creatures
With reiped to the idea of putting a final period to
slivery in North- America, it should seem best, that
when this country had led the way by the ad for
Jury that each Colony knowing their own peculiar
circumstances, should undertake the work in the
mod practicable way; and that they should endea
vour to ertablifh some system, by which slavery
should be in a certain term of years abolished. Let
the only contention henceforward between Great-
Britain and America be. which Ihall exceed the o
ther in zeal for establishing the fundamental rights
of liberty to all mankind.
It is hoped that this plan may be thought definite
fatisfadory and practicable; it will be a test of since
rity to both sides. The objects of the plan are to
support the dignity of Great-Britain as the pa
rent state, to afford redress of grievances to Ame
rica, to restore peace to this diftraded empire, and
to re-unite its common interests and exertions into
one common cau e. The motions are as follow:
That an address be presented to his Majesty,
humbly setting forth, that his Majesty's fubjeds in
North America, having in the molt dutiful manner
laid their grievances before his Majesty, and having
humbly besought the gracious interposition of his
royal authority and influence to procure them re
lief from their affixing fears and jealousies; and
having in the mod earnest terms declared their at
tachment to his person, family, and government,
with all the devotion that principle and affeCtion
can inspire; and having solemnly assured his Majes
ty, that connected with Great Britain by the Itron
geit ties that can unite societies, and deploring
every event that tends in any degree to weaken
them, they not only most ardently desire that the
former harmony may be restored between them, but
that a concord may be eftablilhed upon so firm a
basis, as to perpetuate its blellings, uninterrupted
by any future diffentions, to succeeding generati
ons in both countries; and having further assured
his Majesty, that notwithstanding their fufferings
during the course ot the prelent controversy their
breasts retain too tender a regard for the kingdom
from which they derive their origin, to request Inch
a reconciliation as might in any manner be incon
sistent with her dignity or her welfare; and that
the apprehensions which now oppress their hearts
with unspeakable grief being once removed, his
Majesty will find his faithiul Subjects in America
ready and willing at all times, as they ever have
been, with their lives and fortunes, to assert and
maintain the rights and interests ot his Majelly, and
of' their Mother Country 5 and having with all hu
mility submitted to his Majesty's wife consideration,
whether it may not be expedient that his Majesty be
pleased to direCt tome mode, by which the united
application of his Colonists may be improved into a
happy and permanent reconciliation, his faithful
Commons humbly beg leave to represent, that
however well dilpofed his Majesty's fubjeCts in Ame
rica may be, according to their molt earned pro
fertions to return to their former obedience and con
stitutional dependence, yet that the horrors of war
and bloodshed raging in their country, must drive
them to deftraCtion and despair; and further, his
faithful Commons beg leave to recommend it to his
Majesty's parental consideration, that a return to
their duty, of their own free mind and voluntary
compliance, would insure a more cordial and per
manent reconciliation, than any reludant lubmilli
on, which, througli mucli bloodihed of his Majeity's
fubje&s, could be enforced by the sword; therefore
mod humbly to beseech his Majesty, that he will
be graciously pleased to give orders for putting a
hop to the further prolecution ot hostilities in Ame
rica, thereby to prevent the further destruction of
the lives of his Majesty's fubjeds, and to afford the
wilhed for opportunity to his Colonies, of evincing
the sincerity of their proleffions, by every testimony
of devotion becoming the most dutiful fubjedts, and
the most affectionate Colonills.
That leave be given to bring in a bill to empower
the inhabitants of the province of Malfachufet's-Bay,
to elect an AlEmbly and Council, in the manner
directed by the charter granted to the inhabitants
of that province, by their Majesties King William
and Queen Mary, bearing date the leventli day of
October, in the third year of their reign.
That leave be given to bring in a bill to esta
blish a permanent reconciliation between Great-
Britain and its dependencies in North-America, and
to restore his Majesty's fubjeds in North-America
to that happy and free condition, and to that peace
and prosperity which they enjoyed in their consti
tutional dependence on Great-Britain before the
present unhappy troubles, viz. as in 1763.
That leave be given to bring in a bill tor a free
pardon, indemnity, and oblivion.
That an humble Address be presented to his Ma
jesty, to lay the opinion of this Houf before his
Majesty, that it m d y be proper when the prelent
unhappy disputes in North America ffiall be bi ought:
to an amicable termination, that his Majesty should
be graciously pleased to give orders, that letters of
requ fition be written in the accustomed manner to
the everal provinces of his Majesty's colonies and
plantations in North-America, and to make provi
sion for the purposes of protecting, defending, and
securing the laid colonies and plantations.
N E W-Y O R K, March 26.
Extras of a letter from Cambridge.
" Col. Mifflin had yesterday an interview with
Major Small, who informed him, that they expect
ed the Commiflioners to treat with the Congress
and that the Duke of Grafton was one of them He
also informed him, that they (in Boston) heard that
Gen. Clinton and his troops were taken."
At Mountholly, in the County of Burlington.
A DWELLING HOUSE, in a }l ea fant
Situation, having a large, good Cellar, fix
fauare Roms bejides entries, in good repair ; —-four
fire places in three divine flacks of chimneys. The
Lot on mhich the Houfeflands is about one hundred
feet front, and holding the fame width to a run which
affords plenty of water the whole Year, containing
better than half an acre of ground, with a good large
Chaife-houje, Rail'd Garden, Smoak-houfe, tc.
Also free Lots of Land on the new street, near the
Friends new Meeting-house, 100 feet front and about
200 deep, and one Lot on the High-jireet, within a
few rods of the above Meeting house, Ho feet front,
and near 200 deep.
# That leave be given to bring a bill to establish the
right of trial by Jury in all criminal cases, to all
Haves in North-America, and to annul! all laws in.
any province repugnant thereto, and to require the
regittering of the lame by the refpeCtive AiLmblies
of each colony in North-America.
" The situation in which I found their works
evidently difeovered that their retreat was made
with the greateff precipitation. They have left
their barracks and oth~r works of wood at Bunker's
hill, &c. handing, and have dertroyed but a imall
part of their lines. They have also left a number
of fine pieces of cannon, which they spiked up, al
so a very large iron mortar, and (as I am informed)
have thrown another over the end of your wharff.
" I have employed proper persons to drill the
cannon, and doubt not I Ihall lave the mod of them.
I am not able to procure an exact lift of all the llores
they have left; as soon as it can be done, 1 ffiall
take care to transmit it to you:—From an estimate
of what the Quarter-Matter General has already
difeovered, the amount will be 25 or £ 30,000."
# * # The Printer hiving received two or three
pieces for his paper inclofed as letters without know
ing from whom they came, and it being nect /Tary
he should have an opportunity of speaking with the
authors once again info ms the public, that he
will insert no piece whatever without knowing the
author, and, if necessary, having an oppotunity to
talk with him.
O BE S O L
Whoever is inclined to purchase any or all of the
above mentioned, may apply to Mr. PETER
SHIRASS near, or Mr. John Brainard living
on the Premises. March 21, 1776*
PHILADELPHIA.
Extras of a letter, received by express, dated Head
barters, Cambridge, 19th March, 1776
" It is with the greatest plealure I inform you,
that on Sunday last the 17th inst. about 9 o'clock
in the forenoon, the minifteridl army evacuated the
town of Borton, and that the forces of the United
Colonies are in actual poffertion thereof. I beg leave
to congratulate you. Sir, and the Honourable Con
gress on this happy eveht; and particularly as it
was effected without endangering the lives and pro
perty of the remaining unhappy inhabitants.
" I have great reason to imagine their flight was
precipitated by the appearance of a work which I
had ordered to be thrown up last Saturday night
on an eminence at Dorchester, which lay nearest
to Borton Neck, called Newk's Hill. The town,
though it has fuffered greatly, is not in so bad a.
Rate as I expected to find it.
" As soon as the ministerial troops had quitted
the town. I ordered a thousand men (who had the
smallpox) under the command of General Putnam,
to take possession of the heights, which I shall en
deavour to fortify in luch a manner as to prevent:
their return, should they attempt it; but as they
are still in the harbour, I thought it not prudent:
to march off with the main body of the army, un
til l should be fully latisfied they had quitted the
coart. I have therefore only detached five regi
ments, besides the rifle battalion to New-York, and
Ihall keep the remainder here, till all luipicion of
their return ceases.