The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-11 00:00:00, page 2

pitted every spring, what little proffeft could there be for
10,900 men to effect the conquest of all America. He told the
Minister, that as he expected but little information from him,
he would give him some— that he had received a letter from
Myo. Caldwell, who was fettled on a large ettate inCanada,
who affined him that the Canadians were not by any. means
to be driven into the war; that he had tried the arts of per
suasion in vain; that he had ailembled about twelve hundred
of them together, who came with large flicks, but had con
cealed tour hundred firelocks 'in the woods, which they were
determined to make use of against the English, if they forced
• them to take either fide. Col. Barre farther added, that Gen.
Carleton and Lord Pitt were within a quarter of an hour of
fading into the hands of Johnny Herbert, a barber, who was
row a Major in the Provincial Service. He observed that he
and his friends were censured by the Ministry, as the leaders
of fa&ion ; that their conversation with each other was, which
of them Ihould go to the Tower firft, but this they regarded
not ; oppose the King they could not wiih to do, for their an
cestors ieated his family on the throne, but to carry their point
against the present unfeeling Administration, he would rea
dily go to the block.
Lord BARRINGTON answered Governor Johnftoh and
Col. Barre, and denied the difaffedtion of the officers, &c. as
sured the House, that they would receive.fatisfafyry accounts
to the contrary in seven or eight days.
The Solicitor General likewise replied to C. Barre, accused
him of drawing falfe inferences from hit own premises, entered
with great spirit into the merit of the prelent vigorous mea
fuies (admitting we had' loft all the places they would insi
nuate) in order to put us upon a proper footing to enter even
upon a negotiation with the Americans.
At ten o'clock Mr. BURKE rose, and spoke for near two
hours. He railed the laugh of the whole House at Lord
North's expence, by repeating some vaunting expressions
(which he declared had fallen from his Lordflrip in Parlia
ment heretofore) and placing them in a ridiculous contrail
with the unfortunate events which have of late taken place.
Speaking ferioully of the present situation of afraiis, he
compared America to a people who had emancipated them
feives, and described the Mother Country as a piratical dif
-turber of the ports and the naval trade of the colonies. The
•disgraceful blocking up of our troops, in Bolton, he pour
trayed with his wonted ability of description ; and after la
menting the danger of this country, if the difpate with Ame
rica continued,, he advised Administration no longer to make
England appear like a porcupine, armed at all points with
acts cf Parliament, oppieffive to the trade and freedom of
, America, but to ihew a friendly countenance, and to meet
the CJonifts with open arms.
Mr. CHARLES FOX followed Mr. BURKE, and, with
his usual vehemence and asperity, aimed his latire personally
at Lord North, describing his Lcrollrip as the blundering pilot
who had brought us into cur present difficulties. 66 Admini
stration (fays Air. Fox) exult at having brought us into such
a dilemma as the ablelt cf men cannot extricate us from ;
they have reason to cry aloud in triumph, Lord Chatham, the
King of Praflia, nay Alexander the Great, never gained
•more in one campaign than the noble Lord has loft ; he has
loft a whole continent—most able adviser, and molt accom
pofhed General!" Mr. Fox mixed his raillery with some
very feriousobfervations on the conduct of the Ministry, and
took occasion to mention the old political diftin&ions of Whig
and Tory, describing the present members of Administration as
enemies to freedom and rank Tories.
As fooß as,he concluded, Lord NORTH rose, and after
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entering into a long jollification of himfelf and the plan of
conduct he had pursued while in office (replying with con
fiderable # spirit to the insinuations which had been thrown out
against him by Lord John Cavendish, Mr. Burke, Mr. Fox,
and other speakers in opposition) his Lordship justified the
measures of Administration, (hewing, by strong arguments,
that they were founded as much in prudence and wisdom as
the situation of affairs would allow. His Lordship next en
tered into a disquisition • f the terms"WHlG and TORY, and
proved that the present Miniiters acted on the true principles
of Whiggifm, and that the measures (ketched out in the
Ipeech, and echoed back in the address, as proper to be .of
fered to America, were most likely to effect an honorable re
conciliation.
At twenty minutes after one Mr. DUNNING rose. He
pointed out the ille ality of introducing foreign troops into'
any part of his Majesty's dominions without the consent of
Parliament, and (hewed the bad tendency of such a measure,
and of what evil consequences it might hereafter .be produc
tive, were it now (uftered to pass into a precedent. He was
replied to by the Attorney-General.
I he House did not rife till past four o'clock on Friday morn
ing* Upon a division there appeared, for the addrefswithout
any amendment two hundred and seventy-eight; against it one
hundred and eight; majority one hundred and seventy.
The following is a copy of the petition of the Common Coun
cil to the House of Lords and Commons, which was pre
sented to, each House by the Sheriffs on Thursday lalt.
1 hey are both in the fame words with only a variation of the
.address.
The humble Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and
Commons of the city of London, in Common Council as
sembled, fheweth,
" That this Court having taken into its most serious con,
federation the present digressed situation of our fellow fubjeds
in America, are exceedingly alarmed for the consequences of
thole coercive measures which are pursuing against them—.
measures thatmuit (notwithstanding the great uncertainty of
their success) eventually be productive of new and more bur
thenfeme taxes, the increase of an enormous national debt;
ana finally, we fear, the loft of the mbit valuable branch of our
commerce, on which the exigence of an infinite number of in
dustrious manufacturers and mechanics entirely depend.
" That his Majesty having been gracioufy pleased, in an
swer to a late humble and dutiful address and petition to the
throne, praying a cessation of hostilities with America,' for the
purpose of obtaining time, and thereby giving an opportunity
for a happy and lifting reconciliation with his Majesty's Am . ri
can colonies, to declare, that befoould abide by thejenfe of bis Par.
liament, this Court conceive it to be their indispensable duty,
thus early in the session, in the most refpeftful manner, to ap
ply to this Right Honorable House, that it will be pleased to
adopt iuch measures for the healing of the present unhappy
disputes between the mother country and the colonies, as may
be speedy, permanent and honorable."
An account of what passed yesterday on his Majesty's going
to the House of Peers.—Mr. Sayre's commitment to the Tower
having raised the curiosity of the public to an extravagant
pitch, the streets of Westminster were crouded by eleven in
the morning.—On Tuesday .a hand bill, signed “ A Poor
Mechanic," was distributed in great numbers, which produ
ced an aniwer on the following day, intimating that the ma
gift rates , had provided effectual means to apprehend, and
bring to justice, persons attempting to violate the laws. Fifty
thonfand cf these fall papers were distributed. Sir ; .a
Fielding's auvenifement combined with the above circuuu