The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-02 00:00:00, page 2

The order of the day was read for receiving the
report on the American retraining bill. Mr. Mack
worth accordingly reported the bill, together with
th? amendments; itwwts then moved, that the laid
r p. rt benow taken into confederation. After which
Sir. Mansfield, and Mr. Pratt thevounfel, were cal
led in; the report wvas then-read, and lik„viie the
petition from the • planters of his Majesty's Sugar
colonies, and Several merchants trading thereto,
residing in London. After the counsel withdrew,
a debate arose, which Sailed for some time, and
th n the main quedion was put, and thi^bill, with
th. amendments, be engrofled; ayes (43, noes 38.
Adjourned to Monday,
Cm ! hurtdaydied, at his house in Spring-Gar
d ns, of the gout in his stomach, Admiral Sir Charles
Saunders Knt. of the Bath, member in the present
parliament 1 or the borough of Heydon, in Yorkshire,
Admiral of the Blue Squadron, Lieut. Gen. of the
nitre., and Elder Brother to the Trinity-house.
Dec. 12 Aefterday Lord Chewton, ton of the
Earl of Wrildergave, took leave of the King, and
embai Iced this day for America witli Lord Corn
wallis.
HOUSE of COMMONS, December n.
A motion was made for the third reading of the
American restraining bill, to which some opposition
was made; but as every argument, which reason or
ingenuity could suggest for or against the measure,
had been already advanced, the debate was as bar
ren as it was short. At half after fix the question
being put, it was carried by 112 to 16, when the bill
was puffed, and ordered to be lent up to the Lords.
Estraft of a letter from the Hague, Dec. 5.
" The Scotch brigade in the lervice of this repub
lic has been applied for by the court of Great-Britain
to be taken into British pay. The terms upon which
this is to take place are not yet fettled, but it is said
they have stipulated not to be lent to America, and
to have leave to recruit in Scotland, which they have
not had for some years past. It is likewise said they
are to continue three years in British pay."
Saturday evening a meeting of the great officers
of ftatc was held ut Lord Suffolk's office, as also
some of the crown lawyers, to deliberate on a num
ber of propositions which have been offered by a
noble Lord in an high office, as a ground-work
of tome conciliatory measures to be offered to the
Americans.
Eight fail of the line and 5000 soldiers are to be
employed in reducing the southern colonies, whilst
the main fleet and army are to occupy Boston.
This is the new dilpofition for the spring.
This day the Arethufa man of war, with several
transports bound to America, returned to the Downs,
the wind blowing hard against them.
Dec. 14. His ,iajelty has appointed Sir George
Macartney to be Governor of Grenada Islands, in
the room of William Leybourne Leybourne, Esq;
deceased.
Last night Stephen Sayre, Esq; appeared at the
Old Baily, and his counsel, Mr. Arthur Lee, moved
the court to difeharge the recognizance entered into
before Lord Mansfield, on the 28th of October last,
on his being brought before his Lordihip on a writ
of habeas corpus, on the commitment by Lord
Rochford to the tower for " treasonable pradices,"
and Mr. Baron Burland, who, with the Lord
Mayor, presided at the court, accordingly dis
charged the recognizance,
Mr. Sayre has given directions to his solicitor, to
commence actions against Lord Rochford, the under
Secretaries of state, and the King's messengers, that
th^ personal liberty of every Englishman may again
be asserted in his person, and the seizure of papers
be condemned by an English jury.
Died. At his feat in Devonshire, Sir Richard
Spry, Rear Admiral of the White. —In Scotland,
Major Gen. Scott, Col of the 26th regt, of foot.—
At Lilly, in Hertford(hire, Sir George Hawkinfen,
knt. physician to King George the ill. aged 105. —
At Worcester, aged 99, William Wallbank, Esq;
father of that city.
fetterdav'Cdi. Ackland took leave of his Majesty,
and immediately Set out for Portsmouth, to embark
on board a transport ihip which 'has his regiment
on board, to fa.il with all expedition for America.
Dec. 9. Yesterday Lord Cornwallis took leave
of his Majelly, he being in a lew days to let out to
embark lor America.
{. :u any port or place in the fame, from and after
t,be firft of June next; and shall continue to be in
force £« long as any of the said colonies shall remain
in a Rate of rebellion and disobedience."
Another .amendment we hear is, that nil seamen
who, arc taken on board American velfels made pri
zes, are to be entered into his Majesty's service as
part ol the crew of the ship of war by which they
are taken, indead of being made prisoners. ,
Mr.dhirl.icy made a motion, the purport of which
was, to adcrefs his Majelly, that he would be gra
camfl) ^leafed to withdraw his troops from Badon;
that rhe colonies Ihon'ld be rellore'd to their conhi
tutional right of trial by jury, and that all the
grievances which they complain of, on the score of
taxation, should be redressed.; at the fame time he
proposed a plan for establishing the Supremacy of the
legislature of Grtai-Biitain in all other cales: But
afcr Some debate the 'motion was totally rejected,
by Ito^j.
The following is a Copy bf the BILL for compofng
the present Troubles, hid for quieting the Blinds
of his Majesty's Subjects in America, in
tended to have been presented to, the House of
Commons las <week by Air. BURKE, but ouas
prevented by the previous question being put.
WHEREAS by the blelling of Almighty God,
and the industry, enterprize and courage of
several of the people of this realm, extensive and
valuable territories have been acquired in America
to the crown of Great-Britain, which are ' now in
habited by great multitudes of his Majesty's fubjeds,
who have cultivated and improved the lame for the
moll part at tlieir own charges, to the great increase
of the commerce and naval strength of this king
dom; and have also, of their own free gift, made
provision for the support of the civil government
within their laid plantations, liave maintained ma
ny expentive wars against the Indian nations, and
have at sundry times granted large sums of money
and other very considerable aids to his Majesty and
his Royal Predecessors to support them against the
enemies of this kingdom, notwithstanding which,
the inhabitants of the said colonies have been made
liable to several taxes given and granted in parlia
ment for the purpose of railing a revenue when they
have had no Knights or Burgesses, or others, of
their own chufing, to represent them in parliament
and from the great distance of the said colonies
from this land and other impediments, are not able
conveniently to fend representatives to the laid par
liament, whereby the said inhabitants of the British
colonies have conceived themselves to be much ag
grieved, and thereby great troubles have arisen
and are likely to continue, if a fitting remedy be
not provided. Wherefore we pray your Majesty
that it may be enaded and declared, and it is here
by enaded and declared by, &c. &c.
Than no aid, subsidy, tax, duty, loan, benevo
lence, or any other burthen or imposition whatso
ever shall be granted, laid, assessed, levied, or col
leded upon the inhabitants of any colony or plan
tation in America by the authority or in virtue of
any act of parliament, or in any other manner, or
by any other authority, than the voluntary grant
of the general assembly or general court of each co
lony or plantation and which shall be assented to
by his Majesty's Governor, and otherwise confirm
ed according to the usage of each province respec
tively, and taw, statute, cuflom, right, prerogative,
or any other matter whatsoever to the contrary
notwithstanding. Saving to his Majesty, his heirs
and successors, his right of reserving and collecting
quit-rents and other antient dues and revenues, and
all other duties and taxes by this ad not repealed,
and faring and reserving to all proprietors and
charter company's their antient rights, privileges
and possessions.
Provided always, that nothingin this aft contain
ed shall extend, or be construed to extend to restrain
the future imposition and levy of duties and taxes
for the regulation of trade and commerce in all the
dominions to the imperial crown of this realm be
longing.
And in order to remove all doubts and uneasiness
from the minds of his Majesty's fubjeds in the colo
nies. It is hereby further enaded, that if any ad
of parliament shall be hereafter made for the pur
pose of such regulation of trade, the produce of
the duties thereby laid shall be held as the directors
or receivers of his Majesty's customs for the disposal
of the general affcmblies as if the fame had been
levied by the authority of the several general assem
blies in the said colonies.
And whereas during these troubles the assemblies
or inhabitants of the laid colonies have formed a
general meeting, when said meeting was not autho
rized by law to make any order or relolution or to
do any other ad of force to bind his Majesty's fub
jeds. And whereas it may be necessary that the
said colonies should have authority to do certain
ads by common consent which should conclude the
whole body of the said colonies. Be it therefore
enabled, that it shall and may be lawful for his Ma
jesty, his heirs and successors to give authority to
his Governors in America, to require the said seve
ral assemblies to fend deputies to a general meeting
with full powers to bind their said several provinces
to all ads done by a Majority of voices in the said
general meeting which meeting and the powers
thereof shall cease and determine on if
not further continued by parliament.
And whereas, in consequence of the late troubles
several ads of parliament have been made for the
purpose of coercing and retraining the colonies,
of which an advantage has been taken to represent
the fame as if a design had been formed to deprive
the people of the laid colonies of several rights, be
nefits and advantages of nature and the Britilh con
stitution which has greatly increased the difeontents
of the colonies and fomented the troubles in America
— In order therefore to quiet the minds of his Ma
jesty's fubjeds in America, and reclaim the disobedi
ent to that lenity which ought to have the strongest
operations on the minds of free fubjeds. Be it en
aded, That an ad made in the 7th year of the reign
of his present Majefty,intitled "An act for granting
certain duties in the Britilh colonies and plantations
in America; for allowing a drawback of the duties
of customs upon the exportation from this kingdom,
of coffee and cocoa nuts, of the produce of the said
colonies or plantations; for difeontinuing the draw
backs payable on china earthen ware exported to A
merica ; and for more effectually preventing the clan
dedine running of goods in the said colonies and plan
tations." “ Allo one other ad made in the 14th year
of the reign of his present Majesty, intitled, An ad
to discontinue in such manner, and for such time, as
are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging,
lading or whipping of goods, wares and merchan
dize at the town and within the harbour of Bofton<
in the province of Massachusetts-Bay; in North-
America." “ Also one other ad made in the 14th
year of the reign of his present Majelly, intitled,
An ad for the more impartial administration of
justice in cases of persons questioned for any ads
done by them in the execution of the law, or for
the suppression of riots and tumults in the province
of Massachusetts-Bay in New-England." “ And
also one other ad made in the 14th year of the
reign of his prelent Majelly, intitled. An Ad for
the better regulating the government of the pro
vince of the Maffach ufet's-Bay, in New-England?
be hereby severally and relpedively repealed.
And the King's moll excellent Majelly taking into
his gracious consideration the great troubles, dis
cords and wars that have of late been in some of his
Majesty's colonies in America, and that divers of
his lubjeds are, by occasion thereof, and otherwise
fallen into and become obnoxious to great pains and
penalties; out of a hearty and pious desire to put
an end to all suits and controversies that by occasion
of the late dillradions in America have arisen or
may arile between his fubjeds; and to the intent
that no crime whatsoever committed against his
Majesty, shall hereafter rile in judgment, or be
brought in quellion, against any of them, to the
lead endamagement of them, either in their lives,
liberties, or estates, or to the prejudice of their re
putations; and to bury all feeds of future difeord,
and remembrance of the former, as well in his own
bread, as in the breads of his lubjeds one towards
another; is graciously pleased that it may be enac
ted, and be it enaded, &c. &c. That all and all
manner of treasons, mifprifon of treaions, murders,
felonies, offenees, crimes, contempts, and misde
meanors, counfelled, commanded, aded or done:
since the by any perlon or perlons in
America before the by
virtue or colour of any command, power, authori
ty, commission, warrant, or inftrudion from his
Majelly, or from any other perlon or persons de
riving or pretending to derive authority, mediately
or immediately from his Majesty, or of or from any
assembly, council, general court, convention, con
gress or meeting in any of his Majesty's colonies
in America, called or reputed or taking on them
the name of the assembly, council or general court'
of any of his Majesty's colonies in America, or of a
general congress, or provincial congrels, or any
otlier name or style whatsoever, or by virtue or cok
lour of any writ, commission, or indrudions of or
from any perlon or persons, reputed or taken to be,
or claiming or exercising the power of commander
in chief of the continental army in America, or of
any provincial army, or commander of any army
or bodyof troops whatsoever within any of his Ma
jesty's colonies in America, by sea or land, or of
any magistrate or reputed magistrate or officer,
within any of the said colonies, or by any pretence,
warrant, or command whatsoever, from them or
any of them, or their or any of their refpedive
council or councils, or any member of fucli coun
cil or councils, or from any perlon or perlons what
soever deriving or pretending to derive authority
from them or any of them, be pardoned, released,
indemnified, discharged and put in utter oblivion.
And that all and every person and persons ading
advising, assisting, abetting, and counselling the
lame, they, their heirs, executors and administra
tors, be and are hereby pardoned, released, acquit
ed, indemnified, and discharged from the lame;
and of and from all pains of death, and other pains
judgements, indidments, informations, convidions,
attainders, outlawries, penalties, efcheats and for
feitures, and every of them, and all grants there
upon made, and all estates derived under the fame,
be, and are hereby declared and enaded to be from
henceforth null and void; extinguilhing all adions,
suits, demands, and prosecutions civil and criminal
or public or private, except for the restoration of
fucli estates as have been orlhall be seized from their
owners during the troubles; and for restoring to
the said owners the mean profits of the fame. Pro
vided that aims not taken up by his Majesty's au
thority, shall be laid down by our,fubjeds in the
said provinces within/
W ILLIAMSBUR G, February 17.
A brig is arrived at Norfolk, from London, with
papers to the 27th of November; by which we learn,
that Administration are at length diipofed to come
to a reconciliation, and that commissioners are to be
sent over with terms to effed it. There are letters
in town brought by the above ihip, which mention,
that the filhery and Boston port bills are repealed,
and also the one entitled " an ad for the better ad
ministration of justice."
I here is a report in town this morning of advice
being received, of a French man of war of 74 guns,
in the Mediterranean, having refufed to pay the