The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-02-29 00:00:00, page 2

warning. ....,,
Q Did the Province of Pehnfylvania grow
corn Sufficient for the supply of its inhabitants ?
I'M® ^O UVl> more [hall lumcici^i, fhoro U'OC CI
furpius for exportation if required.
Q^ Were they capable of snaking gunpowder
in Penniyivani^ m .
A. Thef perfectly well understood the art,
and ha&c#cCtcd it. . ^
Q Could fdt-}>etre l>e made in the province ?.
A. It could ; niills.and other inftrurnents ,or
electing such an undertaking had been erected,
with luccefs.
Q_ Could cannon be call in Pty' }iv;i
niar , #
A. The art of making cannon had been,car
ried to .great perfection ; they were amply•
furnished with iron tor that purpose, ,
Q Could small aims be made to any degree
of perfection?
A. To as great perfection as could be ima
gined. The workmanship employed in finish
ing the small arms was universally admired for
its excellence.'
Q Were the Americans expert in Ihip-build-
A. More so than the Europeans.
Q^Towbat extent or tonnage did the largest
of their Flipping amount?
A. A ship otatbout three hundred tons was
the larged they were known to build.
Q Circumdanced as things at present were,
did the witness think, that the language of the
Congress exprefied the sense of the people of
America in general?.
A. As tar as the queflion applied to Penn
sylvania, he was fare this was the case ; for the
other provinces, he replied in the affirmative
Irom information only.
CQ Did hq suppose that the Congress con
tained Delegates fairly nominated by the, choice,
of rhe peop):?
A. He bad no doubt but that the Congress
did contain Delegates under this description.
Q^ By what mode were the Delegates, in Con
gres ap^.inted? . ' --
A. By the votes of Assemblies in some places,
by ballot in others.
Q In what light had the petition, nhich the
witness bad represented to the King, been con
fideied by the Americans ?
A. The petition had been considered as an,
olive branch, and the witness had been compli
mented by his friends, as the messenger of peace.
Q On the supposition that the prayer oftbis
petition fhouldbgrejefted, what did the witness
imagine would be the consequence ?
A. That the Americans, who placed much
reliance on the petition, would be driven to des
peration by its noh-fuccefs.
Q Did the witness imaging that sooner than
yield to what were supposed to be the unjust
claims of Great Britain, the Americans would
take the desperate resolution pf calling in the
aid of foreign assistance ?
A.-The witness was apprehensive that this
would be the case.
L O ND 0 N.
HOUSE of LORDS,
Saturday, November it.
rg IHE Lords were yesterday alfcmb|ed for
I the purposes of examining Governor §
I'cnn, ard ut dilculhng a motion wh'ch the
Duke G Richmond proposed to ground on such
automation, as that gentleman should ahold
the Houle.
Previous to the calling of Mr. I'enn to the
bar, the Duke of Richmond announced the*
mode he had adopted preparatory to the Gover
nor's examination, bits Grace contested, " that
" he hud apprilcd Alt. Penn of the quehums
" which would be propounded tq hu», but
'' the noble Duke difciaimed having entered
" into any conversation with the Governor,
" left luch conversation should nialevolcntiy be'
" condrued into a design of anticipating the
'' aniwers Mr. I'enn might think proper to,
“ return."
The Duke of Richmond having finished his|
preliminary remarks, Ms. Penn was calledl
to the bar, and interrogated nearly to the tol-'
lowing purport;
(Q Row long had he resided in America?
A. Four years. Two ot those years in the
capacity of Governor of Pennfylvani% $
Q' Was he acquainted with any of the
members of the Continental Congress ? ( ?
A. He was perlonally acquainted with all
the member of that Congress.
<1 In what estimation was the Congress
held?
A. In the highest veneration' imaginable
by all ranks and orders of men.
Q Was an implicit obedience paid to the.re
folutions of that Congress throughout all the*
provinces ?
A. He believed this to be the case.
Q How many men had bee. railed through
out the province of Pennsylvania ?
A. Twenty thousand che&ive men had vo
luntarily enrolled themselves toenter into actual
ferrice if ne'ceffity required.
Q Of what rank, quality and condition
were these perlons ?
A. Men of the most refpebtable characters
in the province.
Q_ Were not some of them entirely destitute .
of property ?
A. It was presumed that, fubtraded from so.
large a number as 2(>,qoq, there were some
necessitous, but the m.joy part were in fiouriih
ing liquations,
Q Betides \ ,fc r 2o,QQC,whb voluntarily cn
rolled themfclvcs to act as exigencies plight
require, what other forces had the Provincials
of Pennsylvania raised?
A. Four thousand minute-men, whose duty
was pointed out by their- designation. They
were to be ready for service &t a minute's
Q What did the witness recoiled of the
Stimp Act?*,
A. rhat.it Gatifed great uneasiness. througlT
out America.
(Q What did the witness recollect, concern
ing the repeal of that act ?
A. Tim anniversary of that memorable day
is kept throughout America, by every tcltini>-.
ny otpublic rejoicing) Inch as bonfires, illumi
nations, and other exhibitions c. ~gladncn. ,
Q Would notthe neglect with which the last
petition was treated induce the Americans to re
sign all hopes of pacific negotiations ?
A. In the opinion of the wimeu, it would.
Q When the witness procured the petition
to the Secretary or State, wasi he alkyd any
questions relative to the Rate of America?
A. Not a Single quefliom .
Qofs examined b, fourth Denbigh and hancl^ieb„
Queriesf am Lord-Denbigh.
As the wiuich had acted in the capacity of
Governor, was he well acquainted with the
* charter of Pennfylv,nia ?
A He had read the charter, and was well ac-.
'quainted with its contents.
Q Did he know that there was a cluufe which
fpecitically subjected the colony to taxation by
,Qe British Leg future? /,.
A. He was well apprised that there was such
Qdaufe. .„
Q Were the ,;gale of Pennfy Ivania content
with their charter £ . ,'
A. Perfectly content.
CL Phen did they not acquiefee in the right
of the British Parliament to enforce taxation?,
A. Th y* acquiesced in a declaration of the
right, so long ^-they experienced no inconve
nience from the declaration.
@rih from lxrd Saxekvich. .
Had the witness ever-heard of an aft entitled,
" The Declaratory Abtr"'
A. He hadheard of Rich an a&.
CL Did he ever pcrufe, and was he iufficient
ly acquainted with : the contents of that act r
A. He never badperufed it. ft never had
been jtuch diicullef whilst he redded in Ame
rica.,
Q Did the witness apprehend that the Con
gress acquiesced in an act which maintained the
authority ot the British Parliament, in all caja
whatfeever?
Objected te, and the witness was desired to
withdraw ; but being called in again, the que
stion was put, and he replied,
That except in the case of Taxation he appre
hended the Americans would have no objection
to acknowledge the sovereignty of Groat-Britain.
CL Had the witness any knowledge of cer
tain refolutious puffed in the county ot Suffolk ?
A. He had not attended to them.
CL Had the witness any knowledge of an
answer given bv the Continental Congress to
what had been commonly called Lerd North's
conciliatory motion ? ' a -
A. The witness knew nothing of the pro
cvediugz of the Congress, they were generally
tranfafted under the leal of secrecy. .
Qe " as the witness perfonaily acquainted
with Mr. Harrison, a member of the Congress?,;,
al. The,vitnefs knew him well. ..
CL What character did he bear?
A. A very r^fpechible one.-
(L Had the witness ever heard of any per
lons who had fuftcred persecutions, for declar
ing lentimpnts favourable to the Supremacy of
the British Parliament ?
A. He had heard of such opprefions in other
provinces, but never met with them during his
residence in Pennsylvania.
AL 1 11 die opinion of the witness, were the
Americans now free ? '. ~
A. They imagined themselves to be so.
CL In case a formidable force Should be sent
to America, in Support of government, did the
witness imagine there were many who would o
penly proteis submission to the authority of par
liament? , . .
A. The witness apprehended the few who
would join on such an occasion would be too tri
vial a number to be of any confcquencc.
Mr. Penn was then orde^ ed to withdraw, and
the Duke of Richmond, alter descanting with
lingular propriety on the necefiity of immediate
conciliation, proposed the lad petition from the
Continental Congress to the King, as a balls for
aplan of accommodation. His Grace of Rich
mond moved, " That the preceding paper fur
" nifned grounds of conciliation of ;&he,unhap
" py differences at prqfent fubfifling between.
" Great-Britain and America, and that some
" mode mould be immediately adopted ,for the
" effectuating, so deferable a ptirpofe."
>This produced a debate, Supported on both *
fides^ with infinite ingenuity. The numbers
vverc:
•For the motion 27---Proxics 6—„.
Against the motion go- -Proxies 36-86.
Majority againit the motion. 53...
Nor. 22. It is reported,' that General Gage
has requeued, that in case a reconciliation should
not take place, some person ofapproved abilities
mav-be appointed to aft in concert with him, in
the arduous.talk of maintaining the Supremacy
of Great-Britain over the difafteHed colonies.
The transports which failed from the Downs
on Saturday last; for Bolton, were spoke with on
Monday last, off Plymouth, all well.
* Advice is Said to be received, that a great dif
ptitc has happened between theEmperor of Mo
rocco and the Algerines; that there had been
an action near Oran, between the troops of the
two nations, when there was- great Slaughter on
both tides.
Nor. 2% It is said, that every vessel in the
navy under 40 guns, is ordered to be ready for
sea bv the fuftof next month, manned and vic
tualled.
Advice from Ca< % uform us, that two vef
feb laden with ammunition, &c. going to Ante- 1
rc4 were flopped thcie by rcqueit ot the hng
lilt iConful fiom proceeding any further.
1).% 24. ri he Chet.diet D'hon,' is now ex
peaed to leave England every hour, to return
to ihe French Court; immediately on which,
fom? mod extraordinary anecdotes relative to
the,two powers will come out, 10 the alfouilh
ment 01 all Europe.
The taking Hanoverian troops into English
pay, and employing,,them within the English
dominions, was deemed so high an insult upon
the English army, that the Mimfters in King
George the Firlt andoecond's reign never would
attempt it. When Hessians were brought into
England, Lord Temple, Lord Chatham, and o
ther% gained immortal honour by driving them
out ; nay, the English troops were so averse to
Hanoverians, that they would not fuller them c
vi n in- Flanders.>
Our Ministry are alarmed, and with great
rcafon, at the late change in the war department
in France. The Count de St. Germaine, who
is now the Mimfter, is a loldier, and pollefes, .
betides being an able Stateiman, conliderable
military talents. It was by his advice the Mary
ihal Due De Richlieu pent up the late Duke of,
Cumberkipd, Lift war, and reduced him to the
Convention of Clofler-ieven. There seems to
be little doubt then, that this able ftatelman,
yho is so accurate a judge of national events,
3,4 wfio has, through lifeplc ifortunately.av,jl-.
cd Irmfeli of them, wilfnot be an i,.e looker on
a^ou.rquai rels with America; butthe moment he
fimb the balance ot victory likely to declare for
them, will strike such a stroke, as from the pre
sent pacific declarations of out cabinet, they are
not at.all prepared for.
Wednesday leveral more large ships were con
traayd for by agency, for the tranfphrt fertile,,
which, are to go to Ireland to take in provisions
there for the use of the foidiers at Befton.
Extrafl of a letter front Port/moutb; Nov. 22.
" Sailed the Triton man of war, Lutwidgv,
for Halifax, with flfipwrights, &c.
" A few days ago Sooo 1. in foreign specie,
was seized by information, on board the Boreas
man of war at Spithead, by an officer of the
customs, confirmed to a gentlemanin Boston,"
Dec. 6. Yesterday the Lower Assembly pro
ceeded on rhe bill to prohibit all trade and in
tercourse with the North-American colonies,
during the continuance of the present rebellion
in the said colonies. Debates arising, expected
to fit late. The gallery door was locked, and
none admitted but Peers or Members.
A plan is now under consideration, for all cri
minals in Great-Britain, sentenced for tranfpor
tation,to be feet to the British settlements on the
coast of Africa.
Extract of a letter from Chatham, Dec. 3.
" Orders are received at the commissioners of
fice here, for the fail-makers of this dock-yard
to work double days, in order to give the great
est dispatch in making fails for the ships that are
refitting ar this port for America.
'fTlie Milford of 28 guns, commanded by
John Burr, Esq; is nearly fitted, and will fail
from hence in a few days for America.
" The Carysfort of 28 guns, is put into com
-million at this port, and the command given to
Robert runihaW,DEfq; foe is allo to go to A
merica." ; ,
Letters from Lifoon by Monday's mail, bring
advice that on the 16th, 17th and 18th ult.
there were such violent storms of wind, that
1110 ft of the snips in the harbour were driven
from their.moorings, and by running foul of
each other received damage both in their masts
and hulls, and several of them loft their bow
sprits ; tha~ a Portuguese man of war was loft
at the mouth of the Tagus, and all the crej
drowned ; and that the Dipping on the coalt
fuftered.greatly.
• Twelve transports bound to America, are
waiting in the Downs for a favourable wind.
Yesterday the House of Commons met at
3 o'clock, and went through a great deal of
•private business.
The bill for difeovering a.northern paffige ,
to the western and fotithern oceans of Ame
rica, and for encouraging adventurers to pene
trate to the .North-Pole, was reported with
federal amendments, and ordered to be engreffed.'
The bill for,the.,better regulation of his Ma
jesty's marine forces while on fliorc, was read
a third, time, passed and ordered to the 'Lords.
At half after four,, the order, of the day for
the house, to resolve itfelf into i committee of
,the whole house, on the bill for prohibiting all
trade and commerce between Great-Britain, Ire
land, and the twelve American colonics affem
-1 bled in Congress,, being read, a, motion was
made, that the ; speaker do now leave the
chair. This occafioneda Tort debate, and the
question being put, theQoufe divided, Ayes
:Noes 34. .
The House then went into a committee on
faid:bill, when several amendments and clauses
' were proposed which caused warm debates..
The committee were left fitting at half after se
ven, and were expected to lit late. .
In the House of Commons of Ireland, on
Monday Nov. 27, the Committee of the whole
House fat till h^lf past eleven, on the question
of admitting 4000 Hessian and Brunswick troops,
when at length the Committee divided, Ayes
for admitting the troops 68. Noes, 106. Ma
jority agaiiift the foreign troops, 38,
The followingchanges (fays a correspondent)
are very confidently talked of to take place inthe
law department though not before next Michael
mas term. -.
Lord Mansfield to retire on a pension, and
to be succeeded by Sir R. Afton.
Lord Chief Baron Smythe, ditto, to be fuc
eceded by Mr. Baron Eyre.
The Lord Chancellor to resign, and to be
succeeded by the Solicitor General.
XXKXXXXXXXXXX XXXXM
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The NEW EDITION of
COMMON SENSE
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TO WHICH IS ADDED,
'An A PPEN DI X, and an Address to th
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N. B.' The Additions which are here given
.amount to upwards of one third of any forme
Edition.
The Pamphlet advertised by Reber
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.by iny other name he may hereafter call it, cor
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bovy,
1 he fyeaker then left the chair, and the com
mittee proceeded in the business. At the out
let a ftrong'oppofition appeared to the bill,
and a probability of conceiting it cluufe by
elaufe. Mr.'Serjeant Adair proposed an amend
ment to the firft enabling clauie, frelh debates
ensued, in which the Attorney General and
Mr. Burke had a confide able Glare. At half
after seven the committee divided within the
House on the amendment, Against it 128, for
Lord North, it is said, in order to abate of
the rigour of the act, so far as it refpebts the
seizing the Tips of the Americans, or any
ships trading to or from their ports, said, that
provision was made in the goth cluufe, page 23,
tor giving them time to avoid it, by a proper
return to their allegiance ; but if that was not
thought fufficient, , gentlemen might propofc
such other provisions as they judged proper, to
come in under that clause.
We therefore think it proper to lay the clause
before the public as it now stanch, that the
friends of America may have an opportunity te
exert themselves to procure the filling up the
blanks with such diflant dates as may give them
all poiliblc time to reflect on the part they have
to act.
" And be it further enabled by the authority
aforefaid, that this abs, so far as it relates to the
capture and forfeiture of ships and veflels be
longing to the inhabitants of the abovemention
ed colonies, % (hall commence and be in force
from and after( ) and To far as the
fame relates to the capture and forfeiture of al
mips and veffefs that mail be found going in, c
at any of the said colonies, from and after th
( ) and so far as the fame relates to tin
capture and forfeiture of all mips and veflH
that ffiall be found trading in, or at any of th
said colonies, or bound and trading from an
poit or place in thb fame, from and after th
( ) and shall continue to be in fore
so long as any of the said colonies ffiall rem di
in a flare of rebellion and difobedieace."
The blanks : are proposed to lie filled with th
dates of March 1 and April 1'; and all the in
dulgence likely to be procured, will be a pro
longation of time before the seizures are to take
place.
The Committee was likely to fit very late,laf
night, and it is imagined will not get half thro
the bill ; on the contrary, it is expebted they
will adjourn irom day to day till they have ft
nifhed it.
. Lord Chief Justice De Grey to retire or. a
petition, and to be succeeded by the Atton.^v
General. ;
Mr. Wallace, Mr. Beacroft, and Mr. Mans
field, candidates tor the Attorney and SuEcaur
GeneruhTrip;
An expicfs is laid to be come from Lord
Grantham, our Ambulladur at Madrid, that
the Spaniards were fending a j>owtriui navil
armament to the Spanish Wed-indies.
Yesterday a full board of ordnance ua£ held,
at the breaking up of which orders were 'men
for levetyi hundred tons pt ordnance faits @
be got ready, as then as poffibk.
Dec. 7. W'heu the order of the day was read
yesterday in the Houle of Commons, for go
ing into a committee of the whole Home on
the. bill for prohibiting all trade and mtc^couife
- with the colonies in rebellion, &c. A member
jMr.Dempfler) moved, that it be an indruttiou
'given by. life House before tlx: Speaker leave the
Gfl.Ar, to the laid committee to accept certam
,daufes by way of amendment, and to divide
the bill into diitin& parts, or to make two bills
"out of the one in its piefcnt form ; debates
arose upon this proposition, "which it lecras is
called by some gentlemen a method or frittering
away a bid; and administration not beir, diipci
;cd to lubißit to this operation on their labourite
child, a divilion followed at about y o'clock, and
the numbers were against the motion „, for it