The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1778-06-08 00:00:00, page 1

An aft for removing all doubts and apprehensions
concerning taxation by the Parliament of Great-
Britain in any of the colonies, provinces, and
plantations in North-America, and the Weft-In
dies; and for repealing to much of an aft, made
in the seventh year of the reign of his present
Majeftv, as imposes a duty on tea imported from
Great-Britain into any colony or plantation in
America, or relates thereto.
WHEREAS taxation by the parliament of
Great-Britain, for the purpose of railing a
revenue in his Majesty's colonies, provinces and plan
tations, in North-America, has been found by ex
perience to occasion great urieafineffea and disorders
among his Majesty's faithful fubjc&s, who m,y ne
vertheless be disposed to acknowledge the justice of
contributing to the common defence of the empire,
provided such contribution mould be railed under the
“authority of the general court, or general assembly,
of each refpe&ive colony, province or plantation :
And whereas, in order artwell to remove the said
imeafineffes, and to quiet the minds of his Majesty's
fubjc&s who may be disposed to return to their alle
giance, as to restore the peace and welfare of all his
Majesty's dominions, it is expedient to declare that
he King and parliament of Great-Britain will not
impefe any duty, tax, or affeffinent, for the purpose
of raising a revenue in any of the colonies, provinces,
or plantations: May it please your Majesty, that'it
may be declared and enabled ; and it is hereby de
clared and enacted by the King's mod excellent Ma
jesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this pre
sent parliament assembled, and by the authority of
the fame, That, from and after the palling of this
aft, the king and parliament of Great-Britain will
not impose any duty, tax, or assessment whatever,
payable in any of his Majesty's colonies, provinces
and plantations, in North-America, or the Weft-
Indies; except only such duties as it may be expedient
to impose for the regulation of commerce ; the net
produce of such duties to be always paid and ap
plied to and for the use of the colony, province, or
plantation, in which the fame shall be refpedively
levied, in such manner as other duties coUefted by
An A& for repealing an A&, passed in the Four
teenth yearof his present Majesty's reign, inti
tuled, “ An a& for the better regulating the go
<' vernment of the province of Massachusetts
" Bay in New England.
WHEREAS the province of the Massachusetts
Bay had for many years been governed un
der a charter, granted by their late Maje
sties King William and Queen Mary : And whereas
an aft, passed in the fourteenth year of his present
Majesty's reign, entituled, " An aft for the better
“ regulating the government of the Massachusetts
" Bay, in New-England," has been found to create
great uneafmeffes in the minds of the inhabitants of
the said province, and has occasioned jealousies and
.japprehenfions of danger to their liberties, and rights
in several other of the colonies and plantations in
North-America: For quieting and ex tinguifhing such
uneafmeffes and apprehensions, be it enabled by the
King's most excellent Majesty, and by and with the
advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Tem
poral, and Commons in Parliament assembled, and
by the authority of the fame, That, from and after
the passing of this a&, the said a^t, of the fourteenth
year of the reign of his present Majesty, be, and the
fame is hereby repealed.
S I R,
IN my letter to you of the 19th of last month, I
transmitted copies of two bills, which were on
that day presented and read in the House of Com
mons. They have since passed both Houses, and
received the Royal Assent ; very few essential altera
tions having been made in them during their progress
through the Houses, except such as were made in
order the more effectually to remove all shadow
of doubt, of the purity and sincerity of the purpose
of parliament,
I now fend you herewith, printed copies of these
a&s, by the King's command, and I am to fignify to
you, his Royal pleasure, that you do cause them to
be made public, and dispersed throughout the
neighbouring colonies, that his Majesty's faithful
fubjeds may, as (peedily as possible, be informed of
the favourable disposition of his Majesty and par
liament, towards the American colonies.
I am, Sir,
. Your most obedient humble servant,
George Germain.
P. S. You will perceive, by the a&s herewith in
dofed, the King and parliament of Great-Britain,
nave taken into consideration the Tea A&, and the
a& for the better regulating the government of the
province of the Massachusetts-Bay, which have
been repealed.
I hope this attention to the willies of many peo
ple, may have the desired effect of inclining those
who have been unhappily engaged in the present
rebellion, to return to their allegiance.
A White Loaf of the fineftFLOUß, to weigh
2 lb. 6 oz. for 14 Coppers, and in the fame
Proportion for Loaves of a lesser Weight.
JAMES ROBERTSON, M. G.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 355. per Cent.
Published February 2, 1778.
N E W-Y OR K
Copy of a letter from the Right Honourable Lord
George Germain, one of bis Majefo's
principal secretaries of fate, to bis Excellency
Governor Tryon.
Monday, June 8, 1778.
WEEKLY
Containing the carlieff 3DUices
Whitehall, 11th March, 1778.
^ Printed by HUGH GAINE, at the BIBLE and CROWN, in HANOVER-SQUARE.
AND
An Ad to enable bis Majefly to appoint commissioners
with fufficient powers to treat, consult, and agree
upon the means of quieting tbe disorders now sub
sisting in certain of tbe colonies, plantations and pro
vinces of North-America.
FOR tbe quieting and extinguishing of divers jea
lousies and apprehensions of danger to their liber
ties and rights, which have alarmed many of bis
Majesty's fubjeNs in tbe colonies, provinces, and plan
tations of New-HampJbire, Massachusetts Bay, Rbode-
Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Penn-
Jjlvania, tbe three lower counties on Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina,
and Georgia ; and for a full manifefation of tbe just
and gracious purposes of bis Majesty, and bis parlia
ment, to maintain and secure all bis fubjeNs in tbe
clear and perfect enjoyment of their liberties andrights;
be it enacted by tbe king's most excellent Majesty, by
and with tbe advice and consent of tbe Lords Spiritual
and Temporal, and Commons, in this present parlia
ment assembled, and by tbe authority of tbe fame, that
it fall and may be lawful for bis Majesty, from time
to time, by letters patent under tbe great seal of Great-
Britain, to autborife and impower five able and fuf
ficient persons, or any three of them, to treat, consult,
and agree with any bod, or bodies politick and corpo
ate, or with any assembly or aflemblies of men, or
with any person or persons wbatfoever, of and con
cerning an, grievances, or complaints of grievances,
exiting, or supposed to exist, in tbe government of
any of the said colonies, provinces, or plantations ref
peaively, or in tbe laws and fatutes of this realm
refpe^ing tbe fame ; and of or concerning any aid or
contribution to be furnijbed by any of tbe said colonies,
provinces, or plantations refpeaively, for tbe common
defence of this realm, and tbe dominions thereunto be
longing ; and of and concerning an, other regulations,
provisions, matters, and things, necessary or conveni
ent for the honour of bis Majesty, and his parliament,
and for tbe common good of all bis fubjeas.
Provided also, and be it further enabled and de
clared, That no regulation, provision, matter, or
thing, so proposed, treated, consulted, or agreed, fall
have an, other force or effefl, or be carried further
into execution, than is herwin-after mentioned and pro
vided, until the fame fall have been confirmed by
parliament.
Provided also, and be it further enaßed by tbe
authority aforefaid, That in order to facilitate the
good purposes of this aa, bis Majefy may lawfully
enable the said commissioners, or am, three of them,
from time to time, to Order and proclaim a ceffect ion 0)
bofilities, on tbe part of his Majefy's forces, by sea or
land, for an, time, and under any conditions or re
frialons ; and such order and proclamation to revoke
and annul in tbe fame manner and form.
And be it further enaNed, That it Jball andmay be
lawful for bis Majesty, by such letters patent as afore
faid, to autborife and impower tbe said commissioners,
or an, three o) them, b, proclamation under their ref
pe&ive bands and foals, from time to time, to fufbend
the operation and effect of a certain afl of parlia
ment, made and passed in tbe fifteenth ,ear of the
reign of bis present Majefy, for prohibiting all trade
and intercourse with certain colonies and plantations
therein named, and for tbe other purposes therein also
mentioned, or an, of tbe provisions or refriaions
therein contained ; fpecifying in such proclamation at
what times and places refpeaively, and with what
exceptions and reftriaions, and under wbat pages and
clearances, in lieu of those heretofore dire Ned by an,
afl or aNs of parliament for regulating tbe trade of
tbe colonies or plantations, tbe Jaid suspension Jball
take effect ; and tbe said suspension and proclamation,
in tbe fame manner and form, to annul and revoke.
And be it further enabled by the Authority aforefaid,
That it fball and may be lawful for his Majefy, by
such letters patent as aforefaid, to authorije and im
poiver the said coimiffioners, or any three of them, to
fafpenl in any places, and for an, times during the
continuance of this apt, the operation and effe/l of an,
aEI or ahis of parliament which have sassed face the
tenth da, of Februar,, one tboufand seven hundred
and fat,-three, and vsbich relate to an, of his Ma
jefy's said colonies, provinces, or plantations in North-
America fofar as the fame does relate to them ; or the
operation and eftefl of an, c/aufe, or any provifan or
matter therein contained, so far as such clauses, pro
vifans, or matters relate to an, of the said colonies,
provinces, or plantations.
the authority of the refpe&ive general courts, or ge
neral aflemblies, of such colonies, provinces, or
plantations, are ordinarily paid and applied.
And be it further enabled by the authority afore
faid, That, from and after the passing of this a&, so
much of an a&, made in the seventh year of his
present Majesty's reign, intituled, An aft for grant
ing certain duties in the British colonies or planta
tions 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 discontinuing
the drawbacks payable on china earthen ware ex
ported to America ; and for more effectually prevent
ing the clandestine running of goods in the said co
lonies and plantations; as imposes a duty on tea im
ported from Great-Britain into any colony or plan
tation in America, or has relation to the said duty,
be, and the fame is hereby repealed.
Monday, 56 Min. after 7
Tuesday, 42 Min. after 8
Wednesday, 29 Min. aftei 9
Thursday, 17 Min. after 10
And it it hereby enafted b, the authority aforefaid,
HIGH-WATER atNEW-YORK, this Week.
&ml&^^^
&^^^^^^^^,
Friday, 4 Min. after 11
Saturday, 53 Min. after 11
Sunday, 39 Min. after 12
Full Moon To-morrow.
THE
That it /ball and may be lawful fcr bis Majesty, by
such letters patent as aforefaid, to autborife and im
power tbe said commissioners, or any three of them,
and they are hereby autborifed and impowered, to
grant a pardon or pardons to any number or descrip
tion of persons within tbe said colonies, provinces, or
plantations.
And, that no let or hindrance may happen from tbe
vacancy of tbe office of governor and commander in
chief in any of tbe said colonies, provinces, or planta
tions refpeaively, or from tbe absence of fueb officer
from bis government, be it further enabled b, tbe au
thority aforefaid, That it Jball and may be lawful Jor
bis Majesty, by such letters patent as aforefaid, to au
tborife and impower tbe said commissioners, or any
three of them, tn an, of the said colonies, provinces,
or plantations refpeaively, wherein bis Majefly bath
ufuall, heretofore nominated and appointed a governor,
to nominate and appoint, from time to time, by any in
flrument under their hands and seals, a proper person
to be the governor and commander in chief in and for
an, such colon,, province, or plantation •, to have, bold,
and exercise tbe said office oj governor and commander
in chief in and for such colon, or plantation reffectively,
with all fueb powers and authorities as an, governor
of such province heretofore appointed by bis Majefly
might or could helve exercised, in as full and ample
manner and form as if such governor and commander
in chief bad been nominated and appointed by bis Maje
fy's letters patent or commission • ,and for that purpose,
if need be, to revoke, annul, and make void, any
commission or letters patent heretofore granted for ap
pointing an, fueb governor and commander in chief.
And be it further enated, that this afl Jball conti
nue to be in force until tbe firfl da, of June, one thou
sand seven hundred and feventy-nme.
From the Pennsylvania LEDGER,
May 16, 1778.
To the PEOPLE of America.
THE time has been, when you were by far the
happiest people upon earth. Blessed with that
civil and religious freedom which none but British
fubjefts enjoy, you thawed with us the envy of other
nations ; protested by the arms of Britain, you were
secure from all foreign insult; and, conduced by
her laws, you had always, in appealing to her au
thority, a certain resource againit the mifehiefs of
domeflic contention. You enjoyed, in perfect fafety,
the benefits of a rich and extensive commerce, fop
ported by the produce of your lands, and your in
dustry was crowned with peace and plenty. You
had nothing to wish for but the continuance of that
happiness which you possessed; a happiness which
mutt have continued to a late posterity, had you not
been fatally milled to renounce your allegiance, and
revolt from the British government !
I am well aware that great pains have been taken,
and with too much success, to throw such a mist of
prejudice in your eyes, as to make it very difficult,
if not impossible, for many among you to difeern
the truth, or to fee your real interest. Your minds
have been cruelly poisoned with groundless jealousies
and fears of a pretended plan of despotism in the
British government, and a defi, to enslave you.
I repeat it---your jealousies and fears, on this head,
have been groundless ! This pretended plan of def
petifm had no real exigence. To enslave any part
of the empire, and, in particular, to load the colo
nies with any oppressive burthens, mult have been
not only inconsistent with the interest of the nation:
It must also have been plainly deftru&ive of the in
terest and credit of any British ministry. They
could not possibly be ignorant that their credit and
interest were concerned, not to oppress you, blit to
cherish and protest you, if from no other motive, at
lead, in order the better to enable you to contribute
a share of that expence which was requisite to Sup
port and secure the dignity, peace and profperity,'
of the whole empire. Such a contribution, in pro
portion to your ability, was, on all hands, acknow
ledged to be perfectly just and reasonable. The
mode of raising it was the only fubjeft of dispute;
and this dispute has brought you into your present
alarming and diftrefsful situation.
It was never pretended that you fuffered any ac
tual oppression; but your leaders, ambitious of
seizing an opportunity of becoming your matters,
persuaded you that, if you submitted to the payment
of the trifling duty of tlrree-pence a pound upon the
article of tea, you would infallibly be brought, in
a fltort time, to the necessity of submitting to the
molt oppressive and exorbitant demands.
This groundless jealousy, once awakened, was
eagerly improved to inflame your minds to a degree
of phrenzy, In- order, if poflible, to prevent the
calamities of a civil war, the ministry propafeda.
resolution of Parliament, that was intended to be
the balls of such a constitutional settlement between
the two countries, as undoubtedly would have been
highly beneficial to both ; and you might have reap
ed'the benefits of it in a full fecuiity of freedom,
peace and plenty, But your Congress, by this time,
began to enjoy the prcfpefl of gratifying their am
bition in exercifireg an absolute dominion over you.
All freedom of debate, in the colonies, was at an
end. You could not with fafety, express your sen
timents or wishes. You were told, by the supreme
authority of Congress, that this proposal of Par
harn^a, offering to give up thedreaded exercise of
Flour, 355. od.
Brown Bread, 20s. od.
Weft-India Rum; 6s. 6d.
New-England do. ss. od.
Wheat per Bushel, 12s. od.
GAZETTE:
MERCUR Y.
PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufcovado Sugar, 51. 10S.1
Single refin'd ditto, 2s. 2d.
Molasses, 2s. 6dJ
Beef per Barrel, 90s. bd.|
Pork, 5 1. lOS.I
foreign ano Domeffick.
taxation; was only meant to ensnare you, and
you were compelled to reject the offer, which surely
might have been improved by a dispassionate pleading
bfreafon ch both sides, into ah accommodation every
way unexceptionable. The Congress was bent upon
pdrfuing their plan of ambition, and you were una
voidably plunged into all the horrors of civil war.
Hoping to hop the progress of these calamities,
the Parliament authoriled his Majesty to appoint
commissioners, with a formidable force in one hand,
and generous terms of reconciliation in the other,
in order to restore you to peace and freedom. The
commissioners appointed were known to be zealous
advocates for all the constitutional rights of British
fubje&s; in this as well as in every other part of the
empire; and it is certain that an honorable accom
modation, equally beneficial to you and the Mother-
Country, would have been infinitely more flattering
to their ambition, than the molt decisive conquest.
The Congreis, however, took care to anticipate the
,arrival of these commissioners of peace by a declara
tion of independency ; and when, immediately after
our success upon Long-IQand, a conference was
held at Staten-Island, the committee of Congress
endeavoured to shut the door at once againitall
possible accommodation. They deceived you in
their report of this conference. They told you that
the commissioners had no power to treat, no terms to
offer. Did not your delegates exclude every over
ture of terms by declaring to the commissioners that
they would not treat upon any other footing than
that of independency ?---how then could it be known
what powers the commissioners were invested with,
or what terms they had to offer ?
By this misrepresentation, your leaders betrayed
the trust which they had affirmed in your behalf.
Your interest, your peace and fafety, were plainly
facrificed to their ambition.
Their authority of deciding for you had been
obtained by persuading you to believe, that their aim
was only to procure for you an exemption from par
liamentary taxation. They knew that, in order to
prevent the war, Parliament had offered to meet the
colonies on this very ground of giving up the article
of taxation, and of leaving the mode of raising your
equitable share of the current national expences to
your own provincial legislatures. They also knew that
the government was now prepared to confirm that
important privilege to you, by such a generous ac
commodation as might speedily flop the further efra
fion of blood, heal all pad animosities, and prevent
all future jealousies and diffentions. But this must
have restored the British government in the colonies,
and put an end to the dominion of Congress, who
therefore precluded all negociation, by throwing off
the mask which they had worn so long, and by openly
avowing a secret which they had hitherto concealed
from you and from all the world, namely that, in
your behalf, as well as their own, they had forever
and intirely renounced that allegiance to Britain,
from which they had so often profeffed an intention
never to depart, unless through unavoidable necessity.
The continuance of the war, with all its calami
ties, was the unavoidable consequence of this resolve
of Congress. Still, however, the Commissioners,
adhering to the spirit and letter of their original de
claration, wished to restore the peace of the empire,
by recalling you to your allegiance, and fixing your
equitable claims to the privileges of Britifli fubjeas,
on a clear constitutional foundation.
The Congress, on their part, still persevered to tell
you, that it was unfafe to think of any negociation,
until some clear and explicit terms fliould be openly
offered,by competent authority, on the part of Britain.
That no room even for cavilling might remain, a
bill has been brought into Parliament, proposing
terms so clear and explicit, that they cannot be mis
understood.
A draught of this bill, and of another fpecifying
the powers to.be veiled in the Commiflioners, has
been published.
On this, as on all former occasions, the Congress
have pursued their wonted dourfe. You are not per
mitted to deliberate for yourselves. They have once
more decided for you, that nothing fhoit of absolute
independence and an entire separation from Great-
Britain fliall give you peace! they have affhaed to
give you a number of specious reasons for this re
peated decision; all which, however, are founded in
that groundless jealousy and distrust of which they
have availed, themfclves, from the beginning of this
dispute, to cajole or compel you to hazard your
lives, or facrifice your fortunes, in support of their
ambitious projects.
They begin their observations on this fubjeft with
telling you, that they are of opinion it is probable
the bills in question will be palled into Jaws, for the
following reasons----
I." Because divers feeble efforts have been made
" to set on foot some kind of treaty, during the last
" winter."---If any efforts have been made on our
part without producing peace, it must have been the
fault of your leaders, who cannot think of Caving
your lives and your property at the expence of giving
up their oivn dominion.
2. " Because the Congress imagine that we sup
" pose the fallacious idea of a cessation of hostilities
“ will rentier you remiss in your preparations for
“ war."---But why is the idea of a cessation of hosti
lities a fallacious one? Because that such a cessation
would give you an opportunity of tasting the sweets
of at kaft a temporary pease.? and might tempt you
THE
Fine Salt, Bs. od
Coarse Salt, Bs. od
Indian Corn per Bu. 7s. od
Coffee, is. gd
Chocolate, 265. per Do.
[No. 13 ^]