The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-01-11 00:00:00, page 3

" We cannot avoid expressing our concern,
that the great tendemefs with which your Ma
jedy has proceeded, \ and the conciliatory difpo
dition which appeared in the lail feffon of Par
liament, instead of having the def 0 effect pf
undeceiving the milled, ahd eftablimmg a con
fidence irrthe parent state, have be°n turned to
the advantage, and made instrumental to the pur
poles of this dangerous attempt; and whilst we
acknowledge this to be the conference of the
difference of intention which prevailed here and
in America, we are penetrated with a just sense
pf the Motives which have regulated your Ma
jesty's endeavours to prevent, if it had been pos
sible, the effufion of the blood of our fellow fub
jecL, and the calamities which are inseparable
from a state of war ; but iincethe rebellion is
now become more general, and manifefts the
purpose of eftabliftiing and maintaining an in
dependent empire, we cannot but applaud your
Majesty, resolution to vindicate the rights, the
interests, and the honour of this kingdom, by a
speedy and most decilive exertibn; and tor this
purpose, we think it obr indifpenhble duty to
declare, that we will'fuppert your Majesty with
our iives-and fortunes; and being fully pcr
fuaded, that in the present state of these disor
ders, the molt active will, in its^effed, be the
most merciful mode ofproceeding, we hear with
pleasure that your Majesty has increased your
naval establishment .and also greatly augmented
your land forces. We are sensible of your Ma
jedy's kind consideration, in having done it in l
such a manner asahay be the least burthenfome
to your kingdoms ; and your Majesty may be
assured, that we Shall chearfully concur in what
ever may be necessary to enable four Majesty to
profit of the friendly difpolition of foreign
powers.
" We are deeply impftrflhd by the gracious
motives .which induced your Mgefty to fend a
part ch rfour efedtotal troops to the garrisons of
Gibraltar and Port Mahon, by which aftiftance
this country will be enabled to employ a larger
number of its own established forces in the
maintenance of its authority ; and we return
your Majesty our Sincere thanks for having so
providentially pointed out to us a farther re
source in that national body of men, so confti-,
tutional in their nature, and so zealous in their
duty, the militia of thi, kingdom.
" We cannot fihhciently admire your Maje
sty's benevolent declaration, thatuhep the w^h
ed-for period' arrived, that the unhappy and de
luded multitude, 'againft whom this force will
be directed, frail become sensible of their error,
your Majesty will receive the milled with ten
derness and mercy ; and we are fully sensible of
the wife and compaflionate Sentiment which has.
determined your Majesty to delegate authority
to certain persons upon the foot, to grant ge
neral or particular pardons and indemnities, in
fitch manner, and to such persons as they Shall
think tit, and to receive the submission of any
province or colony which Shall be disposed to
return to its allegiance ; and we will most rea
dily concur in granting to the persons so com
miflioned such farther powers as may best tend,
to promote and effectuate your Majesty's saluta
ry measures../
" Permit us, Sir, to offer our grateful acknow
ledgments to your Majesty for the full and ex
plicit communication which your Majesty has
been pleased to make to tis, and atthe fame time
to express the just sense we entertain of the nu
anerous blessings we enjoy, flowing from the
Source of never ceating attention with which
your Majesty is occupied for the fafety and hap
piness of all your people; and we beg leave to
affiire your Majesty, that we participate the
fame desire which animates your royal breast,
and feel no other w^h than so re-establish order
and tranquillity through the Several parts of
your dominions, upon the Safis of a dole con
nection with, and constitutional dependence up
on Great-Britain."
To which his Majeflywas pleased to return the fok
lowing most gracious Answer.
'' My Lords,
" I receive with the most sensible fatisfadi
“ on this Address, 'fo fully expressive of your
" duty and loyalty to me. Nothing can be
" more acceptable than the assurances you give
“ of your utmost fuppoi/t to enable me to re
'' establish order and tranquillity throughout all
" my dominions, and I Shall most heartily con
" cur with any facafures that may tend to so
" salutary a purpose."
The following is a copy of the Petition of the
Common Council to the House of Lords and
Commons, which was presented to each
House, by the Sheriffson l hufday last. They
are both in the fame words, with only a vari
ation of the Address.
The humble PETITION of the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commons of the City of
London, in Common Council aflembled,
Sheweth,
THAT this Court hath taken into its most
"Wrm the babbit ^bborreh^ and in^na
^m we lee the real detign of those desperate
men, who, by the groflelt misrepresentations,
have deluded and precipitated cur unhappy fel
low Subjects in America, into meafuies no Jess
fubverlive of .heir pr/n happiness and true in
t,ic.<Q, tala-- ^ti^^ermfo co the vi&opcrity mud
Safety of Great-Errtaiu. The powers they have
aflumed, and the arbitrary and oppressive a&s
which they have done, leave ho doubt of their
traitorous purpose to induce the colonies to Shake
off the controul of the fnpreme legislature, and
To bury in an ungrateful oblivion, the remem
brance.of the great irduftry with which they
have been planted; he tottering care with which
they have been nursed.; the many advantages
which they have enjoyed, and the expehce of
blood and treaSure with which they have been
protested by this nation.
Cribbs cehn3dfatioh the prefect diArefred fittk
tion of our fellow fubje&s in America, ary ex
•ceedhigly alarmed for the conferences of those
coercive measures which are pursuing against
them ; measures that must, notwithstanding the
great uncertainty of their success, eventually be
prortuefre^ new and more burthenfome taxes,
the increase of an enormous national debt; arid
finally, we fear the loss of the most valuable
branch of our commerce, on which the existence
of an infinite number of induftrioCT ronufac*
turers and mechanics entirely depends.
1 hit his Majesty having been graciously
pleased, in answer to a late humble and dutiful
address and petition to the Throiie, praying a
eelfation of hostilities with America, for the
purpose of obtaining thrie, and thereby giving
' an opportunity for a happy and lasting reconci
liation with his Majesty's American colonies, to
declare, that be feowld abide by the sense of bis
Parliament, this Court conceive it to be their
indifpenfible duty, thus early in the Session, in
the most refpedful manner to apply tothis Right
Hon. House, that it will be pleased to adopt
such measures for the healing of the. present
unhappy disputes between the mother country
and the colonies, as may be speedy, permanent,
and honourable.
On Thuffday a new petition of Mr. Sayre to
the House of Commons, complairing of an un
due election for the borough of Seaford in Suf
fe, was presented to the House by Mr. Saw
bridge, Lord Ma,or elebty and fecended by Sir
George Yonge.
This morning Stephen Sayre, Esq; by virtue
of a Habeas Corpus granted by Lora Mansfield,
was carried from the Tower to Lord Mansfield's
house, where his case was argued; when his
Lord Ship Was pleased to difeharge him on bail,
himfelf in gool. penalty, and two sureties in
250 b each.
An account of what pafled yesterday on his
Ma;efty's going to the House of Peers. Mr>
Sayre's commitment to the Tower having rais
ed the chriofity of the public to an extravagant
pitch, the Streets of Westminster were crowded
by eleven in the morning. On Tuesday a hand
bdl, Signed “ A Poor Mechanic," was distribut
ed in' great numbers, which produced an answer
on the following day, intimating that the Ma
gistrates, had provided effectual means to appre
hend, and bring to justice, persons attempting,
to violate the laws. Fifty thousand ofthefe last
papers were distributed. Sir John Fielding's
advertisement combined with the above cir
cumilances to make people believe something
.very extraordinary was to happen. The Mid
dlesex Justices attended at the House of, the
Guildhall, Westminster, at an early hour, and
sout go df their constables were Stationed in
the Court-room. Another large body of con
stables placed them Selves *at the door of the
Swan Tavern, Westminster bridge. At a quar
ter before one o'clock, a body of about 40 con
stables passed through the Park to the Palace;
and by this time, the number of people, in the
Park only, could not be less than 25,000; but
their looks spoke peace and good humour; no
thing like treason or misprision of tre'afon. Hit
Majesty left the Palace about two; and the pro
cession was in the following order: two horse
grenadiers, with fivords drawn to clear the way;
three State coaches and fix, filled with nobl'e
iten, and gentlemen in waiting; a body of
horse guards ; trumpets; a body of yeomen of
the guards; fourteen of his Majesty's footmen,
two and two; his Majesty's coach, drawn by
eight cream coloured horses, with footmen on
each fide ; a party of horse-guards, followed by
the constables almost under the heels of the
horses. All was quiet in the park, save a few
faint hisses, and a few, Still fainter huzzas. At
the door of the Parliament house a little biffing.
When the King arrived, the guns at Stangate
were fired, and again on his leaving the House;
and during the period efhis being there, two
of the horse-guards paraded Parliament-Street
to fee that all was quiet. His Majesty was in
the House just 20 minutes, and he returned as
peaceably as lie went. The whole number of
the people aflembled on this occasion were esti
mated at 60,000.
•g r±?!':u_^ ^=}
•PHILADELPHIA, fa. 6.
In CONGRESS, fan. 2.
Whereas it h,s been represented to this Con
gress that divers hofieft and well meaning, but
uninformed people in these colonies, have by
the art and address of ntihifterial agents, been
deceived and drawn into erroneous opinions,
refpe&mg the American cause, and the proba
ble iflue of the present content
Resolved, That it be recommended to the
different Committees, and other friends to
American liberty in the laid colonies, to treat
all such persons with kindness and attention,
to coniider them as the inhabitants of a coun
try determined to b free, and to view their er
rors as proceeding rather from want of informal
tion than want of virtue or public spirit, to ex
plain to them the origin, nature and extent of
the present controversy, to acquaint them with
the fate of the numerous petitions presented to
his Majesty, as Well by Affernblies as by Con
gresses for reconciliation arid redress of grievan
ces, and that the last from this ^Congrefs, hum
bly requeuing the Single, favour of being heard,
like all the others has proved unfuccefsf'ul; to
untold to them the various arts of administra
tion to ensnare andenflave us, and the manner in
which we have been cruelly driven to defend
by arms, those very rights, liberties and estates
which we and our forefathers had so long enjoy
ed linmolefted in the reigns of his present Ma
jesty's predecessors. And it is hereby recom
mended to all Conventions and aflemblies in
these colonies, liberally to distribute among the
'people the proceedings of this and the former
Resolved, That it be recommended to them
to continue mindful, that humanity ought to
distinguish \the brave, that cruelty should find no
admiihon among a free people, and to take care
that no page in the annals of America be stained
by a recital of any action which justice orchridi
anity may condemn, and to rest assured that
whenever retaliation may be necessary or tend
to their security, this Congress will undertake
the disagreeable talk, h
Resolved, That the Assemblies, Conventions,
or Committees, or Councils of Safety, be re
quelled forthwith to transmit to this Congress
copies of all the petitions, memorials, and re
monstrances, which have been by their refped
'ive colonies presented to the Throne, or either
Houle of Parliament, finoe the year 1762, and
that they also inform this Congress whether any
and what answers were given to them &
Extracts from the Minutes.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec.
On the 31st ult. about two o'clock, A. M. a
fire was difeovered in the printing-office of the
fubferibers, which unhappily consumed the
fame, together with the whole flock of paper,
types and press.---It burnt with such fury that
no persons could enter the doors.---By this miL
fortune they are under the neceflity of acquaint
ing their kind customers, that it is no longer
in their power to supply them with the Penn
sylvania Mercury.—Whilst the publica
tion continued, it was their constant ftudy'to
give fatisfadtion to their readers ; but as this ac
cident has deprived them of the means bf profe
cutingit, they take this early opportunity of
returningtheir unfeigned thanks for past favours,
and hope for a continuance of that Friendship
which induced so many Gentlemen to patronize
their paper. STORY and HUMPHREYS^
#.G==^=^^===J.
N EW-'Y OR K, January it.>
Extras of a letter from an Officer in the Provin
cial Army before Quebec, to bis relation in this
city, dated yb Dec. i„fy
" Since I wrote you last, we have met with a
continuance of our former success, in raking
eleven fail of Veflels on the St. Lawrence, with
hear 130 prisoners, besides sailors. Brigadier
General Prescott, equally infamous for cowar
dice and cruelty, was at their head ; of the firft,
bis aot daring to attempt to pass a battery es fix
1. ' >•
And in order that the Lid Assemblies, Con
ventions, Committees or Councils of Safety,
may be enabled with greater case and facility
to carry th is resolution into execution, Resolved,
that they be authorised to call to their aid what
ever Continental troops Rationed in ornear their
refpebtive colonies, may be conveniently Spared
from their more immediate duty; and the com
manding officersof Such troops are hereby direct
ed to afford the said Assemblies, Conventions,
Committees or Councils of Safety, all such as
sistance in executing this resolution as they may
require, and which, continent with the good of
the Service, may be Supplied.
Resolved, That all detachments of Conti
nental troops, which may be ordered on the bu
siness in the aforegoing resolution mentioned,
be, while so employed, under the direction and
controul of the Assemblies, Conventions, Com
mittees, or Councils of Safety aforefaida
Resolved, That it be recommended to all the
United Colonies to aid each other (on request
from their refpedive Assemblies, Conventions,
Committees, or Councils of Safety, and County
Committees) on every emergency, and to culti
vate, cherish and increase the present happy and
neceflary unity, by a continual interchange of
mutual good offices.
And whereas the execrable barbarity with
which this unhappy war has been conduc
ed on the part of our enemies, such as burning
our dtfencelefs towns and villages, exposing
their inhabitants, without regard to sex or age,
to all the miseries which loss of property, the
rigour of the season, and inhuman devastation
can inflift, exciting domestic infurreCions and
murders, bribing the savages to desolate our
frontiers, and ckfting such pf us as the for
tune of war has put into their power, into gaols,
there to languish in : ons and in want; com
pelling the inhabitants of Boston, in violation of
the treaty, to remain confined within the town,
exposed to the insolence of the soldiery, and
other enormities, at the mention of which de
cencyand humanity will for ever blufh,mayjußly
provoke the inhabitants of these colonies to
retaliation,
Congrefe, the fate fetches dfthe great patriots
in both houses of parliament relative to Ame
rican grievances, and such other pamphlets and
papers as tend to elucidate the merits of the
American cause. The Congrels being fully
perluaded 'that the more our right to the enjoy
ment ot our ancient liberties and privileges is
examined, the more just and neceflary our pre
sent opposition tolfflnttteTta tyranny will appear.
And with reipebt to all such unworthy Amer
cans as, regardless of their duty to their Crea
tor, their country, and their posterity, have
taken part with ottr oppressors, and influenced
by the hope or possession of ignominous rewards,
Strive to recommend themselves to the bounty
of Administration by misrepresenting and tra
ducing the conduct and principles of the friends
of American liberty, and oppoling every niea
fure formed for its preservation and security,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the dif
ferent Assemblies, Conventions, and Commit
tees or Councils of Safety in the United Colo
nies, by the most speedy and effectual measures
to fruftrate the mifehievous machinations, and
retrain the wicked practices of these men.
And it is the opinion of this Congress that they
ought to be disarmed, and the more dangerous
among them either kept in fafecuftody or bound
with Sufficient Sureties to their good behavi
our.
'guns, (ehth of whin'll ^ould 'frt hnty 'or.rt? at
him, if he took the advantage ofa fair wind hud
an exceeding Strong current) and a row gabey
of one gun, is a fuffrcient ^rooK His fav&„
treatment of those unhappy persons, who ty
the chance of war fell into his power, fully cob -
viCs him of the second. There is a. Mr. Wal
ker in Montreal, a Gentleman of a large for
tune, and a character reputable for probity and
sense ; he was Unfortunate enough to fall under
the difplqrfttre of the King's Servants, who, hi
the dead of the night, (without any proof against
him, but only suspicion) Surrounded his houfu
in the country with armed men, and set it oft
fire to drive him out, as they found him too ca
pable to defend it against &eryother manoeuvre.
In this distress, his wife, naked as She rose from
her bed, defeended by a /adder which they put
up to a window : Mr. Walker also Went down
the Same Way,' and they were hurried to Mon
treal on foot, though their own carriage and
horses were u fed by the officer afthe party. They
were not allowed to flop for clothes, and might
have periled, had not two soldiers, more hu
mane than the rest, given them their blanket
coats. One would ithagine, severities like these
would have been punished by their commander ;
but, inftedd ofthat, Mr. Prescott added insult to
misfortunes, and on Mr. Walker's remonstrat
ing on the tightness of his irons, ordered them
to be closer Screwed. Mrs. Walker was told by
him, She deferred not the indulgence of flaying
in her own house, tor that was too good for
crimes like hers; and, before he let her go, h^
caused her to remain two days in the fame for
lorn Situation in which She entered the town.
Mr. Walker was on board the fleet we took, and
they foubtlefs intended to transport him to Eng
land under colour of the late a& ?f Parliament.
This is one instance of Mr. Prescott's inhuman
nity, to which I might add numberless others,
of his Striking and abusing men whose hands
were manacled. If ever retaliation is just, it
must be when those who have 1 cruel and ft
vage difpolition fall into our hands : but I would
not wish to panifh even such mifereants in the
manner they treated us : The reputation of the
arms of America must not be Stained by such
practices: '1 is not enough that we conquer
them in the field; but we Hull conquer them by
humanity and generosity. General Montgo
mery has ever treated his prisoners with thd
most polite attention and reipedt; but Mr. Pres
cott experienced the contempt he deserved, and
which, I hope, will be his never-failing attend
dent. General Carleton was to blame for fuf
fering him to act as he did; hut all agree, that
Prescott was the instigator of all our people fuf
fered. This day I walked over the plains of
Abraham ; to-morrow we begin our batteries:
I feel no great doubt of the success of the siege.
The works of the city are very extensive, badly
manned, and a majority of the inhabitants our
friends. The Governor turned out federal, be
cause they wou'd net take up arms: Good po
licy this ! They brought the falleft information
of the state of the garrison and fortifications."
Extras of a letter fro^ 1 gentleman in j'biladel
f 'pbia to bls friend in tbis city.
By an express from Baltimore we learn,
that the master of a vcffel, just from Hampton,
in Virginia, advises, that on the firft inst. the
men of war began to fire on Norfolk, and had
. continued firing fortwo days ; the town was in
flames when he taine off with the account."
By the Albany I'ort we are informed, that
General Wooster, at Montreal, had received an
express from General Montgomery, before
Quebec, mentioning, that that city had been
three times set on fire by our troops; that Gen.
Carleton had offered to surrender the <itr, pro
vided he might be at liberty to go wib his men
thither he pleased ; that General Montgomery
had refufed his offer, and returned him for an
swer, that it was himfelf he wanted; and that
the regulars were in great want of fuel.
By a letter from Curacoa, there is an account
of 7060 French troops being arrived at Hjfpa-.
niola, and nine fail oftlie line.
Yesterday, the Ship Sampfott, Capt. Coupar,
failed for London, having on board the following
cabin passengers, besides a considerable number
in the steerage : Mr. and Mrs Plenderleith, and
family, Mr. Rodgers, late of Charleftown, ia
Maffachuffetts-Bay, Gen. Dalrymple, Henry
Kelly,Efq; Mr. James Rivington, Lieut. Mon
crieffe, Lieut, George Robinson, of the navy,
MOIIC Orilliard, of Canada, Col. Glazier, and
Messrs; Mauleys,
^ Admiral Shouldham was in the Downs the
24th of October.
The papers brought by the Raftefn PoR last
night mention, that, seven transports arrived
lately at Bolton, without troops ; and that 120
more of the poor of Boston had arrived at Cbel
feab
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