The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1778-05-25 00:00:00, page 2

Majesty for the communication of the paper present
ed to the Lord Viscount Wevmouth, by order of the
French King, anti for acquainting us, that in con
sequence 0: this offensive declaration, your Majesty
has thought proper to order your Ambassador to
withdraw from the Court of Fiance. And we beg
leav3 to assure your M jefty, that it is with the ut
most difficulty we can retrain the strongest expreflions
of the resentment and indignation which we feel for
this unjust and unprovoked aggression on the honour
of your M ajcfty's crown, and the essential interests
of your kingdoms, contrary to the law of nations,
and injurious to the rights and possessions of every
sovereign power of Europe.
“ The good faithand uprightness of your Ma
jesty's conduct towards foreign powers, and the sin
cerity of your intentions to prefer ve the general tran
quillity, must be acknowledged by all the world ;
and your Majetty cannot be considered as responsible
for the disturbance of that tranquillity, if you should
fiud yourlelf called upon to refill the enterprizes of
that restless and dangerous spirit of ambition and
aggrandizement, which has so often invaded the
rights and threatened the liberties of Europe.
', We should be wanting in our duty to your Ma
jesty and to ourselves, if we diJ not give your Ma
j-ftv the strongest assurances of our most zealous af
filtance and support. Everv fentinrent of loyalty to
your Majesty, and of love to our country, will ani
mate us to hand forth in the public defence, and to
promote every measure that shall be found necessary
for enabling your Maj tty to vindicate the honour of
your crown, and to protest the just rights and essen
tial interests of these kingdoms."
America.
(Signed) LE M. De Noailles."
Lo; don, March 13, 1778.
The f allowing is the humble Address of the House
of Lords to his Majetty yesterday, in consequence
of the foregoing message:
Most Gracious sovereign,
“ My Lords,
" I thank you for this loyal and affectionate ad
dress. Nothing shall be wanting on my part that
boy tend to the effectual support of the just rights
cf my crown, and the true interests of my people.
These great and important considerations shall ever
be the immediate object of my attention,"
*< We yowr Maje Hy's most dutiful and loyal fob
je&s, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parlia
ment assembled, return our humble thanks to your
^the Porcupine frigate, which, arrived at Philadel
phia, the iib inf. xe have received the following
intelligence, v
LONDO N.
HOUSE of LOR D S, March 17.
THE following is the meffagte delivered by Lord
Weymouth to the House ofLords last Tuelday.
« GEORGE R.
H;S Majesty having been informed, by order of
the French King, that a treaty of amity and com
merce has been signed between the Court of France
aid certain petfans employed by his Majesty's revol
ted fubje&s in North-America, has judged it necessa
ry to dire&, that a copy of the declaration delivered
by the French Ambaflador to Lord Viscount Wey
rnouth, be laid before the house of Lords; and at
the fame time to acquaint them, that his Majesty ha's
thought proper, in consequence of this offenfive
communication on the part of the Court of Fiance,
to fend orders to his Ambassador to withdraw from
that Court.
His Majesty is persuaded that the justice and good
faith of his condy& towards foreign powers, and the
sincerity of his wishes to preserve the tranquility of
Europe, will be acknowledged by all the world ; and
his Majesty trusts that he shall not stand relponfible
for the disturbance of that tranquility, if he should
had himfeif called upon to relent so unprovoked
and so unjust an aggression on the honour of his
crown, and the effentiai interests of his kingdoms,
contrary to the most solemn assurances, subversive of
the law of nations, and injurious to the rights of
every sovereign power in Europe.
His Majesty, relying with the firrpeft confidence on
the zealous and afte&ionate support of his faithful
people, is determined to be prepared to exert, if it
mail become necessary, all the force and resources
of his kingdoms, which he trusts will be found
adequate to repel every insult and attack, and to
maintain and uphold the power and requtation of
this country.
G. R."
The Lord Viscount Weymouth also, by his Ma
jesty's command, laid b fore the house a copy of a
paper delivered to Lord Viscount Weymouth by the
Marquis de Noailles, the 13th of March, 1778, and
translation, which is as follows:
" THE under-signed Ambassador of his most
Christian Majesty, has received express oiders to
make the following declaration to the Court of
London:
Tne united dates of North-America, who are in
full poss flion of independence, as pronounced by
them on the 4th of July, 1776, having proposed to
the King, to confohdate, by a formal convention,
the conneaion begun to be established between the
two nations, the refpe&ve Plenipotentiaries have
signed a treaty of friendship and commerce, designed
to lerve as a foundation for their mutual good cor
respondence.
His Majesty being determined to cultivate the
good u derftanding'fubfitting between France and
Great-Britain, by every means compatible with his
dignity, and the good of his fubjefts, thinks it ne
cessary to make this proceeding known to the Court
of London, and to declare at the fame time, that the
c>ntia&ing parties have paid great attention not to
ft pula.e any exclusive advantages in favour of the
French natmn ; and that the united dates have re
served the liberty of treating with every nation what
ever, upm the fame footing of equality and reci
procity.
In making this communication to the Court of
London, the King is firmly persuaded she will find
new proofs of his M.j ft 's conitant and sincere dis
position fur peace ; ami that his Britannic Majesty,
animated by the fame sentiments, will equally avoid
every thing'that may alter their good harmony ; and
that he will particularly take effe&uJ mtafures to
prevent the commerce between his M jefty's fubje&s
and the united States of North-America from being
interrupted, and to cause all the usages received
between commercial nations to be, in this refpe&,
observed, and all those rules which can be laid to
subsist between the two crowns ®f France and Great-
Britain.
In this just confidence, the under-signed Ambas
sador thinks it fu;erfluous to acquaint the British
minister. that the Ku g his matter, being determined
to prote& cffe&uatly the lawful commerce of his
fubjr&s, and to maintain the dignity of his flag, his
Majelty has, in consequence, taken eventual mea
sures in concept with the united dates of North-
His Majesty's molt gracious ANSWER.
Ft. James's, March 13. The King has been
pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood on James
Napier, Esq; Superintendant General of all the hos
pitals, for the forces in North America ; and he had
the honour to kiss his Majesty's hand on the occa
sion.
On the 30th and 31st of December the troops went
into winter quarters in this town, where they are all
well accommodated.
The enemy's army, excepting a detachment of
1200 men at Wilmington, is hutted in the woods
near Valley Forge upon the Schuylkill, 26 miles
from hence, and in a very strong position.
Col. Harcourt, who will have the honour of pre
senting these dispatches, has my leave to go to Eng
land upon his private affairs, to whom I beg leave to
refer your Lordship for the fulled information that
may be required.
I have the honour to be, &c.
W. HOWE.
March 17. A letter from Amderdam, dated
March 12, fays, letters from L'Orient advise, that
the Cavaillon from Bengal, but last from the isle of
France, was arrived there with the melancholy news,
that on the zzd of May lad, fix French ships, and
one English Ead-Indiaman, had periflied in the
Ganges, in a furious hurricane.
Letters received in the city from Madagascar lay,
that the natives had seized the cargo of a French ffiip,
detained the vessel, but sent the crew on shore to
perilh in the woods, where they were compelled to
fly.
Yesterday the firft payment on the new loan was
compleated, and docks rose one per cent. Thus bow
are we ruined ?
A privy council is summoned to meet this day at
St. James's, after the levee is over, said to be on the
issuing a proclamation for the declaration of war
againtt France.
Mr. Robert Mackenzie is appointed a Lieutenant
in Col. Dundas's regiment of Scots infantry.
Cepy of a letter from General Sir William Howe,
to Lord George Germaine, one of his Majesty's
principal Secretaries of State, dated at Philadel
phia, the 19th of January, 1778.
My Lord,
THE present appearance of the weather encouran
ging me to hope the river will be fufficiently
open in a few days to admit of a packets failing, I
have prepared my dispatches to this date, and shall
fend them off without waiting for the receipt of those
from your Lordihip by the Lord Hyde packet, which
I am informed by Sir Henry Clinton arrived at New-
York on theist instant, and were detained upon a
fuppolition that the navigation of this river would
not be open for a flip of force, and not thinking it
advisable to trust them in the packet, or in the armed
vessel bringing the advice.
There has not any thing more material happened
firice the departure of Lord Cornwallis, who I re
queued to be the bearer of my last dispatches, than
the passing a considerable detachment of the army
across the Schuylkill on the 22d of December, to
take post on the heights of Derby, in order to cover
the collecting and transporting by water, as well as
by land, a large quantity of forage which that Coun
try afforded. About 1000 tons were brought in, a
quantity judged to be nearly fufficient for the winter
consumption ; and the detachment returned on the
28th of December, without any further attempts
from the enemy to retard the progress of the foragers,
than from firfall parties skulking, as is their custom,
to seize upon the ftragling soldiers i---One of these
parties, confiding of two officers and thirty men,
were decoyed by two dragoons of the 17th regiment
into an ambufeade, and made prisoners.
'* Most gracious Sovereign,
" WE, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal
fubjecfy the Commons of Great-Britain in parlia
ment assembled, return our humble thanks to your
Majesty, for the communication of the paper pre
sented to the Lord Viscount W ymouth, by the
orderof the French King ; and for acquainting us,
that in consequence of this offenfive declaration,
your Majesty has thought proper to order your Am
bassador to withdraw from the court of France. And
we beg leave to assure your Majesty, that it is with
the utmolt difficulty we can restrain the strongest ex
pressions of the resentment and indignation which
we feel for this unjust and unprovoked aggreffi n on
the honour of your Majesty's crown and the essential
interests of your kingdoms, contrary to the law of
nations, and injurious to the rights and possessions
of eyery sovereign power in Europe.
"The good faith and uprightness of your Ma
jesty's conduct towards foreign powers, arid the sin
cerity of your intentions to preserve the general
tranquility, must be acknowledged by all the world.
And your Majesty cannot be considered as responsi
ble for the diftmbance of this tranquility, if you
should find yourfelf called upon to resist the enter
prize of that reliefs and dangerous spirit of ambition
and aggrandizement, which has so often invaded the
rights, and threatened the liberties of Europe.
“ We should be wantingin dur duty to your Ma
jesty, to our constituents, and to oUrfeJves, if we
did not give your Majesty the strongest assurances of
our most zealous abidance and support : And we
have the firmeft confidence that in every demondra
tion of loyalty to your Majesty, and of love of thrir
country, your faithful fubjefts will vie with each
other, and that no considerations will divert or deter
them from standing forth in the public defence, and
from fuftaing, with a steady perseverance, any ex
traordinary burthens and expences which should be
found necessary, for enabling your Majelty to vin
dicate the honour of your crown, and protest the just
rights and essential interests of these kingdoms."
HOUSE OF COMMONS.,
Lord North, agreeable to his intimation, delivered
his Majesty's message, literally the fame as in the
upper house. Mr. Baker moved the difmiffion of
the ministers, as an amendment, which produced a
very long debate, of the fame nature and fubitance
as that in the Lords. It would therefore be intru
ding on our readers patience to repeat arguments
virtually the fame, though differently habited.
Lord North painted the situation of this country as
nauch more comfortable than lome persons in oppo
sition had held out. His Lord said, our navy was
in a much better condition than it had been in the
commencement of the late war, that the new levies
were nearly filled ; that we should speedily have
30,000 men in arms, which added to the militia, who
would forthwith be embodied, would be an ample
force for the internal fafety of the kingdom. His
Lordfllip further said, that he had, since he had fat
that day in the house, received intelligence that every
Filling of the firft deposit on the new fubferiptions
had been paid.
The humble ADDRESS of the HOUSE of Com-
From the London Gazette, March 17.
Whitehall, March 17.
mons to the KING.
America, or relates thereto.
WH EREAS taxation by the parliament of
Great-Britain, for the purpose of railing a
revenue in his M jefty's colohies, provinces and plan
tations, in North-America, has been found by ex
perience to occasion great uneasinesses and disorders
among his Majesty's faithful fubje&s, who may ne
vertheless be disposed to acknowledge the justice of
contributing to the common defence of the empire,
provided such contribution should be railed under the
authority of the general court, or general assembly,
of each refpe&ive colony, province or plantation :
And whereas, in order as well to remove the said
uneafm< ffefs, and to quiet the minds of his Majesty's
fubje&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
the king and parliament of Great-Britain will not
impose any duty, tax, or assessment, for the purpose
of railing a revenue in any of the colonies, provinces,
or plantations : May it please your Majetty that it
may be declared and ena&ed ; and it is hereby de
clared and ena&ed by the King's most 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 passing of this
aft, the king and parliament of Great-Britain will
not impose any duty, tax, or ass ffment 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 refpe&ively
levied, in such manner as other duties colle&ed by
the authority of the refpe&ive general courts, or ge
neral afDmblies, of such colonies, provinces, or
plantotions, are ordinarily paid and applied.
And be it further ena&cd by the authority afore
faid, That, from and after the passing of this aft, so
much of an aft, made in the fevenh 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 fom this
kingdom of coffee and cocoa nuts of the produce of
the said colonies or plantations ; for difeontinuing
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.
An Aft to enable his Majesty to appoint tommiffioners
with fufficient powers to treat, consult, and agree
upon the means of quieting the disorders now fub
fifling in certain of the colonies, plantations and pro
vinces of North- America.
TOOR tbe quieting and extinguishing of divers jea
{ loufies and apprehensions of danger to their liber
ties and rights, which have alarmed many of his
Majesty's fubjefls in the colonies, provinces, and plan
tations of New-Hamp/bire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-
Island, Connecticut, New-Ybrk, New-Jersey, Penn
sylvania, the three lower counties on Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina,
and Georgia ; and for a full manifeflation of the just
and gracious purposes of bis Majesty, and his parlia
ment, to maintain and secure all his fubjefts in the
clear and perfect enjoyment of their liberties and rights;
be it enabled by the king's most excellent Majefly, by
. and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal, and Commons, in this present parlia
ment assembled, and by the authority of the fame, that
it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty, from time
to time, by letters patent under the great fe al of Great-
Britain, to autborife and tmpower five able and fuf
feient persons, or any three of them, to treat, consult,
and agree with any body or bodies politick and corpo
ratfj or with any afembly or aftm/t/CT of men, or
An Aft for repealing an A&, passed in the Four
teenth year of his present Majesty's reign, inti
tuled, " An ad for the better regulating the go
" verr.ment of the province of Massachusetts
" Bay in New England."
IX/HEREAS the province of the Maffdchufetts
VV Bay had for mahy years been governed under
a charter, granted by their late Majesties king Wil
liam and queen Mary : And whereas an a&, passed
in the fouiteenth yeai of his present Majesty's reign,
intituled, “ An a& for the better regulating the go
" vernynent of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New Eng
" land," has been found to create great uneasinesses
in the minds of the inhabitants pf the said province,
and has occasioned jealousies and apprehensions of
danger to their liberties and rights in several other
of the colonies and plantations in North-America :
For quieting and extinguishing ftich uneafmeffes and
apprehensions, be it enabled by the King's most ex
cellent Majesty, and by and with the advice and
consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and
commons, in parliament assembled, and by the au
thority of the fame, That, from and after the pas
sing of this a&, the said aft, of the fourteenth
year of the reign of his present Majesty, be, and the
fame is hereby repealed.
March 19. There was the botteft ptefs on the
Thames on" Tuesday night and yetterday morning
ever known. The gangs took a great number of
sailors, not a vessel escaped th&n, even those that had
prote&ions were carried off.
Several merchant ships which had.taken in their
lading, were ready to fail, and had got prote&ions
for their men, are now detained, their men notwith
standing their protections, being taken away by the
gangs ; even masters of fiflrteg vends did not escape
them.
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 so much of an aft, made
in the seventh year of the reign of his present
Majesty, as imposes a duty on tea imported from
Great-Britain into any colony or plantation in
It is said the King hath had a long conference
with Governor Wentworth I itely arrived from Ame
rica, and that his Majesty hath found him to be the
molt intelligent, sensible man he had converted with
on the present important dispute with the colonies.
The Le Robin, Santman, from Gaudaloupe to
South-Carolina, with icoo barrels of salt petre, and
a great number o f muskets, took tire by some acci
dent in coming out of Gaudaluupe, and was entirely
blown tip, and all the crew perished.
Extra& of a letter from Gofport, March 16.
" This morning failed from Spithead his Majesty's
ship Ardent, Admiral Gambier, with the Leviathan,
Supply, and Greenwich armed ships, with several
store-ships and transports under convoy, botnd to
New-York."
[For more London News, fee the last page.)
cuitb any person or persons 'whatfoever, of and con
cerning any grievances, or Complaints of griev ances,
exiting, or supposed to cxifl, in the government of
any of the said colonies, pro vinces, or plantations rest,
peflively, or in the laws and fhtutes of this reabh
refpefling the fame ; and of or concerning any aid or
contribution to be jurnifoed bp any of the said colonies,
provinces, or plantations refyeahvely, for the common
defence of this realm, and the dominions thereunto be
longing ; bind of and concerning any other regulations,
provi/ions, matters, and things, necessary or conveni
ent for the honour of bis Majesty, and bis p^idiament,
and for the common good of "all bis fabjeGs.
Provided afo, and be it further enabled and de
clared, That no regulation, provision, matter, or
thing, so proposed, treated, consulted, or Agreed, Jball
have any other force or effect, or be carried further
into execution, than is herein-after mentioned and pro
vided, until the fame fall have been confirmed by
parliament.
Provided also, and be it further enafied by the
authority aforefaid, That in order to facilitate the
good purposes of this aEI, his Majesty may lawfully
enable the said commissioners, or any three of them,
from time to time, to order and proclaim a cessation of
hoflilities, on the part of bis Majesty's forces, by sea or
land, for any time, and under any conditions or re-
JiriNions ; and ftecb order and proclamation to revoke
and annul in the fame manner and form.
And be it further enabled, That it ft all and may be
lawful for his Majefly, by such letters patent as afore
faid, to autborife and impoiver the said commiffioiers,
or any three oj them, by proclamation under their ref
pebiive bands and seals, from time to time, to suspend.
the operation and effect of a certain a& of parlia
ment, made and passed in the sixteenth year of the
reign of bis present Majesty, for prohibiting all trade
and intercourse with certain colonies and plantations
therein named, and for the other purposes therein alfd
mentioned, or an, of the provisions or rtfriciions
therein contained ; specifying in such proclamation at
what times and places refpeaively, and with what
exceptions and reftriflions, and under what passes and
clearances, in lieu of those heretofore directed by an,
aft or a&s of parliament for regulating the trade of
the colonies or plantations, the paid suspension Jball
take effect; and the said suspension and proclamation,
in the fame manner and form, to annul and revoke.
And be it further enabled b) the Authority aforefaid,
That it fall and may be lawful for bis Majesty, b,
such letters patent as aforefaid, to autborife and im
power the said commissioners, or any three of them, to
fufpencl, in anyplaces, and for any times during the
continuance of this afl, the operation and effect of any
ab l or abbs of parliament which have passed since the
tenth da, of Febrddi,, one tboufand seven hundred
&nd fixty-tbree, and which relate to any of his Md
jefy's said colonies, provinces, or plantations in North-
America fofar as the fame does relate to them ;or the
operation and efebl of any clause, or an, provijion or
matter therein contained, so far as such clauses, pro
visions, or matters relate to an, of the said colonies,
provinces, or plantations.
And it is hereby enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That it shall and my be lawful for bis Majesty, b,
such letters patent as aforefaid, to autborife and im
power the said commissioners, or an, three of them,
and the, are hereby authorifed and impowered, to
grant a pardon or pardons to an, number or descrip
tion of persons within the said colonies, provinces, or
plantations.
And, that no let or hindrance ma, happen from the
vacancy of the office of governor and commander irt
chief in any of the said colonies, provinces, or planta
tions refyeaively, or from the absence of fueb officer
from bis government, be it further enabled by the au
thority aforefaid, That it shall and may be lawful for
bis Majesty, b, such letters patent as aforefaid, to au
tborife and impower the said commissioners, or an,
three of them, in an, of the said colonies, provinces,
or plantations refpeaively, wherein his Majesty hath
usually heretofore nominated and appointed a governor,
to nominate and appoint, from time to time, by an, in
strument under their bands and seals, a proper perfort
to be the governor and commander in chief in and for
an, such colony, province, or plantation ; to have, hold,
and exercise the said office of governor and commander
in chief in and for such colon, or plantation refpeaively,
with all such powers and authorities as qn, governor
of such province heretofore appointed b, bis Majefi,
might or could baVe exercised, in as full and ample
manner and form as if such governor and commander
in chief had been nominated and appointed b, bis Majt
fly'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, such governor and commander in chief.
And be it further enabled, that this aN shall conti
nue to be in force until th^ firft da, of June, one thou*
sand seven hundred and feventy-nmei
NEWPORT, May 7.
The Maidfto.ne has sent in a Prize laden with Su
gar, &c. She has, we hear, taken 9 out of 15 Sail,
which left Martinico in Company.
NEW-LONDON, May 8.
Lad Thursday was sent into Boston, by the Ame^
rican Revenge, Capt. Champlin, and the Revenge,
Cipt. Conkling, both of this port, the ship Lovely-
Lass, Wade, late mister, from London, bound to
New-Y^rk, with the following cargo, viz. 235 bales
dry goods, 7 bales hops, 5 bales pepper, 1 hog;fhead
hams, 317 barrels flour, 29 puncheons old spirits,
4. bales beaver furr, 64 chelts tea, 370 caffes wine,
7 hampers wine, 8 cases acid, 137 baskets qheefe, 2g
hogsheads loaf sugar, 2 hoglhiads porter, and a
quantity of cordage.
The amount of her invoice in London, is said to
be 25,0001. sterling.
May 15. The Privateer Sloop Beaver, Capt.
Dodge, failed from Bedford on a Cruize last Sunday
Se'nnight, and on Monday fell in with the Maid
ftone Man of War ;---the Wind being light, the
Maidftone sent three armed Boats to attack the
Sloop ; but one of them was soon funk by Capt.
Dodge, on which the other two returned to the Ship ;
and a thick Fog setting in about the fame Time
favoured Capt. Dodge's Escape, The Sloop had
one Man killed and four slightly wounded. Capt.
Dodge arrived here on Tlwrfday Afternoon, and
brought in two empty Sloops which he took the fame
Day, off Montauk, bound from Newport to New-
Yoik.
Last Saturday the Mifflin armed Schooner, Capt.
Keer, returned here from a Cruise up the Sound,
and brought in fix Prizes, coasting Sloops and ,
Schooners, laden with a Variety of ufeful Articles,
BOSTO N, May 7.
On Tuesday lad arrived in this Port, from Cur^
tona, in Spain, a French Frigate of 40 Guns, with
very important Dispatches for Congress, which werd
immediately sent off by Express to that aaguft Body.
Since our lift several Vcffels from France and
other Parts of Europe with Goods, &c. have arrived
at this and other Ports, Likewise several Privateers,
and many valuable Primes.