The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1781-09-17 00:00:00, page 2

HOUSE of COMMONS.
Friday, > I§. The House being reamed
The Attorney-Generai moved, that the bill
for the relief of insolvent debtors fnould be
read a second time, which was done.
Sir George Yonge did not oppose the bill ;
but he deduced this inference from the fre
quent resort to fitch bills, that it was absolutely
necessary to enad some Handing law between
the debtor and creditor, to which both parties
might resort, without calling to Parliament
every two or three years for an insolvent bill.
The Attorney General confeffed, that a
Handing insolvent ait would be highly yfeful ;
2nd if any member would move for leave to
bring in a bill for that purpose, it fhou'd have
his most hearty concurrence.
Lord Beauchamp fjpported the idea; and
expreffid his hope that such a law would be
made feme time or other, though he had not
been foccefsful enough to carry a bill of that
nature through the House last session of Parlia
ment: The mercantile part of the world, the
molt concerned in that bill, had made no
opposition whatever to it; it had been opposed
only by the lowed members of the law.
The bill was then ordered to be committed.
The next order of the day was for the second
reading of the East India territory bill.
Lord North said, that he understood that it
was not the design or desire of the Gentlemen
of the East India Company to make any oppo
sition to the bill in this stage, but to reterve
themselves for a future day ; that they had
therefore wished to have the bill committed
for Thursday, as there was to be a meeting of
the Company on Wednesday next; and as there
seemed to be a kind of leading to an agree
ment, he should certainly so far concur with
the desires of the Company.
Te bill was read a second time, and order
ed to be committed for Thursday next.
Tuejri^y, June 19. When the Commons
returned' from the House of Lords, Lord
North delivered to the Speaker the following
message from his M^jefty.
George R.
His Majesty, relying on the experienced
z°al and affection of his faithful Commons
and corfidering that, in this critical conjunc
ture, emergencies may arise, which may be
of the utmost impor ance, and be attended
with the mod dangerous consequences, if
proper means should not be immediately ap
plied to prevent or defeat them, is desirous
that this house will enable him to defray any
extraordinary expences, incurred or to be in
curred on account of military services for the
service of the year 1781, and to take all such
measures as the exigency of affairs may re
quire.
On the motion of Lord North, his Majes
ty's most gracious message was referred to a
Committee of the whole House, and will fit
to-morrow.
The bill for new modelling the Supreme
Court of Judicature in Bengal, was read a
second time.
The Speaker then put the queflion, " That
this bill be committed." It was carried with
out adivifion.
Wednesday June 20. The House resolved
itfelf into a Committee of the whole house, to
take into consideration his Majesty's message;
Lord North moved that this committee would
enable the King by a vote of credit of 1,000,
cool, to take such measures as the exigency
of affairs might require.
Sir Edwaid AP.cly and Mr. Turner were
surprised that Ministers could be so audacious,
as to call for another million, after so many
millions had been already voted. However
the vote of credit passed.
The bill for making the colledors of the
land-tax to pay in their collections by a given
time, or forfeit their poundage, was next read.
Lord North moved, that the next reading be
adjourned for three months; the motion was
carried, and the bill of course fell for the pre
sent.
riayXthe Commissioners of accounts bill—the
erm bill—linen, bill-and the Winchester
election bill.
fay, that the Prince of Orange has granted
letters of marque to several merchants of that
city, who are determined to fit out privateers
to cruize against the English, though some of
the principal merchants there, and in other
provinces, are against such a procedure, being
desirous that peace may be restored between
the Court of Great Britain and their High
Mightinesses.
" It is given out here as a fad, that our
Court, in union with another power, has de
clared it improper that France should have any
influence in the resolutions of the Spates Gene
ral, at the fame time that England should fWZ
remain without affikance ; and that the inde
pendence of North America ought not to be
acknowledged till the other powers have grant
ed to their American colonies a like liberty.
It is conjedured that this declaration will pro
duce great changes.
Letters from Amsterdam by Saturday's mail
A letter from Cadiz, arrived at Dublin, July
12, mentions, that by the arrival of a Danish
Indiaman from St. Helena, who reports, that
four days before he left that Island, Commo
dore Johndone with part of his convoy arrived
there in a very disabled condition, in conse
quence of a second engagement between his
fleet and the French, who had attacked him at
the Island of St. Jago, in which one of the
French men of war was funk, but it was feared
by the English that two of their Euft India
Ihips and one of the transports had fallen into
the hands of the enemy.
Excraf? of a letter from Peterfburgh, by the Hol
land mail, which arrived the 18th July.
The Thynne packet, which left New-York
on the 27th of May, arrived at Falmouth in
twenty-five days.
His Majesty has been pleated to appoint
Lieutenant-Colonel Gunning, to be Colonel
of the Bzd, or Hamilton regiment, in the room
of the late Brigadier-General Francis M'Lean,
who some time ago died at Halifax, in Nova-
Scotia.
This day his Majesty came to the Houfe,and
being seated on the Throne, the Uther of the
Black Rod was sent to the House of Commons,
to desire their attendance. The Commons be
ing come, the Speaker took his hand at the
bar, and holding in his hand the East India
Company's bill, made the following speech to
the King:
SIRE,
" Your Majeßy's faithful Commons have,
in the course of the present session, granted
every supply which your Majesty has asked, in
order to enable you to answer all the emergen
cies of the present crisis of public affairs, and
to refill effectually the unprovoked confede
racy which has been formed against this coun
try ; and, although in the railing of those sup
plies, they have done every thing in their
power to render them as little burthenfome to
the people as possible, and have found the re
July 19. The Empress of Russia has taken
up the matter of American independence on
the belt ground. If the Britilh colonies are
made independent on the parent Hate, it is but
reasonable those of France, Spain and Holland
should be put on the fame footing.
The Mary Ann of Bristol, for New-York,
is retaken by the Lightning privateer of Liver
pool. The Diana from Philadelphia, for Got
tenburgh, with 104 . hogflheads of tobacco, is
taken and carried into Londonderry. A con
vention is signed for the exchange of Britilh
and Spanish prisoners, by which fix thousand
of our fubjeds will be set at liberty.
They write from Lilbon that Lady Charlotte
Finch, who has been very ill, is greatly reco
vered, as is her son, the Earl of Winchelfea,
and they propose flaying there all the summer.
Dr. Keene, the deceased Bishop of Ely, is
succeeded by Dr. James Yorke, late Bishop of
Gloucester.
The Emperor of Germany has granted the
establishment of an English Church for the
use of all protestants who reside at Oftend.
" We begin to discover the interest of the
British court improving since the lall change
the Empress has made in her cabinet council.
The memorial delivered latt week by the
French Ambassador, refpe&ing the inactivity
of the armed neutrality, has given great dis
gust. Those who are about the court fay,
that when the present war is the fubje& of
conversation, the Empress and her Ministers
declare that they think it very unjust that
Great Britain should be compelled to decla:e
the American colonies independent, and
open to the trade of the whole world, unless
France, Spain and Holland, will agree that
their colonies shall be equally free from com
mercial restraints. It is imagined some over
tures for a peace will be brought forward upon
this ground.
It is most probable that a war with the Em
peror, againit France and Holland, will be
the consequence of his opening the ports ;
the late capture of an Imperial East Indiaman
by the French, seems to be the firft step to
actual hostilities.
Dr. Cornwallis is appointed Bishop of Lich
field and Coventry.
The Sandwich packet arrived at Falmouth
from New-York, about the loth of July.
The Aftrea, of 28 guns, is put into commis
sion, and the command given to Captain Mat
thew Squire.
Monsieur Ie Motte, a natural son of the Duc
de Soubife, was tried at the Old Bailey, for
treasonable practices on the 15th of July,
found guilty, and sentenced to death.
Captain Fooks is appointed to command
the Lion of 64 guns, and Captain Fox to the
Greyhound of 28 guns.
A letter from the Hague, dated June, 26,
fays, " The Ruffian Ambassador has acquain
ted the States, by order of the Empress, that she
is unwilling to fee her ally the King of Great
Britain overpowered by numbers, and urges
them to a negociacion for peace ; and that the
Ambassador has requested an anfiver in a fort
night that he might fend it to the Empress.
What effed this may have on the States is un
certain, they are to meet in a few days to de
liberate on the matter. We are very anxious
to know the event,as the people in general are
defirpus of a peace."
The Ruffian minister resident at the French
Court, at a meeting held at the hotel de Nar.
bonne, in Paris, publickly declared, that a
treaty of alliance and friendship was negociat
ing between his court and those of Vienna and
London.
A letter from a gentleman at Madrid, fays,
" I have made the most diligent enquiries into
“ the success of Mr. Jay's proceedings on be
" half of the Congress borrowing 500,000
" dollars of the Government, and find he
" had been acquainted that the Court could
" not lifter to any proposals of the kind ; and
" an officer of the treasury assures me that
" Spain (meaning the Crown) has not assisted
" America with either money, men, or stores,
" and believes never means to do so."
ExtraEl of a letter from Peterfourg, dated
June 22.
HOUSE of PEERS
Wednesday July iS.
" The zeal and ardour which you have
Shown for the honour of my crown, your firm
and steady support es a just cause, and the
great efforts you have made to enable me to
surmount all the difficulties of this extensive
and complicated war, mud convince the world
that the ancient spirit of the Britilh nation is
not yet abated or diminished.
" In the midd of these difficulties you have
formed regulations for the better management
and improvement of the revenue; you have
given additional Strength and Stability to pub
lic credit ; and your deliberations on the af
fairs of the East-India Company have termi
nated in such measures as will, I trull, produce
great and essential advantages to my kingdoms.
“ I have observed, with much fatisfadion,
that during the course of that important busi
ness, your attention was not more anxiously
direded to the benefits to be derived from the
territorial acquisitions, than to the happiness
and comfort of the inhabitants of those remote
provinces.
“ Whatever may remain to be done for se
curing those valuable possessions, and for re
draining the abuses to which they are peculi
arly liable, you will, I doubt not, proceed to
provide for at your next meeting, with the
fame wisdom and temper that have governed
your late proceedings and enquiries.
" Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
" My particular thanks are due to you, for
the ample provisions you have made for the
service of the current year. I fee with great
pleasure that you have had it in your power to
apply so large a sum to the discharge of the
debt of the navy, and that the supplies which
you have granted have been raised in a man
ner the lead burthenfome to the property and
industry of my faithful people.
" My Lords and Gentlemen,
'' It is his Majesty's royal will and pleasure,
that this Parliament be prorogued to Thurs
day, the thirteenth day of September next, to
be then here hodden ; and this Parliament is
accordingly prorogued to Thursday, the thir
teenth day of September nexG
" While 1 lament the continuance of the
present troubles, and the extension of this war,
I have the fatisfadion to reflect, that the con-
Rant aim of all my councils has been to bring
back my deluded fubjeds in America to the
happiness and liberty they formerly enjoyed,
and to fee the tranquility of Europe restored.
66 To defend the dominions, and to main
tain the rights of this country, was, on my
part, the sole cause, and the only obje& of the
war. Peace is the earnest wish of my heart;
but I have too firm a reliance on the spirit and
resources of the nation, and the powerful as
sistance of my Parliament, and the protection
of a just and all-ruling Providence, to accept
it upon any other terms or conditions, than
such as may consist with the honour and dig
nity of my Crown, and the permanent interest
and security of my people."
Then the Lord Chancellor, by his Majesty's
command, said,
feurces of this country equal to every demand
which has been made upon it; yet, as the bur
thens which the necessity of the times obliged
them to impose, were great indeed, however
cheerfully imposed, his Majesty's faithful
Commons trust, that his Majesty's humanity
and wisdom will take care, that the supplies
they have so liberally granted, shall be applied
only to the purposes for which they have been
voted.
“ SIRE,
" I have the fatisfadion to inform you,that
during the present session your faithful Com
mons have paid particular attention to the sup
port and extension of public credit, and the
improvement of the public revenues in order
to be the better prepared to Strengthen your
Majesty's arms, and to enable them to answer
the future exigencies of affairs.
66 SIRE,
" I have in my hand the last of the bills
which make up the supply of the current year.
It is an aft for enabling your Majesty to enlarge
the charter of the United Company of Mer
chants of England trading to the Bast Indies,
and for securing to your Majesty, for public
ufe,the four hundred and two thousand pounds;
which bill I most dutifully present from your
faithful Commons, who humbly intreat that
it may receive your Majesty's Royal Approba
tion."
The Royal Assent was given to the follow
ing bills, viz. To the East India new Charter,
Bengal Judicature, and Insolvent Debtors bills,
—bill to amend an error in the Cocoa Nut
Ad—bill to regulate the driving of cattle—
that to provide places of residence for the pa
rochial clergy—bill for eroding new buildings
near the Bank—bill to prevent the dealing of
Iron Rails, Pewter, Brass, Solder, &c.—Ply
mouth Dock bill—and several public and pri
vate bills.
After which his Majesty made the following
Speech to both Houses:
“ ALTHOUGH the business of this session
has required a longer attendance than may
have been confident with your private conve
nience, yet I am persuaded that you look back
with fatisfadion on the time you have employ
ed in a faithful discharge of your duty to
your country, in the present arduous and cri
tical date of public affairs.
" I cannot let you depart into your reflec
tive counties, without assuring you of my en
tire approbation of your condud, and of my
perfect confidence in the loyalty and good af
fections of this Parliament.
" My Lords and Gentlemen,
" My Lords and Gentlemen,
Hague, July 14. Sfoce the E^percr fete -
to efpeufe the cause of the Englifii,' several of
the States who were most a&ive in promoting
the war, have changed their opinion, and feeni
inclined for peace ; they confider the bad conic
quence that mult ensue if Antwerp be declared
a free port ; which is very likely to take place,
because the Emperor's fubjeds are very desirous
to have it so, and hcis ready to grant them any
reasonable request, and should there be a peace
the trade from England will not flow to Am=
flerdam nor Rotterdam, but Offend and Ant
werp, by which the States of Holland must b^
considerable loofers. This was warmly debat
ed in the lad Assembly, and it is said the ma
jority are inclinable to adopt some expedient
to bring about a reconciliation with the Court
of Great-Britain.
Yesterday arrived here, Capt. Afhmead,
from Cape Francois, who brings an account
that on the failing of le compte de Grade for
this continent, the Britilh dispatched a frigate
from Jamaica after the homeward bound fleet,
fearing his view was to intercept it.
A gentleman just arrived from North Caro
lina informs, that the enemy, amounting to
fix hundred, had marched from Wilmington
towards Edenton, in that state; and that ge
neral Cafwell had colluded about one thousand
men, and was in pursuit of them.
The French and American troops under the
command of their refpedive generals are now
on their passage down the Chefapeak, if not
arrived at the place of destination: There is
also the greatest reason to believe the Rhode
liland fleet has joined that under de Graffe; so
that we may exped to hear of some important
llroke in that quarter in a very short time.
NEW-YORK, Sept. 12.
On Wednesday evening last a party of Refu
gees, from Fort de Lancey, on Bergen Neck,
confiding of only eleven men, under the com
mand of Captain William Harding, made an
excursion to Clofter, in Jersey, being 25 miles
from said post, where they furprized and made
prisoners of a Rebel Guard of fix men, be
longing to the noted Captain Blanch, and also
collected fifteen head of cattle ; all which they
conduced with them back to Fort de Lancey,
notwithstanding they were followed in their
return for near twenty miles, by at lead near
three times their number, under the command
of a Colonel Gutches, and the said Blanch,
but without their venturing to make any at
tack, except now and then exchanging a few
long Shot at a very refpeCtable distance.
When Mons. de Graffe, who had landed Is
troops, and been joined in Chefapeak by
Mons. de Barras's Ships from Rhode-lfland,
perceived the approach of our squadron, he
ordered instantly that his commanders should
flip their cables and push out to sea, this
brought on a partial engagement between the
two powers on the ,h instant, the British con
sisting of 19 and the French of 24 line of battle
ffiips, Admiral Graves's Signal was for a close
Hague, July 17. The States of Holland
in their last Aifembly agreed to accept the me
diation of the Empress of R uffia,who has offer'd
her Interposition for the Re-establishment of 5
general Peace. This Resolution is ordered to
be immediately communicated to the Red of
the Provinces for their Opinion.
B OST ON, September 3.
Saturday merging last there was a severe
engagement just at the entrance of this harbour
between an English frigate said to be the Assu
rance of 44 guns, and 10 caronades, from Ha
lifax, and the French frigate Magicienne, cfgl
guns, coming round from Pifcataqua, convoy
to a mast drip ; when after near an hour's con
flict the Magicienne was obliged to drike to
superior force. How many were killed on board
either ship we have not heard. The Briton
was seen from the eminences and tops of houses
in this town, to have loft her mizen-top mast,
and to be otherwise much damaged. The
Adrea and Sagatarie frigates are gone in quest
of them, as both the Britilh drip and her
prize were much Shattered, the latter being
in tow lad Saturday at 4 o'clock, P. M.
The Magicienne mounts twenty-eight 18
pounders on one deck, eight 9's on her quarter
deck, and four on her forecadle.
Yesterday arrived the mast drip above men
tioned.
Last Thursday letters were received from
the British fleet under the command of Admiral
Graves.
Last monday was lent into port a prize ship
captured by the letter of marque brig Romulus
Capt. Waters ; her cargo confide of rum, sugar
coffee, &c. The Captain of this prize informs
That he failed from St. Kitts, the firft instant,
in company with a fleet of merchantmen,
confiding of about 200 fail, under convoy of
four Grips of the line and four frigates, bound
for Europe.
Since our lad a brig arrived at Beverly,
prize to the privateer ship Rhodes, Nehemiah
Buffington, commander ; her cargo of pro
visions.
We hear that all the militia of this date,
east of the Sufquehannah, have received orders
to hold themselves in readiness for adual ser
vice; and, in consequence of a requisition of
congress, a great proportion will immediately
take the field, and rendezvous on or in the
neighbourhood of the Delaware.
SALE M, Augufl 28.
The Privateer drip Harlequin, Capt. Need
ham, has captured a ship with Provisions,
which has fafe arrived since our last.
NEW-YORK, Sept. i 5.
Philadelphia, September 12.