The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-16 00:00:00, page 2

Mr. Glover has formed a calculation upon undoubted au
thority of the national loss for the present year, owing to the
American quarrel, and he makes it TWENY-SEVEN MIL
LIONS sterling.
Should the consequences of the present ruinous measures of
Ministry be the loss of the whole continent of America, the
Weft-India islands must of course fall to the Americans, the
property of which, from the evidence at the London tavern
yesterday, both of Mr. Walker and Mr. Edwards, is proved
to be no less than SIXTY MILLIONS—What a stake do
these desperate gamblers play for !
Dec. 13. On the firft inst. died, in the county of Devon,
Sir Richard Spry, Rear Admiral of the White.
HOUSE of COMMONS, Thursday, Dec. 21.
The American Prohibitory bill, with the amendments, was
brought into the House ; and a motion was made by Sir Grey
,°°[ e h that the amendments made by the Lords to the said
bill be now taken into consideration.
, Mr. Hartley opposed this motion and the bill at large ; he
ODierved, that this bill was a farewel to peace and America;
that we might bruise the heel, but not crush the head of Ame
; '" Am ' ri ' a ' after all ° ur exertions against her, would
full revive ; whereas Britain, he feared, would totally fink to
And both the Convention, and Councils of Safety feel the
necessity of a Governor—Some one man, to whom all in
(diligence and applications Ihall be directed—who foall have
a fixed method of calling them together, whenever they
ought to meet.
'Q. Is it not unnatural, that is incontinent with that sweet
equality in which human nature delights so much, to set up
one man so high above the reft!—A. No. Nature has made
men for such inequalities.—lt has made some men strong,
others weak ; some sagacious, others shortsighted ; some
handsome, others ugly ; some tall, others short; some quick,
others flow ; some attire, others fluggith; some bold, others
timorous. This natural inequality breaks out among savage
nations. Confider the Negroes in Africa, and the Indians
in America.—You fee some one eminent spirit, more saga
cious in council, and more brave or fuccefsful in war, sin
gled out for firft magistrate. Next to him you fee a few
feled persons excelling th© rest in experience, wisdom, and
valour, compose a council of Sachems and warriors ; last of
all, the mass of the people.
These distinctions run through the human race, in such a
manner that if you take the firft twenty men, women or
children, you meet, and form them into a club, or make
them up iito a republic. Let them meet and converse, deli
berate, d.bate, and ad together, you will soon fee some
one among them who will gain more of the confidence of
the club than the rest, the eyes of all will be fixed upon
him—next you will fee four or five others, distinguished by
some qualities or other, in the esteem of the whole, lastly
you will fee the remainder, a mass by itfelf and very little
diftindien made among them.
„ However, if your chief magistrate is annually elective,
either by the people at large, or by their representatives, or
by the representatives and council together, the distinction is
not very formidable, and for the lead mifbehaviour or abuse
of the confidence of the public, he may, at the end of the
year, be convinced that he is but one of the people—no
more than a man.
By a Gentleman who came passenger in the packet, we are
favored with some London papers, from which the following
extracts are taken, viz. °
LONDO N, December 8.
136
rum, unlefi some British phomix should hereafter arlfe from
her allies, , He concluded with proposing an amendment to the
motion, That the word now be left out, and the words
" this day fix weeks," be- inserted in the said motion.
Sir jofeph Mawbey seconded the amendment.
Mr. Bailey (Member for Weftbury, a gentleman who has
a large estate in the Weft-lndies) likewise supported the
amendment, and pointed out the ruin that would ensue to all
the Weft-India islands if this bill passed. He was perfonaUy
bitter against Lord North, and let fall a few hasty expressions
on the justice of P t, for which he was called to order
He even went so far as te lay, he was alhamed of being born
in a country where men's property could so easily be granted
away to the commanders and feamernof men of war.
Governor Johnftone was for the amendment,' because
events had happened iince the bill was last before that House
which made him wish to prevent its passing. He joined with
the member, who spoke before him, in opinion, that it would
ruin the Weft-India islands, especially if their resources for
corn and flour from Canada, so much infilled upon by Admi
nistration, were cut off by the loss of Canada ; and he called
upon the Minister for information, which he said he had a
right to exped, whether Quebec was, or was not, in the
hands of the Provincials at this time. He supposed he mould
have no answer, though the Lords in Administration in the
other House, when called upon, had given the intelligence
that was requested. °
The quellion being put, that the word now do stand part
of the original motion ; it was carried.
Then the main question was put, and being carried, the
several amendments were separately put and agreed to, and the
bill passed. It was ordered back again to the Lords.
The House of Commons are adjourned to the twenty-fifth
of January.'
On Friday evening a messenger arrived at his Excellency
Count de Welderen's, Envoy Extraordinary at this court from
the States of Holland, in St. James's square, with defpatches,
which were immediately sent to the Earl of Suffolk, who wait
ed on his Majesty with the said defpatches on Saturday morn
ing at the Queen s house, and on Saturday evening a council
was held on the said defpatches at Lord Suffolk's office, and
the messenger is ordered to hold himfelf in readiness, he still
remaining at Count Welderen's house, to return tomorrow
with answers to their High Mightinesses to the said defpatches.
The Duke of G- is at present busy in preparing a plan
for reconciliation with America, which he designs bringing
into the House of Lords early after the recess.
In coni'equence of some very interesting intelligence receiv
ed by the Secretaries of State from General Burgoyne, the
clerks in the Secretaries office were the whole of yesterday
employed in preparing matters that are to be laid before the
Cabinet in a few days.
The Adventure, Cook, from Halifax, with defpatches for
government, is arrived at Bristol.
Orders are sent to the commanding officers of the regiments
lately arrived frora Gibraltar and Minorca, who are replaced
by the Hanoverian troops, to complete their refpedive regi
ments to their full complement of men, and to be in readiness
to embark on the firft notice for North-America.
Extract of a letter from Gofport, Dec. 29.
" Some of the troops are marched for Petersfield and
Guildford, and are to be viewed by his Majesty some time
next month.
„ In the Liberty, Thompson, which arrived on Sunday fe'n
night from Quebec, was brought over one of the American