The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-23 00:00:00, page 1

ANY person having a Servant Girl to dispose of, may
hear of a purchaser by applying to the printer hereof.
Allo any Girl wanting to be hired, may hear of a place by
inquiring as above.
George Merchant, a private in Capt. Morgan's company of
• riflemen of Virginia, who went to Canada with Col. Ar
nold last fall, was taken prisoner, soon after landing on the
plains of Abraham, and after being confined several days in
irons, was sent to England to be hanged, but meeting with
.friends in London, he was set at liberty and sent to Bristol,
from whence he got a passage, on the twenty-fourth of March,
in a schooner, to Halifax, where he tarried ten days, when
he with several makers of vessels, that had been taken by
the miniflerial cruizers, hired a small fifhing fchocmer to
bring them to Newbury, but by reason of contrary winds
put into Old-York, in New-Hampshire, where he landed
and pushed for Boston, and was sent Express from thence to
General Washington, and by him to the Continental Con
gress, and arrived here on Monday evening.——By him
we have the following important advices.
LONDO N, January 25.
LIEUTENANT Gen. Elliot, Colonel of the 15th
or the King's light dragoons, is appointed Go
veinor of Gibraltar, in the room of General Corn
wallis, defeated.
Feb. 29. To prevent the transports being taken by the
small Provincial privateers, orders are given to the Surveyor
of the navy, that none be taken up under three hundred
tens, and these also to have fix nine pounders upon deck for
their defence.
March 2. This week the following forces are said to be
agreed to in Council, to be sent to America this spring, viz.
Hessians, 12000. Brunfwickers, 4000. Waldeckers, 2000.
British, 37000. Total, 55000.
The treaty with the Duke of Brunswick was signed by
Col. William Fawcit, the 9th of January, 1776. By this
treaty three thousand nine hundred and sixty-sour men are
taken into the pay of Great-Britain ; also three hundred and
thirty-fix light cavalry, dismounted. Half to be ready to
march the 15th of February, and to arrive at the place of
embarkation the 25th; the other half to begin their march
the last week in March ; levy money to be paid to the Duke
thirty crowns each, at four shillings and ninepence three far
things. The King to pay the Duke a fiubfidy of sixty-sour
thousand five hundred German crowns a year while in pay;
and double that for two years after the troops return.
The treaty with the Landgrave of Hesse was signed at
Caffel, by the fame gentleman, the 15th of January.^ By it
twelve thousand Hessians are hired; a part to begin their
march the 27th of February, and the remainder within four
weeks after. Twenty crowns banco to be paid for levy mo
ney for each man. The subsidy to be forty-five thousand
crowns banco, per annum, at four Killings and ninepence
three farthings. The treaty to continue at leaftoneyear after
the troops are arrived back in the dominions of Hesse.
That with the Count of Hanau was signed the sth of Fe
bruary, for fix hundred and sixty-eight infancy, to begin to
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Vol. lI.J
Price only Tivo Coppers. Published every Tuesday, I'burfday, and Saturday Evenings.
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1776.
257
HOUSE of COMMONS.
On Thursday Lord NORTH moved that the above trea
ties should be referred to the Committee of Supplies ; on
which an interesting debate arose, of which the following is
the most material part given by the London papers.'
His Lordship explained the general plan of the treaty, the
necessity of the measure, and the very salutary effects that
might be expected from it. He said, no question could arise
upon it but three, all of which were too plain to require much
elucidation. Whether the troops to be hired were wanted ?
Whether the terms they were procured on were advantageous ?
And whether the force was such as might be deemed fully
adequate to effed the operations for which they were in
tended ? As to the firft point he said, that reducing America
to a proper conftitutionaf state of obedience, being the great
object of Parliament, the bed and most speedy means of ef
feding so desirable a purpose was the motive which in
duced administration to adopt the measure, because men
could be readier had, and upon much cheaper terms in this
way, than we could possibly recruit them at home. On the
second point he cbferved that not only in the view of com
parative cheapness with home levies, but as referring to for
mer times, the present troops will coil us less than, taking
all circumkances together, we could have expelled. And
lastly, that the force which this measure would enable us to
fend to America, would be such, as in all human proba
bility must compel that country to submit to reasonable
terms of submission, perhaps without more effufion of blood.
Lord JOHN CAVENDISH reprobated the measure in all
its parts. He observed that the present was the firft alarming
consequence of the American war. Britain was to be dis
graced in the eyes of all Europe. She was to be impoverished ;
nay, what was, if possible, worse, she was compelled to ap
ply to two petty German states in the most mortifying and
humiliating manner, and submit to indignities never before
prescribed to a crowned head presiding over a powerful and
opulent kingdom. First, the troops were to enter into pay
before they began to march—a thing never ^nown before.
Secondly, levy money was to be paid at the rate of nearly
seven pounds ten (hillings per man. Thirdly, not fatisfied with
this, those petty Princes are to be fubfidifed. Fourthly, they
have had the modesty to insist on a double subsidy. Fifthly,
the subsidy is to be continued for two years, in one instance,
and one year in the other, after the troops have returned to
their refpedive countries. And lastly, a body of twelve thou
sand foreigners are to be introduced into the dominions of the
British crown, under no controul of either King or Parliament;
for the express words of the treaty are, “ that this body of
troops (Hessians) shall remain under the command of the Ge
neral, to whom his most Serene Highness has entrusted his
command."
At half after one the House divided on the question, when
the numbers were, two hundred and forty-two for referring
the treaties to a Committee of supply, eighty-eight against the
motion.
march the 20th of March. Levy money thirty crowns. The
annual subsidy to be thirty-five thousand crowns.
[Num. 209.