The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1778-04-27 00:00:00, page 1

No. IL Copy of a Bill to enable bis. Majefly to
appoint Commissioners, with faficient pow
ers to treat, conjult, and agree upon the means
of quieting the disorders now fubfifing in cer
tain of the colonies, plantations, and provinces
of North-America.
persons to, be appointed by his Ma
jesty under the great seal of Great-Britain, or
any of them, shall by force of this
act have full power, commifiion and authority
to treat, consult, and agree with such body
or bodies political and corporate, or with such
assembly or assemblies of men, or with such
person or persons, as in their wisdom and dis
cretion they shall think meet, of and con
cerning any grievances or complaints of griev
ances exiting or supposed to exist in the go
vernment of any of the said colonies, pro
vinces or plantations refpeftively, or in the
laws and statutes of this realm respecting the
fame, and of, or concerning any aid or con
tribution to be furnifhed by all, or any of the
colonies, provinces or plantations refpedively,
for the common defence of this realm and the
dominions thereunto belonging, and of and
concerning such other regulations, provisions,
matters and things, as upon mature delibera
tion of the said Commiflioners, or any
of them shall be thought necessary or conve
nient for the honour of his Majesty and the
common good of all his fubjeds.
FOR the quieting and extinguishing of
divers jealousies and misapprehensions of
danger to their liberties and legal rights which
have milled many of his Majesty's fubjefts in
the colonies, provinces and plantations of
New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-
Island. Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania, the three Lower Counties on
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Caro
lina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, and for
a fuller manifeftation of the just and gracious
purposes of his Majesty and his Parliament to
maintain and secure all his fubjeds in the
clear and perfect enjoyment of such liberties
and rights : Beit enacted, &c. That
No. I. Copy of a Bill for declaring the Intentions
of the Parliament of Great-Britain, concerning
the exercise of the right of imposing taxes within
his Majesty's colonies, provinces, and plantati
ons in North-America.
WHEREAS the exercise of the right
of taxation by the Parliament of
Great-Britain for the purpose of
raising a revenue in his Majesty's
colonies, provinces, and plantations in North-
America, has been found by experience to oc
casion great uneasinesses and disorders, and has
by sundry misrepresentations been made the
means of misleading many of his Majesty's
faithful fubje&s, who yet acknowledge the
justice of contributing to the common defence
of the empire, provided such contribution
Should be raised under the authority of the Ge
neral Court or General Assembly of each ref
pe&ive Colony, Province, or Plantation :
And whereas in order as well to remove the
said uneasinesses and to quiet the minds of his
Majesty's fubje& who may be disposed to re
turn to their allegiance, as to restore the peace
and welfare cf 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 raising a revenue within any of the said
colonies, provinces or plantations: May it
please your Majesty, That it may be declared
and enafted, and it is hereby declared and
enabled, &c. That from and after the passing
of this a&, the King and Parliament of Great-
Britain will not impose any duty, tax, or
assessment whatsoever, payable within any of
his Majesty's colonies, provinces, and planta
tions in North-America, 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 applied to
and for the use of the colony, province, or
plantation in which the fame shall be respec
tively levied in such manner as other duties
colleded by the authority of the refyedive
General Courts or General Assemblies of such
colonies, provinces, or plantations, are ordi
narily paid and applied..
A White Loaf of Qe fineft FLOUR, to weigh
2 lb. 6oz. for 14. Coppers, and in the fame
Proportion for Loaves of a lesser Weight.
JAMES ROBERTSON, M. G.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 355. per Cento
Published February 2, 1778.
Monday, April 27, 1778:
COPIES of two BILLS presented and read
in the House of Commons, on the 19th
of February last.
NE W-Y ORK
AND
W E EKLY
Containing tbe earlier lattices
^ Printed by HUGH GAINE, at the BIBLE and CROWN, in HANOVER-SQUARE.
And be it further enabled by the authority
aforefaid, that the said Commissioners, or any
of them, may, and they are hereby
authorifed and empowered to suspend in such
places, and for such times as they shall think
fit, during the continuance of this aft, the
operation and effeft of all or any of the a&
or afts of parliament, which have passed since
the loth day of February, 1763, and which
relate to any of his Majesty's said colonies,
provinces or plantations in North-America,
so far as the fame do relate to them, or the
operation and effect of any clause, or any pro
visions or matters therein contained, so far as
such clause, provisions or matters relate to any
of the said colonies, provinces or plantations.
And it is hereby enaded by the authority
aforefaid, that it shall and may be lawful to
and for the said Commissioners, or any
of them, and they are hereby authorifed and
empowered to grant a pardon t' pardons to
any number or description of persons within
the said colonies, provinces or plantations.
And that no lett or hinderance may happen
from the vacancy of the office of Governor
and Commander in Chief in any of the said
colonies, provinces, or plantations refpedive
ly, or from the absence of such officer from
his government: Be it further enabled by the
authority aforefaid that the said Commffion
ers; or any of them, frall have full pow
er and authority in any of the said colonies,
provinces, or plantations, refpeftively, where
in his Majesty hath usually heretofore nomi
nated and appointed a Governor, to nominate
and appoint, by an instrument under their
hands and seals, a proper person to be the Go
vernor and Commander in Chief, in, and for
any such colony, province or plantation, to
have, hold, and excercife, during his Majesty's
pleasure, the said office of Governor and
Commander in Chief, in, and for such colony
or plantation refpedively, with all such pow
ers and authorities as any Governor of such
province heretofore appointed by his Majesty,
might or could have exercised, in as full and
ample manner and form, as if such Governor
and Commander in Chiefhad been nominated
and appointed by his Majesty's Letters Patent or
Commission, and for that purpose if need be
to revoke, annul, and make void any Com
million or Letters Patent heretofore granted
for appointing any such Governor and Com
mander in Chief.
of them, by proclamation under their respec
tive hands and seals from time to time to sus
pend the operation and effect of a certain ad
of parliament, made and puffed in the six
teenth year of the reign of his present Maje
sty, for prohibiting all trade and intercourse
with certain colonies and plantations therein
named, and for the other purposes therein also
mentioned, or any of the provisions or re
ftridions therein contained, for such conveni
ent time as the said Commissioners shall think
proper, fpecifying in such proclamation, at
what times and places refpedively, and with
what exceptions and reftridions the said sus
pension shall take effect, and the said sus
pension and proclamation in the fame manner
and form to annul and revoke, according to
their discretion.
And be it further enabled, that this act shall
continue to be in force until the firft day of
June, which will be in the year 1779,
Provided also, and be it further enacted and
declared, That no regulation, provision, mat
ter, or thing, so proposed, treated, consulted
or agreed, shall have any other force or effect,
or be carried further into execution, than is
herein aftermentioned and provided, until the
fame shall have been approved by parliament.
Provided also, and be it further ena&ed by
the authority aforefaid, that in order to facili
tate the good purposes of this aft, it shall and
may be lawful for the said Commissioners, or
any cf them, from time to time as
they shall judge it convenient, to order and
proclaim a ceflation of hostilities on the part
of his Majesty's troops in any of the said colo
nies or plantations, or any part thereof, for
any time, and under any conditions or restric
tions, which they shall think convenient, and
such order and proclamation to revoke and
annul in the fame manner and form, according
to their discretion.
And be it further enacted, that it shall be
lawful for the said Commissioners, or any
Monday, 43 Min. after 9
Tuesday, 38 Min. aftei 10
Wednesday, 37 Min. after 11
Thursday, 33 Min. after 12
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
i^&'t/ , c *'='^Vz/yfff
ff^l^^
^OIIIq^^II^
Friday, 36 Min. after 1
Saturday, 32 Min. after 2
Sunday, 27 Min. after 3
New Moon the z6th b
TH E
LONDO N.
From the LONDON GAZETTE, Jan. 20.
Whitehall, January 18.
The following letter from the Hon. General
Sir William Howe, to Lord George Ger
maine, one of his Majesty's principal Se
cretaries of State, was this morning receiv
ed by the Earl Cornwallis, who arrived
from Philadelphia, in the Brilliant armed
ship.
Philadelphia, December 13, 1777.
My Lord,
LORD Cornwallis having applied for leave
of absence to attend his private business
in Europe, I take this opportunity of fending
my dispatches by his Lordihip in the Brilliant
armed ship.
Since my last, the enemy being joined by
upwards of four thousand men, with cannon
from the northern army, assembled their whole
force in a strong camp at Whitemarfh, covered
in part by Sandy Run, fourteen miles distant
from hence, with their right to Wififehichon
creek.
All hopes of an accommodation of the differences
between Russia and the Porte seems at an end. A
Courier is just arrived from our Ambassador Extraor
dinary, by whose dispatches we find, that a war is
inevitable between these two Powers, and it is even
said hostilities will commence before the Spring.
Cadiz, Dec. so. Letters received here from Bue
nos Ayres advise, that the peace between the Spa
niards and Portugdefe was published there on the 7th
of Sept, last, and that Gen. Cevallos was only about
four leagues distant from the Portuguese army on
the Rio Grande when he received the express which
announced the suspension of arms.
Cologne, Jan. 16. We have received a con
firmation of the account, that 20,000 Aufrians
are advancing to enter Bavaria on different sides.
A body of 12,000 men, composed of 20 battali
ons, 14 squadrons, and a regiment of Hussars,
with 36 pieces of cannon, feme of which are 12
pounders, are on their way to Straubingen, as the
principal department and tribunal of Lower Ba
varia ; and another bod, of 8000 are marching
from Egra towards Amberg, the capital of the
Upper Palatinate.
Upon a presumption that a forwardmove
might tempt the enemy, after receiving such
reinforcement, to give battle for the recovery
of this phce, or that a vulnerable part might
be found to admit of an attack upon their
camp, the army marched on the night of the
4th inst. the van commanded by Lieus. Gen.
Earl Cornwallis, the main body by Lieutenant
General Knyphaufen, and next morning took
post upon Chefnut-hill in front of the enemy's
right. The enemy soon after detached a corps
of one thousand men to attack the light in
fantry posted in front under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Abercromby; the conse
quence of which was, that upon the firft onset
of the 2d battalion of light infantry, and part
IDO hereby certify, that the foregoing drafts of bills
are true copies of enclosures sent me in d difpat'cb by
the Right Honourable Lord GEORGE GERMAINE,
one 0) bis Majesty's principal Secretaries 0, State.
His Majefly having seen with great concern, the
Calamitous coufequences of the dispute with the Colonies,
and willing to hope that even those who have been
moftfo,rwardin bringing on those misfortunes, are now
convinced of the fatal tendency of their conduct, and
Would gladly return to their allegiance, if they were
not withheld by apprebenfons that advantage would
be taken of their fubmiffinn, to pursue measures dila
ted by resentment of their past behaviour, and to
impose upon the Colonies intolerable burthens and
reflraints. To remove allgrounds of such appreben
fions, and to prepare the way to the return of peace,,
the above Bills were read in the House of Commons,
on the igtb day of February las, in pursuance of an
unanimous resolve of that House, of the 17th of the
fame month ; and I have bis Majesty's command to
cause them to be printed and differfed, that the people
at large may be acquainted with their contents, and of
the favourable diffeoftion of Great-Britain towards
the American Colonies.
GIVEN under my Hand at New-York, this 1 §th
day of April, 1778.
William Tryon.
^ffoMEßcu 7 < Packet, C^/.D ILLON,
arrived at Philadelphia from Falmouth, %
have the following Advices, viz.
WARSAW, January 14.
THEY write from Podolia, that the Ruffians
are forming large magazines there, and that
their army is in full march towards that of the
Turks.
Wheat per Bushel, 12s. od.
Flour, 355. od.
Brown Bread, 20s. od.
Welt-India Rum; 63. 6d.
New-England do. ss. od.
GAZETTE:
T H E/
MERCUR Y.
PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
, foreign ana DorneflUL
Mufcovado Sugar, sl. 10s.
Single refin'd ditto, 2s. 2d.
Molasses, 25.. 6d.
Beef per Barrel, 90s. od.
Fork, 5 1. los.
of the iff, they were instantly defeated, with
the loss of between thirty and forty men killed
and wounded, and the Brigadiermade prisoner.
Not judging it advisable to attack the ene
my's right, the army, having remained in the
fame position during the 6th, marched at one
o'clock in the morning of the 7th, the van
and main body commanded 'as before, to take
post on Edge-hill, one mile distant from the
enemy's left. A corps of 1000 men composed
of riflemen and other troops from the enemy's
northern array, were found by the van guard
polled on this hill with cannon. Lord Corn
wallis immediately attacked with theist light
infantry, supported by the 33d regiment, and
defeated this body with a considerable loss of
officers and men, their cannon narrowly es
caping. The thickness of the wood where the
rebels were polled, concealing them from the
view of the light infantry, occasioned the loft
of one officer killed, three wounded, and be
tween twenty and thirty men killed and wound
ed from their firft fire.
Major General Grey, withhis brigade, light
infantry of the Guards, Queen's Rangers,
Hessian and Anfpach Chaffeaurs, took post
upon the left, in front of the enemy's centre.
A detachment to harrafs this corps was imme
diately routed by the General's advanced guard,
composed of his light troops, with a lofs.to the
enemy of fifty men killed and wounded.
Your Lordflrip will fee, by the inclofed
return, the loss sustained by the King's troops
in the above-mentioned attacks.
The enemy's camp being as ftreng on their
centre and left, as upon the right,—their
seeming determination to hold this position,
and unwilling to expose the troops longer to
the weather in this inclement season, without
tents or baggage of any kind for officers or
men, I returned on the Bth to this place. The
rear guard, ynder the command of Lord Corn
wallis, quitted Edge-hill on the right, about
four o'clock in the afternoon, without the
smallest appearance of the enemy; and Major-
General Grey retiring from his post at the
fame time without the least molestation, the
army arrived in this camp at nine o'clock in
the evening.
On the nth at day break Lord Cornwallis,
with Major General Grant under his command,
passed the Schuylkill with a strong corps, and
the waggons of the army, to colled forage for
the winter supply, which his Lordihip accom
plished, and returned yesterday evening.
The enemy having quitted their camp at
Whitemarfh some hours before Lord Corn
wallis marched from hence, his Lordihip met
the head of their army at a bridge they had
thrown over the Schuylkill near to Matfon's
ford, about three miles below Swede's ford,
and fifteen miles distant from hence. Over
this bridge the enemy had passed eight hundred
men, who were immediately dispersed by his
Lordship's advanced troops, obliging part of
them to recross it, which occasioned such an
alarm to their army, that they broke the
bridge; and his Lordship proceeded to forage
without meeting with any interruption.
The enemy's intention seems to be, to take
their winter quarters at Carlifle, York, and
Lancaster, and probably they may have a
corps at Reading, and another at Burlington
in jersey.
The 71st regiment, and regiment of Mir
bach are immediately to embark, to reinforce
Sir Henry^ Clinton at New-York, upon his
representation of a want of troops for the
defence of that post; and I propefe to put the
army immediately into winter quarters in this
town, where there is fufficient room.
Major-General Daniel Jones is arrived at
New-York, and orders will be sent to him to
join this part cf the army.
With the most perfed reaped I have the
honour to be, &c.
W. HOW E.
Return of the killed, wounded, end miffing, in the
different firmifas, from the 4th, to \he Sth,
of December, 1777.
First battalion of light infantry. 1 Lieutenant,
2 Serjeants, 11 rank and' file killed; a
Lieutenants, 1 Serjeant, 25 rank and file,
wounded ; : rank and file miffing.
Guards. 8 rank and file, killed ;°i rank and
file, wounded' ; 4 rank and file miffing.
4th regiment. 2 rank and file, killed; t
Lieutenant, 3 Serjeants, 9 rank and file,
wounded:"
Fine Salt, Ss, od
Coarse Salt, Bs. od
Indian Corn per Bu. 7s. od
Coffee, is. 9I
Chocolate, 265. per Do
[No. n^.j