The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-05-02 00:00:00, page 1

be completed; of the union of North-America
against the authority of Parliament. Parlia
ment in this bill seems much more inclined to
dittrefs, than able or willing to protea. In
North -America the refraaory and submissive
may be blended together. In the Weft-Indies
all are innocent: but all are doomed to a much
more severe, and much more certain punish
ment, than falls upon the mod guilty in North-
America. The whole accommodation, if not
the immediate fubliftence of the Well India Is
lands, depends on a commercial connection with
the continent, from which by this bill they are
expressly restrained. One of the chief and
much the most plausible of the complaints made
last year against the North-American colonies,
was a resolution on their part to with-hold fhp
ply from the sugar plantations. But this year
we have made ourselves to adopt and fan&ify
'that very conduct which we had painted to the
world in such odious colours. It mud appear
as if this bill was purposely made against the
Weft-Indies; and left the people of the United
Colonies might return to sentiments of fraternal
affection, or from motives of felf-intereft, or
from impatience of so hard a restraint, Ihould
disobey or elude the orders of the Congress, and
afford relief to our innocent planters in the
Weft-Indies, it seems as if an ad of the British
parliament came in aid of that authority, and
'provided that no supply whatfoeyer shall be car
ried to the Weft-Indies, contrary to the refolu
tion,of the Congress.
gdly, BEC IUSE this bill greatly exceeds in
violence; the pattern of injustice which it seems
to follow. Thdotfe refpeds the prohibition of
the Congress materially differed from the pro
hibition of this bill. Their's was not immedi
ate. Time was given to the Weft-Indies for
fupplyboth from America and other places. No'
Confiscations were made. We, on the other
/hand, have permitted the trade from America,
as long as it was necessary to save ourselves from
famine, and to enable the colonies to pay their
debts. This supply they have made plentiful
ly, and many of these debts they have dischar
ged mod honourably. In return for this, to us
On Monday the following PROTEST was
entered against the proceedings of the House
on Friday last, on the second reading es the
Bill to prohibit all trade and commerce with
certain Colonies in America ;
Dffentient,-
Ift, "Q ECAUSE this bill, by considering
the colonies in America, as a foreign
nation, and declaring war on them in that cha
racter, has a dired tendency to effed an entire,
and, we fear, permanent reparation between the
two capital parts of the empire. It is new to
behold a nation making a separation of its parts
by a law, in hopes of re-uniting them by a trea
ty. The Sovereign power has hitherto always
regarded rebellion as the criminal act of indivi
duals, and not the hostility of any great collec
tive body of the community. The framers of
this bill admit the principle in its full force, al
though by all the provisions they every where
contradict it; for whilst the clauses of the bill
consign all to punishment, the preamble only
declares, that many are guilty, the legislature
choosing to be coniidered rather as unjurt to par
ticulars, than eonfefs itfelfto be universally odi
ous. The English on bothfides of the ocean
are now taught by act of Parliament, to look on
themselves as fepar te natiohs ; nations fufeep
tible of general hostility, and proper parties for
mutual declarations of war, and treaties of peace.
We are by this aft preparing their minds ,for
that independence, which we charge them with
affecting, whilst we drive them to the necessity
of it by repeated injuries.
2dly, BECAUSE this bill enables and en
courages the navy of England to make an in
diferiminate prey of the property of English fub
jefts trading to or from the colonies (even of
the ships which lie quiet in theAmerican ports)
without regarding whether that property be
longs to friends or enemies, to the dutiful or the
disobedient. This plan of prdmifeuous rapine
(unworthy of the wisdom and decorum of go
vernment) must compleat what yet remains to
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 17 s. per Ct.
A Wheaten Loaf of thefiueft FLOUR, to
A weigh 1 lb. Il 1-2 oz. for 4 Coppers.
Published March 18, 1776.
VO L. I.' NUMB i&
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T H U R D A 1, . M 'A , Y 2d, 1776.
LONDO N, Dec. 23.
HOUSE of LORDS.
Printed by SAMUEL LOUDO N, in ^Water-Street, between the Coffee-House and the Old Slip.
Thursday, 24 Min. after 8
Friday, 8 Min. after 9
Saturday, „ Min after 9
Sunday, . 40 Mire, after 10
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK.
4thly, BECAUSE the bill, not fatisfied with
making predator, war upon the trade of the
colonies, thinks it necessary to stimulate parti
cular avarice and rapacity to an activity in such
service, by rendering captures of North Ameri
can vessels and goods, the property of the cap
tors. This regulation, is now,' for the firft
time, by any regular authority in this king
dom, to be adopted in a civil contention. We
confider this method of holding out the spoil of
their fellow citizens for the reward of alacrity in
civil war, as a source of the most dangerous cor
ruption that can be conceived, in the tirft in
stance to our navy, and in its consequence to
our army. A number of bold enterprising men,
trained to the profellion of arms, with fortunes
to make, and promotion to be obtained, are na
turally lovers of war. When they have once
tailed of emoluments from domestic spoil, they
will no longer look on the commerce of Eng
land as an object of protection, but of plunder.
' ne y fill fee the prosperous state of peaceful
domestic industry, not with pleasure, but with
envy. Fhe, will be taught to, wiffi for those
lucrative civil commotions, which they will al
ways havethe means of provoking. Our soldi
ers in the land fervite will fee no reason for
their being dudinguilhed from the marine; and
they will call for the plunder of English trading
towns, when they fee that the seamen have
been indulged in the plunder of English trading
ships. It never can be fafe for a state to hold
out an interest in disturbing it, to those who
have the sword in their hand. The greatest re
public, of which hiflory gives us any know
- Ido e < was subverted by this licence of domestic
plunder. We are perfectly assured, that the na
vy of England wants no such unnatural and im
pious encouragement towards the performance
of any duty, which their known public spirit,
and yet uncorrupted honour, may make it fit for
them to perform. And it is no less on their's,
than on the public account, a matter of the most
fe ious affliction to us, that a service always
looked upon (and hitherto most justly) not only
without fear or jealousy, but with the most par
tial affection in every part of this empire, Should
be unueceffa ily exposed to the lading odium
which mud attend those who are enriched from
the ipoils of citizens, among whem they may
be obliged to ipend their lives, and form their
connexions. Civil wars, (when they muff be
made) Should be made in such a manner, as not
to render the return to peace and cordiality iin
pr iFticable. If the spoil ordered by this aft had
been left in the Crown, the Crown might use it
as an encouragement for a return to obedience,
and as a means of future peace. It is now only
a provocation, tliro' despair and resentment, to
perpetual hostility. We cannot possibly difeern
how any necessary operation of war is Strength
ened by this disgrace of legislature. But ifthe
arms now used, Should succeed so as to enforce
. a temporary and reludant obedience, we fee but
too well, that this bill will leave Such a Hing in
the minds of the colonists, as to render our go
vernment there hated and fufpeded, and there
fore for ever precarious.
gtbly, BECAUSE this bill, by anticipating
all legal judgment of the offences of those whole
goods are forfeited, overturns one of the most
excellent and profoundly coniidered parts of
that fundamental law, the Declaration 6fßights,
which declares, “ that all grants of fines and
. “ forfeitures of particular persons before con
“ vision, are illegal and void." This provisi
on is, expressly made, left rapacious Ministers,
Scenting confiscation, or rapacious soldiers al
lured by the lust of plunder, Should be induced
to forge or provoke, plots and rebellions, in or
der to enrich themselves out of the public dis
orders. . .-
nffur and honourable behaviour, the Minilty,
abusing the bounty of Providence, on the firft
reparation of domestic plenty, has fabricated a
bill for seizing American vessels, now trading
under the frith of an aft of Parliament, no ship
of their's being flittered to return to its own
country, either from hence, or from the Weft-
India.
6th[v, BECAUSE, very extensive commercial
property of Britifly fubjefts (implicated by the
nature of commercial intercourse with that of
innocent Englishmen residing here) is to be ta
Monday, jg Min, after .11
Tuesday, 26 Min, after 12|
Wednesday, irNmu after 1 j
Full Moon 3d.
ken out of the equitablejurifdiaion ofthe com
mon law of England, and from that inestimable
birthright of the Subjects of this kingdom, a trial
by jury, and carried to the Court of Admiralty
to be tried by a Single judge, on the rules of an
arbitrary foreign law.
7thly, BECAUSE the whole Scheme of this
predatory war of private lucre, is put under the
arbitrary direction of certain commissioners, to
us unknown, even by name; who have power
to give such continuance to the ravages autho
rized by this bill, as their arbitrary will Shall
'uggeft; to pardon, or except from pardon, any
number or description of persons, and with such
exceptions as they Shall fee fit, without any o
ther rule than their own private opinion, fancy,
caprice, favour or resentment ; and without a
ny other rule, to open or keep Shut, any colony,
province, county, town, diflriff, or place. We
are of opinion that the power left to the com
missioners, is perfectly unjuftifiable and uncon
stitutional. It has betides a tendency to create
the most Shameful and mifehievous monopolies.
The power given to the Admiralty, and to the
Weft-India Governors, to license Ships, is of the
fame nature. If such monopolies and jobs Should
not arise from fucli powers, it is no fault of this
bill, which if it had these purposes in view, has
taken especial care to provide as strong a temp
tation, as human nature, set above law and re
straint, and furnifhed with every facility to cor
ruption, can possibly be exposed to.
Sthly, BECAUSE we know nothing of the
business of these commissioners, farther than the
above arbitrary discretion with regard to par
dons. Rumour gives out that they are to have
a power to treat with the Americans for a re
dress of their grievances. Of this however nei
ther the Speech from the throne, nor the bill
has given the least intimation. Although if the
commissioners treat on this fubjedt at all, a&s
and powers of parliament being the matter of
complaint, the commissioners ought to derive
Some previous authority from parliament, in or
der to give weight and efficacy to their negocia
tions, and to preserve some appearance of dig
nity in ourselves. It is hardly proper that par
liament Should appear in n® other light than as
the instrument of penal reftri&ions, attainder, pe
nalties and confifcations; as the maker of me
nacing addresses, and the rejector of dutiful pe
titions. It is hardly decent to Shew ourfetves
fierce and inflexible here, but to be fatisfied with
permitting unknown persons whom ministers
Shall choose in future to appoint, te dispose in
America of powers and a&s of parliament at
their pleasure; leaving us firft the odium of re
jecting reasonable requests, and afterwards the
disgrace of ratifying ihameful conteffions.
qthly, BECAUSE we reject with indignation,
that elaufe of this bill, by which a refinement
in tyranny, and a Sentence worse than death,
obliges the unhappy men who Shall be made
captives in this predatory war, to bear arms a
gainst their families, kindred, friends and coun
try; and after being plundered themselves, to
become accomplices in plundering their bre
thren. If there exists a doubt whether to justi
fy the infliction of capital punishment on deser
tion, it Should be necessary to prove that a sea
man was a prefled man or a volunteer. The
object of this clause is to deprive the American
fcaman of the plea of being a prefled man, as it
declares that he is to be crofidered to all intents
and purposes as having entered voluntarily into
the service. By this clause, not only common
seamen, but matters of vessels are, without re
gard to age or • cumftances, or condition, to
be ignominious) turned before the mast, and
fubjeCted to the austere discipline of the boat
swain. Persons in that subordinate Nation not
being animated with the liberal and ingenuous
spirit which distinguishes officers i^ the navy,
and taught to consider these forced volunteers
as rebels, will be but too apt to aggravate the
miseries of captivity by insult and outrage.
These prisoners among the comrades they are
obliged to live and Serve with, may very pro
bably be often forced to behold the Ipoils oftheir
honest industry, and the natural furport ofthrir
Sober families, Squandered in net and profligate
debauchery before their faces. This welook
upon as the last degree of wretchedrefs and in
dignity, to which human nature ca^ be Subject
Wheat per Bushel, ss. 9-d.l
Flour, - - - 168. od.j
Blown Bread, -14 s. od.!
Welt-India Rum, 6s. od!
;New-England do. 4s. od.l
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
MufeoVado Sugar, 70s.. od.
Single refin'd do. is. 3d.
Molasses, - • < 35. 6d.
Beef, per Barrel, 60s. od.
Perk, - . . Sos. od.
T'H E manufacturer fixes upon a small pond
" near the lea-coast, which has no communi
cation with any run or rivulet, and runs dry at
low water; across 'the mouth of this pond he
carries a dam, about eight inches lower than
high water mark at spring tidg at rhe bottom of
the dam he lays two, three, or more troughs
made of four planks, twelve inches wide, pro
vides them with flood doors intide and outfde
ot thedam. The bottom of this pond must be
made very even : The higbeft spring tides are
let in by the troughs, and over the, dam, in or
der to fill the pond, which, when filled, the
flood doors are shut, in order that the salt water
in the pond may have no supply before the next
spring tide: Ihe fun, mean while, will exhale
great part of the water, so that the salt will
form itfelf in cubical chryflals. One or two
days before the next spring tide, the doors in
the troughs are opened at low water, and bags
applied to the outside, in order to receive the
salt, which the draining water carries along;
when the pond is dry, or before the flood comes
up to the dam, then the doors must be fhutu
gain, that the salt may be raked up, waffied in
licves, with clean salt w&'er, and ipread on a
clean floor, under the ihade, to dry gradu: lly.
This washing of the salt may be done near toe
pond, so that the water, b©ng very salt,
may run into it. This method produces" salt as
hard as a rock, and succeeds best in hot dry iha
fons.
Fillinga large trough with salt wa^er, and ex
pofißg it to the fun, will likewise produce salt;
or it may be made by boiling salt water in any
pot or vessel. Perfms trying this latter expe
riment, fbould carefully avoid thing copper tef
fels.
T. S.
ed. This cruelty, unknown to the most sa
vage nations, is to be praCtifed by Englishmen
on Englishmen. It has been said in Parliament,
that the pay the prisoners are to receive is to be
coniidered as a full coinpenfation for the prin-'
ciples they are obliged to violate. We do not
envy any one that sentiment. An attempt is
also made to juftify it by the supposed right of
pressing. We cannot conceive that the burdens
of Subjection ought ever to be imposed, where
the protection belonging to it is denied, or that
a man can ever be despoiled of his goods as a
foreign enemy, and at the fame time obliged to
Serve the Hate as a citizen. This compulsion
we have never heard to be praftifed on any pri
soners of war, or rebellion---nor do we know
any example of it, except among pirates---the
out-laws and enemies of human Society.
lothly, BECAUSE a bill G unprecedented
in its nature, and so important in its conse
quences, is brought in at a time of year, when
by experience it is known, that most of the in
dependent members of both houses are called a
way by their domestic affairs, and when few, but
those in the immediate pay of the court, and at
tending on their employments, are in town.
This we conceive to be done in order to impress
the public with a delusive idea, that those mea
fares are agreeable to greater numbers in both
houses, than in reality they are. The only part
of this bill -which we approve, is the repeal of
the unjust and improvident ads which have pro
duced all the evil effects we bad forefeen, and
none of the good which was pretended as the
ground for making them, ads as unfit for, as
incapable of execution. But to our inexpressible
grief, and to the disgrace of the public councils
of this kingdom, ministers untaught by misfor
tunes, and unchecked by disappointments, at the
very instant they are obliged to demolish the old
fabric of their oppression, as useless and mis
chievous, are building up another on nearly the
fame model, and with the fame materials,
adding only Something more of that injustice
and violence, which have always proved mis
chievous, in proportion as they have been aug
mented.
Richmond, Rockingham,
Ponsonby, Chedwort,
Fitzwilliam, Abingdon,
Abergavenny, Manchester.
/In Easy Method to make Common Salt.
Fine Salt, - - - None.
Coarse Salt, - - 3s. gd
Indian Corn, per Buffi.,s . 6d.