The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1776-02-05 00:00:00, page 1

THE
Journal of the Proceedings
OF THE
Continental Congress,
Held at Philadelphia, May 10, 1775.
JUST PUBLISHED,
And to be SOLD at the
Book-Store and Pritinng-Office,
In Hanover-Square,
[llluftrated with a beautiful and accurate Copper
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G A I N E's
Universal Register,
(^ R,
AMERICAN and BRITISH
KALENDAR,
For the Year 1776.
CONTAINING,
THE Kalendar ; with the Quaker's General Meet
ings, and a better Lift of the Reads than published
in any other AliiKin^k.
A Genealogical Lift of the Royal Family of Great-
Eritain, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Germany, Poland, Pruflia, Russia, Sardinia,
Orange, Italy and Turkey.
The Extent and Situation of Great-Britain, Ireland,
France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
Germany, Poland, Pruflia, Turkey, Italy, Orange,
Prussia, and Sardinia, with the Latitude and Longitude
of each Kingdom, and their Military Eftablilhmeot in
Peace and War.
Lift of the Peers of the Blood of Great-Britain, Dukes,
Marquises, Earls, Vifcourts, Barons.
Lift of the Peers of the Blood of Scotland, Marquises,
Earls, Viscounts and Barons.
Archbishops and Bilhops of England.
His Majelty's most honorable Privy Council.
Knights of the mess noble Order of the Garter.
Knights Champions of the most honorable Order of
the Bath.
Knights of the most ancient and most noble Order of
the Thistle.
His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State.
Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.
Lords'Commiffioners of Trade and Plantations.
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
His Majesty's Postmasters General.
A Lift of his Majesty's Land Forces, with their Cols,
Number of Men, and Time when railed, &c. &c. &c.
A compleat Lift of the House of Commons of Great-
Britain.
Rank of the Army and Navy.
A Lift of the Royal Navy of Great-Britain, with the
Pay of the Officers in each Rate, from the Admiral to a
private Man.
The daily Pay of each Rank in his Majesty's Land
Forces.
Monday, February § 1776. ' ' THE [No. 1269]
N E IV - r 0 R K raffle® G A Z E T T E:
WEEKLYM E R C U R Y.
Containing tbe frefyett au^ices foreign and Domenuk.
.. —— -- •• ■- ■—— _ uu msF'r=_ —— —=— zx—==z=^^
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A Table of all the Kings and Queens of England,
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Peers of the Blood, Dukes, Earls, Viscounts and Barons
of Ireland, with the Peeresses by Creation or Descent.
Bishops and Archbishops of Ireland.
Summary of the House of Commons of Ireland.
A general Description of America.
Enumerated Goods fubjedUto Duty in America.
General Establishment of all the Provinces on the
Continent of North-America, containing the Names of
the Council and Assembly of Nova-Scotia, Canada, New-
Hampshire, Maffachufets-Bay, Rhode-Ifland, Connecti
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Corporation for the Relief of the Widows and Chil
dren of Clergymen of the Church of England.
Ministers and Congregations belonging to the Revd.
Synod of New-York, &c.
Associate Prefoytery of Philadelphia.
Ibis Majesty's Forces at Bolton.
Governors of New-York, from the Year 1664 to the
present Time.
Holydays at the Custom-House in New-York.
Governors of New-Jersey.
Governors of the Welt-India Islands.
Staff of the Army of the thirteen United Provinces in
North-America.
State of the four Regiments railed in the Colony of
New-York.
Royal Artillery raised in New-York.
Officers in the Troop of Light HorC in New-York.
Independent Companies in New-York.
New-Jersey Bills reduced to New-York Currency,
Table cf Intcreft, &c. &c, &c.
That he has yet left a few Copies, (Price 35.) of
LONDON, October 23.
Extract of a letter from Gofport, 061. 19.
Z <V' Peter Parker, who now commands
' ° ' " s Majesty's fliip Barfleur of 90 guns,
i""''" '" James Douglas, who is Al
ft , miral of the squadron here, is appoint
ed to command his Majesty's Ihip
Bristol, of 30 guns, now at Chatham ; and is to be
second in command at Boston, in America, with a
broad pendant."
More than four hundred hogs and dead lheep were
driven on shore in the high winds on Thursday, in
Cowes Road.
TOWER of L O ND ON.
Off. 24. Between the hours of nine and ten yes
terday morning, Mr. Stavely, of Haif-moen dice,
Piccadily, and Mr. Mann, of Q^een Anne #ree;
Westminster (both King's meffingeis) attended by
a constable, repaired to the house of Stephen Sayre;
Esq; in Oxford-ftreet. As an excuse to obtain an
interview with Mr. Sayre,,thefe beggarly catchpoles
of power pretended, that a forged; draught fcr two
hundred pounds, had been iffiied by the bank of
which Mr. Sayre is a proprietor. Obtaining by fitch
rascally means the interview they defri^V.
Sayre no sooner appeared than the catchpots ac
quainted him, that " they had an order ,fc^ by
" Lord Rochford, one of the Secretaries of Stair,
" to take him into auftody, on a charge of High
“ Treason; and to search for, feize,,ahd carry with
“ them, fitch of his papers as thy might, deem ts
" fe&ual for their purpose." }
Mr. Sayre heard the fummous with comppfiire,
and obeyed its di&ates with a manly-dipndy. Con
feious ofhis innocence, he smiled at the ' heinoufiters
of the charge, and, in a peife& reliance- on his own
integrity,he permitted the government-lifers to plun
der his efcrutores, to ransack his boxes, and to pillage
his bureaus. No sooner did they lay their bands
on a letter from Mrs. Macauley (filler to the Lord
Mayor eleN) and another letter, addressed to “ the
Livery of London," under the signature of “ Bar
nard's Ghost," than they seized them with the hand
of rapacity, and carried them off with as little feel
ing as men unaccustomed to honesty, in the Service
of government, usually experience.
Llr. Sayre expretfed ms readiness to accompany
the King's Catchpoles unto Lord Rochford's house,
having previously dispatched a servant to Mr. Rey
nolds, requiring his attendance with the utmost ex
pedition. The King's Messengers, Thicftakeis, or
Catchpoles (call them which you will) conducted
Mr. Sayre to rhe presence of Lord Rochford 5 and
left juttice Should fee the villainy of oppression, her
eyes were blinded---for Sir John Fielding was present.
An information from one Richardton, (an Adjutant
of the guards) was read. The charge contained in
this information, was to the following purport :
" That Stephen Sayre, Esq; had exprclKd to him,
the said Richardson, an intention of feizingthe King's
person, as his Majesty went on Thursday to the Par
liament House ; allo an intention of taking poffeffiun
of t'tie Tower, and of overturning the present go
vernment."
After this information had been read, Mr. Sayre
replied to the Separate charges with that fort of com
posure which ever accompanies heart-felt innocence;
lie dated bow very (lightly he was acquainted with
Adjutant Richardson, the informer : He mentioned
the only conveifation which had ever puffed between
them ; and ne was about to enter more largely into
the futility of the charge, when it was announced to
Lord Rochford and the blind Jultice, “ that Mr.
Reynolds demanded immediate admittance to his
client." That the chicanery of courts might not be
laid aside, several messages passed, but that which
could not be denied as a matter of right, was loon,
very courteously, granted as a matter cf favour.
Mr. Reynolds was admitted, because it was impos
sible, confident with jultice, to refufe his admittance.
Having been introduced to Lord Rochford and Sir
John Fielding, the latter put the following question
to Mr. Reynolds:
"Is it Mr. Sayre's desire that you should attend
in his belrait ?"
Mr. Reynolds replied in the affirmative. Sir John
Fielding, with a greater Share of audacity than deco
rum, said “ that this was not true." Mr. Rey
nolds, with a very proper degree of spirit, replied,
“ that Sir John Fielding, as a Magistrate, might fay
that which, as a Gentleman, he could not justify."
The blind Knight then defiied that it might be asked
of Mr. Sayre “ whether he had sent for Mr. Rey
nolds ?" Mr. Sayre replied, “he had lent for him,
without mentioning the place where he was to at
tend."
These particulars being adjusted, it was agreed
that Mr. Reynolds might attend the private exami
nation of his friend. The firft advice Mr. Reynold's
gave to Mr. Sayre, was this, “ That he should ans
wer no interrogatories which Lord Rochford or Sir
John Fielding might propound ; and that he Should
not sign any paper."
The information which contained the charge was
a second time read, at the request of Mr. Sayre, who
finding at the recital, Mr. Reynolds joined in the
laugh, and said, “ that the whole was too ridiculous
to be seriously attended to." An altercation then
enfned between Mr. Reynolds and Adjutant Richard
son the Informer. The two Middlesex Justices Lord
Rochford and Sir John Fielding, were requeued by
the informer, to silence Mr. Reynolds. He fared
them the trouble by observing, “ that he should al
ways pay a proper deference to authority, but what
ever he had there said of the informer, he would
repeat in any other place .whatever."
Monday, 43 Min. after '9
Tuesday, 31 Min. after 10
Wednesday, 12 Min. after 11
Thursday, 51 Min. after 11
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
Friday, 35 Min. after 12 !
Saturday, 17 Min. after 1 j
Sunday, 5^ Min. after 1 ;
Last Quarter the izth.
IMr. Reynolds then told Lord Rochford " that if,
after consulting rhe great law-officers of date (which
his Lerdfhip would do of course) as the information
did not amount to a direct charge againit Mr. Sayre,
his Lordfllip Should think himfelf warranted to receive
bail, ample and fufficient bail Should be given; but
if it was thought warrantable to commit, he scorned
to aik a favour for his client."
Mr. Sayre was ordered into an adjacent apartment,
and he wa^ soon afterwards committed a elofe priso
ner to the TOWER.
It would be a Scandalous omission to conclude this
narrative without d'oing justice to the behaviour of
Mr. Sayre. As a fubjeft of a FRE* State, his de
meanor was manly; as a Patriot it was intrepid; as
a Gentlenian it was polite. He treated the malice of
informers with the urmett contempt, the futility es
informations, when preferred by the cieatmes, and
countenanced by the authority of government, this
he foiled at with ineffable disdain. " The unhappy
efft&s of fnph informations, government (Mr. Sayre
said) had amply experienced by giving ear to Bernard
land Hutchinfod. By falfe informations, and the vileit
lof suggestions, these men had consented to become the
willing instrument's in carrying on the pufpofes of a
bloody minded administration. But whatever infor
mers government might encourage, integrity was a
Shield which would protest men of honour from their
Shafts. Defended by that Shield, Mr. Sayie said, he
Should enter the apartments of a pii.(®n confeious that
they would prove a Safe asylum for virtue."
The Duke of Grafton on Thursday in the House
of Lords, to the afloniflupent of almoft.every body,
drew out his whole artillery Against administration ;
I he said, the part they were taking against America,
was equally difgraceful to statesmen and Britons, as
it was injurious to the rights of humanity,---that he
trembled for thedifmemberment of so great a part of
our empire, winch he had no doubt would be effvefed,
if Some Special check was not given to the dreadful
operations of war ; that if Administration was de
termined to go on, all he could do would be to give
them every oppofitibn in his power, and that he
would not be restrained from this on any considera
tion whatsoever—that he Should make all kind of
business nay even ficknef; bend to his duty, for that
if bis health would not otherwise permit it, he would
be carried in a litter to the house. Like-wife the Bi-
Shop of Peterborough, in a Strain suitable to the dig
nity of his profeftion, prefled with great humanity
the Stoppage of human blood.
The popular party is Strengthened this session with
the Duke of Grafton, the BiShop of Peterborough,
I General Conway, and meft oi their connections in
both houses.
“ Tuelday failed from hence fir America, having
on board a detachment of marines, "confining of one
Lieutenant, one Serjeant, one Corporal, one Drum
mer, and forty private men, the Boreas frigate of
28 guns, Capt. Thompson ; the has (topped at Black
(takes to take in her powder and artillery, after which
die is to proceed directly on her voyage.
" Same day also, the Briffol, a fine new (hip of
50 guns, was launched from his Majesty's dock
yards at Sheerness ; the is put into chmmiffien, bound
for America, and on board of her Commodore Sir
Peter Parker is to hoist his broad pendant."
A letter from Pembroke, dated the 25th instant,
mentions, that Several pieces of wrecks, and a great
many dead bodies were continually coming on Shore
there, force without legs, and others without arms,
&c. two more weie seen floating without heads.
By virtue of a habeas corpus granted on Thursday
night by Lord Mansfield, Stephen Sayre, Esq; was
on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock conveyed by tiie
proper officers from the Tower to Lord Mansfield's
house in Bloomfoury-fquare. Messrs. Adair, Day
rell, Lucas, Alleyne and Lee, attended on the part
of Mr. Sayre ; and White, partner with the Soli
citor of the Treasury on the part of the Crown.
After the two firft mentioned counsel had descanted
for some little time on the impropriety of Mr. Sayre's
being committed to close confinement by virtue of
the warrant of commitment, which only conveyed a
general charge ; and Mr. White having declared
that he had no inhru&ions to oppose the bail, his
Lordfllip called for the warrant of commitment ;
and immediately after perusing it pronounced, that
he had not the lealt doubt of Mr. Sayre's being enti
tled to bail ; as he observed, that that Gentleman
was only charged with treasonable- practices, and
that he (Lord M.) should not have refilled the bail
if Mr. Sayre had come without counsel. Bail was
accordingly dire&ly offered and accepted, viz. Mr.
Sayre himfelf in 5001. and John Reynolds and Coote
Purdon, Efqrs, in 2501. each.
Mr. Sayre very politely thanked Lord Mansfield
for his readiness in granting the writ, and conse
quently giving him his personal liberty, at the fame
time observing, that he hoped his Lordship would
join with him “ in looking back with veneration on
the wisdom and Spirit of our ancestors, in guarding
the fubjeft by such effectual barriers against the in
roads of despotism in the woitt of times." To
which his Lordfliip replied, “ I hope so tod, Mr. S.
let us both a& confttutionally, and we Shall fall into
no difficulties or dangers."
Mr. Sayre afterwards returned with bis Lady to
their house in Oxford-Street ; and his friends to their
refpe&ive horaes.,
The Lord Mayor was prefect, and received very
politely by Lord Mansfield.
Nov. 2. Last night's Gazette contains the follow
ing addresses to bis Majesty, relative to the proceedings
oj the Americans, viz. of the High Sheriff, fnfices.
Gentlemen) Clergy, and Freeholders of the county of
Extract of a Letter from Chatham, 08. 26.
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Thrown Bread, 15$. od.
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PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufeevado Sugar, 60s. od.
Single refin'd ditto, is. 2d.
Melaffes, 2s. od.
Beef perßarrel, 60s. od.
Pork, 655. od.
The reffutton of Monday, " that a supply be
granted to his Majefy," was reported and agreed to,
and a Committeee of Supply accordingly appointed.
# Hon. Mr. Mafsarn gave notice, that if no Satisfac
tion was intended to be given relative to the measures
of introducing Hanoverian troops into the dominions of
Great-Britain without the previous consent of Parlia
ment,, he would in a few days move for leave to bring
in a bill of indemnity ; but it would spare him tbe
trouble, if the Minifler would now rife and tell him,
whether he or bis friends badfueb a bill in contemplation.
Lord North jaid, that be could not, with all tbe
attention and abilities he Tuas maser of, fee tbe mea
fare in tbe light that be underflood several other gen
tlemen did; that however, as an individual member
beftould not oppose it. He said be bad corfulted several
perfans on whofejudgment be could confide, and they
u " agreed a bill of indemnity was never puffed but in
cases whe e private ahlions lay, and damages might be
fought ; that in tbe only two inflances, which happened
of late years tbe permitting tbe importation of raw
bides, and prohibiting the exportation of corn; tbe
reasons aligned for puffing bills of indemnify on both
those occasions were, that private reparation might be
ptofaed by anaflion at law. Tbefe, bis Lerdfoip said,
Tuere his ideas. If taken upon any other ground, it
might go to an impeachment, and might affek bis bead;
but be was quite easy, on that bead, because be could
not be ytt perfaaded that be bad aided improperly or
illegally in advising tbe measure. He concluded by
offering to tbe confederation of tbe House a reflation
which be was willing to submit to, and which be
hoped, would fatif) all parties. He read part of it,
but it did n?t ,eem relifed. It exprefed great thanks to
bis Majfy for bis care andfolicitul for tbe interefl of
bis people; and by dark, confruHive 'implication, it
might befuppofed to bear a meaning that might be
again interpreted into fometbing like a claim, that tbe
prefect measure fauld not be brought into precedent on
any future occasion.
Carmarthen ; of the Corporation and Inhabitants of
Arundal in Sufex ; of the Chancellor, Masers, and
Scholars of the University of Oxford; of the Provofi,
Magifrates, and Toavn Council of the City of Stirling ;
of the Bailiffs and Citizens of Litchfield ; of the Cor
poration and principal Inhabitants of Barnfable ; of
the Corporation and Inhabitants of Bridgewater ; of
the Provofi, Blagift rates, and Town Council of Dun
dee ; oj the Corporation of Abington, Berks 5 and cf
the Provof, Magistrates, and Council of Aberdeen.
HOUSE of COMMONS, Tuesday, O&. 3 t.
THIS Day, though the House fat but afoort time,
they went through a great deal of private busi
ness.
Lord North answered, that if a vote of one House
was not Sufficient, a conference might be held with
the other, and the matter laid before his Majesty by
way cf address, by which means it would come undec
the cognizance of every branch of the legislature.
Gov. Johnson said, he was neither Satisfied with
the intended motion, nor proposed resolution. He
remembered very well at the time of palling the sass
bill of indemnity, for prohibiting the exportation of
corn, there was a speech attributed to Lord Manf
field, who, when he pleales, fays the Governor, can
ride the horse of liberty, most ably; where, instead
of Speaking of private actions, or approving of bills
of indemnity, he contended that nothing but a down
right pardon, reciting the crime, should be a proper
indemnification for those who Should advise his Ma
jesty to fu perfetle the laws.
Mr. Marfham then gave notice, that he (heuld, in
purfuance^f what he firft fuggelted, move the House
For leave to bring in a bill of indemnity.
House of Lords, Wednesday, November 1.
THE Duke of Richmond moved in the House of
Lords, for leave to inter a Protelt, in the name
of himfelf and other Lords, against the Address of
the Hottfe presented to the King on Friday last,
which was agreed to. It is a rule of the House,
that Protests should be entered the next day after the
decision of any business, which made it necessary to
ask leave of the House, upon this occasion.
In the course of the debate all the old arguments,
refpe&ing the American contest, were repeated, pro
and 0911, but
The Duke of Grafton threw out feme new infor
mation ; purporting, that at a proper time, he would
lay before the Ho#fe a (ketch of the force and e»-
Mr. Marfham replied, the resolution was by no
means fuisfa&ory, and that a vote of one House of
Parliament ought never to be permitted to supersede
the law of the land ; besides it would be destitute of
the afeertainment of those faffs alv < s neceflary to
afeertain what is dr is not the law of the land.
Lord Rochford, in reply, entered into a jollifica
tion of the measure, as fafe, constitutional, and ex
pedient, on which ground he moved the previous
question; that is, to take the sense of the House
whether the depending motion Shall be put.
An interesting debate followed ; and the Speakers
in flipport of the previous quellon, or, in favour of
the legality and expediency of the measure of em
ploying the EUapral troops, were the Lords Talbot,
Rochford, Weymouth, Denbigh, and the Lord
Chancellor. In support of the D. of Manchester's
motion, the Dukes of Grafton and Richmond, and
the Lords 'Effingham, Lyttleton, Shelburne and
Camden.
The Duke of Manchester then made an introduc
tory Speech to the following motion ; that this House
is of opinion, that introducing any part of ihe King's
Electoral troops, or any other foreign troops what
ever, into the Service of the Crown of Great-Britain,
previous to the content of Parliament, is dangerous
and unconstitutional.
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