The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-21 00:00:00, page 2

L O N DO N.
HOUSE of LORDS, Saturday, November IT.
THE Lords were yesterday assembled for the pur
poses of examining Governor Venn, and of difcuf
lin^ a motion which the Duke of Richmond proposed to
ground on such information as that gentleman should
afford the House.
Previous to the.calling of Mr. Penn to the. bar, the
Duke of Richmond announced the mode he had adopted
preparatory to the Governor's examination. His Grace
confeffed, " that he had apprized Mr. Penn of the que
" ftions which would be propounded to him, but the
" noble Duke disclaimed having entered into any fort of
" conversation with the Governor, left such converfa
“ tion should be malevolently construed into a design of
*' anticipating the answers Mr. Penn might think proper
" to return/'
The Duke of Richmond having finifhed his preliminary
remarks^ Mr. Penn was called to the bar, and interro
gated nearly to the following purport:
Q How long had he resided in America?
A. Four years. Two of those years in the capacity of
Governor of Pennsylvania.
Q. Was he acquainted with any of the members of
the Cohtinen tal Congress?
A. He was personally acquainted with all the members
of that Congress.
Q In what estimation was the Congress held?
A. In the highest veneration imaginable by all ranks
and orders of men.
Q Was an implicit obedience paid to the resolutions
of that Congress throughout all the provinces ?
A. He believed this to be the case.
Q,How many men had been raised throughout the
province of Pennsylvania?
A. Twenty thousand effertive men had voluntarily en
rolled themselves to enter into a&ual service if necessity
required.
Q Of what rank; quality,, and condition were these
persons ?
A. Men of the most refpedhble characters in the pro
vince.
Q, Were not a considerable number of them entirely
deftiiute of property?
A. It was presumed that, fubtrarted from so large a
number as 26,000, there were some necessitous, but the
major part were in flourishing situations.
Q Besides those 20,000, who voluntarily enrolled
themselves to art as exigences might require, what other
forces had the Provincials of Pennsylvania raised?
A. Four thousand minute-men, whose duty was point
ed out by their designation. They were to be ready for
service at a minute's warning.
Q. Did the Province of Pennsylvania grow corn fuffici
ent for the supply of its inhabitants ?
A. Much more than fufficient, there was a surplus for
exportation, if required.
Q Were they capable of making gunpowder in Penn
sylvania?
A. They perfectly well understood the art, and had ef
fected it.
Q Could falt-petre be made in the province ?
A. It could; mills and other inftpuments for effecting
such an undertaking had been ereded with success.
(Q Could cannon be cast in Pennsylvania ?
A. The art of casting cannon had been carried to great
perfection ; they were amply furnished with iron for the
pn,ofe.
QCould final! arms be made to any degree of per
fection?
A. To as great a degree of perfection ad could be ima
gined. The workmanship employed in finifliing the small
arms was universally admired for its excellence.
Q Were the Americans expert in (hip-building?
A. More so than the Europeans.
Q. To what extent of tonnage did the largest of their
(hipping amount?
A. A ihip of about three hundred tons was the largest
they were known to build.
(Q Circumstanced as things at present were, did the
witness think, that the language of the Congress expressed
the sense of the people of America in general ?
A. As far as the question applied to Pennsylvania, he
was sure this was the case; for the other provinces, he re
plied in the affirmative from information only.
Q : Did he suppose that the Congress contained Dele
gates fairly nominated by the choice of the people ?
A. He had no doubt but that the Congress did contain
Delegates chosen under this description.
Q, By what mode were the Delegates in Congress ap
pointed ?
A. By the votes of Assemblies in some places, by
ballot in others.'
Q., In what light had the petition, which the witness
had presented to the King, been considered by the Ame
ricans?
A. The petition had been considered as an olive branch,
and the witness had been complimented by his friends, as
the mefTenger of peace.
Q. On the supposition that the prayer of this petition
Should be rejected, what did the witness imagine would
be the consequence ?
A. 1 hat the Americans, who placed much reliance on
the pet: ion, would be driven to desperation by its non
fuccefs.
Q, Did the witness imagine, that sooner than yield to
what were supposed to be the unjust claims of Great-
Britain, the Americans would take the desperate resolu
tion of calling in the aid of foreign assistance ?
A. The wiinefs was apprehensive that this would be
the case.
QWhat did the witness recoiled of the Stamp-Ad?
A. That it caused great uneasiness throughout Ame
rica.
Q What did time witness recoiled, concerning the re
peal of that ad?
A. The anniversary of that memorable day is kept
throughout America, by every testimony of public re
joicing, such as bonfires, illuminations, and other ex
hibitions of gladness.
Q Would not the neglcd with which the last petition
was treated induce the Americans to resign all hopes of
pacific negociations ?
A. In the opinion of the witness it would. •
Q : When the witness presented the petition to the Se
cretary of State, was he asked any questions relative to
the state of America ?
A. Not a tingle question,
Cross examined by the Lords Denbigh and Sandwich.
Queries from LORD DENBIGH.
As the witness had aded in the capacity of Governor,
was he well acquainted with the charter of Pennsylvania?
A. He had read the charter, and wa^ well acquainted
with its contents#
QDid he know that there was a ctaife which fpecifi
cally fubjeded the colony to taxation by the British Le
gislature?•
A. He Was Well apprised that there was such a clause.
Q Were the people of Pennsylvania content with
their charter ?
A. Perfectly content;
Q Then did they not zequiefee in the right of the
British parliament to enforce taxation ?
A. They acqniefced in a declaration of the tight, so
long as they experienced no inconvenience from the de
claration.
Queries from LORD SANDWICH.
Had the witness ever heard of an act entitled, " The
Declaratory AN ?"
A. He had heard of such an ad.
Q Did he ever peruse, and was he fufficiently ac
quainted with the contents of that ad?
A. He never had perused it. It never had been much
difeuffed whilst he resided in America.
Q_ Did the witness apprehend that the Congress ac
quielced in an ad which maintained the authority of the
British Parliament in all cases cvhatfoever ?
Objected to, and the witness was def red to withdraw ;
but being called in again, the question was put, and he re
plied.
That except in the case of TAXATION, he appre
hended the Americans would have no objection to ac
knowledge the sovereignty of Great-Britain.
Q, Had the witness any knowledge of certain resolu
tions passed by the county of Suffolk?
A. He had not attended to them.
Q: Had the witness any knowledge of an answer given
by the Continental Congress to what had been commonly
called Lord North's conciliatory motion?
A. The witness knew nothing of the proceedings of the
Congress, they were generally tranfaded under the seal of
secrecy.
Q^ Was the witness personally acquainted with Mr.
Harrison, a member @f the Congress?
A. The witness knew him well.
Q^ What character did he bear?
A. A very refpedable one.
Q: Had the witness ever heard of any persons who had
fuffcred persecutions, for declaring sentiments favourable
to the supremacy of the British Parliament?
A. He had heard of such oppressions in other provinces,
but never met with them during his residence in Pennsyl
vania.
Q In the opinion of the witness, were the Americans
now free ?
A. They imagined themselves to be so.
Q In case a formidable force fhouid be sent to America,
in support of government, did the witness imagine there
were many who would openly profefs submission to the
authority of parliament ?
A. The witness apprehended the few who would join
on such an occasion would be too trivial a number to be
of any con sequence.
Mr. Penn was then ordered to withdraw, and the Duke
of Richmond, after descanting with lingular propriety on
the necessity of immediate conciliation, proposed the last
petition from the Continental Congress to the King, as a
basis for a plan of accommodation. His Grace of Rich
mond moved, “ That the preceding paper furnifhed
" grounds of conciliation of the unhappy differences at
" present subsisting between Great-Britain and America,
“ and that some mode fhouid be immediately adopted for
“ the effettuatinefr deferable a purpose."
This produced ' a debate, supported on both tides with
infinite ingenuity. The numbers were:
For the motion 27 —Proxies 6 33
Against the motion 50 —Proxies 36 86
Majority against the motion 53.
Nov. 24. The Chevalier D'Eon is now expected to
leave England every hour to return to the French court ;
immediately on which, some most extraordinary anecdotes
relative to the two powers will come out, to the astonish
ment of all Europe.
The taking Hanoverian troops into English pay, and
employing them within the English dominions, was deem
ed so high an insult upon the English army, that the mi
nisters in King George the First and Second's reign never
would attempt it. When Hessians were brought into Eng
land, Lord Temple, Lord Chatham, and others, gained
immortal honour by driving them out ; —nay, the English
troops were so averse to Hanoverians, that they would
not fuffer them even in Flanders.
Our ministry are alarmed, and with great reason, at the
late change in the war department in France. The Count
De St. Germaine, who is now the minister, is a foldicr,
and possesses, besides being an able statesman, consider
able military talents. It was by his advice the Marshal
Duc De Richlieu pent up the late Duke of Cumberland,
last war, and reduced him to the convention of Clofter
feven. There seems to be little doubt then, that this able
statesman, who is so accurate a judge of national events,
and who has, through life, so fortunately availed himfelf
of them, will not be an idle looker on at our quarrels
with America; but the moment he finds the balance of
victory likely to declare for them, will strike such a stroke,
as from the present pacific declarations of our cabinet
they are not at all prepared for.
Wednesday several more large ships were contrasted
for by agency, for the transport service, which are to go
to Ireland to take in provisions there for the use of the sol
diers at Boston.
Extr&a of a Letter from Portsmouth, Nov. 22.
“ Sailed the Tritcn man of war, Lutwidge, for Ilal
lifax, with shipwrights, &c.
“ A few days ago 80001. in foreign specie, was seized
by information, on board the Boreas man of war at Spit
head, by an officer of the customs, consigned to a gentle
man in Boston."
HOUSE OF COMMONS, November 23.
The Speaker did not take the chair till half after three;
after the common business was over, the ministry pro
posed that the agent for the Province of Nova Scotia
Ihould be' examined at the bar, upon the petition from
that province, in order to found a motion upon it. This
was violently oppofeci by the Minority, under the asser
tion that the petition was not authenticated, and the ex
amination could not be fatisfa&ory without counter ones.
Mr. Burke and Charles Fox were the strongest oppofers
in this previous debate, and it was expected to last so long,
that no time would be left for the examination without a
very late night. The gallery locked according to custom.
The Commons agreed to the report of the resolution of
yesterday on the supply, that 47,400!. 12s. be granted to
bis Majesty, to enable his Majesty to defray the expences
of a regiment of Highlanders to be raised in Scotland,
confiding of two battalions for 1776.
Dec. 6. Yesterday the Lower Aflembly proceeded on
the bill to prohibit all trade and intercoufe with the North
American colonies, during the continuance of the present
rebellion in the said colonies. Debates atifing, expected
to fit late. The Gallery-door was locked, and none ad
mitted but Peers or Members.
A plan is now under con liberation, for all criminals in
Great-Britain, sentenced for transportation, to be sent to
the British settlements on the coast of Africa.
Extract of a Letter from Gofport, Dec, I.
'' Since hiy last the Pearl and Seaford Frigates came
out of Dock, and are now fitting for Sea.
" Capt. Halftead, of this Town, is appointed to the
command of the Jersey, of 50 guns, and is to go to Bos
ton, there to lie as an hospital ship for the . use of the sick.
" It is said here that General Gage is to return to Bos
ton; the ship he came home in is come into the harbour.
Extras of a letter from Chatham, Dec. 3.
“ Orders are received at the commissioners office here,
for the fail-makers of this dock-yard to work double
days, in order to give the greatest dispatch in making fails
for the ships that are fitting at this port for America.
“ The Milford of 28 guns, commanded by John Bur,
Esq; is nearly fitted, and will fail from hence in a few
days, for America.
“ The Carysfort of 28 guns, is put into commission at
this port, and the command given to Robert Fanfhaw,
Esq; she is also to go to America."
Letters from Lisbon, by Monday's mail, bring advice,
that on the 16th, 17th and 18th ult. there were such vio
lent storms of wind, that most of the Flips in the harbour
were driven from their moorings, and by running foul of
each other received damage both in their masts and hulls,
and several of them loft their bow-fprits; that a Portu
guese man of war was loft at the mouth of the Tagus,
and all the crew drowned; and that the Flipping on the
coast fuffcred greatly.
Twelve transports, bound to America, are waiting in
the Downs for a favourable wind.
Yesterday the House of Commons met at 3 o'clock,
and went through a great deal of private business.
Tlie bill for dilcovering a northern passage to the west
ern and southern oceans of America, and for encouraging
adventurers to penetrate to the North Pole, was reporter
with several amendments, and ordered to be engrossed.
The bill for the better regulation of his Majesty's ma
rine forces while on ihore was read a third time, passed.
and ordered to the Lords.
At half after four, the order of the day for the House
to resolve itfelf into a Committee of the whole House,
on the bill for prohibiting all trade and commerce be
tween Great-Britain, Ireland, and the twelve Ameri
can Colonies assembled in Congress, being read, a mo
tion was made, that the Speaker do now leave the Chair.
This occasioned a short debate, and the question being
put, the House divided, Ayes 75, Noes 34.
The House then went into a Committee on said bill,
when several amendments and clauses were proposed,
which occasioned warm debates. The Committee were
left fitting at half after seven, and were exported to fir
In the House of Commons of Ireland, on Monday
Nov. 27, the Committee of the whole House fat till half
past eleven, on the question of admitting 4000 Hessian and
Brunswick troops, when at length the Committee divided.
Ayes for admitting the troops 68; Noes 106. Majority
against the foreign troops 38.
The following changes (fays a correspondent) are very
confidently talked of to take place in the law department
though not before next Michaelmas term.
Lord Mansfield to n tu\: q, ufoujor, and to be fu^
ceeded by Sir R. Alton.
Lord Chief Baron Smythe ditto, to be succeeded bv
Mr. Baron Eyre.
The Lord Chancellor to resign, and to be succeeded b
the Solicitor General.
Lord Chief Justice De Grey to retire on a pension, an.
to be succeeded by the Attorney General.
Mr. Wallace, Mr. Bearcroft, and Mr. Mansfield, can
didates for the Attorney and Solicitor Generallhip.
An express is said to be come from Lord Granthai
our Ambassador at Madrid, that the Spaniards were fend
ing a powerful naval armament to the Spanish Weft
Indies.
Yesterday a full Board of Ordnance was held, at th
breaking up of which orders were given for several hur.
dred tons of Ordnance dores to be got ready as foonn
possible.
Canterbury, Nov. 17. The Prince of Wales's third reg
ment of Dragoon Guards, now quartered here, have rc=
with great success in recruiting. They are to go to Ante
rica with Burgoyne's and the 9th of Dragoons, as soon
compleat.
St. JOHN'S (ANTIGUA) January 17, 177 6.
This morning early four companies of his Majesty's 5,
regiment, <who ewere drove off the American coaf, and}
into this If and in great diflrefs, marched tbrd the tonun :
St. John's, from Englifo Harbour to Rat-island Barrack;
cohere they are to rest and refrefb themselves, till a vtfel
got ready to carry them to Boflon,
The ships of evar on their different fations round this &
the nighbouring sands are daily dfrtfng the Americans
by making captures of their vessels employed in their sere
scribed trade cuith the French islands, &c.
WILLIAMSBURG, Feb. 10.
A schooner from Salem, and another from Ipswich
both in ballast, the latter with 2001. on board, in Conti
nental Dollars, were taken last Tuesday, by two tenders
and carried into the harbour of Norfolk. They wer<
bound in here for corn.
A party from the men of war, last Thursday, went<
shore at Norfolk, under cover of their cannon, and too.
out of the warchoufes five hogflieads of tobacco, not
withstanding the riflemen kept an incessant fire on the
the whole time. At night Col. Howe ordered his peopi
to burn the houses, when they received another he.4w
difeharge of cannon from the ships.
The town of Norfolk is now said to be totally con
fumed; and that our troops have abandoned the pla.
and are gone to the Great Bridge. Portsmouth was .
flames last Thursday night.
A brig, laden with linens, this week luckily efcap&
the vigilance of. the tenders (with which it is said the Ba,
swarms) and fell into the hands of our people.
One Mr. Ker, a prisoner on his parole in Northampton
county, went off last week, and carried with him fever
Negroes. A few days after seven Negroes broke out <'
Northampton goal and went off in a pettiauger. It
imagined they are all gone on board the men of war.
The prisoners of the 14th regiment, and others, in ah
25, were this week removed to Richmond town.
Some of the tenders went up to Nanfemond a few dav
ago, and took a vessel with about 200 barrels of pork e
board. Our people at that place bad a small Ikirmif
with them, but we cannot learn that any lives were 1c
on either fide. Before their departure they bprut dew