The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-21 00:00:00, page 2

Majority 45 . ,
Tt being then near midnight, the confederation of the Second
resolution was adjourned till Monday.
Monday, November 27.
The Committee of the whole house fat till pad eleven,
on the question of admitting four thousand Hessian and Brun-
Swick troops, when at length the Committee divided,
Ayes, for admitting the troops, 68
Noes, —— 106
Majority against the foreign troops, 38.
o^ofoc^o^c^ofoo^oto^ ^ ^
Saturday, November 11.
THE Lords were yesterday assembled for the purposes of
examining Governor Penn, and of difcwffiug a motion
which the Duke of Richmond proposed to ground on such in
formation as that gentleman should afford the House.
Previous to the calling of Mr. Penn to the bar, the Buke
of Richmond announced the mode he had adopted prepara
tory to the Governor's examination. His Grace conferred,
“ that he had apprized Mr. Penn of the questions which would
be propounded to him, but the noble Duke diiclaimed hav
ing entered into any fort of conversation with the Governor,
left such conversation Should be malevolently construed into a
design of anticipating the aniwers Mr. Penn might think pro
per to return." r•
The Duke of Richmond having finifhed his preliminary re
marks, Mr. Penn was called io the bar, and interrogated
nearly to the following purport:
Q. How long had he resided in America?,
& Four years. Two of thole years in the capacity of Go
vernor of Penfylvania.
Q. Was he acquainted witli. any of the members ot the
Continental Congress? , ~ „, t c
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 ot
that Congress throughout all the provinces ;
A. He believed this to be the cufe.
Q_ How many men had been raised throughout the pro
vince of Pennsylvania? , , , „
A. Twenty thousand effective men had voluntarily enroll
ed themselves to enter into actual Lrvice if necessity required.
Q Of what rank, quality, and condition were those persons?
A? Men of the mod r # .fpeaable characters in the province?
IQ Were not a considerable nutiber of them entirely defh
tute of property ?'
A. It was presumed that, fubtraped from so large a number
as twenty thousand, there were ftrme necessitous, but the ma
jor part were in flourishing fituatic ns.
Q Betides these twenty thoufabd who voluntarily enrolled
themselves to a& as exigencies might require, what other for
ces had the provincials of Pennsylvania raised?
A. Four thousand minute-men, whose duty was pointed out
by their deGgnation. They wer4 to be ready for Service as a
minute's warning. .
Q. Did the province of Pennf, Ivania grow corn Sufficient
for the Supply of its inhabitants'
A. Much more than Sufficient, there was a surplus for ex
portation, if required.
Q Were they capable of miking gun-powder in Pennfyl
va::ia ?
A. They perfectly wellunderft ood theart,and hadcffe&cd it.
Q. Could Saltpetre be made ilt the province?
A. It could; mills and other inftruraents for effecting such
a ^undertaking had been erected with success.
n Could cannon be cad in P ennfylvania?
A. The ^rt of casting cannon had been carried to great per
fection; they were amply furnished with iron for the purpose.
Q Could Small arms be made to any degree of perfection?
A. To as great a degree of perfection as could be imagin
ed. The workmanship employed in finishing the Small arms
was universally admired for its excellence.
Q Were the Americans expert in flrip-building?
A. More so than the Europeans.
Q. To what extent of tonnage did the largest of their Ship
ping amount?
fented, be taken from them forever : That rafted of a saving
this measure would in all probability become a burthen, and
observed our civil eftab'ifhmenc would always encreale,
when ever the military decreased ; and that the present lav
ing would be only a temporary relief, which would bring on
a future evil, for that when our own troops returned, then our
military would fall back into the original expence with the
additional burthen of what the civil establishment may have
encreafed. He then mentioned our defencelefs date, and in
sisted that we had not more than nine thousand fighting men ;
men who marched on their legs and not on paper ; men who
could Band fire and not calculation. He disposed very ju*
dicioufly the arrangement of our troops, and clearly proved
that we mull be open to the infurre&ions of the W bite-boys
in the South, and the Steel-boys in the North; and that then
the murdering and the maiming of our wives and chud^n,
would fall on our own heads. That France looked on t^s
quarrel with a peculiar pleasure, and that we had a fccurity
in their promises no longer than the hopes of accommodation
with the colonies existed; for whenever they disappeared,and
that by this war we were weakened, it was possible and pro
bable with a very (mail force, they would do such a hgoal
mifehief to this kingdom as might be irreparable. He took
a view of the commercial interest of France witli America,
and mentioned how probable it was they would Sacrifice their
friendfllip to England for a lucrative connexion with Ame
rica, and pictured the consequences in (hiking figures of rea
soning. He mentioned the disturbances which might arise
from the importation of these foreign troops, and asked by
what law they were to be tried for offences in this kingdom ;
whether they were to be fubje& to a jury of this country, or
to a court-martial am,ong themselves, and if the latter, what
dreadful consequences might follow. He then returned to the
justice on which this request was founded, and Said such was
his opinion of it, he would not vote a Single sword against
America, without an address accompanying it recommending
conciliatory measures. That he forefaw the consequences of
this war ; and that if the ministry were vi&orious, it would
be only establishing a right to the harvest, when they had
burned the grain ; it would be only establishing a right to the
Stream when they had cut ofF the fountain.
Sir Vbn Blaquiere said he was totally ignorant of this mea
sure when the session opened. That it would have been
wrong to have deduced the Saving from the votes from Sup
plies,' before it was known whether the troops would be Sent
or not. That if the Supplies are raised, and there is a redun
dancy, on account of this measure, it would be liable to the
disposal of parliament next sessions.
The queQion was then put on the resolution, and the
Committee divided,
A ye , ixi Teller, Mr. Hellen.
Noes', —— 76 Teller, Mr. Ogle.
A. A fliip of about three hundred tons wax the krgeft they
were known to build. ~
Q. Circumstanced as things at present were, did the witness
think, that the language of the Congress expreff.d rhe fenle 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 replied in
the affirmative from information only. ,
Q Did he suppose that the Congress contained Delegates
fairly nominated by the choice of the people?
A. He had no doubt but that the Congress did contain De
legates chofex under this description.
Q. By what mode were the Delegates in Congress appointed ?
AT Sy the votes of AiTenibries in Some places, by ballot in
Q. In what light had the petition, which the witness had
picketed to rhe King, been contidcred by the Americans.
A The petition had been coufidcred as ataolive branch,
and'thc witness had been complimented by his friends, as the
messenger of peace. . .
q On the luppofition that the prayer of this petition Should
be rejected, what did the wituefs imagine would be the conse
quence? 1
A That the Americans, who placed much reliance on the
petition would be driven to desperation by its non success.
Q Did the witnef, imagine, that Sooner than yield to what
we^foppofed to be unjutt claims of Great- Britain, the Ame
ricans would take the desperate resolution of calling in the
aid of foreign assistance? ,
A. The witness was apprehensive that this would be the
Q. What did the witness recoiled of the Stamp Ad?
A. That it caused great uncafinefs throughout America.
q What did the witness recoiled concerning the repeal of
tha: acft?/
A. The Anniversary of that memorable day is kept through
out America, by every testimony of public rejoicing, such as
bonfires, illuminations, and other exhibitions of gladncfs.
Q. Would not the neglect with which the last petition was
treated induce the Americans to resign all hopes of pacific ne
gotiations?
A. In the opinion of the witness it would.
Q When the witness presented the petition to the Secretary
of state, was he ailed any qucfiions relative to the date of
America?
A. Not a finale question.
Crejs 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 was well acquainted with
its contents. ,Tn
Q. Did he know that there was a elaufe which Specifically
funded the colony to taxation by the Britifli Legislature?
A. He was well apprized that there was such a elaufe.
Q Were the people of Pennsylvania content with their
charter? A. Perfectly content.
Q_ Then did they not acquiefee in the right of the British
parliament to enforce taxation?
A. They acquiefeed in a declaration of the right so long as
they experienced no inconvenience from the declaration.
Queries from LORD SANDWICH.
Had the vnenefs ever heard of an ad entitled, “ The Decto
roiory AR?"
A He had heard of such an ad.
Q_ Did he ever peruse, and was he Sufficiently acquainted
with the contents of that ad? .
A. He never had perused it. It never had been much dis
cussed whilst he resided in America.
Q Did the witness apprehend that the Congress acquiefeed
in ^ ad which maintained the authority of the Britifli parli
ament in all cases "whatjoever ?
Objeßed to, and the vitnejs vas desired to withdraw ; but being
called in again, the quefcon *was put, and be replied,
That except in the case of TAXATION, he apprehended,
the Americans would have no objection to acknowledge the
Sovereignly of Great-Britain.
Q. Had the witness any knowledge of certain resolutions
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 leal of fc
"'& Was the witness personally acquainted with Mr. Harri
son, a member of the Congress?
A. The witness knew him well.
O What charader did he bear ?
A. A very refpedable one.
Q. Had the witness ever heard of any persons who had Suf
fered persecutions, for declaring Sentiments favourable to the
Supremacy of the Britifli parliament? #
A. He had heard of such oppressions in other provinces,
but never met with them during his residence in Pennsylvania.
Q In the opinion of the witness, were the Americans now
freef A. They imagined themselves to be so.
Q. In case a formidable force Should be sent to America, in
fu^ort 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
filch an occasion would be too trivial a number to be of any
consequence.„
Mr. Penn was then ordered to withdraw, and the Duke of
Richmond, after descanting with singular 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 Richmond moved,
“ That the preceding paper furniflied grounds of conciliation
of the unhappy differences at present subsisting between
Great-Britain and Amercia, and that feme mode Should be
immediately adopted for the effeauating so definable a pur-
This produced a debate, Supported on both tides with in
finite ingenuity. The numbers were,for the motion 33,
against it 86.
LONDO N, November 13.
Lord Howe is to go firft Commifliouer, in the new, idle,
ridiculous commillion that is to be made out, to treat with
America. His Lordship is not to be, nor to a& as command
er of any force, but in a civil capacity only.
Difeerning men already fay this COMMISSION SCHEME
WILL NOT SUCCEED. America will not treat with those
men, nor with any peifons (however otherwise relpcaable).
from those men, who advised the late barbarous, bloody
measures against bes.
First remove Lord Mansfield, and the tools of Lord Bute,
and then, and not till then, America and England will be
lieve the court arc trul, desirous of peace.
It is said that choice hath been made of Lord Howe and
Mr. Barrington (who upon this occasion is to be made &n Ad
mira!) to fettle the conciliatory plan with the American Coa=
grefs; or upon refufal, to enforce the measures of the flare.
It is strongly reported that the Court of France h # s present
ed a flinging memorial to our Secretary of (late, upon the tak
ing Ruffian troops into Britifli pay. This memorial is con
ceived in terms that have (buck our adminidration with
astonishment, as they coofiJer it as a prelude to a war witli
the House of Bourbon.
Nov to. On Wednesday the H use agreed that an address
should be preferred to his Maj^fty. that he will be pleased
to give directions that the petition presented to him from the
General Congress in America by Governor Penn and Arthur
Lee, Efq r s. should be laid betot# them.
A vote of credit is said to be unammeufly agreed upon in
the cabinet.
Wednesday the House of Commons rtfolved, that the fun
of 4,4001. ra. be granted for defraying the charge of railing
and paying one regiment of Scotch Highlanders, to consist of
two battalions of 1000 men each, tor the service of the year
1776 ° .
This resolution caufcd a short debate, but there was no
question for division.
Nov. 22. Prussia as well as Fiance, has remonftrate^
against Ruffian troops being sent to America
Dec. g. A plan is now under consideration, for all crimi
nals in Grea-Britain, sentenced for transportation, to be sent
to the Britifli fettle merits on the coast of Africa.
Dec. 6. When the order of the day was read yesterday in
the House .of Commons, for going into' a committee of the
whole House on the bill for prohibiting all trade and inter
course with the Colonics in rebellion, &c. A member (Mr.
Dempfter we believe) moved, that it be an inftru&ion gi^en
by the House before the speaker leaves the chair, to the laid
committee to accept certain elaufes by way of amende
and to divide the bill into diflin& psrfs, or to make tw
cut of the one in its present form: Debates arof upon
proportion, which it seems is called by some Gentlemen a
method of frittering away a bill ; and admi^iftrat'on not be
ing disposed to submit to this operation on their favourite
child, a division followed at about five o'clock, and the
numbers were against the motion 75, for it 34.
The speaker then left the chair, and the committee fore
ceeded in the bufintfs. At the cutfet a (Irong < ppofiriob ap
peared to the bill, and a probability of centering it olauf
by elaufe. Mr. Serjeant Adair proposed an amendment te
the firft enabling elaufe, frefh debates earned; in which the
Attorney General and Mt. Burke had a considerable; fliare
At half after seven the committee divided within the House
on the amendment. Against it 128, for it 34.
Lord North, it is said, in order to abate of the rigour 0;
this a&, so far as it respects the seizing the fllips of the Ame
ricans, or any flrips trading to or fr m their ports, said, that
provision was made in the 50th elaufe, page 23, for giving
them time to avoid it, by a proper return to their allegiance
but if that was not thought fufficient, Gentlemen might pre
pose such other provilions as they judged proper, to come i
under that elaufe.
We therefore think it proper to lay the elaufe before tl
public as it now Hands, that the friends of America may has
an opportunity to exert themselves to procure the filling up
the blanks, with such distant dates as may give them all pef
fible time to rcfl<a on the part they have re a&
And be it further ena^ed by the authority aforefaio
that this aa, so far as the fame relates to the ca[t e and for
feiture of fliips and vessels belonging to the inhabitants
the above-mentioned Colonies, fhal commence and be .
force bom and after ( ) and so far as the iamer
lates to the capture and forfeiture of aI flhips and vessels th
(hall be found going in, or at ary of the sud Colonies, frt
and after the ( ) and so far as he fame relate
to the capture and forfeiture of all drips and v&ff.T tha
shall be found trading in, er at any of the said Colonies, c
bound and trading from any port or place in the fame, fror
and after the ( ) and fhallcontinue to be : n fore
so long as any of the said Colonies Avail remain in a flat,
of rebellion and difobedienre.”
The blanks are proposed to be filled up with the dates -
March 1 and April 1; and all the indulgence likely to 1
procured, will be a prolongation of time before the seizure
are to take place.
The Committee was likely to fit very late lad night, atw
it is imagined will not get half through the bill ; on the cm
trary, it is expected they will adjourn from day to day:
they have finished it
Yesterday eleven transports arrived in the river from h
Downs, part to be stationed at Woolwich and the rest at'
Tower, to take in ordinance, powder, ball, shot, provifm
and eloathing, to furuifh the troops in America during 0
summer campaign.
A gentleman observing a great personage on his way:
Westminster, unattended, as usual, by a certain milieu
corps, and enquiring the reason, was answered, they we
gone to America, on the ministerial forlorn hope.
Mod of the American governors will be appointed co
miffioners, and the reason of fending so many commiffione
(36) to America, is, to treat with each province ftparau
about an accommodation, and so dispatch the bufinefi :
they are not now to treat with the Congress, as firft repot
cd.
Extras of a letter from Chatham, December 3.
" Orders are received at the commissioner's office here, f
the fail-makers of this dock yard to work double days, ~
order to give the greatest dispatch in making fails for th
fltips that are fitting at this port for America.
" The Milford, of a 8 guns, commanded by John But
Esq; is nearly fitted, and will fail from hence in a few da^
for America.
“ The Carysford, of 28 guns, i, put into commiff on
this port, and the command given to Robert Fanfhaw, £ % ,
she is also going to America."
WILL)A M SBUR G, February.
By advices from the army under col. Howe, we learn th
they abandoned Norfolk last Tuesday, after removing th
poor inhabitants, with what HE as they cou'd carry alee
with them, and demoifhirg the inirenchmepts which l<e-
Dunmore threw up a little before hw fled on hoard the fl
now lying befare that place. What few h uses remain
after the late bombardment were likewise defiroyed, after 1>
ing valued, to prevent our enemies taking fheltcr in tier
Thus, in the course of five weeks, has a town which contain
ed upwards of 6000 inhabitants, may of them in aflluc
circoniftances, a pac that carried on an extensive trade ar
commerce, ccnf.qucnriy affording bread to many thoufand
been reduced to allies, and become desolate, through ti.
wicked and cruel machinations ok lord North and the junfri
aided by their jaitbfid fervavu, my lord Dunmore with 1
motley a my, and the renowned cap. Ballew, commodore -
hisßitaunick Mvjefty's fleet in Virginia, and his ge^er^.
and valiant crew. Truly may it now be said,
Never can tree reconcilement grow
Where wounds of deadly bate have forced so deep.
The troops are now Rationed at Kemp's landing, the Grea
^ri^g- and in and about Suffolk.