The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-10 00:00:00, page 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY n, 1776.
The ^New-York Prf not arriving till Eleven o'Clock on
'Tuesday Night (after eur Paper was ready for the
Press) due cbearfullj take this Method of gratifying
our Readers with the following Intelligence brought
him-
LONDO N, October 28.
-^ S soon as his Maiefty's Speech had been read in
ff the Upper Assembly by the Lord Chancellor
/—* and Clerk of that Honourable Assembly, Lord
JV Townfhend rose up, and in a very manly and
raterly manner went fully into the unhappy deputes be
twixt America and this country; at the conclusion of
which, he moved an humble Address to his Majesty for
his most gracious speech. His Lordlhip was seconded by
Lord Dudley. The Marquis of Rockingham was the
next who spoke; he differed greatly in opinion from the
two firft-.mentioned Lords, and at the end of his speech
proposed an amendment to the Address, which brought
on a very interesting and long debate, in which the fol
lowing Right Hon. Members assisted with the three above,
Lord Rochford, Lord Coventry, the Duke of Grafton,
Lord Sandwich, Lord Lyttleton, the Bishop of Peterbo
rough, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Effingham, Lord Grofve
nor', the Duke of Mancheftcr, Lord Gower, the Duke of
Richmond, Lord Shelburne, Lord Warwick, and Lord
Ferrers; after which the question was put for agreeing to
the amendment, and the house divided, when the num
bers were as follow ; Not Contents 69, Proxies 11 ^Con
tents 29, Proxies 0.
The House again divided upon the Address as originally
moved for; Contents 66, Proxies 10; Not Contents 33.
The House broke up about eleven o'clock, and ad
journed till next day.
The arguments hi the House of Peers turned entirely
on- American affairs. Che Lords in A n can
didly owned they had been mifihformed last year, and
that their measures were consequently founded in error,
and had therefore failed of success. This concession fur
nished matter of severe remark to the Lords of the Mino
rity; the B— — of P pointed out the falfe policy
of continuing the dispute with the Colonies, and urged
administration to stop the further ravages of fire and
sword. The D of R d followed the R d
P--te's argument with I is ufiial inaccuracy and inelegance
of manner, hut with much force of matter. Lord
S ne, in a warm and pidturefaue flow of words,
painted the present ill effe&s of the contest, and fheweu
how much more fatal the consequences might be if the
unnatural war was pursued. His Lordlhip was extremely
severe on Administration for the impotency and inexpedi
ency of their mcafures; and after intimating thatthe in
troduction of foreign troops without leave of Parliament,
was high treason to the confitution, hoped that the day
would come, when those who put that part of the speech
into his M y's mouth, which mentions their being
feat to Gibraltar,and Minorca, would be called to a pro
per account, and undergo an exemplary punishment. Lord
G r spoke to the fallacy of the Addresses, and the
unfair means used to procure them, which he proved by
citing an infancy of fhhmeful partiality and undue influ
ence, which fell within his own knowledge. Lord F rs
opposed the Address.
The bulinefs of Parliament was opened in the House of
Commons by swearing in several Members; after which
the Speaker read twice his Majesty's most gracious Speech
from the Throne ; whereupon Mr. Ackland, son to Sir
Thomas Ackland, moved for a dutiful and loyal Address
to his Ma'efty in a ver; r elaborate speech, highly com
mending the lenity and forbearance of government with
respect to America, and enforcing the necessity of assuring
his Majesty of the approbation of the measures already
taken against the Americans, and of firm support from his
faithful Commons in the orofecution of the war.
The motion for an Address was seconded by Mr. Lyt
tleton, late Governor of Jamaica, who likewise expatiated
on the necessity of strengthening the hands of Govern
ment.
Lord John Cavendish moved for an amendment, which
occasioned a long and warm conversation, in which the
Ministry were pretty roundly told of the fatal effects of
the measures of the last sessions.
- The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor spoke against the Ad
&fs ; called the war against the Americans a murderous
waf= and said, that he should consider every fubjedt who
fell on either fide as affaffir tied by the M r, and their
blood to be laid to his charge ; he concluded with recom
mending an Address to the King, that he would be pkafed
to point out some method of conciliating the affections of
the fubjedts of all parts of he empire.
Governor Johnftone spoke on the,insufficiency of the
present forces, to carry this favourite, art of Adminis
tration ! He averred, that a general d^fotisfaaion pre
vailed amongst the King's t -oops, alreadfrat Bolton ; and
that three field-officers of he five regiments, lately em
barked at Cork, foticited leave to resign;. of this he
pledged himfelf to bring evidence to the bar; and dared
them to call for it.
General Conway defends d the Americans with an un
usual warmth of argument: He called for information
from the Treasury Bench, what part of America we
might deem our own: Asked whether Canada, whether
Halifax, nay, whether Boiton itfelf, owned at this Time
the superiority of the Brth arms ? —He declared his
conference forbad his affient to the b—ry of the Provin
cials, and therefore he firmly protested against the Ad
dress.
Lord George Germaine replied to him in favour of the
Address, and consequently supported the measure of go
vernment; but threw out nothing new, except that he
had received a letter from Gen. Burgoyne, who said, that
Notwithstanding the distresses and obstacles the King's
troops met with, they were zealous and determined in
defence of their country.
Col. Barre entered minutely into the consequences of
the rummer campaign, described the Equation of the
King's forces as on a wen, or little excrescence of land,
blocked up within the walls of Boftop, and the fleet not
even master of the river in which it lies: he drew a con
cufion, that if an army of 22,000 of onr forces, with
20,000 Provincials and a fleet of 22 fail of the line, with
more than as many frigates,were 3 years in fubduiug Ca
nada, though compleated every spring—what little prof
pcd could there be for 10,900 men to effect the conquest
of all America. —He told toe Minister, that as he ex
pected but little information from him, he would give
him some: that he had received a letter from a Major
Cab.well, who was fettled on a large estate in Canada,
who allured .him, that the Canadians were not by any
POSTSCRIPT to the Peimfylvania Gazette. No. 2455.
means to be driven into the war; that he had tried the
arts of persuasion in vain; that he assembled about 1200
of them together, who came with large sticks, but had
concealed 400 firelocks in the woods, which they were
determined to make use of against the English, if they
forced them to take either fide: Col. Barre further added,
that Genera; Carleton and Lord Pitt, were within a,quar
ter of an hour of falling into the hands of Johnny Her
'?'", a barber, who was now a Major in the Provincial
Service: he obferveci, that he and his friends were cen
tred by the Ministry as the leaders of fadion; that their
conversation with each other was, which of them should
go to the Tower firn; but this they regarded not ; oppose
the King they could not with to do, for their ancestors
seated his family on the throne, but to carry their point
against the present unfeeling Administration, he would
readily go to the block.
Lord Barrington answered Governor Johnston and Col.
Barre, and denied the direction of the officers,
allured the House, that they would receive fatisfadtory
accounts to the contrary in f:ven or eight days.
1 he Solicitor General likewise replied to C. Barre, ac
cused him of drawing falfe inferences from his own pre
mises, entered with great spirit into the merit of the pre
sent vigorous measures (admitting we had 101 l all the pla
ces they $ would insinuate) in order to put us upon a pro
per footing to enter even upon a negociation with the
Americans.
At ten 0 clock Mr. Burke rote, and spoke for near two
hours. He raifeghe laugh of the house at Lord N—'s
expence, by repeating loipe vaunting expressions (which
he declared had fallen from his Lordlhip in Parliament
heretofore) and placing them in a ridiculous contratt with
the unfortunate events which have of late taken place.
Speaking seriously of the present situation of affairs, he
compared America to a p^pte who had emancipated
themselves, and-described the Mother Country as a pi
ratical disturber of the [ mis mb the naval trade of the
Colonies. The difyilcefttl bkkkiag up of our troops in
Bodon he pourtrayed with his wonted ability es defcrib
tion; and after lamenting the danger of this country, if
the dispute with America continued, he advised admini
stration no longer to make England appear like a porcu
pine, armed at all pomts with adts 01 parliament, oppres
sive to the trade and freedom of America, but to shew a
friendly countenance, and to meet the Colonies with
open arms.
Mr. Charles Fox followed Mr. Burke, and with his
ufiial vehemence and asperity aimed his. Entire perfonaliy
at Lord N—, deferring his Lordlhip as the blundering
pilot who had brought us into our present difficulties.
“ Adrhinittration (fays Mr. F ( x)'exult at havingwrought
us into iuch a dilemma as the abteft of men cannot extri
cate us from; they have reafen to cry aloud in triumph,
Lord Chatham, the King of Prussia, nay, Alexander
the Great, never gained.more in onemarapaign than the
noble Lord has loft—he has led a whole Continent—
moft able adyifer, most accomplished General !' 'Mr. Fox
mixed his raillery with some very serious obfervafions on
the conduct of the Ministry, and took occasion to men
tion the old political dihinftiow; of Whig and Tory, de
scribing the present Members of A n as enemies to
freedom, and rank Tories,•
As soon as he concluded, , . , North rose, and after
entering into a longjufoficatic„ of himfelf, and the plan
cf conduct he had pursued while in office (replying with
c^nfiderabie spirit-to the insinuations which had been
thrown out against liim by Lord John Caverdid), Mr.
Burke, Mr. Fox, and other fpcakers in oppolition) his
Lordlhip juftified the measures of Adminiftrfcion, shew
ing, by strong arguments, that they were founded as
much in prudence and wiftlom' as the situation of affairs
would allow. His Lordlhip next entered into a difaui
htfon of the Terms Whig and Tory, and proved that
the piefent Ministers adted on the true principles cf
Whiggiirn, and that the measures sketched out in.the
speech, and echoed back in the address,- as proper to be
offered to America, were most likely to effect an honour
able reconciliation.
At 20 minutes after one Mr. Dunning rose. He point
ed out the illegality of introducing fcreign troops into
any part of his Majeftys dominions, without the confect
of Parliament, and shewed the bad tendency of such a
mealure, and of what evil consequences it might here
after be productive, wwe it n w'fubtrtd to pals into a
precedent: He was replied tShy the Attorney General.
Ihe House did not rd till am four'o'dock on Friday
morning. Upon a division tLerchspeared,'
For the Address, without ah / amenchmot 278
Againh.it - . io g
Majority 170
The following H a Copy of He Petition of the Common
Council to the.Houles of Lords and Commons, which
was presented to each House by rhe Sheriffs on Thurs
day ah. They are both 1.1 the lame voids with only
a variation of the address.
The humble PETITION of the Loro Mayor, Al
dermkn, and Commons of the City of London, in
Common Council ailcmbled,
Sheweth,
rr-'HAT this Court having t:ken into its most serious
J confederation the present ditreffed filiation of our
fcllow-iuojc&s in America, are exceedingly alarmed for
the consequences of those coercive measures, which arc
pursuing against them—mcafures that mu.:(notwitnftand
ing the great uncertainty of th ir mccefs) eventually be
4 productive of new and more b.irtheidbme taxes, the in
create of an enormous national debt; and finally, we
fear the loss of the most vdu.ible branch of on: com
merce, on which the existence of an infinite number of
industrious manufacturers and mechanics entirely de
pends.
That his Majesty having beep graciously plcafed, in
aniwer to a late humble and dutiful aadiefs and petition
to the throne, praying a ceflation of hostilities with Ame
rica for the purpose of obtainirg time, and thereby giv
ing an opportunity for a happy .nd lading rcconci.midh
with his Majesty's American Colonies, to aeclare, that.
bejkould abide by the fate, of %§ parliament, this court
conceive it to be their iuGifyhable duty, thus early in
the fedion, in the molt refpe&fut manner to a p „v to this
Right Hon. House, that it wilfbe pleated to'cLot fuel*
measures for the healing of the present unhappy < ipp-ucs
between the mother country.ano the coirnhe.,, A may be
speedy, permanent, and honourable."
On Thursday a new petition of Mr. Sayre to the
House 01 Commons, complaining of an undue (Lotion
for the borough of Seaford, in Suficx, was present to
the House by Mr. Sawbri f,^, Lord Mayor ele&, and
seconded by Sir George Yonge.
An account of what palled yesterday on his Male, ft
going to the House of Peers. —Mr. Savre's commitment
to the Tower having raised the curiosity of the pm he
to an extravagant pitch, the streets of Weftminher were
erduded by eleven I'll the morning.—On Tuefdayahand
bill, fyrek “ A Poor Mechanic," was distributed in great
numbers, which produced an answer on the following
day, intimating that the Magistrates had provided effec
tual means to apprehend, and bring to jufhce, performs
attempting to violate the laws. Fifty thlufand of these
last papers were distributed. Sir John Fielding's adver
tisement combined with the above circumstances to make
peopie imagine something very extraordinary was to hap-
P "' T& Midplefcx Justices attended at the house cf
toe GuMlhall, Weftminher, at an early hour, and about
50 of tie ir constables were f atioued in the Courtroom.
Another large body of constables pl/ red themselves at
the door of the Swan Tavern, We^rnAfter- nidge. At
a quarter before one o'clock a body of about 40 ccaftd
bles palled through the Park to the Palace; and by this
time thejiumbcr of people, in the Park only, a,old not
be less thin 25,003 ; but their looks spoke peace and good
humour; nothing like treaion, or misprision of tr^aAn---
His Majesty left the Palace about two; and the procession
was in the following order; two horse grenadiers with
fiords drzwi ato clear the way; three date coaches and
fix, filled with noblemen and gentlemen in waiting; 2
body of h Tie-guards ; trumpets ; a body of yeoman' cf
the guards; fourteen of his Maferiy's footmen, two and
two ; his Majesty's coach, drawn by eight cream-colour
ed horfi-s, with footmen on each tide; a party of horfe
guards, followed by the constables almost under the heels
of the h+rfes. All was quiet in the Park, save a few faint
hides, and a few, still fainter huzzas. At the door of
the Parhament house a little luffing. When the King
arrived; the guns at Stangate were fired, and again on
his leaving tne hdufe; and during the period of his be
ing there, two of the horse-guards paraded Parliament
ftreet to fee that all was quiet. His Majesty was in the
House just 20 minutes, and he returned as peaceably xs
he went. Tne whole number of the people assembled
on this occasion were estimated at 60,c0 .
If his M had been taken into custody yesterday,
it must have been by the ladies ; for there 'were five
women to three men, the Park through.
Friday, OKober 27.
Resolved and read fevcral petitions for bringing in
. appeals.
r fhe Lord Chancellor acquainted the House that his
Majesty had been waited on 'purfuant to their order, to
know when he would be attended with their Address of
Thanks ; and that his Majesty h-d appointed two o' clock.
The Chancellor and fevcral of the Members accordingly
proceeded to St. James's, and presented the following '
Humble Address of the Ri^ht Honourable the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal, in Parliament affanbled.
Most gracious Sovereign,r
" ZEE, your Majfly's most dutiful and loyal fcbfds,
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament ash Tfeu
Hr br.fo refer your Hff, ^^ hurdle t..^ja,
m s: precious speech from the throve.
"iVitb the utmof abhorrHice and indignation ewe fee th
realdefgn of ib^h def,erate mm, ^H, by the profif mif
rrprefentations, have deluded and precipitated 'our unhappy
fcUo-w-fubjeTs in America, into mm,arm no left fubverfa-c
of their o<wn bappinefs add true intere/ls, than dangerous
to the profmrity and jafety of Qrca^EriiaP. The fo^ 3
they have affirmed, and the arbitrary and opprejjroe ahis
^bicb they bale done, leave no doubt of their traiterous
purpose to induce the Colonies to fake off the controul of the
fapreme legfuture, and to bury in an ungrateful oblivion,
the rcmemo, mice of the great indufry <wP;, .which they have
been planted ; the fpeering care with <wLicb they have been
nursed; the marfadvantages <wbicb they have enjoyed, arid
the exber.ee of blood arid treasure <witb cubicb they have been
protected by this nation.
"We cannot avoid exprtfirg our concern, that the threat
tende/nefs cwitb <wbtcb poor Maj pt, bar proceeded, and the
conciliatory dis, option cubicb a,peared in the last Jeffion of
Parliament, irfead of basing the dfred effect of undeceiv
ing the milled, and efabii/hlng a ^fidence in the parent
'f^e, have been turned to the advantage, and ma ifinflru
-3 renter to tbepurpofes of this dangerous attempt; and <whrd
^ acknowledge this to b e the corf ,mce of the deference of
intention which prevailed here and m. America, wr are pe
netrated with a just fenje of the troths which have regu
lated your Maje/lfs endeavours to prevent, if it bad be n
pdffible, the ejufan cf thy blood of cur f&w-fufedh, and
the calamities which are inseparable from a /late of cuar;
but Jince the rebellion is now become more general, and ma-
Tiffs the purpose of efaofijhing and maintain ng an inde
pendent empire, we cannot but applaud your Majeffs rHo
luhon to vindicate the rights, the irterefs, and the bofo^y,
of this Hngtiem, by a ffeecd, and mcyi decifve exertion ; and
jor this purpole, we think it our indffnfble duty to declare,
that we will fapjort your Majefy w'tb car times a .d for
tunes ; and being fully perjuaded, that in the present fate
oj tbefe disorders, the mod aTive will, in its effect, be the
most merciful mode of proceeding, cue bear With pleafare
that your Majesty has encreafed your naval efabljbment,
and a/jo greasy augmented your land forces. He are fen
fble^ of your Majefly's kind confderation, in having acne it
in fueb a manner as may be the leaf burthenfom^ to your
kingdoms ; and your Majefly may be affvred tv. $ we Jbal!
cbearjull, concur in whatever may be necefar, to enable
your Majesty to profit of the friendly dfoffons offAelm
powers.
" Ae are deeply impressed by the gracious motives which
induced your A^jtff tffend a part of ,our electoral treots
to the g&nijons oj AztraUac and Port Mahon, by which
ctyfance this country wnl G enabled to employ a large num
ber of its own efablfhed forces in tne maintenance of its
authority ; and we return your Ma;fl, our frcere thanks
for bating so providentially poized out to us a farther re
source in that national body of ,men, so conflitutrinal in their
nature, and jo zealous in aeir duty, toe militia of this
kingdom.
" he cannot fufictently admire your Majefxs benevolent
declaration, that when the wifeed-for period'ar, roes, teat
toe unhappy and deluded multitude, agairf whom this force
will b@a.reaec,fball become fenJible of theireiror, your Ma
j^, will receive the milled with tenderness and mercy ;-and
we arejuip fenjible of the wife and compaffionaze Jentiment
which cas fetermikrd your Majesty io delate autborite to
certain perform upon the jp:r, co grant general or p. riicidar
pardons and indemnities, in fuel manner, and to jueb i>er~
Jons as iae, Jaall tAnnf, ana to receive the ju^mf.im ts
any prottnee cr cLAny which jbalt be afpojed to return 14 }