The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-28 00:00:00, page 2

the pmicip'es now maintained. Counter instances and
quotations were made in bipport of this doctrine. It
was further contended, that as the measure was legal, so
it was alio necessary, though not in a degree that con
cerned the fafety and exigence of the date; that troops
were wanted before new levies could be made, and none
.appeared so readily and easily to be procured as his Ma
jesty's German ones • <that they were cheaper than the na
tional troops, and open to no solid objection ; that the
difficulties met with in recruiting so many men as were
now wanting, every day proved the expediency of the
measure.
The debate was very warmly supported on both sides,
and lasted till past twelve o'clock, when a division on the
amendment was reießed, 131 against 58.
Nov. 28. The 33d regiment of foot, of which Lord
Cornwallis is Colonel, is ordered for America, instead of
the 53d. Lord Cornwallis is to command the expedition
to South Carolina and Virginia.
A letter from Dublin fays, " By letters from Sligo we
have the melancholy account of several ships wrecked up
on the north coast of this kingdom, and among the num
ber a transport, which contained three companies of the
46th regiment, bound for America."
House of Commons, Yesterday, a few minutes after three
o'clock, Mr. Alderman Oliver made his motion: he was
seconded by the Lord Mayor of London, It was couch
ed in the following terms; That an humble address be
presented to his Majesty, requeuing that his Majesty
would be graciously pleated to impart to the house, who
were the original authors and advisers of the following
measures, before they were proposed by parliament: The
taxing America without consent of its Assemblies, for
the purpose of railing a revenue; for the extending the
urifdiQion of the courts of admiralty and vice-admiral
ty ; for taking away the charter of the province of Massa
chusetts-Bay; for restraining the American fifhery; for
exempting murderers from trial in America; for trans
porting accused Colonists to England to be tried for of
fences committed in America; and more especially for
establishing Popery and defpotifmin Canada."
A little after fix the main question was put, and it was
rejected on a division, 163 against it, 10 for it.
Nov. 30. A 90 gun fliip is ordered to be fitted up with
all speed, in the nioft commodious manner, for the recep
tion of the commissioners, who soon after Christmas are to
embark for America, to fettle the terms for a reconciliation
between them and England.
^the Sb'*, H^c, Caflam-Cw+in, arrived here from Bri*
fol, cue kart the folloumg Advices, viz.
LONDON, November 23.
Letters just received in town from Spain advise, that
the most amazing warlike preparations are now carrying
on in that country: at Madrid orders are given to press
15,00 c men, and half the King's houfhold troops have
received orders to be in readiness to march on the shortest
notice.
HOUSE of COMMONS, November 25.
On the third reading of the bill to indemnify his Ma
jesty's Ministers, who advised the mekfure of fending
foreign troops to the gartifons of Gibraltar and Port
Mahon,
Mr. Marlham moved, that iaftead of the words in the
preamble of the bill, Whereas doubts have arisen, &c. the
words, Whereas it is contrary to the spirit of the conflitu
tion, &c. be inserted. Upon this a great debate ensued,
with regard to the illegality of the measure.
Against the bill, among other arguments, it was al
ledged, that the conduct of administration was contra
dictory to a strange degree ; that they pretended to laugh
at the idea of being indemnified for a measure of equal
legality and propriety; that a member in opposition
called on them to bring forward an indemnity bill; that
the firft minister openly adhering to the principle, that
the measure was ftriftly legal, yet he himfelf brought in
the bill. That haying brought it in, it had been proved
necessary to secure the heads of those men who had ad
vised the measure. That as the plan was illegal, and at
the fame time unnecessary, the bill ought not to pafs,—
no indemnity—no exception from the regular course of
the law, ought to be granted to men who break it without
the most extreme necessity.
That in the present case the necessity could not be
pleaded, since the body of troops procured by the means
was too final! to be an object that amounted to any ne
cessity of procuring them; consequently there was no
plea to urge in the stile of admitting an illegality, but
acting for national preservation ; that if the measure was
unneceflhry, the illegality of it would appear in the
stronger light, since it was nothing but sporting with the
laws for a trifling consideration, instead of being driven to
a breach of them by an urgent necessity ; that the illega
lity of the measure was clfar from the almost regular te
nor of our history, Parliament having in the earliest pe
riods frequently remonstrated against our King's keeping
foreign troops in their dominions in Francs, declaring
the fame to be illegal, and had often procured their dif
miffion. This was illustrated by various quotations from
nur history and laws, all tending to prove that the intro
ducing foreign troops into any of the dominions of the
crown of Great-Britain, without the consent of Parlia
% merit, was ag,inft law.
On the other hand it was contended, that the fortreffes
of Gibrah ir and Minorca were not within the realm of
England, though belonging to the crown, and the great
fecurilies of the kingdom against a foreign force, were
expressed in the cicarefl terms to be confined to the realm:
h it the bill of rights is explicit in confining the case to
those lindl;; whereas, if it had been ever dreamed that
the crown had no right to keep up foreign troops elfe
,where, mod' certainly that famous declaration of the
rights of the people, which was to point out the limits of
the royal authority, would have included this case by
name, instead of using terms exclufiye of it. That the
troops which have been for an age kept up at various
times in America, by the authority of the crown and the
provincial assemblies, were the clearest contradiction to
The following is the conclusion of Mr. Wilkes's speech
in the House of Commons, Monday, when Mr. Oliver
made his motion: “ Whoever did advise the measures
' lately pursued, which have loft half of our empire, I
< confider as a criminal of so deep a dye, that his head
* would be a just facrifipe to the honour of England and
* the peace of America. The word impeachment I hope
' will strike terror to the car and heart of a wicked and,
' arbitrary minister, and that the noblest and most im
-6 portant prerogative of this free people, secured to us by
6 our great deliverer, King William, in the aft for the
' further limitation of the crown, and better securing the
' rights and liberties of the fubje&, will soon have its full
* effect, that no pardon under the great fed of England
' he pleadable to an impeachment bythe Commons in par
-6 liament/'
Ike. 1. It is confidently reported, that General Gage
advises an immediate reconciliation with America by all
,means, and that General Burgoyne seconds this opinion.
HOUSE of COMMONS,, Decfer 1.
On the feCond reading of Lord North's bill for prohb
biting all trade and intercourse with the Colonies in re
bellion, the following clause was objected to by the gen
tlemen in opposition: “ that all ships and vessels, of or
belonging to the inhabitants of the said Colonies (where
ver the fame shall be found) together with their cargoes,
apparel and furniture, and all other ships whatever, with
their cargoes, apparel and furniture, which shall be found
trading in any port or place of the said colonies, or going
to trade, or coming from trading, in any such port or
places, shall become [a blank for confiscated] to his
Majesty, as if the fame were the ships and effects of open
enemies, and shall be so adjudged, deemed and taken, in
all Courts of Admiralty, and in all other Courts whate
ver." This they considered as a cruel declaration of war
against the Americans, which will fruftrate all plans of
reconciliation.
It was likewise urged, that the fending commissioners
to treat, if this bill is to pass into a law, would be an idle
and expensive measure; that the bill was of a piece with
all those other oppressive and irritating a&s which had
roused the Colonies to resistance ; we firft forbad their in
tercourse with any other nation, and were now about to
put the finishing stroke to their accumulated injuries, by
cutting off their intercourse even with ourselves; that this
The order of the day was read for receiving the report
on the American restraining bill. Mr. Mackworth ac
cordingly reported the bill, together with the amend
ments; it was then moved, that the said report be now
taken into consideration. After which Mr. Mansfield,
and Mr. Pratt the counsel, were called in ; the report was
then read, and likewise the petition from the planters of
his Majesty's sugar colonies, and several merchants tra
ding thereto, residing in London. After the counsel
withdrew, a debate arose, which lasted for some time,
and then the main question was put, that this bill, with
the amendments, be engrossed; ayes 143, noes 38. Ad
journed to Monday.
On Thursday died, at his house in Spring-Gardens,
of the gout in his stomach, Admiral Sir Charles Saunders,
Knt. of the Bath, Member in the present Parliament for
the borough of Heydon, in Yorkshire, Admiral of the
Blue Squadron, Lieutenant-General of the Marines, and
Elder Brother of the Trinity-House.
Dec. 12. Yesterday Lord Chewton, son of the Earl of
Waldegrave, took leave of the King, and embarked this
day for America with Lord Cornwallis.
H OUSE of COMMONS, December 11.
A motion was made for the third reading of the Ame
rican retraining bill, to which some opposition was made:
would stimulate them to publish that code of laws, which
we were certain they had prepared; that, exasperated
beyond all degree of forbearance, they would immediately
declare themselves a free and independent people, and
throw open their ports to all nations, by which we might,
in all probability, be involved in the difficulties of a fo
reign war, at that critical moment when we were most
torn with civil broils and domestic diftra&ion. Admini
stration remarked the inconsistency of the arguments
advanced on the other fide of the House; when an army
was to be voted, an army would be certainly ineffectual —
it would be much more expedient to withdraw our troops,
and carry on a naval war only, and now that bill was
brought in to give greater effect to our naval operations,
they were as warm against that measure as they had been
against the army; that in short they seem to have but one
object in view—that of impeding every measure of ad
ministration, right or wrong. Whatever force this argu
ment might have, it was supported by one Rill more
effedual---a majority of near four to one; for on the
division there were far the bill, 207 ; against it, 57.
The bill was then read a second time, and committed
for Tuesday next, after which the House adjourned to
Monday.
Dec. 7. This day the Speaker of the House of Com
mons was not seated till half an hour after three o'clock.
As soon as some trifling business was finifhed, Mr. Aider
man Oliver rose, and in his place presented to the House
a petition from the merchants, planters, and others con
cerned in the trade and commerce of the Weft-India
islands, setting forth the very great detriment and the
distress the present bill before the House, for prohibiting
all trade and intercourse with America during the pre
sent rebellion, would bring on the said islands, and pray
ing such relief as to the House may seem meet, or that
the fame may not pass into a law. It enumerates, among
other things, the great quantities of bread, flour, rice,
Indian corn, live stock, and other provisions; also lum
ber, and various other articles, absolutely necessary and
requisite for the sustenance and for carrying on the trade
of the sugar islands.
Dec. 8. The clause in the American restraining bill,
which occasioned the greatest debate at its second read
ing, was at length fettled as follows:
" And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
that this afl, so far as the fame relates to the capture and
forfeiture of ships and vessels belonging to the inhabitants
of the above-mentioned colonies, shall commence and be
in force from and after the firft of January 1776 ; and so
far as the fame relates to the capture and forfeiture of
all ships and vessels that shall be found going in or at any
of the said colonies, from and after the firft of next
March ; and so far as the fame relates to the capture and
forfeiture of all ships and vessels that shall be found trad
ing in or at any of the said colonies, or bound and trad
ing from any port or place in the fame, from and after the
firft of June next; and shall continue to be in force so
long as any of the said colonies shall remain in a Rate of
rebellion and disobedience."
Another amendment we hear is, that all seamen who
are taken on board American vessels made prizes, are to
be entered into his Majesty's service as part of the crew
of the flrip of war by which they are taken, instead of
being made prisoners.
Mr. Hartley made a motion, the purport of which was,
to address his Majesty, that he would be graciously
pleased to withdraw his troops from Boston; that the
colonists should be restored to their constitutional right of
trial by jury, and that all the grievances which they com
plain of, on the score of taxation, should be redressed;
at the fame time he proposed a plan for establishing the
supremacy of the legislature of Great-Britain in all other
cases: But after some debate the motion was totally re
jected, by 123 to 21.
Yesterday Col. Ackland took leave of his Majesty, and
immediately set out for Portsmouth, to embark on board
a transport ship which has his regiment on board, to fail
with all expedition for America.
Dec. 9. Yesterday Lord Cornwallis took leave of his
Majesty, he being in a few days to set out to embark for
Virginia.
but as every argument, which reason or ingenuity could
suggest for or against the measure, had been already ad
vanced, the debate was as barren as it was short. At
'half after fix the question being put, it was carried by
112 to 16, when the bill was palled, and ordered to be
sent up to the Lords.
Extras of a letter from the Plague, December 5.
" Ihe Scotch Brigade in the service of this republic has
beeu applied for by the Court of Great-Britain to be taken
into British pay. The terms upon which this is to take
place are not yet fettled, but it is said they have stipulated
not to be sent to America, and to have leave to recruit
in Scotland, which they have not had for some years past.
It is likewise said they are to continue three years in Bri
tilh pay.
Saturday evening a meeting of the Great Officers of
State was held at Lord Suffolk's Office, as also some of
the Crown Lawyers, to deliberate on a number of Pro
positions which have been offered by a Noble Lord in an
high office, as a ground^-work of some conciliatory mea
sures to be offered to the Americans.
Eight fail of the line and five thoufiod soldiers are to
be employed in reducing the foufhern colonies, while the
main fleet and army are to occupy B®ftbn. This is the
new disposition for the spring.
Brigadier General Pigot is to have the 38th regiment of
foot, late Lord Blayney s, and Col. Grant is to succeed to
the 55th.
In CONGRESS, February 23, 1776.
Refolded, That it be recommended to the fevera
Assemblies, Conventions, Councils or Committees c
Safety, and Committees of Correspondence and Infpec
tion in the United Colonies, to exert themselves ind
vising farther ways and means of promoting and encor.
raging the manufacture of Salt-petre, and of introducin
that manufacture into private families.
Refolded, That it be recommended to the several As
semblies and Conventions in the United Colonies, that
they immediately establish public works in each and evei
county in their refpedive Cplonies, at the expence ^
such Colonies,, for the manufacture pf falt-petve, an<
appoint Committees of their own members immediately
to set up such manufactures.
Refolded, That it be recommended to the Assemblies
Conventions, or Councils of Safety of every Colony
forthwith to ere& Powder Mills in their refpedive Cob'
nies, and appoint Committees to build such mills, ar
procure persons well (killed in the manufacture ofpowde
at the expence of such Colonies.
Refolded, That a Committee of this Congress, to co
fift of one member from each Colony, be appointed
confider of farther ways and means of promoting and er
couraging the manufactures of Salt-petre, Sulphur ^
Powder in these Colonies, and to correspond with the ft
veral Assemblies and Conventions, and Councils or Co
mittees of Safety in the several Colonies, that this Co
grefs may be, from time to time, truly informed of tl
progress made in theft manufactures in all the Colonies
The members chosen; Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Paine, M
Hopkins, Mr. Huntington, Mr. L. Morris, Mr. 'St
gcant, Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Read, Mr. Paca, Mr. Brax
ton, Mr. Hewes, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. Bullock.
Ordered that the above be published.
Extraft from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
In CONGRESS, February 26, 1776,
Refolded, That no vessel loaded for Great-Britain, Ire
land, or the British Weft-Indies, be permitted to fe
until the farther order of this Cpr.grefs ; and that it
recommended to the different Committees of Infpedi.
and Observation, to fee that this Resolution be carri
into execution. Ordered to be pub!fbed.
Extrafl from 'the minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
'", °f Pb:W/febia, February 22, 1776
(he ASSIZE of B RhA D.
Belt FIKE Flo%, at Seventeen SbiUtags and Nine-pence per
Middlings, ' at Fifteen Shilling, per C.
Rye, at Ter. Shillings per C.
White Br^d th. oz. Middl.Do. lb. ez. ! Rye De. lb.ole
id. loaf, is 0 7 id. loaf, iso S| id.loaf,i s oj
2d, ditso, 0 151 zd. ditto, I if 2d, ditto 1
4d. ditto, I 141 4d. ditto, 2 *| ^d. ditto 21-
Bd. ditto, 313 Bd. ditto, 4 5 3d.ditto § -
iwE dine, sn| izd. ditto, 64 | izd.ditto g
Set by SAMUEL POWELL,
JACOB DUCHE, ,
SAMUEL RHOADS, § &, 7
AMQS STRETTLE: }
Tins day the Arethufa man of war, with several trans
ports bound to America, returned to the Downs, the
wind blowing hard against them.
Dec. 14. His Majesty has appointed Sir George Macart
ney to be Governor of the Grenada islands, in the room
of William Leybourne Leybourne, Esq; dcceafed.
Last night Stephen Sayre, Esq; appeared at the Old
Bailey, and his counsel, Mr. Arthur Lee, moved the court
to difeharge the recognizance entered into before Lord
Mansfield, on the 28th of October last, on his being
brought before his Lordfliip on a writ of habeas corpus'
on the commitment by Lord Rochford to the Tower for
“ Treasonable Practices," and Mr. Baron Burland, who,
with the Lord Mayor, presided at the court, accordingly
difeharged the recognizance.
Mr. Sayre has given directions to his Solicitor, to com
mence actions against Lord Rochford, the Under Secreta
ries of State, and the King's Messengers, that the personal
liberty of every Engliihman may again be asserted in hk
perlon, and tha seizure of papers be condemned by an
Englilh Jury.
H A RTFOR D, February 19.
Sickness in the family of the Printers at Cambridge
prevented the usual publication of the Essex Gazette, so
that we are unable to give our readers a particular account
of the heroic deeds of a body of the ministerial gentry,
last week at Dorchester. All we can fay is, that a party
of about 500 landed on Dorchester-Point, on Tuesday
night, and drove off our whole garrison, which consisted
of about 40 men—set a number of houses on fire— tool
an old gentleman whw had long been an inhabitant of the
place, with two small children prisoners ; and then mad,
off with the utmost precipitation !
PHILADELPHIA, February 28.
A letter from Annapolis, dated Feb. 23, r 7 76, fay^
“ We hear, for certain, that General Clinton is arrive,
in our Capes."
From Hispaniola we have intelligence, that a numbe
of Englilh Frigates are cruising about there, who feiz
all American vessels they come across.
It is said the French have ricoo men in Martinico an
Guadaloupe, and more expected; and rn equal number
at St. Domingo.