The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-31 00:00:00, page 5

LONDO N, OBober 2ft
TH E late address from Coventry, famed for the
ptirpofc of fomenting civil war, having been pre
cipitately hurried through, as well as surrep
titiously introduced, leveral of the principal in
habitants and manufadurers of. that place thought it
heceffiry to call a meeting, where the true sense of the
people Flight be discovered. Public notice was given by
the following advertisement :
" The Public are hereby most refpeafullv informed,
" That a meeting is intended to be held on Tuesday
" evening next, fix o'clock, at the King's Head, in or
" der to confider of a dutiful, affectionate and loyal ad
" dress to his Majesty, upon the present alarming fitua
" tion of affairs. As the business of this meeting will
" not be taken up on a partial, narrow, or contrasted
" ground, but upon principles as generally extensive and
" important as its nature, therefore the attendance of
" every friend to his Majesty is most earnestly requested."
Coventry, 03. 7, 1775
In consequence of this notice, a meeting' was held on
the loth, which proved a very large one, where an hum
ble Address and Petition were agreed to. It was signed
by the worthy Lords Archer and Craven, and about
four hundred Other respectable freeffien. Friday it was
presented to his Mjetty by Lord Craven, and molt gra
ciously received. Tte Marquis of Rockingham and the
Dv^ef Portland were at Court. .The Petition is as fol
lows':
Coventry, Oflober 10, 17,5.
To the KING'S Most Excellent Majesty,
The humble Address and Petition of the principal Citi
zens, Inhabitants, Manufacturers, and 1 raders of the
City of Coventry.
Mod Gracious Sovereign,
At a time when some parts of the kingdom, and even
a small number of our fellow-citizens, profefs to
hold principles so opposite to our own; when they are re
presented to your Majesty as the'genuine and general fcn
timents of the people of England, and particularly of
your loyal city of Coventry (at all times diftinguilhed for
its zealous attachment to liberty, and the illustrious House
of Hanover) we should be dead to every sense of feeling
and honour, if we did not protest against such proceed
ings, and publicly avow our disapprobation of them.
In the present alarming crisis, to prostitute our con
sciences to hold the language of servile flattery and adu
lation, would disgrace the characters of English freemen:
we are called upon by theNove of our country, and by
every tie of duty, to speak of things as they are; to car
ry truth to the foot of the throne.
When we look back upon the system of colony admi
nistration, within these few years adopted; when we
observe the manner of its execution, we cannot attribute
the remittance of America to the arts and designs ot a few
factious men, either at home or abroad; when we fee a
whole people, aimoft from north to south of that vast
continent (which we claim) firmly united in one mind,
and determined to oppose a lyftem which they think ru
inous to their liberty, we are naturally led to believe
that they act from principle, and in consequence of felf
eonviction.
If we look forward to the issue of this great contest,
we fce the fake of the British empire determined. Our
armies and our fleets (for what can withstand their va
lour?) may be triumphant; America may be laid low;
but what laurels shall we reap by such a conquer: Either
we flrail have to govern a people submitting to temporary
necessity, a distant province watchful of an opportunity
to throw off a galling yoke, or we Ihall compleatly tri
umph over, and cut up by the root, that gallant spirit of
a free people, defeendants of Britons, which has cheriih
cd them in their infancy, and, through the midtt of dan
gers, brought them to their present state of manhood; —
that spirit, under which trade has flourifhed, and riches
flowed in upon them and us.
This, Sire, together with the alarming decline of our
manufactures, and the Starving condition of the poor, af
fords us the most melancholy profpeft, and to your Ma
jesty we fly for redress.
With great humility we supplicate your Majesty, in pi
ty to your diftreiied and divided people, to interpose your
wonted clemency, to stop the effufion of blood, to re
commend to your Parliament to confider, with all due
attention, the petition from America lately offered to be
presented to the throne, which we firmly believe propsfes*
the foundation of a temple of concord, sacred to the
mutual interests of ' Great-Bribin' and America; interests
which seem to have been.joined together toy the hand of
Providence, and which no friend to your Majesty and
this country can with to put asunder."
TO IV E R of L O ND O N, O3ober eq.
Between the houri of nine and ten yesterday morning,
Mr. Stavely, of Half-mdon-ftreet; Piccadilly, and Mr.
Mann, of Queen-Anne-street, Westminster (both King's
meffehgers) attended by a constable, repaired to the house
es Stephen Sayre, Esq; in Oxford -street. As an excuse
to obtain an interview with Mr. Sayre, these beggarly
catchpoles of power pretended, that a forged draft for
£ 200. had been issued by the bank of which Mr. Sayre
is a proprietor. Obtaining by such rafually means the in
terview they desired, Mr. Sayre no sooner appeared than
the catchpoles acquainted him, that “ they had an order
“ signed by Lord Rochford, one of the Secretaries of
“ State, to take him into custody on a charge of High
“ Treason ; and to search for, seize, and carry with them,
“ such of his papers as they might deem effectual for their
" purpose."
Mr. Sayre heard the summons with composure, and o
beyed its dictates with a manly dignity. Confeious of
his innocence, he failed at the heinousness of the charge,
and, in a perfect reliance on his own integrity, he per
mitted the government-riflers to plunder his efcrutores,
to ranfack,his boxes, and to pillage his bureaus. No
sooner did they lay their hands on a letter from Mrs Ma
caulay (lifter to the Lord Mayor eled) and another let
ter addressed to " the Livery of London," under the sig
nature of “ Barnard's Ghost," than they seized them
with the hand of rapacity, and carried them off with as
little feeling, as men unaccustomed to honesty in the Ser
vice of government usually experience.
Mr. Sayre expressed his readiness to accompany the
King's Catchpoles unto Lord Rochford's house, having
previously dispatched a Servant, to Mr. Reynolds, requir
ing his attendance with the utmost expedition. The
King's messengers, thief-takers, or catchpoles, (call them
which you will) conducted Mr. Sayre to the presence of
Lord Rochford; and, left justice Should perceive the vil
lainy of oppression, her eyes were blinded—for Sir John
Fielding was present. An information from one Ri
ahardfcn (^ adjutant es the guards) was read. The
SUPPLEMENT to the P„NsYLVANiA ^J£kTfE. NbT^l
charge contained in this information was to the following
purport :
" That Stephen Sayre, Esq; had expressed to him,
" the said Richardson, an intention of feizihg the King's
" person as his Majesty went on Thursday to the Parlia
" ment House; also an intention of taking possession of
" the Tower, and of overturning the present goyern
" ment."
After this information had been read, Mr. Sayre re
plied to the Separate charges with that fort of composure
which ever accompanies heart-felt innocence; he hated
how very slightly he was acquainted with Adjutant Ri
chardson, the informer; he mentioned the only conversa
tion which had ever passed between them, and he was
about to enter more largely into the futility of the charge,
when it was announced to Lord Rochford and the blind
Justice, " that Mr. Reynolds demanded immediate ad
“ mittance to his client." That the chicanery of courts
might not be said aside, Several messages palled, but that
which could not be denied as a matter of right, was soon
very courteouily granted as a matter of favour. Mr. Rey
nolds was admitted, because it was impossible, confident
witnjultice, to refufe his admittance. Having been in
troduced to Lord Rochford and Sir John Fielding, the lat
ter put the following question to Mr. Reynolds:
" Is it Mr. Sayre's desire that you ihould attend in his
“ behalf?"
Mr. Reynolds replied in the affirmative. Sir John
Fielding, with a greater lhare of audacity than decorum,
said, “ that this was not true." Mr. Reynolds, 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 juftify," The blind Knight
then desired that it might be alked of Mr. Sayre “ Whe
" ther he had sent for Mr. Reynolds?" Mr. Sayre re
plied, " he had sent for him, without mentioning the
“ place where he was to attend."
These disputes being adjured, it was agreed that Mr.
Reynolds might attend the private examination of his
friend. The firft advice Mr. Reynolds- gave to Mr.-Sayre
was this, " That he should not anftyer any interroga
“ tories which Lord Rochford or S ; r John Fielding might
“ propound ; and that he ihould not figi )any paper."
The information which contained the charge was a se
cond time read, at the request of Mr. Sayre, who, foil
ing at the recital, Mr. Reynolds joined in the laAgh, and
said, " that the whole was too ridiculous to be ferioully
attended to." An altercation then ensued between Mr.
Reynolds and Adjutant Richardson, the informer. The
two Middlesex Justices, Lord Rochford, and Sir John
Fielding, were requested by the informer to hlence Mr.
Reynolds. He saved them the trouble by observing,
" That he should always pay a proper deference to au
thority, but whatever he had there said of the informer
he would repeat in any other place whatever."
Mr. Reynolds then told Lord Rochford, " that if, af
ter confalting the great Law-officers of State (which his
Lordship would do of course) as the information did not
amount to a direct charge against Mr. Sayre, his Lordship
should think himfelf warranted to receive bail, ample and
fufficient bail should be given ; but if it was thought war
rantable to commit, he scorned to ask a favour for-his
client."
Mr. Sayre was ordered into an adjacent apartment, ^nd
he was soon afterwards committed a close prisoner to the
Tower.
The following is a true c^y of the
WARRANT of CO MMITMENT.
(C OP Y)
“ William-Henry, Earl of Rochford, one of the
“ Lords of his Majesty's Most Honourable
“ Privy-Council, and Principal Secretary of
“ State:
“ These are, in his Majesty's name, to authorife and
“ require you to receive into your custody the body of
“ Stephen Sayre, Esq; herewith sent you, being charged
" upon oath before me, one of his Majesty's principal
" Secretaries of State, with treasonable practices, and to
“ keep him in close custody, until he fhaii be delivered
“ by due course of law; and for so doiag, this Ihall be
“ your warrant.
“ Given at St, James's, on the 23d day of O^ober,
“ 1775, in the Fifteenth Year of Hls Majeftv's Reign,
ROCH F" O R D.
" To the Earl Cornwallis, Constable of
“ his Majesty's Tower of London, or
“ to the Lieutenant of the said Tow
“ er, or his Deputy."
It would be a fcandalons omission to conclude this nar
rative without doingjuftice to the behaviour of Mr. Sayre.
As a fubjeft of a free Rate, his demeanor was manly; as
a Patriot it was intrepid; as a Gentleman it was polite.
He treated the malice cf ^formers with the utmost con
tempt, the futility of info: motions, when preferred by
the creatures, and countenanced by the authority of go
vernment, this he failed .it with ineffable disdain. " Che
unhappy effe&s of such informations, government (Mr.
Sayre said) had amply experienced by giving ear to Ber
nard and Hutchinfou. By falfe informations,and the vilest of
suggestions, these men had contented to become the wil
ling instruments in carrying on the purposes of a bloody
minded adminiftraticn. But whatever informers govern
ment might encourage, integrity was a shield which would
protect men of honour from their (hafts. Defended by
that shield, Mr. Sayre said, he should enter the apart
ments of a prison, confeious that they would prove a fafe
asylum for virtue."
There is little necessity for a remark on this singular
tranfa&ion. A piece of advice, however, may be given
to the Tories. They have blown the coals. Let them re
member Sacheverel, and, let them take care, that in
roasting the Whigs, they do not burn their own fingers.
08. 30. By virtue of a habeas corpus granted on Thurs
day night by Lord Mansfield, Stephen Sayre, Esq; was
on Saturday morning at ten o'clock conveyed by thw pro
per officers from the Tower to Lord Mansfield's house,
in Bloomfbury-fquare. Messieurs Adair, Dayrell, Lucas,
Alleyne and Lee attended on the part of Mr. Sayre; and
White, partner with the solicitor of the treasury, on the
part of the crown. After the two firft mentioned coun
sel had difeanted 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 con
veyed a general charge, and Mr. White having declared
that he had no inftruftions to oppose the bail, his Lordship
called for the warrant of commitment, and immediately
after perusing it pronounced, that he had not the lead:
doubt of Mr. Sayre's being entitled to bail; as he ob
served, that that Gentleman was only charged with
treasonable practices, and that he (Lord M.) Ihould not
have refufed the bail if Mr. Sayre had come without any
counted Bail, was accordingly dir&My entered end ac
cepted, viz. Mr. Sayre himfelf in 500!. and John Rey
nolds and Coote Purdon, Efqrsl in 250 k each. . ,
Mr. Sayre very politely thanked Lord Mansfield for hi#
readiness in granting the writ, and consequently giving
him his personal liberty, at the fame time observing, that
he hoped his Lordship would join with him 'f in looking
back with veneration on the wifdem and spirit of our an
cestors, in guarding the fubjeft by such effectual barriers
against the inroads of defpotifin in the worst of times"
To which his Lordship replied, “ I hope so too, Mr. S.
let us both aft constitutionally, and we shall fall into no
difficulties or dangers."
Mr. Sayre afterwards returned with his Lady to their
house in Oxford-ftreet, and his friends to their refye&iva
homes.
The Lord Mayor was present, and received very po
litely by Lord Mansfield.
From the PUBLIC LEDGER of Goober 24.
Tv the PRINTS R.
S I R,
AS Mr. Stephen Sayre was yesterday committed to
the Tower, it may not be altogether improper to
animadvert on so extraordinary a tranfadtion.
That Ministry are determined to execute their bloody
purposes against America, no perfun can doubt who
attends one moment to their measures.
Unfortunately fur the King, that he may give his
fandtion to these measures, he is deceived, by his Mi
nisters, into a belief of their utility. His Majesty iatoo
much the Father of his people to assent to any proceed
ings delfrudive of their welfare, unless the truth was
hidden from his eyes. Hence every deception hath ten
pradtifed on the easy good nature of the prime; every
imposition hath been palmed on the virtuous integrity of
the sovereign, which vice could fugged, or the piabohe
father of lies maliciouily invent. To juftify an infringe
ment of the American charters, the colonies were repre
sented as extremely refractory; and to palliate the wan
ton ravages of ministerial war, his Majeity was taught to
believe, that the molt loyal of his American fubjetti wore
the masques of the vilest traitors. These arts have prov
ed too luccefsful to be as yet dilpenfed with. Not con
tent to irapofe on the monarch an erroneous opinion of
his American fubjetts, the allegiance of th: fe who pre?
fide in England is to be rendered fafpicious . Rots,
conspiracies, and machinations against the government,'
are to be conjured up to serve the temporary purposes of
administration. His Majesty's fears are to be alarmed;
he is to be taught to fuppufe, that Mr. Stephen Sayre
formed a design on his perlon ; the King's heart, in fhurt,
is to be turned against—the molt faithful of his fubie&s,
left his eyes Ihouid be opened to the molt wicked of his
Miniiters..-
The tories, ever since the expulsion of their favourite
Stuart, have been most excellent fellows at a plot; in the
person of Mr. Sayre they have only revived the old game.
It was not, without design that the Secretaries of State
were converted into Midulefex Justices. Lord Rucliford
is now one of the quorum—the game is up —the whiga
are darted —the tories are in full cry, nor will they debit
from the pursuit, until, like launch bloodhounds, they
ihall have gorged their ftomacha with the purpled gore.—
Should not the people recollect, that John, Earl of Bute,
is the master huntsman of the pack? F ELT ON.
>G>°<^—/x^xx^><>\^)a;><^^ °/^/9i^/>^^> so IQ+G)<>(^>>@> 1 %, ^G; / C<'>G<
From the PUBLIC LEDGEIt bf October 2s.
To the P R I N T E R.
S I R,
™tT HEN his Majesty afeended the throne of his an-
VV ceftors, if seemed to promise a glorious and happy
reign, as he detired the abidance of every honed man;
and had he not, like Rehoboam, refufed the coumei of
the old men, we should have been a happy people; but
how is the fine gold become dim !
Last war, when we were fighting in a just c use, God
prospered all our endeavours, and no place, though ever
so strongly fortified, could stand before the Briti^ arms;
witness the Havannah, Martihico, Guadeloupe and BY
Icillr. But in the unnatural war, ; a which we are cm
bruing our hands in the blood of our countrymen, what
success has crowned these diabolical undertakings ? though
against an undisciplined people. It seems tit 'if the Al
mighty was difpieafed with the measures mwrdry are now
pursuing, as the ycffels laden with porter fur the ute of
the King's troops are funk, the Jhtep and hogs die very
fall, so that it is probable they will oe able to carry but
few alive to the defined port; and if Cod is on their fide,
all the malice of men or devils wi.l qever be rhe to fuj
due them.
I remember a remarkable circumstance lab: war in the
siege of Madras byMoniicur Tally. Afer La'iy'alcut
off their supply of water, and it was expected that the
garrison would very foun capitulme for want of Rant re
ceffery article of life, a soldier in the garrifun went to
drink at a tank of w^ter, that bef.ae that tin c had <.r
been thought to be fait, but to his great abomikment, it
proved to be frefhr and wholefunic. As soon as L by
heard of this miraculous supply, brute as he was, he drew
off his forces, with this reply,“ ^no fight agaitf God,
" rne jig»t against Man." H U M A NXT A 3.
XO < te/KDo&ri&xKA:&9©'lQ<Q' > &:>&>G )< >Q < x^)^;Q<
T 0 WE R ENTE D,
And may be entered upon the firft day of A; ril next,
rip^HE noted TAVERN ard FARM, knwn by the
J. name of the Black Horse, fituawd part iri Maitick, and
part in Str 4 fburgh townships. Lancaster county, ten miles tn ra
the Borough, on the Newport road. The Farm contains about
90 acres of rich, cleared land, and between 16 ano 20 of im
proved meadow.. On the premises itand a large barn, g^.d
Cabling, and an apple orchard. The wmde whi be under
good fencing, when the present tenant nw ves A, u^v ocohu
inclining to rent laid Farm, nay know the terms, by applying,
to Mr. Thomas Sm ith, in Mattock, John Ferr^ Li ;
Stralburgh, or to the fubferi ber, in Phiiaie'ohia.
Jan. 5, 1776. ' JOHN GIBBON.
/VOPP£RAS, Allom, Briraft&ne, B/azu'
vQ Bags and Barrels, excellent Florence 04 in Che. s. Pi
mento, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Craves, M^, &e.
TO BE SOLD qy
Samuel Garrigues, junior, and Company,
At their Warehouse, i^ Market-street, near -the Lundin Coff^ #
WAS taken up by toe lubfenber, lining v T)
townfllip, Phiraielphia county, a Lexel Hg R
about II years old, about 14 hands high, some white on his hi. 4
feet, ihod all round. The owner is desired to corns, prove .^
property, pay charges, and take hfm away.
December 9, 1775. ||DAVID £ 4 M 3 S.