The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-14 00:00:00, page 2

F, Capt. AVen arrived in tie river from Newry, -we lave the
following advices.
LONDO N, Nov. 14.
THERE can be no doubt, it is the secret intentions of the
Scotch cabinet to carry on the war with America. They
are refoived upon bloody mcafurcs ; and the farce of Com
nriffioners is delusive, to cajole England, and deceive Ameri
ca; but America is not to be deceived ; whi c her enemies
are in favour, lire knows there can be no affection not friend
ship for her.
Nov. 16. The number of men that periled in different
ffiips in the late storms, amoun to 1500, as appearsbytheedi
mates delivered to the commanders from the several harbours.
Capt Powlet of the 5, 1 regiment,has loft one of his legs by
the cannonading of the Provincial, as be fit at his breakfaft.
As the Ministry have for some time pad deprived us of all
information from America, they now ffiut out all informati
on at home as much as possible, and have begun it in lock
ing up the gallery door of the Houle of Commons, on the
very day, for the firft time this season, when it w^s expected
Mr. Burke would give to the public, and to his country, a
plan for the conciliation with the colonies. The Miniftty
were aware this plan would be reuihed much better by the
public, than that decided on by the cabinet, and for this pur
pose were determined to prevent all comparisons. Surely fitch
a conduct in a free state, has but one obvious interpretation!
Which is, that the ministers are confeious to themselves, that
their aftiops will not bear the approbation of rcafon or juftifi
tition?',.
'Laft night Admiral Duff from Newfoundland, arrived in
town? and the fame evening waited on Lord Norths and gave
his Lordfllip an account of the date of the ti fhery and the da
mage done the nth bf September last.
The general difficulty df recruiting, extends even to the
Highlands, insomuch that Lord John Murray's battalion wants
.above a third of the number to tompleat it.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
I Saturday, November 18.
ON Thursday, about half an hour after three o'clock,
Ms. Burke opened his conciliatory proportion. He began
by prefeuting a petition from the gentlemen, clergy, clo
thiers, mbufadurers, and other inhabitants of the several
towns of Wedb^y, Warminfler, and Trowbridge, and the
neighbufhopdthereof, io the county of Wilts, complaining
of the address of rhefe [daces, which had entirety mibepre
fenced th Bate of the trade, ^rd the sentiments, and withes
of the inhabitants, and praying the house to find some ami
cable method for tcrxiiurUDg the differences between tins
k ; ngd>m and the colonies. He told the house, that the
signers of that petition were a 1 men who manufa&ured for
tbemtelves;; and be was authorifed to fay, that they possess
ed more than 500,0001. u English property.
He laid, that he wished the prayer of hat petition to be
co: lidded as the exordium of what he had to lay to the house.
He complained of the difficulties which in civil wars lay upon
moderate men, who advised lenient meafurcs; that their
moderation was attributed to a want of zeal, and their tears
for the public fatety, toawent of spirit; that whatever they
said ^incline the house to lenity, was confhued into a coun
tenance ot rebellion; and so many aits, and so many menaces
had been used, that if they had not been opposed with a good
Iharc of ftrmmfs by the, friends to the peace of their country,
ah fre nun ^ debase, and indeed all public deliberation,
wond have been put an end co..
He laid, that for his pm he was no way intimidated by
a? th fe machinations from doing his duty; and that nothing
thu c. u d be done by thole, whose measures had brought
this country into so deplorable a situation, should hinder
him from vfing his best endeavours to deliver it from its
difftfrs.^
The firft step for this purpose, was to get out of general
difeourfis, and vague sentiments, which he said had been
one of the main causes of our present troubles; and to ap
preciate the value of the several plans that were, or might
be proposed, by an exadt detail of particulars.
The Ipetch was so very methodical, that it was hot dif
ficult to form a just idea of the outline.
He stated, that there were three plans afloat. First, fimpk
war; in order to a perfect conquest. Second, a mixture of
war and treaty. And third, peace grounded on yonccflion.
As to the ti ft plan, that of mere war, he observed, that
it was proposed in two ways; one of direct conquest, the
other indirect by distress. In either of theft ways he said, he
thought it his duty before he voted for a war, to know dif
tinafythat the means of carrying it on were adt quate to the
end. It did not fatisfy his confeience to fay, that the re
sources of this nation were great; he must fee them. That
before he could trust to those resources, dn the credit of what
had been formerly done, he must find the situation of the
Country to be, what it formerly was. He then examined
what the ministers had laid before the house as the means of
carrying on the ensuing campaign. That as to the force
which they had made the house exped from his Majesty's
allies, all difcouife of that had, for some time entirely tub
tided: he could, therefore, take credit for nothing m ire on
that account, than a handful of Hanoverians, which only
answered the purpose of an imperfect security to some of our
foreign garrifms. That our national forces to be employed
in America by the account on the table, amounted to no
more than 26,000 men : that in this, credit was taken for
the army now in America at full numbers. 1 ris he could
not allow; as supposing that if their reduction in future was
to be estimated by he p^, they mud b reduced to little or
nothing, by the beginning of next campaign. That the
troops 'here are only upon paper, and the difficulty of re
cruit g was acknowledged. On the whole, he saw reason
to a ; p^h nd hat we fhoud not be very materially stronger
at the beginning of the next year than % *e were at the be
ginning of the last; but that if the number won en
tire it°did not fam to him to be fufficient for the purpose.
That as to the predatory, or war by distress, (on the nature
of which he greatly enlarged) he observed; that it migh irri
tate a people in the highest degree; but such a wa< had never
yet induced anv on. people to receive the government of
another. That it was a kind of war to dibreh an indepen
dent people, and not to coerce disobedient fubjedls.
Bu a great object onto it wa , that it did not lead to a
speedy d cihon; that the hunger he war continued, the
„ grater chance there was for the interference of the Bourbon
°sirs, wb ch, in a long p otra&ed war, he considered not
jrly prob.ble, r u in ^ manner certain. That he was very
fare that ths country was utterly incapable of carry^g on a
v ar with America, and these powers anting in cm jun&ion.
He then entered into a long and particular enumeration of all
the dangers and J Ricuuies which mod attend such a war.
He then observed that, as he saw no probability of success
in he detail ofany of the arrangements that were prop >fed,
neither did he f..c any thing of authority to induce him to
believe rhat they would succeed, not one military or naval
offier having given an opinion in its favour; and many of
f. greater in both services, having given their opinion di
poftivaoainft it.,
° Th^'^ no man of military experience had vouched for
the fufficicney of the force, so no man in the commiffariate
would answer for its fubfiftance from the moment it left the
sea Goaft; that therefore its fubfiftance and its operation were
become incompatible.
To the objection, that at this rate the Americans might
always reduce us to unreasonable terms, by the supposed im
possibility of reducing them by force, he said that he could
not help the difficulties which arose from nature and the con
stitution of things ; that he could not make America nearer
to us thah it is, or a country of another nature than what
God had made it. That people who cannot contrive to re
concile their quarrels, must fuffer the evils that happen to a
divided nation. That he was of opinion, that there was no
dishonor at all in any kind of amicable adjustment of domestic
quarrels; and that he would rather heal an hundred points,
when it was Englishmen that gave and received, than a
single point to a foreign nation; and that we were in such
circumdances that we must yield to cither one er the other.
[Our with tofatisfy the expectations of the public as early
as possible, induced us to lay before them so much of the
outline of this celebrated fptech, this night, as we could.. As
soon as possible we fhyll give the remainder, the whole of
which was acknowledged by all those who were happy
enough to hear it, one of the ablest in point of matter, me
thod, and argumentative conviction ever delivered in that
house.
It laded three hours and a half, and was listened to with a
most profound and uninterrupted attention. Ihe motion
made by Mr. Burke was, “ That leave be given to bring in
a bill to compote the present troubles, and for quieting the
minds of his Majesty's fubjedls in America."
Mr. Burke then ±ead to the house a bib which he had pre
pared, with such pruvifions and regulations as he judged
equal to the attainment of this mod defiiable end, which we
hope will be made public, as never could general curiosity
be excited by dearer, or geTeriutere Is.]
Mumia,, November 20.
Made a progress on ways and means and the supply ; and
proceed again on Wednesday.
Defe red the higher confyd.ration of the Nova-Scotia Me
morial to Thursday.
Lord North made; a motion to the following purport : For
leave to bring in a bill to cut 611 di iotercoure betwevuG eat-
Britain and ?lc ct.^ogks . America, now in a&uai.rcbt4:on,
so long as th ' fha.ll c nunu< inreb.bon, and to repeal the
Refton Pori-lMl^th, rihe ty Bids, and another bill palled la, ft
sessions against he Am rears ; and ti aud.oxtfe hit Majtftys
naval commaudc.' to.vizi ah fhi| ping belonging to America
as lawful prizes. Ik. ad a very long ipecen to ffiew the
propriet' t.ud neceftt. f this me nue.
Mr. Cbm::§ Fox § 1 purer an amendment, viz. to leave out
that part t :he motion, which proposes to cut off ail inter
course with the Americans. A warm debate ensued : Sir
George Hay spoke next in support of the whole motion.
Mr. T. TounJend ensured the severity and bad polity of
of thus declaring war against the Colonies, at th& moment
administration would have it believed in the House, that they
were inclined to peace.
General Coway alto spoke against it, the Attorney General
near two hours for it, and Mr. Burke against it.
At harf after ten the house divided, wheirthe numbers were
for Lord North's motion 192, against it 64. Adjourned to
Tuesday.
[ Lord North, -who will net hearken to any conciliator,
m tion, bus here given his, which be has so bng promised.—ls
this pen Declaration of War does not make Americans think of an
IcafendaKCe and accept of the affi/iance offered them, the, may
repent it vben i is too late ]
Qrke, Aov. 9. \Ve a e informed that orders have been is
sued for the fix ttanfports with the xStk and part of the 46th
regiments on board, to return here, and the men to be dis
embarked, in consequence of a difeovery made by Lord
North, that this is rather a dangerous time of the year to fend
troops to Quebec.
Nov. 16. Captain Thomas, of the Clibborn, on his pas
sage from St. Übes, spoke with the ship Loving Peggy, He
zekiah Magruder, master, from Maryland, laden with tobac
co from London, about seven leagues from Cape Clear, 48
days out from Cape Virginia, in distress, having loft her til
ter, and being out of candles, both which Captain Thomas
supplied hira with.
Limerick, Nov 6. This morning the aoth regiment march
ed for Dublin ; the 15th is on the road to this city, to be
ready to embark at C rke the beginning ot December. It is
thought one of the regiments coming from England, will be
ordered to this garrison.
DUBLI N, November 14.
By a letter from Caflle Townsend, that came by yesterday's
Post, we are infoirhtd, that the bows and a great part of the
deck of a laig: vessel were dbcovered at Skiddy's Island, at
the mouth of the harbour, on Sunday the rath inst. a man
was dead on the foie deck under a heap of cordage, his leg
broke, and bleeding frefh; it was supposed that she was wreck
ed on Saturday night the 11. h inst. on the Stags, which prov
ed to be so; tor on Monday afternoon a Kinfaie filhing boat
came into the harbour and brought an account that there was
a man on the Stags, who called and made ligns for help, but
the Kinfaie, man not having a small boat and the ska high,
could not get near him; that evening a boat was sent out but
the furf on the rocks being very high, and too late, nothing
could be done, but reported that there were five performs alive
on the naked rocks; the next morning a pinnance was sent
out with a chosen crew, who were fortunate enough to bring
four on foore, the captain, mate, and two common men, the
fifth died the night before ; the tour are ail likely to do wfell,
having been taken particular care of. The vessel proves to be
the Abby, of Liverpool, from Virginia, with so hogflieads of
tobacco, taco barrels Of tar, and some ftaves, the Captain's
name Herbert. These unfortunate men were thrown on the
lower flags, which are wash d over every tide when the seas
runs high: The captain a (tout able man, fatisfied that he
with the rest muff p&rifh if he remained there, on Sunday af
ternoon (warn about 40 yards, to a high rock, where his situa
tion was better, as he, could walk about dry, and what was
of most confluence, from whence he could be fecn, which
saved his and the lives of his c rmpanions.
Monday the firft, and Tuesday the second division of the
fifteenth regiment of foot marched from the barrack for Cork,
in order to embark for America.
IRISH HOL^R of-COMMONS, Tburfda, Nov. 23.
Sir John Blaquiere presented to the house a message from
his Excellency, lignifying that “ he had his M jelly's com
mands co acquaint the Houte, that as the present exigencies
of affairs required fending an additional number of troops
to America, he had the firmeft reliance on the loyalty of his
faithful Comm ms of Ireland to admit his fending abroad a
number of the troops on this establishment, not exceeding
4000 men, which (hall no longer continue a charge on this
kingdom, but be immediately on their leaving the fame, in
the pay of Grcai-Britain
'• And to shew his Majcfly's gracious regard for the fafety
and defence of this kingdom, if the Parliament shall desire it
he will replace the said 4000 men with an equal number of
foreign protestants (Subjects of the Prince o' Brunswick and
the Prince of Hesse Caffel) to be continued here, in the pay of
The House was called over, and resolved into a committee
to take into consideration his Excellency's message, and the
inftruaion to confider on the best mode of defence for this
kingdom. Mr. Malone in the chair.
The .order for going into the committee, his Excellency's
message, and the order for the inftruaion were read.
Str Arcbebald Achefen rose, and made many eulogiums on his
Majesty, whom, he said, we ought to look upon as the father
of a much favoured people and then proposed tq offer two re
fotutions, but they not being put into proper form, were hand
ed to Mr. Vice-Treasurer ; and as they took some time to ar
range, Mr. Ogle said the committee had better adjourn till the
refolutionS were drawn. At length they were produced in
fubftapce as follows: / #
•' 1. Refoived, that it is the opinion of this committee, that
in the present exigency of affairs, a number of troops not ex
ceeding four thousand, out of the number of twelve thousand,
voted as necessary to b& kept in Ireland for the defence
thereof, be spared for his Majesty's fervic® abroad, provided
that from their quitting this kingdom they shall be of no
charge to the nation."
“ a. Refoived, That it is the opinion of this committee,
that a number of-foreign preteftant troops, not exceeding four
thousand, be received into this kingdom to replace the like
number sent abroad, for the security and defence thereof, pro
vided they shall be of no chargeto the nation."
Having read these two refolu ions, Sir Archibald Acheson
moved the committee to agree with the firft.
Colonel Ross seconded the motion, and observed, this mea
sure would be a saving to the nation of 85,00®!. a year.
Mr. Hellen said, the message was the mod rcfpeaful that
ever came from a Sovereign to his people. That it confirmed
and allowed the compact for keeping 12,000 men here at all
times, and that it should not be violated by withdrawing ose
of those men, without the concurrence ot Parliament ; and
was a pledge that the men requested of the house wou d be
returned to the nation as soon as the exigency should cease.
This naturally led to an enquiry whether the e,sacy was
fufficiently great to warrant this # quifition ? That it was so,
be endeavoured to prove, from the present Rate of American
affairs. He then enered into p-aue of he foreign troop in
tended to be sent here observing they wete some of the best
in Germany, who had fought alot g with cur forces, and ^hh
them had shewed their firmnefs and bravery on the plains of
Minden. By admitting those troops our security was th fame,
and our cipences considerably left. Some gentlemen, said
he, may possibly ask, if these troops are so g r d, why were
they not sent to America, and the British anti Irish troops kept
at hone ? To this it might be answered, that Grat-Bitain
was wJLng to shew, the fame arm that protected Americas
while she was dutiful, was able to chastise her when she was
seditious.
Mr. Ponjonb, allowed that we ought to support Great Bri
tain if it can be done with justice, prudence and humanity.
That if the troops were sent abroad, without asking out cor
fent, then we should not be made parties ia the quarrel. But
if we give our consent we shall iliow we take a determined
part against America. To do so would be contrary to justice,
for we have had no parliamentary proof of the delinquency
of America, or the date ot the present troubles; all we
know of either being derived from news-papers. We know
indeed, that the Americans were dutiful and contented till
the ftamp-aeft was passed, for the purpose of internal taxati
ons. At this they murmured, this they opposed; but as soon
as it was repealed they cheerfully returned to their duty, and
so would they do now, if the fame expedient was used 1o
take a part agaiuft America, would be contrary to prudence,
for if we assist in punishing them for refilling againftberg
taxed by the British Parliament, we furnish a precedent againfl
ourselves, if ever the like occasion should happen. It would
be also imprudent to admit those foreign troops; they are not
freemen, but fubjefts to arbitrary government, and will not
regard us as their master if we do not pay them, for soldiers
always look up to the hand that pays them. As this measure
is contrary to justice and prudence, so is it allo to humanity,
for what can be more inhuman than to fend our friends, one
relations, men we have conversed and eat and drank with, to
expose them to the dangers of sea and battle, whilst foreign
ers live here at ease and fafety; and he alked, was it not in
humanity to make widows and orphans of our country wo
ipen and children, only to spare those of strangers.
Mr. John Fiizgibons said, before we took any part in a war,
we should examine whether it was just. Hethem entered intoa
recapitulation of all that had passed between Great-Britain
and her colonies from the last war to the present time,
and concluded that the war was tinjuft, and Ireland had
no reason t® be a party therein, some may fay, added he,
if we refufe these troops to his Majesty's request it may be of
evil consequences, but he thought differently. It would make
the King look into the affair, and when he fees we are net in
clined to assist in an unjust war, it may be a means of induc
ing him to put an end to it.
Sir fohn Blaquiere replied, the resolution before the Com
mittee tended to verify and realize the profeffions of royalty
made by the house. To this, gentlemen might content,
without agreeing to the other, if they thought fit to fuymit to
a short temporary inconveniency, rather than receive foreign
troops, which would only be sent at the desire otthe house.
Sir Edward Nevenham said, as he had given his negative
to the address, which denounced vengeance against his felloe
fubje&s he could not agree to the fending of more troops to
butcher men who were fighting for their liberty. He laid,
that we might bid farewell to such as we sent to America ; for
that if America was conquered, the troops would be kept there
to preserve that conquest; for though it might, be conquered
the spirit of liberty would not be ever subdued. He was vio
lently agaioft the introduction of foreign Mercenaries, and
argued that the introdu&ion of them had occasioned the fab
of many great empires and dates.—He instanced the danger
of having foreign troops in any kingdom where they wouic
not he amenable to the laws, by mentioning the caie of a
I-leffian soldier, who committed a robbery, and was confined
by the civil magiftrat s, but was released and given up to the
military. That Hanoverian, Hessian and Brunfw ck troop,
were more dangerous than any others ; for that German con
neaions were always fatal to the true interests of Old Eng
land. He entered largely into the present system of affairs ir
Europe. He insisted upon it, that German influence was ft
powerful in the Cabinet of Great Britain, that the most v d lua
ble interests of these kindoms would be given to save the
poultry Electorate of Hknover. That he was convinced t:
deftru&ion of the Elt&ois Managcry at Hercnhiuftn, or tl
much admired stud of cream-coloured nags, in the Tables c
Hanover or Zell, would appear in the eyes of the p efen
ministry as a greater misfortune than the dcfolation of thof
three once happy, but now diffracted linking rations. —
He advised the minifler in the house to confider what nut>
Gredt-Britdin, as soon as his Majesty shall be enabled to fend
them by his Parliament of Ireland."
Sir John Blaquiere moved, that the House do on Saturday
next rtfolve itfelf into a Committee of the whole house, to
take his Excellency's message into consideration.
Saturday November „.