The Newport gazette (Newport [R.I.]), 1777-04-10 00:00:00

NEWPORT
GAZETTE:
PUBLISHED
WEEKLY.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1777.
For the NEWPORT GAZETTE.
To the PRINTER.
Avoid the politic, the factious Fool, The busy, buzzing, talking, harden'd Knave; The quaint smooth Rogue, that sins against his Reason, Calls fancy loud Sedition public Zeal, And Musing the Dictates of his spirit.
OTWAY.
Of all the barefaced Absurdities, that have yet been palmed upon the Public, none have appeared to me more glaring than one I met with, a Day or two since, in a Boston Paper of March 20. It is the first Proposition laid down in an Oration, delivered by Mr. Benjamin Hichborn. He there informs his crowded Audience, "that the Right that every Individual has to reason freely upon the Nature of that Government he is called to submit to, having Nature for its Source, is no less obvious and perceptible; and hence, as a necessary Foundation for the Exercise of this Right, I define civil Liberty to be, not a Government by Laws, made agreeable to Charters, Bills of Rights, or Compacts, but a Power existing in the People, at large, or any Time, for any Cause, or for no Cause, but their own sovereign Will and Pleasure, to alter or annihilate both the Mode and Essence of any former Government, and adopt a new One, in its Stead." I have transcribed it, Sir, hoping that we likewise may profit by this wonderful Discovery, equally with those for whom our Orator designed it. I dare say, there is not a Cobler, Tinker or Taylor, upon the first sight of it, but must feel all that Importance it is intended to convey. I cannot, however, for my own Part, rest contented with a concordant Jingle of Words, whilst the Meaning conveyed is so evidently destructive of all human Happiness, entailing a reader those Ligaments which hold Society together. Mr. Hichborn, in accommodating his Sentiments to the Conduct of his Countrymen, cannot fail, at least, of procuring Popularity; the intoxicating Influence of which, on the Conduct of too many Americans, from whom better Things might have been expected, has furnished a most striking Evidence of the Depravity of human Nature.
The Miseries attendant upon even the most successful Revolution, to One the least acquainted with History, must fill him with Horror, even at the Reflection, and thoroughly convince him that the Reason which alone can justify it, must carry the greatest apparent Necessity with them, being to deliver a People from Evil for greater than any that could possibly accompany their corrective Exertions. How far the unnatural War was only entered into by America, can be justified by this necessary Line of Prudence, must be evident to every One, who formerly had an Opportunity of beholding the envied Situation of this now ruined People, before they listened to the Siren Arts of that Fra-
ternity of Priests and Lawyers, of which our Orator bids fair to make so respectable a Member. I do the most prejudiced to say, that it was possible for Men to enjoy so simply all the Blessings connected with Society, with so few of its Restraints.—Restraints! cries Mr. Hichborn, I assert, that Civil Liberty is not "a Government by Laws." Solomon once declared that "there was nothing new under the Sun;" but if this Assertion did not originate with Mr. Hichborn, I wonder what the blundering Sages of Antiquity have been at, that several of 5000 Years should have elapsed without their having discovered the World with this important Discovery.
"We call our Fathers Fools, so wise we are." "No Doubt our wiser Sons will call us so."
I am forced, however, Mr. Printer, to be so much of a Fool, as to agree with those that have lived before me, that the very Idea of Civil Liberty implies a Connection with Society; and to suppose a Society without Laws, is a Solocism I shall not attempt to unbridge. Preceding upon Savages to forsake their natural Freedom, and submit to certain Laws and Restrictions, I have ever understood to be Civilization. Indeed, I cannot trace Mankind back to so naked a State of Nature, as to suppose them entirely destitute of Laws.—There are certain Laws implanted in the human Heart, by the benevolent Creator of Men; the simple Dictates of which, if attended to, will effectually restrain him from that which would be injurious to his Neighbour. But as the whole Conduct of the Americans has been evidently a Contention for "a Government without Law," (if such an Absurdity can be conceived) the whole Course of Nature must be reversed, in Order to square with their Plan; and Mr. Hichborn, no Doubt, will stand foremost among these matchless Adventurers.—If we had been told, that it was not a Government by arbitrary, cruel, or oppressive Laws, we should not have wondered at it, as that is what every Englishman will readily allow; but our Orator further assures us, that "it is not a Government made agreeable to Charters, Bills of Rights, or Compacts; but a Power existing in the People at large, at any Time, for any Cause or for no Cause, but their own sovereign Pleasure, to alter or annihilate both the Mode and Essence of any former Government, and adopt a new One, in its Stead." What Happiness would accrue to Mankind, if this fallacy Doctrine could once become fashionable? Instead of a Rebellion once in a Number of Years, we should have Murders, Desolation and Misery, in a constant Succession as the Season. If Civil Liberty could be enjoyed without Laws, 'tis surprising what the wiser Men in all Ages have been at, in suffering themselves to be fettered with such unnecessary Restrictions. There is something so evident in the defective of the Conduct of the Leaders of this unhappy People, in this curious Proposition, that I could wish those of his Countrymen among whom your Paper may circulate, would attentively consider it. They must at once
be convinced, that it was the Overturn of all Government, Order or Happiness, that these Men have ever aimed at, or to establish one of, so fluctuating a Nature, that they could, for any Cause or for no Cause, but "their own sovereign Pleasure," dissolve it, when they ch d .
Is there Chams sufficient in this happy Decline of Anarchy and Confusion, to compensate for the Loss of British Liberty and Laws? Would any American entertain the central Enjoyments of Life in to fluctuating a Society? I dare venture to answer for you all, that the Misery you have already experienced, would determine you otherwise. Many of you have begun, with Grief, to look back to your former envied Situation: And happy should I think myself, if, by exhibiting these Absurdities to your View, I could, for a few Moments, pull those Passions which have assumed the Place of Reason, and snatch one from the Precipice over which you are hovering.
G. A.
Pacis que impendit Moriam. Parcere subiectis, et debellare superbos.
VIRGIL.
THE mad Opposition of an intoxicated Rabble, against the wildest of all Governments, is now diminishing considerably. Its Leaders are no longer able to prevent the Truth from reaching the deluded Multitude; and it needed no great Foresight to pronounce their Influence must give Way, when once the People should be rendered sensible of their real Situation.
Nothing tends more to their Recovery, than the Artifice of their AMBASSADOR to Paris; which they now see through. Indeed, it was no Proof of their Understandings that they so readily should credit, tho' for a Moment, one of the grossest Frauds ever practised on Credulity.
A Rebel Deputy, from a Rebel Mob, solicits in the Court of a despotic Prince, and begs Assistance for Rebellion! begs of a Monarch to convince his Subjects, labouring under heavy, though necessary Taxes, that Rebellion is, with Propriety, to be encouraged! If a few remaining Members of the GLORIOUS Congress favoured the Deceit, it is not surprising, they wished to place themselves where they had sucked, in a Repository in Europe; but the common People (I mean the common People who are not of the Congress) were certainly in a strange Suspension of their Faculties, to pass over an Absurdity so glaring. This Trick has been successful to its Inventor, who is now removed from the Disgraces of his Country, which his gentle Nature will not even let him think of, and agreeably amusing himself, in the Boom of Elegance and Enjyment, with the Help of a good Fortune, dexterously extracted from the dear Creatures, the Affertors of the glorious Cause! While these are raging in the Agonies of Anger at their Stupidity, convinced he is a Man of too much sense to prefer a Lodging in the Battle to an Apartment gratis at l'Hôtel d'Autriche. Others, who have not yet made up the Sums they want,

continue, to persuade their wretched Followers that every Thing goes on, on their Side, most swimmingly. These render it quite clear that all the Acquisitions made by the Forces of His Majesty, are Losses to us. Alas! we must endeavour to be comforted; and when we have taken Philadelphia, we shall beg of you to sympathize in our Misfortune. We have, within these few Days, met with the Misfortune of destroying 10,000 Barrels of your Provisions, at Filly-Kill up the North River. Don't you pity us? Those Provisions, intended for the Support of your dissolving, sickly, beaten Mob, will certainly produce no Indigestion: A vast Advantage! And again, What does it signify whether Men eat Meat or not? Doctor Cadogan attributes the Generation of the Gout to the too liberal Use of an animal Diet; your Heroes will escape the Gout, that is clear. They will also be lighter, and in better running Order than they were before, if possible. In short, to consider the Affair as One should, it is perhaps One of the finest Things that ever happened to you.
Our taking Long Island was a sad Thing for us; wasn't it? You had the Advantage of dancing off by the quick Step, in which you really, and without Compliment, displayed an unparalleled Agility. When our General came saw and conquered York-Why Lord bless us what did that signify! York, is a great fishing paltry Place. You never meant to keep it. Indeed you have been at the Pains of fortifying it, as well as you had been pleased to strengthen Brooklyn; but alas they Day, you did that merely to keep your Troops employ'd, and to pass away your Afternoons. Our Acquisition of Rhode-Island, was a sad Loss to us! How it made you laugh! And how severe it was of you to make a Present of it to Mr. Arnold three Days after: But this was not the first Instance of your Generosity. You were kind enough to give State-Island to Mr. Washington, soon after you had gained the Loss of it. If you pay your Officers with Islands in this Manner, they will become immensely rich! Who do you intend to give Philadelphia to when we get it? Who is to have your grand Fleet at Providence if we chuse to burn it? Suppose you gave it Huckleberry? Next Campaign drives you from all your Towns, and then--you'll make a Fete Champetre of it!
A Man must be wonderfully dull of Apprehension not to perceive the Benefit that will arise to you from living in the Mountains. That eminent Situation will give you charming Prospects. Filled with a just Disdain for the unsatisfactory Pleasures of this World, you will be looking out from your high Places for the next. Free as the Goat, and full as sweet, he tends Grass will bring you to the simple and sublime in ease. The limped Stream will circulate the Health and Spirits through your delicately attenuated Frames. Strangers to Confinement your Limbs will be released from the vile shackles of vain Fashion. From this Point a Taste for Poetry will begin to take root. The Forest will resound with the pathetic Strains of happy Shepherds of all Ages. A new Arcadia will appear, and perhaps a new Edition of that delicious Ditty the Babes in the Wood. Ah! if Colonel Cook and the urinary General chose to perform the Accompaniment to that Piece, how entertaining it would be! The Colonel whistles a Tible like an Angel or a Groom at least--the General would do the running Bass. Ifael Putnam should dance upon the Leg he broke some Years ago with the Rum Cask when he kept an Ale House, and Admiral Hopkins should hop after him. But to be serious. Can we give the Appellation of rational Beings to Men who will endeavour to impose upon themselves a Belief that every Thing they lose is so much gained?
Can such Sophistry quiet your Anxiety for your real Losses? To look Back is to see the Picture of your former Happiness; to view your present State is to see Misery; the Prospect of the Time to come is that of total Ruin if you persist in your lamentable and heinous Error.
The only Thing like an Officer among your Generals as you call them--a Puffin! Your vile Congress running to all Points of the Compass, and providing for the Security of the vast Fortunes they have drawn from the Vitals of their Country. Your armed Mob, deserting, dying like Sheep! Your Paper Money depreciated, and not likely to be current two Months longer. Your hard Money safely out of your Reach ready to minister the Luxuries of European Life to its Possessors when the Rebellion is suppressed. Your trembling Feet waiting their impending Fate near Providence. Your Trade reduced to the Twentieth Part of what it was. Your Vessels falling into our Hands every Day. Agriculture at a Stand. A Famine almost inevitable. A lawless Rabble holding the Sword you rashly gave them against your dearest Interests. Disease laying every Thing waste. Population suspended. Emigration precluded. Your Towns surrendering to the irresistible Valour of an Army inspired by national Ardor, and national Resentment. In a Word a vast Variety of Wretchedness!
These are not the Suggestions of mere Fancy; a Return to your own good Sense, will convince you, the Painting is not too highly coloured.
May the misguided People come to an immediate general Perception of their real Resources, of the Power of Britain, and her intention of using it; and, from a due Comparison of her Strength and their own Weakness, make one virtuous Effort, and emancipate from an obstinate, atrocious Resistance of just Government, into a proper Penitence of their Folly, the Forerunner of Forgiveness!
A. A.
N E W Y O R K, March 24.
We are credibly informed that Provisions are now very scarce at Boston, and that what little remains in that Province, the Country People will not dispose of for Congress Money, saying they have too much of that Coinage already.
Beef is now 1 s. 6 d. per lb. at Philadelphia: The Few of the Congress that are now there take up all the Money they can lay their Hands on a 6 per Cent. and begin to talk of moving towards Reading, in one of the back Counties. Their new Levies go on very slowly, and their Loans more slowly still.
The Rebels to the Northwards, and every where else, have no Success in raising their Levies, as they proposed, for a standing Army. The Treatment the poor deluded People have already met with from the Commanders of the Rebel-Army, who among themselves are to a Proverb without Honor and Honesty, and the melancholy Fate of those who have already joined them, have given a Check to the Impostion that has been practised with so much unhappy Success hitherto, and, among other Circumstances, have opened their Eyes to a View of their real Situation.
Yesterday the Sloop Hammond, Capt. Guttridge, arrived here from Bermuda, in 15 Days.
Several Transports, Vessels from Ireland, have arrived in the Course of the Week; and each of them with Troops on board to join the Army. Above 5000 "Hearts of Oak" 'tis said have been added to the Forces here; and many more are daily expected.
The following is the Copy of a Proceeding by a Committee of Boston, against Mr. Thomas Amory and others, about two Months ago; by which our Countrymen may see, that our present Rulers, in postulating all Law and Government, never meant to establish any other Liberty, than the Liberty of perpetrating their own tyrannical Villainies upon the whole Continent.
To the Honourable the JUSTICES of the COURT of ENQUIRY.
THE committee, &c. for the town of Boston, in obedience to a late resolve of the great and General court, represent to the said Justices, and give them to understand, that John Timmons, James Perkins, Thomas Amory, Ralph Lamson, Daniel Hubbard, Nathaniel Cary, (and others in the information mentioned) of Boston, merchants, appear to us to be inimical to the rights and privileges of the united States of America: They have aided, abetted, abetted, and countenanced the enemies of said States of America, in their attempts to enslave them; and have, by a writing under their hands, in the highest terms approved of the conduct of the perfidious General Gage, after he had insulted, abused, plundered, and murdered many of the good and peaceable inhabitants of this then colony. From these reasons, and from their frequent meetings, we apprehend their being suffered to go at large, more especially at this truly important crisis, will be incompatible with the peace of the town, and dangerous to the publick safety.
We therefore suggest to your honour's consideration, the necessity of their being apprehended, disarmed, and committed or renounced, or laid under such other or further restrictions as to your honour's may appear fitting and proper.
By order of the Committee.
JOHN BROWN.
A true Copy. Attd. THOM. EDWARDS, Clk.
The JUDGMENT, vs. THOMAS AMORY
UPON due examination of the witnesses and other attendant circumstances, and having heard the defence of the said Thomas Amory, after mature Consideration of the case, it appears that the said Thomas is guilty of approving, in the highest terms, of the conduct of General Gage, after he had insulted, abused, plundered and murdered many of the good and peaceable inhabitants of this then colony. It is therefore considered by us the said Justices, that the said Thomas Amory be sent to the town of Waltham, in the county of Middlesex, there to remain for the space of two months, that he enter into recognizance to Henry Gardner Esq; treasurer of this state, himself as principal, in the sum of One Thousand Pounds, with two sufficient sureties in the sum of Five Hundred Pounds each, for his abiding and remaining within the limits of said Waltham, for the said space of two months, and his being under the care and inspection of the committee of correspondence, inspection and safety, of said town, and for his being of the peace and good behaviour towards all the inhabitants of the free and independent states of America, specially towards the inhabitants of this state, for and during the space of twelve months; and that he shall not in any Manner aid, abet, or assist the enemies of said states, or either of them, or correspond with said enemies, either by writing or otherwise; that he be disarmed, pay costs of court, and stand committed till this sentence be performed.
A true copy of the judgement,
Attested, THO. EDWARDS, Clk.
WITNESSES vs. AMORY.
  Richard Hennewell,  Benjamin Lowden,    John Carnes,  William Crans,    William Porter,  William Rogers,    John Bennett,  Mrs. Scott.  

BILL OF COST.
  The Government, &c. to Thomas Amos. £ 0 1 0   Warrant, - - - - - 0 1 0 0   Service of ditto, - - - - - 0 1 0 0   Sub. costs, - - - - - 0 0 6 4   Eight witnesses, one day each, - - - - - 0 12 0 0   Summoning ten witnesses, - - - - - 0 5 0 0   Entry Complaint - - - - - 0 0 9 0   Total, - - - - - 0 2 0 0   Making up judgment, - - - - - 0 1 0 0   Taking bill, - - - - - 0 0 3 0     £ 1 3 4 
NEWPORT, April 19.
Last Monday arrived here by a Flag, several Midshipmen who have been taken at different Times by the Rebels. They inform that a Body of the King's Troops had seized a large Magazine of the Rebel's at Peeks Kill, and had destroyed and taken about 600 Barrels of Powder, a Quantity of Flour, about 500 Cartridges, and a Quantity of Ammunition, and the whole was effected without the loss of a Man.
They likewise inform that one of the Rebel Galleys on the River has been blown up and that 8 Men perished in her.
The Town of Worcester were ordered to raise 60 Men for the Continental Army, but only 5 have yet been obtained. Every other Town is equally expect to raise their Quota of Men.
We hear that a Party of Rebels from Connecticut, consisting of about 40, had fallen in with a Number of Indians, who cut them all to Death except 6 or 7 who were wounded. These Indians are now in the Rebels' all of which they took, and killed those that were with them.
By a Person since arrived in Town we have undoubted notice that Sir Guy Carleton has ordered the Loyalists and is now at Tiendaga. This Intelligence was informed us, was brought by a Person who rides Post from that Quarters. Nothing he adds, affects the New Englanders like the Dread of this Army. Confusion and Distress is to be seen in almost every Countenance. Some talk high, but have no resolution to fight beyond the Reach of their Chimney Potts. Even their most flaming Patriots find that their disinterested Zeal will not maintain them, and their Paper is so stuck in its Value, that it will no longer answer the Purposes of their Avarice and Vanity. Those who are well affected to Government, have been so long agooned by these impious Villains, that they can't yet master Resolution enough to shake off their Authority. Persons who have not plunged themselves so far into the Rebellion as to imagine here is a Retreat for them, begin to grow particularly cautious how they act, and those whose Crimes are so notorious as leads them to think that nothing can exclude them from Punishment, are in Imitation of the Father of Rebels, gratifying their infernal Dispositions by scattering every Kind of Wanton Destruction round them.
We hear that the People of Boston talk of mustering a Number of Men and marching into the Country, to take Providence by Force, as the Country People refuse to bring it to them.
Since our last two Prizes have been sent in here: one by the Lake, from Guadalupe bound to New-London, the other by the Orpheus, from Philadelphia bound to Boston, laden with Flour.
Yesterday Morning sailed a Number of Transports for New-York under the Convoy of the Ambassador.
Two or three of the Rebels have this Week stole upon Prudence Island, and burnt two Houses. Such glorious feats out as these
they are no Strangers to.
The Juno has taken the Station of the Continent, which has sail'd with the Fleet for New-York.
All Talk of coming upon this Island among the Rebels, now in force, and in its stead they begin to fear a speedy Annoyance from the Troops.
The People in general in the Sea-port Towns, begin to drop in of their Expectations from the French, and to have their Eyes opened to behold many other Absurdities that have been imposed upon their Credulity. The Country People cannot be much longer deceived, as the Time is almost elapsed for that Assistance to arrive they have been so long expecting; and it is apprehended by good Judges, who have been with them, that this Summer will be productive of such Divisions among this unhappy People (who are already jealous of Distraction of each other) as would effectually terminate the Rebellion, if the British Army were even to remain inactive.
We hear that the Rebels are moving off their Quarters, from Bristol; and that many of the Inhabitants are likewise removing, with their Effects. At Providence, many of them began long since to remove.
We have just received an Account from Boston, that a Rebel Privateer blew up there a few Days since, and that about 100 Men perished in her.
Last Tuesday Evening was married by the Rev. Mr. BISSETT, Rector of Trinity Church in this Town, JOHN MORRISON, Esq; Deputy Commissary of Stores, Provisions, &c. to Miss POLLY WANTON, eldest Daughter of Colonel WANTON.
ERRATA. For the Words Olympias and Stena , in the 24th and 28th Lines of the Poet's Corner of last Week, read Olympias and Stena .
A Gentleman from Block Island has favored us with the following.
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND and PROVIDENCE PLANTATION.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY, March, second session, A. D. 1777.
RESOLVED, that such of the Inhabitants of New Shoreham, on Block Island, and now on the Main, as chose to return to their Houses, have Liberty to return, under the Inspection of the commanding Officer of the District from whence they shall depart, until the 10th Day of April next, and those now living in said Town, who are desirous to remove to the Main, are permitted to do it within the Time aforesaid; after which all Intercourse shall cease between the Inhabitants of the said Town and those on the Main, until further Orders from the Assembly, saving only commissioned Officers, in the Continental Battalions, for the Purpose of recruiting.
(A true Copy) Witness, William Mumford D. Sec.
Newport, April 11, 1777.
JOHN LAWTON
Hereby informs the Public, that he has opened a SCHOOL, in the House lately occupied by William Lake, near the Church, for the Instruction of YOUTH, in READING, WRITING, ARITHMETIC &c. All Persons who are pleased to favour him with the Tuition of their Children, may depend on his Fidelity in discharging the Trust reposed in him, and their Favours kindly acknowledged.
BEYM HEFFISCHEN Commissair FREBELL ist Voeldie Herrn Officier zu bekennen beffer MATERA WEIN, roth zu Schilling, 4 St. bot. die Tonselge. in Dozent, 1 b. 6 Schilling.
NEWPORT, April 4, 1777.
ADVERTISEMENT.
AS the Time is now come, when the Friends and Enemies of Britain must be distinguished; when the former shall be rewarded, and the latter meet with that Punishment their treasonable Proceedings deserve—Colonel WIGHTMAN, gives this public Invitation to all those who are willing to unite together to throw off the Yoke of an abandoned Set of Men, that have fil'd this once happy Country with Misery and Ruin, and by the unjustifiable Power which they have assumed, placed every Enjoyment of Life upon the most precarious Tenure, to manifest their Attachment to His Majesty King GEORGE the Third, by enlisting with him, for the Term of Two Years or during the Rebellion; in his Regiment of LOYAL NEW ENGLANDERS ; where they will have an Opportunity, by their spirited exertions, to wipe away the Shame and Infamy their unhappy Country hath incurred; and to convince the World, that there are yet many in New England, who detest the Name of Rebels, equally with that of Slaves; and who not only acknowledge the Supremacy of the British Parliament, but are willing to risk their Lives, in supporting its constitutional Authority over every Part of the British Empire. And, for their further Encouragement, each Person will be intitled to a Bounty of FIVE DOLLARS , be furnished with Clothing, and every Accomplement necessary to compleat a Gentleman Soldier.
Colonel WIGHTMAN will, with the greatest Pleasure, receive any who are willing to enlist, at the House of Captain JOSEPH DURFEE , in this Town.
There will be an ASSEMBLY next MONDAY .
Capt. D'AUBANT, } Masters of the Capt. MALTZBURG, } Ceremonies.
F O U N D,
AN OFFICER'S BAYONET.
The Gentleman who has lost it, may have it again, by applying at Capt. JOHN LAWTON's , near the Main Guard House, paying the Charge of advertising.
Newport, Jan. 6, 1777.
ANY Person or Persons who are inclined to contract for the supplying his MAJESTY's NAVAL HOSPITAL with Fresh Provisions, or such other Necessaries as sick People may require, are desired to send in their Proposals, in Writing, to the Subscriber, who, on examining their Terms, will give the Preference to the lowest Offerer.
JOHN HALLIBURTON, Agent to the Sick and Hurt.
To be Sold, by Joseph Durfee, BEST HARD SOAP , by the BOX, at his HOUSE.
Newport, March 20, 1777. Just IMPORTED from NEW-YORK, AND TO BE
SOLD by JOHN HOWE At the PRINTING OFFICE in Thames Street , the following Articles of
STATIONARY:
  ROYAL, Super Royal, Demy, Fine red and black Wax, Ink Powder, Ink Holders, Pounce and Pounce Boxes, Pencils, and Ivory Folders   Thick and thin Post,   Footscap, 8vo & plain   Letter-paper,   Marble-paper,   Quills,   Account Books, 

N E W Y O R K, March 24.
The following dutiful and loyal Address of the Clergy of the Church of England assembled at New-York, was presented to the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Howe, in the Absence of His Excellency General Howe.
To the Right Honourable RICHARD, Lord Viscount Howe , of the Kingdom of Ireland,
A N D To the Honourable Sir WILLIAM HOWE , General of His Majesty's forces in America.—The King's Commission for restoring Peace to His Majesty's Colonies in North America.
May it please your Excellencies,
W E the Clergy of the Church of England, convened in the City of New-York, beg Leave to present your Excellencies with our unfeigned Congratulations on your Appointment to the important Offices you fill, and on the Success with which it hath pleased Divine Providence so signally to crown the British Fleet and Army since your Arrival in this Province.
As We yielded to none of His Majesty's Subjects in Loyalty to our Sovereign, or Zeal for the Constitution, We should have thought ourselves happy in an Opportunity of offering to your Excellencies this Testimony of our Respect at an earlier Period: But driven from our respective Cures by the Rage of civil Discord, We waited with Resignation, till the Measures pursued by your Excellencies should, under Providence, open the Way to us for assembling together, and discharging a Duty to which Inclination and Principle warmly prompted us.
We take the Liberty to assure your Excellencies, that We behold the Rise and Progress of the Disorders which have langued this Continent in its greatest calamitous State, with Grief and Disapprobation. We lament the Infatuation of our Fellow Subjects which led them, contrary to their Duty and Interest, to adopt such Principles and Measures as We were convinced would be destructive of our happy Constitution in Church and State, would obstruct that Union with the Parent Country on which our Welfare depended, and be productive of the most ruinous Consequences.
Determined to hazard the Loss of every Thing rather than violate our religious Principles, or deviate from that Allegiance We justly owed to His Majesty, not only as our rightful Sovereign, but as supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England. We endeavoured to preserve a steady Conduct and to adhere to that Line which was pointed out to us by our Conscience, and which the Duties of our Function required. The Laws of Peace, Uniformity and mutual Benevolence, so strongly inculcated by our holy Religion, were the constant Subjects of our public and private Exhortations. Taught by the Word of God, and by that Church in the Ministry of which We serve, to "honour Kings and obey Magistrates," We could not disregard those Doctrines ourselves, nor to bear to instil them into others.—Such were our Principles and Sentiments; We studied to preserve a Consistency between them and our Practice: And We gratefully rejoice in the public and generous Testimony which our Brethren in England have given us that our Conduct has been thought deserving of their Approbation.
It would be as painful as it is need less for us to enumerate the deplorable Effects which have attended a Departure from those Principles in other. As Men, We cannot be insensible to the Distresses of our Fellow Creatures: Has there not our House been permeated, as Christians and Clergymen, when We view the complicated Miseries of those who were endeared to us by every
social and religious Tie! We deeply shared with others in the public Calamities; yet We almost forgot our own private Losses and Misfortunes in the sympathetic Concern We feel for the Sufferings of our Brethren around us.
We anxiously look forward to that happy Period, when, under the Direction of your Excellencies, it shall please God that Peace, with its attendant Blessings, shall revisit this Country. Rejoicing in our amiable Sovereign's Choice of the Persons delegated to execute His benevolent Purpose, and to complete what we firmly believe to be the favourite Wish of His Heart, the Restoration of Harmony and Re-establishment of good Government in his American Dominions: We unite in fervent Prayers to the supreme Ruler of the Universe, that your Endeavours may be crowned with Success, and that he would make you instrumental in accomplishing this most desirable Event, by which Millions will be delivered from Anarchy and Wretchedness, and partake of that Freedom and Security, both Religious and Civil, which are the only Portion of British Subjects: That our Royal Sovereign may be blessed with Length of Days and Increase of Felicity: That all Delusion may be removed from His Subjects, and no longer frustrate His gracious intentions to promote their Welfare: That "Peace and Happiness, Truth and Justice, Religion and Piety, and all other Virtues, may flourish under Him," and constitute the Glory of His Reign.
To which his Lordship was pleased to return the following Answer.
Gentlemen,
I shall express my Brother's Sentiments, as well as my own, in offering you, that we receive, with very great satisfaction, this Testimony of your Loyalty to His Majesty, and of your Regard to His Commissioners. We shall be happy to contribute our Endeavours towards accomplishing the Purposes of your humane Address, and restoring Peace and Harmony to this Part of His Majesty's Dominions.
TO BE SOLD. By AGNESS NICCOLI, Next Door to the Widow CODDINGTON, in the MAIN STREET.
E xtraordinary, four-years old, Antigua-Spirit, very good; Barbadoes Rum, Port Wine, by the dozen and quarter-cask, Molasses, Loaf and Macevade Sugar, good White Wine Vinegar, Coffee, Tea, Raisins, Indico, Rice, Philadelphia Crackers, Gammons, Cheeks, Linses, Callbees, Crackers, Sausages, Frocks and Throwers. Worked plain and ribb'd Stockings, Pins by the peck, pened or paper, Court or Guine's Unival Register, O'drains's Sermons, Pocket and Common Almanacks, Writing Paper, Ink-Powder, &c.
TO BE SOLD. By MYER POLOCK, B ARBADOES RUM, by the hoghead, tierce, or barrel.
Molasses, by the hoghead, tierce or barrel, Choice green Cakes, by the barrel, Tallow mould and dipp'd Candles, Spermaceti Candles, Oil, by the barrel. Best Bottled Port Wine by the Cask, Porter in Hogheads. Irish Beef, new and fresh, Men's Shoes by the Dozen. Russia Duck, coarse Linens, London Soap, by the Box, Excellent Old West-India Solids, by the hoghead, barrel, or quarter-cask, Stone Lime.
JUST IMPORTED, In the SHULHAM and CHARMING POLLY, from NEW-YORK; and to be SOLD , at the LOWEST RATES , by NATHAN HART,
At his Shop in NEWPORT , the following
G O O D S :
  PORT WINE Pickled Tongues   Medicina Starch and Blue   Sherry English Soap   Claret Glocester Cheese   French Brandy Loaf Sugar   Hair Powder Brown ditto   Linen or Water Flax Linens   Rappas Surf Muscatter Callicoes   Scotch ditto Balls of all Sorts   English Tobacco Shalloon   French ditto Black Calimanco   Nutmegs Osburgs   Mace Sheeting   Cinnamon Writing-paper   Cloves Lawn and Gauze   Pepper Aprons   Mustard Brocaded Lute-strings   Ketchup Black Pease   White Wine Vinegar White Pease   Coffee Callicoes   Tea Fine Book Muslin   Chocolate Cambricks & Linses   Rice Pocket Handkerchiefs   Scotch Barley Men's Thread Stockings   Flour Cards   China Oranges Blank and other Ribbands   Florence Oil Women's Shoes   Mould and dipp'd Candles Black Gowns   Spermaceti Candles Cap Hats   Capers Knives and Forks   Olives English Hams   Archives   Musses   Walnuts 
And a great Variety of other Goods, too tedious to enumerate in an Advertisement.
Just Imported from New-York AND TO BE SOLD, By JAMES MOFFATT, At his SHOP in THAMES STREET, opposite the Bottom of the Church-Lane. The following Good Assortment of ENGLISH and INDIA GOODS:
  SHALLOONS Lute-strings   Tamias Silk Mitts   Callimancees Sewing Silk   Coracorys Silk Twist   Dutch Cord Do. Knit-Garters   Snow wad Nett Tapes and Sheeting   Wiltshire Shapes Bindings   Figured Damasks Brocades Patterns   Striped ditto Worked Hose   Mazzeeve Brown and white   Moss Gowns Tarrant ditto   Printed Cottons White Thread   Flax Linens Coloured ditto   Ditto Sheeting Ivory Combs   Brown Holland Hose ditto   Dowlas Best Bohemian Tea, by the Hand. or lb.   Osburgs Coffee   Cotton Checks apron Width Sugar   Linen ditto Rice   Printed Handkerchiefs Barley   Cambricks Mussard   Figured and plain Linses Pepper   Lawn Handkerchiefs Honey   Gauze ditto Salt   India Taffety Tobacco   Do. Ell wide Persia A few Barrels of Eng. Ribs Beef pick'd up in   Pelung Sattins Kegs   Black white, and red Satinet Smoked ditto   Flowered and plain Ribbands Tripe in Kegs   Pickles, of various Kinds   And a great Variety of other useful Articles.