The New-Hampshire gazette and historical chronicle (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1775-05-05 00:00:00

FRIDAY May 5, 1775.
No. 967 Weeks since this Paper was first Publish'd.
The Remainder of Lord Chatham's Speech.
[See the first part of this Speech in the beginning of this paper of the 28th of April last.]
The SPEECH of the Right Honorable The EARL of CHATHAM, in the House of LORDS Jan. 20, 1775, on the following Motion made by his Lordship, "That an Humble ADDRESS be presented to His MAJESTY, most humbly to advise, and beseech him, that, in Order to open the Way towards an happy Settlement of the dangerous Troubles in America, by beginning to allay Ferments, and soften Animosities there; and above all, for preventing, in the mean Time, any sudden and fatal Catastrophe at Boston, now suffering under the daily Irritation of an Army before their Eyes, and posted in their Town. It may graciously please his Majesty, that immediate Orders be dispatched to General Gage for removing his Majesty's Forces from the Town of Boston, as soon as the Rigour of the Season, and other Circumstances indispensable to the Safety and Accommodation of the said Troops, may render the same practicable."
THE Facts being then my Lords, as I have stated them, what has Government done? They have sent an armed Force, consisting of above seventeen Thousand Men, to drag on the Bostonians into what is called their Duty, and for the Chastisement of a small Rabble, consisting of the necessitous and Characterless in doing an unlawful Act, have involved above thirty Thousand Inhabitants in the greatest Difficulty, Oppression & Consternation. Is this the Way to win Men to their Duty, and recover in them the Principles of Affection and British Allegiance? Do you think that men who could be ruled to forego their Profits, their Pleasures, and the peaceable Enjoyment of their dearest Connections, all for the Sake of Liberty, will be whipped into Vassalage like Slaves? Why, my Lords, this Conduct in Government is so fantastical and aerial in Practice, that it by far exceeds the boldest Wing of Poetry; for Poetry has often had pleasing, as well as instructive Lessons to Mankind; and though it sometimes amuses herself in Fiction, that Fiction, to please, should be founded on Verisimilitude. But in this wise System there is nothing like Truth, nothing like Policy, nothing like Justice, Experience or Common Sense.
But, my Lords, Government, so far from once turning its Eyes to the Policy and destructive Consequence of this Scheme, are constantly sending out more Troops; and we are told, in the Language of Menace, that if seventeen Thousand Men won't do, fifty Thousand shall. 'Tis true, my Lords, with this Force they may ravage the Country; waste and destroy as they march; but in the Progress of seventeen Hundred Miles, can they occupy the Places they have passed? will not a Country, which can produce three Millions of People, wronged and insulted as they are, start up like Hydras in every Corner, and gather fresh Strength from fresh Opposition? Nay, what Dependence can you have upon the Soldiers, the unhappy Victims of your Wrath? They are Englishmen, who must feel for the Privileges of Englishmen; and their carrying Muskets and Bayonets about them surely does not exclude them the Pale of civil Community. Do you think that these Men can turn their Arms against their Brethren? -- Surely no -- a Victory must be to them a Defeat -- Carnage -- a Sacrifice.
But, my Lords, it is not merely three Millions of People, the Produce of America, we have to combat with, in this unnatural Struggle; many more are on their Side, dispersed over the Face of this wide Empire. Every Whig in this Country is for them -- Ireland is with them to a Man; nay, even those Englishmen who, may be now Temporarily inactive, when they once come to be rouled to a Sense of Recollection; when they come to weigh the great Line of Right, for which their Brethren in America are contending for, the Sense of their own Danger will instruct them to range themselves on their Side.
Who then, in the Name of Heaven! could advise this Measure? or who can continue to give this strange and unconstitutional Advice? I do not mean to level at one Man, or any particular Set of Men; but thus much I will declare, that if his M----- continues to hear such Counsellors, he will not only be badly advised but undone. He may wear his C--n indeed, it is true, but it will not be worth his wearing: robbed of so principal a Jewel as America, it will lose its Lustre, & no longer beam that Effulgence which should irradiate the Brow of M----- What then is become of this boasted Country of England, once so renowned in Arts, as well as Arms? What is become of her Constitution, that has hitherto been the Wonder as well as the Envy of surrounding Nations! has she changed her civil Power, and salutary Laws for a military Code? or has she transferred her Seat of Empire to Constantinople? Has she, who has often shed her dearest Blood in the manly Resistance of Despotism, now, not only tamely submitted to it, but fawned herself to forge the Arbitrary Chains?
But our present Governors, alas! think so little of this Matter, that I hear General Gage has been thought to have acted too tardy in this Business -- that he has not been swift enough to execute Vengeance, and sheath the Sword in the Bowels of his Countrymen. I really pity the unfortunate Situation of that Gentleman, who has approved himself on many Occasions a gallant Soldier and humane Man; for what, for being under the disagreeable Predicament of doing his Duty on the one Side, and his own Feeling, of Justice and Policy on the other, what a Conflict must he have! his Situation, my Lords, puts me in mind of a similar Transaction in the civil Wars in France, when the great Conde on one Side, and Marshal Turenne on the other, commanded different Armies; the latter conscious what terrible Consequences a Victory must produce to himself and Country, though often in his Power, avoided Blows as much as possible. After the Affair was over, the Marshal was thus remonstrated at Court for not at least taking the Prince; pourquoi ne l'avez vous pas pris? but that great General very sensibly replied, parceque, Sire, si je l'avois fait tout Paris en revanche m'auroit pris. "Should I take him, please your Majesty, I was afraid all Paris would take me."
In this alarming Crisis, this distracted View of Affairs, I come, my Lords, with this Paper in my Hand (holding out his Motion) to offer you the best of my Experience and Advice, which is "to beseech his Majesty that he would be graciously pleased to give immediate orders to Gen. Gage to withdraw his Troops from before the Town of Boston, in order to open the Way for a Plan of Concord and Reconciliation;" and this, my Lords, upon the most mature and deliberate Grounds, is the best Advice I can give you at this Juncture. Such a Conduct will convince America that you mean to try her Cause in the Spirit of Freedom and Enquiry, and not in Letters of Blood; it will be a Pledge to her that you mean nothing more than Friendship and Equity, and she, I trust, will meet you half Way. But how can she trust you with the Bayonet at her Breast? Nay how does she know, but after having submitted to the Sword, you mean to forge for her heavier Chains, the general Consequence of ferocious Victory.
I have crawled, my Lords, to this House to-day, to tell you so -- I think it my Duty to give the whole of my Experience, & Council to my Country at all Times, but more particularly, when she is in so much need of it; and having thus entered on the Threshold of this Business, I will knock at your Gates of Justice, and never Stop, except Infirmities shall nail me to my Bed, until I have at least tried every Thing in my power, to heal those unhappy Divisions.
There is no Time to be lost -- every Hour is big with Danger -- perhaps even whilst I am now speaking, the decisive Blow is struck, which may involve millions in the Consequence; and believe me the very first drop of Blood that is spilled, will not be a Wound easily skinned over -- It will be irritabile Vulpus ; a Wound of that rancorous and festering kind, that, in all Probability, will mortify the whole Body.
Let us then, my Lords, instantly begin with this Business, but let us not act, as hitherto has been acted -- taking it up by Bits and Scrapes, as Exigencies pressed, without any Regard to general Relations, and Dependencies. What signifies merely repealing this or that particular Act? this is but meanly Speaking out of one Difficulty perhaps to get into a worse, and can never answer the Purposes of a wise, amicable, and constitutional System. The mere annihilation of a few little dirty Shreds of Parchment -- can never produce any lasting Effect on the Happiness and Commerce of three Millions of People, hitherto ground down with Miseries and Wrongs, and in hourly dread of having them occasionally reiterated.
We must look on this great Business in one large connected View, work on it, Step by Step, with Caution and Liberality, & never lose Sight of it until it is accomplished; -- this is the Way, not only to obtain Confidence for the present, but solid and lasting Happiness for the future: The Line thus drawn, the Americans will have something to trust to -- and we shall be taught not to transgress that Line -- Thus mutual Confidence will be begun, & mutual Benefit must follow. I know that it has been in Circulation, that if the Stamp Act had never been repealed, we should be at this Hour in Peace and Quietness with America; and from this many People urge the Danger, as well as Inefficacy of conciliatory Measures at present. But tho' I could readily refute the Fallacy and Absurdity of this Assertion, by appealing to the very official Letters from your American Governors at that Period -- I shall waive this Ground, and only mention to your Lordships a Circumstance which will set this Matter in a still clearer Light, and shew you the Temper, Firmness and Complexion of the Bostonians on that Occasion.
Sometime after the Repeal of that Act, I happened to be in Company (at the House of a mutual Friend, above 100 Miles from this Town) with one of the most considerable, and intelligent Merchants in this Country; in a Conversation I had with him upon this Subject, I begged him to be as explicit as possible in giving me his Opinion on the Repeal. This Gentleman then told me, and confirmed his Account by several written and respectable Evidences, that the People of Boston, previous to the Repeal, waited in sullen Silence the Deliberations of the British Parliament, and were positively determined, if that Day's Victory had not been obtained, immediately to abandon their Town, their Residence, and all the Benefits of Commerce; to the Country they were determined to retire with their Families and Friends, more happy to be Freemen , though Tillers of the Earth, than Slaves under the greatest Prosperity. Does this Resolution look like tamely submitting to Indignities? or does it shew that it is owing to this just Relaxation of Government, that they have been taught to act with the Firmness & Perseverance, they have since that Period pursued.
I would not, however, with, my Lords, by this to encourage America to proceed beyond the Line of Right -- I reprobate as much as any of you those Acts of Violence which a few of her Mobility have committed; but when her inherent, constitutional Rights are invaded, those Rights she has an equitable Claim to the full Enjoyment of, by the fundamental Laws of the English Constitution and ingrafted on that Constitution by the unalterable Laws of Nature; then I own myself an American; and feeling myself as such, shall to the Verge of my Life, vindicate her Rights. If America, however, should at any Time lose Sight of this Line, I shall be an Englishman, and defend those Rights against any Power, under Heaven, that would oppose them.
Administration appeared to be startled at this fair, honest, candid and impartial Representation.
Lord Shelburne spoke ably in Defence of the Americans; said he stood totally unconnected both with Men and Measures, but that the Noble Earl's Motion carried with it such a conciliating Mode, that he heartily adopted it.
Lord Camden rose next, and in a very persuasive argumentative Manner, supported the Opinions of his noble Friend Lord Chatham. He went into an able and masterly Examination of the original Rights of a free People, which he defined with his usual accuracy, Temper and Precision. He observed in an Inference from these Premises, that arbitrary Power may as well be lodged in a collective Body as a single Person; but whenever it was exerted it was unlawful, and may be resisted; -- that this was no novel Doctrine, but as old as the Constitution, and may be found in all the Law-Books, from Selden down to a Gentleman (meaning Judge Blackstone) whose Commentaries had been so justly & universally received in the World; -- That therefore Acts of the State were not always infallible Doctrines, but were, and ought to be, in particular Cases, subject to the Rights and Freedoms of the People at large, who had the original Right vested in them, of delegating their Power and Authority. [To which give me Leave to add, no People have a Right to delegate to others the Power of taking away such right of Delegation; 'tis the Birth-Right of their Sons and of their Sons Sons, and this can never happen but where Tyranny and Arbitrary Power destroy the Liberty of the People.]
The Duke of Richmond, in his usual masterly Manner, took a large View of the Question; and on the whole, concluded with coinciding with the Opinion of Lord Chatham for withdrawing the Troops from Boston, as the only Way to open a Plan of Reconciliation. He next answered the Assertion thrown out by some of the Lords in Office, that the Americans would not be content with being excluded internal Taxation, but wanted a Repeal of the Navigation Act. This he did by going to the Table, and referring to the Petition of the Congress, which he read in his Place, & by which it appeared that they asked no such Matter. He concluded by drawing a Comparison between the timid Behaviour of Administration at the Surrender of Falkland's Islands, and their swaggering Conduct now used to their own Children.
The Marquis of Rockingham very pathetically lamented the unhappy Situation of the Town of Boston, and asked what Good sending the Soldiers had already produced. That they had been there for some Time, incapable of using their Arms, or bringing about the Purposes of Government. From this Experience of your ill concerted Measures (contemplates his Lordship) you ought to be taught Wisdom, and prudent Legislation; and the only way to restore Stability to your Councils, and open a Door to Reconciliation,
will be to begin by withdrawing the Soldiers from the Town of Boston.
After the Lords Gower, Rochford, and Weymouth had avowed the settled Resolution of Government, to compel the Americans to submit to what Demands Government should think fit to impose upon them, the Question being put whether Lord Chatham's Motion to address his Majesty to withdraw his Troops from the Town of Boston, should pass or set aside, ministerial Influence carried it with a high Hand.
77 Not Contents. Against -- 18 that were Content. L O N D O N.
March 1. Mr. Alderman Oliver presented a Petition from the Society of the Quakers against the Fishery-Bill, setting forth that a great Number of innocent Persons, in particular the Island of Nantucket, would be reduced to extreme Distress; which Petition was referred to a Committee of the whole House on that Bill. Mr. David Barclay was called to the Bar, who acquainted the Committee that he was desired by the North-American Merchants to examine several Witnesses, in order to prove the Allegations of their Petition against the Fishery-Bill. He first called to the Bar Mr. Brooke Watson, to prove the State of the New-England Fisheries in 1764, by which it appeared that 45,000 Tons of Shipping and upwards of 3000 Men were employed, and that from a Calculation he had then made, the Net Produce of said Fisheries amounted to 220,000 Sterling. That he knew they are since considerably increased; that it was his Opinion that if the New-England Fisheries were kept, that a great Part of a valuable Trade would be lost to this Kingdom, as there were many Reasons why the Fishery could not be carried on to the same extent and Advantage from Great Britain.
Mr. Stephen Higginson (a Native of Salem, in N. E.) was then called, and proved, that the Colonies of Mass Bay, N. Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, did not collectively produce sufficient for the Subsistence of their Inhabitants, and that they received considerable from the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-York; that there are now employed in the Cod-Fisheries about 700 Vessels from 15 to 70 Tons, which carry about 4200 Men, and that about one Half of that Number are employed on Shore in curing the Fish; that about 350 Vessels, from 50 to 170 Tons are employed in conveying the Fish to Market, which carry about 3000 Men; that if the Cod Fisheries are prohibited, about 10,000 Men must be under a Necessity of seeking Employment; and that, as the major Part of them would not settle at Halifax, on account of its being a military Government, they must either stay at Home and want Bread, emigrate to the Southward, or go to the French at Miquelon and St. Pierre and as many of the Inhabitants at and near Marklehead are Portuguese, Dutch, and other Foreigners, it was not unlikely but they might be induced thereto.
B O S T O N. IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Watertown, April 30, 1775.
WHEREAS an Agreement has been made between General Gage and the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, for the Removal of the Persons and Effects of such of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, as may be so disposed, excepting their Fire Arms and Ammunition, into the Country; --
Resolved, That any of the Inhabitants of this Colony, who may incline, to go into the Town of Boston, with their Effects, Fire-Arms and Ammunition excepted, have Toleration for that Purpose, and that they be protected from any Injury or Insult whatsoever, in their Removal to Boston, and that this Resolve be immediately published. JOSEPH WARREN, President P. T.
P. S. Officers are appointed for the giving Permits for the above Purposes, one at the Sign of the Sun at Charlestown, and another at the House of Mr. John Greaton, jr. at Roxbury. JOSEPH WARREN, President P. T. SAMUEL FREEMAN, Sec'y P. T.
GLOUCESTER. May 1. 1775.
Last Tuesday arrived here, the Ship Boston Packet, Capt. Lyde, from London, in whom came Passenger our good Friend, & worthy Patriot, JOSIAH QUINCY, jr. Esq; far gone with a Consumption, who was immediately visited by one of the Physicians of this Place, and other respectable Persons -- but as he appeared to be actually expiring, no Assistance could be afforded him, and a few Hours put an End to a valuable Life. Great Care was taken by the Selectmen to forward to his Friends the Account of his Death, but, as through the Perplexity of the Times no Returns could be obtained from them, his Remains were Yesterday with great Respect interred in the public Burying Ground of this Place.
S A L E M, May 2.
Extract of a Letter, dated Newport, April 26. 1775.
"It is with Pleasure that I communicate to you, by Express, the following important Intelligence: By a Vessel just arrived here from New-York, we are informed that the News of the Engagement between the Regulars and the Provincials got to New-York on Sunday last between the Forenoon and Afternoon Service; -- that the People of the City immediately rose, disarmed the Soldiers and possessed themselves of the Fort & Magazines, in which they found about 1500 Arms, that they unloaded two Transports bound to Boston; Capt. Montague not daring to give them the least Assistance; that a third Transport sailed while they were seizing the two others, and the People had fitted out a Vessel in order to take and bring her back; that they had forbid all Pilots from bringing up any King's Ships; that Capt. Montague was not able to procure a Pilot in the whole City; and that the Inhabitants were preparing and putting themselves in the best Posture of Defence."
"The Gentleman that brings this Intelligence left Elizabeth Town yesterday Morning, and tells us that the Committee of that Town, and County met and agreed to raise one Thousand Men immediately, to assist in the Defence of New-York against any Attacks that may be made upon them."
"I have the Honour to assure you that this Intelligence may be depended upon."
Extract of a Letter from New-Hampshire, dated April 26, 1775.
"Before the Receipt of your Letter, Intelligence of the tragical Scene which has lately been acted in your Colony, by the regular Troops, had pierced the Ears of the Inhabitants of this; upon which many of our Men, fired with Zeal in the common Cause, and Resentment at the inhumane Cruelty, and savage Barbarity of the Action, instantly flew to your Assistance, and vast Numbers more were on their March."
Extract of a Letter from Providence, April 27, 1775.
"Yesterday Mr. John Brown, one of the principal Merchants of this Town, being at Newport, was seized upon in a Freight or Packet Boat coming to Providence. He was carried and confined on board a Man of War lying in Newport; and about 300 Barrels of Flour, in that Packet and another Freight Vessel, taken by the Ship of War. It is said the Captures are to be sent to Boston for Condemnation. -- We are greatly alarmed at this open Force and Hostility."

Extracts of a Letter from Connecticut, April 22, 1775. "Every Preparation is making to support your Province.----- The Ardour of our People is such that they can't be kept back."  Extracts of a Letter from New-York, April 24, 1775. "The late melancholy Accounts from Boston, have had a most excellent Effect in uniting the Inhabitants of this City, insomuch that we have been able to furnish Supplies from the Army, and have got Possession of the City Arms, and are now guarding the Powder and them." "We hear that the Letters lately wrote by Governor Hutchinson, are providentially in the Hands of the People; and when published, will astonish every one, who has not before been thoroughly sensible of the evil Designs of that Man against the Liberties of this Country."
We can assure the Public, from the best Authority, that our Brethren of all the Colonies, which we have yet heard from, are firm and unshaken in their Attachment to the common Cause of America; and that they are now ready, with their Lives & Fortunes to assist us in defeating the cruel Designs of our implacable Enemies.
We have received no Particulars of the Transactions between General Gage and the Inhabitants of Boston. It is certain that the People have delivered up their Arms; very few of them have, however, been permitted to leave the Town, notwithstanding the Promise of the General.
On the 19th of April was killed, among others, by the British Troops, at Menotomy, as he was courageously defending his Country's Rights, the good, the pious, and friendly Mr. DANIEL TOWNSEND, of Lynn-End. He was a constant and ready Friend to the Poor and Afflicted; a good Adviser in Case of Difficulty, and an able, mild and sincere Reprover of those who were out of the Way. In short, he was a Friend to his Country, a Blessing to Society, and an Ornament to the Church, of which he was a Member. He has left an amiable Consort, and five young Children, to bewail the Loss.
Lie. valiant Townsend, in the peaceful Shades.---We trust. Immortal Honours mingle with thy Dust. What! tho' thy Body struggled in its Gore, So did thy Saviour's Body long before! And as he rais'd his own, by Power divine; So the same Power shall also quicken thine, And in eternal Glory, mayst thou shine. Messrs. HALLS,
You are requested to insert the following Extracts from the Life of the ever memorable Dr. Increase Mather, Pages 90, 91, 92.
IN the latter End of the Year 1683, there arrived a Declaration from King Charles II. with a Signification to the Country, that except they would make a full Submission & entire Resignation of their Charters to his Pleasure, a Quo Warranto against it should be prosecuted. The Question was offered unto Mr. Mather, whether the Country could without a plain Trespass against Heaven, do what was demanded of them; and in his elaborate Answer to it, he demonstrated that they would Act neither the Part of good Christians, nor of True Englishmen, if by an Act of theirs they should be accessory to the Plot then managing to produce a general Shipwreck of Liberties. Communicating his Answer to several of the Magistrates, the Copies thereof came into many Hands; and with so much Efficacy, that the Country was preserved from a mean Compliance with the vile Proposal. Great was the Rage of Adversaries on this Occasion; and Mr. Mather was by them called and spited as, The Malignant of New-England . He felt it; but yet so satisfied in the good Work, that when the Freemen of Boston met on January 23, that they might give Instructions to their Deputies for the General Court, and the Deputies with others, desired him to be present, and give them his Thoughts on the Case of Conscience before them; he made a short Speech in the Town-House; and this was it, as I find it in his own Copy of it.---As the Question is now stated, whether you will make a full Submission and entire Resignation of your Charter and the Privileges of it, unto his Majesty's Pleasure, I verily believe we shall sin against the GOD of Heaven if we vote an Affirmative unto it. The Scripture teacheth us otherwise. We know what Jezebel said, that which the Lord our God has given us, shall not possess it! And though Naaman run a great Hazard by the Refusal, yet be said GOD forbid that I should give away the Inheritance of my Fathers. Nor would it be Wisdom for us to comply. We know David made a wise Choice, when he chose to fall into the Hands of GOD rather than into the Hands of Men. If we make a full Submission and entire Resignation to Pleasure, we fall into the Hands of Men immediately. But if we do it not, we still keep ourselves in the Hands of GOD; we trust ourselves with his Providence; and who knows what GOD may do for us? There are also Examples before our Eyes, the Consideration whereof should be of Weight with us.---What have they gained by being so ready to part with their Liberties, and an Acceleration of their Miseries? And we hear from London, that when it came to the loyal Citizens should not make a full Submission and entire Resignation to Pleasure, lest their Posterity should curse them for it. And shall we then do such a Thing? I hope, there is not one Freeman in Boston, that can be guilty of it! However, I have discharged my Conscience, in what I have thus declared to you."
Would such a Speech have been made by a Danish or a Swedish Clergyman?---Upon this pungent Speech, many of the Freemen fell into Tears; and there was a general Acclamation, We thank you Sir! We thank you Sir! The Question was upon the Vote carried in the Negative nem. Con. ; and this Act of Boston had a great Influence upon all the Country.
From the [London] Morning Post, of February 27.
A VERY MATERIAL LETTER.  TAXATION and Representation are said to be inseparable; in all free Countries it is so, and the very Idea of its being otherwise is repugnant to Liberty. The imposing therefore Taxes on the Americans, in their present Situation, is a gross Offence to that Constitution of which Englishmen boast and glory in.--- It would be taking that by Force which wants the Owners Consent to grant; it would be a Robbery supported by the Sword, and the Robbers would be answerable with their Lives to England, for the Injury done to her Laws of Freedom. Away, then, with all those idle Tales which daily spring up in Support of an Administration, disgraceful and disgusting to the primest Part of our present Legislature.--- Let the Term Rebellion flow only from the Lips of Scotch-Men and Tyrants. An honest Englishman knows no such Word; and the Americans, so far from being Rebels, are nobly resisting Tyranny and Irreligion, long attempted to be exerted over them, and, like our Ancestors contended in Runny-Merd before King John, are standing up for Liberty. Grant them that, agreeable to Magna Charta, and they will be on a Level with us. At present they are not, because they are not represented; and whatever long Columns those ministerial Writers, Regulus, Hyttastes, Brecknock, and the Lord knows who, may give us in Proof of it, the whole of their long-winded Doctrine amounts to no more than this: America is Right in its Struggle; Administration is tyrannic, and if its Measures are not speedily softened, Destruction and Damnation will alight somewhere. Yours &c. The Devil in a Passion.
N E W - Y O R K, April 10. Nothing more can evince the Utility of the Colonies to the Mother Country, than that in less than 12 Months, Three Millions of Bushels of Wheat have been exported from this Continent to England alone, besides Flour.
By a Gentleman who left Montreal the 13th of last Month, we have the following Advices, viz. That upwards of 1200 of the Inhabitants of that Place (chiefly French) had signed a Petition to his Majesty, for the Repeal of the Quebec Bill, lately passed in the British Parliament, for the new Regulation of the Government of that Province; and that it was not doubted but that the Petition would be signed almost universally by all the People in the whole Province. That at Quebec great Pains had been taken by the ministerial Agents, to procure an Address of Thanks to the King and Parliament, for framing and passing these Laws, but that only 20 Signers could be procured to said Address.
On the Report of a Design to form an Army in Canada to join the King's regular Forces in fighting against and enslaving the other British Colonies; the Canadians were greatly alarmed, and
took the best Method in their Power to secure themselves from the hateful Service. And as by the Laws of France, married Men cannot be compelled to serve the Militia, the Canadians considered Marriage as a Protection, to which, since their new Laws they have so universally had recourse, that it is said there is hardly an unmarried Man to be found in all the Country.
PORTSMOUTH, "We hear from Haverhill, in the County of Grafton, that the Militia Officers of the Company in that Town, have all resigned to the Colonel their Commissions, on a conscientious Principle, that if call'd upon to fight for the Rights and Privileges of their Country, they ought not to hold any Commissions under that Administration, which stigmatizes all the four New-England Governments with the Name of Rebels:--- And the People unanimously chose their own Officers; determined to stand by their Friends in the lower Country, whenever call'd upon, or to defend their own Borders to the best of their Power, should an Enemy come upon them."
Falmouth, April 20, 1775. Died at Norton, Deacon SAMUEL DEANE, aged 77; a Gentleman of extraordinary Invention and Industry; and of consummate Probity. He was full of Faith and good Works; constantly and fervently devout without Ostentation or Enthusiasm; punctual and speedy in doing Justice to, and slow in requiring it from his Fellow Creatures. He was an Admire and Defender of the Congregational Communion; and a most exemplary Christian. May his numerous Descendants so follow his godly Steps, that they may live with him forever in Bliss.
A LETTER from the Anderscoggin Tribe to Col. SAMUEL THOMPSON of Brunswick, Alias dictis, Pejepscut. Sagamore SAM, Agreeable to your Desire I hereby communicate to you the Sentiments of our Anderscoggin Tribe.
WE allow that passive Obedience, and Non-resistance, is only due to the Laws of God, and our own Tribe.
We allow that Unanimity in our own Tribe, or among the Tribes of this Land, strengthens like the Bone of Steel, and Sinews of Brats.
We allow for the keeping up, & nourishing that Unanimity, it is necessary that the Heads of the Tribe should assemble often together.
We allow that every Sannop, Squaw, and Pappois should stand to, and abide by the Determinations and Resolutions agreed to by the Heads of the Tribes when so assembled.
We allow that Mobs and Tumults in any Tribe, relaxes their Nerves, breeds Contentions, Confusions, and every evil Work ensues.
We allow that every Indian's Wigwam, is his own Citadel of Defence, in which he has a Right to defend himself, his Squaw & Pappois.
We allow that every one's Person and Property ought to be protected by the Laws of his own Tribe.
We allow that if any Tribe or even white People with their great Canoes should attempt to stop our little Canoes from going to catch Fish, get Clams, fell our Furs and Skins, or to buy Rum, their great Canoes ought to be set on fire, as ever they come into our River Anderscoggin.
We allow that no white People or great Folks ought to endeavour to stop or hinder our Tribe from meeting together when we please.
We allow that no great Sannop, black or white, ought to take away any of our Wampum, for any Thing, without the Heads of our Tribe granting it to them by our Consent.
We allow that no other Tribe of black or white Folks ought to come and build Forts on any of our Land without the Leave of the Heads of our Tribe, or buying the Land first of us.
We allow that every Tribe on this our Land ought to make their own Sagamors, Sachems and Captains, to learn & instruct their young Men in the Use of the Bow, the Tomahawke, and Scalping-Knife, & to muster them together often for that Purpose.
The above were the Sentiments of our Tribe when assembled last. We shall assemble at Scundogoda, on Anderscoggin River, the next new Moon; and after that will send you our further Sentiments on the Affairs of the present Times: Selah.
JONATHAN SECHAM, of the Anderscoggin Tribe. Anderscoggin March 6th, 1775.
To Col. SAMUEL SAGAMORE, of the Pejepscut Tribe.
CUSTOM-HOUSE PISCATAQUA May 4, 1775. Inward Entries Sloop Free Love John Conklin, New-London. Sloop Cha:ham, David Snow, St. Eustatia. Snow Marquis of Kildare George Turner, Grenada. Schooner Placentia Samuel Smallcorn, Dittto. Schooner Friendship Robinson Hieden, St. Lucce. Brig Widows Son Kinsman Peveryly, Tortola. Brig Hope Joseph Adams, Dittto. Brig Stork William Coombs, Gaudaloups. Brig Sally Offin Boardman, Dittto. Brig Conway James Johnson, Hispaniola. Outward Bound Brig Faith Oak Edward Butler, West-Indies. Brig Dartmouth John Peirce, Dittto. Brig Charming Molly Ebenezer Ricker, Dittto. Snow Marquis of Kildare, George Turner, Dittto. Cleared Outwards Brig Conway James Johnson, Newfoundland. Sloop Mary David Eastman, Philadelphia. Schooner Friendship Eleazer Giles, West Indies. Sunday Pieces sent for Publication this Week must be defer'd.
A second hand CHAISE, to be sold cheap. Enquire of the Printer.
L O N D O N. March 7. The Petition from the City of Waterford, in the Kingdom of Ireland, presented on Friday to the House of Commons, states among a variety of other Things, that their Exports consist chiefly of white and brown Linens to America, and of salted Beef, Pork, and Butter, to the West India Islands; that the Imports from North America consist of Flax-Seed, Lumber, Wheat, and Flour; and that the Differences now subsisting between Great-Britain and that Continent, which has been on the Non Importation and Non Exportation Agreement between several Colonies, will be productive of the several following alarming and ruinous Consequences.
 1. That the Petitioners being cut off from their usual Supply of American Flax-Seed, will be rendered unable to carry on the Linen Manufacture.  2. That not having the Means of raising Flax, their Linen Manufactures must consequently be annihilated.  3. That though they should obtain Flax from other Countries, the Commerce with America being stopped by the Non Importation Agreement, their Manufactures must instantly fall to nothing.  4. That being deprived of Staves to make Casks, their Export Provision Trade must be destroyed; and both the Navy of Great-Britain and the West India Islands be deprived of the Means of Subsistence with many great and manifest Inconveniences.  And that on the whole such a Train of Consequences will be destructive of the landed Property, Manufactures, and Commerce of the Kingdom, and must occasion a very sensible Diminution of his Majesty's Revenues.
March 13. A Common Council is ordered for To-morrow, and the Lord Mayor has inserted in the printed Summons, to consider of a Petition to the House of Lords against an act and bill, which has passed the H. of C. entitled, An act to restrain the Trade and Commerce of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, &c. &c.
NOTICE is hereby given that six Months from the 28th Day of February last, is allowed the Commissioners to receive and examine the Claims against the Estate of Peter Abbot late of Kingstown deceased, seated in Solent and that the Commissioners will attend that Service the last Monday of April Current, and the three following Months at the Deceased's Dwelling House in Kingstown, from two to seven of the Clock each Day, and those that don't bring in their Claims on or before the last Monday of August next, will be excluded. Kingstown April 18th 1775.
RANAWAY from me the Subscriber on Monday the 10th Instant, a Servant Boy named Eben Ezra, sixteen Years of Age, red Hair, bad on whom he wears a way Meele-Hide Breecches light coloured Coat and blue Coat, who ever will take up and return Home said Runaway shall have one Shilling Reward by me Eben Ezra Hays. N. B. All Persons are hereby cautioned against keeping said Boy on my Account. Kingstown April 29, 1775.
§ Barnstead. §
THIS is to notify the Proprietors of the Township of Barnstead, in the County of Strafford, in the Province of New Hampshire, that at a legal Meeting held at Newington, the 28th Day of March, 1775, voted that there be levied and raised on each Hundred Acre Lot, ten Shillings, and on each Hundred Acre Lot sixteen Shillings and eight Pence lawful Money, equal to two Pence lawful Money per Acre; also voted that the like Sum of two Pence lawful Money per Acre, be levied and raised on all the other Lands in said Township. The said Proprietors are therefore hereby notified to pay the said Taxes to me at my House in Newington by Tuesday the 15th of May next, or their Lands will be advertised for Sale at public Vendue, as the Law directs. EPHRAIM PICKERING, Collector. Newington, April 20, 1775.
Northumberland.
THE Proprietors of Northumberland are desired to meet at the House of Capt. Jacob Tilton, in the Port of Portsmouth, on Thursday the 11th Day of May next, at 6 o'Clock, P. M. for the following purposes, viz. To chuse a Moderator and other Officers that may be necessary for managing the Affairs of said Township.---To ascertain to each Grantee the Number of his Lot pitched, and to determine on a Method for the Disposal of those Lots that remain unpitched.---To receive and act on the Report of a Committee chosen, January 2, 1772, to consult whether the conveyance of the late Township of Stenington be of any Advantage to the Propriety of Northumberland.---To enquire into the State of the Mills in said Township, if kept in Repair, and Attendance given according to contract, if not then, to choose a Committee to take the legal Steps for redressing the Proprietors.---To agree on a Method for paying the Quit Rents.---To vote what Money may be thought necessary for the above purposes, and act on any Matters that may appear for the Benefit of said Propriety.
By Order of the Assessors, NATHANIEL TREADWELL, Clerk. Portsmouth, April 17 1775.
ALL Persons that have any Demands on the Estate of the Hon. THOMAS WALLINGFORD, Esq; deceased, are desired to bring in their Claims to ELIZABETH WALLINGFORD, Administratrix on said Estate. Also, those that are Indebted to said Estate, are once more desired to make speedy Payment, otherwise may depend on their Notes and Accounts put in Force immediately without Notice. ELIZABETH WALLINGFORD.
Somersworth, April 19th 1775. N. B. TO BE SOLD THE HOUSE, LAND, and Privilege for a FERRY, lately occupied by Mr. Timothy Fernald, late of Kittery deceased. For further Particulars, enquire of Elizabeth Wallingford. Somersworth, April 19 1775.
A Likely Negro Woman To be sold very cheap. Enquire of the Printer.