ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

promifing to make him acquainted with the many intrigues which had been carried on in France through the means and contrivance of a person of elevated rank and ftation here, whom he would not name, but whom the Noble Vifcount could not but well know. He did affure the Noble Viscount that he fhould decline the offer, and would have nothing to do with it; and that what he meant by the large fums of money he had mentioned was the money he had received at Vienna, during the long time he was ambaffador there, when that court had only an envoy in London.

Lord Stormont owned that he was glad to find the Noble Earl alluded merely to his falary as an ambassador, in which capacity he had never been paid more nor less than was paid to others. Lord Townshend wished the motion poftponed, but said he would vote for it if it were put.

The question being put, the numbers were, Contents 33, proxies 3, in all 36; Not contents 57, proxies 20, in all 77.

Mr Jenkinfon, the fecretary at war, moved the army-eftimates in the Houfe of Commons, Dec. 8. and entered into a detail of the forces and expence. He ftated the army in G. Britain, &c. thus.

[blocks in formation]

-

Men 35,000

North America, Foreign 24,000'

Weft Indies

British

34,000

In all
And the charge 4,100,000l.
Of thefe the militia are 37,500,
charge 700,000 1.

76,000

6,500

jected by the Lords, would have occafioned double the augmentation now proposed: That some gentlemen had expreffed on former occafions objections to the extent of the land-establishment, upon the footing of the superior importance of the naval establishment: but he apprehended that this was erroneous; the different branches of the land-establishments might, and did interfere with each other; but very little or nothing with the navy: however, that there was not the leaft reason to object to the one fervice rather than the other, as there was not the smallest apprehenfion of the Noble Lord in the blue ribbon being able to provide by public credit for both.

Sir Charles Bunbury adverted to the danger to the conftitution which must refult from fuch prodigious establishments: they gave the crown an influence which he thought ought to alarm every friend to that fyftem of liberty which had exalted this kingdom.

Mr T. Townshend stated his objections to the estimates, and said several of them appeared to be very extravagant, particularly that of the Staff and General officers of England and Ireland, which amounted to no lefs a fum than near 20,000l. more than it did in the year 1762, the most expenfive year of the last glorious war, He arraigned the armypromotions, and faid, that the public 6,500 expence was confiderably increased by the giving away fo many commiffions, and making fo many lieutenant-generals, in confequence of which the major-generals, whofe pay was in the proportion of 21. 108. to 51. were not employed. He complained alfo of there being no commander in chief appointed, and said, that it was owing to this circumftance that all the blame fell upon Lord Am. herft, when he perhaps did not deferve any of it. He cenfured the giving a command to a perfon who had been a lieutenant on halfpay [41.575.]; and faid, that LtCol. Mufgrave, who had bled in his country's fervice, and was now with his regiment in Jamaica, had applied in vain for one.

58,000
10,000

192,000

and the

He stated most of these eftablishments and charges, as fuperior to thofe of laft year, explaining the reafons why they were fo. He obferved, That the recruiting-fervice had raised, by volunteers 20,500, and by the prefs-act 1400, in all

21,900: That the new levies muft of neceffity have impeded the recruiting-fervice; but that was an effect which muft ever happen: That he apprehended the Houfe would not think the number of men increafed fince laft year, and which amounted to about 15,000, an augmentation too great, when it was confidered, that in the laft feffion the Houfe almoft unanimously paffed a bill for doubling the militia, which, had it not been re

He mentioned other inftances

of partiality and ill treatment of officers, alluding particularly to Gen. Burgoyne's cafe. He lamented Sir Henry Clinton's fituation, and faid, every perfon who knew that gallant officer pitied him fincerely. To what a miferable ftate had minifters reduced him, almoft a prifoner with 25,000 troops in New York! He enumerated the

events

events of the laft campaign; and, after mentioning the abandonment of Rhode ifland, faid, great blame was imputed to fome perfons refpecting the lofs of the important island of Grenada. As he faw the General whofe name had been made free with without doors respecting that island, in his place, he hoped he would explain how it happened that the diftribution of the troops was not made, which it had been faid would have enabled Lord Macartney to fave Grenada. After many particular attacks on miniftry, Mr Townbend went into a series of general feverity; and faid, that the influence of the crown had nearly ruined the country: That it was now bordering on the year 1780, and he folemnly believed, whoever lived to fee 1788, (the year which would complete the century fince the glorious Revolution), would fee the conftitution gone entirely, and a new form of government introduced. He declared, that he feared, he dreaded a republic; but indeed, from the prefent complexion of affairs, an abfolute monarchy seemed moft likely to take place.

Gen. Grant then very circumftantially recited the hiftory of every tranfaction that had paffed, from his firft failing, in November 1778, with 5000 men under his command, from New York to the Weft Indies and Leeward iflands, to the time that Grenada was taken. He faid, the French took a brigantine, one of the tranfports belonging to the fquadron under the command of Com. Hotham, on board of which his army was embarked. In the brig taken were fome of the horse. The commander of the ship had funk his orders before he was taken: D'Eftaing fent for him on board, and promifed him his liberty, and large rewards, if he Would inform him what the purport of the inftructions he had funk were, and where the armament was deftined. The officer was faithful, and he was, as he understood fince, carried prifoner to Martinique. When he arrived upon Adm. Barrington's ftation, they confulted together what was beft to be done, and they proceeded to St Lucie; of which they obtained poffeffion. The Generai fated every particular of the capture, and what followed it; and laid it down as a matter he wifhed the committee to keep in their minds, that all the operations previous to the capture of St Lucie were taken under an idea that we had a fuperior naval force in the Weft Indies to what France had there. It was after

wards difcovered, that the French had twenty-fix fail of the line to our twenty, and at that time three of ours were dif abled. France alfo had 20,000 troops in the Weft Indies. These circumftances neceffarily greatly altered the future operations. The General faid, had he divided the army, and diftributed it according to his inftructions from home, and his instructions from New York, St Chriftopher's and Antigua would both unavoidably have been taken. He inftanced the fteps he had followed to preferve St Chriftopher's, in concert with Adm3 Byron and Barrington, against which island D'Estaing came with his whole force; and proved, in a very clear manner, that its falvation was entirely owing to his own good conduct, and the effectual fupport given him by the feaofficers. He stated alfo fpecifically, how he had left the troops; in what number they were decreased from time to time, by fick nefs, diftribution, &c.; and said, notwithstanding any orders he might have for other purposes, had he received intelligence that Jamaica was attacked, he fhould have immediately gone with his whole force to its fupport. He conclu ded with acknowledging, that he had not ftrictly followed his inftructions; but faid, he always conceived, an officer intrufted with the command of an army, the operations of which were at a diftance from the feat of government, must be guided by circumftances, and exercife, in fome fort, a difcretional power. He had acted folely for the good of his country, to the beft of his judgement and ability, as an officer. His conduct had already been honoured with the approbation of his Sovereign; and he flattered himfelf he fhould meet with the candour of that House.

Lord Adam Gordon very ably defended Lord Amherst on the respective heads of accufation adverted to by Mr Townfhend. His Lordship fpoke alfo to the ftate of the fortifications on our coafts, and faid they were in general out of repair.

Mr Fox called upon minifters, before he debated the fubject of the day, explicitly to declare, whether they meant to go on with the American war, as their answer in that point would govern his vote entirely.

Ld G. Germain faid, as far as he knew, it was not the intention of government to abandon the American war. If they did, they would give a manifeft advan

ta

tage to France aud Spain. The confederacy in arms against G. Britain confisted of France and Spain, affifted and fupported by America. How the war with America was in future to be carried on, was not yet a matter of difcuffion; and if it were, he should think he acted very imprudently if he gave any information of it in public.

Mr Fox made a long speech against the motion, in which he attacked the American fecretary with great heat and point ednefs for the conduct of government refpecting Gen. Burgoyne.

The Secretary at War replied, defended Lord Amherst very fully from all that had been said, and anfwered every charge urged by Mr Fox and Mr Townshend against the conduct of the army.

Gen. Burgoyne, Mr Turner, Lord North, Mr Meyrick, Gen. Conway, Col. Barré, Lord Middleton, and others, spoke in the debate.

Mr Luttrell reminded Gen. Grant of his gafconade, of his engaging to march from one end of the North-American continent to the other, without refift ance. [38. 589.]

General Grant denied the charge. Gen. Conway having faid that he would affent to the motion, all thoughts of calling for a divifion were given up, and the refolutions were agreed to.

A HEN that changes its colour.

Langholm, Jan. 20. 1780. THere is in the poffeffion of Mr James Scott at Limycleugh, in the parish of Canoby, a hen, which all the fummer is a pure white, not a tarnished spot can be obferved about her. In the month of November she is fpeckled, and immediately changes to be as black as a raven, and not a fpot of white to be feen. She continues of this colour till about May, when the again changes to a delicate white.

Mrs Scott imagined the first year that fhe had loft her hen, till fome of the family afferted that the speckled one was the identical white hen. Upon this Mrs Scott put a particular mark upon her; and has remarked the different fucceffion of the colours with the feafons for thefe three years.

This fact may be attefted by moft of the people in the parish, and by many gentlemen who had the curiofity to come to Mr Scott's, to obferve the different changes of this extraordinary bird. J. D. Edin. Mag.

AMERICA. [41. 717.] OUR laft volume contained accounts of Great Britain's re-establishing a civil government in Georgia, and of her troops repelling an attack made by the combined forces of France and the revolted colonies on Savannah, the capital of that province; - of her troops having taken the Spanish fort of St Fernando de Omoa, in the Bay of Honduras; - and of their having evacuated Rhode island; -of her having taken, in the Weft Indies, from the French, the island of St Lucia, and of the French having taken from her the islands of St Vincent and Grenada; - of the French having taken from her the forts of Senegal on the coaft of Africa; - of her having taken Pondicherry and Mahie in the East Indies from the French;-and of Spain's having joined France and the revolted colonies against her. We now proceed to later accounts.

Congress demanded from the colonies 45,000,000 dollars for the year 1779; of which, according to an act of the affembly of Pennsylvania, inserted in one of their news-papers of Oct. 14. that province was to raise, belides the fums before granted, 5,700,000 dollars.

"Philadelphia, 08. 20. In the general affembly of Pennsylvania, held here upon the 23d of September laft, it was agreed, that the claims made by the proprietors of that province, to the whole of the foil contained within the charter, together with the refervation of quitrents, purchase-money, &c. being no longer confiftent with the fafety of the commonwealth; the affembly, therefore, as reprefentatives of the province, refumed the fame, under certain reftrictions and provifoes, to themselves; granting however to the Penn family, the fum of 130,000l. Sterling, to be paid by differ ent inftalments, of not lefs than 15,000l. a-year, nor more than 20,000l. the firft payment to be made at the expiration of one year after the termination of the prefent war."

New York, Oct. 15. By accounts from Philadelphia we learn, that laft Monday fe'ennight, a Mr Jofeph Wirt was tried at a court of oyer and terminer, then fitting there, on an indictment for committing high treafon against the State, and acquitted. The populace being enraged at the decifion, affembled in a tu multuous manner, feized the unfortu

Mate

nate man, and declared their intention of putting him to death. Having also laid hold of Meff. Buckeridge, Sims, Thomas Storey, and Drinker, they paraded through the city with their victims, attaded by drums and fifes, founding the ngues march, “O poor Tory!" The cavalcade proceeded to the houfe of Mr Willon, an attorney, who had pleaded in behalf of Mr Wirt, and committed the moft violent outrages. Mr Wilfon was at dinner with several perfons of character whom he had invited, when the mob fired into his houfe, burst open the doors, and attacked him and his guefts. A party of the Philadelphia light horse, which is compofed of men of the greatest opulence in the city, immediately affembled, and fired upon the rioters. The falute was returned; and a fkirmish enfued, in which four or five men were killed, and a number wounded. Among the former was Capt. Campbell, of the light horfe; and among the latter, Gen. Miffin, Robert Morris, and Sharp Delany, of the fame corps. Three white children and a negro boy were killed while beholding the fcuffle. The whole city was in the greatest confufion and confternafion; and it is probable that more blood would have been fpilt, had not Jofeph Reed, Prefident of the Executive Council of Pennfylvania, appeared at the head of the light horfe, and harangued the combatants, whom he earnestly intreated to defift from committing any acts of hoftility; and promifed, upon his honour, that if the populace would wait upon him the next morning, he would oblige the light horfemen to give ample fatisfaction for the depredations they had committed upon them. Soothed by this rhetoric, the mob difperfed."

In a Bofton paper of Nov. 4. there is an account of a great mob rifing at Philadelphia, compofed chiefly of farmers and country-men, on account of the regulations made in the price of provifions. The depretiation of the Congrefs dollars advances fo rapidly there, that if matters goon as they have done lately, the prefent price of them, which is fifty for one hard dollar, will be fixty or feventy for one in a month or fo; and no body can blame the country-men and farmers if they are diffatisfied with a regulation that fo materially affects them as thefe regulations of prices muft. Their party gained many profelytes even in the town, and they made the principal attack upon

VOL. XLII.

fome of the leading men among the pro vincial regulators; one of whom, fufpecting a vifit from them, got fome affiftance, to the number of 200, into his house; and when the infurgents came, they found them ready to receive them. The mob was quiet a little at first, but at last feveral fhot were fired into the house; which was returned with fuccefs, for feveral of the mob were killed. A party of the horse-volunteers was at laft fent for to prevent further mischief; and upon their approaching, with fome of the leading men of the town among them, the mob difperfed; but not before feven or eight of them were killed on the spot by the firing from the house, and a great deal of mifchief done in the town.

there is a meffage from the Supreme In the New-York Mercury of Dec. 3. Executive Council to the General Affembly of Pennsylvania, dated Nov. 13. and figned Jofeph Reed, Prefident, viz.

"Gentlemen of the General Affembly, THE fhort space of time which has elapfed fince our addrefs to the late affembly, has produced but few events fufficiently interefting to become objects of your attention. The advanced feafon of the year feems almoft to forbid the hope of any thing more decifive. But when we look back, and take a general review of the operations and events of the campaign, we shall find fufficient cause to acknowledge the favour and goodness of Providence, and to congratulate you on the happy ftate of public affairs.

While the efforts of the enemy have been feeble, fpiritlefs, and indefenfive, our defenfive fyftems have been fupported with firmnefs and effect in every part of America; and when it has been departed from, the bravery, difcipline, and good conduct of our officers and foldiers, have been eminently confpicuous.

The feasonable and generous assistance of the Count d'Estaing, and the gallant force under his command, though not attended with all the fuccefs which our fanguine expectations fuggefted [41.716.], may juftly be reckoned among the happy events of the year; as it has difconcerted the plans of the enemy, been attended with fuccefs in capturing many of their veffels, and is in every refpect a fresh proof of the magnanimity and attention of our allies, which will justly endear

D

them

them to every fincere lover of his country.

The evacuation of Rhode island, the acquifition of which was deemed by the enemy an object of fuch great importtance at a former period, is at once a proof of their weaknefs and apprehenfion, and, we truft, a prelude to their total evacuation or expulfion from this country.

The expedition under Gen. Sullivan and Col. Broadhead will, we hope, have the happy effects to make the favages of the wilderness dread the weight of the American arms, and give that fafety and fecurity to the diftreffed frontiers which were the great objects of the expeditions. But as very few marks of fubmiffion or humiliation have been manifefted, and from fome late appearances on the frontiers of Bedford and Northumberland, the inhabitants feem to be under great apprehenfion and alarm, we could not think it prudent to depend fo far on the fuccefs as to omit the neceffary preparation to repel any incurfions which diftrefs or revenge may induce the enemy to make, and have therefore procured a confiderable detachment to be ftationed in fuch places as will be moft likely to anfwer this defirable purpose, and eafe the minds of the good people in that quarter.

Our domeftic tranquillity has been interrupted by some unhappy commotions, to which free states have, in all ages, been fubject. We truft they are rather to be confidered as the cafual overflowings of liberty, than proceed from avowed licentioufnefs, or contempt of public authority. And as it is the first, and, we hope, will be the laft inftance where individuals will take the vindication of their real or apprehended injuries into their own hands; and as the difcuffion will be painful to their fellow-citizens, and open a breach we wish to fee closed; we fubmit it to your confideration, whether an act of oblivion and indemnity will not have a happy tendency to compofe the minds of the people, and, in its effects, prove more beneficial to the public interefts than a rigorous purfuit of legal measures.

The inftitution of a court of errors, and a revifal of the law respecting clandeftine marriages, were formerly recommended to the affembly of this ftate; but the multiplicity and preffure of other objects have hitherto excluded them

from public view. The time appears to us favourable, and they involve confiderations fo very interesting to the liberty and happiness of the ftate, that we would wish to fee them meet with a due fhare of attention.

The counterfeiting the currency of the United States has made fuch an alarming progrefs in fome parts of this State as to require a fevere and immediate check. The counterfeiting of the emiffions of an early date is, by ipecial act of affembly, a capital crime, while the same practice is only punishable at comman law in the cafe of late emiffions; which has occafioned a diftinction of punishments for the fame offence, by no means confonant to the principles of reafon and ju ftice, or the feelings of mankind. We would, therefore, recommend the pas fing a law fubjecting all offenders to penal and equal punishment.

The fupplies of the army, though attended with very heavy expence, we have hitherto been able to compafs, so as to draw the grateful acknowledgements of the troops for this juft attention to their neceffities: We fhall, in a few days, forward, both to officers and men, fo complete a fupply of cloathing, both in quantity and quality, as will enable them to meet the rigours of the ap proaching feafon with eafe and chearfulnefs.

But while we contemplate, with grateful fatisfaction, the general prospect of public and domeftic affairs, we cannot help expreffing our concern and apprehenfions on the ftate of public credit. The depreciation of the currency, and its fatal confequences to the honour and intereft of America, seem now fo generally felt and acknowledged, that we trust a safe and fure foundation is laid for the fuccefs of any measures which may be adopted to check this growing and alarming evil.

How far any state can fafely adopt a feparate fyftem on a matter of so great and general concern, we cannot venture to decide; but we can have no doubt the reprefentatives of the freemen of Pennfylvania will countenance and promote every measure that will tend to eftablifh the public faith, and fix it upon the folid bafis of truth and justice. fhall think our time and labour devoted to the most valuable purposes, if we render the public any fervice on this important point; and, in every other, as far

We

as

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »