1775 Account of the Inftitution, &c. of the Cork Society. among ourselves, it was imagined, that a regular affociation would be chearfully fupported for the purpose of reftoring our poor unfortunate fellow-creatures to light and life, to their ftations in fociety, to their starving wives and children, and enabling them to refume their feveral trades and occupations, in which their induftry and caution must be redoubled by their fad experience. The refult has proved that benevolence was far from being extinct among us, that it wanted only to be excited by authenticated reprefentations of diftrefs, and encouraged by fome regulations to guard it from abufe. On this idea, the out-lines of a scheme were laid down, by fome Gentlemen, who met on the 16th of June laft, at the Council Chamber, and formed themfelves into a Society, the Rules of which are herein given at large, taken, with fome variations, from those which, have been adopted in LONDON, BRISTOL, and other principal cities in ENG LAND. It is hoped that these Rules will fhew a degree of accuracy and caution in their conftruction, which in the hands of a fet of intelligent men muft effectually preclude all poffibility of impofition. The management of bufinefs is to be repofed in a committee. These are to meet every 2nd Wednesday, to receiveapplications, which must be by petition in writing, miButely fetting forth all the circumftances of the prifoner's cafe, and referring to fome perfon of undoubted character in the city or county for a character of him. This inquiry is then to be made the bufinefs of the Secretary, who is to apply to fuch perfons accordingly, and lay the refult before the committee at their next meeting. Every other member will alfo undoubtedly communicate all that may come to his knowledge relative to the merits of fuch applications, fo that the Committee will have the fulleft poffible information before them, and be enabled to proceed on the fureft ground. If the petitioner appears clearly to be an object of regard, they will fet about effecting his discharge. If they have any doubt remaining as to his character, they leave him to his fate, and turn their benevolence to fome other more worthy of their favour. It is hard to conceive a scheme of charity better guarded against abuse. Charity is in general beftowed from fome fudden impulfe arifing from the object itfelf, or from the reprefentation of another, in either of which cafes benevoMay, 1775. 281 lence may be easily deceived. But here The Committee acknowledge with gratitude the chearful affiftance which they have received, though they have chofen to decline the ufual urgency of perfonal application until their conduct had gone through fome degree of probation, and entitled them to call with conto a scheme of fo new a nature among us. fidence on the public for their affiftance But for this, their funds would have been more ample than they are; yet, when the recency of their inftitution, and the caution neceffary to their proceedings, are taken into account, they imagine that the annexed lift of the perfons whom they have already relieved, will not appear inconfiderable. Befides the redemption of wretched individuals, another happy and valuable effect has fprung collaterally from their plan of conduct. To direct them in their choice of proper objects, they have rigorously fcrutinized the behaviour of the perfons during their confinement, as well as their characters before, and have to this purpofe examined the Keepers of the Goals, on their voluntary oaths, determined to reject every application not fupported by the proper demeanor of the petitioner. To guard against this, and recommend themselves to the notice of the Society, an emulation has in confequence arifen in both prisons, and regularity, decency, and chearful hope have taken place of riot, profligacy, and def fpair. Animated by the favour with which the fcheme has been received, the Committee now beg leave to call upon the public for their affiftance toward its compleat establishment. The task of vifiting however the manfions of dittrefs, of foliciting the clemency of creditors, and difpenfing the fund with economy, painful and laborious, they chearfully take upon themselves. They only afk to to have their hands ftrengthened, and their powers enlarged, to which purpose, they doubt not, every feeling member of the community will chearfully contribute, and lend his aid to the common caufe of HUMANITY. The COMMITTEE for this year are: Mr. SHERIFF CARLETON, Rev. DOCTOR PIGOTT, HENRY SHEARES, Efq; FRANCIS GRAY, Esq; GREATRAKES SMYTH, Esq; DAVID ROCHFORT, Esq; Mr. CHRISTOPHER ALLEN. The Rev. Doctor Pigott, is Secretary, and Mr. SHEARES, Treasurer. Subfcriptions to be received by any Member of the Committee. THE RULES. I. That this inftitution be called, THE CORK SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF AND DISCHARGE OF PERSONS CONFINED FOR SMALL DEBTS. 2. That every person who annually fubfcribes one guinea or more, fhall be a member of this fociety. (The fubfcriptions to be paid at the time of fubfcribing;) but that contributions of any smaller fum fhall be thankfully accepted. 3. That the subscribers meet annually on the firit Wednesday in June (of which notice thall be given in the news-papers) to elect a committee for managing the affairs of the fociety and for examining the accounts of the preceding year. 4. That the committee meet every fecond Wednesday at the council-chamber, at any hour they shall think proper, at which time and place only petitions fhall be received, which fhall be referred to the secretary for examination and enquiry, and he shall report the refult to the next committee to be taken by them into confideration. 5. That the committee fhall confift of feven, any three of whom thall be a quorum, and that all members of the fociety who chufe to attend fhall have voices. 6. That every petitioner muft lay his cafe fairly written before the committee, and minutely set forth all the particulars thereof, and shall refer the committee to fome perfon or perfons of character for an account of the petitioner's integrity and behaviour. 7. That no perfon fhall be discharged a fecond time by the fociety, unless some very extraordinary circumstance shall appear in his favour. 8. That any attempt of the petitioner to impofe on the fociety in the fmalleft in Dance, fhall for ever preclude him from notice. 9. That no compofition for any debt fhall exceed Ten pounds. 10. That no attorney's bill for business done against the debtor fhall at any time be paid or compounded for by the fociety. 11. That the treasurer fhall not make any payments but by order of the committee at their usual meeting. 12. That if this fociety fhall have reafon EVEN TO SUSPECT that any petitioner has defignedly involved himself in debt from a hope of being relieved by this fociety, fuch perfon fhall FOR EVER be precluded from their relief. 13. That county and city debtors fhall be equally the objects of the confideration of this fociety. 14. That no petition fhall be received from any one who has not been at least three months in confinement; unless the circumstances of his recommendation be very extraordinary. Account of the Proceedings of the American Colonifts, fince the paffing the Boston Port-Bill. (Continued from p. 205.) A Ship from Glasgow, which arrived at New-York the first of February, was compelled to depart without breaking bulk, agreeable to the terms of the General Congrefs; notwithstanding the refolutions of that congrefs have been voted null, by a majority of five, in the Great and General Affembly of the province; and notwithstanding that the landing her goods had been confented to by that affembly. At a late convention for the province of Penfylvania, the proceedings of the General Continental Congrefs were unanimously approved, and certain regulations propofed for fupplying the province with the articles neceffary for fubfiftence, cloathing, and defence, by encouraging agriculture, manufactures, and aconomy. Among other articles it was recommended, 1. Not to kill any fheep under four old, after the first of March. years 2. To establish woollen manufactories in all the different branches; but especially coating, flannels, blankets, rugs, hofiery, &c. 3. To raise madder, woad, and other dyes, neceffary in the faid manufactures. 4. To raise flax and hemp. 5. To make falt and falt petre. 6. To make gun powder, and various kinds of paper, and for this laft purpose the faving of linen rags is particularly recommended. 7. To 7. To make nails and wire, combs for combing wool, tin-plates, copper utenfils, and types for printing books, &c. 8. To encourage the artificers in thefe feveral branches by premiums to produce emulation; and by giving the preference to home-made manufactures to thofe imported from abroad. The Provincial Congrefs of S. Carolina, have like wife unanimoufly approved of the Continental Congrefs, and have fhut up the courts of law. The Provincial Congress of Maffachufets-bay, recommend to the feveral towns within the province, to encourage fuch perfons as are skilled in manufacturing fire-arms and bayonets, and at the fame time covenant to purchase as many of the makers, as can be manufactured in a certain time. As the fame time they declare the highest deteftation of all fuch perfons as do prefume to fupply the troops ftationed at Boston, or elsewhere, with timber, boards, fpars, pickets, tent-poles, canvass, bricks, iron, waggons, carts, carriages, intrenching tools, or any materials whatever, which may enable them to annoy, or in any manner diftrefs, the inhabitants of the country. And they forbid perfons from felling or furnishing ftraw for the faid troops. And having, as they fay, real caufe of fear, from the prefent difpofition of the British miniftry, that the reasonable and just application of the American Continent to Great-Britain for peace, liberty, and fafety, will not meet with the defired effect; and as the great law of felf-prefervation calls upon the inhabitants immediately to prepare against the worft, they earnestly recom mend to the militia, that they neither fpare time, pains, nor expence, in perfecting themselves in military difcipline; and that skilful inftructors be provided for those companies which are not already provided with fuch. It is probably with a view to this refolution, that a fhip is faid to have lately failed from Stetin, with eight German officers on board. The thip was freighted by an American agent, and was laden with small fire-arms, gunpowder, ball, and accoutrements, together with thirty field pieces, of a light conftruction, all contracted for at Berlin, and there is no doubt of their being defigned for the American colonies; but how they are to be landed is not fo easy to guess. Certain, however, it is, that all the counties of Virginia are forming companies of men; and that the fpirit of oppofition, fo far from fubfiding, is every day increasing. In the little province of Connecticut, one of those comprehended under the general name of New-England, nothing is talked of but having recourfe to arms, They boast of a park of 40 pieces of cannon, and a body of 10,000 men that will not decline encountering an equal number of foreign troops from any quarter of the globe. At Newhaven, in New-England, a King's officer having feized fome powder which had been purchased by a trader from Hertford as a town flock, an attachment was iffued out against him, the powder rescued, and the officer committed to prifon. The inhabitants of Maryland are no lefs zealous, on the prefent critical occafion, than those of the most active provinces. They are all in motion, forming county meetings, entering into affociations, chufing committees, and recommending measures, for carrying the refolutions of the Continental Convention into effectual execution. Every perfon who refuses to contribute to the purchase of arms and ammunition is deem ed an enemy to his country; and many of the principal gentlemen of the province are ambitious of appearing in arms, to defend the liberties thereof. At a meeting of 144 deputies from the feveral towns of New Hampshire, at Exeter, the proceedings of the Continental Congrefs were unanimously approved, new members chofen to represent_the province at the enfuing General Congrefs, and money voted to defray their expences. At Hertford, in New England, the Rev. Dr. Clark, a gentleman diftinguifhed by a firm attachment to the King and conftitution, who travels to promote religion as by law eftablished in England, was lately feized, and carried upon a rail about the town, under which treatment he feveral times fainted; and, when difmiffed, and examined by his physician, was found injured in a manner too fhocking to be repeated. His phyfician fared but little better, owing to his fpeaking too harfhly of the prevailing fpirit among the people, and too refpectfully of the lenity of the British government. The treatment of these gentlemen affords the ftrongest proof of the inveterate hatred of the New Englanders to all thofe who favour the prefent authors of their fufferings; for, while the province remained in peace, no two characters were more refpected than those of the Rev. Dr. Clark, and Dr. Tidmarth. In Albany county, in the province of New-York, the Juftices of the Peace in the King's diftrict fet an example very different from that of their brethren in other places; and, having affembled a meeting of their friends, came to the following refolutions; "I. That, as our gracious Sovereign King George the Third, is lawful and rightful King of Great Britain, and all other dominions thereto belonging, and as fuch, by the conftitution, has a right to establish courts, and is fuppofed to be prefent in all his courts; therefore we will, to the utmott of our power, and at the rifque of our lives, difcountenance and fupprefs every meeting, affociation, or combination, which may have a tendency in the leaft to moleft, difturb, or in any wife to obftruct, the due adminiftration of justice in this province. "II. That we will, as much as we poffibly can, in our different capacities, encourage, promote, and enforce, a ftrict obedience to the aforefaid authority. "III.Inafmuch as life, liberty, and property, and the bands of fociety, are fecured and protected by the laws; we do, for the further fecurity of these bleffings, mutually covenant, agree, and engage, that, if any obftruction, hindrance, or moleftation, is given to any officer or minifter of justice in the due execution of his office, we will, feparately and collectively (as occafions may require), aid and affift in the executive part of the law, fo that all offenders may be brought to justice." The King's fpeech is faid to have added to the difcontent of the American colonies, infomuch that the Provincial Congreffes have appointed committees to difclaim the infinuations therein alleged against the American people; and to ailure his Majefty, that there is no pre. vailing difpofition among them to infringe the laws, as has been maliciously reprefented; but that, on the contrary, a due fubmiffion to the conftitutional laws of their country is the great characteristic of the American people. Private letters of good credit affert, that both foldiers and failors ftationed at Bofton are become very uneafy; that they find the fervice very fevere, and their food and cloathing not fuch as they had reafon to expect; that a foldier had been fhot for defertion in the face of the army, and that a failor had been hanged at the yard-arm for mutinous behaviour; that, were it known that an open rupture was to take place, there could not be more diligence úfed in ftudying the art of war than at prefent; and that it seems determined to unite their forces throughout the continent, to repel force by force, in cafe the late acts of Parliament are attempted to be carried into execution. While the Americans are in this manner preparing for oppofition, the British Miniftry are no lefs active in pursuing measures to counteract their endeavours; to encrease their diftreffes; and to incite the Parliament to enact such laws, as either to render them defperate, and force them to refiftance, or, by a tame acquiefcence, to refign their boafted privileges of free English subjects. With this view, to all the other acts complained of by them as unconftitutional, an act has paf. fed, not only to reftrain the trade, but to cut off the fubfiftence of nearly onefixth part of the provinces of Maffachuffetts-bay and New Hampshire, the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and Providence plantation, by prohibiting them from carrying on any fishery on the banks of Newfoundland, the coast of Labradore, in the gulph of St. Lawrence, on the coaft of Cape Breton or NovaScotia, or any other part of North-America, without a certificate from a Governor or Commander in Chief of one of the British colonies aforefaid; which certificate depends entirely on the will of the Governor, and may be granted or withheld just as he shall please to direct. Against this act, fo grievous in itself, fo deftructive to the commercial interefts of this country, and fo ruinous to individuals, the American merchants petiti oned both Houfes of Parliament; but their petition made no impreffion on either houfe. They, therefore, as their laft refource, in all humility determined to approach the throne, and to seek that redrefs from the clemency of the King which they had been denied by the unfeeling infenfibility of his Ministers and their adherents. Accordingly, on Thurfday the 23d of March, a committee, chofen for that purpose, went up to St. James's, and in the most respectful man ner prefented, To the King's Moft Excellent Majefty. Merchants, Traders, and others, of "WE, your Majefty's dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Merchants, Traders, and others, concerned in the commerce of North America, beg leave to approach, and humbly to lay before your Majefty thofe thofe grievances, from the weight of which we are obliged to feek refuge in your royal wisdom and justice. An application of this extraordinary nature, we hope, will not be attributed to any defign on our part to disturb your Majefty's government, but to our prefent uncommon fufferings, the feverity of which is aggravated by the profpect of future calamities. "We are constrained, with very deep concern, to observe, that the Minifters of your Majefty have, for fome years paft, adopted a new mode of government with regard to the Colonies; a mode which has created great difquietude in the minds of your American fubjects, and has been productive of repeated interruptions of the valuable commerce carried on between this country and America. An evil of fuch magnitude awakes us from that filence which we have hitherto obferved, in confidence that your Majefty's Minifters, perceiving the effects of this fatal innovation, would revert at length to those wife regulations by which the government of the Colonies had been fuccefsfully adminiftered. In the meafures of late purfued, we have the unhappinefs to find that experience has been difregarded; and that the mischiefs refulting from this error, which by the application of feasonable and moderate remedies might have been prevented, have been fuffered to grow to a degree of alarming inveteracy. The interruption of commerce, the diftrefs of manufacturers, the diminution of your Majefty's revenues, are mischiefs which are loft in the contemplation of more difaftrous confequences, the alienated affections of your Majesty's fubjects in America, and the horrors of a civil war. "If the fubjects of your Majefty in North-America have been led into any acts of extravagance, we confide in your Majefty's juftice to explain their prefent proceedings, by that loyalty which has diftinguifhed them upon former occafions. Your Majefty will eftimate their conduct by the integrity of their intentions; and, if they have been betrayed, by repeated provocations, or exceffive punishment, into any measures which may not be approved, your Majefty will impute them to their true cause, and will make a juft diftinétion between the turbulence of a faction, and the eager contentions of a free people. "To inforce this fyftem of feverity towards the colonies, an act has been paffed, by both Houfes of Parliament, and is now awaiting your Majesty's royal affent, "to reftrain the trade and commerce of the provinces of Maffachuffett's bay and New Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and Providence plantation, in North America, to Great-Britain, Ireland, and the British islands in the West Indies; and to prohibit fuch provinces and Colonies from carrying on any fishery on the banks of Newfoundland," &c. By the operation of this act, many thousands of your Majefty's fubjects in thofe provinces, bereft of their occupation, and in vain defirous of exerting their ufual industry, will either remain a burthen on the community, or fuffer themfelves to be hurried away by a spirit of enterprifing defpair. The lofs they will fuftain by the interruption of so valuable a branch of their commerce, will be aggravated by the want of provifions, which they derive from that fource. Their minds, already too much irritated, will be ftill more inflamed; and to their other caufesofdifcontentwill be added the strong and irrefiftible impulfe of famine. So forcible an incentive it is scarcely to be fuppofed that human nature can withstand. The most moderate will at length give way to the impatience of complaint; the moft loyal will forget their duty in the fevere conflict of obedience and neceffity. "We are fenfible, indeed, from the imperfect inftitution of human judicatures, that it is not poffible, in all cafes, to difcriminate the innocent from the guilty: but no arguments, in our apprehenfion, can juftify a mode of punishment that involves thousands, who confeffedly are not guilty of the offence for which it is inficted: a punishment, that is not to be averted by the future deportment of the unfortunate perfons who are the innocent victims of it, but which may be entailed upon them for ever, by the persevering refiftance of their neighbours. "The impolicy of this act, we appre hend, will afford an argument no lefs weighty to induce your Majefty to withhold your affent from it. It must be admitted, if the European market could be fupplied by the Merchants of GreatBritain or Ireland, that it cannot be fupplied upon the fame terms, and, confequently, that it will create an opening for the French to interfere and rival us in that beneficial commerce. Nor can it be urged, that they are prevented from fo doing by the limits to which their fishery is confined; for it is not improbable, but that they may take a fufficient quantity of fish within their own limits to fup ply |