ply the European market; and, even if that were not the cafe, they would undoubtedly effect it by other means. Whatever reliance may be placed in theory upon the invifible lines drawn by treaty, as the boundaries of their right of fiflery, we are well acquainted, by experience, how easily those limits are eluded or tranfgreffed. But, if this profitable branch of trade should be once interrupt. ed, it will be as a river diverted from its course, and will either lose itself entirely, or wander into new channels, from whence no human effort can recal it.

"We therefore moft humbly pray your Majefty to with-hold your royal affent from an act, which is no lefs repugnant to good policy than justice. We acknowledge the many bleffings which we and our ancestors have enjoyed under the princes of your Majefty's illuftrious house; and, feeling an unfeigned fatisfaction in the paternal regard, which your Majefty has repeatedly expreffed, for the welfare and happiness of all your subjects, with the greater confidence we entreat the exertion of that juft and neceffary prerogative, which the conftitution has wifely placed in your Majefty's hands. Permit us, at the fame time, to exprefs our withes, that your Majefty may temper with clemency thofe rigorous measures with which your American subjects are threatened. The benevolence of your Majesty will infpire you, upon this occafion, with a recollection of the high deferts of the ancestors of this unfortunate people, who, flying from the houfe of bondage, and guided by the spirit of freedom, and their own enlightened confcience, traverfed the vaft ocean, and encountered all the perils of a dreary wilderness.

"Your Majefty will contemplate likewife the extenfive benefits gradually derived from their patient induftry and perfeverance, and, weighing the great commercial advantages that, for many years, have accrued to thefe kingdoms from the American Colonies, and the dreadful confequences of the disorders which now diftract them, will purfue fuch lenient measures, as can alone reftore true harmony, and promote the happiness and profperity of the British empire."

This addrefs and petition, was foon after followed by another, which was prefented at St. James's by four of the principal people called Quakers, (See our laf, p. 251.)

To these petitions, it does not appear, by the papers, that any answer was given. His majelly went in perfon to the houfe, and gave the royal affent to the bill in

the ufual form; and foon after another reftraining bill was moved for by Lord North, to regulate the trade and commerce of the colonies of New-Jersey, Pennfylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South-Carolina, and leave was given to bring it in. Thefe violent proceedings occafioned much discontent among the citizens of London; a common hall was demanded, and the livery judged it highly expedient to join their good offices, in order to avert the fatal confequences that were likely to attend them. They therefore affembled on the 5th, and, on the 10th, the following petition and remonttrance was presented to the king:

To the king's most excellent majefty. The humble Addrefs, Remonftrance, and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, in Common-Hall assembled.

"WE, your majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord mayor, aldermen, and Livery of the city of London, beg leave to approach the throne, and to declare our abhorrence of the measures which have been pursued, and are now pursuing, to the oppreffion of our fellowfubjects in America. These measures are big with all the confequences which can alarm a free and commercial people: a deep and perhaps fatal wound to commerce; the ruin of manufacturers the diminution of the revenue, and confequent increase of taxes; the alienation of the colonies; and the blood of your majefty's fubjects.

"But your petitioners look with lefs horror at the confequences, than at the purpose of those measures. Not deceived by the fpecious artifice of calling defpotifm-dignity, they plainly perceive, that the real purpofe is to establish arbitrary power over all America.

"Your petitioners conceive the liberties of the whole to be inevitably connected with thofe of every part of an empire founded on the common rights of mankind. They cannot, therefore observe, without the greateft concern and alarm, the conftitution fundamentally violated in any part of your majesty's dominions. They esteem it an effential, unalterable principle of liberty, the fource and fecurity of all conftitutional rights-that no part of the dominion can be taxed without being reprefented. Upon this great leading principle, they moft ardently wish to fee their fellow-fubjects in America fecured in what their humble petition to your majefty prays for peace, liberty, and fafety.-Subordination in commerce, under which the colonies have

always

always chearfully acquiefced, is, they conceive, all that this country ought in juftice to require. From this fubordination fuch advantages flow, by all the profits of their commerce centering here, as fully compenfate this nation for the expence incurred, to which they alfo contribute in men and money, for their defence and protection during a general war; and in their provincial wars they have manifefted their readiness and refolution to defend themselves. To require more of them would, for this reafon, derogate from the juftice, and magnanimity which have hitherto been the pride and character of this country.

of

"It is, therefore, with the deepest concern, that we have feen the facred fecurity of reprefentation in their affemblies wrefted from them-the trial by jury abolished-and the odious powers of excife extended to all cafes of revenue-the fanctuary of their houses laid open to violation at the will and pleasure every officer and fervant in the customs -the difpenfation of justice corrupted, by rendering their judges dependent for their feats and falaries on the will of the crown-liberty and life rendered precarious, by fubjecting them to be dragged over the ocean, and tried for treafon or felony here; where the diftance, making it impoffible for the most guiltless to maintain his innocence, muft deliver him up a victim to minifterial vengeance.Soldiers and others in America have been inftigated to fled the blood of the people, by eltablishing a mode of trial which holds out impunity for fuch murder-the capital of New-England has been punished with unexampled rigour- untried and unheard-involving the innocent and the fufpected in one common and inhuman calamity-chartered rights have been taken away, without any forfeiture proved, in order to deprive the people of every legal exertion against the tyranny of their rulers-the Habeas Corpus act, and trial by jury, have been fuppreffed, and French defpotic government, with the Roman catholic religion, have been eftablished by law, over an extenfive part of your majefty's dominions in Americadutiful petitions for redress of thofe grievances, from all your majefty's American fubjects, have been fruitless. "To fill up the measure of these oppreffions, an army has been fent to enforce

them.

Superadded to this, measures are now planned upon the moft merciless policy of itarving our fellow-subjects into a total furrender of their liberties, and

unlimited fubmiffion to arbitrary government.

"Thefe grievances have driven your majefty's faithful fubjects to despair, and compelled them to have recourse to that refiftance which is juftified by the great principles of the conftitution, actuated by which, at the glorious period of the revolution, our ancestors transferred the imperial crown of these realms from the popifh and tyrannical race of the Stuarts, to the illuftrious and protestant house of Brunswick.

"Your petitioners are perfuaded, that these measures originate in the fecret advice of men who are enemies equally to your majesty's title and to the liberties of your people. That your majesty's minifters carry them into execution by the fame fatal corruption which has enabled them to wound the peace and violate the conftitution of this countrythus they poifon the fountain of public fecurity, and render that body, which fhould be the guardian of liberty, a formidable inftrument of arbitrary power.

"Your petitioners do, therefore, most earneftly befeech your majefty to dismiss immediately, and for ever, from your councils, thefe minifters and advisers, as the firft ftep towards a full redress of thofe grievances which alarm and afflict your whole people. So fhall peace and commerce be reftored, and the confidence and affection of all your majesty's fubjects be the folid fupporters of your throne."

The King's Anfwer delivered to the Lord Mayor by the Earl of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain.

"It is with the utmost astonishment that I find any of my fubjects capable of encouraging the rebellious difpofition which unhappily exifts in fome of my colonies in North-America.

"Having entire confidence in the wifdom of my parliament, the great council of the nation, I will steadily pursue those measures which they have recommended for the fupport of the constitutional rights of Great Britain, and the protection of the commercial interefts of my kingdoms."

(To be continued.)

throws a new and striking Light on moft of the Transactions he was concerned in; it is written in the third Perfon, and, if it cannot raise the Author to the Rank of a fine Writer, it certainly does bim Credit as a Man. It confifis rather of Memorandums made for his own Ufe, when the Occurrences happened, than a regular Narration of Events; there is an Air of Veracity, however, in all bis Accounts, which is much more valuable to an intelligent Reader, than the choiceft Flowers of Rhetoric and beft turned Periods. Indeed, the Manner in which the Papers, called his Memoirs, were written, precludes every Sufpicion of Unfaithfulnes on his fide. His Notes were generally made upon the spot, and always before there was any Neceffity to palliate the Circumftances of the Tranfactions related. Befides, he was not of a Complexion to misrepresent. He affected to guide himself by Principle in all his actions, and to deem the fighteft Deviation from Truth a Crime. In bis Opinions be is frequently wrong, but veTy feldom in any Fact that fell within bis own immediate Knowledge.

MOND

ONDAY, Dec. 10, 1688, about 12 at night, the King, being abandoned by his Nobles and Army, went privately from Whitehall to Vauxhall. He there took horfe about one, with Sir E. Hales, Sir E. Quartermafter, and a guide. He paffed the Medway, at Ailesford-bridge, took fresh horfe at Woolpeck, fent before by Ralph Sheldon, an equerry. He got, by ten, to Emby-ferry, near Feverfham; where a Cuftomhoufe hoy, hired by Sir Edward Hales, waited for them. When on board, they found it had no ballast; and, it blowing frefh, the mafter eafily perfuaded the King to let him take in ballaft at Shelnefs. It was half ebb before they ran afhore to take it in, defigning to fail as foon as afloat, which would have been about eleven. He was near afloat, when three fiflier-boats, of Feversham, with fifty men, boarded them, feized the King and two others, as was faid by orders from thofe of Feverfham, fuppofing them Papifts endeavouring to escape; and, when the veffel was afloat, turned with the tide up Feverfham water. The King was not, however, known. Sir Edward Hales whifpered the Captain, and clapt fifty guineas privately into his hand, as an earnest of imore, if he would let them go before they were put afhore. The Captain promised, but kept not his word, Com

ing to anchor before the mouth of the creek, he went to the master and told him, that he had Sir Edward Hales and two more on board; then came back and took what money they had, under pretence of fecuring it from the seamen; yet the feamen came down and searched them.

They were guarded to town, in a coach, by one Edwards, and fome rabble, to an inn, where the King was difcovered, and was told Lord Winchelsea and most of the country Gentlemen were at Canterbury. He fent to him to come. In the mean time, the King tried to get off, and had got a cuftom-house fmack. But Edwards and the rabble beset the inn fo, that the King could not get to the horses he had got to carry him to the boat. Several Proteftants and Roman Catholics had been feized on the road, as Judge Jenner, R. Graham, Mr. Burton, Proteftants; Mr. Arundel, and two ladies of that name, with Dr. Obadiah Walker, and three or four more Roman Catholics, The King lodged at Mr., a loyal man. The Earl of Winchelsea came. The feamen guarded the King, but faid a hair of his head fhould not be touched. Sir. B. Dixwell and Sir James Oxenden came next day with militia, on pretence of fecuring the King from the rabble; but it was to hinder his escape. Thofe, who came laft, were very rude. The King's letter, for cloaths, linen, and money, from London, was stopped one night. Lord Feverfham, with fome horfe guards and horfe grenadiers, coming to convey the King to London, they fent to the Prince of Orange, for orders what to do with the King. Early on Saturday morning, Feverfham came to the King and told him, that the guards were at Sittingbourn. The King was conveyed thither by the militia, and by the guards to Rochester that night; and he fent Feverfham to the Prince of Orange.

The Queen and the Prince of Wales were fent away privately, on the ninth of December, at night, under the conduct of the Count de Lauzun, in a yacht, commanded by Captain Gray. The King fent the Prince of Orange word, that he would be at London on Monday, and treat to settle the nation. He doubted the fidelity of the troops, and passed to Whitehall, through the city. It was not to be imagined the acclamations that were made, and the joy fhewed at his coming back, among all orders of men. He never faw the like. Whitehall was crowded, and the like joy prevailed there.

But

But he had no fooner got to his bedchamber, than Zuleftein came, with a letter from the Prince of Orange, that what Feverfham propofed was of too great confequence to be answered then; and the King had best stay at Rochefter. The King faid, had Zuleftein come before he left it, he would have ftaid there; but now he hoped the Prince of Orange, then at Windfor, would come next day to St. James's, to speak about his propofal by Feverfham. Zuleftein faid he believed the Prince of Orange would not come, till the King's troops were fent out of town. The King gave him a letter to the Prince of Orange; and, upon hearing that Feverfham was confined, he expreffed to Zuleftein his furprife at a breach of the law of nations, and defired the Prince of Orange would release him. But he neither did it, nor fent any answer to the King's letter. Next day, the Prince of Orange left Feverfham prifoner in Windfor-castle, and came to Sion; and, at nine at night, the King was informed, that Count Solmes was coming with the Prince of Orange's, guards to take poft at Whitehall. But he fuppofed they would only do fo at St. James's, where the Prince of Orange was to come the next day. But, at eleven that night, the Earl of Craven came to the King, as he was going to bed, and told him, that Solmes was in the Park, with three battalions of the Prince of Orange's foot guards and horfe; and faid he had orders to take poft in Whitehall. The King fent for Solmes, and told him, that he believed it was a miftake. But Solmes faid his orders were pofitive for Whitehall, and fhewed them to the King. After arguing the matter, the King told Craven, that he might draw off his men, and let Solmes take port; which he did immediately.

Shrewsbury and Delamere were with Solmes in the Park, but came not up with him. Soon after one in the night, the Earl of Middleton waked the King, who was afleep, and told him, that Halifax, Shrewsbury, and Delamere had called him up, and told him they had a meffage from the Prince of Orange to deliver immediately to the King. They would not ftay till morning. They were called in, and delivered a paper, figned by the Prince of Orange: That to avoid diforders, which the King's prefence in London might occafion, he would pofitively have the King to go to Ham; and to be gone before ten with what fervants he would, and the Prince of Orange would fend guards to fecure him. The King exceptMay, 1775,

ed to Ham, as not being furnished, and a bad winter; and had rather go to Rochester, as mentioned in the Prince of Orange's letter by Zuleftein. They said. they would afk the Prince of Orange, and bring an answer by nine; but he must be pofitively gone before ten. The King faid he might be guarded there by fome of his own foot; but Solmes fent a party with him. The King would have gone by water to Gravefend, but Halifax oppofed it rudely. Shrewsbury was very fair and civil, and agreed to the King's defire; who took barge, attended by a hundred of the Prince of Orange's guards before and behind it. They were fo long in embarking, that they loft the tide. The King arrived not till seven at night. He lay there that night; and, next day, he received a blank pafs, from the Prince of Orange, to fend one to London. The guards not being exact at Rochester, the King was confirmed in his opinion, that the Prince of Orange wanted to have him gone; and he that brought the pass brought orders to the Captain of the guards not to look fo ftrictly after him; fo they put centinels at the fore-door towards the ftreet, but none to the back door towards the river; yet the King apprehended, if he did not get off, that the Prince of Orange would have fent him out of the world another way.

The King came to Rochester, on the nineteenth of December, in the morning, where he ftaid till the twenty-fecond, at night. Several of his fervants, the Lords Arran, Dumbarton, Aylesbury, Litchfield, Gentlemen of the Bed-chamber; three of his grooms, F. Griffin, and Biddolph; Major General Fenwick and Sackville; Sir J. Talbot, Brigadier; Sutherland, Quarter-matter General of horse; came to him, who all gave up their commiffions; as, before he left London, Lord Newburg, Griffin, Litchfield, young Griffin, had done; and others did the fame, next day.

The Prince of Orange had convened all the Lords Spiritual and temporal. The Archbishop of Canterbury refused to come, or do any thing while the King was under restraint. The Lords adjourn ed, the next day, to the House of Lords, at Weftminifter. Some Bishops and others advised the King not to go, at least not out of England. Doctor Bradey, his Phyfician, was fent to him, and argued the matter; but could not convince the King they did not think the Prince of Orange would attempt his life. He argued it afterwards with Lord Middleton, who owned, at laft, there was no fafeОо

ty

ty in flaying. The King refolved to go.

The Prince of Orange had fent word to the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen, not to give oaths of allegiance and fupremacy, or teft, to the Common-council, chofen on the twenty-first of December: and ordered them to act, without taking them.

Captain Macdonald bringing word, before twelve at night, on the twentyfecond of December, that Captain Trevanion was come up with the fhallop; the King left a paper, with the reasons of his withdrawing. He charged Lord Middleton to have it printed when he got to London; but left it with Dumbarton to be given, next day, to Middleton. The King told the Earl of Litchfield of it; trufting him intirely, as a man of great honour, and who had always ferved with fteadiness and fidelity. He was forced alfo to truft Aylesbury with it, else he would have lain in his bed-chamber, with the fervants, a room through which the King was to pass.

The King went to bed, at his ufual hour. As foon as the company were gone, he got up, dreffed,and went, by the backftairs, through the garden, where Macdonald ftaid for him, with the Duke of Berwick and Mr. Biddolph, to fhew him the way to Trevanion's boat. About twelve at night, they rowed down to the fmack, which was waiting without the fort at Sheernefs. It blew fo hard right a-head, and ebb tide being done before they got to the Salt Pans, that it was near fix before they got to the fmack, Captain Trevanion not being able to truit the Officers of his fhip, they got on board the Eagle fire-fhip, commanded by Captain Wilford; on which, the wind and tide being against them, they laid till day-break, when the King went on board the fmack. It blew fo very hard, E. N. E. and E. N. when they got to the buoy of the Nore, that they durft not venture to turn down any lower, and they were obliged to bear up the river towards Lee, and anchor on the Effex shore, under the lee of the fand, in fmooth water, till the next tide of flood thould be gone. It blew very hard till that day, being Sunday. As it began to be dark, the gale flackened a little: fo that, when the tide broke, they got under fail, and turned down as far as the Red Sand. Next morning, the weather being fair, they got under fail before fun rife; and without tacking, reached the Buoy of the Narrows, turned through it, and so to the North-foreland; defigning to go

on the back of the Goodwin, and not through the Downs. But they could not weather it, and fo went through the Downs. There feven fhips lay at anchor, but not one under fail. It began to fnow about fix; and, not being able to fetchCalais, they bore away for Boulogne, and anchored before Ambleteufe, where they landed, about three on Tuesday morning, Christmas-day.

An Abftract of the Act lately paffed for ReAraining the Trade and Commerce of the Provinces of Massachusett's Bay, and New-Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut, and Rhode-Ifand, and Providence Plantation in North-America, to Great-Britain, Ireland, and the British Ilands in the Weft-Indies, and to trobibit fuch Provinces and Colonies from carrying on any Fishery on the Banks of Newfoundland, or other Places therein mentioned, under certain Conditions and Limitations.

THIS Act, after reciting a claufe of

TH

that of 12 Car. II. and fome others now in force, enacts, That, after July 1, 1775, no goods, &c. enumerated in the faid Act of 12 Car. II. or any other Act, being the growth, &c. of Maffachufett's.. Bay, &c. are to be brought to any other British Colony, or to Great Britain; or any fuch goods, &c. which fhall have been brought into any of the faid Colonies, fhall be tranfported from thence to any place but Great Britain, or the British Weft-India islands, to be there laid on fhore; and that no other goods of th growth, &c. of the faid Provinces, or which fhall have been brought into the fame, fhall, after the faid July 1, be tranfported to any place but Great Britain or Ireland, or the British Weft-India islands, to be there laid on fhore.

That from the faid July 1, before any fhip, &c. fhall take on board any goods as aforefaid, from any of the faid Provinces, fufficient bond, with one furety, befides the Mafter, fhall be given to the Collector, or principal Officer of the Customs, at the place where fuch goods are intended to be taken on board, in the penalty of 1000l. for fhips, &c. under 100 tons, and of 2000l. for thofe of greater burthen; that fuch enumerated goods fhall not be landed any where but in Great Britain or the British West India iflands; and that all other goods, &c. fhall not be landed any where but in Great Britain or Ireland, or the British West-India islands and that certificates in discharge thereof, figned by the principal Officer of the Customs where

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