ed, were at twenty pounds the thoufand acres, with one fhilling quit-rent for every hundred. Near Philadelphia, land rents at twenty fhillings the acre, and, even at feveral miles diftance from that city, fells at twenty years purchase. In fome years, more people have tranfported themselves into Pensylvania than into all the other fettlements together. In fhort, this province has increased fo greatly from the time of its firft establishment, that the number of inhabitants in the whole province is computed at three hundred and fity thoufand. Upon the principal rivers fettlements are made, and the country cultivated a hundred and fifty miles above Philadelphia. The people are hardy, industrious, and most of them substantial, though but few of the landed people can be confidered as rich; but they are all well lodged, well fed, and, for their condition, well clad; and this at the more eafy rate, as the inferior people manufacture most of their own wear, both linens and woollens. Petition of the American Congress to the Wjexts of the Colonies of New E your Majesty's faithful Sub Hampfaire, Maffachufets Bay, Rhode Iland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jerfey, Pennfylvania, the Counties of Newcastle, Kent and Suffex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, in behalf of ourselves and the inhabitants of thoje Colonies, who bave deputed us to represent them in Geztral Congress, by this our humble Petition beg leave to lay our grievances before the Throne. A ftanding army has been kept in thefe Colonies ever fince the conclusion of the late war, without the confent of our Affemblies; and this army, with a confiderable naval armament, has been employed to enforce the collection of taxes. The authority of the Commander in Chief, and under him of the Brigadiers General, has in time of peace been rendered fupreme in all the Civil Governments in America. The Commander in Chief of all your Majelly's forces in North America, has in time of peace been appointed Governor of a Colony. The charges of ufual offices have been greatly encreased, and new, expenfive and oppreffive offices have been multiplied. The Judges of Admiralty and ViceAdmiralty Courts are impowered to receive their falaries and fees from the effects condemned by themfelves; the Officers of the Cultoms are empowered to break open and enter houses, without the authority of any Civil Magilirate founded on legal information. The Judges of Courts of Common Law have been made entirely dependant on one part of the Legiflature for their falaries, as well as for the duration of their Commiffions. Counfellors holding their Commiffions during pleafure, exercife legiflative authority. Humble and reasonable Petitions from the Reprefentatives of the people have been fruitless. The Agents of the People have been difcountenanced,and Governors have been intructed to prevent the payment of their falaries: Affemblies have been repeatedly and injuriously diffolved: Commerce has been burthened with many useless and oppreffive restrictions. By feveral Acts of Parliament made in the fourth, fifth, fixth, feventh, and eighth years of your prefent Majefty's Reign, duties are impofed on us for the purpose of raising a Revenue, and the powers of Admiralty and Vice- Admiralty Courts are extended beyond their ancient limits; whereby our property is taken from us, without our confent, the trial by Jury in many Civil cafes is abolithed, enormous forfeitures are incurred for flight offences; vexatious informers are exempted from paying damages, to which they are juttly liable, and oppreffive fecurity is required from owners before they are allowed to defend their right. Both Houfes of Parliament have refolved, that Colonifts may be tried in England for offences alledged to have been committed in America, by virtue of a Statute paffed in the thirty-fifth year of Henry the Eighth, and in confequence thereof, attempts have been made to enforce that Statute. A Statute was paffed in the twelfth year of your Majesty's reign, directing that perfons charged with committing any offence therein defcribed, in any place out of the realm, may be indićted and tried for the fame in any Shire or County within the realm; whereby the inhabitants of thofe Colonies, may, in fundry cafes, by that ftatuté made capital, be deprived of a trial by their Peers of the vicinage. In the laft Seffions of Parliament an Act was paffed for blocking up the Har-bour of Bolton; another, empowering the Governor of Maffachufett's Bay to fend perfons indicted for murder in that Province to another Colony, or even to Great Britain for trial, whereby fuch offenders may escape legal punishment; a third, for altering the chartered Conftitution of Government in that Province; and a fourth, for extending the limits of Quebec, abolishing the Englith and reftoring the French Laws, whereby great numbers of British Freemen are fubjected to the latter, and establishing an absolute government and the Roman Catholic religion throughout those vaft regions that border on the wefterly and northerly boundaries of the free Proteftant English fettlements; and a fifth, for the better providing fuitable quarters for the officers and foldiers in his Majesty's fervice in North America. To a fovereign "who glories in the name of Briton," the bare recital of thefe acts muft, we prefume, justify the loyal fubjects who fly to the foot of his Throne, and implore his clemency for protection against them. From this deftructive fyftem of Colony Administration, adopted fince the conclufion of the laft war, have flowed thofe diftreffes, dangers, fears, and jealoufies, that overwhelm your Majefty's dutiful Colonies with affliction; and we defy our moft fubtle and inveterate enemies to trace the unhappy difference between Great Britain and her Colonies from an earlier period, or from other causes than we have affigned. Had they proceeded, on our part, from a reflefs levity of temper, unjuft impulses of ambition, or artful fuggeftions of feditious perfons, we fhould merit the opprobrious terms frequently bestowed on us by thofe we re vere. But fo far from promoting innovations, we have only oppofed them; and can be charged with no offence, unlefs it be one to receive injuries, and be fenfible of them. Had our Creator been pleafed to give us exiftence in a land of flavery, the sense of our condition might have been mitigated by ignorance and habit; but thanks to his adorable goodnefs, we were born the heirs of Freedom, and ever enjoyed our right under the aufpices of your Royal ancestors, whofe family were feated on the British Throne to refcue and fecure a pious and gallant nation from the popery and defpotism of a superftitious and inexorable tyrant. Your Majefty, we are confident, jusily rejoices, that your title to the Crown is thus founded on the title of your people to Liberty; and therefore we doubt not but your Royal wisdom muft approve the fenfibility that teaches your fubjects anxioufly to guard the bleffing they received from Divine Providence, and thereby to prove the performance of that compact, which elevated the illuftrious Houfe of Brunswick to the imperial dignity it now poffeffes. The apprehenfion of being degraded into a state of fervitude, from the preeminent rank of English Freemen, while our minds retain the strongest love of Liberty, and clearly forefee the miferies preparing for us and our posterity, excites emotions in our breafts, which though we cannot defcribe, we should not wish to conceal. Feeling as men, and thinking as fubjects, in the manner we do, filence would be disloyalty. By giving this faithful information we do all in our power to promote the great obje&s of your Royal cares, the tranquillity of your Government, and the welfare of your people. Duty to your Majefty, and regard for the prefervation of ourselves and our pofterity, the primary obligations of Nature and of Society, command us to intreat your royal attention; and as your Majefty enjoys the fignal diftinction of reigning over Freemen, we apprehend the language of Freemen cannot be difpleafing. Your Royal indignation, we hope, will rather fall on thofe defigning and dangerous men, who daringly interpofing themfelves between your Royal perion and your faithful fubjects, and for feveral years paft inceffantly employed to diffolve the bands of Society by abufing your Majefty's authority, mifreprefenting your American fubjects, and profecuting the most desperate and irritating projects of oppreffion, have at length compelled us, by the force of accumulated injuries, too fevere to be any longer tolerabie, to disturb your majesty's repose by our complaints. These fentiments are extorted from hearts that much more willingly would bleed in your Majefty's fervice; yet fo greatly have we been mifrepresented, that a neceffity has been alledged of taking our property from us without our confent, "to defray the charge of the administra tion tion of juftice, the fupport of civil government, and the defence, protection, and fecurity of the Colonies." But we beg leave to affure your Majefty, that fuch provifion has been, and will be made for defraying the two firft articles, as has been, and fhall be judged by the legiflatures of the feveral Colonies juft and fuitable to their respective circumstances; and for the defence, protection, and fecurity of the Colonies, their militias, if properly regulated, as they earneftly defre may immediately be done, would be fully fufficient, at least in times of peace; and, in cafe of war, your faithful Colonifts will be ready and willing, as they eyer have been, when conftitutionally required, to demonftrate their loyalty to your Majefty, by exerting their moft ftrenuous efforts in granting fupplies and railing forces. Yielding to no British fubjects in affectionate attachment to your Majefty's perfon, family, and government, we too dearly prize the privilege of expreffing that attachment by thofe proofs that are honourable to the Prince who receives them, and to the people who give them, ever to refign it to any body of men upon earth. Had we been permitted to enjoy in quiet the inheritance left us by our forefathers, we fhould at this time have been peaceably, chearfully, and usefully employed in recommending ourselves by every teftimony of devotion to your Majefty, and of veneration to the State from which we derive our origin. But though now exposed to unexpected and unnatural scenes of diftrefs, by a contention with that nation, in whofe parental guidance, on all important affairs, we have hitherto with filial reverence conftantly trufted, and therefore can derive no inftruction in our prefent unhappy and perplexed circumftances from any former experience; yet we doubt not but the purity of our intention, and the integrity of our conduct, will justify us at that Grand Tribunal before which all mankind must submit to judgment. We ask but for peace, liberty, and fafety; we will not a diminution of the Prerogative, nor do we folicit the grant of any new right in our favour; your Royal Authority over us, and our connection with Great Britain, we shall always carefully and zealously endeavour to fupport and maintain. Filled with fentiments of duty to your Majefty, and of affection to our Parent State, deeply impreffed by our educatiFebruary, 1775. on, and ftrongly confirmed by our reafon, and anxious to evince the fincerity of thefe difpofitions-We present this Petition only to obtain redrefs of grievances, and relief from fears and jealoufies occafioned by the fyftem of ftatutes, and regulations adopted fince the clofe of the late war, for railing a revenue in America; extending the powers of Courts of Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty; trying perfons in Great Britain for offences alledged to be committed in America; affecting the Province of Maffachufets Bay, and altering the government, and extending the limits of Quebec-By the abolition of which fyftem, the harmony between Great Britain and thefe Colo nies, fo neceffary to the happiness of both, and fo ardently defired by the latter, with the ufual intercourfes, will be immediately restored. In the magnanimity and juftice of your Majetty, and the Parliament, we confide for a redrefs of our other grievances; trufting, that when the caufes of our apprehenfions are removed, our future conduet will prove us not unworthy of the regard we have been accustomed in our happier days to enjoy. For, appealing to that Being who fearches thoroughly the hearts of his creatures, we folemnly profefs that our councils have been influenced by no other motive than a dread of impending deftruction. Permit us then, Moft Gracious Sovereign, In the name of all your faithful people in America, with the utmost humility to implore you, for the honour of Almighty God, whofe pure religion our enemies are undermining; for the glory, which can be advanced only by rendering your subjects happy, and keeping them united; for the interefts of your Family, depending in an adherence to the principle that enthroned it; for the fafety and welfare of your kingdoms and dominions, threatened with almoft unavoidable dangers and diftreffes; that your Majefty, as the loving Father of your whole People, connected by the fame bands of law, loyalty, faith, and blood, though dwelling in various countries, will not fuffer the tranfcendent relation formed by these ties, to be further violated in uncertain expectation of effects, which, if attained, never can compenfate for the calamities through which they must be gained, We therefore moft earnestly befeecla your Majefty, that your royal authority and interpofition may be used for our re K lief, lief, and that a gracious anfwer may be given to this Petition. That your Majefty may enjoy every felicity through a long and glorious reign over loyal and happy fubjects, and that your defcendants may inherit your profperity and dominions till time fhall be no more, is, and always will be our fincere and fervent prayer. Philadel, bra, Nov. 1974. (SIGNED) was This lady is the daughter of an officer, at whofe demife, her mother was appointed houfekeeper to one of the palaces, which with her penfion as widow, enabled her to make a genteel appearance, and figure in her usual circle of acquaintance. Mifs C placed at a capital boarding fchool, where the acquired the ufual female accomplishments of dancing, mufic, and French, in which fhe was a great procient. She was particularly noticed by a very great perfonage, and he prevailed upon his confort to put her upon the 1ft of her mais of honour. In this elevated flation, fhe had an opportunity of difplaying all her accomplishments, the circle of which the daily extended. H. Middleton, J. Sullivan, N. Folfom, T. Cufhing, S. Adams, J. Adams, R. Treatpaine, S. Hopkins, S. Ward, E. Biddle, J. Galloway, J. Dickinfon, J. Morton, T: Mifflin, G. Rofs, C. Humphreys, C. Rodney, T. M'Kean, E. Dyer, R. Sherman, Silas Deane, P. Livingston. J. A fop, I. Low, J. Duane, J. Jay. W. Floyd, H. Wifner, S. Bo- A beautiful young woman, endowed erum, W. Livingtton, J. D. Hart, S. with uncommon perfonal and mental Craine, R. Smith, G. Reid, M. Tilgh-qualifications, placed in fo confpicuous man, T. Johnfon, `jun. W. Paca, S. a point of view in a gay and gallant Chare, R. H. Lee, P. Henry, G. Wafh- court, could not fail at:racting many ington, F. Pendleton, R. Bland, B. admirers. She was addreffed from Harrifon, W. Hooper, J. Haws, R. pages almoft up to monarchs. She was Cafwell, T. Lynch, C. Gadfden. J. the meteor of L-c--it--r house, and Rutledge, E. Rutledge. every one viewed her with admirati Hiftory of the Tete-a-Tete annexed, or Memoirs of the honourable Capt. Hy and Mrs. Nt. XTRAORDINARY events ufually on. poignant vivacity, and feemed to be a She rallied their compliments with falamander infenfible in the midst of flames; but when he was upon the point of being pronounced a moft ac E bring forth extraordinary charac- complished coquette, the was compelled ters, and open many avenues to fecret anecdotes, which would otherwife probably never have been explored. The truth of this affertion was never more . forcibly evinced than by fome late tranfactions that have made every one inquifitive to know the fecret hiftories of all the interefted parties. To this caufe may, in a great degree, be afcribed our prefenting at this juncture our readers with the following memoirs. Our hero is allied to a noble family, and brother to an earl. His inclination early led him to a maritime life, and he gradually rofe to the rank of captain in the navy. In this honourable station he diftinguifhed himself the war before the laft in the Mediterranean, where he commanded; and has upon every occafion approved himself a brave and gallant officer. After the conclufion of the peace, in 1748, he returned to England, greatly honoured and carefled, and foon after made an acquaintance with the celebrated Mifs C, then a reigning toaft, and who gave the ton in drefs and conversation. to acknowledge herfelf a woman with all her natural feelings. Amongst the most ardent of her admirers was ford. B ; he was the only one that he had particularly diftinguished, and for whom the felt every fenfible penchant. He had paid his addreffes to her upon the most honourable terms, and his billets breathed the pureft effufions of love. In a word, the treaty was brought to fuch a crisis, that the muptial day was actually appointed. In the interim his lordthip made a vifit to a relation in the country, where he 'formed an acquaintance with a young lady of a confiderable fortune, to whom he gave his hand in a fhort time. The news of this match no fooner reached Mifs C, than it had the most violent effect upon her--it threw her into all the agonies of defpair, and in a fit of phrenzy, the took a dofe of arfenic, with the intent of deftroying herfelf: fortunately it was not fufficient to baffle the effects of the antidotes that were speedily administered, but it, nevertheless, threw her into a very languid ftate, which, added to the dif ordered |