according to the condition, circumstance, or fituation, of fuch province or colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defence (fuch proportion to be raised under the authority of the General Court or General Affembly of fuch province or colony, and difpofable by Parliament) and fhall engage to make provifion alfo for the fupport of the civil government, and the adminiflration of justice, in fuch province or colony, it will be proper, if fuch propofals fhall be approved by his Majefty and the two Houfes of Parliament, for fo long as fach provifion fhall be made accordingly, to forbear, in refpect of fuch province or colony, to lay any duty, tax, or affeffment, or to impofe any farther duty, tax, or affeffment, except only fuch duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy or impose for the regulation of commerce; the net produce of the duties laft mentioned to be carried to the account of fuch province or colony refpectively." A Meffage to the Governor from the Afembly. "May it please your Honour, "We have taken into our ferious confideration your meffage of the fecond inftant, and "the refolution of the Britifh House of commons" therein referred to. Having "weighed and confidered this plan with the temper, calmnefs, and deliberations that the importance of the fubject, and the prefent critical fituation of affairs, demand;" we are fincerely forry that we cannot think" the terms pointed out" afford “a just and reafonable" ground for "a final accommodation" between Great Britain and the colonies. "Your honour obferves," that the colonies, amidst all thofe complaints which a jealoufy of their liberties had occafioned, have never denied the juftice or equity of their contributing towards the burthens of the mother-country;" but your honour must know, that they have ever unanimously afferted it as their indifputable right, that all aids from them fhould be their own free voluntary gifts, not taken by force, nor extorted by fear. "Under which of thefe defcriptions the T plan held forth and offered by the parent to her children" at this time, with its attendant circumstances, deferves to be claffed, we chufe rather to fubmit to the determination of your honour's good fenfe, than to attempt proving by the enumeration of notorious facts, or the repetition of obvious reafons. "If no other objection to the "plan" propofed occurred to us, we should efleem it a dithonourable defertion of our fiftercolonies, connected by an union founded on juft motives and mutual faith, conducted by general councils, for a single colony to adopt a measure fo extenfive in confequence, without the advice and confent of thofe colonies engaged with us by folemnities in the fame common caufe. "For we wish your honour to be af fured, that we can form no profpect appearing reafonable to us, of any lafting advantages for Pennsylvania, however agreeable they may be at the beginning, but what muft arife from a communication of rights and profperity with the other colonies; and that, if fuch a profpe&t should be opened to us, we have too fincere an affection for our brethren, and too frict a regard" for the inviolable performance of" our engagements," to receive any pleasure from benefit equally due them, yet confined to ourselves, and which, by generously rejecting them at prefent, may at length be fecured to all. "Your hononour is pleafed to observe, that, as we are "the firft Affembly on the continent, to whom this refolution has been communicated, much depends on the moderation of" our "councils; and" we fhall be defervedly revered to the latest pofterity, if, by any poffible means," we can be inftrumental in reftoring the public tranquility, and refcuing both countries from the dreadful calamities of a civil war." "Your honour, from your long refidence and converfation among us, musi be perfuaded, that the people we reprefent are as peaceable and obedient to government, as true and faithful to their fovereign, and affectionate and dutiful to their fuperior ftate, as any in the world: and though we are not inattentive to the approbation of" pofterity," as it might reflect honour upon our country; yet higher motives have taught us, upon all occafions, to demonftrate, by every teftimony, our devotion to our King and parent ftate. Still animated by the fame principles, and most earnestly defirous of enjoying our former undisturbed condition of dependance and fubordination, productive of fo many bleffings to "both countries," we cannot exprefs the fatisfaction we fhould receive" if,by any poffible means." we could be inftrumental in reftoring the public tranquility." Should fuch an opportunity offer, we shall endeavour with the utmoft dilligence and zeal to improve it, and to convince his Majefty and and our mother-country, that we fall ever be ready and willing with our lives and fortunes to fupport the intereft of his Majefty and that country, by every effort that can be reasonably expected from the mon loyal fubject, and the most dutiful coloniiis. "Until Divine Providence fhall caufe, in the courfe of his difpenfations, fuch a happy period to arrive, we can only deprecate, and if it be poilible thrive, by prudence, to avoid, the calamities of a civil war," a ་་ dreadful misfortune" indeed! and not to be exceeded but by an utter fubverfion of the liberties of America." Signed by order of the Houfe. May 4, 1775. John Morton, Speaker. We are well informed that the above Meffige paffed without one diffenting voice, Letters from Bolton, dated the 25th of April, reprefent matters in a moit alarming flate. The provincial congress met every day, and expreffed their loyalty to the King, but the utmolt contempt for his government and the parliament of Great Britain. They have publicly voted Gen. Gage no longer Governor of the province, be having, by his conduct, forfeited all right to it, and admonifhed all perfons from paying any regard to his orders or proclamations. An a& for laying an embargo on all kinds of provifions hath been pafled by the General Affembly of Rhode-Inland. Ticonderoga has been taken by Col. Easton, at the head of the Provincials, without the lofs of a man on either fide. An account of arms, ammunition, &c. taken there, viz. between 112 and 120 iron cannon, from 6 to 24 pounders, 50 fwivels of different fizes, 2 ten inch mortars, I howit, I cohorn, 10 tuns of mufket balls, 3 cart loads of flints, 30 new carriages, a confiderable quantity of thells, a ware houfe full of materials to carry on boat building, 100 stand of small arms, 10 cafks of powder, 2 brafs cannons, 30 barrels of flour, 18 barrels of pork, fome beans and pease, and 42 prifoners, befides women and children. Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginina, after having fortified himself in his palace, has been obliged by the inhabitants to go on board the man of war in the river. Almost every man that could procure a firelock was, with the utmost affiduity, learning the military difcipline; and it is believed, that, at this moment, there are sooo men under arms in Philadelphia; even the Friends have laid afide ail fcruples, and joined in the ranks, except the old men and the heads of the meeting, of whom fuch fervice is not expected. Extract of a Letter from Bofton, May 18. "Laft night about eight o'clock, a fire broke out at the barracks, on the TownDock, occupied by the 47th regiment, and continued burning till one next morning. It confumed a great number of warehoufes, and other buildings, with goo is, to the amount of 50,000l. nerling. It was occafioned by a fpark flying among fome cartridges near the flore houses. The whole confumed were, 27 itores, one cooper's fhop, and four theds, but not one dwelling house," By the Minerva, Captain Callahan, and the Rofamond, Captain Miller, arrived June 25, 1975, we have the following Advices. Philadelphia, May 16. In Congress, Monday, May 15, 1775The city and county of New-York having, through Delegates, applied to the Congrefs for their advice how to conduct themfelves with regard to the troops expected there, the Congr.fs took the meafure into the moit ferious deliberation, and came to the following refolution: "That it be reconamended for the prefent to the inhabitants of New-York, that if the troops which are expected should arrive, the said Colony act on the defcufive, fo long as may be confitent with their fafety and fecurity;-that the troops be permitted to fiay in the barracks, fo long as they behave peaceably and quietly, but that they may not be fuffered to erect fortifications, or take any teps for cutting off the communication between the town and country; and that if they commit hoftilities, or invade private property, the inhabitants fhould defend themselves and their property, and repel force by force; that the warlike flores be removed from the town;-that places of retreat, in cafes of neceflity, be provided for the women and children of New-York; and a fumcient number of men be embodied, and kept in contant readiness, for protesting the inhabitants from infult and injury. A true Copy from the Minutes, - INCLOSED we fend you the advice of the Congrefs, on the fubject on which you requefied it; and left the advice to remove the military flores might be conftrued to extend to thofe belonging to the Crown, we think it prudent to fuggeft to you, that the contrary conftruction is the true one. You would have received this advice before, John Jay, Philadelphia, May 16. After this acquifition, a detachment of our troops were difpatched to take poffeffion of Crown Point, where there is a confiderable number of cannon. Another detachment was fent to Skenesborough, where they took Major Skene and his family, with a number of foldiers, and feveral fmall pieces of cannon. The Provincial Congresshath established a Poft-Office in this town, and appointed Mr, James Winthrop, Post Mas ter. (To be Continued.) The Addrefs of the Grand Jury of the To George Ogle, Efq; WE the high fheriff and grand jury of the county of Wexford, affembled at the fpring affizes, 1775, impelled by a sense of gratitude and duty, take this opportunity of teftifying to you our perfect approbation of your conduct, as our reprefentative in parliament. We have for fome time beheld with the deepest concern, a baneful sytiem of venality pervading every department in the ftate, and our natural firength and vigour exhaufted by a wanton exercise of oppreffive taxation; but above all our evils, we lament from the bottom of our hearts when we fee the houfe of commons, that beautiful fabric of our conftitution, tottering on its bafis, from the undue influence of the crown, and the corruption of the reprefentatives of the people. Cambridge, May 18, 1775. Yesterday Colonel Eafton arrived at the Provincial Congrefs in Watertown, from Ticonderoga, and brings the glorious news of the taking that place by the American forces, without the lofs of a man, of which interefting event we have collected the following particulars, viz. Laft Tuesday fe'nnight about two hundred and forty men from Connecticut and this province under Colonel Allen and Colonel Easton, arrived at the Lake near Ticonderoga. Eighty of them croffed it, and came to the fort about the dawn of day. The centry was much furprised at feeing fuch a body of men, and fnapped his piece at them. Our men, however, immediately rufhed forward, feized and confined the centry, pushed through the covered way, and all got fafe upon the parade, while the garrifon were fleeping in their beds. They immediately form ed a hollow fquare, and gave three huzzas, which brought out the garrifon, An inconfiderable fkirmish, with cutlaff es and bayonets, enfued, in which a fmall number of the enemy received fome wounds. The commanding officer foon came forth; Colonel Eafton clapped him upon the fhoulder, told him he was his Prifoner, and demanded, IN THE NAME OF AMERICA, an instant surrender of the fort, with all its contents, to the American forces. The Officer was in great confufion, and expreffed himself to this effect: "Damn you what-what does all this mean?" Colonel Eafton again told him, that he and his garrifon were prifoners. The Officer faid, that he hoped he fhould be treated with honour. Colonel Eafton replied, he fhould be treated with much more honour than our people had met with from the British troops. The Officer then faid he was all fubmiffion, and immediately ordered his foldiers to deliver up all their arms, in number about a hundred lands. As they gave up their arms, the prifoners were secured in the hollow fquare. The American forces having thus providentially got poffeffion. To of this important fortrefs, found in it up wards of one hundred pieces of cannon, feveral mortars, and a confiderable quantity of shot, ftores, and fome powder. Wherefore at this feafon of impending ruin, when other counties find themselves neceffitated to propofe a teft, and fexter their reprefentatives, as the only fecurity for an honest and faithful execution of their trust, experience teaches us to look upon you as our fhield and buckler, as a man in whom we can confide for an honest, a fpirited, and an eloquent discharge of his duty. With inexpreffible regret we have heard of your purpofe of declining this county, but the experience we have had of your loyalty, and your zealous attachment to the rights and liberties of the fubject, induce us to hope you will alter your intention, and when thus called upon and invited, will ftand candidate at the next general election. JOHN HARVEY, fheriff, VESEY COLCLOUGH, foreman. the High Sherif and Grand Jury of the County of Wexford. Gentlemen, I SHOULD efteem myfelf the moft infenfible and unworthy of men, if I did not feel with the livelieft pleasure and me. On whatever grounds I had formed my refolutions of retiring from public life, and paffing the remainder of my days among you in a private capacity; believe me, gentlemen, they were not founded in want of the higheft refpect for you, or that I was not confcious of the importance of the truft I fhould have refigned; but even ambitious of that eminent ftation in which your reprefentative must ever appear. Whatever they were, they are now no more; they are fallen: thus diftinguished, thus called upon to ferve my country, it were in me the bafeft desertion,and I should justly forfeit every pretenfion to public virtue, and to thofe fentiments which have hitherto animated me, was I to hefitate one inftant to obey your fummons. Difpofe of me as you apprehend I may be of the most real fervice to you and if on the day of the next general election, my future conduct shall have July, proved me not unworthy the prefent fa I am, Gentlemen. your very humble and obedient fervant, GEORGE OGLE. Belvue, May 1ft, 1775. To Sir Veley Colclough, Bart. of the county of Wexford, affembled at WE the high fheriff and grand jury the fpring affizes, 1775, taking into confideration your conduct in parliament, receive with the utmost fatisfaction your declaration of once more standing forth of your conflituents; and relying on your as a guardian of the rights and liberties perfeverance in the fame mode of conduct, to you our approbation and efteem. are glad of this opportunity of testifying JOHN HARVEY, sheriff. POETRY. The following Ode was Dr. Swift's firft Attempt in the poetical Way, in the Year 1690, when at Oxford: (he was then 23 Years old) taken from an original Manufcript, in the Poffeffion of the Rev. Mr. John Werral (a). Never before Printed.] 'TIS Horace, Book 2, Ode 18. IS true, my cottage mean and low No cedar beams for pomp and state, (To nature names confest unknown) Repofe their great, and precious weight, In pillars of the Parian stone. Not dropt an accidental heir To fome old kinless mifer's means, But virtue, and a little fenfe, Have fo endeared me to the great, That, thanks to bounteous providence Nor have, nor want I an estate. NOTE. (a) This gentleman was an uncommon favourite of Dr. Swift's, he was his agent, and master of the choirs of Chrift Church and St. Patrick's cathedrals. He was a foundling, for which reafon, Swift ufed to call him Melchifedeck: he died a few years after Swift, very rich, and left 500l. to Swift's hofpital, and 1500l. to the principal hospitals in Dublin. Bleft in my little Sabine field, Nor, fince in fncak ng arts unskill'd, Our fliding moments fteal away, Forgetful that the grave is near, Too little feem, and you are poor, T'enlarge your borders on the fhore. Nay more, profanely you leap o'er And feize his patrimonial grounds. The tender wife, and husband fly; The wealthy mifer's laft retreat, And fureft portion is the grave. Nos Not all Prometheus' boafted art Could ever furly Charda fway, Nor gold itself work on his heart To wake him back into the day? Proud, Tantalus and all his race. He holds in chains; the royal kin In vain implores the smallest grace : No patient empire has for fin. Yet call'd, or not the poor he hears, And in his last and painful ftrife, To his affistance straight repairs, And carries of his load of life. The following Poem is faid to be wrote by Shakespeare (and not printed in his Works) from a Manufcript in the Poffeffion of the late Mr. Coxeter, Editor of Massinger's Works. A The Primrofe SKE me why I fend you here, This primrole, all bepearl'd with dew; A Panegyric on Great-Britain. WHENfmil'd, [lonesome wild; Her dawning influence chear'd the And the dark shades of Gothic night decline. And generous freedom from the skies defcends Or to the gloomy cave, at clofe of day. The rifing cities crown the rural plain, O'er fubject feas, their awful navies sweep, The Sylvan pow'rs their choiceft gifts beftow, O'er the fair scene diffus'd their bounties flow; The plains rejoice with lively verdure crown'd, The vallies fing, and mufic wakes around, The cooling breezes fan the yielding air, And on their wings the fpicy odours bear: Their hills with fertile beauty fmile on high, Their flow'ry tops perfume the middle fky. O'er their green fides the filver currents now In wild meanders to the fields below. In thy fair bow'rs, the mufes love to fing Their sweetest strains, and touch the tuneful ftring. Reclin'd at cafe, they fweep the filver lyre, Hail happy ifle! exalted by the name, And lay each proud ufurper's honour low. Illuflrious fhine !---and o'er the azure main From fhore to fhore extend thy glorious reign, And fun and ftars forfake the trembling fky. Till hoary time, and feeble nature die, A poetical Reprefentation of the River Lagan. HILE by thefe plains I contemplative [tide a WH ride, Where gentle Lagan rolls his filver To paint a river, where you love to stray. Ye facred nine! infpire my humble lay, First fee him from two lofty mountains rife (b), And with his headlong torrents beat the skies; Oft bearing down whole cottages and teams. Whence, winding thro' irriguous meads, he But Tullindany calms the meeting ítreams. falls On black Dromore's dilapidating walls, Hence running thro' Guildhall's delightful fhades, Enamell'd valleys, and embowering glades, He winds away, in many a fertile ring, While on his banks the rural fhepherds fing. NOTE. (b) Slieve Croob, and Slieve ne Boly. Kkk |
