A T four o'clock this afternoon, his Grace the Lord Lieutenant went in state to the Houfe of Lords, and opened the feffion with the following speech: "My Lords and Gentlemen, It is with great fatisfaction, that in obedience to his Majesty's command, I meet you again in parliament. You will, I am perfuaded, give your utmost attention to the various objects of public concern, which require your confideration. Your natural folicitude for the welfare of Ireland, and a juft fenfe of her real intereffs, will direct all your deliberations, and point out to you the line of conduct which may be moft conducive to the advantage, and to that lafting connection be tween the fifter kingdoms, fo effential to the profperity of both. Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, I have ordered the public accounts and other neceffary papers to be laid before you. The principle which you fo wifely established, of preventing the accumulation of the national debt, will I hope appear already to have proved fuccefsful, and I entertain no doubt that your wifdom will perfevere in meafures which in their operation promife fuch beneficial effeat. His Majefty relies with confidence upon your grant of fuch fupplies as are neceffary for the public fervice, and for the honourable fupport of his government. My Lords and Gentlemen, A fyftematic improvement of the police, and a vigorous execution of the laws, are ef fential not only to the due collection of the public revenue, but to the fecurity of private property, and indeed to the protection of fociety. The frequent outrages which have been committed in fome parts of this kingdom will particularly call your attention to this object. It is unneceffary for me to recommend the Proteftant charter fchools to your protection, or to enumerate the happy effects which may be derived from your continued attention to the linen and other manufactures, to the agriculture, and to the fitheries of the kingdom, and to fuch measures as may animate the induftry, extend the education, and improve the morals of the people. It will ever be my ambition to promote the zeal, interest of Ireland, and to contribute by all the means in my power towards establishing its future profperity, on the fureft and moit lafting foundation." EAST INDIA INTELLIGENCE. Extract of an authentic letter from Calcutta, "M dated Aug. 7. R. Haftings is, I fuppofe, arrived in England long ere this time Upon this refignation Mr. Macpherfon fucceeded to the government, and was fome time liked very well. Lord Macartney, about two months ago, refined the Government of Madrass, and came to Bengal, intending to take his paffage home from hence, for which purpose the Swallow Packet was granted him by the Governor and Council. Owing to fome unavoidable delay, in preparing the fhip for her voyage, he was detained till a packet arrived overland from England, with advice of his Lordship's being appointed Governor General. This packet arrived on Sunday last; on Monday and Turfday it was reported he would not accept of it, which was, as you may fuppofe, little credited; but to the furprife of the whole fertlement, on Friday, being the day appointed by his Lordship for declaring his determih ation, he fent his refignation to the Counci Board, and embarks on board the Swallow on Tucfday morning for Europe." The Supreme Council at Calcutta now ace, Mr. Macpherson, Governor General, who was abroad with the prefent Lord Warwick. Refolutions of the British Inhabitants at Calcutta, relative to Mr. Pitt's Eaft India Bill. ATa meeting of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, held at the Theatre on Monday the 25th of July, in pursuance jof a publick femmons by the High Sheriff, at the iequest of the Grand Jury, on the 15th of June laft, for the purpose of taking into confideration the propriety and neceffity of a petition on certain parts of an aft of the 24th of his prefent Majelly, entitled "An act for the better re"gulation of the affairs of the Faft India Company, and of the British poffeffions id "India, and for establishing a Court of Judicature for the more fpeedy and effectual "trial of perfons accused of offences commit"ted in the East Indies," The Refolu. of Brit. Inh. at Calcutta, relat. to Mr. Pitt's Eaft India Bill. 71 The following Refolutions were propofed and unaminoully agreed to: 1. Refolved, That his Majefty's fubjects in the East Indies are entitled to the protection and fupport of the laws of England, in common with the other fubjects of the realm. 11. Refolved, That fo much of the Act of the 24th of his prefent Majesty, chap. xxv. entitled "An At for the better regulation and management of the affairs of the EaftIndia Company, and of the British poffeffions in India, and for establishing a Court of Judicature for the more fpeedy and effectual trial of perfons accufed of offences committed in the East Indies, as compels the fervants of the East India Company, upon their return to Great Britain, to deliver in upon oath an inventory of their whole property, under penalties of exceffive feverity, is grievous and oppreffive to the fervants of the faid Company, and repugnant to the conftitution of our country. III. Refolved, That the erection of a new tribuna! by the faid Act, for the fpecial purpofe of trying offences, charged to have been committed in the East Indies; a tribunal unrestrained by the fettled rules of law, and fubjest to no appeal, and the depriving them of their undoubted birthright, the trial by jury, are violations of the great charter of our lib. erties, and infringments of the most facred principles of the British conftitution. IV. Refolved, That the faid Act, by expofing his Majesty's fubject, refiding under this prefidency, to be fent forcibly to Eng land, and there to be tried for offences com. mitted, or charged to be committed by them within thefe Provinces, is highly dangerous to the fecurity of their perfons and fortunes. V. Refolved, That it is injurious to the fervants of the United Company to be fubject by the faid Act of Parliament, to be difmiffed from their employments in the East Indies, or to be recalled at the pleasure of the Crown, which is, in other words, at the will of the Minister. VI. Refolved, that the provision of the said Act of Parliament, which enacts, that all writings, which shall have been tranfmitted from the East Indies to the Court of Directors, by their officers or fervants refident in the Eaft Indies, in the ufual course of their correfpondence with the faid Court of Directors, may be admitted by the Commisioners to be offer.d in evidence, and shall not be deemed inadmiffible, or incompetent, is fubverfive of the eftablished roles of evidence, and manifeftly dangerous to his Majefty's fabjects returning, from this country to Great Britain. VII. Refolved, That it is therefore becoming, and highly expedient for his Majesty's fubje&s in thefe provinces to endeavour by all legal and conflitutional means to obtain a repeal of fuch clauses in the said Act of Parliament, as impofe thofe and other hardships upon them. And that for the purpose of obtaining fuch repeal, petitions humbly laying our grievances before his Majefty and the two' Houtes of Parliament, are adviseable, necefJary and proper. VIII. Relolved, That a Committee of fifteen Gentlemen, felected for the inhabitants of Calcutta, be appointed to prepare petitions to his Majesty and the two Houfes of Parliament, and to correfpond with the inland ftations fubordinate to this Government, and with the other Prefidencies in India. And that it be. recommended to them to take all fuch meafares as they fhall judge neceffary for tranf mitting the faid petitions to Europe, and for promoting and obtaining an effectual redrefs to his Majesty's fubjects in India. And that the faid Committee be empowered to fill up vacancies, as they may happen in the course of time. IX. Refolved, That as confiderable expence must be unavoidably incurred by our endeavours to obtain redress of our grievances, a fubfcription fhall be opened by the Com mittee who thall be elected by this affembly, and that as foon as the petition fhall be ready for fignature, a book thall be produced for the faid fubfcription, to the end that every man may have the opportunity of promoting, by a voluntary facrifice of a fmall fhare of his pro perty, that fecurity of the whole, which is the grand object of our petitions. X. Refolved, That all fubfcriptions be received, whether in fpecie, or in paper, and, that the amount fubfcribed fhall be paid by each fubfcriber to fuch perfon or perfons as the faid Committee, when elected, fhall ap point to receive the fame. XI. Retolved, That this Affembly do authorize the faid Committee to difpofe of and expend the whole, or any part of the fums of money fo paid, in fuch manner as shall appear to them beft calculated for the general benefit of the caufe for which they were subscrib ed. XII. Refolved, That Mr. Charles Purling be a Member of the Committee, and that he be requested to propofe fourteen other Gentle men to the meeting for their approval. XIII. Refolved, That the following Gen tlemen are elected for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing Refolutions, viz. Col. Patrick Duff, William Cowper, Capt. John Murray, Henry Vanfittart, Capt. Peter Murray, John Evelyn, Capt. William Scott, Jonathan Duncan, Capt. Herbert Lloyd, George Dallas, Charles Purling, Thomas Hen. Davis, John Bristow, and Jeremiah Church, Philip Yonge, Efars. XIV. Refolved, That the Affembly of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, having the most perfect confidence and trust in the up rightnefs integrity, and abilities of the Committee, chofen for the conduct and management of their intereft, and for the protection and defence of their rights, as fubjects of Great Britain, de, in order to give vigour, and efficacy to their acts, and to free them from K& fot 72 Fortificat. at Havannah deftroyed. State of Trade in North America. future trouble, embaraffment, and obstruction delegate to them full authority; and do exprefs a plenary reliance on them for the exercife of it, and do pledge to them the concurrence and fupport of the faid Affembly in the fullest manner poffible, to all measures they hall legally adopt, for obtaining a repeal of the oppreflive parts of the aforefaid Act • Parliament. XV. Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Grand Jury, for having convened a legal and constitutional meeting of the Brit fh fubjects in this fettlement, for the purpofe of petitioning his Majefty, and the two Houfes of Parliament for rediets of thofe heavy grievances, imposed on them by the before mentioned Act of the Legiflature. XVI. Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Philip Yonge, Efq. the: High Sheriff, for his patriotick conduct in calling the Affembly, at the request of the Grand Jury. XVII. Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Charles Purling, Efq. for the great precition, candour, and regularity with which he has conducted the bufinels of the day. XVIII. Refolved. That the above refolutions be printed and made public. WEST INDIA and AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE. W WEST INDIA. E learn that most of the windward islands 'have fent over memorials to the British Government, through the hands of their different agents in London, couched in very strong and fpirited terms, complaining of the great injury they futtain for want of a proper Commercial intercourfe being established between Great Britain and America. The Spanish fortifications at the Havannah are almost totally defiroyed by the different hurricanes they have had there within thele four months, two fhips of war are alfo totally loft, and several others on the flocks fo much damaged, that they must be entirely rebuilt. A confiderable number of lives likewife are lott, and all the ground provifions deftroyed. At Pensacola alfo, and in the Florida, they had not fared much better. A frigate had been fent to Spain with this news, and they éxpected at all thofe places an immediate fupply of stores of all forts, with a thong derachment of troops to frengthen the garri When the last accounts came from Jamaies, there were about 40 families fettled on the Muiquito fhore; and we have the pleasure to hear ever thing was then pretty quiet there, though it was imposible to know how long trinquility would continue' -The prefent Government of Jamaica is fa.d to be indefat gable in firengthening and augmenting the fortifications of that 19land. His falary is a good socal. Berling per annum. In time of war it exceeds that tum; and fore gentlemen have made even 10,000l. of it. distracting that country through all its circulation. In the mean while let timely warning be given again and again to all our Tra ders not to have any tranf-atlantic dealings, except for ready money, The refolution of the leading people in the monied market not to discount for thote tradefmen fo madly rath as to rush into credit with America, has done more than any thing eife to check the progrefs of fuch ruiaous ventures. The Indians, on the back fettlements of Georgia and the Floridas, have in a general council determined to take up the hatchet against the Americans and the Spaniards, as they fay those provinces, being deferted by the English, now belong to them, and they are determined to recover them. Accounts received a few days ago from Canada, mention, that trade flourishes in that province in an extraordinary manner, and that at Quebec feveral capital houfes have lately begun bufinefs, fo that on the whole the trade of the province has been nearly double within thefe few years. Extract of a letter from Virginia Nov. 1. "I have given you fuch a description of the perfonal property of most of your corre fpondents, as I thought would be a key to you in your future confignments. I muft, however, give you fome political hints; it is true that many laugh at merchants itudying the abftracted fyftem, and tell them e futor ultra, &c. Let them ridicule as much as they think fit, I must believe fill that politics and trade are closely connected. ' "The New States have truck upon a rock at their first outfet, a rock which will prove their deftruction; they not only confiscated the estates of loyalists, but their malice went to oppress every moderate man; they have by that means banithed the rich, and only the poor and the wretched remain; for, upon my honour, when 1 call to mind the ftate of these provinces twenty years ago, and compare them with what they now are, I have not in the leaft exaggerated my ac count of them. They have no money; they haver "Their shipping is at its laft gafp; infead of being the carriers of Britain for all the produce of her iflands, in which 10,000 of their failors got bread, the British thips have the fole bunefs to do. The States lofe fo many feamen; England gets as many more. What an important object is this. "They are not only cut out of the lucra rive Weft-India trade, but their fisheries are fo cramped and fo rival'ed, they are and muft be every where underfold. The Algerines are fwarming in search of them; the danger is fuch that no teamen will venture to end their lives in flavery without very high wages; no underwriter can be found to infure for less than double premium; what trade can bear thefe bordens." From the Virginia Gazette, of Oct. 22. "The laft papers from South Carolina confirm the difagreeable intelligence of the anarchy at prefent prevailing in that ftate; the produce of the country has bore no proportion to their enormous importations fince the peace. Their mode of living, perhaps more profule and luxurious than in any other part of the Continent, increases the evil The day of payment arrives, arretis and imprifonments alarm the community, and every man becomes tremblingly alive for the mitfortunes of his neighbours, expecting his torn next. Thus the magnitude of the evil fuggefts a defperate remedy; they flop the courfe of law; to that throughout this wealthy fate, except in Charlestown, the feat of Government, a Sheriff dares not ferve a writ, or levy an execution." Shelburne, (N. S. oa. 5. By a letter from New York we learn, that the Court of France have infifted upon Congrefs making reftoration to the proper owners of all the ellates confifcated fince the figning of the peace at Paris. Congrefs, it is known, are invested with no powers equal to fuch a meafure, and can only recommend it to the different affemblies. How far they are difpofed to comply with fuch reftitution, time will unfold to the inhabitants of Europe. A gentleman who, after refiding feveral years in America, is lately returned to England, declares, that the paper currency given by Congrefs, to the amount of five years whole pay of the officers of the continental army, in lieu of half pay for life, cannot be difpoled of at a better rate than in the proportion of three thillings or three and twopence to the pound derling. Extract of a letter from Bolton Nov. 19, 1785. "Be it remembered, that on the 15th of November, 1785, all Acts refpecting the confpirators, refugees, &c. of this State, were repealed by the General Affembly of Maffachofetts, by a majority of one hundred and five to eighteen." Extract of a letter from Greenock, Jan, 1. "The Elizabeth, Capt. Taylor, is arri ved here from Wilmington, in America: a number of Americans are come over in her to feek for employment in Great Britain: they are all manufacturers, but declare that the manufactories of their own country are in foch a miferable fituation as not to afford them employment. The defcription thefe people give of the diftrefs of the poor in America is really thocking." Within thefe few days fome of the leading houfes in the commercial line in London have refufed to execute any more orders for America till the fyftem of commerce between the two powers is arranged. Extract of a letter from New-York, Oct. 14. "An unhappy man from Nova Scotia, late a staunch fupporter of the British Lion, allured by the flattering accounts of the placable difpofition of his countrymen, ventured laft week to Somerset Country, New Jertey, to coalefce with his quondam friends and neighbours. His arrival being announced, he was immediately waited upon by 150 of the inhabitants, who congratulated him; but from their gefticulations, it did not require an auger to tell his fate; tar and feathers, with all the horrors of operation, flared him in the face: But alas! this was only an illufive picture; they informed him that they confidered fuch fubjects in acquifition to the common wealth; but previous to his naturalization, he muft undergo the operation of being divefted of one of his ears, as a mark to diftinguith him from the common herd; and accordingly, after cutting his hair, and paying his pate with a coat of that antidote to toryifm, they took off one of his cars clote by the head. They then went in purfait of Capt. Stewart, formerly of Simcoe's horse, an active partifan; but when our informant left the place, he had not heard in what manner they treated him." His Excellency Jofeph Frederick Wallet des Barres Governor of Cape Breton has lately iffued a Proclamation offering great privileges and advantages to feitlers from all parts, particularly the American Loyalifts, or others now refiding in any of the American united provinces, who may incline to pat themfelves under the protection of the British government. The Proclamation defcribes, in high terins, the fertility and natural advantages of the land, and its very favourable situation for carrying on a trade both with Europe and the Wet-Indies. New York, Now. 29. The poverty of the general Treafury, the reluctance with which the Legiflatures levy, and the wowillingnes of the people to pay taxes, together with an unufual urgency in the domite creditors to remove their publick debts, teem to precipitate us to a novelty of measures, the confequences of which are to be dreaded, because they are altogether unknowa. FOREIGN The Hague Gazette, of the 14th instant brought by yesterday's mail, contains two letters, written by the Prince Stadtholder, of which the following is the fubftance and purport: In the first, directed to the Lords the States of Holland and Weft Friezeland, bis Moft Serene Highness complains of their having given fome particular orders to the garrifon of The Hague, the 8th of Sept. laft, he having the exclufive right of fo doing, as Captain General and Governor of the Province; that fenfibly affected by fuch a proceeding, which clearly manifefted their diftruft, he had requefted their Noble and High Mightincffes to re-affemble the faid day, in order to folicit and obtain proper redrefs; but that his hopes had been defeated, the States expreffing their difcontent at fuch a convocation, and declaring in a manner, by approving of the orders, that he was confidered as deprived of a prerogative enjoyed uncontrouled by all his predeceffors. The next ground of complaint concerns the report of the State-Committee, on the 4th inftant, which his Highnefs obferves, tends clearly to transfer forever the command of the Hague garrifon from him to the Board of the Council-Committee; adding, that in the declaration, fiating the above refolves, feveral affertions were inferted, which either mifreprefented or aggravated the objections urged against his conduct. He then enters into the proofs of the privilege he claimed having been ever invefted in the CaptainGeneral alone. Then adverting to the ill ufage he had received in this and other infrances, the Prince adds in conclufion; "But if matters are to be thas difpofed of, we cannot well comprehend how we can think of fixing our rendence at the Hague, without en dangering our own honour, and the high dignities that center in us, in the name of your Noble and High Might ineffes, and by hereditary right." The other letter is circular, and addreffed to the Burgomafters and Regents of towns having votes in the Affembly of the States of Holland, giving them notice of his having fent the above to their Noble and High Mightineffes, and requesting they would proceed no further on a business, which is (fays his High nefs) fo injurious to us, and derogatory to our hereditary dignity, till his memorial has been read and weighed by the States of Holland and Weft Friefland. 19. The noble hofpital at Potfdam was. eftablished by Frederick the Great feveral years fince, on purpofe for the maintainance of 5000 foldiers children, who for the most part, when eight years of age, are fent into the country, with an annual allowance of thir teen crowns, among the peasantry, to be brought up by them; they make the best rural labourers, and when grown up, become excellent fuldiers. If we confider thefe circumflances without prejudice, we fhall find that the Pruffian army, however numerous it ay be, is not difproportioned to the State, and that it rather encourages than diminishes its population. Extract of a letter from Conftantinople, Nov. 4. The advices which the Porte receives from time to time, refpecting the progrefs of the fanatic Scheich Manfour, in the Upper Afia, becomes daily more alarming; which has occafioned fresh infirections to be fent to the Bathaw of Erzerum, that he might take the most effectual measures to reprefs that evil in its beginning. Scheich Manfour, thaping his conduct on the founder of the Musfulman worthip, is at the fame time both prophet and foldier. The principal tenets attributed to him are, tft. That God, according to his eternal decrees, has fent him, Scheich Manfour, to put a stop to corruption amongst men; 2d. That his miffion has put an end to the power of Mahomet, and that himself alone ought to be looked upon now as the true prophet; 3d. That in confequence, his fectaries muft abitain from the journey to Mecca, and from all other pilgrimages in honour of the Old Prophet. The number of Scheich Manfour's adherents was inconfiderable at firût, boi now it is faid they form a little army, with which he has made himself master of several ftrong posts, where he feems determined to defend himself in cafe of an attack on the part of the government." 20. The French complain much of the new gold coinage. The new Louis are execrably fampt, both as to the head and coat of arms, and feem to outward appearance lighter than the old ones. This financiering operation does no credit to the prefent Comptroller Ge. neral, who will certainly not rife in the good opinion of the public, by a tax of 300 livres on carriages, which he is said to have now in contemplation. From the beft authority, we can affure our readers, that an air balloon was carried over to Ruffia, the conftruction of which coft eight hundred pounds, but her Imperial Majefy would not allow it to be produced to the public; and the proprietors were ordered to pack it up again immediately, and replace it on board the ship. Hanover, Nov. 29. According to an exact and authentick calculation made by order of government, the military force of this Electorate fands at prefent as follows: Eleven regiments of cavalry, 4202 men 13,762 5,500 29584 |