The Newport Gazette

NEWPORT, May 8.

On Monday Evening last, The Right Honourable EARL PERCY embarked on board the Mercury Packet, and immediately sailed for England. When his Lordship embarked, the Wharves were crowded with Numbers of all Denominations, desirous of paying their last grateful Respects to their Benefactor. On this Occasion a general Silence was observed, more expressive of their Respect, Affection and Concern, than any Attempt at such Sentiments could have produced.

Previous to the Departure of his Lordship there was a Meeting of the Inhabitants of this Town, when the following Address was agreed to and presented:

To HIS EXCELLENCY
HUGH EARL PERCY,
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL,
Commanding His Majesty's
Forces in Rhode-Island, &c. &c.

May it please your Excellency,

We the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the Town of Newport, hearing, with the utmost Concern, that your Excellency intends soon to leave us, beg Permission to approach your Excellency with those Sentiments, which a deep Sense of the great Happiness we have enjoyed under your Excellency's Protection, naturally excites on such an Occasion.

We cannot look upon your Excellency's Departure but as a great Public Loss, when we reflect upon his extraordinary Activity and Vigilance whereby your Excellency has protected us from surrounding Dangers, and that Justice and Impartiality, that Humanity and Tenderness, with which you have moderated the Exercise of unlimited Power.

With Gratitude we acknowledge, that in your Excellency's Hands, military Government has uniformly wore the fair Form of parental Authority: such and unnecessary Rigours have been used, to Oppression tolerated; and that, during the Noise and Tumults of Civil War, the Troops under your Excellency's Command, have been kept under such Order and Discipline, as would have done Honour to themselves and their Commanders, in Times of Public Peace and settled Government.

The Fear of offending (not Insensibility) prevents us, at present, from attempting to express how much we are affected with your Excellency's great and amiable private Virtues, with that spotless Integrity of Manners and uniform Regard to Religion and Decency, which would add Dignity to the meanest Station, with that condescending Affability, which stoops without any View to private Advantage, and, above all, with that unbounded and well directed Generosity, which has so often procured for your Excellency, the Blessings of those who were ready to perish.

Great Virtues, my Lord, in an elevated Station, act like the Sun; there is nothing hid from their Heat therefore: They have necessarily endeared your Character to all the Inhabitants of this Place: and it is but justice to say, that during your Residence among us, you have never given any Cause for Uneasiness or Sorrow, but when you declared your Intention of departing from us.

With great Reluctance, we submit to the painful Necessity which deprives us of your Excellency's benign Protection, and sincerely wish you a safe and pleasant Voyage to your native Land, and a long Continuance of perfect Health.

Your Excellency's illustrious Rank and Character render it unnecessary for us to wish you any other Blessing of Life; particularly, we reflect, with Pleasure, that your Excellency's early and great Public Services, have gone Home long before you, and have there secured you that great Reward, which is peculiarly reserved for British Worthies, and which will be most suitable to your Excellency's generous Principle, the warmest Approbation of the Best of Princes, and of a brave and free People.
His Excellency's Answer.

Gentlemen,

Allow me to return you many Thanks for your very affectionate Address.

This Public Testimony of your Approbation of my Conduct, since I have had the Honour to command here, at the same Time that it reflects the highest Honour upon me, is most particularly pleasing to me, as it is a Proof that I have been fortunate enough to fulfill the Intentions of our gracious Sovereign, in sending his Troops to this Island.

The Compliments you are pleased to pay the said Troops, for their Regularity and good Conduct since they have been amongst you, are justly their Due. As it is the Duty, so it is the Wish, of every British and Hessian Soldier, to protect all peaceable and innocent Inhabitants.

Permit me, Gentlemen, to assure you, that I shall not without Regret quit this Island, which for the Hospitality I shall ever remember with Gratitude and Respect: and be assured, that when I have the Honour to return into the Royal Presence, I shall not fail to do them that Justice, which their Behaviour has justly merited at my Hands.