The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

NEW-YORK. April 28.

On Monday last arrived the Brigantine, Capt. [blank], in 12 Weeks from Oporto, and the Ship Prince George, Capt. Hauthorn, in about 9 Weeks from Bristol, consequently could bring no News so late as we have had before. As these Vessels came up, the Man of War's Boat boarded the Brig, and attempted to board the Ship, but the Men having taken the Command from the Captain and Officers, would not bring the Ship to, nor suffer the Boat to Board her, on which Several Shot, from the Garland Man of War, were fired at her, and the Boat followed her almost up to the Dock, but then returned without getting on board, in attempting which, it is said one of the Men in the Boat was dangerously wounded, and several others hurt.

From many private Letters by the last Vessels, we have collected the following Particulars, viz.

That the Gentlemen deputed for the Manufacturing and Sea Port Towns, to make Reports and Representations to Parliament, to obtain a Repeal of the Stamp-Act, exerted themselves to the Utmost, soliciting every Member as if pleading for their Lives. That many of those before whom this grand Affair was to be decided, discovered a surprising Ignorance of America, Trade, &c. That on the 11th Mr. Trecothick was ordered to the Bar of the House of Commons, where he was repeatedly examined for 2 and an Half Hours, the last Question Lord Strange (our Enemy) asked was this. -- Did he think the Americans would not rather submit to the Stamp-Act, than remain in the Confusion they were in? -- This being voted an improper Question -- he was ordered to withdraw; after some Debate he was again called in, and asked his Opinion whether the Americans would acquiesce if the ACT was mitigated? He answered that it was his Opinion that no Modification would reconcile them to the Act, nor any Thing satisfy them less than a total Repeal. This inflamed Grenville's Party, who honoured us with the Appellation of insolent Rebels, and they shewed their Teeth and Resentment so furiously, that we have no Reason to doubt, they will worry us if ever they should have Power to do it, tho' the Consequence should be, not only the Ruin of particular Merchants, but of England itself: and all its Dominions.

That the Debt from the Continent to England has been Shewn to be Five Millions Sterling, -- which Grenville endeavouring to disprove, made the Examination so tedious. All the principal Manufacturing Towns sent Petitions for a Repeal of the Stamp-Act. -- A Manufacturer from Leeds, was ordered to the Bar, who said, that since the stagnation of American Trade, he had been forced to turn off 200 Families out of 600 whom he constantly used to employ. This Fact had great Weight, join'd to many more Evidences of the same Kind. -- The Country Members were alarm'd at so many poor People's want of Employment, -- which, if any Thing, would occasion a Repeal of the Act.

The present Ministry have all declared the Expediency of repealing it, since if it is enforced, there will be 20,000 unemploy'd poor petitioning for its Repeal to prevent them from starving.

From these concurrent Causes there appear'd no doubt of a Repeal, especially if we fulfill'd our Engagements of having no English Goods till it is completed. -- And therefore our Friends in England hope we will abide by our Resolutions.

They likewise think that the Repeal would not have been so tediously procrastinated, had no Ships have been sent till the Affair was decided, for Mr. Grenville declared he would try to keep it off for 6 Weeks, in Hopes that we should submit -- saying, that our venturing to send Ships away at so great a Hazard was a Proof we were tired of the Lawless State we were in.

It was about the 11th of February confidently reported, that the present Ministry were under great Doubts and Discouragement from the dreadful Power of Lord Bute, which they daily and hourly experienced, together with their own Want of Influence, and of Support which they had been positively promised, in repealing the Stamp-Act.

L. B. and L. S. publickly declared, that they were empowered by [blank] to declare that his private Wish was not for a Repeal, as it would be derogatory to the Honour of the Crown, and the dignity of the Parliament, to Repeal an Act that had been so disrespectfully treated, without first exercising their Authority to enforce it. -- On this and finding that the Dukes of Y. and G. all the Lords of the B[ed]-C[hamber] and Officers of the H[ouse], together with 9 Bishops were for carrying Fire and Sword to America, -- saying that since they Snarl and begin to shew their Teeth, they ought to be knock'd out before they are able to Bite: -- The present Ministry had a Meeting, and concluded to resign, but first to know the [King's] Sentiments from his own Mouth -- That the M[arquis] of R[ockingham] and L. S. went together to the [King] where the M[arquis] told him of the Report propagated by Bute and Strange, and desired to know if they had Authority for such a Report or not, -- that if they had, he and most of the present Ministry might beg leave to resign, since if the Act was enforced, it would be attended with Bloodshed and other dreadful Consequences -- Being asked if it was not probable that by a Modification, the Act might be enforced without Bloodshed: he declared his Opinion that it could not, and that nothing but a total Repeal would restore public Tranquility -- He was then told, that upon a Representation of the Iniquity of the Act, and that with some Alterations it might be executed. His [Majesty] had expressed his Desire that it should be enforced -- But if it could not be done without Bloodshed, peaceably -- it was his sincere Desire and Intention that it should be totally repeal'd.

The following is a Copy of Grenville's Motion in the House for enforcing the Act. He was supported by 134, among which were, Sir C[harles] H[ardy], [in Return for the Kindness and Respect shewn him in America] and General A[braham] [?]-by [The Hero of Ticonderoga] 274 opposed the Motion.

Mr. Grenville's Motion in the House of Commons.

That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, in Consequence of the above Resolutions, to express the Indignation and Concern of the House, at the dangerous Tumults and Insurrections, which have been raised, inflamed, and carried on, in several of the Colonies in North America, whereby the Execution of a British Act of Parliament has been actually defeated, the Powers and Dignity of his Majesty's Government set at defiance, and the Legal, Constitutional dependence of the said Colonies on Great-Britain, impaired and violated. To express our entire Confidence in his Majesty's, Royal Wisdom and Firmness, that he will give effectual Orders and take all proper Measures for preventing any Attempt of the like dangerous Nature for the future, and for carrying into Execution all Laws and Statutes relative to the said Colonies and Plantations, enacted by the supreme Legislature of these Kingdoms: to recommend to his Majesty's Protection and Favour, his loyal and dutiful Subjects in North-America, who have manifested their Desire to comply with, and to assist in the Execution of the Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, for imposing certain Stamp-Duties in said Colonies, and with the other Statutes of the Realm; and to assure his Majesty that this House will in a Parliamentary way firmly and steadily Support his Majesty in all such Measures as shall be necessary for vindicating the Rights of Parliament, and for restoring Order and Tranquility to the Colonies.

After many long and warm Speeches upon the Motion, about ten o'clock, when the House were almost worried out, Old General Howard stood up; at his Martial Appearance, a profound Silence ensued, he spoke to this Effect, that he wondered at the unnatural Motion, he hoped in God it would not succeed; lest he should be ordered to execute it, and before he would imbrue his Hands in the Blood of his Countrymen, who were contending for English Liberty, he would if ordered, draw his Sword, but would sooner sheath it in his own Body. -- Secretary Conway said, that he would sooner cut off his Right Arm, than sign an Order for Soldiers to enforce the Act. A most noble Speech This.

On the 8th of March last his Majesty's Packet-Boat the Duke of Cumberland, Captain Goodridge, left Falmouth with the long expected February Mail: -- She arrived here on Saturday Morning last: and brought as far down from London, by Prints, as March 4, -- But none are stocked with the downright Intelligence of :-A REPEAL, of the Stamp Act.