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FECT US! a tribunal that has robbed us of the benefits of the HA-
BEAS CORPUS act, of trial by the vicinage, and has even deprived us
of the advantage of witnesses in our favor, and yet——CANNOT AF-
FECT US, a tribunal that “gives and grants” away our property,
and then dragoons us for resistance, and yet——CANNOT AFFECT US!
a tribunal, that admits of no defence to the accused, that condemns
without conviction, and reversing the humane maxim of the law,
punishes TEN innocent persons, left ONE guilty should escape and
yet——CANNOT AFFECT US! O my countrymen! be not deceived
by such flimsy sophistry; these are doctrines of a foreign growth;
exotics to the American soil; the imports of strangers, who have
still a hankering after the leeks and onions of Egypt; who have no
fellow-feeling with us, but consider every encroachment of Britain
as so much gain to themselves; who stand forth the willing advo-
cates for every ministerial anti-American measure, and are forever
ringing PROTECTION! in our ears, as if a Briton’s regard for his
own interest in protecting me from an enemy could justify his plun-
dering me of my property, and becoming the greatest robber of the
two: for it is my serious opinion, and I doubt not every impartial
reader will think me right, that the Briton who should adopt such
sentiments, if the misfortune should ever happen of a fatal rupture
between the mother-country and us, would be a far more dangerous
viper, cherished in our bosoms, than a Frenchman or a Spaniard in
a war with France or Spain. From the former, who would view us
as rebels, we should expect if vanquished, all the dreadful severities
of an indignant conqueror; from the latter we should experience the
generosity of a humane and civilized enemy: the former would be
enraged at, what he would call, a traiterous perseverance in rebellious
practices; while the latter would admire it as a noble stand in de-
fence of our liberties, and would claim no right over us but the
right of power; but the former sounds his rights upon the constitu-
tion, talks to you of charters, or colonization, of protection, of
gratitude, and all the flattering pretences that vanity or avarice may
suggest; and if you are still deaf to his syren tongue, why then comes
in the right of power, and closes the catalogue of claims!
PRINCESS ANNE, }
June 24th, 1774. } VINDEX.

TO THE PRINTER of the NORFOLK GAZETTE.

SIR,
I FIND a secret pleasure, tho’ an obscure Individual, in mingling
with those bodies of men, who assemble, as it were, with an
anxious concern to promote the good of the public. I have some-
times considered this extensive country as design’d by nature for
contemplation, as you may travel through vast tracts of it without
discerning a human form, or dwelling; but the excessive dearth of
speculative men in Virginia, has convinced me of my error in that
respect. There are many of a very social stamp, and some who
would have a just title to merit, if they did not neglect their more
immediate concerns, to reform IMAGINARY abuses, in the state;
hurried away by the impetuous sallies of an irritated imagination,
they have no solid idea of those inferior dependencies, which cement
all well-governed societies. For brevity’s sake, I will wave the dis-
tinction of public associations and congresses, and mildly stile ours,
a friendly harmless club.

When men make a greater stir in life than is consistent with their
profession, prying observers are tempted to examine their views mi-
nutely; and if they have assumed airs of consequence unbecoming
their station, to display this motley, upstart tribe to the world in
their proper colours. Such Beings being no where formidable but
in their own conceit, would never deserve a moment’s attention, if
they were not sometimes necessary to fill up a superficial crevice at
public meetings; by introducing a more refined stupidity into their
oratory, or to contribute their mite with a profuse generosity to the
mirth of the day. As it is impossible that transposition could ren-
der the miserable paragraphs blended in a certain speech more truly
wretched, compassion will not suffer me to dissect them now. Should
they attempt to proceed further, I will set the absurdity of their
assemblage in a stronger and more glaring light; for their late pro-
ceedings were so narrow, that a full delineation would be tedious.
However if any hardy veteran with some pretensions to the principles
of common sense, will defend folly in the extreme, I will readily
anser at a future day.

SLY BOOTS.

At a meeting of the Committee of Correspon-
dence for NORFOLK and PORTSMOUTH,
held at the Court-House on Monday the 27th
day of June, 1774.

PRESENT
Matthew Phripp, Samuel Ker, James Taylor, Wil-
liam Harvey, Paul Loyal, Alexander Skinner
Voted,
THAT the freeholders and inhabitants of
the county and borough of NORFOLK be
earnestly requested to attend at the court house
of the said county on Wednesday, the sixth
day of July next, at ten o’clock in the fore-
noon; that the late Burgesses may collect their
sentiments, previous to the meeting appointed
to be held at WILLIAMSBURG on the
first day of next August.
WILLIAM DAVIES, Clk.

As late Burgesses for Norfolk-county and
borough, we heartily concur in sentiments with
the committee of correspondence, and propose
to attend at the time appointed.

THOMAS NEWTON junior,
JAMES HOLT,
JOSEPH HUTCHINGS.

To the Printer of the NORFOLK INTELLIGENCER.

Sir, Should the following strictures be admissible, your inserting
them will oblige some of your readers.

In well-regulated governments, however extensive or local, a de-
pendance on, as well as right of power must invariably center
in the most powerful part; this has been held as an established truth
in all ages, and requires no authority to prove it. The same ob-
servation is equally just with regard to the general method of pre-
serving the utility, as well as the dependance of their subordinates.
Interest and mutual feeling go hand in hand; particularly among
distant branches of the state, who have ben coloniz’d and settled
from the seat of government. Should these from their situation ar-
rive to any degree of wealth and population, their indignation rises
at the smallest mode of procedure with respect to them; they con-
sider themselves as aggrieved when the sovereign legislative body,
finding them in a condition to contribute in part to the legal ex-
pences of government, lays a small share of it on their shoulders, in-
stead of weighing in the scale of reason, the real tendency and real
usefulness of the scheme, they spurn, they look big, and would with
to trample all authority under foot; immediately enter into level-

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ing schemes! that SUBLIME PRINCIPLE before which every rational
system should at once disappear. I leave it to the judgment of eve-
ry unprejudiced mind, whether these things are so.
PRINCESS ANNE County, 2d July, 1774.

A BILL for the better regulating the Government of the Pro-
vince of the Massachusetts-Bay, in North-America.

WHEREAS by letters patent under the Great Seal of
England, made in the third year of the reign of their
late Majesties King William and Queen Mary, for uniting, erect-
ing and incorporating the several Colonies, Territories, and Tracts
of Land therein mentioned, into one real Province, by the name
of their Majesties Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-Eng-
land, whereby it was among other things ordained and established,
that the Governor of the said Province should from henceforth be
appointed and commissioned by their Majesties their Heirs and
Successors, it was however granted and ordained, that from the
expiration of the terms, for, and during which the Eight and
Twenty Persons, named in the said Letters Patent, were ap-
pointed to be the first Counsellors or assistants to the Governor
of the said Province for the time being, the aforesaid number of
eight and twenty Counsellors or Assistants should yearly, once
every year, for ever thereafter, be, by the General Court or Assem-
bly, newly chosen.

And whereas the said method of electing such Counsellors or
Assistants to be vested with the several powers, authorities, and
privileges therein mentioned, although conformable to the practice,
heretofore used, in in such of the colonies thereby united, in which
the appointment of the respective Governors had been vested in the
General Courts or Assemblies of the said Colonies, hath, by re-
peated experience, been found to be extremely ill adapted to the
plan of Government established in the province of the Massa-
chusetts-Bay, by the said Letters Patent herein mentioned, and
hath been so far from contributing to the attainment of the good
ends and purposes thereby intended, and to the promoting of the
internal welfare, peace and good government, or to the maintain-
ance of that just subordination to, and conformity with, the laws
of Great Britain, that the manner of exercising the powers authori-
ties, and privileges aforesaid, by the persons so annually elected,
hath for some time past been such as had, the most manifest ten-
dency to obstruct, and in great measure defeat the execution of the
laws, to weaken the attachment of His Majesty’s well-disposed
subjects, in the said province, to His Majesty’s government, and
to encourage the ill-disposed among them to proceed even to acts
of direct resistance to, and defiance of His Majesty’s authority;
and it hath accordingly happened, that an open resistance to the
execution of the laws hath actually taken place in the town of BO-
STON and the neighbourhood thereof within the said province.

And whereas it is, under these circumstances, become absolutely
necessary, in order to the preservation of the peace and good order
of the said Province, the protection of His Majesty’s well-disposed
subjects therein resident, the continuance of the mutual benefits
arising from the commerce and correspondence between this king-
dom and the said province, and the maintaining of the just depen-
dance of the said province upon the Crown and Parliament of
Great-Britain, that the said method of annually electing the Coun-
sellors or Assistants of the said province should no longer be suffer-
ed to continue, but that the appointment of the said Counsellors
or Assistants should henceforth be put upon the like footing as it e-
stablished in such other of His Majesty’s colonies or plantations
in America, the Governors whereof are appointed by his Majesty’s
Commission under the Great Seal of Great Britain.

Be it therefore enacted, by the King’s most excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the authority of the same, that from and after the
so much of the Charter granted by their Majesties King William
and Queen Mary to the inhabitants of the said province of the
Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, and all and every clause, mat-
ter, and thing therein contained, which relates to the time and
manner of electing the Assistants or Counsellors, for the said pro-
vince, and all elections and appointments of Counsellors and As-
sistants made in pursuance thereof, shall [empty space]
[empty space] and that from and after the said
[empty space] the Council or Court of
Assistants of the said province for the time being, shall be com-
posed of such of the inhabitants or proprietors, of lands within
the same, as shall be thereunto nominated or appointed by his Ma-
jesty, his Heirs and Successors, by Warrant under his or their
signet or sign manual, and with the advice of the Privy Council,
agreeable to the practice now used in respect to the appointment
of Counsellors in such of his Majesty’s other Colonies in America,
the Governors whereof are appointed by commission under the
Great Seal of Great-Britain: provided the number of the said As-
sistants or Counsellors shall not at any one-time exceed [empty space]
nor be less than [empty space]

And it is hereby further enacted, That the said Assistants or
Counsellors so to be appointed as aforesaid, shall hold their offices
respectively, for and during the pleasure of his Majesty, his heirs
or successors, and shall have and enjoy all the powers, privileges,
and immunities, at present held, exercised and enjoyed by the
Assistants and Counsellors of the said province, constituted and
elected from time to time, under the said Charter, except as herein
after excepted; and shall also, upon their admission into the said
Council, and before they enter upon the execution of their office,
respectively take the oaths, and make, repeat, and subscribe, the
declarations required, as well by the said Charter, as by any law
or laws of the said province now in force, to be taken by the
Assistants or Counsellors, which have been so elected and constitut-
ed as aforesaid.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from
and after the [empty space]
it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty’s Governor for the time
being, of the said province, on in his absence for the Lieutenant
Governor, to nominate and appoint, under the Seal of the pro-
vince, from time to time, the judges of the inferior Courts of
Common Pleas, Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer, the Attorney
General, Sheriffs, Provosts Marshals Justices of the Peace, and
officers to the Council or Courts of Justice belonging, and to re-
move the same without the consent of the Council; and that
all Judges of the Inferior courts of Common Pleas, Commissi-
oners of Oyer Terminer, the Attorney General, Sheriffs, Pro-
vosts Marshals, Justices, and other Officers so appointed by the
Governor, or in his absence by the Lieutenant Governor alone, shall
and may have, hold, and exercise their said offices, powers, and
authorities as fully and compleatly, to all intents and purposes,
as any Judges of the inferior Courts of Common Pleas, Commis-
sioners of Oyer and Terminer, Attorney General, Sheriffs, Pro-
vosts Marshals, or other officers, have or might have done hereto-
fore under the Letters Patent, in the third year of the reign of
their late Majesties King William and Queen Mary, any law,
statute, or usage, to the contrary notwithstanding.

Provided always, and be it enacted, That nothing herein con-
tained shall extend, or be constructed to extend to annul or make
void the commission granted before the [empty space]
to any Judges of the inferior Courts of Common Pleas, Com-
missioners of Oyer and Terminer, the Attorney General, Sheriffs,
Provosts Marshals, Justices of the Peace, or other Officers; but that
they may hold and exercise the same, as if this act had never
been made, until the same shall be determined by death, removal
by the Governor, or other avoidance, as the case may happen.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that upon
every vacancy of offices of the Chief justice and Judges of the Su-
perior Court of the said province, from and after the [empty space]
the Governor for the time being, or in his absence, the Lieuten-
ant Governor, without the consent of the Council, shall have full
power and authority to nominate and appoint the persons to

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succeed to the said offices, who shall hold their Commissions during
the pleasure of his Majesty, his heirs and successors; and that nei-
er the Chief Justice and Judges appointed before the said
[empty space] nor those who shall hereafter be appointed
pursuant to this Act, shall be removed unless by the order of
his Majesty, his heirs or successors, under his or their Sign
Manual.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Justice, the Judges of
the Superior Court, and the Secretary of the said province, for
the time being, shall be, and they are hereby appointed, during
their continuance in their respective offices, justices of the Peace
in and for every county, of the said province, and shall and may
have, hold and enjoy, all the powers and authorities given to
the Justices of the Peace by virtue of their commission, or by
any Act of the General-Court of the said province.

And whereas, by an Act of the General-Court of the said
province, ——— made in the fourth year of their late Majesties
King William and Queen Mary, intitled “An Act for regulating
of town-ships, choice of town-officers, and setting forth their
power,” the freeholders and inhabitants of the several town-ships,
rateable at twenty pounds estate, are authorized to assemble to-
gether, in the month of march in every year, upon notice given
by the constable, or such other as the Select Men of the town
shall appoint, for the choice of Select Men, constables and other
officers; and the freeholders and inhabitants are also impowered to
make and agree upon such necessary rules orders and bye-laws, for
the directing, managing, and ordering, the prudential affairs, and
to annex penalties for the non observance of the same, not exceed-
ing twenty shillings for one offence; provided they be not repug-
nant to the general laws of the said province.

And whereas a great abuse has been made of the power of
calling such meetings, and the inhabitants have contrary to the
design of the institution, been misled to treat upon matters of the
most general concern, and to pass many dangerous and unwarrant-
able resolves; for remedy whereof, Be it enacted, That from
and after the [empty space]
no town meeting shall be called by the Select Men, or at request
of any number of freeholders, without the leave of the Go-
vernor in writing, expressing the special business of the said meet-
ing, first had and obtained, except the annual meeting in the
month of March, for the choice of the Select Men, constables,
and other officers; and that no other matter, shall be treated
of at such meeting, except the election of their aforesaid officers,
nor at any other meeting, except the business expressed in the
leave given by the Governor.

And whereas, in pursuance of an Act of Assembly of the said
province, made in the seventh year of the reign of William the
third, and three other Acts of Assembly, made in the eleventh
year of the same reign, Jurors, as well Grand as Petty, have
been usually summoned and returned by the constables of the
several towns, by virtue of writs or warrants directed to them, by
the Clerks of the several Courts, requiring them to assemble the in-
habitants of the said towns, to chuse fit persons to serve as
Jurors for such towns, and to summon and return such persons so
chosen; which practice of choosing Jurors, and returning them,
without the intervention of the Sheriff, has been found to be de-
trimental to the administration of Justice. Be it therefore enacted
by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the [empty space]
next ensuring, so much of the said Acts of Assembly, and of all
other laws now in force, within the said province, as directs the
return of Juries to be made by the constables, by an election of
of the inhabitants of the several towns, shall [empty space]
and all Jurors as well Grand as Petty, shall be returned by the
Sheriffs of the several counties, and no otherwise; and the Justices
of the Superior Court of the said province, at a convenient time
before the sitting of the Superior Court in every county, and the
Justices of the Peace for every county in the said province, at a
convenient time before the sitting of the Quarter Session of such
county, shall issue their precepts or warrants to the Sheriff of
such county, for such several Courts , respectively to summon, out
of the freeholders and inhabitants of such county qualified to
serve upon Juries, such a number of good and lawful men as such
precept or warrant shall direct to serve upon the Grand Jury at
such respective Court; and such persons so summoned and returned
by the said Sheriff; or such of them as shall appear, shall be im-
pannelled and sworn the Grand Inquest for the body of the coun
ty, and shall continue as such during the sitting of such respective
Court, and until they shall be dismissed by the same; and in all
indictments, informations, actions and causes depending before the
Superior Court, or any Court of Quarter Session, or Court of Com
mon Pleas, in the said province, which shall be at issue or orde-
red for trial, the Juries shall be summoned, impannelled, and re-
turned by the Sheriff of the county, out of the freeholders and in-
habitants of the said county qualified to serve upon Juries, and
shall be chosen and arrayed in such manner and form, and by and
with such regulations and restrictions, as is directed and ordered in
and by an Act of Parliament, made in the seventh and eighth years
of the reign of his late Majesty King William the third, inti-
tuled, “an Act for the case of Jurors, and better regulating of Ju-
ries;” and one other Act, made in eighth and ninth year of
the same reign, intitled, “An Act to enable the returns of Ju-
”ries as formerly, until the first day of November, one thousand,
”six hundred and ninety-seven;” and one other Act of Parlia-
ment, made in the third year of the reign of his late Majesty
King George the second, “An Act for the better regulation of
”trials by Jury, and for enlarging the time for the trials by Nisi-
prius, in the county of Middlesex.”

And be it further enacted by the authority of aforesaid, that
lists of the freeholders and inhabitants of the several towns,
qualified to serve upon Juries, shall be returned to, and recorded
at, the Quarter-Sessions for the several counties, and shall be de-
livered to the several Sheriffs in manner and form as directed by
the said Act of Parliament, or any of them; and until such lists
of such freeholders and inhabitants shall be delivered as aforesaid,
the Sheriff of any county shall and may summon and return fit
persons to serve upon Juries as aforesaid, out of the body of the
freeholders and in habitants of the county, qualified to serve upon
Juries. according to his judgment and discretion; and when-
ever the Judges of the Superior Court shall award a Special Ju-
ry to be struck (which they are hereby authorized and impowered
to do in such manner as Special Juries have been usually struck
in the court of Westminster at trials at the bar,) and if the
Sheriff of the county in which such Jury shall be warned, shall not
have received lists of the freeholders and inhabitants qualified
to serve upon juries as herein before ordered and directed, such
Sheriff shall attend the proper office of the said court with a list
of [empty space] of the principal freeholders and inhabitants of
the said county qualified to serve upon juries, and the said Special
jury shall be struck out of the said list; and it shall and may be
lawful for the Justices of the said Superior Court, and they are here-
by authorized and impowered, upon the motion of either of the
parties, in any case or actions which shall be brought to issue, to
order the said cause or action to be tried in any county, other
than the county in which the said cause or action shall have
been brought or laid, by a jury of such other county. as they
shall judge fit and proper, any act of Assembly or provincial
law to the contrary notwithstanding.

And be it further enacted by authority aforesaid, That all clerks
of courts, Sheriffs, Constables, and other persons within the said
province, to whom the ordering, making, delivering, or record-
ing the lists of the freeholders and inhabitants qualified to serve
upon juries aforesaid, shall belong or appertain, according to the
true intent and meaning of this present act, and the said acts here-
by referred to, who shall be guilty of any wilful neglect, default,
or misfeazance, in carrying into execution this act, according to its
true intent and meaning, shall incur and suffer such fines and
penalties as are severally mentioned in the said acts of Parliament

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hereby referred to; and all persons who, being duly qualified as
aforesaid, shall be duly summoned to serve upon juries in manner
aforesaid, and shall not attend such service, shall incur and suffer
such fines and penalties as by the laws of the said province, jurors
making default are now subject to.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if
any action shall be brought against any Sheriff, for what he shall
do in execution, or by virtue of this act, he may plead the general
issue, and give the special matter in evidence; and if a verdict
shall be found for him, he shall recover Costs.

Authentic account of Tuesday’s debate in the House of Commons,
on the motion for repealing the TEA DUTY in America.

Mr. Fuller made the motion, which he promised, relative to the
repeal of the tea duty. He opened it with declaring, that
the Boston Port Bill, and the other Regulations would be totally
ineffectual without repealing the tea-duty. He said, he was very sure
that the motion would be productive of a great deal of good; that
it could not possibly do any harm. He spoke much to the temper
and feelings of the House; and the arguments which he used served
rather to point out the former considerations which the House had
had upon this question, and that the subject of taxation of Ameri-
ca was no new matter. After a short opening, he concluded by ma-
king the following motion: “That this House will on [empty space]
”[empty space] resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House,
”to take into consideration the duty of 3 d. per pound weight upon
”tea, payable in all his Majesty’s dominions in America, imposed,
”by an Act made in the seventh year of his present Majesty, in-
”titled, an act for granting certain duties in the British colonies
”and plantations in America, &c.”

Mr. Pennant seconded the motion, and said he wished much it
might go to a Committee, because he thought the principle, upon
which the bill was established, as set forth in the preamble, was un-
just and impolitic; that it changed the nature of their constitution,
and it took away the power which had always been held sacred to
an Englishman, that of levying their own money; that it was simi-
lar to raising the ship money in King Charles’s time; that those who
condemned that measure must of course condemn this, the one being
as arbitrary and unconstitutional as the other. He said, he sub-
scribed to the supremacy of Parliament, but he thought there was
a plain method for raising by requisition, the money which you
wanted; that the people of that country would be better able to as-
certain how, and in what manner the sum ought to be raised, on
account of the local circumstances which may attend it. The peo-
ple of Boston will be the first victims to your resentment; repeal
this bill, and you will meet with support from the rest of the
colonies.

Mr. Rice. This, Sir, is a motion upon the plan of reconcilia-
tion, and there is no man would go farther than myself to correct
any thing that I thought would be the means of bringing about
such reconciliation; but I cannot concur in any thing that endan-
gers the supremacy of Parliament. Let us but consider the conse-
quence of such a repeal at this present time.——Whenever we have
made the least concession; they have always required more; they
will think that we acknowledge that we have no right if we repeal
this law. The objection has hitherto been made on the ground of
taxation. I will consider truly what that ground is; but I very
much fear that they object to that control which may be improper
to take off; they submitted to external taxation, to internal they
always objected. I will take that period then as the fixed aera for
their allowing taxation. By the repeal of the stamp-act, as an in-
ternal tax, if you repeal this act you will allow that you have no
right. I desire to keep my stand here, and not give up that author-
rity which I am clear in. I wish no new taxes to take place, but
I wish to keep the right and control, which if you give up you
part with all. The interest of America is the interest of Great-Bri-
tain, and I would wish to make their happiness the object, and do
that which would be satisfactory to their minds; but in this present
case, I am greatly afraid if you give up this, you will be required to
give up much more.

Capt. Phipps. I should be the last person in the House to give
trouble, if the importance of this question did not urge me to it;
but I cannot take the acts of the province of Massachusetts-Bay to
be the opinion of all America, nor whose of a few designing interest-
ed men in Boston to be the disposition of the whole province at
large. I perfectly agree that the Americans cannot resist, and that
the doctrine of supremacy is good, but I think the Americans have
a real security in Parliament, which is, that you can do nothing
that does not affect Great-Britain equally with America. I will con-
sider the present measure as an act with which they cannot comply,
or, more properly, they will not. In the light then of a mercan-
tile tax, it is trifling and ridiculous; as a matter of revenue, it is
absurd. If they cannot resist, they will find some means of a-
voiding it. God and nature has given them an extensive coast, and
of course an opportunity of smuggling. You will injure the ma-
nufactures of this country in a very high degree; I do not mean by
their non-importation agreement, but by making them prefer the
manufacture which is worse than your’s from your enemies, to those
of this country, which are better. May the right long remain in
the expediency of not exercising it. I would only have it called for
at particular times, when the emergency of affairs require it, and
when the whole of Great-Britain and America are to receive equal
benefit; but if you exercise that right when you have no occasion or
urgent reason for raising a revenue, you will throw the quiet man of
that country into the factious man. But how can you expect an o-
bedience of that country, when the emoluments of it are taken from
them to supply the luxuries of men who live in this. The province
of Virginia, before Lord Botetourt was made Governor, was annual-
ly plundered of 5000 £ by the non-residence of former Governors.
I knew a person in that country who held eleven offices, the emo-
luments of which were appropriated to the support of men of bad
description in this. I approved much of the stamp-act; as a neces
sary measure, to destroy that nest of small petty-fogging attornies;
whose business it was to create disturbances and law suits, and live
by the plunder. There is a wide difference between giving up a
right and exercising it, but I cannot see that Parliament gives up
that right, when they say it is not expedient to exercise it. I there-
fore wish much for the repeal of this act, which I think you will one
day or other be forced to do.

Mr Stephen Fox. I rise, Sir, much in favour of the motion on
your table; and think the only reason that has been urged against
it, is, that America cannot resist. Do not, Sir, let us exercise such
a conduct merely to shew our power. I am far from saying we
ought not to exert this power upon proper occasions, but to make
use of it by way of irritation, is to me the highest ill policy, as well
as absurdity; I shall therefore give my hearty affirmative to the
motion.

Mr. Cornwall. I wish gentlemen would take into consideration
the justice of their former proceedings, and the policy and expedi-
ency which the present times require and occasion. The proposition
which we are now called upon to decide, is simply this: whether the
whole of our authority over the Americans shall be taken away? It
has been said we have irritated the Americans, by taxes that are
neither for the purpose of revenue, nor for commercial regulations.
That tax will be found to produce much more than gentlemen
think; and however, little it may produce, the taking of it off at
this time, would be both impolitic and imprudent. Much has also
been said about gaining the affection of the Americans. If this was
a new question, I should think the gaining of their affections is worth
a thousand times the produce of the tea duty. It is true, Sir, that
England is loaded with a debt of a very considerable amount, on
account of the last American war; and it is but just and right that
they should bear their proportion of expence. Gentlemen say, that
the proposition should have been made to them by way of requisi-
tion. If I saw or apprehended the least inclination from them to
assist us in any other mode as to taxation, I would readily give up
this particular tax; but has any one offered any thing on this head?

Column 2

Has any person been authorised to treat; or any Ambassador sent
on that occasion? I would meet them half way in this proposition.
It has been said that all their labours are centered in this country,
and that we should injure ourselves by laying this tax. I look upon
the interest of this country to be so nearly connected with that, that
our own actions will be the guide of their security. America does
not meet you on the mode of taxation, but upon the question of
right; and, for my part, I cannot comprehend the distinction be-
tween internal and external taxation. You repealed the stamp-act;
did America then receive this boon or repeal chearfully? Disturb-
ances have been fomenting and growing ever since. Some few years
past you repealed three or four of these taxes; I wish much the de-
bate on this question had then been agitated. The question now is
[The Remainder in our Next.]

NEW-YORK, June 16.

The port of Boston was on Tuesday last cleared of every vessel in-
tended for sea, it being the day on which the late act of parliament
prescribes, that no vessel, except in his Majesty’s service, shall be
allowed to depart from that port until the king in council may be
pleased to suspend its operation.

PHILADELPHIA, June 20.

Last Saturday afternoon many thousands of respectable inhabi-
tants of this city and county met near the State-house, agreeable
to appointment, to take into their consideration certain important
propositions prepared to be laid before them.———But as it is im-
possible to insert the proceedings of the meeting in this paper, we
must defer them till our next.

CHARLESTOWN, June 27.

They write from Georgia, that the Mortar, principal headman
or chief of the creek Indians, had sent down three Indians to Au-
gusta with a peace talk, which was delivered at Col. Barnard, re-
questing that the trade might again be opened. Mr. Graham, a
trader, was attacked by some of the friends or relations of the
Mad Turkey, lately murdered at Augusta, but by the assistance of
some Chickesaw Indians which Mr. Graham had with him for
his protection, they were prevented from doing any mischief. The
last Indian trader that arrived at Augusta from the Creek Country
says that Emistisiguo and the other Indians who were lately at
Savannah, had delivered their talk at the Coweta Town, and
that there-upon the Leader of the murdering gang, with one or
two more, had left the place, whether through fear or to do more
mischief, is uncertain. Scouts are ordered out from every com-
pany of Militia in and about Augusta, &c. to scour the Woods,
make discoveries, and give timely notice to the Inhabitants to pro-
vide for their safety in case of danger.

The last advices from the Indian countries inform us, that the
Creeks had appointed a General meeting of all the Chief Men and
warriours of their Nation, to be holden on the 24th of last month.
They are greatly distressed by the trade with them being stopped;
and it is expected that the result of their deliberations, at the said
meeting, will be to give such satisfaction for the late murders as
has been demanded. At the said time it is confidently asserted,
that the Cherokees have engaged to join the Creeks in case of
war.

NORFOLK July 7.

Extract of a Letter from CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH-CAROLINA.
June 23rd, 1774.
The Boston port bill makes a great noise here;——Every body is
turn’d Politician——Spirited measures are talked of, and it is even
conjectured that resolutions will be entered into for putting an
entire stop to all exports and imports whatever.———The storm
seems to be gathering over America———God knows, what will be
the event.

Extract of a Letter from Charles Town, June 27th,
Upwards of 1000 barrells of Rice have been Subscribed for in
this City, to be sent to Boston, for the support of our suffering
brethren there; the Gentlemen of that City as well as the whole
Province of South Carolina, are ditermened to exert themselves
in their behalf, being fully convinced of the direful tendency, of
the late unconstitutional and oppressive Acts of Parliament, tho’
militated at present against the province of Masachussetts Bay, and
more particularly, aimed at the town of Boston; they apprehend
an universality of such dreadful Edicts and wish for a general re-
solution, steadiness and concord, thro’ the whole Continent.

We hear from Fort Pitt, that the Shawanese have lately mur-
dered eighteen white People, within nine miles of that Place, and
that several parties of Indians have gone forth to war against
the defenceless inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Penn-
sylvania. That it is supposed all the English traders in the
Shawanese towns are killed by the Savages, and about fifteen
hundred families, settled to the westward of the Allegany moun-
tains, have deserted their habitations, and fled for sanctuary to
the more interior parts of the country, and that the traders
at Fort Pitt are about leaving that place as soon as they can
form a party strong enough to venture forth. An Indian war
seems inevitable.

A Gentleman of this Place, is desired by his friends
at CADIZ, to take notice in the VIRGINIA News-papers,
that JOSIAH HARDY Esqr. Consul there, wants
to impose a Duty of two Mexico Dollars for every cer-
tificate of the Cargoes that British SHIPS bring from
North-America.

Last Thursday was married here, SAMUEL INGLIS Esq; mer-
chant in this place, to MISS AITCHISON, daughter of WILLIAM
AITCHISON Esq; a beautiful young lady, of a most amiable cha-
racter.

At a MEETING of the FREEHOLDERS, MERCHANTS, TRADES-
MEN and other INHABITANTS of the COUNTY and BOROUGH
of NORFOLK, held at the Court-house on Wednesday the sixth
of July 1774.
THOMAS NEWTON junr. Moderator.

Resolved,
THAT it is the opinion of this Meeting, that the town of
Boston is now suffering in the common cause of America,
and that every colony on the continent is in duty bound, to unite
in the most effectual means to obtain a repeal of the late act of
parliament for blocking up the harbor of Boston, which we deem a
most tyrannic exercise of unlawful power.

Resolved,
THAT it is the opinion of this MEETING, that the acts
FOR ALTERING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS-
BAY, and FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF RIOTS AND TUMULTS, are
most violent and dangerous infractions of the solemn chartered
rights of these countries, utterly destructive of trials by the vicinage,
and a very melancholy proof of the despotic spirit of the times.

Resolved,
THAT our late burgesses be hereby instructed, to use their
utmost endeavours at the ensuing convention at Williamsburg, to
procure a general association against all importations and exporta-
tions (medicines excepted) to and from Great-Britain, as the most
effectual means to ensure redress; and that the said association a-
gainst importation may take place in as short a time as possible after
the opening of the said convention; and that the association against
exportation may take place at so long a day, as may give time for
the discharge of British debts, leaving it to the discretion of the
convention to fix the day.