then have been fo capital an object to the enemy, that they would have employed all their force in the night to have effected fuch a purpose; and that if they had done fo, and conducted their expedition with any fpirit, they must certainly have put the fleet into very great confufion, as we had no boats whatever of a nature fufficient to have withstood their thirtyfix row boats and thirteen gallies: That if a landing had been attempted at Newcastle, and that, when part of the troops were landed, fome in boats, and fome on board, the row-gallies had obliged the fhips to flip their cables to avoid the fire-rafts, or had otherwife by thofe fire. rafts difarranged the fleet, it would have been attended with the worft of confequences; as, in fo narrow a channel, it would not have been poffible for the fleet to have got under fail in the night time: and that, though he here confines himfelf to the operation of fire-rafts in the night, yet as the enemy was alfo provi ded with fire-fhips, thofe might have been used alfo in the day-time with as much effect against a fleet at anchor, as the fire rafts might have been in the night. Mr Montrefor, who served in the corps of engineers twenty-nine years, and act. ed as chief engineer in North America in the campaign of 1777, in answer to que ftions put by Gen. and Lord Howe, faid, That he was fufficiently near to the enemy's lines at Brooklyn on the 27th of August 1776 [38. 482.] to judge of their Strength; and that it would not have been a prudent measure to have affaulted thofe lines on that day; that if they had been attacked we fhould have loft a confiderable number of men; and he defcribes the lines. To questions put by other members, Mr Montrefor did not recollect what was the number of effective men that the King's army confifted of on the attack of the 27th of Auguft; but he conceived the number of the enemy to be about gooo to 10,000 men; whether the major part of them were veterans that had been in fervice, was a question (he faid) out of his profeffional line; that he was the first perfon who gave the alarm of the lines of Brooklyn being evacuated; that this was at day-break, about four o'clock, and that the piquets marched to take poffeffion of the lines within twenty-five minutes after he made his report; that he was present when Sir W, Howe recalled the battalion of gre nadiers, and the 33d foot, who, in pur. fuit of the rebels, wifhed to attack the principal redoubt of the enemy; and that it would have been very improper to have fuffered thofe two corps to have ftormed that redoubt, as the artillery was not up, there were no fafcines to fill the ditches to get over them, no axes for cutting the abbatis, no fcaling-ladders, or proper apparatus for an affauit of fo refpectable a work; and that, in general, the works he had feen conftruð, ed by the rebels, were judiciously plan. ned, but ill executed. He declined an fwering several questions. Mr J. Galloway's Examination. [328.] Veneris, 18° die Junii, 1779. Examined by feveral members. Q. Whether, in your opinion, the ri ver Delaware might have been crofied by Sir W. Howe when he came dow to Trenton with the army? and your reafons for that opinion? A. There does not appear to me have been any difficulties to have pre vented the British army from paffing the Delaware in December 1776, when W. Howe was at Trenton. - I have faid, that Washington's force was but fmall, The river Delaware, in and about Tren ton, is from 3 to 400 yards wide.a place called Bond's Ferry, about tes miles below Trenton, I think the ftance acrofs the river is very near 300 yards. - The ground at the place I t mentioned (Bond's Ferry) is high, and perfectly commands the Ahore on the oppofite fide, far beyond cannon-fhot.Under thefe circumftances, I know no difficulty except that of the want boats or pontoons. Q. Had you any occafion to examin particularly into the practicable means paffing the river? A. At Capt. Montrefor's requel, did enquire, whether there were materials in or about Trenton, wa which pontoons, boats, or rafts, m be constructed; and I found 48,000 in of boards, a quantity of iron, and the was timber enough about Trenton i that purpose. Q. Did you find boats or fchoughs! A. I did:-there were two boats in mill-pond, at a little distance from Tra ton.-I did not fee them, but they weS reported to me to be there. Q. How many men would those bea carry at a time? Al Q. When the British troops took pofTion of the Jerseys, were any proclations iffied, or measures taken, to con are the minds of the people to the tifh government? A. There was a proclamation; I unrftood it was issued when Sir W. Howe as in the Jerfeys; I met with it at infwick. I really cannot be certain to the date. By this proclamation, a don was offered to all fuch of the inbitants as fhould come in, and take = oath of allegiance to the crown, with promife or engagement to protect them their perfons and properties. Q. In what manner were the inhabitts treated by the British troops after ey received their protections? plundered of many thousands in Madei ra wine; that memorial was prefented; - the determination of it was refer red to Gen. Robertfon, whether the perfon fhould be paid for the wine or not, (the perfon was Mr Sharp of New York). This was fettled; and I have reafon to know of many other memorials that were prefented on the like occafions: - I have feen them before they were prefented. And as to the fact of the plunder, many affidavits were taken on that occafion by the enemies to government, which affi davits were published throughout all America *. Q Was you with the army when they marched from Brunswick to Hillfborough? A. I was. Q. Do you know of any roads lead ing round Mr Washington's camp at Middle Brook, on the north, by which Sir W. Howe might have paffed round between him and the Delaware and his magazines ? A. I never paffed the road from Brunfwick to Middle Brook †. Q. Where were Washington's magazines at the time you were in the camp at Middle Brook? A. Many of them, by far too many, A. His artillery-magazine was at Norere plundered of their property while rington, about fifteen miles from Philaey had their written protections in delphia; the magazines of provifions eir hands, or in their houses. Friends were at Lancaster, Manheim, Carlisle, government, and thofe difaffected to Lebanon, and I believe fome at Reading, vernment, fhared the fame fate in a all in Pennsylvania. - I fpeak from ac at variety of inftances. counts brought to me at New York, which I gave to Capt. Montrefor. Q. Was that last answer given from -ur own knowledge? A. From my own knowledge. Q. By whom were fuch inhabitants undered after they had received their -otections? A. By the British and Heffian troops. Q. To your own knowledge? A. I fhould be happy if the committee ould let me explain myself. — It may expected, that I ought not to anfwer, my own knowledge, unless I faw the t committed. That I did not, and t I can affign fuch reafons, I think, as i juftify me in faying, to my own owledge.-The people plundered have me to me recently from the fact, with ars in their eyes, complaining that they ere plundered of every thing they had the world, even of the pot to boil eir victuals. — I myself drew a memo al to Sir W. Howe, in behalf of a end to government, who had been -- • Whoever wishes to be fully fatisfied in refpect to the indifcriminate plunder and wan ton deftruction of property committed by the British foldiery, in the county of Welk Chester, in the province of New York, and in the towns of Newark, Elifabeth-town, Woodbridge, Brunswick, Kingston, Princetown, and Trenton in New Jerley, are referred to the Pennsylvania Evening Posts of April 24. 29. and May 1. 3. 10 1777. The chart of New Jersey will fhew, that there is a road leading from Bruntwick to Bound Brook, and from thence to Eaflon; and it is known, that in that part of the country, which is full of plantations, there are many roads leading round Washington's camp on his right and left, in which there can be no doubt but Sir W. Howe might have paffed with his army even to the Delaware. With thefe facts he could not be unacquainted, as the furveyor of the district in which Washington was encamped, was at the time with the British army. 4 Ga Q. Could Q. Could Gen. Washington, in your opinion, in cafe Gen. Howe had cruffed the Delaware, have remained in the Jerfeys when his magazines were in the plaees you have mentioned ? A. He certainly might if he had chofe it, and had determined to abide the confequences which might have attended the lofs of his magazines *. QDo you apprehend he might have maintained his army with provilions and fores without thofe magazines? A. Not in any thort time. Q. Were there any preparations made by Gen. Howe for crolling the Delaware at or before his march to Hillsborough? and what were they? A. There were a number of pontoons built at New York; a number of flatbottomed boats prepared and put upon earriages; thefe were carried to Brunfwick; taken out of the water, and put upon carriages at Brunfwick:-they were not carried to Hillsborough, but left at Brunswick. - Q. Do you know whether the Delaware is fordable above or below Trenton? A. In the fummer, it is fordable in a great variety of places. — In June, July, Auguft, September, and October, the paffage over is interrupted occafionally only by heavy rains.-- The frethes in the Delaware generally fubfide in four or five days after the rain ceafes. Q. Were there any particular circumftances to make you fuppofe it was not fordable at that time? A. Whether the rain, while we were at Hillsborough, made it unfordable or not, I cannot tell. Q. Have you, &c. [To be continued.] • Had Washington remained in the Jerfeys, and permitted Sir W. Howe to have paffed into Pennfylvania without giving him battle, his magazines of military ftores and provifions must have been loft, if Sir W. Howe had chofen to have taken them; Philadelphia must have fallen into his hands, and the whole province fubmitted. It is therefore not to be prefumed, that Washing ton would have been fo deflitute of regard for his own intereft, as not to have either fought the British army in Jerfey, or have left his ftrong polt, as it is called, and paled over the Delaware with a view to the defence of objects upon which the force and existence of his army fo materially depend ed. For thefe he fought at Brandywine in Auguft, and for thefe he must have fought in New Jerfey or Pennfylvania in June, or It them. IRISH PARLIAMENT. [550] Sir Richard Heron, by order of the Lord Lieutenant, prefented to the Com mons, Nov. 1. the King's anfwer to thet addrefs [549.], viz. His Majefty has received, with the greatest fatisfaction, the dutiful and loyal addrefs of the Houfe of Commons; their profefiions of zeal and aff&tion forts perfon and government, and their com gratulations on the increafe of his famdr. His Majefty has the firmeft reliance that they will make provifion for the debt of the nation, and the honourable support of his government, and that they wil manifeft their zeal against the enemies of his crown and empire. The Hoafe of Commons may be affured of his Majes| fty's fincere concern for the diftreffes of his kingdom of Ireland, of his affectio nate attention to their interests, and his conftant readiness to concur in fuch mean fures as fhall, upon mature confideration, appear most conducive to the general welfare of all his fubjects." Sir Henry Cavendish moved for an ade drefs of thanks for the anfwer; which was agreed to, and a committee was ap pointed to draw it up. When the addrefs was reported nest day, Mr Yelverton objected to a clan in it, viz. "That his Majefty may do pend, his faithful Commons will grat the neceffary fupplies to fupport his W jefty's government." In the prefcat tuation of affairs, he faid, it was imp fible that fuch a promife could be carr into effect. The people of Ireland wert already fo undone, their refources fo rxhaufted, that, as a proof of their bos enthufiafts in loyalty, that principie a lone had brought ruin, famine, and de vaftation on them. He would labour ta prove, while a finew was left to fur his arm, or an organ was left to tuppt his tongue with motion, that it was a infult to our miferies, to afk for fuppits when we were deprived of every mer of procuring thein, by the very peop who wanted to drain our last dregs of b out. There is an arrear of debt which cannot, by any new taxes, be provide for: every articie of the neceffities the luxuries of life is already taxed. Cr you tax leather, where the wretched 12habitants cannot afford to wear thots can you tax tallow, where they burn so candles? or can you tax commerce, wher none exifts? Driven to the extremity of want and despair, why should they give his Majefty hopes of raising supplies from their beggary? or muft they, like the wretch condemned to the rack, beftow what remains after existence to the executioner that broke him on the wheel! Nature, furely, could not mark the Irish people alone for wretchedness: fhe gave them a happy climate, abundant fertility, and harbours that courted the commerce of the world. We could not be, like the Jews, curfed from generation to generation, that the favoured inhabitants of G. Britain should smuggle our trade from us, and leave us the forlorn dependents of her charity,-the victims of her cruelty. Circumstanced thus, there are no means now left to enable us to answer the demands of G. Britain, but by oting a fhort money-bill, and making her comply with our neceffities. Nothing fe now remains to work our political refervation, and Ireland will fpill the laft Irop of her blood before she is forced by as made by an English parliament. If ninifters want to remedy thefe evils, let hem discharge their placemen, their enfioners, thofe reptiles of the state and ermin of the conftitution. How could ninistry promife a fupply, when they new no means were left for that purofe? I want no place, having, in what egards myfelf, added a beatitude to the ine, Bleffed is he that expects nohing; for he will never be difappointed." Mr Forfter faid, No more was denanded than to go as far as our abilities would enable us; that a debt had been ontracted, and the honour of the nation was pledged to discharge it. Mr Yelverton replied, That we ought ot to pledge ourfelves for what we ould not pay. It was iniquity to con. ract debts in the hour of bankruptcy. le therefore moved, That before the Ford "government" in the addrefs, he following amendment fhould be made, ftead of the words as they then flood, Your Majefty may rely upon our fuport, as far as the abilities of this impoerished country will admit." Sir Hercules Langrish infifted, That ≈ we had last feffion contracted a debt if 300,000l. we were in equity bound pay it. The Hon. Gentleman had nade it doubtful whether we were bound pay our debts; but it was overturning very fyftem of public credit, to ftart 1ch an idea where parliamentary faith ad been already plighted. He was followed by Mr Chapman,* who entered into our hardships with as hearty a zeal as Mr Yelverton; but as they had hitherto gone through the bufinefs of the nation hand in hand, each fide of the Houle folicitous to procure the happy purposes of a free trade, he would recommend it to his Noble friend to withdraw his amendment, and let the address stand in its prefent form; as the parliament of England was thortly to meet, and we might then expect the completion of an object through which we had gone with fuch unanimity. Mr Monk Mafon enlarged on the neceffity of paying the national debt. Refources were ftill to be had, to fupport the dignity and credit of parliament. The fubfifting duties were still adequate to a great part of the burthens of the ftate, and he doubted not the wisdom of parliament did not want means to fupport the contingencies of the nation. Mr Pontonby afferted, That we could make no debt good but that due last ses-. fion of parliament; promited to go into a fhort money-bill with all his heart, at any time it thould be deemed neceffary, during this feffion, if his Hon. friend would withdraw his motion, to preferve that unanimity which had hitherto mark-: ed the proceedings of parliament. Mr Yelverton faid, he fhould be fatisfied to withdraw his motion, but that an Hon. friend (Mr G-n) had whispered him his fufpicions that fome new taxes were intended. Sir H. Langrish rose to exculpate himfelf from any knowledge of new taxes; whereupon Mr Yelverton withdrew his motion. Mr Daly rofe to observe, that he belie ved his Hon. friend had reafons for his fufpicions. The train or public measures had in general been deceitful, and adminiftration were no more to be trusted now than when they had given former proofs of duplicity. Mr Putland (member for Ratoath) faid, That the King's anfwer contained nothing which could amount to a relief of this country: That, "upon mature deliberation," Ireland was to be relieved along with the reft of the British dominions, which, by parity of circumstances, almost precluded hope from forming a with towards it. It is the practice of England to procraftinate: it is the practice of miniftry not to do any thing for any part of the British dominions, which is for the intereft or wishes of that part of the empire. Beaten by one power, bullied by others, despised by all,-this, and this only, is the time to make them do us right. The murderous and im pious trade-laws, which reduced this country to the worst pitch of calamity, fhould now be annihilated, never to know a hated return. Mr Corry (member for Newry) thought a fhort money-bill the only means of ob. taining a free trade. He must confider the anfwer of the King as the answer of the minifter: After bringing you to poverty,-after reproaching you with that misfortune, by feeming to pity your diftrefs, without applying a relief to it, he compaffionately bids you wring more out of your pover. ty. He bids the beggar part with his laft rag, and thank Heaven that he had left him a skin to cover him. The Hon. member would not, however, deviate from the general sense of the House, and he would wait as patient as the rest for the "fuller hand of future charity." The addrefs was then agreed to. The Lords having met Nov. 3. purfuant to adjournment, the Lord Chancellor reported from the Lord Lieutenant the King's answer to their Lordfhips addrefs, viz. His Majefty returns his thanks to the Houfe of Lords for their dutiful and loyal addrefs. The affurances they there in give of their affection for his Majefty's perfon and Royal family, and of their zeal for the honour of his government, cannot fail of being particularly agreeable to his Majefty in the prefent critical fituation of affairs. His Majefty receives with great concern the reprefentation made by the Houfe of Lords of the diftreffes of the kingdom of Ireland; and being ever anxious to promote the interefts of all his fubjects, will readily concur in every measure that fhall appear, upon mature deliberation, moft likely to contribute to their general hap. pinefs and profperity. The attention which the House of Lords are determined to give to fuch domestic regulations as are neceffary to promote the happinefs and welfare of his fubjects of Ireland, is extremely fatisfactory to his Majefty; and they may always depend up. on his Majefty's favour, protection, and fupport." An address of thanks for his Majefty's most gracious answer was agreed to, and a committee was appointed to prepare it. On the roth of November Mr Kearney obferved, that there had been for the last year a decrease in the revenue of the hearth-money of 1029 l.; and as that tax principally lay on the poor, above 100,000 of whom had been set adrift, as wanderers, in the prefent deplorable times, he thought, in justice and humanity, fomething thould be done to cal that wretched body of people; he, there fore, previous to fuch relief, moved, "That the proper officers do lay before the Houfe an account of all the hearths in this kingdom; fpecifying the number in each house." Mr Monk Mason said, that there was an increase of 715 1. in the hearth-money collection of the two laft years. Sir Boyle Roche faid, that by far the greater number of cabbins in this kingdom which paid hearth-money had na chimney at all, but the common apertures which received the air, discharged the smoke; he therefore moved, "That the proper officers do lay before the Houle, the number of houfes in thi kingdom, on the 25th of November 17: with only one hearth." Mr Grattan rofe, not to oppofe the humane intentions of any member, but to point out the inconveniency of intr ducing any matter at this time which could give government a pretext for a new tax in the room of it. If the hearthmoney was abolished, a window-tar might be introduced in the room of it; and it would be highly hazardous to introduce any new tax at the prefent hour. It was dangerous even to touch upon a new tax, though in the room f an old one. Affociations were already formed all over Ireland, by the cont tuents who returned the members of the Houfe, never to give a vote to that men» ber who should accede to any new to until the delires of the people and pr liament were fulfilled, by granting Ireland a free trade to enable her to rai these taxes. It were therefore better to let all business stand still until we rece ved an answer to our requisition from England. It was irkfome, impolitic, r dangerous, to propofe any tax until th3 important end is attained. Mr Kearney, in fupport of his motion, defcribed the pitiable fituation of the poor of this kingdom: fo miferable, deed, were they, that when the colle |
