Narrative of Facts and of the Proceedings respecting an Address from some of the Inhabitants of BRISTOL.

A great number of the citizens of Bristol, as well as many country gentlemen, assembled at the Guildhall, on Thursday, the 28th of September, in consequence of a publick but anonymous advertisement, requiring their at tendance, in order to address His Majesty on the present conjuncture of affairs between Great Britain and America. The Chairman, Charles Hotchkin, Esq., late Mayor, conducted himself in a most unprecedented and partial manner, by refusing a fair and candid discussion of the subject. In justification of the loyalty to His Majesty, the respect for all publick constitutional meetings, the hearty desire to see a happy reconciliation between Great Britain and her Colonies, and the earnest endeavours to accomplish so desirable an event of great numbers of merchants, traders, and manufacturers, and others who attended the said meeting, whose attachment to the illustrious house of Hanover has never been suspected, this account is published to the world of the proceedings of that day, and the part they intended to have acted.

In all questions to be determined at publick meetings, it has been always understood that the persons present have an undoubted right to determine who shall be Chairman; that whenever a meeting of the citizens is called on any publick occasion, the persons attending such meeting have an unquestionable right to canvass and discuss every mea sure which may be proposed; that it is the business of the Chairman to attend impartially to the arguments advanced by the contending parties, to state the whole with candour, and then, either by a fair show of hands, or by a division of numbers, to declare what is the determination of such meeting.

Impressed with these ideas, many gentlemen attended the meeting to hear this important affair discussed; when, to their astonishment, Mr. Hotchkin, the late Mayor, on the very last day of his mayoralty, and not acting in his corporate capacity, took upon himself the office of Chair man, and behaved in a most unbecoming, partial manner. Without putting the question, whether it was the resolution to address, an address was produced. The moment it was read, without asking the approbation of the meeting, he proceeded to sign his name. Many gentlemen present attempted to declare their objections, but were, by violent outrages, rudely interrupted. Mr. Hotchkin’s inattention to these outrages was a tacit, acknowledgment of his approbation. He took no pains to obtain silence, but, by the most barefaced partiality, convinced every unprejudiced mind that, having failed in his attempt to procure an address from the Corporation, he came there resolved to accomplish the purposes of his partisans, whether right or wrong, with a majority or without, and fully determined to put no one question.

After the address had been read, it was objected to, as not being founded on facts, and as leading to widen the breach between this Country and the Colonies. In sup port of these opinions, arguments were attempted to be offered with calmness, unmixed with party or party rage. A dutiful and loyal petition was prepared to be read to them, agreeable to a resolution of a very respectable meeting of merchants, traders, &c., held the preceding day, at the Guildhall, which had been unanimously agreed to after some debate, and after an ample discussion, paragraph by paragraph; also, several resolutions respecting the importance of the American trade. But the Chairman denied them the liberty of presenting the resolutions, or reading the petition, as well as prevented any objections being made, by an indecency never before experienced in any publick meeting in this City.

In justification, therefore, of the character of those gentlemen who were thus, as well as their friends and fellow-citizens, injuriously treated, these facts are stated to the publick at large, that the whole Nation may be acquainted with the surreptitious manner in which an address has been obtained from the citizens of Bristol, falsely dignified with the title of an “Address of the Mayor, Burgesses, &c., at Guildhall assembled” —the Mayor not being in his corporate capacity, and the address being, in a great measure, supported by country gentlemen, who are to be the bearers of it to His Majesty, and who have no trading connection, nor are even residents in a City, the far greater part of whose trade is dependant on the Colonies. It was not agreed to, but opposed; and if a division or a show of hands had been permitted, there is very little doubt but that the majority would have been against an address of the tenour and purport of that which has been thus partially and unjustifiably obtained, and which is evident from the refusal of the Chairman and the gentlemen about him to have the question put.

If any person should be disposed to controvert any part of the above narrative, it will be attested by several merchants and gentlemen who were present.

PETITION FROM THE CITY OF BRISTOL.

Petition presented to His Majesty on Wednesday, the 11th of October, from the City of Bristol, by Mr. Burke, one of the Representatives of that City.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Petition of the Merchants, Traders, Manufacturers, and others, citizens of BRISTOL.

May it please your Majesty:

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the merchants, traders, manufacturers, and others, citizens of Bristol, humbly beg leave to approach the throne with the most respectful assurances of our unalterable attachment and affection to your Majesty’s royal person and family, and of our unfeigned zeal for the support of your Government, the glory of your reign, and the peace and prosperity of your once united and flourishing, but now most unhappily distracted Empire.

It is with an affliction not to be expressed, and with the most anxious apprehensions for ourselves and posterity, that we behold the growing distractions in America threaten, unless prevented by the timely interposition of your Majesty’s wisdom and goodness, nothing less than a lasting and ruinous civil war. We are apprehensive that, if the present measures are adhered to, a total alienation of the affections of our fellow-subjects, in the Colonies will ensue; to which affection, much more than to a dread of any power, we have been hitherto indebted for the inestimable benefits which we have derived from those establishments. We can foresee no good effects to the commerce or revenues of this Kingdom, at a future period, from any victories which may be obtained by your Majesty’s arms over desolated Provinces and an exasperated people. From the consequences of a reverse of things, in the course of human events not impossible, we choose to avert our eyes. We apprehend that none can profit by the continuance of this, war, and therefore we hope none can wish it, except those Nations who, envious of the diffusive liberty and con sequent power and prosperity of your Dominions, are the natural enemies of Great Britain.

We owe a testimony of justice to your Colonies, which is, that in the midst of the present distractions, we have received many unequivocal proofs that our fellow-subjects in that part of the world are very far from having lost their ancient affection and regard to their Mother Country, or departed from the principles of commercial honour and private justice. Notwithstanding the cessation of the powers of Government throughout that vast Continent, we have reason to think, judging by the imports into this City, and by our extensive correspondences, that the commodities of American growth, enumerated by acts of Parliament, have been as regularly brought to Great Britain as in the most quiet times. We assure your Majesty, that the trade of this port, and the subsistence of a great part of your Kingdom, have depended very much on the honourable, and, in this instance, amicable behaviour of your American subjects. We have in this single City received, within one year from the first of September, 1774, more than one million bushels of wheat, to say nothing of the great quantity of other valuable commodities essential to our navigation and commerce. These circumstances we humbly beg leave, with the utmost deference, to submit to your Majesty’s consideration, in order to show that, whenever your royal clemency shall exert itself in behalf of your Colonies, the dispositions on their part to peace and reconciliation are by no means so unfavourable as many persons, from passion of misinformation, may possibly suggest.