Mr, GRIEVE presents his most respectful compliments to Sir Walter Blackett, and begs leave to inform him that he has brought to Town with him a petition and memorial to His Majesty, praying for lenient measures with America, signed by twelve hundred and ten burgesses, traders, and inhabitants of Newcastle, who are desirous of having it presented to the King by their Representatives, and in consequence have directed Mr. Grieve to deliver it to their care, if they shall think proper to sign and present it. Mr. Grieve will have executed his commission satisfactorily to himself, as well as the gentlemen of Newcastle, if Sir Walter Blackett and Sir Matthew Ridley fortunately approve of it, and, by signing and presenting it, will adopt and give their sanction to the measure.

Sunday morning, half past 11 o’clock, Nov. 5, 1775.

The same was addressed to Sir M. W. Ridley. Both the gentlemen desired to see copies of the Petition; which being sent them, they returned the following answers:

Sunday evening, November 5, 1775.

SIR: Please to accept the following, as my reasons for not signing and presenting to His Majesty the petition and memorial, of which you sent me a copy this morning. It being my opinion that, by the Constitution of our Country, the legislative authority of the Parliament of Great Britain extends over her Colonies, and that they are now in rebellion against that authority; and observing that the petition and memorial does not assert that right of Parliament, nor make a proper submission from the Colonies to that right of Parliament a previous condition for His Majesty’s gracious consideration of their case, I must beg leave to decline signing and presenting the petition and memorial. I beg leave further to observe, that His Majesty’s late gracious speech to his Parliament points out to the Colonies the certain means of reconciliation, and consequently that they have in their own hands the mutual peace and prosperity of themselves and their Mother Country, whenever they shall please to become loyal subjects, and return to their allegiance.

I am, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

W. BLACKETT.

Burlington-street, November 6, 1775.

SIR: I have received the petition and memorial, containing the opinion of many of the free burgesses, traders, and inhabitants of Newcastle, on the measures which have been pursued in the present unhappy situation of our affairs in America, expressing a general disapprobation of them. As I have had an opportunity of expressing my opinion upon them in Parliament, (for I presume those are the measures and advice alluded to, ) to some of which I thought proper to give my assent, and opposition to others, it would not be a consistent part for me now to include the whole in one general censure; nor can I agree in the character attributed to the Americans, as to their gratitude and loyalty. I believe their warmest advocates will not deny that they are at present in arms against this Country—justifying their rebellion by a denial of the legislative authority of this Kingdom—obedience to which authority, I apprehend, is as much the duty of the Colonies as any other part of His Majesty’s Dominions. I should be extremely happy if their return to obedience and their duty could be effected by lenient measures, (which, I presume, by the tenor of the petition, though not expressed, are the means the petitioners would wish to have adopted.) From His Majesty’s mild and humane disposition, such measures, I am inclined to hope and believe, will be fully tried, before those of a more coercive nature are further pursued.

I shall not trouble you further than to say, that, for these reasons, I must decline signing and presenting the petition and memorial.

I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY.

EARL OF DARTMOUTH TO MAJOR-GENERAL HOWE.

Whitehall, October 27, 1775,

SIR: It being judged expedient that, in order to forward the recruiting for the Regiments serving in North-America, the commission and non-commission officers appointed to one of the additional Companies should be sent to Great Britain by the earliest opportunity; and, also, that one or more commissioned officers, as you shall think proper, should be sent home from each corps, to assist in escorting the recruits from hence, as occasion shall require. I am commanded by the King to signify to you His Majesty’s pleasure that you do consult with the Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s ships in North-America upon the best means of finding a passage for such of the said commission and non-commission officers as are to come from Boston and its neighbourhood, either on board any of His Majesty’s large ships of war that may be under orders to return to England, or on board such transport vessels as you may be able to spare at the time this letter will reach you.

With regard to those which are to come from Florida, being only three commission and three non-commission officers, such allowance must be made to them as will enable them to defray the expense of their passage on board any ships that may offer from either of those Provinces, unless they shall find it more convenient to repair to Boston or New-York, in which case they will take their passage with the rest; the numbers of which, according to the return made to me by the War Office, will be as follows, viz:

From Boston and the neighbourhood: Eighteenth and Fifty-Ninth Regiments, 51 officers, 124 non-commissioned officers; additional Companies, of eighteen Battalions, 36 officers, 72 non-commissioned officers; officers to return home on duty, at least, 18. Total, 105 officers, 196 non-commissioned officers.

From Florida: One Regiment, 3 officers, 4 non-commissioned officers.

It is presumed that, besides the abovementioned commissioned and non-commissioned officers, there may be a considerable number of invalids and discharged men which it will be expedient to send home at the same time, and likewise some commissioned officers, who may have leave to return; you will, therefore, include them in any estimate you shall form for the freight that will be wanted; and I hope that a sufficient quantity of shipping may be spared, without the hazard of sending any from hence at this late season of the year.

Enclosed I send you His Majesty’s speech to both Houses of Parliament, upon the opening of the session yesterday, together with their addresses in return thereto, which I hope will have the effect to convince the leaders of rebellion in America of the firm resolution of every branch of the Legislature to maintain the dignity and authority of Parliament, and open the eyes of those who have been misled by their wicked artifices.

You will see, by His Majesty’s speech, that motion is made of negotiation with foreign powers for auxiliary troops; but it is with great concern I acquaint you, that our prospect of succeeding in our treaty with the Empress of Russia, of which we had so good an expectation, is, at best, but doubtful, and in the present situation is a circumstance of much embarrassment and disappointment.

I am, &c.,

DARTMOUTH.

To Major-General Howe.

WEST-AUGUSTA COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of the County of West-Augusta, on Friday, October 27, 1775:

Major William Trent produced a Maryland Paper of September last, in which, under the Williamsburgh head, of the 8th of the month, as the following paragraph: “By a gentleman who came passenger in the Ship Baltimore, bound for Maryland, we learn that one Captain Trent, a native of Pennsylvania, left London about the beginning of May, being intrusted by Lord North with the sum of £40, 000, to fee the Indians to cut our throats.” Uneasy at having his character traduced in this publick manner, and in order to remove any bad impressions it may have made on such of his countrymen as are not acquainted with him, he thought it prudent to apply to us, to whom he is well known, as well as to the inhabitants in general on this side the Mountain, to have always been a friend to his Country, and at the time produced letters from gentlemen of family and fortune in England, to him, which being