The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-11-13 00:00:00, page 2

A. Many of them, by far too many, were plundered of
their property wh le they had their written proteaions in
their hands, or in their houses. Friends to Government,
and those difafFraed to Government, shared the fame fate
in a great variety of infiances. Withdrew.
Again called in.
Q Was that last answer given from your own know
ledge?
A. From my own knowledge.
Q By whom were such inhabitants plundered after they
bad received their protections ?
A. By the British and Hessian troops.
0 To your own knowledge?
A. I should be happy if the Committee would let me
explain myfelf. It may be expelled, that I ought not to
answer, to my own knowledge, unless I saw the fad com
mitted. That I did not, andyet I can assign such reasons,
I think, as will juftify me in faying, to my own know
ledge. The people plundered have come to me recently
from the fad, with tears in their eyes; complaining that
they were plundered of every thing they had in the world,
even of the pot to boil their victuals. I myfelf drew a me
morial to Sir William Howe, in behalf of a friend to Go
veanment, whohad been plundered of many thousands
in Mideira wine; that memorial wa, presented, the deter
mination of it was referred to General Robertson, whether
the person should be paid for the wine or not (the person
was Mr. Suarp of New-York). This was fettle 1, and
I have reason to k^ow of many other memorials that were
presented on like occasions. I have ften them before they
were presented; and as to the fad of t/ e plunder, many
affi iavits were taken on that occasion by the enemies to
Government, which affidavits were published throughout
all America. Withdrew.
Again called in.
Q Was you with the army when they marched from
Bruufwick to Hillfborough ?
A I was.
Q Do you know of any roads leading round Mr.
Washington's camp at Middle Brook, on the North, by
which Sir William Howe mi ht have patted round be
tween him and t!e Delaware and his magazines ?
A. I never paffid the road from Brunswick to Middle
Brook f.
Q Where were Washington's magazines at the time
you were in camp at Middle Brook?
A His artillery magazine was at Norrington, about
fifteen miles from Philadelphia.—The magazines of pro
vifroos were at Lancaster, Manheim, Carlifle, Lebanon,
and I believe fume at Reading-all in Pennsylvania.—l
(peak from accounts brought to me at New-York, which
I gave to Captain Montrefor.
Q Could General Waflungton, in your opinion, in case
General Howe had crossed the Delaware, have remained
in the jerseys when his magazines were in the places you
have mentioned ?
A. He certainly might if he had chose it, and had de
termined to abide the conferences, which might have at
tended the loss of his magazines * .
Q Do you apprehend he might have maintained his ar
my with provisions and Bores without those magazines ?
A. Not in any short tithe.
Q. Were there any preparations made by General
Howe for crofting the Delaware at or before his march to
Hillfborough, and what were they ?
A. There were a number of pontoons built at New-
York ; a number of flat bottomed boats prepared and put
upon carriages; these Were carried to Brunswick; ta
ken out of the water and put upon carriages at Bruns
wick—they were not carried to HiHfojrough, but left at
Brunswick,
Q Do you know whether the Delaware is fordable a
bove or below Trenton ?
A. In the iummer, it is fordable in a great variety of
places.— In June, July, Augufl, September, and Octo
ber, the passage over is interrupted occasionally only by
heavy rams.—The frefhes in the Delaware generally sub
side in four or five days after the rain ceases.
Q Were there any particular circumftahces to make
you suppose it was not fordable at th it time?
A. Whether the rain, while we were at Hillfborough,
made it unfordable or not, I cannot tell.
Q Have you had your pardon?
A. I have not.
Mere the witness was interrupted, and ordered to with
draw.
Again called in, and proceeds in his answer to the last
question.
A. I did not apprehend, and I am perfectly conscious
in my own mind, that I have never done any thing that
requires a pardbn. I beg that I may have an opportuni
ty, in a brief manner, of xplaining my conduct in Con
gress---and then I will proceed to fh§w that a pardon was
denied, as Unnecessary.-—I went into Congress at the
earned felicitation of the Assembly of Pennsylvania I
refufed to go, unless they would fend with me, as the rule
of mycondua, inflrudions agreeable to my own mind.--
Chey fuffered me to draw up those inftruHions ;--. they
f The chart of New Jersey will ffiew, that there is a
road leading from Brunswick to Bound Brook, and from
thence to Eaftoii ; and it is known that to that part of
the country, which is full of plantations, there are many
reads leading round Washington's camp on his right
and left, in which there can be no doubt but Sir Wil
liam Howe might have passed with his army even to the
Delaware. With these faffs he could not be unac
quainted as the Surveyor of the diftrift in which Wash
ington was encamped, was at the time with the Bri
tish army.
* Had Washington remained in the Jerseys, and per
mitted Sir Wiliam Howe to have p ffed in Fennfylvania
without giving him battle, his magazines of military stores
and provisions must have been loft, if Sir William Howe
had chosen to have taken them - --Philadelphia must
have fallen into his hands, and the whole province Submit
ted. --It is therefore not to be presumed, that Walking
ton would have beeti so destitute o regard for his own in
terest as not to have either fought the Britifh,army in
Jersey, or have left his strong pofl, as it iscalled, and pass
ed ever the Delaware with a view to the defence of objects
upon which the force and exigence of his army so ma
terially depended For these he fought at Brandywine in
August, and tor these he must have fought in New-Jersey
er Fennfylvania in June, or loft them.
were briefly, to Rate the rights and grievances of Ameri
ca,and to propose a plan of amicable accommodation of the
differences between Great-Britain and the Colonies, and
o' a perpetual union ; I speak now from the records of
Fennfylvania, where these inftruftions are. Upon this
ground, and with a heart full of loyalty to my Sovereign,
I went into Congress, and from that loyalty I never devi
ated in the least. I proposed a plan of accommodation in
the Congress, agreeable to my inftrußions ;--fome of the
best men, and men ofthe best fortunes, espoused the plan,
and drew with me. It was proposed and debated a whole
day, and carried upon the question, fix Colonies to five,
that itfhould be resumed and further considered. I have
in my hand the introductory resolve of Congress in my
own writing, which identically was delivered by me in
Congress. It is indorfed in the hand of Charles Thomson,
the then and prefect Secretary to the Congress. The in
troductory resolve is but Short, and I will, therefore, for
the information of the Committee, and in vindication of
my own reputation, beg leave to read it.
He read it as follows :
“ Indorfed, " Mr. J. Galloway's Motion, 28th
September, 1774 "
" Refolded.
" That this Congress will apply to his Majesty for a re
dress of grievances, under which his faithful fubjeds in
America labour, and assure him, that the Colonies hold in
abhorrence the idea of being considered independent com
munities on the British Government, and most ardently
desire the establishment of a political union, not only
among themfelvf., but with the naother State, upon those
principles of fafety and freedom which are effeivial in (he
constitution of all free governments, and particularly that
of the Britifli Legislature. And as the Colonies, from their
local circumflances, cannot be represented in the Parlia
ment of Great Britain, they will humbly propose to his Ma
jesty an^ his two houses of Parliament the following plan,
under which the firength of the whole empire may be
drawn together on any emergency, the interest of both
countries advanced, and the rights and liberties of Ame
rica Secured."
I beg further to observe, before I read the plan, that
my great object was to prevail on the Congress to take the
ground of accommodation, and to avoid that of arms; and
therefore, in forming the plam, I omitted Several things that
I thought might obftru& their taking that ground. Ido
not, therefore, propole it as a perfect plan, not aithoge
ther as a plan of my judgment. Withdrew.
Called in again, and proceeds.
The reason why the plan was not altogether to my judg
ment was, because I thought it would admit of Some very
material additions, and not that 1 disapproved of the plan
as far as it went.
Reads the plan, as follows:
A plan of a proposed union between Great-Britain and the
colonies of New Hampshire, the Massachusetts-Bay,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, the three Lower Counties on
the Delaware, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Caro
lina, and Georgia.
“ THAT a British and American legislature, for re
gulating the administration of the general affairs of Ame
rica, be proposed and established in America, including
all the laid colonies, within and under which government,
each colony ffiall retain its present constitution, and pow
ers of regulating and governing its own internal police in
all cases whatever.
« That the Said government be adminiftred by a Presi
dent General, to be appointed by the King, and a grand
council to be chosen by the representatives of the people of
the Several colonies in their respective rffemblies, once in
every three years.
" That the Several assemblies Shall choose members for
the Grand Council in the following proportions, viz.
New Hampshire, Delaware Counties,
Massachusetts Bay, Maryland,
Rhode-Ifland, Virginia,
Connecticut, North-Carolina,
New York, South Carolina,
New Jersey, Georgia,
Fennfylvania,
who fh.alimeet at the city of for
the firft time, being called by the President General, as
Soon as conveniently may be after his appointment.
“ That there Shall be a new election of members for the
General Council every three years; and on the death, re
moval, or resignation of any member, his place Shall be
Supplied by a new choice at the next fitting of the Assem
bly of the Colony he represented.
“ That the Grand Council Shall meet once in every year,
if they fir'll think it necessary, and oftener if occasion
Shall require, at such time and place as they Shall adjourn
to at the last preceding meeting, or as they Shall be called
to meet at by the President General, on any emergency.
" That the General Council Shall have power to chufe
their own Speaker, and Shall hold and exercise all the like
rights, liberties and privileges, as are held and exercised
by and in the House of Commons of Great-Britain.
" That the President General Shall hold his office during
the pleasure ofthe King; and his assent fliall be requisite to
all a&s of the Grand Council, and it Shall be his office and
duty tocaufe them to be carried into execution.
" That the President General, by, and with the advice
and consent of the General Council, hold and exercise allthe
legislative rights, powers and authorities, necessary for re
gulating and adminiftring all the general police and affairs
of the colonies, in which Great-Britain and the Colonies,
or any of them, the Colonies in general, or ntore than ®ne
Colony, are in any manner concerned, as well civil and
criminal as commercial.
" That the Said President General and Grand Council
be an inferior diflinH branch of the Bfitifli legislature,
united and incorporated with it for the aforefaid general
purposes, and that any of the said general regulations may
originate, and be formed and digested, either in the Par
liament of Great Britain or in the said Grand Council, and
being prepared, transmitted to the other for their approba
tion, or dissent; and that the assent of both Shall be requi
site to the validity of all such general a&s or statutes.
“ That in time of war, all bills for granting aids to the
crown, prepared by the Grand Council, and approved by
the President General, Shall be valid, and passed into a law,
without the assent of the British Parliament."
(To be continued. )
SIR, Charlefioizn, October 22, 1779.
In my last ofthe sth ultimo, I had the honor of inform
ing Congress that Count D'Eftaing was arrived off Savan
nah :
Orders were immediately given for assembling the
troops—they reached Zubly's ferry, and its vicinity on
the iith, and some were thrown over—the 12th and 13th
were Spent in crossing the troops and baggage, which was
effected, tho' not without great fatigue, from the want of
boats, and badness of the roads through a deep swamp of
near three miles, in which are many large creeks—the
bridges over them the enemy had broken down. Ween
carnped on the heights of Ebenezer, 23 miles from Savan
nah, and were there joined by the troops from Augufla
under General M'lntofh. The 14th not being able to
afeertain whether the Count had yet landed his troops,
though several expresses had been sent for that purpose 5
we remained encamped. On the 15th being advised that
the Count had disembarked part of his troops, and that he
would that night take post nine miles from Savannah, we
moved and encamped at Cherokee-hill, nine miles from
the town.The 16th we formed ajun&ion before Savannah.
After reconnoitering the enemy's works, finding the
town well covered,and knowing their determination to de
fend it, it was deemed necessary to make some approach
es, and try the effeHs of artillery. From the 18th to the
23d we were employed in landing and getting up the hea
vy ordnance aad stores; a work of difficulty, from the want
of proper wheels to transport them, the cannon being on
ship carriages. On the evening of the 23d ground was
broke, and on the sth instant, the batteries of 33 cannon,
and nine mortars, were opened on the enemy, and conti
nued, with intervals, until th& Bth, without the wished ef
feft. The period having long since elapsed, which the
Count had aligned for this expedition, and the engineers
informing him that much more time must be spent, if he
expelled to reduce the garrison by regular approaches,
and his longer flay being impossible— matters were redu
ced to the alternative of railing the siege immediately, and
giving up all thoughts of conquest, or attempting the gar
rison by assault; the latter was agreed on, and in the
morning cf the 9th, the attack was made—it proved un
fuccefsful; weiwere repulsed with some loss.
When the Count firft arrived, he informed us that he
could remain on shore 8 days only; he had spent four times
that number, his departure therefore became mdfyenfable,
and to re-embark his ordnance and stores, claimed his
next attention; this was compleated on the 18th.
The fame evening, having previously sent off our sick.
wounded, and heavy baggage, the American troops, left
the ground, reached Zubly's ferry the next morning, re
crossed, and encamped that night in Carolina. The French
troops encamped on the night of the 18th, about two
miles from Savannah ; they were after twenty four hours
to re-embark at Kincaid's landing.
Our disappointment is great, and what adds much te
our sense of it, is the loss of a number of brave officers and
men; among them, the late intrepid Count Pulaiki.
C©unt D'Eftaing has undoubtedly the interest of Ame
ri a much at heart This he has evidenced by coming
to our afliftance, by his con ftast attention during the siege,
his undertaking to reduce the enemy by assault, when he
despaired of effecting if otherwise; and by bravely putting
himfelt at the head of his troops, and leading them to the
attack; in our service he has freely bled; I feel much for
him, for while he is fuffering the distresses of painful
wounds, he has to combat chagrin. I hope he will be
consoled, by an assurance that, although he has not suc
ceeded according to his wishes, and those of America, we
regard with high approbation his intentions to serve us,
and that his want of success will not lessen our ideas of
his merit.
I should have enclosed a lift of the killed, and wound
ed, in the last a&ion; but the Adjutant-General, in
whose hands they are, tho' on his way, is not arrived in
town. But so far as J can remember the whole amount is
170.
Major Clarkfon will have the honor of delivering thisg
from his attention and assiduity in service, be has had an
opportunity of remarking each particular, this his merit
has improved; and enables him to give Congress every
fatisfaftory information. To him I beg leave to refer them
for a minute detail.
I have the honor to be, with the highest regard and
esteem, Your Excellency's
most obedient servant,
^.Lincoln.
His Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esq;
President n Congress
Publtfoed by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON,' Secretary.
" I FEEL the most grateful sensibility for the honor you
have now done me, which is greatly enhanced by the una
nimity with which it is accompanied. The kind support
which I have upon all occasions received from the repre^
Thursday came on the eledioß of a President and Vice
President of the Supreme Executive Council of this Com
monwealth. The Honorable the Speaker of the House and
the Members of the General Assembly attended in the
Council Chamber, and were received by His Excellency
the President and Council. They immediately proceeded
to the eleHion, and His Excellency JOSEPH REED,
Esq; was unanimofly chosen President, and the Honora
ble WILLIAM MOORE, Esq; was unanimously chosen
Vice President. Whereupon a declaration of the eleHion
being read was signed by His Excellency the President and
Council, and by the Honorable the Speaker of the House
and Members of the General Assembly. His Excellency
then addreffc-d the Council and General Assembly in the
following terms.
“ GENTLEMEN.
T R EN T O N, November 10.
We are informed that the enemy, to the number of about
1500 or 2000, are upon Staten-Island, and have colleaed a
considerable number of flat-bottomed boats at Billop's
Point, in order, it is said, to make a defeent into this
State; but, from the disposition of Several detachments of
the Continental army, as well as our militia, we flatter
ourselves they will be fruftrated in their predatory design.
By several corroborating accounts we learn, that the
enemy at New-York are preparing for a large embarka
tion, but their destination is not yet certainly known.
PHILADELPHIA, November 13.