The New-England chronicle — Boston [Mass.], 1776-07-25 00:00:00, page 3

□ HAR LES-T 0 W N, (S.C.) Mty 3^
On Tu Tday afternoon, in a violent tkander
4,rm, the colony bright Comet, lying in the
arbour, was fteuck with lightning; whereby
her miintnift was shivered, and on: of the sail
ors on board killed.
On Saturday night, between no and it o'-
dock, a remarkable large ball of fire was feeo
here : It moved with great velocity from N.
W. to S. E. and emitted a number of sparks,
refemblingthe stars from a iky rocket. It was
visible for about a minute, and on its disappear
ing, a rumbling noise, resembling distant thun
der, was heard for near five minutes after.
Extras of a letter from Savannah River, dated
May 13th, 1776.
<C All the Creek chiefs that were expected
are down, and seem well disposed ; I hope we
Ihall be able to keep them quiet. I have seen
letters from the Cherokees as late as the 7th
inst. The middle and lower towns seem to re
member the good talks at Fort Charlotte, and
fay, that if the Over-hills are for mifchief with
the white people, the great ridge of mountains
ihall divide them, for they will have no hand in
it. Henry Stewart, Captains Colbert and Gift
are in the Over-hills; they came up the Miffi-
Gppifrom the Chicafaw landing, with a large
supply of ammunition, were attacked by the
Northward Indians, who killed three or four of
the Indians, and took or destroyed a part ofche
powder."
The very proportion, therefore, of a negotia
tion, was a proof that Great-Britain persisted
in her incroachments on the rights of the Colo
nies, and was in itfelf an a& of a hostile nature.
On Tuesday another flag fiom the fleet ap
peared, and was met as before, when a letter
was again offered, but for the fame reason as
the former, rejected.
A gentleman from Virginia fays, that Gene
ral LEE had sent there for some troops, who
were on their march for Carolina, when ano
ther express arrived, ordering them not to
march, and by all accounts the fleet has met
with much damage at Carolina, but the parti
culars we have not yet heard.
Wehear from Poughkeepsie, that 23 per
sons difaffe&ed to our common cause, endea
vouring to disarm the friends of liberty, have
been taken up by order of the commute of that
place, who have ordered them to Ridgfield gaol.
Extras of a letter from Newbern, June 24.
_''The fleet, about 40 fail, in all, lying off
Charleftown Bar, a few nights after their ar
rival there, attempted landing in a reavy shower
of rain, and very dark, .on Sullivan's island,
ant a regiment, called the Racoon regiment,
being Rationed there soon put them to flight.
-—I this morning saw a letter from the Adju
tant of the second regimert, dated at the Boun
dary-house, the 15th inst. that lays, the enemy
have totally loft three of their largest ships,
crossing Charleftown Bar, two of 40 and one of
50 guns, and that 2; more of the fleet had got
in over the Bay.—My nephew is just returned
from the Weft-Indies with two vessels I sent to
his care, with a fine cargo of powder, arms, &c.
Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, July 16.
" A letter from North-Carolina of a late
date fays, by the disaster the fleet has received
at Charlcftown, your vessels may go fafe."
- " NEW-Y OR K, July (8.
On Sunday afternoona baige from the fleet,
Appeared in our bay, with a white flag, which
was there met by the General's barge with Se
veral Gentlemen of the army on board. The
flag 'was sent from Lord Howe, with a letter to
his Excellency General Washington. But as
the letter was improperly directed, it was not
received, though much lolicited by the officer,
who, we hear, said it contained nothing of a
hostile nature —that Lord Howe came over
possessed of unlimited power, and was much
concerned he had not arrived a few days soon
er, which would have effected a reconciliation,
&c. However it seems his unlimited power did
not extend even to the neeeffary preliminaries
of a negotiation—an acknowledgment of the
right of the perlons to whom be came, to treat
with him.
Indeed the idea of coming over to propose a
plan of reconciliation, is in every view absurd
and ridiculous, for as the Colonies never in
vaded the rights of Britain, and only defended
their own, there was no occasion at all for ne
gociation. The moment Great-Britain receed
ed from her unjust claims, the war was at an
end.
HARTFORD, July 22; ~
Since our last 6 companies of foot from
Worcester county, and province of MatTachu
fetts-Bay,have passed thro' this town, to join the
Continental Army at New-York.
Yesterday a Courier passed through town,
with dispatches from the Hon. Continental Con
gress to his Honor Governor Trumbull at Le
banon, and the Commander in chief at Botton.
By the above express we are informed, that
the flying camp from Philadelphia and New-Jer
sey, with.a regiment of riflemen, were on their
march for head-quarters at New-York.
Yesterday the troop of Light Horse who late
ly went from this town to New-York returned,
their place having been supplied by the arrival
of the Foot.
PORTSMOUTH, July 20.
An Express passed through this town last
Thursday, who bro't ah account that Captain
Mowat in the Canceaux had taken all the hik
ing boats which lay within his reach, to the
number of 20 fail, at the Edfward of Cafco-
Bay, it's supposed has carried them into Halifax.
BOS 1' O N, Thursday, July 25.
Fhurlday last, pursuant to the Order of the
honorable Council, was proclaimed from the
Balcony of the State-Houle in this Town, the
DECL ARA (TON of the AMERICAN CON
GRESS, absolving the United Colonies
from their Allegiance to the British Crown,
and declaring them FREE and INDEPEN
DENT STATES. There were present on the
Occasion, in the Council Chamber, the Com
mittee of Council, a Number of the honorable
House of Reprefentatives^the Magiltrates, Mi
nifteis, Selectmen, and other Gentlemen of
Boston and the neighbouring Towns ; also the
Commission Officers of the Continental Regi
ments Rationed here, and other Officers. Two
of those Regiments were under Arms in King
ftreet, formed into three Lines on the North
Side of the Street, and in thirteen Divifidns;
and a Detachment from the Massachusetts Re
gimentof Artillery, with two Pieces of Cannon
wa^ on their Right Wing. At One o'clock the
Declaration was proclaimed by Colonel Thomas
Crafts, which was received with great Joy, ex
prefled by three Huzzas from a greatConcourfe
of People assembled on the Occasion. After
which, on a Signal given, Thirteen Pieces of
Cannon were fi^ed from the Fort on Fort-Hill,
the Forts at Dorchester Neck, the Castle, Nan
tafket, and Point Alderton, likewise difeharged
their Cannon : Then the Detachment of Ar
tillery fired their Cannon Thirteen limes, which
was followed by the twoßegiments giving their
Fire fiom the Thirteen Divisions in Succession.
These Firings corresponded to the number of
the American States United, The Ceremony
was elofed with a proper Collation to the Gen
tlemen in the Council Chamber ; during which
the followingToafts were given by the President
of the Council, and heartily pledged by the
Company, viz.
Prosperity and Perpetuity to the United
States of America.
The American Congress.
The General Court of the State of Maffa
chufets-Bay.
General Washington, and Success to the
Arms of the United States.
The downfall of Tyrants and Tyranny.
The universal Prevalance of Civil and Reli
gious Liberty.
The Friends of the United States in all
Quarters of the Globe.
The Bells in Town were rung on the Occasi
on ; and undiffembl^d Festivity cheered and
brightened every Fare.
On the fame Evening the King's Arms, and
every sign with any Resemblance of it, whether
Lion and Crown, Peflle and Mortar and Crown,
Heart and Crown, &c. together with every Sign
that belonged to a Tory was taken down, and
the latter made a general Conflagration of in
King-Street.
Last Lord's Day arrived here, in a Schooner,
in 26 Days from Martinico, Capt. Silvlere, with
Wine, Rum, Sugar, Molasses, Coffee, &c.-
Last Sunday a Ship of 200 Tons, commanded
by james Arnout, was sent into this. Harbour
by Commodore' Hopkins in the George Ship of
War, 'taken in Nantafket-Road. She has on
board 1600 Barrels of Pork, 400 Firkins of
Butter, some Oatmeal, &c. &c.
The Continental Congress have recommend
ed to the Legislatures of the several United Co
lonies to pals laws for punilhing all those who
AiOldchuicus-Bay, Middle Diftrift, IT.
To all whom it may concern.
XrOTICE is hereby given that
the Maritime Court for the Middle-Dif
tria of the Maffachufe+ts-B^y, will be heldte
the Court-Honie in Salem, on Monday the 19th
Day of August, 1776, at the Hourof Fen in the
Forenoon, to try the Justice of the Capture of
the Ship named the Queen ofEngland, of about
200 Tons burthen, (lately commanded by
James Arnout,) and of her Cargo and Appur-.
tenances: Against which a Libel is filed before
me (the said Ship having been taken and
brought into the Middle-Diftri& aforefaid)
by Caleb Hopkins, Commander of the Armed
Ship called tfc George, inbehalf of the Officers
Marines and Mariners on board tae fame Ship,
the Owners or Hirers thereof, and of himfelf.
And the Owners of the said Ship Queen of
England, or any persons concerned, may appear
and (heir cause, if any they have, why the fame
Ship, and her Cargo, and Appurtenances Should
not be condemned.
Timothy Pickering, Judge of said Court.
CALEB call;
HEREBY Informs his good Friends and
Customers, that he has returned to
Charleflowii,yd\eTe he carries on the Baking
Bu£a£s,aad wdl be glad to supply them as ulnaiz
In COUNCIL, July 22, 1776.
WHERE Aj Edward Mitchell,
Theopolis CuJbing and William Drew, Efyrs were
appointed a Committee to provide 1500 Canteens
and 250 Camp Kettles and Camp Equipage for the
last 1500 Men to be raised agreeable to the last
Resolve of the Continental Congress ; andwere di,
rested* by a Rgolve of the General Court of the
loth oj this Infant, to fend them forward to the
several Places and in like Proq ortions with those
by a ReJolve of the said Court, ordered for the
other Forces defined to the fame Place ; which if
complied with will be very inconvenient, and re
tard the Bufnefs ; therefore Refilled, that the
said Committee be and they hereby are directed to
provide and fend forward the aforefaid Articles
forthwith to Charleftown in the Governmen^yf
New-Ham/fire, to the. Care of Samuel Hunt and
- Church, Efqrs. or either of them—by them t®
be delivered, one half to Col. Samuelßrrwer or his
Orders, and the other half to Col. Aaron Willard,
cr his Orders, for the Use of their Regiments—and
this 0) der to be printed in the several News-Pa^
pers in this State without Delay.
A true Copy. Httef.
JOHN AVERT, Dep. Sec ry.
Last Tuesday Evening came to Town fiom
Halifax, Lieutenant Scott, who was unfor
tunately taken Prisoner at the Battle on Bun
ker's-Hill, the 17th of June, 1775. He made
his Escape by breaking through the Goal in
which he was confined, as did also about 14
others.; among whom are, Capt. Martindale, and
his two Lieutenants. Mr. James Carpenter,
with § others, that had made their Escape also,
and got as far as Windsor, 45 Miles from Hali
fax, were pursued by a large Body of Men, over
taken, carried back, and loaded with Irons.
By Lieutenant Scott we learn, that Mr James
Lovell was still imprisoned there, but in a better
State of Health than he has enjoyed since he
was forced from his native Town, and in good
Spirits : That upwards 200 of the Royal
Fcncible Americans, (as they are called,)
had defected their Colours, and were coming
this Way : —That no Troops had arrived,there,
but what have been mentioned in this Paper.
Extras of a Letter from New-York, July 18.
" Letters from Philadelphia by yesterday's post
inform that aSO gun fdp, and two smaller (a let
ter in town fays forties) were loft attempting to
cross Charleftown bar—that the tranfpoYts receiv
ed much damage in attempting to land men on Sul
livan's point ; and that a regiment of ours Rati
oned there, Called the Racoon regiment, repufed
them bravely., The riflemen on Burget point (op
pofte Staten-ifand) killed an officer and wounded
two men, whereof one is since dead, at an aimed
incredible difiance, a few days ago ; The minife
rialifts are horribly afraid of the Jbirt-men."
On the 29th ult. Patrick : Henry, Esq; was
chosen Governor of Virginia, and a Committee
was appointed to acquaint him therewith.
shall counterfeit, aid or abet in cennterfeitiug
the continental bills of credit, or who shall pals
any bill in payment, knowing the fame to be
counterfeited.