Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-17 00:00:00, page 2

CLEVE S, February 20.
T)RIVATE accounts mention, that there has
been great murmuring among the Biuniwick and
Hessian troops, about going t? America; and that two
regiments had mutinied, and killed the Major General,
whb endeavoured to bring them to teafon.
some, March 2. The wan of a proper explanation
between the Pope and the King of Prussia, concerning
the Jefuir, had hitherto delayed the suppression of
that order in his Majetty's dominions ; but this affair is
now fettled; as appears by a writing which the court
of Berlin has transmitted to his Holiness.
I, O N D O N.
March 2. The plan which Lord George Germaine
has laid down for the operations of the next campaign
in Nor;h\America, is for the main army to take the
march along the line of the coast, and utterly to de
stroy every city, town and village on both sea and
great rivers, to which a (hip can come up, which, he
thinks, will entirely cut off all the naval defies of the
Americans, and perhaps prove t!e most effective means
@f putting an end to the war. Several members of the
cabinet second this opinion, which it is imagined will
prove the prevailing one. Lord North is against it.
The Ministry expect every hour to receive an ex
press from Berlin with an account of the death of the
Prussian Monarch. His Majefly has long laboured un
der a complication of disorders, and his' constitution is
totally broke; for several weeks he has been confined
to his chamber, and very few people are admitted to
him. 'Tis whispered at Potzdam, that he has a con
firmed dropsy.
March 7. A correspondent writes, that yesterday
an express arrived at the Miniver's house with advice
that the Hanoverian troops lent to Gibraltar had mu
tinied, and killed all their officers. The Regency of
Hanover have lent over a drong remondrance against
the plan for taking into British pay 10,boo electoral
troops, the fending away of which would leave the
country too much exposed to the suspicious designs of
powerful neighbours.
March 11. A gentleman who arrived last Wednes
day from Paris fays, that the French are in high spi
rits, being in great expectation of engrofiing the whole
American trade —They fay that some persons of dif
tinaion have waited on General Waffiihgton, with an
offer of French troops and (hips of war to oppose the
wicked designs of an English Ministry, upon condition
of their opening a trade with them; that the General
declined giving them any answer, but rtfered them to
the Congress; and that an account was receiyed at
Paris, that the French gentlemen met with a noblf>
reception, and were allured, that if a reconciliation
was not soon brought about between them and their
Mother Country, that they would accept of the offers
of the French Court upon the terms proposed. That
tn receiving this answer, orders were lent to all the
tea ports that such ships as were ordered for the Eatt-
India service, &c. should stay for further orders, but
hold themselves ready to fail at a short notice. He fur
ther adds, that orders were likewise sent to Rochelle,
that transports Efficient to carry 20,000 men should
be immediately got ready for sea.
A letter from Holland has the following article:
“ We on this fide the water begin to entertain but a
very indifferent opinion of the abilities and honesty of
your present Ministry. If they have great abilities, they
are applied to wicked and deftruftive purposes. Your
trade to that vast empire of America, is totally loft,
the credit of your nation in a ruinous condition, inso
much that those here who have money in your funds
are in great pain about it, and I believe will draw it
cut as faft as pollible. Year religion teo seems in
danger ever since the Quebec bill puffed, and should
the Scotch militia bill pass, your whole country will
soon be overspread with a worse than Egyptian plague,
prerogative and arbitrary power."
March 21. The King of Sardinia has acceded, it is
said, to the family compact—ls 10, a war will soon
break out in Italy.
Philadelphia has taken every precaution to prevent
receiving a visit from the King's ships; they have built
forts eight miles down the river, and have not only a
ftr®ng guard in that city, but can assemble, 'tis said,
forty thousand men at a very ihort warning.
The Preston of fifty guns, is ordered to be fitted im
mediately for the reception of a flag officer ; and it is
said, that an additional Admiral will be sent to America.
A letter from Greenock, dated March 12, fays,
“ Saturday last eight of the transports failed from
Cork, with the jift regime' t on board, with a favour
able wind. Next day they were seen clear of the foul
grounds."
A Great Personage, we hear, is extremely well fa
tisfied within himfelf, that the ensuing campaign will
be a conclusive one, and frequently exprefled himfelf
to that effect, adding, “ that he wishes he was as sure
of bringing over a few of the leaders in the pppofition,
as he is of conquering America."
Fraser's new raised regiment of Highlanders are to
be assembled in three divisions on Monday next at Stir
ling, Inverness, and Perth, to be reviewed and ap
proved by the Commander in Chief in those parts,
previous to their embarking at Glasgow for America.
Five hundred bread waggons are now preparing and
will in a few days be (hipped ah board the transports
at P@rtfmcmh bound to America;
March 25. Five fail ofthe lineareorc^N 11 be fi:t
ed out for the East-Indies immediately, in consequence
of advice received of the French armament in that
country. They have eight thousand regulars at the
Mauritius, and fix fail of capital ships. In consequence
of the assurances of the pacific insinuation of France,
we have fuffered them to strengthen themselves in all
parts of the world, ready to attack us whenever they
please.
Orders have been sent to prepare the Warwick,
Rippon, Monmouth, and two other sixty gun ships for
the East-Indies.
March 26. Advice is said to be received from Lis
bon, that fix men of war, and four frigates, were fail
ed from thence for America ; and that they have on
board three persons of diftin&ion, who are gone to
treat with the Congress about opening a trade from
America to Portugal.
March 28. Two regiments ordered to Cork for
Embarkation (of which the 16th was one) have had
their orders countermanded.
Orders are sent to Sheerness for his Majefty'sfri
gate Winchelfea, Capt. Bateman, to be fitted out for
the American ftafion, and a number of hands are now
employed for that purpose.
It was reported yesterday at Change, that as Go
vernment had refufed to treat with the present Con
gress, the Americans have come to a resolution to call
a new Congress, the De'egates to be appointed by
their Affembttes, and not one of the old members to
be in, and that government has a&ually appointed
Commissioners to treat with them, and are to go ex
press before Lord Howe fails.
Extras of a letter from the Hdgue, March 22.
" They write from Vienna, that the Imperial Mi
nistry doth not seem to look with indifference upon the
steps taken by the Duke of Brunswick, and Land
grave of Hesse Caffel, in fending such considerable bo
dies of troops out of Europe, when they know that the
general diet of the empire, affemble'd at Ratifboa, came
to a resolution some years ago, agairift all such emigra
tions of the inhabitants of Germany. These letters
add, that the limits of the principality of Moldavia
are now fettled to the fatisfa&ion of that court and the
Ottoman Porte, in consequence of which considerable
pfefents have lately been sent to Conftantino,le.”
NEW -YO R K, June Ifo
Extract of a letter from Wilmington, Cape Fear river,
(North-Carolina,) dated 17th May, 1776.
" The Generals Clinton and Cornwallis, had form
ed a design to seize our guard at Orton's mill, near
Brunswick, and, for that purpose, landed on the night
of the 10th instant, about 1000 men, above and be
low. We have killed twoof their soldiers, mortally
wounded one of their Captains, and taken two prison
ers; upon which they retreated precipitately, after
Footing an old woman in the thigh, Tabbing another
with a bayonet, and beating out the front teeth of a
th rd.—Our guard cenfifted of about 100 foot, and
20 light horse, the latter did the execution. The of
ficer of the foot having made an excellent retreat, with
a few pieces of artillery, and without horses, when he
was almost surrounded. These circumstances you may
depend on.—Clinton and Cornwallis, when they saw
the poor women, (who were in Brigadier Howe's house)
very g e lerou f? gave them ten (hillings each, as an am
ple compensation for what they had fuffered."
A letter from George-Town, (South-Carolina) Men
tions, that Brigadier General Armstrong passed through
that place about the firft of May, in his way to Charles
Town.
We hear from Morris Town, that, in obedience to
orders received from General Dickenfon, Colonel Ford
drew up his regiment, in order to draught one quarter
of them for immediate service ; who, to the honour of
the county and cause in which they are engaged, im
mediately turned out as volunteers.—lt is to be hoped,
that these spirited people will meet with the applause
they deserve, andencourage others to imitate their no
ble example.
PHILADELPHIA, June ,7.
The fodowirig is the Circular Letter sent to the Committees
ofthe different counties in this province, by the Com
mitteee of Infreflion and ObfervationJor this city and
liberties.
Gentlemen, Philadelphia, Ma, 21, 1776.
WE have, in a former letter to you, referred to
the inftrudions given by the Affembiy of this
province to their Delegates, and they are published in
the Votes of the House ; you will, therefore, not be
furprized to hear that the Delegates of Pennsylvania
did not give their voice in Congress on the question
“ for establishing g vernments throughout the Conti
nent on the authority of the people ;" but, by decli
ning to vote on this momentous occasion, did, as far
as was in their power, withdraw the province from this
union of the Colonies both in council and action.
By the inclofed papers you will perceive the city and
liberties have been convened, and have expressed their
sense on the said resolve of Congress.
We judge the number of people met on this occasion
exceeded four thousand, and confided of that class of
men which are most to be depended on in times of danger.
A change of such importance, as that now proposed,
is not brought about without some contest, arising
from the opposition of interests, and the force of pre
judice in f.vor of old ft c'Ablifhed forms. The af
tociators wll have to contend, in the present inflaoce,
againit the Proprietaries and all their dependants, in
fluenced by felf interest, and holding lucrative offices
under them—with all whom they can influence, joined
by all the avowed, as well as secret enemies ofthe caue
of American freedom.
It will, however, be abfeln'dy necefiary for us to
unite with firmnefs, and pursue our measures with a
Ready perseverance, which will undoubtedly carry us
through every difficulty that may arise.
This Committee have thought the object before us
of such consequence, to the fafety and bappinefs ofthe
province, as to induce us to fend some of our Commit
tee and fellow citizens into each county, to incite such
of the good people as are friends to liberty, and de
termined to oppose the cruelty and injustice of Great-
Britain, to a Spirited and manly exertion of their un
doubted rights and privileges, in the prelent favorable
opportunity of efablifsing them forever.
We have judged this the more necessary, as we are
informed the party, we have already mentioned as our
opponents, will be indefatigable in their endeavours
to fruftrate, by falfehood and every other means in
their power, every attempt which (hall be made to e
mancipate the people of this province from the bondage
in which they have been long held.
To point out the necessity, in our present alarming
situation with refped to Great-Britain, of eftab'iFing
a form of government, capable ofexerting, in the me ft
effe&ual manner, the whole strength of this province,
in conjunction with the other Colonies, for the com
mon defence, by cold reasoning on the fubjed, would
be to affront your feelings as men.—The insults and
barbarity of our enemies are unequalled, and the su
pineness of our government, can only be pardoned in
consideration of the fatal obligations of allegiance, which
the, seem to hold themselves bound to, by their sacred
oaths—a supineness, which, being continued, will in
volve us in distresses too great to be born, and make our
last struggles for liberty but the convulsive efforts of
expiring life. x
From a free government, established on “ the aut.
rit, of the people," and having their interest alone in vieii
we may reasonably expert the manly and effectual ex
ertion of that strength which G>d hath given us foi
our defence, and on which, next to the providence of
Almighty God, will depend the future peace, liberty
and fafety of the whole people.
We have seen. and some of us have felt, the me
lancholy effeds arising from the opposing interests of
the Proprietary and the people.—Who can recoiled
the horrors of the late Indian war, and riot Shudder at
theidea it brings to his mind. Fire, sword, desolation,
and death in the most infernal forms, will be pre ented
t® our view—Parents and children weltering in their
blood—lnfants torn with savage brutality from their
mothers wombs, and madethe food of dogs ! ! !
Objeds yet more terrible than these will press upon
our reludant minds ; obje&s which our fond affection
for the fofter sex forbid our recolledion ! Lit
tle does it avail to inquire ivho mas most to blame, the
Proprietary or the people then in power —lt is plain, be
yond the possibility of a doubt, that the horrid ravages
bfthat dreadful war were long permitted to fp:ead
through this devoted province, by means of the unj ft
claims of haughty and “ absolute Proprietaries." To
rid yourselves for ever of their tyranny is now in your
power.—ls you embrace it, your defendants wi'l glory
in their ancestors.—ls you neglect it, you will eritai' Slave
ry on your posterity, and they will fa/7/y execrate ycur
memory as unworthy of a parent's name. Liberty
&nd flayer's before you, take then yourehoice.—Fer
tis, we %re determined to be free, and invite you to;
partake with us of that freedom which all are intitled
to. If you wish this province to be restored to their
rank in the Continental Union, we recommend to you,
to nominate such a number of your Committee as you
may think proper, to meet throughout the province,
Deputies from the other Committees, in Philadelphia,
on Tuesday the 18th dayof next month, in order to
agree upon, and dired the mode of electing members
for a Provincial Convention, to be held at such time and
place as the said conference of Committees may ap
point Jfer the expreJs purpose of forming and efla biijhirg
a New Government, " on the Authority of t he
People" only, and for the security oftheir peace, liberty
and fafety, according to the enclosed l eccmmend^tio.i
of the Honorable Continental Congress.
We are, Gentlemen, you ^ humble Lrvants.
C(py °f a Circular Letter from the Committee of Safety to
the Committees of Infpe&ion and Observation in the
several Counties of this Colon,.
In C OMMITTE Es of SAFETY,
Philadelphia, 22d May, 1776.
Gentlemen,
WE are under frequent Beceffity of addressing you
upon fubjecis of public concern, of which the
present is not the most unimportant. It is upon occa
sion of the uneasiness and diffatisfa&ion, that we are
told have prevailed in some parts of the country, ca
account of the high prices to which many of the im
ported articles of merchandize, and some necessaries of
life have advanced. But before we proceed further,
it is proper to declare our opinion that the fcareity
productive of these high prices, is not an artificial, but
real one, proceeding from the late absolute prohibiti
ons of one important branch of our trade, aud the