The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-09-04 00:00:00, page 2

PERUSING the General Advertize, of Saturday
Avgufi the 14th, I observe the author of a piece in it,
signed a Citizen of Philadelphia, speaking of the crown's
unappropriated lands, fays, " the brave citizens of these
States were led to believe, that if they rifqued their lives
and gave their present services, nothing more was ever to be
required of them" meaning, I feppofe, as be fays afterwards,
th^t, " these lands and the King's quit rents, would render
unnuce ary any tax which might be laid,and prove a link
ing fun of itfelf, fufficient to wipe off every public debt.''
Without making any ftridures on the injustice of sane of
the States appropriating to themselves all these lands, con
trary to the spirit of the confederation ; to the prejudice of
the others, who have equally fought and bled for them;
on the danger that will hereafter arise from the great supe
riority they will derive from the settlement of such immense
tracts of territory ; the evils that will accrue from opening
a Land-Office at this time,—or without ceufuring those
fervents of the public who signed away the unalienable
rights of their constituents, without reflection or reserve.
I will give the inhabit nts ®f the Thirteen United States
of America, a calculation of the dumber of acres, and the
value of the Crown Lands which Virginia alone claims,
westward of the Alleghany mountains; for the foie of a
part of which, an office is to be opened by that State, in
October next, at Williamsburg, From this calculation
they will be able to judge, whether or not the author was
raiftaken, when he fays, '' These lands,, and the King's
quit rents wouid render unnecessary any tax," &c.—or
whether it is n \ n object to them of consequence fuffici
ent th gave 110. PITS to their Delegates in Congress, to
insist on the King's unappropriated Lands being fold or re
served for the benefit of he Stares at large? The lands
Virginia claims upon the (out-cad fi 1e of the Ohio river,
(for the file of the greater part of which they propose to
open an office next Offober) is contained within toe follow
ing boundaries, to wit : Beginning at the Weft end of the
Southern boundary line of tie State of Pmofy)vania, thence
along the W eflsrn boundary line of the said State, to where
it inter^ds the 40th degree of North latitude, thence along
the said 40th degree to the river Ohio, thence down the
said river Ohio to where it empties itfelf into the river
Miffifippi, thence down the said river Miffifippi to where
the Northern boundary line of North - Carolina firikes the
said river, and extends Eaßward from said rivers as far ds
the lands were purchased from the Indians, before the trea
ty of Fort Sta-nwix, and contains 40 millions of acres.
Now 40 millions of acres at 49!. per hundred Virginia
money (the price let on the lands by that Affumbly)
amounts to 16,000,000 pounds, or 53,333,331 1-3 dollars.
Befitles which, the reru county of Illinois, bounded by the
rivers Ohio and Miffifippi, and by a Weft line from that
part of the river Onio, where the 40th degree of North la
titude crosses it,- until it strikes the said river Miffifippi,—
contains upon a moderate computation 72 millions of acres,
which, at 40 pounds per hundred, amounts to 28,800,000
pounds Virginia currency, or 96,000,000 dollars; so that
the lands they claim and ho(d up for sale, without running
a North Weft cou -fe, ^ (as force gentlemen of that State fay
thev have a right to do) as soon as they get beyond the
Weft bounds of Pennsylvania, at lea ft equals the enormous
sum of forty-four millions of pounds, Virginia money, or
one hundred and forty-nine millions three hundred and
thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three and
one third dollars. What, my countrymen and fellow ci
tizens, have twelve of the United States done, that they
Ihould be excluded an equal participation of the lands in
that immense Western country ? and what extraordinary
effort has the thirteenth (or Virginia) State made, that
the fliould at once grasp and rapaciously seize on one hun
died and twelve millions of acres to the annihilation of her
national debt, and the creating an enormous fund for pur
poses yet unknown ? Whilst all -the other States of Ame
rica, who have bled at every pore, and their very utter
raoft penny taxed for the exigencies of the general good,
are deprived of their unquestionable and unalienable right.
Look well into it ! It does not require much coafideration.
But if it is urged in favor of Virginia, that her charter gives
these lands to her, do not be amused by the machinations
of interested men. I deny that they have such a charter,
end I contend against their futile fre-emptim At present,
however, it's enough that I state the enormity of their
claim, and -,uur cffential injury, to rouse you to an enqui
ry, and manfully vindicate your rights and property.
An AMERICAN.
DEPOSITIONS.
(Concluded from left Tut/doj's paper.)
CARAH TOWNSEND,wife of JeremiahTownfend,jun.
O of New-Haven, te titles as follows, viz When theßritifh
forces entered this town about noon on the §th inst. a par
ty of them soon came tc it house, and in a very furious
manner,and with horrid execrations, seized Mr. Townsend
my hu&and, ftripp< him instantly of his ftioes and buck
les, and then drove dm away witn the point of the bayo
net down to the wh: son board a'veffel, leaving me with a
number of little chi Iren and an aged aunt in the utmost
distress. From tin to time afterwards other parties of
them came into th rouse, whom I endeavoured to oblige
and mollify as tar as I p flibly could, by giving victuals
and drink as they desired or ^ ould accept. Yet they plun
dered, took away or spoiled the goods of the house, and
threatens my life with the most shocking execrations, till
taro' my eart,. and the cries of my children, I was
ready to fink ^d quite give out. Late in,the afternoon,
understanding that Sir George Collier was in the next
house, I resolved to make application to him for some pro
teaion or relief from such perpetual abuses ; hoping that
an officer of such diftinaion, as I understood he was, would
at least ad the gentleman, and take pity on me. I set out,
met him in the street, and made application to him in the
most complaisant manner I was able, having a child hang
ing on e^ch fide of me, and a babe in my arms. He heard
my mournful story, but answered me roughly, faying, he
supposed my husband was a rebel, &c. I told him my
husband was quiet in his own house when taken, had not
been in arms that day, &c. At length looking on my babe,
he fays: " You bane got aprett, child there, is it,ours ?"
I told him it wast/he then said to me, Are you willing it
fhouid be cut up, and made apye off The Congress, they
fay, eat fueb pies, and the, are very good. To which I
made no dire— reply, but felt so as lam quite unable to
To the P ÜBLI C.
An account of the cruelties and barbarities which I re
ceived from the British soldiers after I had surrendered
myfelf a prisoner into their hands.
IT is unnecessary to relate all the leading circumflances
which threw me in their way. It may fuffice just to ob
serve, That on Monday morning, the sth instant, the
town of New-Haven was justly alarmed with very tbreat
ning appearances of a speedy invasion from the enemy.
Numbers went out armed tooppofe them. I among the rest
took the flation aligned me upon Milford-hill, but was
soon directed to quit it, and retire further North, as the
motion of the enemy required. Having gone as far as I
supposed was fufficient, I turned down the hill to gain a
little covert of bullies, -which I had in my eye, but to my
great surprise I saw the enemy much nearer than I expect
ed; their advanced guard being little more than >0 rods
diftaut. Plain open grounds between us. They in ftant
ly fired upon me, which they continued till I had ran a
dozen rods, difeharging not less than 1$ or 20 balls at me
alone, however, through the prefervihg Providence of God,
I escaped them all unhurt, and gained the little covert at
which I aimed, which concealed me from their view, while
I could plainly fee them, through the weeds and bushes,
advancing towards me, within about ig rods. I singled
out one of them, took aim, and fired upon bim. I loaded
my musket again, but determined not to difeharge it any
more ; and as I law I could not escape from them, I sur
rendered myfelf a prisoner. Accordingly, when they came
within about two rods of me, I cried out to them, that I
surrendered myfelf their prisoner, I begged for quarter,
and that they would spare my life. They drew near to me,
I think two only in number, one on my right hand and
the other or my left, the fury of ioferuals glowing in their
faces. Theycalled meadamn'd old rebel, and (wore they
would kill me inflamly. They demanded, What did you
fire upon us for? I replied, because it is the exercise of war.
Then one made a pass at me with his bayonet, as if he de
signed to thrust it through my body. With my hand I toft
it up bom its direction, and sprang in so near him, that
he could not hurt me with his bayonet. I ftitl continued
pleading and begging for my life, with the utmost impor
tunity, using every argument to mollify them and induce
them to defi ftfrom their murderous purpose. One of them
gave me four gashes on the head, with the edge of his
bayonet, to the fcull-bhne, which caused a plentiful effu
fion of blood. The other gave me three flight pricks with
the point of his bayonet, on the trunk ofmy body, but they
were no more than skin deep. But what is a thousand times
worse, than all that has been related, is the blows and
bruises which they gave me with the heavy barrels of their
guns on my bowels, by which I was knocked down once
or more, and almol deprived oflife, by which bruises I
have been almoftconfined to my bed ever since. These
feenes might take up two minutes of time. They then
seemed to desist a little from their design of murder, after
which they flripped me of my shoe and knee-buckles, and
also my flock-buckle. Their avarice further led them to
rob me of my pocket-handkerchief, and a little old tobac
co-box. They then bid me march towards the main bo
dy, which was about 12 rods distant, where some officers
soon enquired of me who I was. I gave them my name,
Ration and chara&er, and begged their protection, that I
might net be any more abused or hurt by the soldiers. But
I was soon robbed ofmy shoes, and was committed to one
of the most unfeeling inhuman Savages that ever breathed.
They then drove me with the main body a hasty march of
five miles or more, which I walked without shoes. During
the march I was insulted in the most shocking manner by
the ruffian soldiers, many of which came at me with fixed
bayonets, and swore they would kill me on the fpet. They
damned those that took me, because they spared my life.
Thus, amidst a thousand insults, my infernal driver has
tened me along fafter than my Rrength would admit in the
extreme heat of the day, weakened as I was by wounds
and loss of blood, which, at a moderate computation,
could not be less than a quart. And when I failed in some
degree through faintnefs, he would flrike me on the back
with a heavy walking ftaff, and kick me with his foot. At
length, by the fopporting power of God, I arrived at the
Green in New-Haven, but my life was almost spent, the
world around me several times appearing as dark as mid
night. I obtained leave of an officer to be carried into the
widow Lyman's, and laid upon a bed, where! lay the rest
ofthe day and succeeding night, in such acute and excru
ciating pain as I never felt before.
NAPHTALI DAGGETT.
New-Haven, July 28, 1779. Personally appeared the
Reverend Do&or Naphtali Daggett, and made oath to the
foregoing account as true and genuine, before me,
DAVID AUSTIN, J. P.
•eprefs, but Hill importuned for some relief, force protec
tion. He at last told me, "You may tell them, Sir George
Collier fays, they must not hurt you," and went off. I
complied with his directions, but to very little effect This
isa just, the' a very partial or imperfeft, representation of
the abuse and cruel treatment I received. b
SARAH TOWNSEND.
New-Haven, July 26, 1779, Personally appeared Sarah
Townsend, and made oath to the truth of the above de
position, before me,
SAMUEL BISHOP, Jun. J. P.
ABIGAIL ENGLISH, Wife of Capt Ben.
jamin English, of New-Haven, oflawful age, teftifies and
fays : That on the sth day of July instant, when the Bri
tish troops came to New- Haven, Mr. Benjamin English,
aged about seventy-sour years, was in his house alone, she
saw a number of the British soldiers at his well, drinking
water ; that soon after flie saw a soldier come out at the
back door of the house, said English came to the door,
with his hand at his breast, and the blood running, and
he crying out he has flatbed me, he has fiabbed me ; she
asked him why he stabbed him, he answered he could not
tell, for he had humoured them as much as lay in his pow
er, and he walked about two rodsand fell down, and in
stantly expired. There appeared three wounds in his
breast, as if made with a bayonet ; that she went into the
house, found blood in the great chair in which he was wont
to set, and where she has the utmost reason to suppose he
received his mortal wound. And further faith not the de
ponent ABIGAIL ENGLISH.
The above deposition sworn to by Mrs. Abigail Engliffi,
this 28th day of July, A. D. 1779. before
ENEAS MUNSON, J. P.
At the Forks of Little Egg-harbour, on the twenty
third day of September inst.
TH E armed cutter INIREPI D, lately from
New York, captured by the sloop Argo and bri
gantine Saratoga, with her guns and appurtenances.
She is an exceeding fine vessel of about one hundred and
ten tons, well fitted for a five months cruize, and is re
puted to be the fwifieft failing vessel in America. She
mounts ten vey neat double fortified 4 pounders, four
cohorns and fix swivels; the has also a large number of
mutkets, pistols, cutL&s, hand-cuffs, thumb-screws,
&c. and is furnithed with a compleat medicine chest,
two lets of capital and one set of trepanning instruments,
together with a very good colleftion of medical and
chirugical books. The books, medicines and instru
ments will be fold Separately. The cutter may be fitted
to go to sea in a very short time;
At the fame time and place will be fold, the prize
brigantine CHANCE, lately from London, bound
to New-York, with her appurtenances, and cargo con
sisting of bread, beef, pork, fleur oatmal, butter, oil,
vinegar, &c. She is a veiy fine brig of about two hun
dred tons burthen, and exceedingly well found.
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,
On Thursday the sixteenth of September inst. at Two
o'clock P. M. at the Four-lane Ends, Bucks county,
A VALUABLE little FAR M, or tra& of forty
seven acres of land, situated in one corner of the
croftings of the great roads leading from Philadelphia to
Trenton and from Bristol to Newtown, eight acres of
which may be made at little expence (three watered)
excellent meadow, five acres wood, and the remainder
remarkable good arable land, whereon is ere&ed at the
interfefbon of said roads, an elegant brick two-story
house, almost new, with three rooms on a floor, a good
cellar under the whole, a large brick kitchen and other
necessary buildings, all beautifully situated in a remark
able healthy and pleasant part of the country, and a
most extraordinary feat for any kind public business, in
particular that of merchandize, it being distant twenty
two miles from Philadelphia, (even from Bristol, and
four from Newtown ; lately purchased by the fubferiber
#of the Commissioners of confifcated estates for Bucks
county, as the forfeited estate of his father. Any per
son inclining to fee the premises may view the fame by
applying at said houfe.\
Sept. 2 . , J. HICKS.
ANEGROE WOMAN with a young Child
to be hired, either ia the country or city, she can
spin and do any house work. For particulars apply to the
Printer.
Gentlemen,
NEAR seventeen years havi expired since you firft
chose me to represent you in General Assembly.
The continuation of that choice, especially during the
lift five years (when I refilled cut of your State) exhibits
the strongest proofs of your approbation of my political
condud, and must manifeft to the world, that the senti
ments of the representative and the represented, particu
larly refpe&ing the great and important ccntqft with
Great-Britain, and the measures adopted to obtain peace,
liberty and fafety, were the fame. Your affairs now
wear the most promising afpsft both at home and abroad ;
and, as I find it to be absolutely impra&icable for me to
difeharge my duty to you as I with in my present station,
I must reiterate my request, that at the ensuing annual
election you will be pleated to choose some uil^r perlon
to occupy the feat I have the honor to fill in your Legif.
lalure. I am, GeniPmen, with the utmost gratitude
and refpe&, Your most devoted,
i and very humble servant,
'. THOMAS M'KEAN.
Philadelphia, Sept. 3, 1779.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS the Honorable Thomas M'Kean,
Esq; Chief Justice, William Augustus At
Lee, E q; second Justice, and John Evans, Elq; third
Justice of the Supreme Court, and of th Courts 0^ O er
and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery for the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania, have issued their precept,
bearing date the 21st instant, to me direded, for hold
ing a Court of Oyer and Terminer and General G ol
Delivery at the State-boufe in the city of Philadelphia
for the city and county o' Philadelphia,,on Monday the
twentieth day of September next: NOTICE is here
by given to all justices ofthe Peace, the Coroner, Ef
cheator and Constables, within the said city and county,
that they be then and there in their own performs, with
their rolls, records, indiaraectu, and other remem
brances, to do those things which to their offices in that
behalf appertain to be done, Also all they who will
prosecute against the prisoners that are or then fhUl be
in the gaol of the Aid city and county, are to be then
and there to prosecute against them as fndl be jiff ; and
all others whom it m^y concern are desired to take
notice hereof, and to govern themfeives accordingly.
Dated at Philadelphia, the thirtieth d%y of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and
seventy-nine.
JAMES CLAYPOOLE, Sheriff.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
To the Gentlemen, Freeholders aadFREEMUN of
the Count, of Newcastle, in the State of Dela
ware.
RETURN of buildings burnt at Fairfield, Bth and 9th
°' J u 'y> '779-
97 dwelling boules, 67 barns, 48 fibres. 2 meeting
houses, i church, 1 courthouse, 1 goal, 2 fchoel-houfes.
Destroyed at Norwalk, July >l, 1779, by Gen Tryon.
130 dwelling-houses, 87 barns, 22 flores, 17 Ihops, 4
mills, 5 vessels, 1 church, 1 meeting-house.
Grain and hay in the barns.
SAM. H. PARSONS.
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,