Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-07-17 00:00:00, page 6

Yet conclude not from this that we propofc to fur
ender our property into the hands of your ministry,
or vest your parliament with a power which may
terminate in our deftruftion. The great bulwarks
of our constitution we have desired to maintain by
every temperate, by every peaceable means ; but
your ministers (equal foes to British and American
freedom) have added to their former eppreffions an
attempt to reduce us by the sword to a base and ab
jett submission. On the sword therefore we are
compelled to rely for protection — Should victory de
clare in your favour, yet men trained to arms from
their infancy and animated by the love of liberty,
will afford neither a cheap or easy conquest. Of
this at lead we are assured, that owr Itruggle will be
glorious, our faccefs certain, since even in death we
ffiall find that freedom which in life you forbid us
to enjoy.
Let us now afc what advantages are to attend our
reduction ? the trade of a ruined and desolate coun
try is always inconsiderable, its revenue trifling;
the expence of fubjetling and retaining it in fub
jedioc certain and inevitable. What then remains
but the gratifications of an ill judged pride, or the
hope of rendering us subservient to designs on your
liberty.
Soldiers who have sheathed their fwerds in the
bowels of their American brethren, will not draw
them with more icluClance against you. When too
late you may lament the loss of that freedom, which
we exhort you, while still in your power, to preserve.
On the other hand, ffiould you prove unfucccfs
ful ; should that connection, which we most ardent
ly with to mantain be dissolved ; Ihould your mi
nisters exhaust your treasures ; wafta the blood of
your countrymen in vain attempts on our liberty ;
do they not deliver you, weak, and defencelefs to
y@ur natural enemies ?
Since then your liberty, must be the price of your
victories ; your ruin, of your defeat: What blind
fatality can urge you to a pursuit deftruCtive of all
that Britons hold dear?
If you have no regard to the connexion that has
for ages subsisted between us; if you have forgot
the wounds we received fighting by your fide,
for the extension of the empire ; if oar commerce is
an object below your confideratioa ; if justice and
humanity have loft their influence on your heaits,
still moty/es are not wanting, to excite your indig
nation at the measures now pursued : your wealth,
your honour, your liberty are at stake.
Notwithstanding the distress to which we are r^
duced, we sometimes forget our own afflictions, to
anticipate and sympathize in yours. We grieve that
rash and inconsiderate councils Should precipitate the
delirudiqp of an empire, which has been the envy
and admiration of ages. And call God to witness!
that we would part with our property, endanger our
lives, and facrifice every thing but Liberty to redeem
you from ruin.
A cloud hangs over your heads and ours; e'er this
reaches you, it may probably have barft upon us ;
let us then, before the remembranceof former kind
neisis obliterated) once more repeat those appella
tions which are ever grateful in our ears. Let us en
treat Heaven to avert our ruin, and the dellruction
that threatens our friends, brethren, and countrymen,
en the other fide of the Atlantic.
1?; Order of the Congress,
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
A:tefled by Charles Thomson, Secretary.
Philadelphia, July 8, 1775.
X?**+ *** *+* *-# * +4- fol# +*X
SOU rH -CAR 6LI NA, June 25.
In PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
Cbarlefown, Wednesday, June 21, 1775.
Ordered,
" A ' '''" "°°' William Henry Drax ton, the
£ Hon. Capt. Bernard Elliott, Colonel Charles
Pinckney, Col. James Parsons, Col. Isaac Motte,
Col. .Stephen Bull, Col. William Moultrie, Major
Owen Roberts, Capt. Thomas Savage, Capt. fohn
Huger, Miles Brewton, Thomas Ferguson, and Ga
briel Capres, Enquires, be a deputation to present
to his Excellency the Governor the Addreis of this
Congress.
sourH-CAROLINA.
To bis Excellency the Right Hon. Lord William
Campbell, Governor and Commander in chiefin and
over the province aferefaid.
The Humble ADDRESS and DECLARATION
of the Provincial Congress..
May it pleafeyour Excellency,
his Majesty's loyal fubjeCts, the reprefenta-
VV tives of the people of this colony, in Con
gress assembled, beg leave to disclose to your Excel
lency the true causes of our proceedings ; not only
that upon your arrival among us, ycu may receive
no unfavourable impression of our condud, but that
w 3 may Stand justified to the world.
When the ordinary modes of application for re
dress of grievances, and the usual means of defence
against arbitrary impositions have failed, mankind
; enerally have had recourse to those that are extra
<Jinary. Hence the origin of the Continental Con
fs, and hence the present representation of the
de in this colony.
is unnecessary to enumerate the grievances of
• urica ; they have been so often represented that
ui Excellency cannot be a Granger to them. Let
therefore fuffice to fay, that the hands cfhis Ma-'
..fry's ministers have long lain heavy, now press us
.th intolerable weight. We declare, that no love
f innovation, no desire of altering the constitution
of government, no lust of independence, has had the
ie^ft influence upon our councils : But, alarmed and
roused by a lo.ig fuccc^on of arbitrary proceedings
by wicked administrations, impressed with the great
est apprehensions of instigated insurrections, and
deeply affe&ed by the commencement of hostilities
by the British troops against this continent, solely
for the preservation and in defence of our lives, li
berties, and properties, we have beeri impelled to
associate, and to take up arms.
We sincerely deplore those Slanderous informations
and wicked counsels, by which his M jefty has been
led into measures, which, if perfitted in, mutt ire
vitably involve America in all the calamities of civil
war, and rend the British empire. We only desire
the secure enjoyment of our invaluable rights, and
we wish for nothing raore ardently, than a speedy
reconciliation with our Mother Country, upon con
flitutio. al principles.
Confeious of the justice of our cause, and the in
tegrity of our views, we readily profefs cur loyal
attachment to our Sovereign, hi, crown and digni
ty : And trusting the event to Providence, we prefer
Death to Slavery.
These things we have thought it our duty to de
clare, that your Excellency, and through you, our
august Sovereign, our fellow fubjedts, and the whole
world, may clearly understand, that our taking up
arms, is the result of dire necessity, and in compli
ance with the firtt law of nature.
We entreat and trull, that your Excellency will
make such a representation of the state of this colo
ny, and of our true motives, as to assure his Majes
ty, that, in the midst of all our complicated diftrettes,
he has no Subjects in his wide dominions, who more
sincerely desire to teftify their loyalty and affection,
or who would be more willing to devote their lives
and fortunes in his real service.
Ry order cf the IE ovincial Congress, at Cbarleflown,
June zoth, 1775.
HENkY LAURENS, President.
The deputation being returned, the Honourable
Mr. Drayton reported, that they having delivered
the address to the Governor, his Excellency was
pleased to make the following answer.
Gentlemen,
TKNO 1V of no rprefentatives of the people of this pro
vince, except those conflitutien&lly convened in General
Afembly, and am incompetent to judge of the disputes
which at present unhappily fuff between Great-Britain
and the American Colonies.
It is imfoffb/e, during the feort interval since my ar
rival, that Ifhouid have acquired such a knowledge of the
fate cf the province, as to be at present abe to make any
representation thereupon to his Majesty, but you may be
assured that no representations shall be ever made by me,
but what foall be conffent with truth, and with an ear
nef endeavour to promote the real happiness and profte
rity of the province.
"June 21, 1775. WM. CAMPBELL.
Publifoed by order of the Concref,
PETER TIMOTHY, Secretary.
In PROVINCIAL CONGRESS,
Charlefown, Saturday, June 17, 1775,
RE SOCVE 1?, That this Congress shall ex
pire on the 6th day of August next : That a
new election be made on Monday the 7th and Tues
day the Sth days cf August, except in Charleftown:
And that the new members then elected do meet in
General Congress at Charlellown, on th® firft day of
December next, or sooner, if the General Commit
tee shall think it expedient 10 fumm®n them.
R ESOLVED, That each parish cr diftria
shall, at the time cf choosing deputies to attend the
Provincial Congress, likewise choose a convenient
number to form Committees in the said parities and
diftri&s refpe&ively, in order to enforce the differ
ent resolves cf thß Continental and Provincial Con
gresses. By order of the Congress.
PETER TIMOTHY Secretary.
In PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
Cbarlefniun, Thurfduy, June 22, 177;.
RESOLVE D, That ail absentees holding
elates in this colony, except the tick, those
above sixty, and those under twenty-one years of
age, ought forthwith to return to this colony.
RESOLVED, That no persons holding estates
in this colony, ought to withdraw from its service,
without giving good fufficient reafens for so doing to
this Congress, cr, during its recGfs, to the General
Committee.
OR DERED, That the two foregoing resolu
tions be printed and made publick.
PETER TIMOTHY, Secretary.
The Provincial Congress broke up yetterday, after
having spent three weeks, Sundays not excepted, in
deliberating on the present unhappy ilate of public
affairs. Some of their proceedings are publ shed
above; and we are informed more are ordered to be
published.
WATERTOW N, July 3 .
Capt. Tilefton arrived at Newbury last Wednesday, in
21 days from Newfoundland, and informs ns, that a
greater number of vessels had arrived from Europe for
the fifhery than usual, as th# Colonies were not permitted
t® fifh on the Banks there ; but finding they could not
procure flour, &c. feverri vessels returned home before
Capt. Tilefton failed, and many more were loon to fol
low, (their voyages being broken up) in order, it's pre
sumed, to fettle the fare with my Lord North \ \\
The Hon. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq; appoint
ed by the Continental Congress, General and Comman
derin Chiefof all the New. England forces, passed through
this town yederday, on his way to Cambridge, attended
by a Committee from the Provincial Congress, and a
train of other Gentlemen, efeorted by a company of horse
from Marlborough,
There has been an exchange of cannon almost every
day this week past, between the enemy at Bolton neck,
and our troops at Roxbury ; and yesterday morning
about 4 o'clock a very heavy cannonade began and eon
tinned till afterS; but we have not heard of any parti
culars, saving That the enemy fired two houses near the
burying ground in Roxbury, by bombs, and that our
fortes have demolished the huufe lately occupied by Mr.
Brown, on Bolton neck.
I"'R O V I DEN CE, %) i.
By a return made a few days since at the head quarters
of the American army, it appears, that only 48 provin
cials weie killed in thelgie battle at Bunker's Hill, and
131 wounded; 30 of the latter were taken prisoners, and
6 have since died of their wounds in Boston ; the prison
ers that r-uiain with the enemy (z^in number) are like
to recover.
Several persons uho hive escaped from Boston assert,
that the enemy had 1000 men killed, including those who
had died of their wounds by Wedriefday fe'nnight; and
that 700 wounded officers and iohiiers remained then in
hospitals.—The Welch Fuzileers were nearly all cut off;
only one Captain and 17 privates, it is said, remain of
that regiment.
NE W - Y O R K, July to.
Extract of a letter from an Officer of rank and charac
ter ; to a Gentleman in this city, dated Camp at. Cam
bridge, June 27, 1775.
" The date oitke battle at Bunker's Hill, is 172 kil
led, miffing and wounded, on our fide; about §0 killed,
30 wounded and prisoners, the rest wounded and with us,
not ru^ny dangerous. On the part of the enemy 1000
men killed on the foot, and died out of the hospitals be
t re last Wednesday ; 7^o of them remaining wounded,
many of them dangerously.—General Gage cannot afford
to puren de many trenches of us at such a price.
" Latt Sunday General Clinton sent from his campat
Bunker's Hill, a flag to ours on Profpea Hill (within
reach of a 24 pounder from each other) with letters
from our prisoners, informing that they had loft fix of
their number of the wounded, and that they are treated
tenderly, and taken care of by army or town surgeons,
or both, as they choose ; and a means of communication
on like occasions, is fettled between the two armies, both
of which are throwing up works to secure themselves
against each other.
" There have been no skirmishes on this fide fnce the
17th, —at Roxbury th„e bis, Last Saturday the enemy
cannonaded Roxbury, and endeavoured to set it on fire,
but did not succeed ; —Yefterday afternoon some foot
were exchanged between the enemy on the Neck, and our
people at Roxbury.
“ General Howe fays he never saw men behave better
than ours did at the bread-work."
The Mercury Packet, Capt. Dillon, failed yeflerday
with the mail for Falmouth ;—ln the above vefftl went
palfengers Brigadier General Haldiman, Major Hutche
fon, Capt. Bream, William Stark, Esq; of London, mer
chant, and Mr. Edward Smith, with his family.
The report we had last Friday of Boston being burnt,
is without the lead foundation; and we hear was propa
gated by a man that was not in his senses.
Last week Mr. Thomas Lawrence, cf the city of Phi
ladelphia, merchant, was married to Mil's Morris, daugh
ter of Col. Lewis Morris, of Morriffania, in the county of
Weffchefter; a young ladyof gieat merit and beauty.
In PROVINCIAL CONGRESS,
New-York, July Bth, 1775.
THE Continental Congress having recommended it to
the inhabitants of the Colonies, to keep the 20th
d ? y °f July inst. as a day of fatting and prayer ; this Con
gress do ftriaiy enjoin all persons in this colony religi
ously to observe the said recommendation.—And ere be
ing taught by that holy religion declared by the merciful
JESUS, and fealcd by his blood, that we ought to ac
knowledge the hand of GOD in all public calamities;
and being thoroughly convinced that the Gre&t Disposer
of events regardeth the hearts of his creatures, do molt
earnestly recommend it to all men, to conform themselves
to the pure diclates of Christianity, ard by deep repen
tance and the sincere amendment cf their lives, to im
plore of our Heavenly Father that favour and protection
which he alone can give.
A true Copy from the Minutes.
JOHN M'KESSON, Secretary.
PHILADELPHIA, Jdy 12.
Extraft of a Letter from Cambridge, dated July 3, 1775.
" The greatest civility and attention was paid to the
Generals on their arrival at the camp, which was on Sun
day about noon. When they were within 20 miles of
the camp, they received an express, that the Parliamen
tary troops had, on Saturday morning about fix o'clock,
begun a very heavy cannonading on the town of Rox
bury, which continued better than two hours, without
intermifiion, though with little or no loss on the fide of
the Provincials, and that they expelled a general attack
on Sunday about two o'clock, at the time of high wafer;
this we had confirmed, and I believe was prevented by a
heavy rain, which began at half past twelve, and conti
nued till late at night. TheGenerals have spent this whole
day, in teviewing the troops, lines, fortifications, &c.
they find the troops to be 15000 strong, and the woiks
to be in as good order as could be expelled. The Re
gulars have been founding the shore this afternoon, and
we are in some expectation of a visit at the next high wa
ter. Our men are all in good spirits, and wish they may
come out. The best account we can ^t of the late en
gagement it, that the Regulars loft more than 800 in the
fi-td and 700 wounded.
“ Among,he slain are Colonel Williams, Major Pit
cairn, and Major Sheriff; it remains a matter of doubt
whether or not General Burgoyne is among the dead.
This we are certain of, that General Howe commanded
the firft divifien of 1700, and General Burgoyne the se
cond of 1300, and since the battle he has not been fieri
in Boston, 'tis given out that he is gone to England ;
the Provincials had not more than 700 in the action :
The We fli fuzileers, the best regiment in the Englifli
army, carried from the field no more than ft venteen pri
vates and one Captain ; it is also certain Gage left 84.
officers.
'• Tuesday morning, 6 o'clock. Four horses of Preston's
regiment fell into the hands of our centries this morn
ing, which was owing to the Regulars calling in all their
out centies, as they expe&ed a general attack from the
Provincials, which, we suppose, was owing to our view
ing all their lines yesterday evening ; we went so near as
to make them apprehensive we were reconoitring, in or
der to find some place fit to begin an attack. The loss
of the provincials, as by the return made to General
Washington this morning, is 138 killed, 3.1 wounded,
and 7 miffing."