Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-13 00:00:00, page 2

/„ ORDINANCE for the R ELI Es of the Pr.i
soners in the federal jails in the STATE of
PeNNSYLVANI A.
WHEREAS at this time the Courts of Justice
within this dare are iurceafed, and all process
and proceedings, by which funs can be legally com
mer.cted, proceeded in, or determined, are, by the au
thority of the p ople, jolty and totally suppressed : And
whereas the detailing iu custody debtors under execu
tion, who are willing to deliver up their estates for the
life of their creditors, or debtors confined under mefae
process, who have no legal mode of entering bail, in or
der to free their persons from imprisonment, is not only
oppressive, but can be of no real benefit or advantage to
the creditors , and whereas a total change of government,
by the affiitance of Divine Providence, has been effefted
within the United States, and afts of grace to criminals
sometimes are granted on events of such importance.
Be it ordained and declared, by the Representatives of
the freemen of thefate of Pennsylvania in General Conven
tion met, That all and every person and persons impri
soned or detained in any jail within this state, by reason
of any process, writ, or commitment, for debt or any
criminal offence whatsoever (except for capital offences,
or practices against the present virtuous measures of the
American flutes, or prisoners of war) be forthwith re
flated and difeharged. Provided always, That all and
every person and persons, who (hall take and claim the
benefit of this ordinance, (hall, before his, her, or their
difeharge, exhibit a petition in their refpe&ive counties,
where such person or p rfons are confined; to the persons
herein after named, letting forth the reasons of such
their imprisonment ; and if he, she or they, so petition
ing, (hill be charged in execution, such prisoner or pri
soners (hall, with his, her, or their petition, annex the
name of his, her, or their creditors, and the debts due,
as near as can be, and certify an account of his, her, or
their whole real and persons! estate, with the securities
wherein any part of it consists, and the deeds, books of
accounts, notes or bonds relating thereunto; and upon
such petitions and ce tificates delivered, the persons here
inafter named, in the relpeftive counties, or any two of
them may, and they are hereby required to, oi;der Rich
prisoners to be brought before them, and administer or
tender to such persons the oath or affirmation heretofore
required and taken in c?fes of irifolvent debtors, by A&
of Assembly of Pennsylvania, made in the year cf our
Lord 1729: And upon having taken such oath or affirm
ation, such prisoner or prisoners Shall make an align
ment of such his, her or their ertate, in the fame man
ner as required by the laid A& of Assembly, and to and
for the purposes therein mentioned, and fubjebt to the
pains and penalties declared in the said A&; and there
upon he, flit, or they (hall be difeharged out of custo
dy; from and after which difeharge, he, she, or they
Shall not, at any time hereafter, be imprisoned for the
fame debt or debts, for which he, she, or they have made
such alignment.
And in case it Shall appear that the person or perforis
confined, is or are in custody upon mefne process only,
the persons hereafter named, or any two cf them, in the
refpe&ve counties, Shall, and are hereby required, by or
der in writing under their hands, to difeharge such pri
soner or prisoners from his, her, or their confinement;
Provided nevertheless. That such suit or action Shall not
Cease until finally determined by due course of law.
And be it further ordained, That George Bryan, James
Young, Jacob Schriner, John Bull, Henry Hill, and Pe
ter Knight, of the city and county of Philadelphia, or
any two f them, be and are hereby nominated, impow
efed and required, to hear and difeharge the prisoners
in the jail of the city and county of Philadelphia ; and
Jdin Wilkinfcn, Henry Wynkoop, and James Wallace,
of the county bt Bucks, or any two of them, be and are
hereby nominated, impowered and required, to hear and
difeharge the prisoners in the jail of the county of Bucks ;
and David Cowpland, John C'reiby and John Sellers, of
the County of Chester, or any two of them, be and are
hereby nominated, impowered and inquired, to hear anti
difeharge the prisoners in the jail of the county of Ches
ter ; and William Henry, William Bowfman and John
Kopfon, of the county of Lancaster, or any two of
them, be and are hereby nominated, impowered and re
quired, to hear and difeharge the prisoners in the jail of
th^ county of Lancaster ; and Samuel Johnston, Maitin
Eychelberger and William Leas, elf the county of York,
or any two of tuem, be and are hereby nominated, im
powered and required, to hear and difeharge the prison
ers in the jail of the county of York ; and Robert Miller,
John Holmes and Stephen Duncan, of the county of
Cumberland, or any two of them, be and are hereby
nominated, impowered and required, to hear and dif
eharge the prisoners in the jail of the county of Curnbef
lahd; and James Read, William Rafer and Daniel Hie
fter, of the count, cf Berks, or any two of them, be and
are hereby nominated, impowered and required, to hear
and difeharge the prisoners in the jail of the county of
Berks; and Robert Trail, Abraham Birlain and Henry
Barnet, cf the county of Northampton, or any two of
them, be and are hereby nominated, impowered and re
quired, to hear and difeharge the yfilohers in the jail of
Northampton; and William Todd, Chailes CiiTnr and
Robert Elliott, of the county of Bedford, or any two of
them, be anl sire hereby nomina-ed, impowered and re
quired, to har and difeharge the prisoners in the jail of
'he county o? Bedford ; and Samuel Hunter, Laughlin
M'C r^ey and John Boyd, of the county of Northum
berland, or any two of them, be 2nd are hereby nomi
nated, impowered and required, to hear and difeharge the
prisoners in the jail of the county of Northumberland ;
and Edward Cook, Robert Hinna and David Simple, of
the county of Weftmoreland, or any two of them, be and
ate hereby nominated, impowered and requTxl, to hear
and difeharge the prisoners in the jail of'the county of
Weftmorebnl. And that all Sheriffs and jailers, here
tofore elected aud appointed, and all other persons with
in this state, give due obedience to the said persons, or
any two or them, within their several bounties, who
have been hereby authorized and appointed to hear and
difeh irge tie prisoners aforefaid.
And be it farther ordained, That the federal aud respec
tive Ihcrifc and jailers of the several and respective coun
ties, heretofore defted and appointed, shall, and they
are hereby authorized, directed and commanded, to keep
in fife custody ill such persons that now are or shall here
after be committed to them for capital offences, practices
against the virtuous measures cf the American States,
and prisoners of war, until they shall be ai'charged by
due course of law, or by the authority of the Honorable
the Corigrefs of the United States.
By order of the Convention,
, GEORGE ROSS, Vice-Prcfident.
Puffed August 1, 1776.
Attefi. John Morris, jun. Secretary.
^^^^^Q^^^'/^-^^^^^^w'X^
L ONDO N, May *.
YE STERDAY there was a levee at St. James's,
at which were present the Dukes of Argyle, Qneenf
bury and Dorfet; Lord Aylesford, Lord Lyttlet% and
Lord Msuntftawart ; Admiral Keppel, Generals Hochart,
Difaqulair, and Keppel.
Alter the levee was over there was a council, at which
were present Lord Gower, Lord North, the Secretaries
of State, Lord Townshend, and Mr. Cattrell.
After the council was over, the Secretaries of State,
Lord Sandwich arid Lord Townfhend, had conferences
with his Majesty.
Yesterday the two Sheriffs, &c. went to St. James's, to
know his Majesty's pleasure, when he would be pleased
to be waited on by the Lord Mayor, Aidermen, &c. or
the city of London, with their Address on the happy de
livery of the Queen, and the birth of another Princess;
when his Majetty was graciously pleased to order them to
come to morrow at two o'clock.
General Lee has fortified New-York in the strongest
manner, several houses have been taken down in order
to strengthen the fortifications, which are now mounted
with 212 cannon, in order to salute the detachment of the
Guards on their arrival, who have orders to land there.
Mr. Naffiu, nephew to Lord Rochford, and Ensign in
the detachment of Guards; was so ill when he failed with
them for America, that his lite was drfpaired of.
The Ministry are now convinced, that the united na
vies of France and Spain are meditating fame stroke,
which may prove fatal to the honor and interest of the
British empire Lori Stormont has been closeted cn the
occasion at Buckingham house, and a certain personage
is said to have spoken rather sternly on his bad informa
tion, refpe&ing the present intrigues between the Courts
of France and Madrid.
The farmers and gardeners begin tocomplain aloud for
want of r in ; the present north-easterly winds, after so
much dry weather, is likely to prove fatal to vegetation
of every krd
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Commons agreed to the report of the resolutions of yes
terday, onwhae oil, flax feed, tens and coffee, mujiihs, car
licies, &c. bounties onjhiys bringing the greateJi quantity of
whale oil from the South, 44. degrees N;rtb ; 50c/. for the
firft, 4.00/. the next, z^ol. the next, tool. the next.
That sf. per begfaad be paid upon flax feed imported into
Ireland, the growth of the Aufrian Netherlands.
That the time for all wing the drawback on the importa
tion of muslins and calicoes, imported by the East-India Com
pany, in 1773 and 1774, be enlarged.
That a further time be allowed to the Edfl India Company
to expose to sale bobea and Jinglo teas, and coffee, as remain
ed unexpired on the gtb of April lafl; or that jhall be imported
before the 7,'fl of December next, with the usual drawback.
That a drawback be allowed on all coals used tn the cop
per works in the iJle of Anglefcajer melting copper ore.
A correspondent fays, Lord Howe goes out to America
with tie fulteft and most ample commission ever given to
a British Admiral. His condu& is to be entirely govern
ed by the nature of things when he takes the command,
without waiting the inftruaions of the Admiralty Lords.
On these terms his Lordship accepted the command. Two
of the Commissioners mentioned are Lord Howe and his
brother, others are mentioned, but various, by different
persons.
Advice has been received by government of four Ame
ricah vefcls that came thefre rd buy vp arms and ammu
nition, having been detained by the Magistracy of Ham
burgh, in order to be delivered up to his Britannic Ma
jesty.
Tufefday the bounty for seamen to enter into the navy
expired, and the Gazette of that night gives no conti
nuance of it.—^ —Q^ere, has the navy got reen enough ?
has the bounty failed of its desired effects? or is the un
constitutional method ofimpreffing to be had recourse to ?
AU the transports have been viclualled at Coike er with
Irish prov # fions, but al the men of war (outward bound)
have received English salt he-f and pork.
Bv a Captain in the army, jolt arrived from America,
we are informed, that he saw many of the provincial pri
soners in the hospitals of Boftm who sternly refuted to
have their wounds dressed ; and in order to save their
rives, they were bound till the forgeons had performed
the operations; but as soon as they were loosed they tore
off their bandages, and died exulting in the glorious
Cause of Liberty and America.
Gen. L.e has parted with all his poss ffions in England,
and has invested igoool. in the bank of Venice.
They write from St. Ml.es, that the commander in
chief of the marine department at tnat port had ordered
four American veifels, laden with muskets, pittols, ba
yonets, swords, &c. to re-land their cargoes and proceed
home in halaft.
Tuesday government contrasted for 20,000 quarters of
wheat, which is to be sent to America by the next trans
ports which fail out of the river. This contrast will
empty all the (hips in the river that could not fi.d ware
house room for the corn they had on board.
The garrison at Gibraltar complain that the purchasing
live stock at Tetuan, for the American service, has made
frefh pfovifions at their market not only dear but scarce.
A gentleman, who came on Friday las: from St. M.does,
brings an account that fix trips from Angelica, laden witn
wheat and 0 her things, arrived there then>th ult. and
that they were taking in return gunpowder, fc: That
each ship had ten guns, befi les swivels and final! arms ;
and that the Captains had agreed to fail together, and to
fight as long as ther (hips would keep above water, in
case any English men of war fhewd attack them.
Three ships have been for some time lying readyat Ca
diz to fail on an expedition to the South Sea, on di:co
veries. A little fanadron went from the H^finnah to
Peru, on the fame business lift N member, which was to
proceed to the north of Cali ornia; it sh >uld ft nr from
these motions of the Sorniards, th^t they were jealous of
the designs of Great-Britam in these parts, and it is not
impcffible that 1+ they meet with Oapt. Cook or 0.f r ktfyty
may att in a manner very little confident with the a^
logy for a peace that funfids at present between tme L^
Crowns.
General Fraser, we are well assured, is to be create
Lord Lov,at, of the kingdom of Ireland; that gentle® ^
through favour of the Crown, already enjoys his p.wt
nal estate equally the fame as if it bad neverbeen forfeits,
WILLIAM SBU II G, Virginia,) iftfouft „
Fincastle, fc. °'
l"p H £ deposition of Jarrett Williams, taken before %
Anthony Bledl ^, a just ce of the peace tor ti^
county aforefaid, being fiift sworn on the holy evangel,
lifts of Almighty God, depofeth and faith, That he kfe
the Cherokee nation on Monday night the Ith ;n!bra
(July) that the part of the nation called the O^mQ
were then preparing to go to war against the frontiers si
Virginia, having perchafed to the amount of 1000 tkhafy
or thereabouts, for mockafons. They were also bratin^
flour for a march, and making other frai like prepay
tions. Their number, from a calculation trade by ths
Raven warriors, amounts to about Lx hundred u<.r£
ors; and, according to the deponent's ideas, he thinks
we may exped a general attack every hour. They pro.
poe to take away negroes, horses, &c. and to kill a 4
kinds of cattle, sheep, &c. for which purpose they ar±
well stocked with bows and arrows, &c, also to deftro,
a ! l corn, burn houses, &c. And he allo heard, Uvt the:
Valley towns were, a part of them, Gt off; but th&
they had sent a runner to stop them, till all were rc@:Jy
to start. He farther relates, that Alexander Cameron &
formed them, that he had concluded to fend Capt. Na^
thaniel Guett, William Faulin, Ifeac Williams, and the
deponent with the Indians, till they came near to Napa»
chukey; then the Ldans we#e to stop, and Guest and
the other whites ab^ve.mentioned were to go to fee if
there were any King's men among the inhabitants, anj
if they found any, they were to take them off to the Ute
dian-, or have a white signal in their hands, or cthrrwjfe
10 distinguish them. When this was done, they were t@
fall on the inhabitants, and kill and drive all they p^%-
bly could. That on Saturday the 6th instant, in th#
night, he heard two prisoners were brought in about;
midnight, but the deponent saw only one. That th#
within Williams law one fczlp brought by a party of ths
Indians, With a prisoner; but, from accounts, they had
five scalps. He also fays, he heard the prisoner examine
ed by Cameron, thou h lie gave a very imperfect ac=
count, being very much cast down. He farther fays, that
the Cherokees had received the uar b, It from the Sha
wanefe, Mingo, Taawah, and Delaware nations; to lbiks
the white people. Thit fi ten of the said nations wei3
lately in the Cherokee towns, and th t few of toe Cite,
rokees went in company with the Shawantfe, &c. Tfo.it
they all intended to (trike the fettles cn Kentucky;
and that the Cherokees gave the said Shawanefe,
four scalps of w'h te men, which they carri d away wj&
them. The said Shawanefe and Mingoes info med th#
Cherokees, that thev then were at ;?;ce with every other
natin: that the French were to lupply them with am,
munition; and that they warned the Cherokees to tote
them to strike the white people on the frontiers, uhi^
the Cherokees have agreed to. And the deponent far,
ther fai h, that before heleft the nation a number of th#
Cherokees of the lower towns were gone to fall on thy?
frontiers of South Carolina and Georgia ; and farther
faithnot. JARRETT WILLIAM S,
Signed )before Anthony Bledsoe.
We have just received at a certain port in this COT&
ny a supply of four hundred and fifty barrels of gw
powder, and near two hundred stand of firms.
Last Wednesday an ex press arrived with the follow
ing account of a battle fought between the militia of
Fincaftle and feme of the Cherokee and Creek Indi
ans, near the Great Island of Helfteib, &a the 29^
of July last:
O N the 19th our scouts returned, and informed o$
that they had difeovered where a great number of fi>
dians wete making into the fetriement ; upon wires
alarm, the few men that were flatimed at Eatons
completed a breaffwork Sufficiently drong, with tte
a^ftance of what men were there, te have repelled ri
considerable number, sent exprefies to the dffeterv.
Rations, and colle^ed all the forces in cue body, and
the morning after about one hundred and fevew#
turned out in search of the enemy^ We marched &
two divisions, with bankers on each fid^, and icou^
before. Our scouts discovered upwards of twenty
meeting us, and fired on them. They returned th#
fire, but our men rallied on them with such violence.,
that they were obliged to make a precipitate retreat.
We took ten bundles, and a good deal of plunder, and
had great reason t» think some of them weie wodneL
ed. This fmal! fkirrnih happened on ground very ddi
advantageous for our men to puriue, tho' it was wri^x
the greatest difficulty our officers could teftraio their
men. A council was held, and it was thought ad
vifeable to return, as we imagined there was a Im„
party not far off. We accordingly returned, and hut'
not marched more than a mile, when a number not,in
ferior to ouis attacked us in the rear. Our men Ink
tained the attack with great bravery and intf^nl%
immediately formed a line. The Indians endeavoured
to surround us, but were prevented by the unc >mmGr
fortitude and vigilance of Capt. James Shelb% w^T
took poffeffi in of an eminence that prevented their &%
sign. Our line of battle extended about a quarter cf
a mile. We killed thirteen on the fp t, whom ^^
found, and have the greatest reason to brieve th^at,per
could have found a great many mote, I ad we h^d tn^
to search for them. There weie streams of bo d ov^.
ry way, and it was Generally thought there w^ *ev,;
so much execution done in so fhorr a time on if;, fr%.
tiers. Never dd troops fight with grater cart : .
than curs did. The Indians attacked us with the.g or.
est fu r y imaginable, and made the most •iigorovu 0^
forts to furreund us. Cur fpi^ realty defend 4^