Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-24 00:00:00, page 4

'"t^"'''' '""'"' " JOHN DUNLAP, at the Newest Printing-Office in Market-free!, where
^t^fc'" Shillings per Annum, Advertifernents, &c. are thankfully received for this Paper.
The following Papers are published by order of
CONGRESS
Extras of a letter ;rom General WASHINGTON to
the PRhSIDENFof CO NGRESS, dated Neiu-
York, Augufl 18, 1776.
11l A V E the honour to inclofe you for the perusal and
confiJeration of Congo fs, sundry papers, the whole
ot which, exce, t No. 2 and 7, I received yesterday even
ing by a flag, and to which I beg leave to refer Congress.
“SIR, dh^ufi 17, 1776.
" Being deeply interested in the welfare of America, I
thnk it my duty to communicate a matter of intelligence,
which I fl tter myfelf may be rendered conducive to the
restoration of a derivable peace And in this view I re
quest your Excellences permflion to land at New-York,
to go dire&lv to Philadelphia, in order to lay the lame
before the General Congress.
" In the course of a conversation I have hafoith Lord
Howe, I perceive that the powers he is vested with, as
well as his difpofi ion for establishing an equitable and
permanent peace, are altogether milunderltond by the
Colonies.
“ For in consequence of a sketch of some proportions
being offered for his consideration, he very frankly allured
me he was willing to confer upon those grounds with any
gentlemen of the great-ft influence in this country.
" As I am at liberty to declare his sentiments, I have
the honour to enclose for your Excellency's information
a 6 py of my correfponderace with his Lordship, and of
the proportions referred to in his letter, which are the
motives of my prelent request.
“ Attending in the boat to be indulged with your an
swer, I have the honour to be, your Excellency's most
humble servant, DRUMMOND.
" General Wafoington, &c. &c. &c.
" M, Lord, New York, August 17, 1776.
“ I have your Lordship's favour of this day, accom
panied by papers on fubjt&s ofthe greatest moment, and
deferring the most deliberate consideration.
“ I can allow much for your Lordship's well meant
zeal on such an occasion, but I fear it has transported
you beyond that attention to your parole, which com
prehends thecharaaer of a man of Ariel honour. How
your Lordship can reconcile your past or present con
duel, with your engagement, so as to fatisiy your own
mind, I mutt submit to your own feelings, but I find
myfelf under the disagreeable necefliry of obj< cling to
the mode of negociating proposed, while your Lordship's
line of conduct appears so exceptionable.
“ I shall by express forward to Congress your Lord
ship's letter, and the papers which accompanied it. The
remit will be communicated as soon as possible. I am
sorry to have detained your Lordship so long, but the
unavoidable receffry mult be my apology. I am, my
Lord, your Lordship's most obedient and very humble
feivant, G. WASHINGTON.
“ Lord Drummond."
Ami b, it further ordained and declared by the autho
rity afareftid, That the frid Commiffioneis and Aff/flors
shall have all the powers, autho ities and jurildi&ions
which any C mmiffioners and Aff-ffors heretofore enjoy
ed unler the late laws of toe province of Pennsylvania,
and diall proceed in raifiug, levying and collecting the
said fuiß of Four Shillings in the pound and Twenty
Shillings per month, in the fame manner and under the
fame appeals, rates, directions, penalties and forfeitures,
in all reforms, as in and by the several Laws of the lite
G wernment of Pennsylvania, which were in force on
the ti ll day of July lad, for railing, levring, collecting
an 1 paying the iff Clients and taxes of said Government,
faring and excepting only Inch parts of the fame laws as
are hereby al,e ed or Applied.
And be it farther ordained and declared by the autho
rity atoretaid, That the direction in the said Laws shall
be effectual to ill intents and purposes fbr railing, 1 vy
ing, coining, securing and accounting for the said
rates and turns of money, and for levying and recover
ing the penalties and forfeitures, and all other matters
and things thereunto belonging, as fully and eff anally
as if the fame were particularly and at large repeated and
inferred in this Ordinance, except in such cases as are
herein ascertained, provided for or altered.
And be it further ordained and declared by the autho
rity aforefaid, That the Commiflioners, on any appeal
from the rate or ass ffn mt of Twenty Shillings per month,
may remit the whole, or any part thereof, in case of the
poverty, sickness or bodily inability to labour, es the
Non Aff>ciator, or other such case as would exempt an
Associator trem niuftering or marching, when duly called
thereto, but in no other case whatever.
And whereas perf>ns above fifty years o' age are ex
empted from personal service, by reason of th hr inability
to bear the fatigue of military duty; yet it is out just and
reasonable that they should contribute towaids the secu
rity of their property : Beit therefore ordained and de
clared by the authority aforefaid, That all and every
such perlon, above the age of fifty years, flrall pay the
like sum of Four Shillings in the pound on the annual
value of their estates.
Provided always, That this tax shall not be levied on,
or paid by, any such person above fifty rears of age, who
Shall have one or more fens who are Affociarors, unmar
ried, and residing with his or their father. And provided
also, That if any person, above the a°e of fifty years,
who mail be judged, by the commanding officer of the
battalion, fit tor military duty, shall voluntarily enter
into the Affiliation, then and in such case hrh person
shall be exempted front paying the said tax. And pro
vided also, That nothing herein contained shall prevent
or obftru& the levying, collecting and paying the fines
heretofore set on Non-Ass ciao<s by the late AT mbly,
but the fame shall be collected under the fame penalties,
in the fame manner, and by the fame perlons as are men
tioned and appointed to levy and colled: the monies to be
raifd by virtue o' this Ordinance.
Puffed in Convention, September 14, 1776, and finned by
their order. B. FRANKLI N, Piefident.
Attefi. John Morris, Jun. Secretary.
" Mj Lcrt,
“ I take the liberty of feeding irclofed the sketch of
propofirions referred to in my late conversation with your
Lordship, which propositions, I Lave understood, the
colonies were disposed, not many months ago, to make
the basis of a reconciliation with Great-Britain. I have
the honour to be, with great raped, your Lordship's
most obedient humble servant,
“ Sbo, Pell,, Aug. 1%, 1775. DRUMMOND.
“ To Lord Howe."
SKETCH rs PROPOSITIONS communicated
to Lord Howe, on the 12th of Augud, 1776.
1. " That it shall be afeertained, as far as can be de
termined by calculation, what lupply towards the gene
ral exigency of the State each separate colony can fur-rifh,
confident with its ability.
2. " When such supply is thus afeertained, that each
colony shall, by acts of its own Aflembly, impofc such
taxes as they shall find expedient for the raising of the
said supply.
3. “ In confideraticn of the fluctuating state of all
young countries, that such taxes may not, in their ope
rations, become partially dr accidentally burthenfeme
on the one hand, nor on the other band gradually be
come deficient in producing the aid intended by the co
lonies towards the general exigency of the St.-te, such
articles shall be chosen, as the objeds of i^pofition, as
they shall deem the most likely to keep pace with the
growth or decline of the said colonies.
4. " That these taxes, so imposed, flial!, as in the
customs, be levied by officers of the appointment of the
King; and that a perpetual grant, of the produce of
these taxes, shall be made by the refpedive Aff-mblies
to the crown of Great Britain.
5. " As the dired means of removing the fatal grounds
of this contention, by establishing a security against the
apprehended invasion of property by Parliament, for
mal relinquish cent shall be made, on the part of Great-
Britain, of all future claim to taxation over these her
colonies.
6 “ To remove all future fufyicions from the minds
of the Colonies, that under the appearance of regulating
commerce, duties may be imposed for the farther pur
poses of revenue, an application ofthe produce of all
duties, imposed on articles of tr.de by the British legis
lature, shall be made towards defraying the expences of
collection, and the furpluffes in each colony to be prid
into their separate treasuries, and to be fubjeft to the
disposal of the refpe&ive houses of Affemriy,
DRUMMOND."
" Eagle, off Staten-IJland, August 15, 1776.
" My Lord,
" I have received the honour of your Lordflrip's letter
of the iith, inclofing a fletch of the propositions men
tioned in your late conversations, which 1 return here
with.
“ As I think they contain matter that, upon a con
ference and cool difeuffi^n, might he wrought into a
plan of permanent union, I fhril, with great fatisf &ion,
embrace the fi ft opportun ty that may be offered upon
those grounds, to promote so desirable an event. I have
the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's most obe
dient servant, II 0 W E.
“ Right Hon. the Lord Drummond."
The following is the purport of the message sent from
Lord Howe to Congress, by General Sullivan.
" That tho' he could not at present treat with Con
gress as such, yet he was very desirous of having a con
ference with some of the members, whom he would
confmer for the present only as private gentlemen, and
meet them himfelf as such, at such place ^s they fhouid
appoint.
“ That he, in conjunction with Gen. Howe, had fui
powers to compromise the dispute between Groat-Bri
tain and America, upon terms advantageous to both,
the obtaining of which delayed him near two months
in England, and prevented his arrival at this place be
fore the Declaration of Independancy took place.
“ That he wished a compact might be fettled at this
time, when no decisive biow was struck, and neither
party could fay that they were compelled to enter into
fuel; agreement.
“ That in case Congress were disposed to treat, many
things which they had net as yet asked, might and ought
to be granted them ; and that if, upon the Conference,
they found any probable ground of an accommodation,
the authority of Congress must be afterwards ,cknow
ledged, otheftvife the compact could not be complete."
Extras jrora the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSO N, Secretary.
IK c 0 N G R E S S, September 5, 1776.
Refolded, That Gen. Sullivan be requeued to inform
Loru Howe, that this Congress, being tae reprefent^tives
of the free and independent States of America, cannot
with propriety fend any of its members to confer with
his Lordship in their private characters, but that, ever
desirous of eftabliflring peace on reasonable terms, they
will fend a Committee of their body, to know whether
he has any authority to treat with persons autborifed by
Congress for that purpole, in behalf of America, and
what that authority is, and to hear such propositions as
l:e shall think fit to make refpeCting the fame.
Refolded, That to-morrow ue aligned for electing the
Committee.
September 6, 1776.
Refolded, That the Committee to be sent " to know
whether Lord Howe has any authority to treat with per
sons authorized by Congress for that purpose, in behalf
of America, and what that authority is, and to hear
such propositions as he shall think fit to make refpefting
the fame," consist of three.
The members chosen, Mr. Franklin, Mr, John Adams
and Mr. E. Rutledge. Extrad jrom the Minutes, *'
(.HARLES FHOMoON, Secretary.
The Committee, who were appointed 10 wait on Lord
Howe, having returned to Congress, made their report
in the following words :
" In obedience to the order of Congress we have had
a meeting with Lord Howe. It was on Wednesday lalt
upen Staten-Iflard, eppefte to Arabey, where Iris Lord
flrip received and enter tained us with theutmoft politenrfs,
" His Lerdfnip opened the conversation by acquaint
ing us, that though he could not treat with us as a Com
mittee of Congress, yet as his powers enabled him to
confer and consult with any private gentlemen of influ
ence in the Colonies, on the means of restoring peace
between the two countries, he was glad of this oppor
tunity of conferring with us cn that fubje&, if we
thought ourselves at liberty to enter into a conference
with him in that character. We observed to his Lo d
fhip, that as our bufinels was to hear, lie might contider
us in what light he pleated, and communicate to vs ary
propositions he might be authorized to rr:H for the
purpose mentioned ; but that we could corfider ourselves
in no other character than that in which we were placed
by the order of Congress. Ids Lordship then ei t,red
into a difeourfe of confidtrable length, wnich contained
no explicit proportion of peace ex ept one, viz. that
the Colonies ffiould return to their allegiance and obe
dience to the government of Great Britain. The rest
confided principally of assurances that there was an ex
ceeding good difpefition in the King and his Mini Hers
to make that govern ment easy to vs; with intimations
that in cate of cur lubmiffion, they would cause the of
fenfive A&s of Parii mint to be revised, and the in
firua^ns to Governors to be re-considered, that so if
any just causes of complaint were fo^nd in the a&s, or
any errors in government were perceived tohave crept in
to the infti unions, they migl t be amended or withdrawn.
" We gave it # s our opinion to h:s Lordship, that a
return to th domination of Gr. ^-Britain was not now
to be expected. We mentioned the repeated humble pe
titions ofthe colonies to the King and Par lament, which
ban been treated with contempt, and answered only by
additional injuries; t^e unexampled patience we had
firown under t^eir tyrannical government, and that it
was not till the last Ach of Parliament which denounced
war againit vs, and put us out of the King's protection,
that we declared our independ nee. That this declara
tion had been called for by the people of the Colonies
in general, that every colony had approved of it v, hen
made, and al! now corfidered themselves as Independent
Srates, and were fettling or had fettled their govern
ments accordingly ; so that it was not in the power of
t e Con. re 3 to agree for them that they fhouid return
to their former dependant state. That there was no
doubt of their inclination to peace, and their willing
nes to enter in 0 a treaty with Britain, that night be
advantageous to both countries. That though his Lord
fhtp had at prefint no power to treat with them as Inde
pendent States, he might, if there was the fame good
dilpofition in Britain, much footer obtain frefh powers
from thence for that purpose, than powers could b- ob
tained by Congiefs f om the several Colonies to consent
t a fubmiffi n. His Lordship then, faying tl at he was
ferry to find that no accommodation was like to take
place, put an end to the conference.
" Upon the whole, it did wot appear to your Commit
tee, that his Lordship's commflion contained any other
an hority r s importance, than what is expreffid in the
Ad of Parliament, viz. that cf granting pardons with
such exceptions as the Commiflioners Gill think proper
to make, and of declaring America or any part of it to
be in the King's peace upon ful mission. "For as to the
power of enquiring into the state of America, which his
Loreflrip mentioned to us, ard of conferin, and con
fidting with any persons the CoHm ; ffiorers might think
proper, and representing therefult of such conversations
to the Mimftry, who (provided the Colonies would fah
jeft themfeives) might after all, or mi 2 ht not, at their
peafare, make any alterations in the former inftruftions
to Gove;nors, or propose in Parliament any amendment
of the ads contained of, we apprehended any expe&a
tion from the effed of such a power would have been too
uncertain and precarious to be relied on by America
had she dill continued in her state of dependance." ’
In COUNCIL cf SAFETY. Philadelphia,
September yo, 1776.
Refolded, That indented Servants and Apprentices
ought not to be inlifted for the Flying Camp of this
State, without consent of their masters and nrifb\ff s in
writing ; and that al! such who have been ini Red here
toloie, shall he discharged on the application of their
raafters and miftreflfes for that purpose.
Extractjrcm the Minutes,
JACOB S. HOWELL, Secretary.
Extract of a letter from so 'em near E^v York, Setts -
“ A soldier of cur army, who was t ken prisoner and
deferred from the enemy last night, informs that he
heard an officer fay, that there had been thirteen hun
dred buried on both fidcs;alfo that every moininc, when
they counted the prisoners over, he heard them so there
wae fix hundred of them. Should this be true, they
must have had one thousand men killed. He also fays
that by threats and persuasions near two hundred of our
men had infixed,and were immediately to be sent to Ha
lifax; how true this is I cannot fav.”
Extrafl of ^letterforßordeaux (Franre) Janey,, ins.
The King of riance is a&ually fitting out a large
fleet. Orders arrived heie but three davs arc, that all
poffeflors of canvas fhouid immediately make a return cf
what they have, and not dispose of any until his Majesty
is served. There are also arms, eloathing, &c. prepar
ing for forty thousand men. I saw new arms putting up
for the troops in Hispaniola—Whether they me: 1 to at
tack Portugal, Ireland, or the Weft Indies, is net cer
tain ; but wherever they turn their arms, Sprin is to aft
in concert with them, and«s preparing for that purpose.”
1 uefday last arrived the Continental brig of wa r An
drew Doria, Capt. Biddle, from a cruize/in which he
took 6 veflels, wz. ship Molly, Brigdeh Goodrich, (late
belonging to Mr.Hudfcn of Maryland) brig P%„,Cook
both prizes of Lord Dunmore's, hound fr< m V; zinia for
Bermuda ; brig Elizabeth, Jobnfon, a prize tak^ bv the
English, from North Carolina for Bermuda; brig Law
rence, Layburn, from Barbados for Newfoundland -also
two brigs in ballast from Virginia, with tories f cr Be'rmu
da, both of which being snort of provisions, &c. he letgo'