The American gazette, or, the Constitutional journal — Salem, Mass., 1776-07-09 00:00:00, page 2

IT is Efficiently known with what reludance
many British officers and soldiers enter into an
odious war, in support of tyranny, against the
rights and privileges of their American Brethren,
and in direct violation of the British constitution,
by which allegiance is no longer due, than protec
tion is afforded ; a war, prosecuted by an unwise
King and implacable minifry, with circumstances
•f uncommon barbarity, cruelty, and defolarion,
wherein they have, dared to employ and tarniSh
the honor of a soldiery, heretofore as remarkable
for humanity and regard to the liberties of their
country, as renowned for their valor; most of
whom, it may well be presumed, would never coun
tenance so detestable a business, were they not im
pelled by the dilates of necessity, and the fearsof
dot finding in other rtfources a support adequate
40 their wants.
la order therefore, that no fit encouragement
may be wanting to all such military men, as a r e
willing to quit the king's service and fettle in this
county, rather than imbrue their hands in the
blood of their bast friends: Andfor the more spee
dy ending of this unnatural and ruinous cooteft,
I de hereby, in the name and by ord^r of the Ho
norable Continental Copgrefs, make the follow
ing offer of lands to the officers and foidiers so quit
ting the service and fettling in this country, With
in one year from the date hereof viz.
To every field officer, 10,000 acres.
To every commissioned o^cer, 5,000 acres.
To every non-commissioned officer, 500 acres'
f o ,,' P, ate >, 200 acres'
And I am directed to declare, that the Coregrefs
do pledge the public Faith for the pun&al pre=
formance of thispromife w hen the prefect troubles
ar« composed, for which and a large trad of land
ffiall the* be purchased from the Indians, or other
Efficient Unes presided ; aad in the mean time
the faiomt may apply to m e, or the Com-
2. The Seaport towns must starve, if trade is
prohibited.
Answer. Not so soon as if it be allowed ;
for (i) provisions will be cheaper. (a) Very
few of them can be employed by all the trade
we can carry on under our circumstances. (3)
, Let the inhabitants set up manufactures which
are neoeffary now to be encoriraged, and this will
find them bread.
3. What Shall we do for sugar, molasses,
rani, spices, and especially cotton, if trade be
prohibited.
Aafwer. Man our veffsls of war, and take as
much of these as polhble from our enemies, and
go without the rest; and fubflitute flax and
wool in the room of cotton.
But let me aft, How did our Forefathers sub
sist without these delicacies when they firft plant
ed this then howling wilderness ? They lived
without these things, and fought valiantly to
procure an inheritance and liberty for us their
children : And Shall we fell ourfelvcs and our
children into perpetual Slavery for such a sordid
mefi of pottage ? Gob forbid !
4. What can the provision-provinces do with
their wheat, &c ?
Aufwer. Let them convey as much of them
£0 these Northern Provinces as are wanted ; and
let the rest perilh, rather than feed our enemies ;
and let the Farmer io future turn his attention
more to railing flax, wool, hemp, &c. and the
trader commence manufacturer.
I with feme able hand would fairly state our
loss of men and property by captures, since the
nineteenth of April, 1775, "at *' may discern
the real damage we have sustained by the trade ;
and also the value of the prizes we have taken.
I firmly believe the Honorable Congrefa have
done the belt they could, and therefore, that they
are ready to amend any mistakes when disco
vered. I only add my earnest prayers that a
gracious God may inspire them with all need
ed wifdem in this difficult day. If these hints
ffiall be of any service it will be reward e
aough for
AMICUS LIBERTATIS.
County of Essex, July, 1776.
TothePrintersof the Pennsyltania Journal.
Meffizs Bradfords,
If ,9# think the following Plan an expedient for
farming the prefat war, is ft for the public
% nr worth the notice of that' truly honorable
bod, tube direct Continental affaire it is q* r ,
much at ,our farvice.
By his Excellency Georgi Washington, Esq ;
General and Commander in Chief of the
Armies of the Thirteen Colonies in North-
America.
A Declaratio n.
15
/HILA DELPHI A, June i 4.
The AMERICAN GAZETTE, &c. for 1776.
Resolved, That a flying camp le immediately
efablfad, and that it ceff of 10,000 men, to
make u, which number, refolded, that the colon,
of Pennffaarca be requeued to furnifo cf the
militia booo
Mar,land of their militia 3400
Delaware government oftheirs 600
That the militia be engaged to th firft day of
December next, ufllefsfioner dfcharged by Congrejs.
That the pay of the militia commoner from the da,
of their marching from home, end that the, be allow
ed one penny a mile, lawful money, in lieu of rations
for travelling-expences, and one daft pay for every
20 miles, between home and general rendezvous, go
ing and returning.
That three provincial Brigadier-Generals be cm
playedfat the flying camp, two from Pennflvania,
and one from Maryland. \
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
In CONGRESS, June 24, 1770.
RESOLVED, That all perfops abiding with
in any of the United Colonies,.and desiring
protection from the laws of the fame, owe allegi
ance to the said laws, and are members of such
Colony ; and that all persons passing through,
voting or making a temporary fray in any of the
said Colonies, being intitled to the preteaion of
the laws during the time of such vifitstion, or
temporary flay, owe, during the fame time, alle
giance thereto.,
1 hat all Petfons members of, or owing allegiance
to any of the United Colonies as before describ
ed, who ffiall levy war against any of the said
Colonies within the fame, or be adherent to the
King of Grcat-Biitain, or others, the enemies of
the said Colonies, or any of them within the
fame, giving to him or them aid and comfort,
are guilty of treafan againll such Colony.
That it be recommended' to the Legislatures of
the several United Colonies, to pass laws fo r pu
nilhing in such manner as to them shall seem fit,
such perform before defcribted, at ffiall be provea
bly attained of open deed, by people of their con
dition, of any of the treasons before described.
That it be recommended to the Legifl&urea of
the several United Colonies to pass laws for pu
nishing in such manner as they ffiall think fit, per
sons who fhalf counterfeit, or aid or abet in coun
terfeiting the Continental Bills of credit, or who
fhril pa& any such bill in payment, knowing the
fame to be counterfeit.
By Order of Congress,
(Copy) JOHN HANCOCK, President.
N EW-Y0 R K, June 29.
A most wicked, unnatural and treasonable con
fpirjey against the h\es of multitudes, and the li.
be^Les of all th^ inhabitants of the American C'o
loJcs, has, we hear within these few days been
minder in Chief of the forces for the time being,
or to the Commander in Chief of any particular
department, and receive a certificate under hand
and seal, importing, that the bearer thereof, is
intituled to demand from the United Colonies (so
many)acres of land to him, his heirs, and assigns
forever,, free and clear from any quit-rent brother
incumbrance, charge, or expence whatsoever ;
which certificate ffiall be arguable, and Shall be
utterly void, if the poffi ffor shall re-enter the
British, service, or again bear arms against the
Colonies during this war.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and seal, at this day of in the
year of our Lord, 1776. -
First. This Proclamation or Notification ope
rates as a two-edged sword, in defence of the right
cause, for whilst it destroys the Strength of the e
nemy, it adds that Strength to our own—--eve
ry foreigner becoming a freeholder here, be
comes of course a well-wisher to America, and
anxious for her prefervatioA—z fettiementof in
duftriout Grangers is better than a mine of gold.
Seconds This is by far the cheapest mode of
doing business, for what will it colt to purchase
an 100 miles square beyond the Ohio,of the natural
and rightful proprietors, in comparison of the ex
pence# in treasure and blood attending two or
three campaign,.,
Third. We know, from intercepted letters,
that some of the officers and men have been cajoled
by the ministry with the promise of forfeited lands,
the present offer is peculiar, calculated for these
adventurers, for here they have'territory without
trouble, danger, or expence, there they cannot
have it, without all three.
Fourth. The Declaration, when adopted by
Authority, should be published in every news-paper
throughout the Colonies, and also in hand bills
in the German and Engiifh languages, and dis
persed among the British and other foreign troops
serving in America.
In CONGRESS, JURE 3, 1776.
difeovered, and many petfons concerned, or fuG
pefled, secured ahd examined ; hnd proper mea
sures will, no doubt, betaken to circumvent the
design, which appears similar to that at Rome,
for the reftoratioe of the Tarquin family and ty
ranny. As soon as a particular account can be
collected, it will be inferred.
A great number of entrenching tools and man
telets arrived here from Boston last Thursday.
They are part of the cargo taken by the late brave
Capt. Mugford.
Extract of a letter from a'Gentleman at Wil
mington, (Cape Fear) dated May 30
'" General Clinton, with 4000 men, continues
encampted near Fort johnfon ; we are informed,
they wait further to hear from Major General
Howe—that their baggage is going on board the
tranfpdrts, and that the vedels have orders to be
in readiness for failing." Other accounts fay,
they have failed.
On Tuefcay last, the Hop. Major-General
Gates, being, we hear appointed Commander ip
Chief of the Continental forces in Canada em
barked with several gentlemen of his suit, and
failed fo' rAlbany.
Yesterday fifyooh ^as executed in a field , be
tween the Colonels M'Doug&ll and Huntington's
camp, near the Bowry-Lane, (in the presence of
nearCo^co fpedators) a soldier belonging to his
Excellency General Washington's guards, for
mutiny and conspiracy ; being one of those, who
formed, and was soon to he put in execution, that
horrid plot of affaffioating the Staff-officers,
blowing up the magazines, and fecuting the pas
ses of the town on the arrival bf the hungry mi
niheriel myrmidons : It is hoped the remainder of
those mifereants, (now in Our possession) will meet
with a punishment adequate to their crimes.
The Ihip Reynolds, lately sent into Dartmouth,
under the command of Capt. Thomas Truxton,
one of Capt. M'Aroy'sLieutenants, was from
Jamaica for London, Keylock Rufden, Master,
and owned by William Reynolds, Esq; merchant^
of tharfplace:Her cergo consists of 302 hogsheads'
of sugar, 174 puncheons of rum, ico pipes of
Maderia wine, 42 bags of pimento, 27 tons of
lingnum vitae, and 7 tons of Fuftic.
Last Friday morning at three o'cldtk, 300 of
our troops, under the command of Col. Tupper,
with Major Brooks, attacked the enemy at Sandy-
Hook, oar party had two field pieces under the
care of Capt. Drewry, of the Train; the enemy
impaired to the Light-house, which was so strongly
fortified, end cemented, that the shot from the
fi^ld-pieces made no impression, though not mor©
than 150 yards distance; the Phceaix and Liver
pool, with fpnogs on their cables, poured in a heavy
fire on our men in flank and rear, while those at the
Light-house did the like in front, for about two
hours. -f he Colonel finding his party somewhat
fatigued, and very much exposed to the fire of the
fad ships, retired about two miles to refrelh his
men, after which he sent out small parties to tempg
them on shore, that he might attack them on &
more equal footing; but it seems they chose to keep
where they were more fafe. At evening, finding
the provision nearly fpent,the party returned with
out the loft of a man, and only two very slightly
wounded : Our men were in very high* spirits,
wishing for an opportunity to meet the enemy oa
equal ground.
B O ST O N, July 4.
Last Saturday the ministerial fleet which had
bee^ plying off and on thigharbor for eight or
ten days, took their departure, and have not since
been seen or heard of. * 1
By a number of cerdible persons who are arriv
ed in town from Halifax, which place they left
the 13th ult. we learn @ —That General How, with
upwards 140 fail of men of war, tranfports', &c.
with about 8 or 9000 troops bn board, failed from!
thence three days before they came away, fu^of
ed bound for New-York.—That in this fleet wcrs
14 volunteers, under the command of Captain
'’',""# °' 'he 1 4th regiment, among whom are.
Brigadier Ruggles and Son, late of Hardwick ;
William Tyng, John Hicks, (whose Father wan
flam at Lexington by these very ministerial butch
ers, while fighting gloriously for his country's li
berty) and John Howe, the two latter were Prin
ter's, and all three formerly of this town. The,
General Howe left behind one or two men of war
to guard the dock-yard, and rhe whole of
marines, two cbmpanierof the 14th regiment, a
detachment from the train of artillery, & n d all the
light, horse ; besides which, all the women and
children and the sick and Grounded fuldiers, were
:" d " ™ e comm and and direction of Ge
neral Maney. That only 500 recruits, as a rein
forcement, have, as yet, arrived there,—That
„"fi ca 'i° n < were erecting on the citadel-.
hill, 9 and near to the dock-yard,' the General be
ing in great far of an attack firm the Continen
tal forces — That General Burgoyne, in the Ifi%
a s®gu4 Ihip, arrived at Quebec with 4000 koopa
July 9.