Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-09-18 00:00:00, page 5

£, Capt. Cottpar, arrived at New-York, and Capt. Falco
ner, arrived here, both from London, we have the follow
ing intelligence, viz.
L O ND O N, July 12.
r*V~-, HE news brought by the Meredith Packet,
which has so much alarmed administration, is
said to be—that a large body of Spaniards are
actually on their march, and within a short distance of
Gibraltar ; and that the Spanish fleet is not more than
60 leagues off that place, where they were in daily ex-
Delation of being besieged both by sea and land.
It was yelterday repotted in the city, that Gibraltar
was attacked by toe Spaniards; but whether the report
originated with the Alley gentry, or not, we will not
take upon us to determine.
The people of Ireland, it is said, are exceedingly un
easy, and very apprehehfive that the Spaniards mean to
pay them a vifu, as they are at present incapable of re
filling them, for when the next American embarkation
takes place, it is computed that there will not be then
4000 effective men in the whole kingdom, many of the
regiments offoot scarcely amounting to 180 men.
Extrafl of a letter from Lisbon, dated June 20.
<< It is apprehended here (and *ith gieat reason) that
this unhappy country will soon Ie involved in a war.
A Spanish army of cor fi lerable force is within a short
inarch of our frontiers ; and the Spanish AmbaHador
seems upon the point of leaving tins city, not having re
ceived a fatisfa&ory anfwe whether the Court of Por
tugal will join Spain in case a war Mould break out be
tween England and them; the only answer be could ob
tain was, °that the King of Portugal could not think of
deferring their old ally ; belidts, they had only a fuffi
cient force to guard their own territories, and protect
their trading mips in the time of war. We have a t®-
ierable ftrork fleet, well manned, and our land forces
well disciplined; part of them have received orders to
march to guard our frontiers against an invasion. Trade
at present flouriMes, and th* English merchants have
every advantage that can be given them, which has given
great disgust to the French, who have complained to
their court of it; so that I am pretty certain either
France or Spain, and perhaps both, will find fbme means
to break with us; but while we have so faithful an ally
as England, we are under no dreadful apprehensions of
having this country brought under the Spandh yoke,
loft now arrived three Mps from America, laden with
wheat, but can't get then n m?s."
Ex^ad of a tetter from Cha+bam, July 9.
“ The twenty talk companies, confiding of four hun
dred Mipwrights, (till continue to ablest them elves
from his Maj~fty's dock yard here, and are determined
nit to return to their duty till their wages are raie I to
half a crown p^r day. The above companies are picked
men, and etteemed as good workmen as any in the royal
navy ; they intend to petition his Majesty for redress,
being unable to fupoort themselves and families hpon to
(mail a sum as two (hillings and cne penny a day. In
order to accomplith the fame, they have appointed Mr.
Joseph Mearfe, and Mr. Diniel Rowley flupwrights be
longing to the said companies, who ate qualified men,
and extraordinary good workmen, to deliver their pe
tition to his Mdjefty, for which purpose they set out from
hence for London yesterday, at which place they are to
meet two of their brother shipwrights from Woolwich,
with the like number from Portsmouth, an- 'two from
Plymouth yards, deputed for the fame buiinefs. A con
tribution is to be made to-morrow by the gentlemen
of this town, for the support of the ihipwrights be
longing to this dock-yard, who have large families, and
are in want of all the oec^fl tries of Lie.
“ Yesterday about 70 shipwrights belonging to rhe
day companies, who were appointed to work on board
the fliips fitting out for sea at tins port, absented them
selves, and joined the talk companies, being determined
it seems, not to go to work again till their wages are
railed to halt a crown per day.
" Orders were received yefter^av at the Commission
er's office, to enter Shipwrights in this dock-yard.
“ Orders were lixewife received for the Liverpool
frigate, of z 8 guns, to be fitted for sea with the greatest
expedition.
" Our dock-yard appears a fecne of distress, there
being now only a few old shipwrights, worn out in the
fa-vice, to do the business, with a few apprentices, though
thre# Eiips are ordered to be got ready for lea immedi
ately, vix. the Roebuc of 4+ guns, the Milford of 28,
and the Liverpool before-mentioned."
By letters from Ireland we a;einformrd, that the peo
ple in the northren countries let their ftax grow longer
this year than usual, in hopes that it might Itrengthen
the feed, which they paygreat attention to, as they have
no profpe&t of having any from America thi> year.
Extras fa letter from the Hague, dated June 29.
" In a full assembly of the States Gen ral the 20th
nlt. it was refolded, that orders be issued from the Ad
miralty Board of their High Mightinefles the States Ge
neral, to the Sieur Vant Stort, Vice Admiral of the
Dutch fqnadron in the Weft-lndles, indruaing him to
give orders to all persons under him, to their utm.lt pow.
er to seize and destroy all ammunition, stores, and pro
visions, which may be found in any (hip or (hips bound
from arty of the Dutch fetrlements in that quarter, or on
board Dutch flrips from any qu rter, which are bound
to any port of the English Amtr'can colonies, except
such as is consigned either to the Governors of New-
England, Philadelphia, New-York. Halifax, or Virginia,
and that such captures Mall be configured as lawful priz
es, and be shared among the officers and crews of inole
vessels concerned in taking there, thel one as tboie who
are enemies of the States, but that the ciews (the Cap
tain, his Chief Mate, and Supercargoe, if any, excepted)
be landed on the nearett dominion of Gicat- Britain,
where such capture is made. Refolvcd also, that the Sieur
Van Stort make this known in every Dutch port or har
bour wheie he may touch.
“ Ordered, That these resolutions be made known to
his Excellency Mr. Yorke, the Hritrih Minister to the
States ; and also a copy of the lame be sent to the Dutch
Redd^nt at London."
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, July 8.
" On Wednesday, agreeable to orders from the Navy
Board, 92 people were discharged from the dock-yard.
POSTSCRIPT to Du N LAp's P £NNSY LvaNIA Pac ke T. September 18, 1775.
None of the others are yet gone to work ; but are making
freM petitions addressed to the inhabitants, &c. of this
and the adjacent towns."
By a letter received from an English gentleman of dif
tin&ion at Paris, we are sffured, that a camp is actual
ly marking out in the plain of Lance for 60,00@ French
troops.
July 13. It is now more than probable, that 3 change
of men and measures will take place 111 the course of a
few days.
A Nobleman of diftin&ion, who has been long odious
to the public, has ordered ail his tradefmens bills to be
discharged, and is preparing with his family to let oft for
the south of France.
It was ye^erday ffrongly rumoured in the neighbour
hood of St. James's, that eleven Spanlh men of war of
the line, several frigates, bombs, and firefhips, were
cruizing in the Gut of Gibraltar.
Four men of war are ordered for Gibraltar as soon as
possible, and four Mips are tak n into Government ser
vice as tenders; to lie off the Tower, to receive such men
as shall enter or be pressed, to man the above four men of
war.
It is averted as a fa& in the city, that Capt. Clarke,
who arrived last Monday from Senegal with dispatches
for government, brings an account, that the French
have a very considerable fleet upon the coast of Africa,
and that it is apprehended that they have some design
upon that place, and that the Governor wants a rein
forcement of ships and soldiers.
One fifty, one forty gun ship, and five frigates more,
are commissioned to serve in America.
Tao battalions of foot, of one thoufind men each,
are forthwith to be railed, in order to be fentto America.
Yesterday the Sheriffs waited on his Majesty at St.
James's, to know when he would be pleased to be waited
on with the City Address and Petition, praying his Ma
jesty to cause hostilities to cease between Great-Britain
and America, and to adopt such measures as will rertore
union, confidence and peace over the Bfitifh empire.
They were graciously received, and his Majesty was
pleased to appoint Friday at two o'clock.
Yefterdav a messenger set out express from the Secre
tary's Office for Gibraltar, with dispatches to Lieutenant
General Cornwallis; also a messenger with dispatches to
Lord William Campbell, Governor cf Neva-Scotia and
Cape-Breton.
Trie Sallr, Stephen?, from New-York, is loft on the
coak of Africa.
N O R F O L K, (Virginia) Aug. 30.
A correspondent writes, that a certain (loop bt'war,
rot 100 nriles dittant, was lately kept in conitant alarm
a whole night, with her matches burning, tomkins out,
guns loaded with grape shot, and all hands at their
quarters, till day light discovered the formidable enemy
which had canted such terrible apprehensions, to be on
ly one of the neighbours with his negroes catching mul
lets. A certain Governor, it is fid, was in all haste
lent for, to afiilt with his sage advice at the Council of
War that was held on this mighty occasion.
171 L LIAMSBUR G, (in Virginia) September z.
To the Hon. the PRESIDENT, and the rest ofthe DE
LEGATES of the people of Virginia, now fitting
in Convention, the petition of sundry merchants and
others, natives of GReat-Britain, and rtfid^nt in.
this colony,
Humbly Sheweth,
A E your petitioners being chiefly agents, faFlors, and
=perfons who, from theiryouth, haoebetn bred up to, and
employed in the business of commerce, have at no time inter
jered with the civil infitutions of the country, but have al
ways ailed in conformity to the laws, t n.ter which they have
enjoyed the bejt Jecurityjor their perJons and property. IVitb
this experience ofthe protection dtri i ed from salutary laws,
as well as jrom the happy intercourse they have enjoyed
with the inhabitants, many of your petitioners have formed
connections ofthe moji endearing nature, and!ave invefed
confdurable proportion cj their property in real estates, with
a views of continuing treir residence among a people with
whom they have hitherto lived in such harmony. Your pe
titioners beg leave to represent, that their fears are much
awakenedfrom the id grounded prejudices which they are
informed actuate the minds of some of the people of this colo
ny apainf your petitioners, as a body who arc not natives
of this land ; a circumfance which, being accidental, can
not be imputed to them as a fault ; and therefore, on that
account, they hope to stand tn the fame light with other fub
jeds who conjorm to the laws. They are fcnJible the un
happy differences fubjifting between ibe parent fate and her
colonies nave given rife to diftindions to their prejudice
among the natives of the country, and excited jeiloujies of
them which other -wife bad never ex'ifed. Diferiminated
from the ref ofthe society, and placed in a fafpicrus point
of view, they presume to lay before this Honourable House
the bardjhips of their fixation, and, in the fncerity of their
hearts, to declare that they hold tos people in the I igbef efi
mation as friends and fellow fuhjefls, and that in war or
peace they will cbearfuliy contribute with them to the exigen
cies of this their common fate ; that, in all internal commo
tions or infur^&aions, they pledge their faith, at the rijk of
their lives and jortunes, jointly with theirfellow fubjeSls o f
this colony, to depend the country ; and that, in case of an
attach from the troops of Great-Britain, they will not aid
in any manner, or communicate intelligence to them by let
ter or otkerwife. Permit,our petitioners to assure this Hon.
House that they wifb not an exemption from the hardfoips
and burthens .to which the people of this country are expojtd
from the civil contef fubjifing between the patent fate, but
are willing and ready to participate in all infantes except
taking up arms againf th ft people among whom they were
born, and with whom perhaps they are connected by the near
ef ties of consanguinity. To this circumstance they entreat
your impartial and favourable attention, and that you would
be pleased to mark out a line of conduct by which your petiti
oners, in this dangerous criss, may move as ufeful members
to the community, without oeng held to the necefity of jbed
ding the blood oj their countrymen ; an ah? at wbeb nature
r coils, and which evey feeling of humanity forbids. This
allowedyour petitioners., they again repeat their readiness to
sand up the foremof in defence of the country againji inter
nal infurrehiions, and in its support by the mos liberal and
cheerful contributions. That the supreme dircflor ofthe uni
verse may infpireyou with wisdom to put a period to this
unnatural contest, and ref ore this once happy land to pea-e,
fafety, and union with its parent fate, is the ardent wifo of
your dutiful and refpe&Jul petitioners.
FRIDAY, Augufl 25, 1775.
Tie foregoing petition was presented to the Convention,
and the following resolution thereupon unanimoufy agreed
to.
Resolved, That the fail petiti nis reasonable, and it is
recommended to the committees of the several counties and
corporations, and others the good peof e of this colony, to treat
adfuch natives 0, Great-B itain refdent here as do not few
themfelvrs enemies to the common cause of America with le
nity and friendship ; to prated? ail perfus whafoever in the
just enjoyment ofthei r civil rights and liberty ; io difeounte
nance a l national reflections ; to prefers, to the utmof of
their powr, internal peace and good order; and to pro
mote union, harmony, andmutual good will, among all ranks
of people.
Refolded, a ? fo, That the said petition, together with
this resolve, forthwith be puTiffod in the Virginia Gazette.
(A Cot ) R°° °' " HOLAS, Prefdent, pre tempore,
John Tazewell, Clk. of the Convention.
In COMPENIIGN, Friday, Auguf 25, 177;.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committees cf
the several counties and corporations, to appoint proper per
sons of their body, withinfuch diftriß as to them jhall feern
convenient, to take a lift ofthe number of persons therein, ot
all ages and (exes, diftmguijbing whether they be male orfe
male, white or Hack, and cj the males whether they be
above or under fixteenyears of age ; from which lift the
committee Jhail cause a general county or corporation lift to
be made and returned to the Prefdent of the convention,
without delay, who is defiredfrom them to cause a general
colony lift to he termed, and to certify the fame to the Conti
nental Congress.
(A Ceti) '°' '' NICHOLAS, Prefdent, pro tempore.
' John Tazewell, Clk. of the Convention.
Major Rogers arrived at Norfolk a few days ago; he
came pafinger in a (now from London, belonging to Balti
more, with 58 paffengers on board, in great dijirefsfar want
oj provifons. The Major was put on Jbore in Accomack to
get some necefaries, but the wind proving unfavourable,
the boat could not return t the vefel. It is imagined the
snow wid put into Philadelphia.
WATER TO W N, September s.
The following ACTS paged the General Assembly of this
Colony in their late feffim, viz.
An ACT to confirm and eflabUjh the Resolves of the se
veral Provincial Congresses of this Colony.
An ACT jor making and emitting of Bills of public
credit.
An ACT declaratory of the right of certain Towns and
Difrins in the Colony oj the Mafacbufetts-Bay, in New-
England, to elec? and depute a representative or representa
tives tofrve for, or represent them in any Great and Gene
ral Court or fafembly, at any time to be held, and kept Jor
the service cf said Colony.
An A C T for removing from their refyeflive offices and
places, all the officers, both civil and military, belonging to
this Colony, of holding or claiming so hold their refpcHive of
fices or places, by or under any nomination, appointment or
commifion, made or granted by any Governor or Lieutenant
Governor ofthe Province ofthe Massachusetts-Bay, in New-
England, either with or without the audience and consent of
the Council, or affiance of the said Province, or by the m n jor
part cj the Council or Affiants of said Province, in the ab
sence oj the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, before the
perfect meeting of this General Ccu t.
An A C T / refcribing tkejeam of an oath to be taker b,
all commffi:n officers both civil and military, who have been
commiffonateJfor this Colony, face the 19th day of July lalt,
or may be hereafter cemmifionated, until the further order
ofthe Great and General Court.
ND W-LONDO N, Sept. i.
Wednesday morning a tender chafed two small sloops
into Stonington harbour, who had a number of people
on board bound to Block-Ifl*nd, and they had but ju'±
time to get on there before the render ca me in, and after
making a tack they came elofe a-long fide of Capt; De
nifon's wharf, and discharged a full broadside into the
stores and houses, &c. and failing out 'gain, in a little
time returned with the Rose man of war and another
tender, and as soon as the Rose could get her broadside
to bear on the town, she began a very heavy fire, also the
tenders, who uerc under fail, an 1 continued firing the
whole day, with very little intermission ; during the time
a flag was feat off from the Chore, desiring Capt. Wal
lace, Commandcrof the Rose, to let them know what he
meant by firing on the town ?—His answer was, that he
did it in his own defence. We have one man mortally
wounded, and the houses, stores, &c. very much Matter
ed. Yesterday morning they failed out and anchored at
the north fide of the weft end of Fisher's-Island, where
they remain at this publication. There were 5 or 6 people
killed on board the tenders, by the inhabitants who af
fembled^ and were under arms the whole day. They
have carried off a schooner laden with molasses, belong
ing to Patuxet, in Providence, from the Weft-Indies,
and the two small (loops that landed the people.
N E W- P O R T, September 4.
A sloop was lately carried into Boston, with live dock
from Cenneaicut, which was taken by a cruiser, which
vessel and cargo was condemned in Bolton as forfeited ;
the Captain of which left Boston last Tuesday, and in
forms, that ten regulars were carried into Bolton dead,
the Sunday before, who ha 4 been killed by the rifle-men
belonging to the American army, on Saturday night
the 26th of last month ; that it was very sickly among
the inhabitants and the ministerial troops; and that
there were but about 2000 regulars in Bolton fit tor du
ty, and the fame number at Bunker's Hill.
N E W-Y O R K, September 11.
Since our last Captain Goforth and his company, and
Capt. John Lamo's company of artillery, embarked for
Albany, to join our army under General Schuyler, at
Ticonderoga.
Extras of a letter from a Gentleman at Albany, Sept *.
" By an express arrived last evening, we hear mere
has been a Ikirmifh near St. Join's, between a recon
noitring party of our men in a boat, and a boat of regu
lars, Canadians and Indians.—The General's letter cm