The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-17 00:00:00, page 2

miferabie man the means of bettering his condition;
nay, it thews him, that the bearing of his afflicti
ons, as he ought to do, will naturally end in the
removal of them: it makes him easy here, because
it can make him happy hereafter.
Upon the whole, a contented mind is the greatest
blefiing a man can enjoy inthis world; and it in the
prelent life his happiness arises from the subduing
of his desires, it will ari'fe in the next from the gra
tification of them.
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W 14 L I A M S B U R G,
FINCASTL E, fc.•
THE depofitionof Jarrett Williams, taken be
ll fore me, Anthony Bledfoe, a jullice of the
peace for the county aforefaid, being,firll i'worn on
the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, defpofetli
and faith. That he left the Cherokee nation on
Bfonday night the Bth in,ftant (Julyj that the part
of the nation called the Overhills were then prepa
ring to go to war against the frontiers of Virginia,
having purchased to the amount of 1000 ikins, or
thereabouts, for mockafons. They were also beat
ing flour for a march, and making other warlike
preparations. Their number, from a calculation
made by the Raven warriors, amounts to about fir
hundred warriors; and, according to the deponent's
ideas, he thinks we may expect a general attack
every hour. They propose to take away negroes,
horses, &c. and to kill all kinds of cattle, Iheep, &c.
for which purpose they are well flocked with bows
and arrows, &c. also to destroy all corn, burn houses,
&c. And he also heard that the Valley towns were
a part of them, set off; but that they had sent a
runner to Hop them, till all were ready to Hart. He
farther relates, that Alexander Cameron informed
them, that he bid concluded to fend Capt. Natha
niel GtieH, William, Faulin, Isaac Williams, and
the deponent with the Indians, till they came near
to Nanachuky; then the Indians were to Hop, and
GueH and the other whites above m ntioned were
to go to fee if there was any King's men among the
inhabitants; and if they found any, they were to
take them off to the Indians, or have a white sig
nal in their hands, or otherwise to distinguish them.
When this was done, 'they were to fall on the inha
bitants, and kill and drive all they poflibly could.
That on Saturday the sixth instant, in the night, he
heard two prisoners were brought in about mid
night, but the deponent saw only one. That the
within Williams saw one scalp brought by a party
of the Indians, with a prisoner; but from accounts
they had five scalps. He also fays, he heard the
prisoner examined by Cameron, though he gave a
very imperfect account, being very much cast down.
He farther fays, that the Cherokees had received the
war belt from the Shawanefe, Mingo, Tawah, and
Delaware nations, to Hrike the white people. That
fifteen of the said nations were lately in the Chero
kee town, and that few of the Cherokees went in
company with the Shawanefe, &c. That they all
intended to Hrike the settlers on Kentucky; and that
the Cherokees gave the said Shawanefe, &c. four
scalps of white men, which they carried away witli
them. The said Shawanefe and Mingoes informed
the Cherokees, that they were at peace with every
other nation; that the French were to supply them
with ammunition, and that they wanted the Che
rokees to join them to strike the white people on the
frontiers, which the Cherokees have agreed to. And
the deponent faith, that before he left the nation a
number of the Cherokees of the lower towns were
gone to fall on the frontiers of Routh-Carolina and
Georgia; and farther faith not.
JARRET WILLIAMS.
Signed before Anthony Ble'dsoe.
Wednesday an express arriv ed here with the fol
lowing account of a battle fought by a party of the
Fincaftle militia with a number of Cherokee and
Creek Indians, near the great island of Holstein, the
twentieth of July ult.
“ Our scouts returned and informed that they
had difeovered a large number of Indians making
into the settlement, upon 'which information the few
men Rationed at Eaton's fort, within the boundary
line, completed a bread work fufficientjy Hrong with
what men were there, to have defended themselves
against a considerable number. Expresses were sent
to the different Hations, and such a number of men
were collected that nent morning we turned out witli
170 in search of the enemy. We marched in two
divisions, with flankers on each wing and scouts be
fore, who soon discovered upwards of 20 Indians
and fired upon them.' They immediately returned
the fire, but our men rushed on them with such vio
lence as obliged them to make a precipitate retreat.
They left ten bundles and a good deal of plunder,
which our men secured. We have great reason to be
lieve several of them were wounded in this skirmish.
Though it happened on a ground very disadvanta
geous to pursue, yet it was with the greateH diffi
culty they could be restrained. A council was held,
and it was judged adyifeable to return, as we had„
reason to believe a party greatly superior to ours
were not far off. We had not marched more ' than
a mile in good order when our rear was attacked by
upwards of too of the enemy. Our men 'ullained the
attack witli great firmnefs. until a line was formed.
The enemy endeavoured to surround us bu' were
prevented by the vigilance of Capt. James Shelby,
who, with his divifibn took possession of an eminence,
and bravely defended it, which prevented their de
signs Cur line extended upwards of 600 yards, and
alter disputing the ground some time, we found 13
of them dead on the field, and have reason to be
lieve that many more might have been found, if we
had had time to have searched for them, as there
were-great quantities of blood found every way they
retreated. 1 hough the action was ihort, it is be
lieved the execution was great. The enemy attack
ed us witli their usual fury, but our militia fought
with a calmness >nd intrepidity that would have
done honor to the veterans of any country. The
behaviour of our scouts, not only 011 their duty, but
in the adion, deserve the greatest applause. Besides
a deal of plunder we took a good many guns. We
did not lole a man and had only ^flightly wounded.
1 he loldiers are in high Spirits, and long for another
engagement on equal terms. Though we liave rea
son to believe the enemy are pouring in upon us in
numbers superior to our forces, yet we hope for a
reinforcement from our friends.
Signed by Captains John Campbell, William
Cocke, Thomas Maddijon, James Thompson,
James Shelby, William Buchanan."
We have just received at a certain port in this
colony a supply of 450 barrels of gunpowder, and
near 200 Hand of arms.
B O S I O N, Augufl 2.
Last Wednesday was sent into this port a prize
schooner, about 100 tons burthen, taken by two
whaling Hoops in the Bay of Fundy, bound from
Jamaica to Halifax, laden with rum, sugar, &c
We have a report in town, said to'be brought by
one Capt. Carleton arrived at Salem, that seventy
fail of traniports witli Hefhan troops had arrived at
Halifax, and failed again for New-York, before he
left that place.
BOSTON, ^uguft 8.
By an express from Falmouth we are informed,
that Capt. White the day before, in a privateer, had
arrived there, having forty men on board, with the
particulars of the following prizes he had taken, viz.
The brig fanny, 150 hhds of rum from Antigua.
Sloop Betsy, 150 hhds rum, and a brig from Antigua
for Liverpool, 230 hhds rum. Brig Harlequin from
Nevis for London 173 hhds sugar, and 65 hhds of
rum. Ship Polly frpm Antigua, 450 hhds rum, 12
hhds sugar. Ship Anna Maria, 495 hhds sugar,
52 pipes of wine, and some bales of cotton, carried
into Falmouth. The Captain also took a seventh
vessel, which he gave the prisoners.
Yesterday the Cols. Sergeants and Whitcomb's
regiments let off on their March for Crown-Point,
and this morning Col. Phinney's will follow, for the
fame place. Previous to their (the two former's)
departure, they appeared on the green, and went
through various firings, mancevres, &c. to universal
acceptance.
HARTFORD, luf 12 .
Last week a new batcli of tories (between 20 and
thirty) arrived in town from the county of Albany.
They are a motley mess ! fifteen of whom it is said,
are to be Rationed at New-London.
A few days since, the new ship of war belonging
to this State, lying at Say-Brook, was struck by
lightning, which did considerable damage to her
niain-maft and mizen-maft.
NEWPOR T, Tluguf 5.
Last Friday fe'nnight a Hoop from Bermuda ar
rived at Nantucket, who the day before, to the
southward of that island, saw 53 fail of square-rig
ged vessels, Handing to the westward; which, 'tis
likely, are part of the Hessian fleet.
LaR Wednesday arrived at New-London, the
sloop Betsy, Capt. Benjamin Bigelow, in 15 days
from St. Euftatia, with a large quantity of duck,
fix tons of powder, some small arms, &c. Mr.
William Turner, of this island, came passenger in
the above vcffel, and informs that a large number
of troops have lately arrived at Martinico, and
9000 at Porto Rica; that the people at St.'Eußatia
are very Haunch lor these States, &c.
N E W-Y O R K, dluguf 14.
By a gentleman, who arrived here from Provi
dence, we have the following account; That the
sloop Montgomery, Captain Bucklin, has sent into
that port, one brig, with 150 hofheads of rum;
Hie was bound from Antigua, to Ireland; likewise
sent in a bark, laden with sugar, pimento, &c. to
the value of 15,0001. Rerling. The above Hoop,
in consort with another Hoop from Salem, Captain
White, have also taken and sent into Providence,
a snow with Igo hogsheads of sugar and 110 hogs
heads of rum; they also sent into Salem, a ship ha
ving 500 hogsheads of sugar on board, and a brig,
with 240 hogsheads of rum not yet arrived in port.
Capt. Bucklin saw fix Weft-Indiamen, part of the
fleet to which the above vessels belonged, but having
more prisoners on board than his own people, was
fearful of speaking to them, although he was so near
them, that he could fee the people leaning over the
quarter rails looking at him,
N E W - Y O R K, fo^ 8.
Yesterday came in two deserters from the fleet,
by whom we are informed, that Lord Howe is
preparing for an attack, their field pieces were put
on board a veflel, and it was supposed that the
forces would land on Long Island, while the ship
ping attack the city.
SAVANNAH, (Georgia) June 20.
Our Provincial Congress met here the sixth
inst. when his Excellency Archibald Bullock,
Esquire, President and Commander in Chief of
the province of Georgia, delivered the following
SPEECH:
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Congress,
TH E Rate of the province at your last meeting,
made it absolutely necessary to adopt some
temporary regulations for the preservation of the
public peace and fafety; and your appointment of
me, to carry these regulations into execution, at a
time so critical and important to the welfare of this
country, requires an exertion of the greatest pru
dence and abilities.
At a time whemour rights and privileges are in
vaded, when the fundamental principles of the
constitution are subverted, and those men whole
duty Ihould teach them to proted: and defend us,
are become our betrayers and murderers, it calls
aloud on every virtuous member of the community
to Hand forth, and Hem the prevailing torrent of
corruption and lawless power.
The many and frequent inßances of your attach
ment towards me, and an ardent desire to promote
the welfare of my country, have induced me to ac
cept of this, weighty and important trust. For your
interest only I desire to aft; and relying on your aid
and assistance in every difficulty, I shall always most
confidently expert it.
Some venal dilaffe&ed men may endeavour to
persuade the people to submit to the oppressive
mandates of despotism, but iurely every freeman
would confider the nature, and infped the designs
and execution of that government under which he
may be called to live. The people of this province,
in opposing the designs of a cruel and corrupt mi
nistry, have surmounted what appeared insuperable
difficulties; and, notwitliftanding the artifice and
address that for a long time were employed to divert
their attention from the common cause, they at
length, by imperceptible degrees, succeeded, and
declared their resolution to affeft their liberties, and
to maintain them, at all events, in concurrence with
the other associated colonies. For my part, I most
candidly declare, that from the origin of these un
happy ditputes, I heartily approved the conduct of
the Americans. My approbation was not the result
of prejudice or partiality, but proceeded from a firm
perluafion of their having a&ed agreeable to con-
Hitutional principles, and the dictates of an upright
disinterested conscience.
We muff all acknowledge our great obligations
to out anceflois for the invaluable liberties we en-
JTJ if is ° ur indifpcnfable duty to transmit them
inviolate to poßerity; and to be negligent in an
affair of such moment, would be an indeliable Rain
of infamy on the present rera. Animated with this
principle, 1 shall think myfelf amply rewarded if I
can be so fortunate as to render any service to the
cause of freedom and poßerity.
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Congress.
Being sensible that many matters of great impor
tance will claim your attention at this meeting, I
will not take up too mucli of your time from the
public business. Some farther regulations reflec
ting the courts ofju^ice, the Hate of the Continen
tal battalion, and the better ordering of the militia
of this province, will nectHdrily be the fubjed of
your disquisitions.
You muff be convinced of the many difficulties
we labour under, arising from the number that Hill
remain among us, under the shelter of an affeded
neutrality. The arguments alledged for their con
duct appear too weak to merit a refutation:' This
is no time to talk of moderation; in the present in
flance it ceases to be a virtue. An appeal, an aw
ful appeal is made to heaven, and thousands of
lives are in jeopardy every hour. Our northern
brethren point to their wounds, and call for our
mod vigorous exertions; and God forbid that so
noble a contest should end in an infamous conclusi
on. ) oti will not therefore be biafled by any lug
geftions from these enemies of American liberty, or
regard any censure they may bellow on the for
wardnefs and zeal of this infant colony. You must
evidently perceive the necessity of making some
farther laws refpe&ing these Non-Associators; and,
though there may be lome who appear at present
forward to sign the Association, yet it becomes us
to keep a watchful eye on the motives and conduct
of these men, left the public good l>e endangered
through their perfidy and pretended friendfhip.
By the relolves of the General Congress, the in
habitants of the United Colonies are permitted to
trade to any part of the world except the domini
ons of the King of Great Britain; and, in conse
quence of which, it will be necessary to fix on fon^e
mode of proceeding for the clearance of vessels,
and oilier matters relative thereto; and perhaps
you may think it farther requisite to appoint pro
per officers to dispatch this business, that the ad
venturers in trade may meet witli as little obftru&i
on as possible. And I would, at tile fame time, re
commend to your consideration the exorbitant pri
ces of goods, and ocher necefLries of life, in the
town of Savannah, and in ev.ry part of the pro
vince. This certainly requires some immediate re
gulations, as the poor must be greatly distressed by
such alarming and unheard of extortions.