The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-04-13 00:00:00, page 3

both under twenty years of age, were capitally con
victed of robbing John Cunningham, at the upper
end of Market-street, on the seventh of December
tart, between the hours of eight and nine in the
evenin fc Sentence was puffed before they were
carries I from the bar.
" In J. fit of the Capes of Virginia, April 7, 1776.
" Gentlemen,
" I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that at
one P. M. this day, I fell in with the sloop Ed
ward, belonging to the Liverpool frigate. She
engag cd us near two glasses. They killed two of
our mien, and wounded two more. We Shattered
her ini a terrible manner as you will fee. We killed
and v rounded several of her crew. I shall give you
a par ticular account of the powder and arms taken
out o f her, as well as my proceedings in general.
I hav c the happiness to acquaint you, that all our
peop'le behaved with much courage. lam, Gentle
men, your humble servant,
JOHN BARRY." /
To the Honorable John Hancock, Els
or any of the Marine Committee.
*', All persons who are willing to supply the
troc>ps of this province, now railing, with the fol
low; ng rations, viz.—one pound of beef or three
quai ters of a pound of pork, or one pound of mut
ton per man per day—-One pound of flower or bread
per man per day—Three pints of peas or beans, at
6s. per bushel, per man per week, or vegetables
equ ivalant thereto—Half a pint of rice or one
pound of Indian meal per man per week—One pint
of 1 nilk per man per day—One quart of small beer
per man per day, or nine gallons of melaffes for
on e hundred men per week—One gill of vinegar
pe r man per week—Three pounds of candles for
or le hundred men per week for guards —Twenty-
fo^r pounds of foft or eight pounds ol hard soap
sot • one hundred men per week—are desired to bring
or fend their proposals on or before the 15th inlt.
to George Gray. .David Rittenhoufe and Michael
Hi 'llegas, appointed by the Assembly to contrast
wi th them.
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From the New-York Packet.
PILAN OF THE AMERICAN COMPACT.
r OHE capital fubje& of conversation through
, L out America for these few weeks pad, hath
be £u excited by a pamphlet, entitled, Common
St life; the author of which endeavours to ihew the
nt ceffity of our final figuration from Great Britain,
as our rights and privileges cannot be properly fe
cu .red by any mode of reconciliation whatever.
N one of the answers given to this ingenious pamph-
Je t, have sketched @ut any plan of settlement, by
V hich it might appear that our rights and freedom
w ould be fully lecured, though again united and
h irmonized with Britain. That luch a compact or
settlement is practicable, I think, ought to be made
a; ^parent to the people of America, before they can
b : convinced of the propriety of reconciliation ; and
U nlefs this can be effected, I never wish to fee the
u nion; prefering, beyond all comparison, the toils
a nd dangers of erecting a free and independent fa
b lick to the delusive promises of freedom, pregnant
v nth the principles of servitude and oppreflion.
I Jut, I think, such a compad, or a& of settlement,
r nay be framed, as will secure to Americans the
iight of freemen, at the fame thne that it removes
1 fom them the horrors of war, and the desolations
1 frith which even victory must be attended. I think
no considerate person will deny, that our truly ho
nourable Congress were of opinion fucli a compact
Could be formed, when they petitioned the King,
addressed the people of Britain, and prayed to the
Father of peace for reconciliation with Great Bri
tain, as the greatest blessing these colonies could cn
j,oy. If such a settlement, in the opinion of the
Congress could so lately have been framed, I think
no good reason can be given why it cannot now be
effected, since the fame wile and salutary regulati
ons, which fix months ago would have secured us
^gainft the inroads of tyranny and the designs of a
-wicked Ministry, must at this day answer the fame
important purposes. What were the articles of this
compad, which our Congress must have thought
would be fufficient to secure our liberties, I do not
know, it is impossible, therefore, for me to relate
them ; but fufficientit is,for the purpose of destroying
the foundation of independency, to delineate the
outlines of a compact, which would reconcile us to
.Great-Britain, and at the fame time secure and
preserve our rights and privileges: Such a general
plan, or ground work, is here offered to the public
for their consideration.
I. The British Parliament shall have no power
to tax the colonies.
2. The Parliament shall not intermeddle with
the internal police of the colonies: Let Britain pro
vide for her own internal government, and the co
lonies for theirs. By this clause all difpuces about
invasion of charters, rights of trial by jury, manu
factures of the colonies, &c. will be rooted up at
one stroke.
3. The Crown shall appoint the officers of go
vernment in tlie colonies, during good bel>aviour,
and the people ol the colonies pay them; by this
means the officers become equally dependent upon
crown and people, (as they always ought to be.)
4. The Parliament shall have the regulation of
our trade; but lead they may lay heavy duties upon
articles of our trade, under pretence of regulating
it, and so raise a revenue out of the colonics, they
should have no right to the duties, but they should
go to, and be for the benefit of that colony from
which they were railed, to contribute in paying
that colony's taxes, &c.
5. As it is necessary there should be some general
power to superintend and regulate the interell of the
colonies as connected with and interfereing witli each
other, which no provincial legislature is competent
to; and as it would be dangerous to give the Britifli
Parliament that power left tyranny might enter in at
io indefinite a package, there ihould be a general
Convention, confiding of Deputies from the several
colony Aflemblies, or from the people, whole business
should be to regulate the polls, the general curren
cy, and the proportion of the forces of the colonies,
and all other matters in which the separate colony
legislatures have not fufficient authority, and which
are not contrary to the right herein allowed to the
British Parliament. One special business of this
Convention, should be to keep a vigilant and care
ful watch over the designs and tranfadions of the
British Minidry and Parliament, that so by an early
watch word it may prevent tyranny in its embrio:
But as abfoluce power might in time be assumed by
this Congress, were it without any cheek its ads
therefore should go home for (he Royal assent; the
Crown to have no power to rejed them, or the
Provincial ads, unless done within three years
after palling here.
6 For our security against the introduction of
British troops to enslave us in times of tranquillity,
when we had forgot the use of arms, a perpetual
handing militia bill fhould' form part of the compad
by which means the people of the colonics would
keep up their martial spirit, and always be prepared
against the attack of arbitrary power: But, as it
would be ufetul, in cale of sudden invasion, to have
a small number of troops at all times ready to r pel
such invasion, the King should have a right to fend
a certain limited number for instance, 10 or 12,000
upon the continent, whose immediate exertions
might be fufficient to prevent an enemy, until the
militia Could be aflembled and brought up. Who
ever asserts that 10 or 12,000 soldiers would be
fufficient to controul the militia of this Continent,
confiding of 500,000 brave men, pays but a despicable
compliment to the spirit and ability of Americans.
More than this dipulated number the Crown Ihould
not fend without the content ol the general Con
vention or Congress.
7. In order to pr vent bribery and corruption
From lapping the foundation of the goodly tabrick,
the compad should contain these three clauses, viz.
That the Colonies should choote their Representa
tives and Convention every two years: 1 hat they
should choose them by ballot; and that no officer
or petitionary oi the Crown ihould be elected.
8. As these Colonics would be proteded by the
power of Britain, ahd would receive all the duties
arising from the regulation of trade, the Colonies
should stipulate to allow them 8 per cent, upon
all merchandizes imported from foreign countries.
1 his would be the easiest of all methods for railing
this sum; It would be paid invilibly, and we should
even then be gainers, since we should receive a profit
of 12 per cent, upon such foreign commodities. If
the exigencies of the date should at any time require
a further grant, the fame Ihould be obtained freely
by way of requisition.
These are the outlines of the compad of recon
ciliation, by whicn it is apparent our freedom may
be amply lecured. No doubt many additions may
be made to it by the wisdom of our venerable
Congress, and the observations of my countrymen.
And since an honourable and secure harmony may
again be established between Great-Britain and these
colonies, who would prefer the horrors of war, the
ruin of commerce, the deftrudfion of private peace
and happiness, and the lo!s of thouiands of our
countrymen in battle, to the blcffings of peace and
tranquility, the enjoyment of plenty and abundance,
the preservation of the lives of our fellow creatures,
and all these in the lull pofTeflion of liberty ? And
for what are we to encounter all these evils, and
untried ways, which like all novel experiments, must
be attended with innumerable difficulties, it they
should happen to prove fuccefsful, and with dismal
consequences Ihould they mifearry. Tis a form of
government which Baron Montesquieu, and the bed
writers on the fubjed have shewn to be attended
witli many miichiefs and imperfections, while they
pass high encomiums on the excellency of the Bri
tilh constitution. But why should I dwell upon the
dangers of this scheme; the Continental Congress
have never hiped the lead desire for independency
or republicanism: all their publications breathe an
other spirit, and in their justice, wisdom and virtue
I can freely confide, for a restoration of peace and
tranquillity upon just and honourable conditions.
In Committee of Safety, March ,6.
Refolded, That Major Meredith, Capt. Wilcocks,
Capt. Peters, and Mr. Peter Dehaven, be appoint
ed to superintend and condud the Provincial Ma
nufactory ol Gun Locks in this city, and they are
empowered to contrast lor a convenient situation,
and tp crest all works necessary for carrying on the
The best Pric^ and ready Money
Is given for
Clean Linen Rags,
- By the PRINTER hereof.
said manufactory in the mod beneficial manner --
the public: And further, to contrast for the mak-'
ing Fire Arms, and fee that the artificers who have
already contracted in this city for that purpose per
form their engagements faithfully; and this Board
will supply them with such sums of money as the
business shall require Extras from the Mir.ufo,
William Govett, Secretary.
PUBLIC NO 1 ICE is hereby given, That
we have, in pursuance of the above Resolve of the
Committee of Safety, provided a convenient place
for the carrying on a Provincial Lock Factory on an
extensive plan; and as a proper person is appoint
ed to direct, teach and superintend workmen in that
branch, all smiths who are already acquainted with
the lock business, or thole who are desirous of in
hruction, will be employed, by applying to us, or
to Mr. Berfomi??Rittenhoufe, at the Lock Factory,
in Cherry-ltreet, between 1 hard and Feurth-hrects,
Philadelphia. All perlons desirous to contrail for
the making of Fire-Arms, are requeued also to
a PP'y t° Samuel Meredith, John Wilcocks, Richard
Peters, junr. Peter Dehaven.
As the Gun Lock factory was established not only
to manufacture as many Locks as possible, but also
to lerve as a school for promoting the knowledge
of this necessary business throughout the province,
all journeyman fraiths, clock makers, and other
perlons, who have been accustomed to filing and
woi king iron or brass, will be inftruded in the said
business gratis, and receive adequate wages for their
labour: A few active boys will be taken apprentices.
A perlon well acquainted with forging Gun Locks
will meet with encouragement. Persons having
good arms for sale are desired to apply to the fub'-
fcribers, or to Mr. Robert Towers, at the State-
House.
The Pointers of the several Neivs-Papers in this
province (both Engiijb and German) are requeued
to insert in their papers, a convenient time, this
advert fement.'
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A few Copies of the
Military Guide,
F'o R
YOUNG OFFICERS,
By IHOMAS SIMES, Esquire,
In Two Volumes, large O&avo, embellished
with a Number of Copperplates,
{Price Three Dollars)
May be had of the PRINTER hereof.
_ ...-„.,~fr^ n . rr . .._ CT . raw¥ACT ._^..^n^,
WAN I S a Place, in a small family, a young
W O MA N that can tend children, sow;
iron, &c. She can be well recommended. En
quire of the Printer.*
DESERTE D this day, from a party ofMa
rines now recruiting in this city, for the
Ship Reprisal, IPILLI/JM BAXTER, born
in the North of Ireland, about twenty years ofage,
five feet seven inches high, dark brown, or black
hair, cut short, has a new brown coat and buckskin
breeches lowed taylor fashion, with a seam upon
the inside of the thigh, and grey flockings; he laid
he has been but nine months in the country, and
had lived near Schuylkill; he received the advance
and has not since been been. Whoever lodges him
in the goal of this city, or brings him to Mr. Miles
Pennington, at Mrs. Roxbury's, Southwark, or
to the fubferiber at the sign of the Ship Alfred, in
Walnut-hmet, shall receive FO U R Dollars
reward., JOHN ELLIOT.
N. B. I have been informed that be has deferred
from the Firfl Battalion. April 11, 1776.
sap pullfed and to iXfldftf
JAMES HUMPHREYS, junr.
The corner of Black-horse Alley, Front-hreeL
The compleateft Edition yet publiffied of
Ihe W O RKS of the
Rev'd. Laurence Sterne, A. M.
Prebendary of York, and Vicar of Sutton on the
foreh, and of Stillington near York •
In live Volumes;
CONTAIN I N G:
he Life ol the Author.
Ihe Life and Options of Triftram Shandy, Gen
tleman.
Yorick's Sermons—Forty-five of the best moral
Difcourles ever delivered from the Pulpit.
loricks Sentimental Journey through France and
Italy.
The History of a Watch-coat, —a Political Ro
mance.
Yorck's Letters to Eliza, and
Sterne's Letters to his Friends, on various Occa
sions; which were never before published in any
Editionof his Works.