The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-24 00:00:00, page 2

>/l. That the people have a right to freedom of
freedh, and of writing and publishing their fehti
merits, therefore the freedom of the press ought not
to be retrained.
Xill. Thatthe people have a right to bear arms,
for the defence of themselves and the date; and as
handing armies, in the .time of peace, are dangerous
to liberty, they ought not to be kept up. And that
the military should be kept under Uriel subordination
to, and governed by, the civil power.
XIV. That a frequent recurrence to fundamen
tal principles, and a firm adherence to justice, mo
deration, temperance, industry and frugality, are
absolutely necessary to preserve the bleflings of liber
tv, and keep a government free. The people ought
therefore to pay particular attention to these points
in the choice of officers and representatives, and have
a right to exact a due and constant regard to them,
from their legislators and magistrates, in the ma
king and executing such laws as are necessary for
the good government of the state.
XV. That all men have a natural inherent right
to emigrate, Trom one Hate to any other that will
receive them, or to form a new Rate in vacant
countries, or in such countries as they can purchase;
whenever they think that thereby they may promote
their own happiness.
XVI. That the people have a right to assemble
together, to confhit for their common good, to in
flruA their representatives, and to apply to the le
gi.'l.tture for redress of grievances by address, peti
tion or remonfirance.
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PETERS B U R G, April 26.
Or IfIS afternoon died, after a few days ilnefs,
her Imperial Highness the Great Dutchefs of
RuTa. This fatal event has given her Imperial
TiajAly and the Great Duke the deepest affliction;
and her loss is moll fincertly and universally lament
ed throughout the empire.
LOND O N, My 2 .
So desirous are the Dutch of observing a ftri&
neutrality with Great-Bricain, and preventing, any
of their vessels from supplying, the Americans with
any kind of warlike dores, that they have Rationed
two frigates ofFSt. Euftatia and Coracoa, to cruise
against, and take any of their own ships that may
be found carrying any supplies to the Americans.
Extract of a letter from Portfmoutk, dated April 29.
“ This morning General Harvey, Governor of
this town, came here from London. The guards
are now all embarked, and are expedited to fail in a
day or two, with the Hcfljan troops, underconvoy
of the Preston man of war, Commodore Hotham,
and several other men of war bound to America."
Extrafl of a letter from Gofport, April 29.
<c Arrived several transports. Spithead looks like
a thick wood ; we have not had so many ships here
at a time since lad war; including men of war there
are about 100 fail.—All the men of war will shortly
proceed for America"
Yesterday Col Guy Johnson, Superintendant of
Indian affairs, kissed his Majesty's hand, and took
leave, previous to his departure for North. America.
May 3. It is generally reported that we shall cer
tainly be at war both with France and Spain before
Michaelmas-day.
It is said that twelve ships of the line will be kept
at Spithend this lummer, completely manned and
victualled, under the command of a Rear-Admiral,
as a fleet of observation.
We hear the plan on which the terms of accom
modation with America.is bottomed are, that the
Americans shall abide by those particular engage
ments which their original charters and eftablilh
ments only granted them. This on their fide is to
be the whole extent of their claim; the additional
immunities and privileges to be left to our govern
ment. The constitution of the American provinces
are of three kinds; firft, royal goverment ; secondly,
proprietary establishments ; and thirdly, civil cor
porations, therefore some of their rights are very
different from others, which in all probability will
occasion a long, but we hope, not a fruitlefs nego-'
ciation.
May 23. This day his Majeßy went to the House
of Peers, and gave the royal assent to the bill to
alter the mode of puniihment of felons sentenced
for transportation,, to hard labour in England.
Extras of a letter from Portsmouth, May 22.
“ Arrived yesterday after poll at Spithead eight
transports with Hessian troops on board for North-
America."
flay 24. Should the ch^ge which is reported to
have happened in the French ministry prove true,
jn all human probability, a rupture in Europe will
be the consequence.
If Choifeul, the Chatham of France, should come
again into play, England may bid adieu co peace.
Choifeul is known to have entertained a deep
rooted jealousy against the Engliih. He will never
forget the towering heights to which the genius of
England concluded her last war. France is deter
mined to retaliate. If she refrains, it will only be
through a confeioufnefs that we are ' pursuing a
measure which will ruin ourselves.
XL That hi controversies refpe&ing property,
and in, suits between man and man, the parties have
a right to trial by jury, which ought to be held
fgcred.
The inrafion of Portugal by the Spaniards is now
more than rumoured. It carries so much the ap
pearance of truth as to be scarcely doubted.
If Spain should actually attack Portugal, England
mull commit a breach of treaty or enter into a war.
Lord Howe, upon having every article in his
commiflion consented to and signed, agreeable to
his utmoß wishes, pledged himfelf to his Majesty,
before his departure, not to return to Great-Britain
without recovering all the American continent by
Treaty or the Sword.
May 28. Ihe departure of Lord Stormont to
c rance is postponed lor some private reasons, which
has not yet transpired.
In the fleet that failed with Lord Howe was a vast
number of small cannon, for the use of the army;
they are on a new conftrudion, mostly about four
pounders; and are Jo contused that a horse will
carry 2 of them, with their carriages, in any roads,
and through the thickest woods, at a great rate.
Extras of a letter from Paris, May 17.
" The King has, it is said, ordered 20 men of war
to be fitted out as loon as can be, and is going to
make a numerous promotion of field officers, which
occasions various Ipeculations. A report prevails
that Luke Ferdinand of Brunswickis going to enter
into the French service; but this will admit of great
doubt."
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, May 26.
" Lail 1 hurfday in the afternoon fell down to
St. Helen's nine fail of transports, with the second
division of Hessian troops on board; and yesterday
morning they failed from thence, under convoy of
his Majeßy's Ihip Repulse, Capt. Davis, for America;
last night they put back to St. Helen's by contrary
winds, but this morning they failed again."
Extrafl of a letter jrom'Portfmouth, May 1.
" Within these three or four days near 300,0001.
in foreign specie, has been shipped for America, on
board the men of war.
“ The Hessian General will not fail till all the
troops arrive here that are expe& d.
" T his refuial has thrown all into confufion, and
has flopped the 'men of war from failing, as they
were to be convoy to all the transports.
" On Monday evening the Worceiler and Speed
well men of war failed from St. Helen's, but their
deftinatibn is not known."
Extras of a letter from Portsmouth, Ma, 3.
“ Yesterday Commodore Hotham, in the Preston,
with the rest of the men of war and transports, with
the Heßians, guards, and train of artillery, dropped
down to St. Helen's, but cannot proceed on their
voyage, the wind blowing strong westerly.
" Lord Howe is expeded down this evening. Sir
Hugh Palifer is come down, and has been on board
the men of war destined for America, to fee that
they are properly victualled and fitted."
WILLIAMSBURG, Auguf 10.
A correspondent has favoured us with extracts of
letters from officers of rank in Fincaftle, from which
we learn, that on Sunday the 2111 of laR month
(the day before the engagement mentioned in pur
fail) a large party of Indians attacked the Watauga
fort, in which were 150 men. They fired on a great
number of women who went out at day-break to
milk their cows, and chafed them into the fort, but
providentially did not kill one of them. They fired
brifkiy on the fort till 8 o'clock, but without effect,
and then retired with considerable loss, as was sup
posed from the quantity of blood found; but they
returned to the attack, and was besieging the fort
fix days after, as a messenger who flipped out in
formed our men on Holstein. A detachment was
sent to relieve the fort, and it it was expected they
would do 10 on Monday the 29th. A party of 100
men of the militia fell in with a party of 40 Chero
kees, who were §0 miles on this fide the island at
one of the deserted plantations, and killed five, took
one prisoner, and 20 guns.—lt is worthy our ob
servation, that in these several skirmishes with the
Indians, in all of which we did more execution than
in some of the principle anions of the last war; we
loft not a man. No one can reflect on this, and
many other circumstances which have attended the
present war with the British tyrant, without acknow
ledging that he fees evident proofs of the divine in-'
terpofition in our'favour..
On Monday last, being court day; the Declarati
on of Independence was publicly proclaimed in the
town of Richmond, before a large concourse of
refpe&able freeholders of Henrico county, and up
wards of 200 of the militia, who assembled on that
grand occasion. It was received with universal
ihouts of joy, and re-echoed by three vollies of small
arms: The fame evening the town was illuminated,
and the members of.the Committee held a club,
when many patriotic toasts were drank. Althougli
there were near 1000 people present, the whole was
concluded with the utmost decorum, and the fatis
fadion visible in every countenance fufficiently evin
ces their determination to support it with their lives
and fortunes.
WATERTOW N, z% a y? i 2.
B, the las Saturday's Pofi from Crown Point, we
have the following Extract of a letter, dated Ticon
deroga, Augufl 3, 1776.
“ Col. Beddie and Major Butterfield (for their
bad condud) are cashiered, and rendered incapable
of bearing a commission in the army of the United
was exhibited to view in this town a very agreeable
profped—The old Gentlemen, Grand Fathers to
the age of seventy years old, and upwards, met,
agreeable to appointment, and formed themselves
into an independent company; each man was well
equip'd with a good musket, powder, ball, cartrid
ges, &c. and unanimously made choice of Elias
Pelletreau, Esq ; for their leader, (with other suit
able officers) who made a very animating speech to
them, on the necessity of holding themselves in rea
diriefs to go into the field in time of invasion; they
cheari ully agreed to it, and determined, at the rifle
of their lives to defend the Free and Independent
States of America.—May such a shining example,
stimulate every Father on Long-lfland in particular,
and America in general, to follow their aged bre
thren here.
N E W-Y O R K, Augufhy.
Friday week, arrived here, two companies of the
third battalion of the Philadelphia aflbeiators com
manded by the Capts. Semple and Henry, and it's
said, the whole battalion are every hour expected to
arrive.
Same day two sire-ships, commanded by Capts.
Fofdyke and Thomas, (gentlemen volunteers of rank
in the army of the United States) proceeded up the
North-River with intent to give a suitable warning
to those piratical gentry that 'have infefted it since
the twelfth of July last. The night was dark and
favourable to the design, and the enemy did not
perceiv our vessels till they were near aboard them.
Captain Fofdyke grappled the Phoenix, but the fire
not communicating so soon as was expelled, she
disentangled herfelf in about 20 minutes, after sus
taining considerable damage in her rigging. Capt.
Thomas fell on board one of the tenders, which was
soon consumed; and we are truly sorry to inform the
public that this intrepid commander is yet milling.
This gallant enterprize flruck so greata panic upon
the enemy that they thought it prudent to quit their
Ration; and yesterday, taking the advantage of a
frefh wind at S. E. attended with considerable rain,
they run the gauntlet through a great number of
well directed Riot from our batteries in and near
this city, which undoubtedly, must have damaged
them much. Our gallies played smartly, and fol
lowed the ships a considerable difiance into the bay.
The enemie's fire seemed to be mostly directed upon
the city, as the tops of the houses was crouded with
fpedators, but very little damage was done to the
buildings, nor any lives loft upon the occasion.
By His°Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON,
Esq; General and Commander in Chief of the arm,
of the United States of North-America.
WHEREAS a bombardment and attack upon
the city of New-York, by our cruel and in
veterate enemy, may be hourly expelled: And as
there are great numbers of women, children, and
infirm persons, yet remaining in the city, whose
continuance will rather be prejudicial than advan
tageous to the army, and their persons exposed to
great danger and hazard: I do, therefore, recom
mend it to all such persons, as they value their own
fafety and preservation, to remove with all expedition
out of the said town, at this critical period—trusting,
that with the bleffmg of Heaven upon the American
arms, they may soon return to it in perfect security.
States Capt, Wentworth is cashiered for disobe
dience of orders. We came from Crown-Point the
17th of July, left one Regiment there; three Bri
gades are encamped on a hill south-east from Ticon
deroga fort, called Mount Independence, where
we are raising some batteries to great advantage;
one Brigade is encamped on the hill near the old
French lines, where they have fortified very strong.
We have now on the Lake two schooners, which
mount 12 guns each, two sloops, and five gondolas,
the gondolas mount 4 guns each ; and five gondolas
more are almost finished. I hope we shall be able
to give our enemies a warm reception if they should
dare to come."
We hear, that on Wednesday last was sent into
Portlmouth, by the Hancock privateer of Philadel
phia, a large ship (formerly a 20 gun Ihip) now
mounting 14 guns, bound from Jamaica for Lon
don, having on board 700 hogsheads of sugar, 200
of rum, besides other valuables, a fine prize. We
hear Ilie was taken by the following stratagem, viz.
Just before duflt in the evening the Hancock came
across her, the Capt of the prize taking the Han
cock to be one of the Tyrant's Pilferers, was very
much rejoiced to fall in with her, and doubtless vice
Versa, when the Hancock at night threw out a light:
for a signal as a pilot. At day light the next morn
ing, the vessels being near together, the Captain of
the ship invited the Captain of the Hancock to come
on board and take a breakfaft; who replied, his
hands were so few and sick, that he had not enough
to man Ids boat and work the veflel, and in his turn
invited the Captain of the fliip to come on board
him, which he readily complied with, by ordering his
boat out, when he and about a dozen of his hands
went on board the Hancock, and were taken as
good care of as men in such circumstances could
allow. The Hancock then sent an equal number
of her own hands on board the ship, when, alas!
Ilie fell into the hands of the United States of
America.
N E W-LONDON, Auguf 9.
Southampton, July 23. I^aft Monday afternoon