The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-19 00:00:00, page 2

) and adjudged gritty of mifoehaoiourby the Council,"
Betin Pennfylvahia, the Judges or the supreme
'Court, may be kicked off by the Assembly as easily
# as old flippers, vihenever the Assembly pleases, with-,
out any trial.
Peter. But what will become of our State, when
theft bright men have Serv'd,our years in Assembly?
Then, according to the eighth Section, they can
Verve no more, till three years are past.
Orator. Poh ! Peter,— that fe&ion is made only
for the' common members of the Assembly, not for
o^e !,urv. For after they have fat fear years in
the Ahrtubly, tht, will then have rendered iueh
important Services, to their country, that they will
0 - entiled to rife into feats in Congress and Coun
cil, and after fitting tavo years in Copgrels and one
in Council, or three years in the l^ft, which is the
limited ;ime, 'then they go into the ATembly again
• —How admirably are these things contrived ! They
fit topnotch: This notion of Simplicity, with ref
>p^ to shifting from place to place, was taken from
th it familiar and pleating recreation of innocent
minds
. “ Here we go up, tap, tip,
•• And there we go dewy &e„,' ^oivnc.
" Here we go backwards and forwards,
, " And there we go round, round, rounder.
Believe me, Peter, it is indilpenfibly essential to our
happiness that our Leaders should be perpetually in
feme office or other, and should likewifc Lave an
influence and contcoul over all others.
, Peter. My last que^ion -diverted thee from what
thou wall faying about theCourts of Justice.
Orator. That puts me in mind of Justices of the
peace. They! Listen, O America, and learn wif,
dom—they are to be "ele&ed by the people in eve
ry ward, tewnihip and didri r t—they are to be com
mhlioned for seven years, but removcablc by the Pfr
Jembly for any thing they pbrfe to call mifeonduP.
There's indulgence and mildness for thee, Peter.
If there happens to be a great number of debtors or
disorderly people in a didrict, &c. their/eru^tr and
creatures the Juftices)of the Peace will have a fine
time of it, if they pretend to call their wafers and
feeders to an account. Oh Peter, Our Laws are to
be mild laws, and to be mildly executed. See the 1
thirtieth fc&ioh. See also, Peter, the thirty second
feAion -which direds that elections Shall be by
ballot, free and voluntary. Well, there it is
ordained, that if any man, in order to procure
himfelf to be eleded'a Member of Affembly^ Ihall
BRIBE any Elector among the people, .of any
Member of the Assembly, by directly giving money
&c for hie vote, such person shall be THEREBY
rendered incapable: Now, Peter, what doll thou
think this pra^ifer of dirdll bribery and corruption
in the choice of the very persons with whom the
Sovereignty of the State is td be vested, is to be
incapable of?
Peter. Why, to be sure, he is to be incapable
of holding any office, civil or military, in the State,
during his whole life time besides paying a very
heavy fine, and'fuftering a very long imprisonment.
Orator. Oh, thou hard hearted man, who haft
no pity for a fellow creature hurried along by the
strong passion of Ambition. No! Our Leaders are
not such Dragons: The person who ihusuiRECTLY
bribes an elector among the people, or a mem
ber of Assembly, ' ihall be thereby rendered inca
pable to force for the enduing year." Those are
the very words of the Frame.
Peter. That is no punithment at all on the vil
lain who gave the BRIBE; it is only keeping him
out of an office he had no right to, and which per
haps he would not have had votes enough to obtain
even it his bribery had not been difeovered.
Orator. Ahl it seems so; but, Peter, when we
art )governed by such bright men as our leaders in
Convention, and have such prepjs of their ability and
diJintereftednefs,M is not to be expected, that com
mon men can dive into all their political mysteries.
No doubt they have good reasons for this extraor
dinary fedion, that seems so plainly to encourage
bribery and corruption. lam sure, they have very
good reasons, ' becaufe they had before their eyes
the examples of other States on this continent, and
the very expressions used by those States on this
identical fubjed; and.as our Leaders have made this
lesion totally different from these examples and ex
preflions, they must have difeovered some inconve
nience; which they apprehended from following
these precedents. lam confirmed in my opinion,
that this fe&ion was composed as iris, with delign,
by observing the extreme gentleness and humanity
of the twenty eighth fe&ion, which is plainly and
carefully intended for the relief of Rogues, provi
ded they are so cunning as to take care, that the
prefamption cd their roguery is not " strong"
Peter. Why, art thou serious, Neighbour Puff,
and doll thou think so fotemn and grand a work as'a
JTame of Government for so great and celebrated,
a State as Pennsylvania, a Frame' intended to last"
as long as the fun shines and the rivers run, should
be so very attentive to procure advantages for such
offenders? (See the last Page.)
E^tecto^^ totoefoofcx^^
W A I ERTOW N, Oflober 7.
Last Wednesday returned to Salem after a short
cruise, the brigantine ,Wffichufetts of this S,ate,
commanded by Capt. Souther. He informs that a
few davs after he failed hefell in with and took &
brigantine of about 250 tons, from Falmouth in
England, mounting fix 3 pounders, and having on
board a Captain and about 20 privates of thE 16th
regiment of "Dragoons, with their horses and ac
coutrements, also the Chaplain of said regiment,
and some dry goods, which the Captain fays is his
own property. The whole number of prisoners 35.
This v^ifel failed from Falmouth the zyth'of July,
just a month after they embarked, in company with
12 others, under convoy of the Daphne of 32 guns,
fronrwhom they parted but a day or two before
they were taken; they all had the fame kind of
cargo, making in the whole 230 horses. A fleet of
about 70 fail, failed about three days before them,
under a strong convoy, having on board the femain
4derof the- 16th regiment of'Dragoons, and the lak
division offlannoverians, consisting his said of 5000
men, bound to New-York; they were Short of horse
proyifions, some of the, horses died of the Raggers,
and 'tis supposed the late gales have destroyed many
more. 1 The people in. England, we hear, began to
be very uneasy.
The prize above ' mentioned, we learn, arrived at
Townsend at,the Ea&ward-thft middle of last week.
A privateer belonging to Salem, which arrived
there last fhurfday, fell in with the fleet of twelve
fail, and was so elofely pursued by the Daphne, that
the enemy fired musket balls into her; but by heav
ing over all her guns, water and provisions, and by
Cawing down her upper works, they barely escaped.
Wednesday lad arrived at Boston, a prize brig,
taken by the Continental ship Columbus; Abraham
Whipple, JE,q Commander, bound from Antigua
to Ireland, laden with rum.
' PR OVI D E N'C E,TfM er 5 .
Sunday last arrived here from a fuccetsful ertii^e,
the (hip Columbus. Captain Abraham Whipple, in
the Service of the United States, having taken four
/prizes, viz. a brig from St. Croix, abound to Scot
land, with 265 hogfieads'ef rum, a tierce and 12
Barrels sugar; a ship from St. Chriftophers bound
to London,-With. 291-hogsheads, 59 tierces, 23 bar
rels and 12 kinderlms sugar, 15 hogiheads and 3
barrels rum; a (hip from Grenada bound to London,
^ithg&o hngfheads sugar, 57 hogffieads rum, one
.pipe and 2-hogsheads vune, and some cotton; and
a brig from Montserrat bound to Cork, with 2x3
dioglh^adsmf'rum. Two of die above prizes <are
arrived at the Eastward.
NEWBURY-PORT, oc%to 4 .
Itis reported here, that some days ago an engage
’meat happened between two of our privateers and
the Milford (a noted pirate that has long infefted
'our coast) when, ufter warmly difpudng the point
by hard blows, the latter thought it prudent to tub
'mit, and we hear our peop* are now bringing her
into some lase port, after which we hope to give a
better account of her. ^.
We hear that a large ship from the Weft-Indies,
with several families, and considerable plate on
board, is arrived at Cape-Ann, lent in by some of
your privateers.
•c^^c^xfe^^
From the NEWYORK GaaE IT E.
Mr. Printer,
AS the Public have, no doubt, received many
contradictory accounts, relative of the unfort
unate attempt against Quebec on the gift December
last; and having great reason to think no just one has
jeb been publilhec, I have (in Justice to the Cha
racters of many whole names perhaps have not
been mentioned, or if mentioned, not with the re
fpe& they deserve) lent you for Publication the fol
lowing Sketch of that morning's tranfaffon; assur
ing you at the lame time that I am entirely divested
'(prejudice, that! was but tranfiCntly acquainted
with any of the officers of the detachment previous
to the attack and conlequently can have no inte
rest in luppreffing or exaggerating any/ circura
ftances, to the injury of any one of them: On the
contrary^ -there is not a circumstance related, re
ipeding the afftult, but wliat I was either an Eye-
Witnels to, by being in the front, or had from
those whMe characters as gentlemen, and conduct
as brave loldiers, entitles them to the greatest
credibility. Those officers and gentlemen, whole
names are mentioned, eminently diftinguilhed them
lelves, —their enemies do them the justice to acknow
ledge it, —and I hope their country witl amply re
ward them I am Sir,
lour very humble Servant, A SOLDIER.
About 4 0 clock in the morning, the,detachment
being alfcmbled in St. Role, (together with Capt.
Lamb, and part of his company of ArtQEry with a
field piece mounted on a particular carriage for the
convenience for carrying it thro' the lnov% tho' its
ineficacf was soon experienced) Capt. Eleazer Os
wald with a party of 2§ men was detached to attack
the'cnemy's advanced works at the. Sonde De Man
telee, on the entrance into the lower Town on St.
Charles's fide, the main body being then in motion
to follow; but by the time they caihe opposite Pa
lace-Gate the garrison had taken the alarm and be
ing appriz'd of the design began a heavy fire from
the walls, by which they had to pass a full quarter
of a mile ere they came to the firft place of a&on,
which, with the obftru&ion occasioned by the field
piece, threw the divisions commanded by Majors
Bigelow and Meigs, ir to such. confefi@n that they
loft the right path: However, the advanced party
soon reached the Barrier and began the attack, in.
which they were joined by Colonel Arnold himfelf,
and supported by Capt. Daniel Morgan, with his
company of rifle-men, who were in front of the
main body. In this onset, unfortunately-=unfor
tunately "indeed — Col. Arnold received his wound,
and was carried off; but notwithstanding, Captain
Morgan and the firft party obtained poffeflion of
the battery of 4 gifts, took great part of the guard,
and a number of tie inhabitants who farrendered
prisoners. In thiffituation they w^e obliged to
remain (not being supported by the main body who
had not recovered from their confufion so as to
come up) 'till joined by Lieut. Steel, with part of
Capt. Smith's company, Captain Lamb with his,
artillery company, (who were obliged to quit the
field-piece, it being impossible to bring it forward)
Captain Hendricks, with part of his company, and
several of the Marketeers from the different com
panies (after regaining the proper road) in all about
200, when they again formed, and were again led
on by Captain Morgan, (upon whom the body
then called as their commanding officer) to force
the second Barrier, which had they effected, would
have given full poifeflion of the, lower Town; but
the enemy,having defeated the division which the
immortal Hero General Montgomery led to force
their works in the lower Town on St. Lawrence
fide, had now turned all their force upon this de
tachment; yet the dispute remained obstinate for
some time—(in which an attempt to scale it, was
_ twice made by the intrepid Cappin Morgan, whose
uncommon preface of mind, and gallant behavi
our in this critical situation, were crtily conspicu
ous) and success, 'till now, feem'd inclin'd to crown
their brave endeavours, when they found them
selves surrounded on all quarters—a party of near
200 men having sallied out at Palace-Gate, attacked
and took prisoners all the, rear, who .had not got
^within the firft Barrier, apd having brought their
cannon which commanded the river St. Charles, to
ra^e the street, were a second time thrown into dis
order, and obliged to take possession of the houles,
in which they made a resolute Hand of full three
hours; but finding the enemies fire continue, both
from their cannon and musketry, and not more
than one in ten of their own hrelocks serviceable,
the others rendered ufeleis by a snow, storm which
began in the night, and continued the whole day;
and not having the leaf pbffibility of making a re
treat, were at length obliged to iurrender themielves
priloners; which in all human probability would
Pot have been their fate, had those brave officers
and soldiers, who distinguished themielves in the
front, been properly luftained by those who were in
the rear: But on the contrary, from the conduct of
the garrison, there was the greatest profpea of car
rying the town.+
In.this glorious, though unfucoefsful attempt, fell
(besides thole in Gen. Montgomery's division) while
in the utmoil exertion of their duty, that excellent
young officer Capt. William Hendricks, of Penn
sylvania; the truly brave Lieut. John Humphreys,
of Captain Morgans company, and Lieutenant
Cooper, of Connecticut. Captain Hubbard of the
town or Worcester, in Massachusetts Bay, died in
a few days after, of a wound he received before he
reached the firlt barrier,<
The fpiiited exertions and gallant behaviour of
the patriotic Capt. John Lamb, the firmnefs of the
indefatigable Capt. Samuel Locwood, (by whose
vigilance both by night and day, with 40 men and
a 12 pounder in a gondola; eleven armed vessels,
witli Gen. Piefcot, 13° officers and loldiers, 'and
130 seamen were taken at Sorel) and the undaunted
resolution shewn during the whole conflict, by Cap
tains Oswald, Thayer and Topham; Lieutenants
William Heath, Peter O'Brien Bruin, (Charles Pot
terfield and John M'Guire, volunteers) all ofCapt.
Morgan's company,—Steel, ol Smith's; Moody, of
Lambs_ 1 ildle, of Ward's, and federal other su
balterns, &c. has not pufy crowned them with ho
nor as soldiers, but entitles them to the applause of
their bleeding country.l
Adjutant Feleiger (a Danish gentleman,' who holds
a Lieutenancy in the King of Denmark's Service)
behaved with all the resolution, cahphefs and intre
pidity peculiar to an old veteran and an experienced
officer; and nas,given many specimens of his great
military abilities.
' n ''",'.' ce '° • Matthew Duncap, a volunteer
fiom Philadelphia, who was an4.deha prisoner the
day after, owing purely to his enterprizing spirit,
in coming voluntarily to know whether the detach
ment were in poffchion of tile lower town, agreea
ble to a report,then prevailing in the Camp. Jdo
ahuie the public, that the enemy gave him the cha
racter Inch a young adventurer deserves; and that
many of them appeared farpfized so young a man
could be able to maintain the faltiiefs of the cause
in which he was engaged vit, so much Spirit,
fenfibinty and firmnefs.. Indeed it was frequently
mentioned, that his zeal carried him so far as to
insult in his turn, some of the principal officers as
they marched him to the Main Guard; meaning
(I luppofe) his alking Col. McLane, in a farcaftieal
manner, if he did not land at New-York, alluding
to a belief then entertained, that he was there
obliged to give his parole for his future conduct.