The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1775-09-04 00:00:00, page 1

THE FOLLOWING
New Publications
May be had of H. GAIN E,
At his Book-Store in Hanover-Square.
L E TT E R. S
Written by the late Right Honourable
Philip Dormer Stanhope,
EARL of CHESTERFIELD,
To his SON
PHILIP STANHOPE,
Late Envey Extraordinary at tbe Court of Dresden,
THE
HISTORY
OF
IRELAND
From the Invasion of HENRY 11.
With a
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE
On the Antient State of t at Kingdom..
By I HOMAS LELAND, D. 1X
Senior Fellow of Trinity College, and Prebendary of
St. Patrick's, Dublin.
THE
SUBSTANCE
Of the
EVIDENCE
On THE
PETITION
Presented by the
Weft India Planters and Merchants,
To the Hon. House of Commons,
As it was introduced at the Bar, and fumm'd up by
* Mr. GLOVE R,
On Thursday the 16th of March, 1775.
LOND O N, June 6.
To the MINISTER.
Aid# etiam Italicas wires, Rowamqug fuifmet
Fugnontem membris ; adjice & civdita bella :
Et Cambrum in morio, mariumque in carcere wißum.
Manil. Lib. iv.
THE sword of civil war is at fait unlheathed.
You are astonished ; for you believed thoie
sagacious Counfellors who assured you that the
Americans were cowards. You wera perluaded,
that what you are pleased to call ' firmnefs" in
the King, and " steadiness" in his Ministers, was
alone Sufficient to Stifle that thing called “ Liberty,"
which having fled from this island, took fhelrer in
America. You find, my Lord, you were deceived,
and from that fatal houi in which the hostile sword
firft glittered in America, every Ship will bring fiefh
•proof of your error. I know the Americans, my
Lord, better than any of your military intormeis.
You are deceived, abuted, wretchedly abused, and
you will find your error when it is too late. Just
Cod! I lose all patience, when I recolka the incre
dible ablurdity of your conduct ; the paltry, Shal
low, contemptible fyttem of politics, by which every
tranfadion of your Minidry hath been governed.
With regard to America, you have Struggled under
an universal cloud of infatuation, and the arguments
of your treasury.-- Slaves in support of your tyran
ny, are a continued burlesque on argumentation.
You have been equally unlucky, my Lord, in your
pensioned fciibblers, the two celebrated Doaors,
who unfortunately for your Lordship, are, in truth,
znoft feurvy politicians.
But, my Lord, I will for the present, wave all
other matters of difeuffion, and confine myfelf to
the topic of the day. America, my Lord, America !
You Shudder at the found. I marvel not : it will be
your deftruCtion. Your present game, my Lord,
depends entirely on your ability to persuade the peo
ple of England that their fellow fubjeds in America
are in a date of rebellion. The people of England
are less liable to mistake declamation for argument
than any people in Europe. The people of England
know, that to resist illegal exertions of power is not
rebellion. If you, my Lord, have presumed to
stretch the Power of the Crown or of the Parliament,
beyond its legal bounds, you are a rebel to the peo
ple and a traitor to your country. You have dared
to tax America, an unrepresented part of the King's
dominions. That taxation and representation is in
separable is the avowed opinion of the firft Lawyer
in the kingdom: It is not only an opinion, but a
glaring axiom of the constitution ; and if you dare
deny it, my Lord, I thus publickly declare you an
errant traitor to your countiy. America is not re
presented, and therefore cannot be taxed but by them
selves, and whatever may be your present portion, I
pledge my credit with the public, that I will bring
you, or your advocates, to acknowledge the truth of
this position. If, therefore, you have presumed to
tax America illegally ; if you have sent an army to
inforge laws unconstitutionally enabled, the Ameri
cans are not in a Rate of rebellion : On the contrary
they deserve our prayers and affiitance : and you,
my Lord, are the arch rebel against whom all our
vengeance Should be d reeled. I am unexpectedly
interrupted, and I must therefore beg leave to con
clude myfelf;
My Lord,
Your's, &c.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Fleur it iss. per Cent.
a White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
A ilb. 3 oz. 1-2 for 4 Coppers.
Published 23d August, 1775.
Monday, September 4>.i77frTHE[No. 1247]
N E^.ro R KragfeM^G A ZE T T E
AND THE
WEEKLY "W|^ ME RCU R Y.
Containing tbe fre^cfl fl^ices rfg^s3^ foreign ana tocmffi&
0 Printed by HUGH GAINE, Printer, Book-seller, and Stationer, at the Bible and Crown, in Hanover-Square.
On Tuesday last cur Provincial Congress appoint
ed Lieutenant Col. Edward Fleming, of this City,
to be Deputy Adjutant-General of the Continental
Army, with the Rank of. Colonel.
By a Gentleman from Albany, we are informed,
that when he left that Place, seven hundred Indians
of the Mohawk and Onondaga Nations had arrived
there, and declared themselves to be in our Iritereft in
the present Contest : They fay they are connected by
Marriage and otherwise with the Canadian Indians,
and do not despair of bringing them over to our Side,
notwithstanding the unwearied Endeavours of Gover
nor Carleton to the contrary.
Captain Jenkins who left Quebec the 21st of July,
informs us, that the Canadians teem to be well pleased
with the Proceedings of tbe Colonies, and he like
wise understood they had received Letters from the
Congress which were very agreeable to them. Ship
Bread was five Dollars per Cwt. Wheat fix Shillings
Sterling per Bushel. Six or seven Transports were
loaded with Provisions for Bottom ; the inhabitants
were very uneasy, being apprehensive of a Scarcity.
Wheat Bread Three-pence Sterling per Pound.---
The Garrison in a poor State of Defence, as there
were not more than twenty-five Regulars in it. Go
vernor Carleton had taken the greatest Part of the
Cannon from the Forts to mount on the floating Bat
teries at St John's. By the bell Information, he
has not above 5 or 600 men with him ; and that he
had committed 3 or 400 Canadians to Goal for re
fufing to take up Arms against the Colonies : The
only Vessel of War there was the Gafpee Brig. A
Transport failed with him loaded with Provisions for
General Gage, about 500 Tons burthen. He saw
a Letter from a Serjeant of the Regulars at St.
John's, to his Wife in Quebec, wherein he informed
her, that he had not his Cloaths off this Fortnight
past, being so busy in building floating Batteries to
go and retake the Forts from the Yankies.
“ Your Favour of the nth instant, come duly to
hand, and I should have failed for Haerlem, without
Loss of Time, had I not received the following im
portant Intelligence from Gen. Washington, viz.
“ Aug. 23, 1775.---Yesterday I received Advice
from Boston, that a Number of Transports have
failed on a second Expedition, for frefh Provisions :
As they may pursue the fame Course, only advancing
further, we think Montaug Point, on Long-Island,
a very probable Place of their Landing; I have
therefore thought best to give you the earliest Intelli
gence ; but I do not mean to confine your Attention
oi Vigilance to that Place ; you will please to extend
yeur Views as far as the Mifchief may be probably
extended."---Thus far the Intelligence. I will fur
ther inform you, that the King s Fisher, last Wed
nesday went up the Sound, witu several small Cut
ters, reconnoitring the north Side of the Island ; and
Thursday there followed past this Place two Top-fail
Veflfels, which I apprehend to be Transports, as
they fired two signal Guns when they went thro' the
Race.—l would therefore recommend to the Provin
cial Congress, to keep a good Guard upon Queen's
County, as I imagine (heir Design is to get Stock
from Huntington, Lloyd's Neck, or Fluihing ; and
as we hope to lecure all the Stock upon this Part of
the Island, you may expe& the Bolton Fleet will
proceed further up the Sound.
I am. Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,
DAVID WOOSTER.
“ To P. V. B. Livingston, Esq; President," &c.
On Tuesday last the following was published in a
Hand-bill through this City:
OYSTER PONDS, 27th Aug. 1775.
S I R,
CAMBRIDGE, August 24.
We hear from Swanfey, that Capt. Dayley arrived
there a few Daysago, and Reports that he spoke on
the Coast with a Vessel bound to Philadelphia, Capt.
Cambridge, who left London the 26th June, and laid
that the Lord Mayor of London, at the head of the
Livery had waited on the King, and demanded of
him that no mpie Troops Should be sent to America,
as the Kingdom was in a defencelefs State, while
France and Spain were arming and preparing for
War. That the King had premised to fend no more.
That Lord North had been stoned by the Populace
as he passed the Street in his Coach.
N O R WI C 11, Aug. 2i.
This Morning arrived an Express from General
Schuyler at Tycenderoga, to the Governor, which
©ceafioned his calling a Council, and fending off Col.
Mott, the chief Engineer.
The Governor has by Proclamation, continued
the Embargo till the 20th of October.
An Attempt was lately made by the Sheriff of
Tryan County, accompanied by some Indians to
seize William Gilliland, Efqp and convey him Pri
soner to Quebec ; but the Sheriff being too weak,
failed in his Attempt, was himfelf taken Prisoner,
and is now in Albany Goal.
^E W - YOR K, Sept. 4.
The following Promotions have been lately made
in the Army of the Thirteen United Colonies, by
his Excellency General Washington :
Major Thomas Mifflin, of Philadelphia, to be
Quait r-Master General of tbe American Army.
John Park, Esq; of Philadelphia, Assistant Quar
ter Master General.
John Trumbull, Esq; of Connecticut, Major of
Brigade.
Richard Cary, Esq; of Maryland, Major of
Brigade.
Mr. Edmund Randolph, and Captain George
Baylor, both of Virginia, to be his Aid de Camp,
Vice Majors Mifflin and Tiumbull, promoted.
And Stephen Moylan, Esq; to be Muster Master
General.
Monda% 17 Min. after 4
Tuesday, 19 Min. after 5
Wednesday, 16 Min. after 6
Thursday, 14 Min. after 7
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
Friday, 12 Min. after 8
Saturday, 4 Min. after 9
Sunday, 58 Min. after 9
Full Moon next Saturday.
Rules and Orders for regulating the Militia of
the Colony of New-York, recommended by the
Provincial Congress, August 22, 1775.
I* CT, HAT the several companies form'd, be
& joined iato regiments, each regiment to
confix of not less than five or more than ten Com
panies (the battalion commanded by Col. Lasher
excepted.)
11. That a Major General be appointed and com
miflioned by this Congress to command the militia of
the colony of New-York.
111. That one Colonel, one Lieutenant Colonel,
and two Majors, an Adjutant and Quarter-Master,
be commissioned by this Congress for each regiment.
IV. That the militia of this colony be formed
into brigades, in the following manner, to wit.
The militia of the city and county 7
of New-York, of the counties of ? One brigade.
King's and Richmond, 3
The militia of the city and 7
county of Albany, and the >One other brigade,
county of Tryon,J
The militia of the counties 7 n -I.
of Dutchefs and Wdtchefter, 3 ° ne ° ther brigade
rT^"" 1 ™?/ the c ° unties ? One other brigade,
of Ulster and Qrange, J °
The militia of the counties 7 % other bri de#
of Queen s and Suffolk, 3
And the militia of the coun-7
ties of Charlotte, Cumberland, > One other brigade.
and Gloucefter,J
V. That a Brigadier General, with a Major of
brigade be commissioned to the command of each
brigade.
vl. That every man between the age of Sixteen
and fifty, do with all convenient speed furnifh himfelf
with a good musket, or firelock and bayonet, sword,
or tomahawk, a steel ram-rod, worm, priming-wire,
and brufli fitted thereto, a cartouch box to contain
twenty three rounds of cartridges, twelve flints, and
a knap-fack, agreeable to the directions of the Con
tinental Congress ; under the forfeiture of five Shil
lings for the want of a musket, or firelock, and of one
Shilling for the want of a bayonet, sword, or toma
hawk, cartridge box, cartridge, or bullet, the whole
Ito be judged of and determined by the Captain, or
“ My dear Friend, the Scene is now opened here,
we know what we have to depend upon, every Friend
to his Country ought not to hesitate a Moment what
Step to take. I just learn Capt. Vandeput was not
on board this „laftNight, and that they have sent a
Party of the Light Horse to take him and our Go
ver into Custody, who are at Long-Inland. I am
very much fatigued, having been on guard these two
last nights.
" When they came within twenty or thirty Yards
of the Shore, thev made a Signal to the Man of
War, who immediately fired upon our People, which
was answered by a Volley from the Barge, without
doing Execution, as our Men were all under Cover
of the Battery, they returned the Fire immediately
upon the Barge, and it is fnppofed must have killed
a good many of them, as they heard a great crying
among them, and they directly put off to the Ship.
Our Militia behaved with a good deal of Spirit, and
tuened out extraordinary well. What will be the
Cqnfequence of this unhappy Affair, God only
knows.
The following Accounts are copied from Towne's
Pennsylvania, Evening Post.
Extrafl of a Letter from Neiv-York, Augufi 24.
“ Yesterday our Congress directed that the Can
non on the Battery should be removed, and last Night
it was put in Execution. The Man of War's folks
had got Intelligence of it, and sent her Barge to
watch ; our People had removed nine or eleven (it
is uncertain which) of the Cannon without Molesta
tion; then a Man in the Stern of the Barge made a
falfe Fire---this happened about Half past Twelve
last Night. The Barge's People then fired Ball,
upon which our's, who had got together, were or
dered to fire, which they did and continued till the
Barge got out of their Reach. From the Cries and
Shrieks of the People on board the Barge, it is tho't
some of them are much wounded. While the small
Arms were firing the Man of War began---she fired
firft a single ball ; then a Ball and Grape shot, after
wards several Guns ( I don't know what they were
loaded with) and then a Broadside; we had more
Guns and another Broadside before all was over,
however our People effected their, Purpose, and got
away ^1 the Cannon that were mounted, I believe
about 20 in Number. As we had nothing but small
Arms we could do no Damage to the Man of War,
and the did very little to us. A House next to Roger
Morris's and Samuel Frauncis's at the Corner of the
Exchange, each had an eighteen Pound Ball shot into
their Roofs ; some other Houles fuffered a little, but
the principal Damage was sustained by small Build
ings adjoining the Battery. No lives were loft, and
but very few of our People wounded that I can learn
of, and those but slightly. It was very distressing to
fee Women and Children moving half naked at
midnight.
Extras of another Letter from New-York, August
24, Eight o'CEch.
" We were suddenly alarmed this Morning about
Half past Twelve o'Clock, by the* Asia Man of
War, cannonading our Town, with Grape Shot and
Bail, which continued until three o'Clock, with
short Intervals, without doing much Damage, ex
cept firing into some Houses near tbe Fort, and
wounding three or four of our Men. I learn it
happened in the following Manner.---A Party of
our Light Infantry and Citizens, about Sixty, were
busy in removing the Cannon from the Battery, when
they were difeovered by the People on Board, who
sent their Boat affiore armed.
Wheatper Bushel, ys. od.
Flour, 20s. od.
Brown Bread, 15s. od.
Weft-India Rum, 3s. 6d.
New-England, do. 2s. 6d.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-Y ORK.
Mufeovado Sugar, 645. cd./
Single refin'd ditto, is. rd.
Molasses, 2s. od.
Beef per Barrel, 48s. od.
Pork, 655. od.
X. That in case any person ihall refufe, or neglect
to serve as Serjeant, Corporal, or Drummer in any
company, being thereunto requested by the Captain,
or commanding officer, or shall refufe, or negle& to
warn the men to appear under arms, when required
by the Captain or commanding officer, shall for every
such neglect, forfeit the sum of 40s.
XI. That all officers commissioned by this Con
gress, do fubferibe the following declaration,---WE
the fubferibers, the officers of the
Battalion, or regiment, in the county of
and colony of New York do hereby promise
and engage, under all t e ties of religion, honour,
and regard to our country, that we will refpe&ively
duly observe, and carry into execution, to the utmoit
of our power, all and every the orders, rules, and
recommendations made, or to ber made by the Con
tinental Congress, and the Congress or Convention
of this colon). That we will also give, in onr re
fpe&ive ranks, due obedience to the regulations by
them established, for the forming of the militia in
this Colony; as also due obedience to such officers,
who either by rank, or superiority are placed above
us, in such order as is directed by the laid Continen
tal or Provincial Congress.
XII. That the following penalties be inflicted on
those who do not attend and obey orders on the days
appointed for exercise, not having a reasonable ex
cuse, to be allowed of by the officer commanding, to
wit, a Colonel £. 5. a Lieutenant Colonel £.4. a
Major £.3. Captain £.2. Lieutenants and Adjutants
30s. each, Ensign and Quarter Matter 20s. each,
Serjeant, Corporal, Drummer, Fife, and Privates
los. each, for the firft default, and double for the
second ; and in case any person make default three
times fucceflively, or refutes to inlift and do duty,
such person shall be advertised and held up as an
enemy to his country. All fines under the degree of
a Captain, to be levied on the goods and chattels of
the offender, by warrant from the Captain, directed
to a Serjeant of bis company ; and those of a Captain,
and all Field Officers under the degree of a Colonel,
to be levied on the goods and chattels of the offender,
by a warrant from the Colonel of the regiment, di
r&&ed to the Adjutant ; and those of a Colonel, by
a warrant from A Brigadier General, directed to the
Major of Brigade ; and for want of the goods and
chattels, to take the body of the offender, and him
keep in fafe custody until such fine, together with the
charges be paid.
The monies arising by tbe fines in any company,
to be applied by the Captains (after paying for drum
and fife for the company) towards purchasing arms,
ammunition and accoutrements for such persons in
such company, as are unable to furnifh themselves.—
The monies arising by the fines of the Fi Id Officers
(after paying for a set of colours for each battalion)
be equally divided between the several companies for
the above mentioned use.
Xlllb That the members of his Majesty's Coun
cil, Judges of the Supreme Court, of the Vice Ad
miralty Court, of the Mayor's Courts, and Infe
rior Courts of Common Pleas, his Majesty's Attor
ney General, Secretary of the Province, or his De
puty, Clerks of the Courts, the Collector, Comp
troller, Naval Officer, and Searcher and Surveyor of
his Majesty's Customs; Ministers of tbe Gospel,
Physicians, and Surgeons, Members of the Conti
nental Congress, of the Provincial Congress, and of
the several Committees, while immediately engaged
in the public service ;---Sherifts, Goalers, all ferry
men, one miller to each mill, and the people called
Quakers, be excused from military duty, except in
cases of invasion. And that in case of an invasion
in any part of this colony, the Physicians and Sur
geons there, or such of them as Shall be directed by
the officer commanding the militia (that Shall marc^
to oppose the enemy) Shall attend with proper medi-
IX. That the several companies of horse already
formed and to be formed in this colony, shall be un
der the direction of the Colonel of the regiment
where thei^ refpe&ive Captains do reside, and be con
sidered as part of such regiment; that the officers
and privates shall aflemble as often as by these regu
lations it is required of the companies of foot (not
minute men) and be fubje& to the fame penalties and
forfeiturs for non-attendance :---That every soldier
belonging to the horse, shall with all convenient speed
provide himfelf with a good serviceable horse, not less
than 14 hands high, with a good saddle, bridle, hol
ders, housing, breast plate, and cruper, a case of
pidols, a sword or hanger, one pound of gun pow
der, and three pounds of fizeable bullets, a pair of
boots with suitable spurs, and a carbine well fixed,
with a good belt, swivel and bucket ; under the
penalty of 10s. for the want of a fizeable horse, and
ss. for the want of each or either of the articles of
the trooper's furniture. And also, that every trooper
be provided at their refpe&ive places of abode, with
one pound of gun powder, and three pounds of
bullets.
VII. That each company (not minute-men) do
meet the firft Monday in eve^y month, and ipeiid at
least four hours in each of the said days to perfect
themselves in military discipline. Plodded that if
the commissioned officers of any comp ny shall judge
it inexpedient to meet on that day, they have power
to put off the meeting to some other day, notifying
the company theieof.
VIII. That the Colonels and commanding officers
of each regiment, do ass mble and excicife their
refpe&ive regiments at lead two days in every year,
at feme convenient place to be fixed upon by the Field
Officers.
next commanding officer. That every man shall, at
his place of abode, be allo provided with one pound
of powder, and three pounds of bullets, of pioper
size to his musket, or firelock.
Fine Salt, 3s. 3d
Coarte Salt, 3s. od
Indian Cornper Bugs. 4d