The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-08 00:00:00, page 2

To which his Majesty was pleased to return the
following anfiver:
I DEBLORE, with the deepest concern, the mi
levies which a great part of my fubjeds in North-
America have brought upon themselves, by an un
juHifiabL refinance to the constitutional authority
of this kingdom, and I shall be ready and happy to
alleviate thole miseries, by ads of mercy and cle
mency, whenever the authority is established, and
the now exiting rebellion is at an end. To obtain
these salutary purposes, I will invariably.purfue the
nioft proper and effectual means.
BASSETERRE (St. Chriflopbers ) May 15.
On hionday last divine Service was performed at
the Parilh Church, accompanied by fever?J pieces
of divine medic, by the gentlemen of this inland and
Nevis, for the benefit of the poor in our several
parishes in the present melancholy fituauon of this
devoted country On this occasion (he gev. Dr*
Hutchilon preached a mod excellent ffmon, There
in he io pathetically described the distresses of the
poor, as to draw tears from the major part of his
very numerous auditors. The collection in the
church, and the tale of tick ts, produced a corifider
able sum, which is to be immediately applied to the
benevolent purposes for which it was colluded.
We can dlure the public from tlie bell authority,
that provisions arc lo scarce at Barbados, that pork
now fells there at 161. per barrel, adequate to four
joes o! our currency; and that Guinea corn which
used to bi fold at 18 or 20 pints for a bit is now
fold at sor 6 pints lor the lame money, and that
famine lEms to bare the inhabitants in the face
— ^efed ejects of modern policy ! —Cursed are tbofe
children who love, honour, and obey their parents,
for they foal 1 be farved. Modern lEthicks.
W,I LLIA hi S BTJ RG, May 24.
The following Declaration was reported to the Con
vention by the Committee appointed to prepare the
fame, and referred to the confderation of a Com
mittee of the eyehole Convention; and, in the mean
time, is ordered to be printed f.r tie perusal of the
members.
A DECLARATION of RIGHTS made by the
Reprefchtatives of the good people of Virginia,
afembled in full and free Convention ; which rights
do pertain to us and our poflerity, as the bass and
foundation of government.
I. TTHAT all men are born equally free and
independant, and have certain inherent
natural rights, of which they cannot, by any com
pact, deprive or divest their posterity ; among which
are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means
of acquiring and possessing property, and purluing
and obtaining happiness and fafety.
2. That all power is veiled in, and consequently
derived from the people ; that magistrates are their
trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to
them.
3. That government is, or ought to be, institu
ted for the common benefit, protection, and secu
rity of the people, nation, or community. Of all
the various modes and forms of government that is
belt, which is capable of producing the greatest de
gree of happiness and fafety, and is most effectually
secured against the danger of mal adminflration;
and, that whenever any government shall be found
inadequate or contrary to these purpoles, a majority
of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable
and indefcafible right to reform, alter, or abolilh it,
in inch manner as Ihall be judged molt conducive to
the public weal.
4. That no man, or set of men, are intitled to
executive or separate emoluments or privileges from
the community, but in consideration of public fer
vices; which, not being defcendible or hereditary,
the idea ofa man born a magistrate, a legislator or
a judge, is unnatural and absurd
5 That the 'egifl.nive and executive powers of
the title should be b perate and dillin& from the ju
dhative; and that the members of the two firtt may
be retrained from oppression, by feeling and par
tiop uing the burthens of the people, they should,
at fixed periods, be reduced to a private Ration, re
turn into that body from which they were originally
taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent,
certain, and regular elections.
6. That elections of members to serve as repre
sentatives of the people, in Assembly, ought to be
free; and that all men, having fufficient evidence
of permanent common interett with, and attach
ment to, the community, have the right of fuffrage.
7. That no part of a man's property can be taken
from him, or applied to public uses, without his
own consent, or that of his legal representatives;
nor are the people bound by any laws but such as
they have, in like manner, assented to for their
common good.
8. That all power of suspending laws, or the
execution of laws, by any authority without consent
of the representatives of the people, is injurious to
their rights, and ought not to be exercised.
9. That laws having retrofped to crimes, and
punching offences, committed before the exigence
of such laws are generally oppressive, and ought to
be avoided.
10. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a
man hath a right to demand the cause and nature
of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers
17. That no free government, or the blessing of
liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a
firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance,
frugality and virtue, and by frequent recurrence
to fundamental principles.
18. That religion, or the duty which we owe to
our Creator, and the manner of discharging it,
can be directed only by reason and conviction, not
by force or violence; and therefore that all men
should enjoy the fufieft toleration in the exercise of
religion, according to the dictates of conscience,
unpunished and unrestrained by the magistrate, un
lels, under colour of religion, any man disturb the
peace, the happiness, or fafety of society. And
that it is the mutual duty of all to pra&ife Christi
an forbearance, love, and charity towards each
other.•
Extract of a letter from Colonel Woodford to General
Lewis, by express, dated Norfolk, May 22.
" The vigilance of my guards has occasioned the
enemy to abandon their lines at Portsmouth. This,
and some fire-rafts I was preparing, has likewise
occasioned the fleet to go off. They have thrown
over their salt, burnt the moll indifferent of their
small craft, and are all now below Crany Island,
except four ships which are opposite the Distillery,
but under way likewise. One of the 14th regim nt,
and five sailors, have deserted; they inform me they
have the small-pox. I have given very particular
orders to avoid this evil, if it be true. They all
concur in the fame story, and likewise that the fleet
is bound for Cape-Fear; but 1 doubt wheth r my
Lord does not intend a secret expedition to some
other part of the colony. I have lent orders to the
guard at Portsmouth to destroy the enemy's works."
Extract of a letter from Major Hendricks to General
Lewis, dated Hampton May 23.
*' I wrote you this morning that 30 fail of the
enemy's fleet were moved down the river, since
which it appears that their whole fleet is in motion.
From our chvrch steeple 1 can fee 60 or 70 fail of
vessels of different kinds, hovering about the mouth
of James River. What they mean is impossible to
tell"
It is imagined that Dunmore's fleet are comeing
out in search of provisions. every kind of which is
so very scarce with them, that the quantity former
ly allowed to a single man is now obliged to serve
four.
By a gentleman from North-Carolina we learn,
that the remainder of the fleet destined for Cape-
Fear had arrived, and that the number of troops
now with Gen. Clinton were supposed to be about
4000, none of which had yet landed; and it was
even fufpe&ed they had designs upon some other
quarter, and would not land there at all.
PROVIDENCE, June 1.
Tuesday last Capt. Horn arrived here from
Charles- Town, South-Carolina, which place he left,
the 12th instant. He informs that 17 fail of trans
ports from Ireland, with 7 regiments, contifting of
about 5000 men, arrived at Long-Bay, near Cape-
Fear, theist. instant, and that they were in great
want of water, but had not got any supply when
he failed. He further informs, that Brigadier Ge
neral Armstrong was arrived at Charles-Town from
Philadelphia, and that our brethren at the south
ward are in high spirits.
A gentleman, arrived here from France, informs
that twenty-five French ships of the line were ready
for sea the 16th of March last, at Brest, to which
place five hundred ship-wrights had been ordered
from Nantz; that men were taken up in all parts of
France for the sea service; that the fortifications of
or witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and a
speedy trial by an in tial jury of his vicinage,
without whole unani is consent he cannot be
found guilty, nbr can ne be compelled to give evi
dence against himfelf; that no man be deprived of
his liberty except by the law of the land, or the
judgement of his peers.
11. That excehive bail ought not to be required,
nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual
punishments inflicted.
12. That warrants unsupported by evidence,
whereby any officer or messenger may be command
ed or required to search fufpeßed places, or to seize
any person or persons, his or their property, not
particularly described. are grievous and oppressive,
and ought not to be granted.
13. That in controversies refpe&ing property,
and in suits between man and man, the ancient tri
al by jury is preferable to any other, and ought to
be held sacred.
14. That the FREEDOM of the PRESS is one
of the Great Bulwarks of Liberty, and can never
be retrained but by despotic governments.
15 That a well regulated militia, composed of
the body of the people, trained to arms, is the pro
per, natural, and fafe defence of a free Rate; that
handing armies, in time of peace, should be avoid
ed, as dangerous to Liberty; and that, in all cases
the military should be under drift subordination to
and governed by, the civil power.
16. That the people have a right to uniform
government, and 'therefore, that no government
separate from, Or independant of, the government
of Virginia, ought, of right, to be erected or esta
blished within the limits thereof.
Dunkirk and Bellifle were repairing with all expe
dition; and that as great preparations were mak
ing for war as were ever known in that kingdom.
A letter from Martmico, dated the 12th of April,
mentions that a general embargo had taken place
in France.
We have authentic intelligence from Cape Fran
cois, that on the 17th of May five hundred additi
onal troops arrived there from France.
Saturday last a large prize sloop arrived here laden
with salt, rum, sugar and molasses; she was bound
from St. Croix to Liverpool in Nova-Scotia, and
was taken by the Andrew Coria, Captain Biddle.
NEWPOR T, May 27,
Last Monday a ship, supposed to be the Cerberus,
came into the chaps of our harbour, between Castle
hill and the Light-house, then tacked and Rood
out to sea again; £he kept her guns hid.
Extract of a letter from an Englifo gentleman of ve
racity at St. Eufatia, to bis friend in this town.
" I have nothing very material to acquaint you.
with, only that the f rench are certainly meditating
something. The greatest encouragement is given
to the Americans; they have opened their ports,
notwithflanding they have had great quantities of
provisions from France, and every thing low there:
many vessels, with sugar and coffee, have come
from thence (the French islands) this day or two;
this you know was seldom the case; it causes much
speculation: I think there mull certainly be feme
thing in the wind; and, for my part, think that a
general war is not far distant.—The French have
certainly 10,000 men at St. Domingo, who are to
be augmented to 15,000. —There are 8000 at Mar
tinico and Guadeloupe, and 7000 more expelled
momently; so that they will liave 30,000 in their
islands; the whole under command of one General,
who arrived some days since at Martinico."
PHILADELPHI A, June 6.
Extract of a letter from Montreal, May 27, 1776,
" I wrote you last from Dechambault, where we
remained four or five days on a yery ihort allowance,
and left it with half an allowance of flour, and no
pork to serve the men to Trois Rivieres, two good
days march. It has since been concluded on to keep
no detachment for the present below the Sorrel, as
the army have be n living from hand to mouth for
some time past, the supplies of provisions from the
other fide of the Lakes being but small, and very
little to be procured without force or paying hard
money for it. The common people in general, tho'
they will probably take the Wronger fide, do, I have
no doubt, from all the observations I have made,
wish well to us and our cause, and would be very
glad we should succeed. Forty or fifty men of the
18th regiment commanded by Capt. Forster, joined
by 300 Indians, and 250 Canadians, had (hearing,
it is supposed, that this place was in a defencelefs
situation) come down within twelve miles of this,
having made prisoners of a Major Sherburne and
300 of our men on their way thither; but being
informed that a reinforcement was arrived, they
have retreated ; General Arnolold is in pursuit of
them with 900 men, 400 of whom he has sent to
endeavour to cut off their retreat, while he pursues
them with the utmost expedition, with the remainder.
'• Provisions, as f mentioned before, are so very
scarce, that we are absolutely obliged to seize flour
and wheat, pledging the faith of the United Colonies
for the payment of the market price.
" General Thomas is very ill with the small pox
at Chamblee, taken in the natural way.
“ N. B. There are 500 instead of 300 of our
people made prisoners; there is a report that Gen,
Arnold has beat the enemy, but no account is yet:
arrived from himfelf."
The General AfTembly of the province of New-
Jer fey are summoned by Governor Franklin, to
meet at Perth-Amboy, the 20th instant (June) on
business of the greatest importance,
Last Tuesday arrived at New-York, a vessel from
Port au Prince, loaded with molasses, sugars, bran
dy, coffee and indigo.
Ht a Special Meeting of the COMMITTEE of
InfpeCion of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia.
Whereas the Hon. Congress, by their resolve of
the 30th of May, have empowered the Committees
of Infpedion to regulate the price of SALT.
Resolved, That that article fliall not exceed the
following prices—COAßSE SALT 7s. 6d. per
bushel, 3s. qd. per half bushel, and 2s. per peck.—-
FINE SALT Bs. per bushel 4s. per half bushel.
and 2s. 2d. per peck. And whereas the Congress
have empowered the Committees of Infpedion to
regulate the price of GREEN TEA as well as to
execute their resolve limiting the price of Bohea Tea
at Three Fourths of a Dollar per pound.
Resolved, That the price of the best Green Tea
shall not exceed 325. 6d. per pound.
Resolved likewise, That if any persons shall by
any art or evasions elude the above resolutions, by
refufing to fell the above articles at the said limited
prices, they may depend upon being held up as
enemies to their country without refped to persons,
and they may be assured, the Committee will take
such farther steps (if necelfary) as will efledually car
ry the above resolutions of Congress into execution,
The Committee request that all virtuous citizens
will use their utmost endeavors to detect and bring