The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-06 00:00:00, page 3

ance of my friend Col. Woodford, whose advice I
shall upon every occasion ask, and whose aid I am
certain will never be denied me. I shall be happy
to be honoured with your infractions on every occa
sion, and an exa& compliance with your commands
shall be considered as am indifpcnfable obligation.
I have the honour to be, with great refpe& Sir, j
your obedient fervantj/
ROBERT HOWE.%,
ExtraEi of a letter from Col. Woodford to the Horn
President of the Convention.
" SIR, ' Norfolk, Dec. (5, 177;.
<' I wrote you last night; since then nothing
material has happened; we fill remain in the fame
situation. This morning a midihipman, with a flag
of truce, arrived from the Otten That and our
answer you have enclosed. All the principal To
ries, with their families and effe&s, have retired on
board the ships of war and other vessels in the har
bour, of which there is a very large fleet. What
they intend I know not, and I am much at a loss to
inform your Hon. Body what steps we shall take,
farther than to keep possession of this part of the
town, and afford what, protection we can to the in
habitants that claim it. We are much at a loss for
your farther orders, which we hoped to have received
before this time, and are not without our fears that
some accident must have happened to your express.
I received a letter this morning from Mr. Cary
Mitchell. Our answer is enclosed, with his letter.
I have the world opinion of the people here, and
have no doubt but every thing relating to us is laid
before his Lordlhip If it is your intention thata
part only of the present force Ihould remain at this
place, I would submit it to your consideration,
whether the second regiment, or any part of it you
may think proper to withdraw, may not, after their
duty, be drawn off. I wrote the Convention last
night that I had resigned the command to Colonel
Howe. As that gentleman's military abilities andh
great experience will be full equal to every task, I|
would ask the Convention's leave of absence to fee
my family, and attend to my private affairs, for foj
long time as may be agreeable to them Ido not
mean this so long as there is a profpea of any actual
service, either offenfive or defenfive. You have en
closed a return of the strength of the troops at this
place, and for farther particulars mud refer you to
several members of your refpedable body, who are
the bearers of this. I am, with the greatest refped,
Sir, your most obedient servant,
WILLIAM WOODFORD."
A morning return of the forces now under the com
mand of Colonel Home.
Virginia 2d regiment, 350. Virginia minute bat
talion, 165. A detachment of theist Virginia re
giment, 172. North-Carolina 2d regiment, 438,
North-Carolina volunteers, 150. Total strength
of companies, 1275.
N E W-Y O R K, January^ ,
On the 28th ult. Miss Long, an amiable young
lady, and daughter to an aged and refpe&able ci
tizen, of this place, whether sleeping in her chair,
having fainted, or being in a fit, is uncertain (for
her brother, who just before waited on two ladies
home, from his house, had not left her above half
an hour) had her clothes set on fire by a spark
from the hearth, which, before she awaked, spread
to such a heighth, that all her efforts to extinguish
it were in vain. In this situation she had the forti
tude and presence of mind, to endeavour to get
out at the street door; but here a strong lock re
sisted her greatest efforts, although she was so long
in the attempt, that the paint on the door and
wainfeot was railed into blisters, and the furface
of the floor under her feet was burnt to a coal.
Her next attempt was at the yard door, which, af
ter pushing back two large bolts, and removing an
iron bar, she opened, and was seen from an oppo
site window by two young ladies, who had been
awaked by her cries, coming out a pyramid of
flame ! She immediately threw herfelf on the snow,
but notwithstanding this favourable circumstance,
the fire was not extinguished until a neighbour, who
had been called up on purpose, arrived to her assist
ance. Her clothes were literally burnt to ashes, io
that hardly a cinder remained; the paint on the
back door, like that on the front, was raised into
blisters, and several large spots on the floor and en
try were burnt to a coal. From the snow she was
wrapped up in a sheet and carried to her bed, until
proper assistance could be called to her relief; but
here we must quit narration for to paint in ade
quate colours her dreadful situation (as it appeared
upon examination) baffles all description—imagina
tion recoils with horror from the feene—to be tied
to a flake and burnt to death must be nothing to
what she endured ; for there the flames soon become
their own cure, and, as they burn, destroy and
relieve; but in this case they had only attacked the
furface of the body, and exciting the powers of
feeling to the utmost, left every individual point at
once the fubje& of the keenest torture and the molt
exquisite fenfibility'; yet, under all this load of mi
sery, she preserved a calm mind—affixed, as far
as her riged muscles would allow, her friends and
physicians in their efforts for her relies—spoke v ith
firmnefs and composure—and with a mod affecti
onate attention, requested that her aged p/rnrs
might not be fpe&ators of her dillrefs; so that pity
and commiseration for her Offerings, even in the
bread of her nearest friends, were frequently made
Ito give way to wonder and astonishment at the pa
tience and fortitude with which she endured them,
pod, however, in his mercy, fuffered not her ago
fnies to be of very long duration, but after having
/exhibited her for a few hours an example of the
firmed fortitude, and the most pious resignation,
TOOK HER so His REST.
To these virtues, for which she was so eminently
diftihguifhed in her last moments, be added, during
her life, innocence of manners, and cheerfulnefs,
its conhant companion—an affectionate regard to
her friends—the mod dutiful and tender attach
ment to her parents, and a constant attention upon
all the duties of religion. ,
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6.
In CONGRESS, jan. 2.
Whereas it has been represented to this Congress
that divers honest and well meaning, but uninformed
people in these colonies, have by the art and ad
dress of miniftefial agents, been deceived and drawri
into erroneous opinions, refpeding the American
cause, and the probable issue o 1 the present contest:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the differ
ent Committees, and other friends to American li
berty in the laid colonies, to treat all such perlons
with kindness and attention, to con sider them as
the inhabitants of a country determined to be free,
and to view their errors as proceeding rather from
want of information than want of virtue or public
spirit, to explain to them the origin, nature and ex
tent of the present controverly, to acquaint them
with the fate of the numerous petitions presented to
his Majesty, as well by Assemblies as by Congresses
for reconciliation and redress of grievances, and
that the last from this Congress, humbly requesting
the single favour of being heard, like all the others
has proved unfuccefsful; to unfold to them the va
rious arts of administration to en nare and enslave
lus, and the manner in which we have been cruelly
Idriven to defend by arms thole very rights, liber
' ties and estates which we and our forefathers had
so long njoyed unmolested in the reigns of his pre
sent Majesty's predecessors. And it is hereby recom
mended to all Conventions and assemblies in these
colonies liberally to distribute among the people the
proceedings of this and the former Congfets, 'tile
late speeches of the great patriots in both houses of
parliament relative to American grievances, and
such other pamphlets and papers "as' tend to eluci
date the merits of the American cause. The Con
gr^fs being fully persuaded that the more our right
teethe enjoyment of oiTr ancient liberties and privi
leges is examined, the more just and neceflary our
prefect opposition to miniftei iaj tyranny will appear
And with refpeftto all fuQ unworthy ^Am^ric^ns™
as, regardless of their duty to their Creator, their
country, a?kl their posterity, have taken part with,
our oppressors, and influenced by the hope or pos
session of ignominious rewards, drive to recommend
themselves to the bounty of administration by mifi
representing and traducing the condud and princi
ples of the friends of American liberty, and oppo
sing every measure formed for its preservation and
f^curity,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the differ-•
ent Assemblies, Conventions, and Committees or
Councils of fafety in the United Colonies, by the
most speedy and effectual measures 'to frustrate the
mifehievous machinations, and restrain the wicked
practices of these men. And it is the opinion of
this congress that they ought to be disarmed, and
the more dangerous among them either kept in fafe
custody or bound with Sufficient sureties to their
good behaviour.
And in order that the said assemblies, Conventi
ons, Committees or Councils of Safety may be en
abled with greater ease and facility to carry this
resolution into execution, Resolved, that they be
authorifed to call to their aid whatever Continental
troops stationed in or near their refpe&ive colonies,
may be conveniently spared from their more imme
diate duty; and the commanding officers of such
troops are hereby directed to afford the said Assem
blies, Conventions, Committees or Councils of Safe
ty, all such assistance in executing this resolution as
they may require, and which, confident with the
good of the service, may be supplied.
Resolved, That all detachments of Continental
troops, which may be ordered on the business in the
aforegoing resolution mentioned, be, while so em
ployed, under the direction and controul of the
Assemblies, Conventions, Committees, or Councils
of Safety aforelaid
Resolved, That it be recommended to all the
United Colonies to aid each other (on request from
their refpedive Assemblies, Conventions Commit
tees or Councils of Safety, and County Commit
tees) on every emergency, and to cultivate, cherish
and increase the present happy and necessary union,
by a continual interchange of mutual good offices.
And whereas the execrable barbarity with which
this unhappy war has been conduced on the part
of our enemies, such as burning our defencelefs
. towns and villages, exposing their inhabitants,
without regard to sex or age, to all the
miseries which loss of property, the rigor of the
feahm, and inhuman devastation can inflict, exciting
domestic insurrections and murders, bribing the
savages to desolate our frontiers, and calling such
of us, as the fortune of war has put into their pow
er, into gaols, there to languish in irons and in
want; compelling the inhabitants of Boston, in
violation of the treaty, to remain confined within
the town, exposed to the insolence of the soldiery,
and other enormities, at the mention of which de
cency and humanity will for ever blush, may justly
provoke the inliabitants of these colonies th retalia
tion,
In COMMITTEE of the City and Liberties,
Jannuary 2, 1776.
Resolved, That no master or owner of any vessel
or vessels, shall ship any provisions, goods or mer
chandize, of any kind, from this port, without firft
giving latisfadion to, or receiving the approbation
of this Committee.
By order of the Committee,
Robert Strettell Jones, Sec.
At a Meeting of the American Philosophical
Society, field at Philadelphia, for promoting
ufeftil Knowledge, on Friday last, the following
Gentlemen were chosen Officers for the ensuing
Year, to wit.
President.,
Benjamin Franklin, Esq ; L. L. D. F. R. S, &c.
Vice Presidents.
Samuel Rhoads, Esquire.
,DoQor Thomas Bond.
Rev'd Do&or William Smith.
Secretaries.
Robert Strettell Jones, A. M.
Benjamin Rush, M. D Profeffor of Chemistry
in the College of Philadelphia.
h^r. Richard Wells.
Thomas Bond, A. M.
,' Curators,
► Samuel Duffield, M. D.
David Rittenhoufe, A. M.
Mr. P. E. Du Simitiere.
± Treasurer.
Thomas Coombe, Esq;
^Managers requefitke Printers of the several pufo
lie papers in this city to publifo the following Ex
traCs from the Proceedings of the Subferibers to
the American Manufa&ory, held at Carpenters
Hall on the 29th of December, 1775.'
CT^HAT no frefh fubferiptions be taken till after
I the next general meeting, and after that time
all the fubferiptions shall be in one book, to be kept
by"the treasurer, and the money paid down at the
time of fubferibing. All old fubferibers, intending;
to increase their fubferiptions already paid, shall
enter their names before that time and have the pre
ference to all others, and in case the frefh sums by
them paid in or offered to be p^id in immediately
after the said general meeting, shall exceed the sum
limited at said meeting, then the priority of entry
of their names shall determine the preference, but
the payments must be made within three days of the
said meeting, otherwise they shall derive no advant
age by such prior entry of their names.
That all fubferibers hereafter, shall pay in addi
tion to a share of ten pounds, an interest of fix per
cent, on that sum, from theist of June 1775, and
also such further sum as shall be equal to the pro
fit that shall be found to be gained by each fubferib
er at the next general meeting, for which he shall
receive a certificate for ten pounds, and be entitled
to an equal share with the other proprietors.
That all fubferiptions not paid in before the firft
day of February next, shall be deemed null and
void.
0^ ^fa^:^ I&VG-% ^<A$«A, & ,1, &so m
Tiro DOLLARS REWARD.
RUN-AWAY from the Schooner Friends
Adventure, John Fulford, Master now ly
ing at Abraham Mason's wharf, one WILLIAM
BRUCE, a boy, 16 years old, small of his age,
pock marked, light complexion, short hair. Had
on a blue short sailor's jacket, carried with him a
green ditto, blue flocking breeches, and a pair of
trowfers. Whoever will bring said boy to' said
Schooner, shall have the above reward, paid by
JOHN FULFORD, or
WILLIAM BARRELL,
Resolved, That it be recommended to them to
continue mindful that humanity ought to distinguish
the brave, that cruelty Ihould find no admission a
mong a free people, and to take care that no page
in the annals of America be stained by a recital of
any adion which justice or chriftianity may con
demn, and to rest assured that whenever retaliation
may be necessary or tend to their security, this Con
gress will undertake the disagreeable task.
Resolved, That the Assemblies, Conventions, or
Committees or Councils of Safety be requeued
forthwith to trarifmit to this Congress copies of all
the petitions, memorials, and remonstrances which,
have been by their refpe&ive colonies presented to
the Throne, or either House of Parliament, since
the year 1762, and that they also inform this Con-^
grefs whether any and what answers were given to
them.
Extra's from the minutes,
CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec.