The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1775-12-11 00:00:00, page 3

.. Yesterday fe'nuight a iarge ship being near the light off
Cape Anne, was struck with lightning, which set heron
fire, and burnt to the water's edge, 'till the funk. A
number of cannon were heard to go off, while she was on
fire, arid 'tufas thought at firft that the was at least a 20
gun flip ; but we have an, account from Boston, that it
was the Juno transport ship from London, laden only with
hay for Burgoyne's heavy horse at Boston, which will
foen become light, if forage fails at this rate---At the
fame time a sloop being near her, laden with wood and
bay, bound also for Boston, was likewise struck with
lightning, which so disabled her, th,at she put into the
Gurnet, whenour people went and took poffeffioti of her,
and carried her into Plymouth One Hull, master of
the Qeop.,
The beginning of last week, Capt,Manley, of the
Lee privateer, came athwart a brig dire&ly from the Tower
of London, bound for Boston, laden with ordnance Rores,
which be took and carried into Cape Anne. The inven
tory of which we have net seen, but learn it consisted of
one 13 inch mortar, upwards of 2000 stands of arms, a
large quantity of musket ball, bombs and carcases, filled
Shells, and a great number of empty cartridges. Several
waggon loads of the above stores, together, with the
mortar (which may be called the CONGRESS) were
brought to Cambridge on Friday and Saturday last.
A person lately from Halifax to Cape-Cod, reports,
That he saw at Halifax a particular account of the loss
in the several harbours of Newfoundland, on the 9th of
September, amounting in the whole to mere than 4000
men, who had nearly finished their fifhing voyages, in
tending to go not more than one or two trips, arid then the
greater part of them to inlift in the Regular service, there
being at that time a Lieutenant there on the recihiting
service, who had inlifted izo men, which he afterwards
brought to Halifax, and on his arrival there, in the hearing
of the person who gives this account, declared, that he
was determined to fell or resign his commission, as the
winds, the seas, the people and GOD Almighty was
against them, he would no longer be concerned in such a
d---d cause. It was said at Halifak to be computed that
the loss in ships, fifh, oil and merchandize of various
kind's, amounted to 140,0001. sterling.
An account received from Boston just as this paper was
going to the press, confirms the foregoing and mentions,
that nearly all the fhallops employed in that fiffiery, as
well as other vessels [Poor Pool !] were wholly loft ;
and those that rid out the gale, were chiefly difmafted and
otherwise much damaged—That many houses, &c were
blown down---And that 'twould take the chief part of
the spring to repair the flakes, they having received
almost incredible damage.—
’Tis net improbable, that, as according to the
foregoing account, between 2 and 3000 of those
deceased were to enter the Ministerial Service, the 15
or 16 transports which failed sometime tince from
Boston, went to transport therh to another than a watry
element, and may have shared the fame fate with the
Pooll Men.---If so, a pretty account brothers
Hutchinson will have (with Ld. North) to fettle ! ! !
The Smiles of Providence on the American Cause,
cannot but animate every ingenious Mind, andftimulate
every friend of bis country to pursue, voitb unremitted
ardour, the mos vigorous measures jor defeating the
infernal designs of the Britifb minifry. And be who
manifefis any backvoardnefs in the present glorious
fruggle f° r preferring the Liberties of America, be
trays the bases ingratitude to Almighty GOD.
PROVIDENCE, December 2.
Saturday last Capt. Abraham Whipple, in a Cruiser
from this Place, took near Secones, a Schooner from
Boston, in Balaft, Mathew Chub, mafler.---She had
on board a Cable and Anchor for one of the King's Ships
at Newport, where foe was bound for Provisions, ad
dressed to George Rome, now on boardthe Rose Man of
War. The Prize is ,nee arrived here,---Capt. Arnold,
of Pawtuxet, whose Vessel was taken by the Enemy at
Stonington some Time face, and carried to Boflon, came
Passenger.
Wednesday Evening last the Gunner and 7 Seamen
deserted from an armed Schooner at Newport. The
Captain and Lieutenant soon after ventured on Rome's
Wharff in Search of them, and were made Prisoners by
a Party from Head-Quarters on the Ifand. The Capt.
is Son to the Earl of Stanhope, and is the identical Vil
lain who lately robbed a House on Prudence,in Violation
of the Agreement made by Capt. Wallace with the Town
ts Newport.
Ten Tkoufand Minute Men sand ready to come infer
the Protection of this Ifand, on the ftorleft Notice ;
5900 ofewhom can be landed on the Island in 24 Hours,
and the other in 24 more.
Account of the Cargo of the Prize taken by Captain
Manly of Beverly, viz. One Brass 13 Inch Mortar com
pleat ; leo Shells with Caps and Fuses ; 2 Rrafs 6 Poun
ders and Carriages ; 6oe Round Shot ; 600 Cannisters
with do. 600 Twelve Pound Shot, 600 Cannisters Grape
Shot, 2000 King's Arms compleat, 500 Carrbines, Quan
tity of Tackling for Horses, 7000 lb. Musket Ball, 300
Dozen Port Fires, Skims, Pins and Pinchers, and every
Article for a Laboratory, 6 Ammunition Waggons,Wheels
and Handbarrows, Number of Carriages, Cartridges, Flan
nels, ,&c. with 6 spare Bomb Beds, and a Quantity of
Cloathing.
PHILADELPHIA.
In CONGRESS, December 6, 1775.
WE the Delegates of the Thirteen United
Colonies in North-America, have ta
ken into our most serious consideration a Pro
clamation issued from the Court at St. James's,
on the Twenty-third day of August last. The
, name of his Majesty is used to give it a sanc
tion and influence; and, on that account, it
becomes a matter of importance to wipe off,
in the name of these United Colonies, the
aspersions, which it is calculated to throw
upon our cause ; and to prevent, as far as
possible, the undeserved punishments, which
it is defined to prepare for our friends.
We are accused of " forgetting the allegi
" ance which we owe to the power that has
" protested and sustained us." Why all this
ambiguity and obfeurity in what ought to be
so plain and obvious, as. that he who runs may
read it ? What allegiance is it that we forget ?
Allegiance to Parliament ? We never owed—•
we never owned it. Allegiance to our King ?
Our words have ever avowed it—our conduct
has ever been confident with it. We con
demn, and, with arms in our hands—a re
source which Freemen will never part with—
we oppose the claim and exercise of unconlti
tutional powers, to which neither the Crown
or Parliament were ever entitled. By the
Britilh Constitution, our belt inheritance,
rights, as well as duties, descend upon us:
We cannot violate the latter by defending the
former : We ffiould aft in diametrical oppo
sition to both, if we permitted the claims of
the British Parliament to be eftabliffied, and
the measures pursued in consequence of those
claims to be carried into execution among us.
Our sagacious ancestors provided bounds a
gainll the inundation of tyranny and lawleL
Watertown; Dec: z
Newport, Rhode-lJland, Dec. 4.
But, perhaps, the principle of reason and
justice and the constitution will not prevail :
Experience suggests to us the doubt : If they
should not, we must resort to arguments drawn
from a very different source. We, therefore,
in the name of the people of these United
Colonies, and by authority, according to the
purest maxims of representation derived from
them, declare, that whatever punishment Shall
be inflicted upon any persons in the power of
our enemies for favouring, aiding or abetting
the cause of American liberty fhail be retali
ated in the fame kind and the fame degree
upon those, in our power, who have favoured,
aided or abetted, or fnall favour, aid or abet
the system of ministerial oppression. The es
sential difference between our cause and that
of our enemies might juftify a severer punish
ment: The law of retaliation will unquesti
onably warrant one equally severe.
We mean not, however, by this declarati
on, to occasion or to multiply punishments :
Our sole view is to prevent them. In this
unhappy and unnatural controversy, in which
Britons fight against Britons and the descen
dants of Britons, let the calamities immedi
ately incident to a civil war fuffice. We hope
additions will not, from wantonness be made
to them on one fide : We shall regret the ne
cessity, if laid under the necessity, of making
them on the other.
Extrafl from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, %
power on onb fide, as well as agilnA that of
faction and liceritioufnefs on the other. On
which has the breach been made? Is it ob 4
je&ed against us by the most inveterate and
the most candid of our enemies, that we have
opposed any of the just prerogatives of the
Crown, or any legal exertion of those pre
rogatives ? Why, then, are we accused of
forgetting our allegiance ?—We have perform
ed our duty : We have refitted in those cases,
in which the right to resist is stipulated as ex
pressly, on our part, as the right to govern
is, in other cases, stipulated on the part of
the Crown. The breach of allegiance is re
moved from our resistance as far as tyranny is
removed from legal government.
It is alledged that “we have proceeded to
" an open and avowed rebellion." In what
does this rebellion consist ? It is thus described
• “ Arraying ourselves in hostile manner
" to withstand the execution of the Law, and
" traitorously preparing, ordering and levying
" war against the King." We know of no
laws binding upon us, but such as have been
transmitted to us by our ancestors, and such as
have been consented to by ourselves or our re
presentatives elected for that purpose. What
laws, ftampt with these characters, have we
withstood ? We have indeed defended them;
and we will rifque every thing, do every thing
and fuffer every thing in their defence. To
support our laws, and our liberties eflablifhed
by our laws, we have prepared, ordered, and
levied war : But is this traitorously, or against
the King ? We view him as the constitution
represents him : That tells ds he can do nd
Wrong. The cruel and illegal attacks, which
we oppose, have no foundation in the royal
authority. We will not, on our part, lose the
diftindion between the King and his Ministers!
Happy it would have been for some former
Princes, had it been always preserved on the
part of the Crown !
Besides all this we observe, on this part of
the proclamation, that “ rebellion" is a term
undefined and unknown in the law. It might
have been expelled, that a proclamation, which
by the constitution, has no other operation than
merely that of enforcing what is already law,
would have had a known legal bails to have
rested upon. A correspondence between the
inhabitants of Great-Britain and their breth
ren in America,, produced; in better times,
much fatisfadion to individuals, and much
advantage to the public. By what criterion
shall one, who is unwilling to break off this
correspondence, and is, at the fame time,
anxious not to expose himfelf to the dreadful
consequences threatened in this proclamation,
—by what criterion fhall,he regulate his con
duft? He is admonished not to carry on cor
respondence with the persons now in rebellion
in the colonies. How shall he afeertain who
are in rebellion, and who are not ? He con
sults the law to learn the nature of the supposed
crime: The law is silent upon the fubjeft.
This, in a country where it has been often said,
and formerly with justice, that the govern
ment is by law and not by men, might render
him perfectly easy. But proclamations have
been sometimes dangerous engines in the
hands of those in power. Information is
commanded to be given to one of the Secre
taries of States of all persons " who shall be
" found carrying on correspondence with
" the persons in rebellion, in order to bring
" to condign punishment the authors, per
" petrators, or abettors of such dangerous
“ designs." Let us suppose, for a moment,
that some persons in the colonies are in re
bellion, and that those, who carry on corres
pondence with them, might learn, by some
rule, which Britons are bound to know, how
to diferiminate them: Does it follow that all
correspondence with them deserves to be pu
nished ? It might have been intended to ap
prise them of their danger, and to reclaim
them from their crimes. By what law does a
correspondence with a criminal transfer or
communicate his guilt ? We know that those
who aid and adhere to the King's enemies :
and those, who correspond with them in order
to enable them to carry their designs into ef
fe&, are criminal in the eye of the law.
But the law goes no farther. Can proclama
tions, according to the principles of reason
andjuftice and the constitution go farther than
the law ?
By a Letter from St. John's, dated Novem
ber 24, we are informed, that the Continental
Troops have received Intelligence, that there
Were concealed under Ground, about ten Tons
of Gunpowder, and 7000 Stand of Small
Arms, that were to be put into the Hands of
the Canadians and Indians, to assist the Mini
serial troops, and that they were digging for
them, had found several Chests of Small Arms,
and likewise had fifhed out of the lake, a roy
^l Standard, and a Number of Muskets.
Saturday Night arrived here from cur Army in Canada,
Lieut. Norton, of Col. Clinton's Regt. Mr. Bean, Gun
ner, and Mr. Phineas Cliampman; who bring us the
agreeable News that all the . Shipping that lay at Montreal,
has fell into the Hands of General Montgomery, among
them the Gafpey Brig of War, with all the Prrfoners
(Col. Allan excepted) lately taken near St. John's : The
Fleet with Governor Carleton jon board, had tailed for
Quebec, but was intercepted by a Gondola, and a Battery
erected by Col. Eafton, near the River Sorell, and, there
taken, with about 150 Soldiers,. &c. among them Col.
Prefcot, &c, who were arrived at Ticonderoga, a few
Days ago, on their Way to-Conneaicut. That Carleton,
Luke La Corn, and two others, went off in a Boat from
the Fleet before it Bruck, but were taken Prisoners by
Col. Arnold, near Quebec; that Gen. Wooster was left
to command at Montreal, and General Montgomery was
gone to assist Col. Arnold to secure Quebec.
The Ship Minerva, Capt. Gregory, from
Philadelphia, bound for St. Kitts, fell to Lee
ward, and arrived at Jamaica the 26th of Oct.
I^WYHEREAS the Continental Congress, by their
,Y Resolve of the iSth of October last, did order
and airea, “ That a well authenticated Account of the
Hostilities committed by the Ministerial Troops and Navy
in America, since March last," should “ be collected,
with proper Evidence of the Truth of the Faffs related
as also " the Number and Value of the Buildings de
stroyed by them ;" with “ the Number and Valueof the
Vessels inward and outward bound, whicli havebeen seized
by them since that Peried, as near as the Value can be ascer
tained;" also " the. Stock taken from different Parts of
the Continent." And whereas the Committee appointed
by them to ao!le& the fame, have transmitted a Copy of
the foregoing Resolve to the Provincial Congress in this
City, requesting their Assistance in obtaining the fame ;
which Letter, with the foregoing Resolve, being by order
of the Provincial Congress aforefaid, delivered to the
Chairman of the General Committee for this City and
County, " requiring them to afeertain in the belt Manner
pollible, the Damages sustained by People of this City
and County, with all necessary Particulars thereof, and
with Proofs to fup,ort the fame, and to transmit them to
.the Provincial Congress with all convenient Speed."
And whereas the General Committee aforefaid have ap
pointed Cornelius P. Low, Oliver Templeton, and Daniel
Phoenix, to be a Sub-Committee for that Purpose : All
Persons in this City and County who have sustained any
Loss or Damage by the Ministerial Army or Navy in
America, since March last, are hereby requeued to pre
pare and deliver to them an accurate Estimate of the
fame, with the Examinations of Witnesses and other
Papers and Documents officially authenticated ; as also
clear, diftinft, and circumstantial Details of the hostile
and deftru&ive Ads by thera done, or Captures or
Seizures made, that the fame may be laid before thePro
vingal Congress without Delay.
An authentic Account of the Price Current of the
following Articles, as they noiv fell at Bofion.
The Head of a Sheep, a Quarter of a Dol
lar. Salt, one Dollar a Hogshead by the Quan
tity. Jamaica Rum, 4s. Weit-lndia Ditto 3s.
3d. Sterling, per Gallon. Fresh Fish, is. Ster
ling per Pound. Geese, two Dollars each.
Turkies, three Ditto. Ducks, one ditto.
Fowls, three Quarters 'do. Hams, 2s. Ster
ling per Pound. A Keg of Water Bread, 14s.
Sterling. Ditto Butter'Bread, 21s. do. Fresh
Beef, frefh Pork, Mutton, Lamb, Cheese, and
Butter, igd. Sterling per Pound. Veal, Rice,
Peafe, none in Boiton. Apples, five Dollars
a Barrel. Sheep, eight Dollars each. Eggs,
4s. Starling a Dozen. Flour and Ship Bread,
40s? Sterling, Cwt. Potatoes, 6s. Sterling a
Bushel. Onions, a Piftareen a Rope. Four
Calves Feet, 3s. Sterling. Fire Wood, Ten
Dollars, a Cord, and every other Kind of
necessaries in proportion.
Yesterday Afternoon Capt. Brown arrived here in a
Sloop from Providence, and assures us, That five other
Vessels, besides the Brig before mentioned, have been
taken by our Privateers within these few Days, and car
ried into Beverly; one of them a Schooner from the
Eastward with Stock; another, a Scotch Vessel with
Goods ; the third a Brig from Newfoundland, with the
Governor and his Secretary, &c. the other two unknown.
The 15th ult. departed this Life, in the 39th
Year of her Age, at Fish-Kills, in Dutchefs
County, Mrs. Effe Verplanck, Wife of Philip
Verplanck, Esq; of that Place: She has left
behind a disconsolate Husband and five small
Children, to lament the Loss of a loving Wife
and tender Parent.
Yesterday Forenoon a Charity Sermon was preached at
St. George's Chapel, by the Revd. Mr, Bodine, and a
large Collection made for the Use of the Charity School
in this City. Sunday next another Sermon for the like
laudable Purpose, will be preached at St. Paul's. Mr.
Bodine's Text was Pro. xi% Ver. 21. He that bath
Mercy on the Poor, happy is be.
Extract of a Letter from London, Sept. 20, 1775°
" Preparations continue making here to
bring the Americans under Ministerial Sub
jection, but as it will be some Years, if ever,
before that can be done by Force of Arms, I
imagine the Parliament, which meets soon,
will make some Propositions to that injured
Country, such as will restore its Trade, which
is now loft to England."
Another letter fays. The Ministry are deter
mined to persevere; great Preparations are ma
king to take the Field in the Spring. There
will be a considerable Army in America from
30 to 50,060 Men ; it is expected some foreign
Troops will be taken in pay; am afraid you
will have many in New-York, and it is suppos
ed their landing in your Province will be op
posed, makes me feel for you, and my other
New-York Friends; for I expect your City will
be laid in Ashes.
Monday Evening the Reverend Doctor John
Henry Livingston, one of the Ministers
of the Dutch Churches in this City, was
married to Miss Sally Livingston, youngest
Daughter of Philip Livingston, Esq; a Dele
gate from this Colony, to the Honourable
Continental Congress.
The fame Evening Mr. Gerardus Duyck
inck, jun. of this City, Merchant, was mar
ried to Miss Suckey Livingston, Daughter
of Henry Livingston, Esq; at his Seat in
Dutchefs-County.
NEW-Y O RK, December it.
L O S T,
ON Saturday morning the 9th inst. in the Fly-Mar
ket, a worked pocket-book, containing in cash,
one continental bill of 8 dollars, one ditto 5 dollars, one
ditto 4 dollars, four of 3 dollars, two of 2 dollars, one of
Gardner $ notes, Maffachufets four pounds lawful, mark
ed on the back, in figures, 5 68; with several notes of
hand, and other papers, of no use but to the owner. Any
'perfon returning the pocket-book, and cafh,to the printer
hereot, shall receive a reward of FIVE POUNDS, and
no questions alked.
Queen's-County, November 29, 1775$
SUPPOSED to be stolen out of the pasture of the tub
fcriber, Richard Townsend, a bright bay mare, with
a flar in her forehead, upwards of thirteen hands and a
half high ; the paces and trots, is Short built, low headed,
five yeats old. Whoever takes up the hid mare, and
secures her so that the owner may get her again, shall
have FORTY SHILLINGS reward, by me
RICHARD TOWNSEND.
WANTED immediately,
A T the Hibernia Furnace, in Morris-County,
.M New-Jersey, belonging to Meffis. ROBERT and
JOHN MURRAY, of New-York, a Number of Wood
Cutters. Two Shillings and Nine-pence per
Cord will be given, and the Balance paid as f@on as the
Quantity agreed for is compleated, by the fubferiber,
living at the Works.
_ Pi':*' '775- _______ JOSEPH HOFF.
Broke open, and stolen out of the house of EBENEZER
BEDN AH, hatter, living in Dutchefs County, on the
28th of last November, at night, the following goods,
viz.
ONE suit of brown cloths, with silver button's ; one
broad cloth jacket, with silver buttons , one broad
cloth green coloured coat; one striped jacket; one
white dimothy jacket; one callico banyan and jacket of
the fame; one pair of velvet breeches; two pair of
flocking webb breeches; one pair of broad cloth breeches,
and two paw of drilling breeches ; one pair of nankeen
breeches, one pair of silk flockings, two pair of cotteci
flockings, two pair of thread stockings, three Holland
Shirts, three old shirts, four pocket handkerchiefs, three
flocks ; a pocket book with about One Pound Eight
Shillings in money, and sundry papers of value ; a to
bacco box with about One Pound Twelve Shillings in
silver, a black coat, seven hats not finished, and fundr,
other articles too tedious to mention.
Any person or persons that will find out the abeve
goods, or secure the perlon or persons that may offer them
for sale, and fend word to Mt. Daniel Brundage, tavern
keeper, in Tommyhawlte, or the fubferiber, (hall be
rewarded with EIGHT POUNDS, New-Yerk currency,
paid by me EBENEZER BEDNAH.
'"I'AKEM out of the stable of the
X fubferiber, living at Rye, in the county of West
chester, on Monday night the. third inst. a dark brown
Mare, not quite fourteen hands high, of^n eaSy sprightly
carriage, four years old and past; she paces, trots, and
gallops, all naturally ; has a white spot on her nose, and
a Small Star in her forehead, with white feet, and a
narrow white streak running up liar near hind leg.
Whoever takes up and secures the said mare, so that ffie
may be returned to the owner, fhail have FORTY
S HILLINGS reward, and all reasonable charges
paid by EPHRAIM AVERY.
K, Three Pence per Pound will be
given for the best Sort of good, dry, clean
LINEN RAGS, and so in Proportion fo
thofe of an inferior Quality—by HUGL
GAIN E.
GRANTand FINE,
HAVE yet on hand a few pipes of choice old Fayal
WINES, fix gallon cases of best GENEVA, best
SWEET OYL, CASTILE SOAP, BRISTOL PIPES,
ihort and long; a few calks of TOBACCO. Also the
remains of their store of IRONMONGERY and CUT
LERT, among which are anvils, vices, and corn mills,
which they will fell as cheap as ever, at their store oppo
site the crane on Crommelin's wharf.
Vendue-House,
FINE Irish linens, chintzes, callicoes, muslins,
broad cloths, fhalloons, druggets, long ells,
blue, pink and white lattens; black perfians, plain
and figured ribbons, plain and figured kentings,
gauzes, poplins, duroys, fagathies, kid mitts, Turkey
Gripes, boys and mens felt hats, small looking glasses,
china diihes in lets, horn combs, &c. &c.
A few cases of Sweet Oil,
And a frefh parcel of Keyfer's Pills, warranted
genuine, at Three Pounds the large box, containing
above one thousand pills.
PUBLIC AUCTION.
By THOMAS WM. MOORE;
. TO-M ORR OW,
Will be fold at the Cofree-Houfe, at Noon,
5000 Wt. of SHIP BREAD,
As it now lays in Messrs. Charles Movers and Co'*
Store, on Cruger's-Wharf.
The good Brigantine JUNO,
Burthen upwards 120 Tons, now lying at Wells's-
Wharf; a prime Sailer, and well found, will be fold a
great Bargain at private Sale.—lnventory to be seen, and
Terms made known, by applying'to
'THOMAS W M . MOORE.
N.B. Several Groce of BOTTLES to be fold as above.
AVery clever "handy WgRO" T^'aboUW
Years old, very fit to attend any Gentleman, and
very expert in a Family, to be fold. For Particular*
£P?J^fIUG HGM
p u blic auction:
To-morrow,
At John Taylor's Vendue Store,
Will be peremptorily fold,
FORTY pieces broad cloths, rattinets, Walloon,,
durants, moreens, printed cottons, linens and calli
coes, black and scarlet mail, gauzes, gilt buttons, &c.
lobe SOLD at public Vendue,
TO-MORRO W,
At ANTHONY L. BLEECKER's
VENDUE STORE,
For the most they'll fetch,
The Remainder of the,SHOP GOODS
advertised last week.
On WEDNESDAY,
/ft the Coffee-Houf Bridge at 12 o'Cloek,
A parcel of EARTHEN WARE in lots, and a
Uprightly NEGRO BOY about 9 years of age.
To be bad at private Safe,
best French and Carolina Indigo, Raffia fail cloth,
and genuine Madeira of the vintage 70, in pipes, hhds 4
and quarter calks.
Best Jamaica Spirits and Weft-
India Rum, to be fold by
Templeton and Stewart.
At Daniel" MCCORMICK'S