The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-17 00:00:00, page 1

An ORDINANCB for rendering the bur
then of Associatoks and Now-Associators
in the defence of this state as nearly equal as
may be.
WHEREAS the Associators of this state have
bestowed much of their time, and been at a con
siderable expence in qualifying themselves for
the defence of their country, and are now gone
forth into aflual fetvice, to the great prejudice of their private
concerns, while others, by not aflociating, have exempted
themselves from thole difaculties, and purlued their business
to advantage. And whereas no effectual measures have hi
therto been taken to render the burthen of the aefence, which
is a common benefit, as nearly equal as possible:
Therefore be it ordained and declared, and it is hereby or
dained and declared, by the Representatives of the Freemen
of the State of Pennsylvania, in General Convention met,
That every Non-Associator, between the ages of sixteen and
fifty years, shall pay for and during the time of his continu
ing a Non-Associator at the rate of TWEN 1 Y SHILLINGS
for each and every month, to commence from the publication
of this Ordinance, find to continue until the end of the firft
session of the future Assembly of this state, unless the said
Assembly shall, before that time, alter or repeal the fame.
And be it farther ordained and declared, by the authority
aforefaid, That every Non-Associator, above the age of
twenty-one years, shall pay, in addition to the aforefaid fine,
at the rate of FOUR SHILLINGS in the pound on the an
nual value of his estate, as rated under the late laws of this
state for raising Provincial taxes.
And be it farther ordained, by the authority aforefaid, That
all the monieswhich shall be railed by the aforefaid assessments
and fines, after difeharging the necessary expences attending
collecting the fame, shall be paid into the hands of John
Bayard, Esquire, for the relief and support of the families or
poor Associators of this state, while out in the service, and to
afford assistance to those poor Associators who are by the service
rendered incapable of supporting themselves and their families,
and also to afford such assistance to the widows and children
of such poor Associators as lose their lives in the service of
their country.
Arid be it farther ordained and declared, by the authority afore
said, That when any of the said Associators, or their widows and
children, shall be so entitled to a share of the monies arising
from the aforefaid assessment and fines, the field-officers of the
battalion, or any threeof them, and a privateof the company to
whichTuch Associator, at the time when he or his widow and
children became so intitled, did belong, shall certify the par
ticular circumstances of the said Associator or his wife (or of
widow and children, if he should be killed) to the future As
sembly of this state, in order to enable them to fulfil the in
tent of this ordinance. And to the end that the said Four
Shillings in the pound, and the said monthly fines of Twenty
Shillings, may be duly assessed, levied, collected and paid, for
the purposes herein before mentioned.
(Remainder in our next.)
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Vol. lI.J
Price Three Coppers. Published every Tutfday, P'burfday, and Saturday Evenings.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1776.
459
PH IL A DELPH lA, Sept. 17.
The following papers are published by order of
Congress.
Extract of a letter from General WASHINGTON to the
PRESIDENT of CONGRESS, dated New-York, August
18, 1776.
I HAVE the honor to inclofe you, for the perusal and
consideration of Congress, sundry papers, the whole of
which, except No. 2 and 7, I received yesterday evening by
a flag, and to which I beg leave to refer Congress."
" Sir, " August 17, 1776.
" Being deeply interested in the welfare of America, I
think it my duty to communicate a matter of intelligence
which, I flatter myfelf, may be rendered conducive to the redo
ration of a desirable peace. And in this view I request your
Excellency's permission to land at New-York, to go dire&ly
to Philadelphia, in order to lay the fame before the General
Congress.
" In the course of a conversation I have had with Lord
Howe, I perceive that the powers he is veiled with, as well as
his disposition for eftablilhing an equitable and permanent
peace, are altogether misunderstood by the colonies.
" For in consequence of a sketch of feme propositions be
ing offered for his consideration, he very frankly assured me
he was willing to confer upon those grounds with any gentle-'
men of the greatest influence in this country.
" Asl am at liberty to declare his sentiments, I have the
honor to enclose, for your Excellency's information, a copy pf
my correspondence with his Lordship, and of the propositions
referred to in his letter, which are the motives of my present
request.
" Attending in the boat, to be indulged with your answer,
I have thehonor to be your Excellency's molt humble servant,
DRUMMOND.
" General Washington, &c. &t. &c."
“ My Lord, New-York, August 17th, 1776.
" J have your Lordship's favor of this day, accompanied
by papers on fubjeds of t^ greatest moment, and deserving
the most deliberate confederation.
“ I can allow much for your Lordship's well meant zeal
on such an occasion, but I fear it has transported you beyond
that attention to your parole, which comprehends the cha
rader of a man of ftri& honor. How your Lordship can re
concile your past or present conduct, with your engagement,
so as to fatisfy your own mind, I muit submit to your own
feelings, but I find myfelf under the disagreeable necessity of
objecting to the mode of negotiating proposed, while your
Lordship's line of conduct appears so exceptionable.
" I -shall, by express, forward to Congress your Lordship's
letter, and the papers which accompanied it. The refuse
will be communicated as soon as possible. lam sorry to have
Detained your Lordship so long, but the unavoidable necef
4fity must be my apology. I am, my Lord, your Lordship's
most obedient very humble servant,
“ Lord Drummond." G. WASHINGTON.
[Num. 259.