The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-24 00:00:00, page 2

only be reputed to believe, but, with the oath of allagiance,
be obliged, in a manner equally solemn, to subscribe a decla
ration including fully as much as the above profeffion and
acknowledgement, and not merely one of their belief in
God as Creator and Governor of the universe ; for other
wise Jews or Turks may become in time not only our greatest
landholders, but principal officers in the legislative or exe
cutive parts of our government, so as to render it not only
uncomfortable but unfafe for Christians, which I hope
every American would wilh to prevent as much as any other
national slavery. However unlikely this may appear to some
ever to be the case, I think it behoves new Rates, in this
enlightened age, to run no rifques, but guard against the
molt distant possible sinister events, however improbable they
may be in the common course of things, feeing such amaz
ing events have been and are easily brought about in the
course of a wife and just Providence, in judgment for flighted
mercies. And I confefs, for my own part, that I should fear
left some. misfortune of that fort might in time become our
lot, if, at our firft setting out as a Rate, we should do any
thing that included an insensibility of the great blessings we
have enjoyed, and particularly the light of the glorious gospel
°f Jesus Christ, which has so remarkably attended us from
cur firft settlement in this American wilderness, even to this
day; and has been perhaps a greater cause of eur prosperity
and happiness than any other. Nor can I think that such a
measure would be any restraint upon the freedom of any one
of whatever fe& that are or may choose to fettle among us,
feeing the declaration would be only confined to those who
are to become poffefled with the powers of government, in
order to prevent, as far as possible, our anting as a state con
trary to or in opposition to the general doctrines and laws of
Christianity in the New Feftament, the enjoyment of which
being our highest privilege, we ought to count it most dear,
and our indifpenlable duty to preserve. I own the myste
ries thereof are indeed so sublime as not to be fully compre
hended by human reason, nor favingly understood but by
the assistance of the Holy Spirit, yet may be in general cre
dited upon the divine authority of the scriptures, and is not
unbecoming the dignity of any state to acknowledge in gra
titude for such a privilege, however contrary it may be to
the zeal of a certain writer in the Pennsylvania Packet, No.
264, for national blessings demand national acknowledge
ments, and their crimes can only be punished in a national
capacity.
Ihe above remarks I have ventured to make, being en
couraged thereto by the 3 6th fedion of the New Frame of
Government, printed for confderation, whicli implies a de
sign to have any decent remarks made thereon, and there
fore hope will not give any offence to the framers thereof,
v horn I ought to refped as the Representatives of the people ;
but, like the mite of old, though small, yet being all 1 can
do a: prefect, be accepted for its good intention. R.
WILLIAMSBUR G, Sept. 13.
General Lee writes, fem Purryfburg, of August 15th, that
he is going to break up Bast-Florida. President Rutledge,' in a
let.er to the Council, writes, that the South-Carolinians had
destroyed five Indian towns in the lower settlements, and laid
war.e their fields of corn. They have had two skirmishes, in
both of which the Carolinians have been fuccefsful. They
suppose they killed between sixty and seventy men.'
Another vessel is arrived at Hampton with fourteen hun
dred bushels of salt, and a small quantity of rum. The Capt.
informs, that he spoke a French lhip, one of a fleet of four-
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teen fail, laden with goods, and bound for Delaware# A num
ber of French officers were likewise on board, who intended
to offer their services to the United States of America.
By letters from Cape Nichola Mole, of the 28th ult. we
learn that two frigates had lately arrived at St. Domingo,
from France, completely manned, in order to cruise off that
illand, and protect all American vessels within their limits.
Two more frigates were daily expected, for the fame purpose.
1 hefe four frgates are to aft in conjunction with two Spa
nish frigates, which are Rationed at Porto Rico, for the pro
tection of all North-American vessels. The Spanish Captains
are to pay equal attention to the General of St. Domingo's
orders as to those of the Commander of Porto Rico. There
is every appearance of a speedy rupture between France,
Spain, and Great-Britain, as Spain and Portugal are abfo
lately now at war.
HALIFAX, Nova-Scotia, August 1,
We have undoubted authority that two thousand High
landers, under the convoy of three frigates, and three arr^ed
schooners, on a new conftruftion for drawing the lead quan
tity of water, have been defpatched by Lord Howe up the
Bay of Fundy, to penetrate by that fide into the New-Hamp
shire government, and that Col. M'Lane, with three thousand
of the lower country militia of Canada, and fix hundred In
dians are on their full march to join that body of Highlanders,
at the head of the river St. John's, and to co-operate with
them.
BOSTO N, Sept.s.
The Governor of Halifax received the Declaration of In
dependancy, about four weeks since, but would not permit
the poor dupe of a printer (had he ever so good a mind) to
publish any more of it than barely the Jaft elaufe, where.it
fays, “ We therefore, the Representatives of the United
States of America in General Congress assembled, Do,&c. &o."
And his reason (as we are credibly informed) was “ because
it may gain over to them (the rebels) many converts ; and
inflame the minds of his Majesty's lojal ^ faithful fubjefts
of the province of Nova-Scotia."
Our last accounts from Halifax fay, they left there forty
fail of vessels, prizes, &c. that they were in great fright, ex
peding an attack from our troops, every day ; three expres
ses arrived iucceffively, with an account of their being at
Cumberland, and having five hundred Indians with them ;
and it was supposed there, about two thousand Americans ;
they had, it wasfaid, cut a road of ninety miles, in three weeks,
through the woods, from Shepherday to Cumberland ; that
the above news came from the mouth of an express from Col.
Gorham, who every moment expe&ed to be besieged, and wrote
to Halifax for fuccours; and that an Indian (of the St. 'oha
tribe) was executed for damning his Excellency Gen. Wash
ington.
Sails for London, from Hallifax, in the Princess Royal
Jamaicaman,. Robert Hallowell, Nathaniel Mills and Mar
garet Draper, Printers, and her family, George Deblois,
Samuel Rogers, Samuel Hughs, John Atkinson, the Mils
Cummings's; and Justice Cutler of New-Hampshire. [Tories.
Our American prisoners, to the number of thirty-one, are
confined in the common jail of Halifax (a lousy, filthy, un
wholefom place) and-are treated in the most inhuman and
barbarous manner possible, having nothing to live upon but
salt provisions, and that very scant, thrown in amoug Ne
groes, robbers, &c,—and are told they know no diflinftion
between them.