The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-06-09 00:00:00, page 2

Signed,
MECELSKU, and KOCHENOWSKU.”
March 22. Thursday night the assizes en
ded at Maidftone, for the county ofKent, when
the .three following pfifoners were capitally
convicted, and received Sentence of death, viz.
William Frankland for robbing Mrs. Hervey,
and Miss Dukefill, on Blackheath, of a gold
enamelled watch and other things to a consi
derable amount. John Micham, for robbing
his master of two Guineas and one penny,
which he had entrusted him with for the pur
pose of paying for a chaldron of coals. And
John Randal, for killing and stealing a lamb.
Frankland was ordered for execution on Thurs
day fe'night the 3d of April; the other two
were reprieved by thejudge.
Mrs. Hervey, on the trial of Frankland, de
poled, that as Ihe and her two ladies were
taking an airing on Blackheath, they were flop
ped a little beyond the Green Man, by the
prisoner, who demanded their money, and,
with horrid imprecations, swore he would have
all they had; that Ihe gave him her watch,
and Miss Dukefill her purse; that the prisoner
then left them both for about five minutes,
When he returned, and swore that he believed
'they had more money, which he would have,
upon which the footman entreated him to de
@l, as the ladies were very much frightened.
For feme time he infilled on having more, but
finding he had got all, he then said he would
kiss her, and in putting his head into the car
riage, he let the pistol fall, which thefootman
feeing, he jumped from behind the carriage,
and, with the assistance of the coachmen, se
cured him.
Extras of a Letter from Paris, March 14.
„ “ Thc last week was a fatal one to the weal
thy. Scarcely had M. Muzade breathed,his !
Hft, when Monsieur Dange, farmer general,
died. He was in the eighty fourth year of his
age. The place, which he occupied for seve
ral years, was bestowed on him for the real
services he had rendered his country in the
different state departments which he had occu
pied. We may give a pretty good guess at
his riches, when to punish a nephew, the con
durt of whom he did- not approve, he cut him
off with a legacy only, of 1,30,000 livres.
, " By a praise worthy disposition, in his will,
lie hath ordered, that his creditors shall not be
sued for their debts, and he hath allowed them
ail ;he interest accruing until the debts fliall be
paid. The most singular part of the will is,
wherein he required, that after his death, his
body fliould be opened, to know, these are his
words, "if there are fones in the bladder."
Extract of another letter from Paris, March Is. |
" The pfefident cf the third chamber of !
parliament hath made a declaration on the
fbbjert of the book, entitled, “ Commentaries
on the Revelations" (mentioned some short time
farce in our paper, as having been written by
a French curate) which predirts the ckablifh-
^ The. following is the resolution of the
Prussian agent:
“ I think it proper to acquaint the Polish
commissioners, that 1 have informed the king,
my maker, of the. Cession desired by him of
the territories, mentioned in the fpecification
which he sent me, dated the 20th of Decem
ber and that 1 have executed the orders of
his majesty on that head. The sth instant I
received for answer, from the king, my ma
ker, that he thinks the pretensions of the
Polish commilTaries unjust, and he hath ac
cordingly ordered me to inrift on the detenfion
of the lands, already ceded, and not to give
up a foot of the territories on the Drwenea,
except the two villages of Golumin and Zie
loni. I therefore take this opportunity of
repeating to the Polish commissioners my de
mand, which is, that the boundaries must
begin from that place, called Malekretty, and
continue by polls fixed in a straight line, to
the two villages above mentioned, and from
thence to the frontiers of eastern Prussia, with
intent, that the fixation of the boundaries,
the commission with which we a:e charged,
may be finally determined. I expert your
speedy answer.
(“ Signed, on the behalf of his Prufan Majesty)
"GAUDI."
“ The following resolution was passed by
the Prussian commissaries :
" The Prussian commissioners having de
manded of the Polish commissioners the exe
cution of their inftrurtions, in refpert to the
afeertainment of their limits, and also, to
know whether they were content with the
proposed afeertainment, agreed to by the trea
ty of Warsaw, dated the zzd of August,
1776, which fixes the limits between the ter
ritory of Michalow, on the one part, and that
part of Dorbzin and of the palatinate of
Plocks on the other; the Prussian commissi
oners are doubtful, whether the lands menti
oned in the fpecification, are parts of the ter
ritory of 'Dorb^in and of the Palatinate of
Plocks. To clear up this doubt, the Polish
commissioners have lent the underwritten in
conteftible anfivers, and, notwithstanding the
Prussian commissioners have ordered a decla
ration, that in opposition to these answers,
they are enjoined to draw the line agreeable
to the treaty in opposition to the tenor of the
convention of Warsaw; the Polish commissi
oners have yet remitted the following answer :
Answer.
" The Polish commissioners having received
an order, dated the 13th of December, 1776,
and January 6, 1777, not to give up the least
article but what is expressly stipulated by the
Gonvention of Warsaw, of the 22d of August,
1776, cannot, under these circumstances, un<
dertake any thing ; and they are compelled,
by the example of the Prussian commissioners,
to make their report to the king, and to wait
his majesty's orders.
March 24. On Tuesday last one Williams,
a Rope-maker at Woolwich, went into the
New Barrack Tavern-yard, and cut his Throat,
on which he said, that the Devil had got hold
of him. He was immediately put into a Butch
er's cart and brought to the Warren Hospital,
where his Throat was quickly sewed up by Mr.
Irvine, jun. Surgeon to the Artillery. The
unhappy man pulled, it open again with his
hands, and it was a second time sewed up;
but he declared he would again, the firft oppor
tunity accompliflihis design. He has a wife
and three children, and gives no other account
of his motive than that he dreamed some person
came to him and advised it, with which inti
mation he is at all events resolved to comply.
A young Scots Nobleman, Lord Torfichen,
of the ancient Family ofSandiland, we hear is
to accompany General Burgoyne to America
as a Volunteer.
A hahdfome monument was on Saturday
opened in the north isle of Westminster Abbey,
on the base of which are the following lines :
“ Ererted by the East India Company, to the
memory of Major General Stringer Laurence,
in testimony of their gratitude for his eminent
services, in the command of their forces on the
Coast of Coromandel, from the year 1746 to
the year 1766;"
Dublin, March 14. At a public supper last
Friday in a gentleman's house on the south
fide of this city, a lady of fafhion with an enor
mous head-dress, returning thanks to a gentle
man who had drank to her, bowed so low as to ,
touch the candle with one of her plumes ; the
feather immediately took fire, and communi
cating the flame to the hair, instantly the whole
head was in a blaze ; and had it not been for
the presence of mind of the butler, who snatch
ed up alarge tankard of beer and poured it
on the flaming pyramid, the Lady would in all
probability have become a fatal monument to
the ridiculous fafhion of high heads and nod
ding plumes.
I March 2fr As a lesson for young and enter
forifing courageous men is never out of season,
,we shall remind before we leave speaking
,'of him, of an anecdote of which it is to be ho
.ped, that he does not feel yet the moral sense
" Two young Ladies brought up in the fame
" boarding school, were addressed to by two
, " young men, married the fame day, and (both
" occupying a house opposite each other) pro
“ mifed to be faithful in the account of their
" facrifice to the God Hymen; accordingly
" the day after their marriage, one of the la
“ dies put in her window five flower-pots,
" which were to be the signal, while her poor
" neighbour put only one, the third day, four
" instead of five to one, the following do. the
“ next day three to one—two to one appearing
,“ the day after, began to cool a litde the
“ envious imagination of the single pots lady,
?' who soon feeing that there was none for a
" week together on her young friends window
1" concluded wifely, that her lot tho'not brilli
;" ant, was the better application."
March 29. By letters from Lisbon, we are
"informed, that among the prisoners of State
who were enlarged on the late King's decease,
was one who had been confined almost ever
since his accession (near fixtecn years ;) during
all the time he had been in prison, no person
had access to him but the goaler (who never
Ihardly speaks to his state prisoners) so that
whenhe returned to his friends, they hardly
knew him, his hair being grown quite grey,
and his features having assumed a melancholy ,
air, 'unlike to what he formerly had been,l
his speech too, was greatly altered, not hav
ing been accustomed to speak in prison, he|
seemed sometimes to be at a loss for words to
express himfelf with.
By a private letter from Berlin we are in
formed, that a Jew lately died there, who left
immense sums of money in a variety of odd
legacies, and, amongst the rest, a million of
ducats, to the King of Prussia, to whom he I
sent, requeuing him to come to him the day!
before he died, when he repeated that part of
the will to his Majesty, and then said, “ As
much has been taken from me already against
my will, but of this I make you a free gift."
Monday morning about thro* o'clock, a ter
rible fire broke out at the house of Mr. Akin- 1
bottom, the coach-makers arms, a public-'
house, the corner of Angel-court, in' Great
Windmill-street, at the top of the Hay-n^- ,
ket, which entirely destroyed the fame, with
a back house adjoining. It likewifc damaged
ment of the Jefaits. This work is not the
only ebjert of parliamentary deliberation.
The chamber have received information from
an anonymous writer, that the JESUITS now
artually poflefs at Lyons, an iramenfe degree
of Wealth, which is employed in a beneficial
commerce, that brings them in yearly 900,000
livres. Seven or eight persons are mentioned
as the truftecs of the fund. Several witheffes,
in proof of the fart, are also, given at the
bottom of the declaration. Ihe chamber
have ordered, that the whole should be refer
red to the king.
“ A few days after the death of the farmer
general, Mons. de Champley, a knight of the
order of St. Louis, and commander of the
order of Lazare died at Luxembourg. On
searching into his effects he has been found
to have died^vorth 192,000 livres, notwith
standing which he hath always been remark
able for his parsimony.
“ A book just published here, entitled,
" The Review of the Ladies Journal," by
Mons. Dorat, hath afforded mirth to men of
understanding, and entertainment even to the
difeontented and jealous. We have great need
of such a book in this country: men of un
derftahding there are a few—as to the dif
eontented and jealous, the policy, as well as
the gallantry of the times have rendered them
multitudinous."
veral expressions of consolation.
" If we are allowed to give credit to other
news, the- Princess of Brazil hath not ascend
ed the throne of Portugal without opposition,
and we are assured, that the Prince of Beira
hath formed a party in his own favour: it is
also reported, that the Marquis of Pombal
was the principal in this faction ; but we
cannot believe, that so able and enlightened
a Minister would join in any opposition against
the established laws of his country ; and it is
said, that if the present King and Queen have
accepted his resignation, they have still re
served to him all the honours of his ministry,
a reward due to his long and faithful services,
and the friendffiip with which the late King
honoured him.
" It is at last determined, that the Empe
ror will visit Paris the 10th or 12th of next
April, and stay here a month. Mr. de Bre
tuil, who will depart in two days, in order
to return as Ambassador to Vienna, experts to
meet her Imperial Majesty in his road, and to
stay one day with her.
"-The treasurer of the Denier chamber,
who is entrusted with the payment of wages
to the King's houfhold, hath been arrested
and conducted to Vincennes, and his wife
was, at the fame time, taken up and carried
to the Baliile. We are as yet ignorant of the
cause of this rigorous proceeding, whether it
is for an affair foreign to his office, or for any
default in his accounts, that he has been
thrown in prison : if we may .give credit to
certain persons, the crime laid to his charge,
and which his wife is equally criminal in, is,
having counterfeited the Queen's fignffl're,
and, by that means, obtained conlidbr&bte
sums of money." - r ^:
.On Wednesday as Mr. Thompson, a grocer
at Ipswich, was coming to town on horfback,
he was flopped within a few yards of the Whale
bone, on Epping Forest, by a single highway
man, who robbed him of a large sum in notes
and cash. A gentleman and his servant instantly
coming up, they pursued him over the Forelf,
took him, and'he was committed to Chelms
ford goal. He had, befide§ what he took from
Mr. Thompson, ten guineas, and several
watches.
Yesterday morning, at five o'clock, eight
convirts, sentenced to work upon the Thames
for the term of three years, were conveyed by
Mr. Akerman on board a lighter at Blackfriars
bridge, which immediately fell down the river,
and Dipped them on board the Juftitia hulk
at Barlting-fhelf. Among the above was
George Barrington, commonly called the gen
tleman pick-pocket; one Flint, for dealing a
quantity of jewels ; and a man for forging the
mark of the Goldsmiths company.
A gentleman of veracity, who lately vilited
the celebrated Voltaire at Ferney, declares
that great poet merits the highest encomiums
for his address in reconciling the Catholicks
and Protestants, who live upon his estate in
the utmost harmony. These people, who in
1770 were ready to cut each other's throats
from religious motives, funk in idleness, and
oppressed by poverty and tax-gatherers, are
now comfortably situated and fuccefsfully em
ployed for themselves and the nation. The
village of Ferney about ten years ago con
tained no more than fifty-two miserable inha
bitants, who, from the pretertion afforded
them by their worthy landlord, are encreafed
to 12,000 people, enjoying not only the ne
cessaries, but the conveniencies of life.
Extras of a letter from Paris, March 20.
" Mons. de Sartine being willing to give a
striking instance ofhis esteem of Mr. Ie Noir,
his successor in the office of Lieutenant Gene
ral of the Police, and to (hew what interest he
takes in the marraige of Mr. le Noir's only
daughter, the next day after the celebration of
her nuptials, he sent the new married pair a
present of a little dog of a very fine and rare
species, which he knew the lady was very fond
of, and ornamented this present with a collar
of diamonds worth 12,000 livres/
Mr. Wiffon, baker, and Mr. Cornwall, en
graver, and communicated itfelf to the liable
yard belonging to Mr. Paulfton's; and the
flames were so rapid, that it was with much
difficulty the horles were got out. Two men
perilled in the flames, Mr. Gaffalin, a Ihoe
maker, and a person belonging th the Opera
houfe, who have since been dug out dead,
and carried to St. James's bone-house for in
terment.
Extract of a letter from Paris, March 20.
“ Monsieur de Souza, the Portugueze Mi
nister, hath not yet officially announced the
death of the late King; but, by the Spanilh
Ambassador, we learn the following parti
culars:
“ When the king found himfelf on the
point of death, he was anxious to compleat
the marriage of the Prince of Beira ,his grand
son, having only waited for feme time before
his illness, for the necessary dispensations from
Rome: in consequence of the King's desire,
the young Prince was that day married to the
Infanta MAria Francoise. The day after the
King's death, the new Queen, the Princess
of Brazil, took poffeffioh of the throne, and
placed her husband by her fide, when the
Grandees, and all the Crown officers had the
honour to kiss her hand, and acknowledge
her as Sovereign : at the fame time, the pri
sons of the Inconfidenza were thrown open,
and amidst the number of prisoners released,
there was a Bishop, whose merits deserved a
better fate. He immediately went to the pa
lace, adorned with the most venerable,emblem
'of his captivity, a fine long white-beard,
which he had not cut during his imprison
ment. The recital of his misfortunes asserted
the whole Court, and their Majesties conde
feended to fympathife with him, and gave fe-
Provided always, nevertheless, That prisoners es
war, officers and soldiers in the Continental anny,
merchants, and mariners, trading in the ports of
this state from foreign powers in amity with the
United States, and not becoming resident, are de
clared not to be within the intent and meaning of
this art.
Extras of a Letter from Levuiflown, dated May
PHILADELPHIA, May 31.
On Wednesday last the Hon. Major General
Schuyler left this city, to repair to bis command in
the Northern department. The President and several
Members of Congress accompanied him some rcilcs
out of town.
25> x 77-
" When I wrote you last, the flips were making
up the bay ; the two large (hips got as far as the
Brown that tide of flood, and anchored the fame
day. In the afternoon four other British fllips came
down the bay, joined the other fltips with five ten
ders, and came to anchor. Thefame evening ano
ther fiiip, a brig, and sloop arrived, and joined the
rest, making altogether thirteen fail. Yesterday the
final! (hip and two tenders went out of the capes,
but the fix other ships, with federal tenders, continue
at anchor below the Brown."
[The following Dill is copied from the Pennfl
wania Evening Post of May 31/?, and affords
another Specimen of the tyrannical Authority,
which some wife People in this Country have
thought preferable to the mild and happy Con-
Jlitution of Britain.]
Mr. ' Towne,
These two intended laws have been read twice in the
General Assembly, and are now ordered to be
printed for public consideration.
Yours, &c.
J. MORRIS, jun. Clerk of Gen. Assembly,
A BILL obliging the male white inhabitants of this
state to give Assurances es Allegiance to
the fame, and for other purposes therein men
tioned.
WHereas allegiance and protection are reciprocal,
and those who will net bear theformer ^re not
intitled to the benefits of the latter, Therefore be it
tenarted by the Repreferatatives of the freemen of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Affim
bly met, and by the Authority of the fame, that all
male white inhabitants cf this state, above the age
of years, shall, on or before the day of
next, take and fubferibe the following oath or affir
mation before some one of the Justices of the Peace
of the city or county where they shall refpertively
inhabit, and the said Justice fliall give a certificate
thereof to every such peifon ; and the said eath or
affirmation shall be as followeth, viz.
<< I do swear, or affirm, that I renounce
" and refufe all allegiance to George the Third,
" l' n g of Great-Britain, his heirs and successors,
" and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance
“ to the Commonwealth of Penufylvatia; ^s a free
" and independent state ; and that I will not at any
" time do, or cause to be done, any matter or thing;
" that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom
" and independence thereof, as declared by Con
" gr£fs ; and also that I will difeever and make
“ known, to some one Justice of the Peace of the
" said state, all treasons, or traitorous conspiracies,
" which I new or hereafter shall know to be formed
" against this or any of the United States of Ame
" rica."
And the form of the said certificate shall be as fol
loweth, viz..
“ I do hereby certify that * hath voluntarily
" taken and fubferibed the oath er affirmation of
" allegiance and fidelity, as direrted by an Art of
" General Assembly cf Pornfylvania, puffed the
« chy of A. D. 1777. Witness my hand
“ and seal the day of A. D." [L. S.]
And be it farther enarted by the authority afore
faid, That the Juflices of the Peace, before whom
such oath or affiimation shall be fubfciibed, fliall
keep fair registers of the names and surnames of the
persons so sworn or affirmed, and the time when, aid
shall, on or before the firft day of October in every
year, transmit in writing, under his hand and seal,
to the office of recorder of deeds for the said city or
county, a true lid of the names and furaames of
those who, within the fame year, have so sworn or
affirmed before them refpertively ; and the said Jus
tices fliall have and receive therefor, and for the said
certificate, the sum of and no more, for every
person so sworn or affirmed; and the said Justices.
fliall lay their accounts before the County Commit
fioners, or any two of them, from time to time, to be
examined and allowed ; and the said Commissioners
shall draw orders on the County Treasurers for fucli
sums as shall be fa allowed, which orders the said
Treasurers are hereby authorized and required to pay
out of the state taxes; and the Recorders of deeds,
in the city and several counties of this state, are hereby
enjoined to record the said lifts, in books to be prepa
red for that purpefe, who shall be paid for the fame,
in the fame manner as the Justices, at the rate of ----
for every hundred names.
And be it further enabled by the authority afere
faid, That every person, above the age aforefaid,
refuting or negle&ing to take and fubferibe the said
oath or affirmation, shall, during the time cf such
neglert or refufal, be incapable of holding any of
fice in this state, serving on juries, suing for any
debts, electing or being elerted, buying, felling, or
transferring any lands, tenements, or hereditaments.
And whereas theie is a danger cf having the feeds
of difeord and difaffertion greatly spread by persons,
whose political principles are not known, removing,
or travelling from one part of the state to another ;
and it is well known that this state is already become
(and likely to be more f>) an asylum for refugees
flying from the just resentment of their fellow-citi
zens in other states, for remedy whereof be it enacted
by the authority aforefaid, that every person, above
the age aforefaid, who shall travel out of the county
or city in which he usually refines, without the cer
tificate aforefaid, may be fufpe&ed to be a spy, and
to possess principles inimical to the United States ; and
may be taken before one of :beJuftices nearett to the
place where he shall be apprehended,who shall tender
to him the said oath or affirmation, and upon his re
fufal to take and fubferibe the Lid oath or affirmati
on, the said justice shall commit him to the common
jail of the city or county, there to remain without
bail or mainprize, until he shall take and fubferibe
the oath or affirmation, er produce a certificate he
had already d&ne fo.'
And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That
all persons coming from any of the other United
States into this date, are hereby required to apply to
one ©f the nearest justices after he enters this state,
and take and fubferibe the said oath or affirmation,
upon the penalty of being dealt with as in the case
of persons travelling or removing out of the city or
bounty in which they usually reside, unless he can
produce a certificate that he has taken an oath or af
firmation of the like nature, in the state from whence
he came.