The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-01 00:00:00, page 2

On my application to Col. M.'Kean, he advised me not to
pursue the matter ; for the militia of this city, being then in
motion for the camp, neither the Committee, the parties or
evidences, could attend; the matter was therefore suspended.
Mr. Randolph being at present engaged under Gen. Mercer,
and flaying but one day in Philadelphia, made it necessary
for me to take this short method to vindicate my chai after,
which, I hope, will fatisfy the public of the innocence of their
humble servant, ARTHUR DONALDSON.
Philadelphia, August 27, 1776.
time the conversation parted, and in Capt. Smithers's presence,
as they were then employed together in paying for fire arms
they had collected ; on view of the receipts there appeared
threeof them with the figures plainly altered to the ninth, with
different ink, which surprised the whole company. Randolph
then strenuously insisted ona reference to Mr. Nixon's receipt,
to prove his innocence of the forgery, which he laid would
appear the fame day as his own, or the day before at fartheft,
when he received the money for the aforefaid purpose. Some
of the referrees told Mr. Randolph, he appeared to be the
reporter of the story to Mr. Williams; whereupon he grew so
impertinent and noisy, that Mr. Meredith, after giving him
federal reproofs, genteelly shewed him the door. The company
then parted. r
° n the 24th inst. Mr. Randolph being gone out of town,
Mr. Williams went with me, and called on Mr. Maurice Ro
gers at Mr. Nefbit's store, for a fight of Mr. Nixon's receipt
which Mr. Randolph had referred to, Mr. Nefbit advised that
some of the referrees Ihould be present, on which Mr. Reese
Meredith and Mr. Boyle were called in, and on examination
found the receipt dated the sixth of July, agreeable to Mr.
Williams's evidence.
Soon after my arrival in Philadelphia, being informed of
this report of Reed's, I applied to the Council of Safery. As
they had recommended me to his Excellency General Wash
ington, I thought the report not only injured me but them
also, as it cast a reflection on their judgment; they gave
me a letter to Col. Thomas M'Kean, Esq; Chairman of the
Committee of Infpedion, referring the examination of this
aspersion on my character to the Committee. The letter is as
follows:
" Sir, r In Committee of Safhty, July io, 1776.
Mr. Arthur Donaldson having informed this Committee,
that in his late absence at New-York, the end and intention
cf his journey there have been maliciously and wickedly mis
represented, and his family-made extremely unhappy by it ;
this Committee declare that he went there at the request of
Gen. Washington, to assist in a defenfive work of great im
portance, in which his skill and abilities, it was thought,
might be ufefully employed,
" Next to the duty of detecting and punishing those who
^e engaged in practices injurious to the cause of liberty, is
that of acquitting the innocent of falfe and unjust accusations,
and Mr. Donaldson looks for, and expels a public enquiry
aud justification. This Committee, to whom he applied to
set on foot such enquiry, have their time at present too much
employed in many public services to enter into it, even if it was
thought a proper objed for them ; but they are of opinion they
cannot do better than to recommend it to the City Committee,
who will, no doubt, chearfully take any trouble which so just
and necessary business may occasion.
" By order of the Board, I am your humble servant,
OWEN BIDDLE, Chairman.
To Thomas M'Kean, Esq;
Chairman of the City Committee.
488
WILLIAMSBURG, Sept. 20.
Since our last, another vessel has arrived at Hampton, with
twelve hundred bushels of salt ; and on Thursday one came
up to Burwell's ferry, with a quantity of that ufeful article,
besides rum, sugar, linens, &c. She came from Cape Nico
la Mole, and brings advice of an infurredion of the Negroes
in Jamaica, on account of the scarcity of provisions. Between
sixty and seventy white people had been killed, numbers of
the Negroes taken and gibbeted, and martial law proclaimed
through the island.
His Excellency General LEE is expected here daily, from
the southward. 0'
Last Thurfdaj%apt. Theodorick Bland's troop of light
horfe arrived in town, from Petersburg. And yesterday arri
ved from Gloucerter the seventh regiment of foot (late Dain
gerfield s, now Crawford s) in place of the fifth, who, as well
as the fourth and sixth, are under orders to proceed to New
York.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 25.
Extraft of a letter from a gentleman in Martinico, to h f l
friend in this town, dated St. Pitre's, August 16, 1776.
" Every thing feemsto indicate an approaching rupture be
tween France and England, and you need not- be surprised,
if in my next letter, I inform you that hostilities are com
menced. By a frigate, that arrived a few days ago from
France, the General of this island has received inftruaions
to prote& all American vessels :—The like inftrudions were
sent to Guadalope and St. Domingo, by two frigates that
failed at the fame time, from France; in consequence of
which, several guarda coasts are ordered to be immediately
fitted out here, to cruise about the island, and aft rd protec
tion to such American vessels as are bound here. Four ships
of the line,, and five frigates, are hourly expected from
France, for the fame purpose."
On Monday night, the 23d. inst. arrived here from Phils
delphia, on her way to Virginia, the lady of his Excellence
Gen. Wallington, accompanied by Thomas Nelson, junr.
Esq ; (a Delegate from Virginia) and his, lady,. John Cuftis,
George Washington Lewis, Nathaniel Nelson, and Robert
Gates Efqrs. of Virginia; and this morning they proceeded
for Alexandria.
NE W A R K, (East New-Jersey) Sept. 21.
Since our last, printed in New-York the ninth instant, we
have collected the following intelligence relative, to the fleet
and armies-of our enemies, viz. That a battery was opened on
a point of land on Long. liland, opposite the east end of Blacks
well's-Iflapd, which cannonaded our fort at Hoorn's-Hook
lor several days, but to little purpose, we having no more
than two men killed and four wounded.—Wednesday the ele
venth, a number of the enemy took possession of Bahanna and
Montrefour's islands, from whence it was imagined they in
tended to land either at Harlem or Morriffania.—Thurfday
the 12th, two fllips of war made their appearance at Helf
gate, having come through the Sound.—Friday the 13th,
signal gun was fired from the Admiral's flrip at three o'clock..
In COUNCIL of SAFETY, Philadelphia, Oft. 1, ,776.
Resolved, That this Board will on Saturday next appoint
twelve recruiting sergeants, to raise the more expeditious the
quota of men to be furnifhed by this state to the continents
agreeable to a late resolve of Congress.
Ordered, 1 hat the above refolte be publilhed, that per
sons willing to engage in that service, who can be well re
commended, may fend in their applications.
Extract from the minutes, JACOB S. HOWELL, Sec.