The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1775-12-04 00:00:00, page 2

u^the exien ccu
vconfider the furprifirig rapidity
which it .h* ^ from ftatebf ravage barbarity 0
which it waQ ury and a alf pafc involved, when
I traveife the p ant fields, and take a survey "of the
c lemt buildings, and beautiful landscapes, rising to my'
/?% where not long since the impenetrable forefts, and
inhospitable wilds the haunts of prowling wolves, forbad
the approach of the affrighted traveller; when I view
<hefe oncedreary wastes blo^oming as the rose, and teem
ing with an ample supply of all the conveniences of life;
in fine, when I attend to the almost incredible rapidity of
population in the American colonies, I am struck with
aftoniflimcnt at the bountiful reward^of the industry of
our worthy forefathers, and cannot forbear anticipating
the future grandeur of this western world. The number
cf inhabitants, according to the most accurate eftimatts
that have been made, doubles in every period of twenty
five years ; the Continental Congtefs has estimated the
number of inhabitants in eleven colonies at 3,000,000,
equal to about three fifths of those in the whole island of
Great-Britaim. In the year ISOO, accordingto the fore
going calculation, it will amount to 6,000,000. Let us
flretch our ideas to the year 2000, and our computation
furnishes us with the number of one thousand five
hundred and thirty fix millions, a computation which
almost exceeds human conception ; but it is not greater
than what may rationally be expe&ed if they continue to
increase in the proportion they have hitherto done. It
may perhaps be objetled, that in indulging the sallies of
too fanguinean imagination, I have neglected to confider,
thatas the rapid increase of inhabitants in the American
colonies has proceeded chiefly from that spirit of emigra
tion, which in consequence of the cheapness of lands,
and healthiness of the climate, has actuated the Europe
ans of almost all nations to purchase freeholds for their
families, and as those unappropriated lands are daily
becoming less extensive, this source of population muftin
•a Short time fail us. I know it is an axiom in politics,
that beyond a determinate degree of population in any
country, the proportion of the increase of number dimin-
Sflies; but to anfwerthefe objections, I need only point to
those almost unbounded defarts which extend from our
most western settlements to the pacific ocean, regions
hitherto unexplored by the most indefatigable researches :
To this pleating portrait, if we add the proportionable
improvements in agriculture, the military and polite arts
and sciences, together with that increase of wealth and
importance, which will result from an unconfined trade,
they may perhaps render this once despicable country,
the most psiverful dnd august empire which the annals of
history can boast. Let us Icofc around us then, my fellow
soldiers; let us contemplate this pleafieg figure, let us
make a solemn pause, and then aik ourselves, whether
we are willing to relinquish, not only our present enjoy
ments, but all our hopes of fecuiing happiness and tree
dem for our children ; and thereby spurn |hofe privileges
which the God of nature has conferred upon us in luch
beneficient profufion ? let us ask uurfelves whether we
will fee our wives and children, with every thing that is
dear to us, Subjected to the merciless rage of uncentrouled
despotism ? or, are any of us at a loss concerning our
duly in this day of general distress, let us repa r to the
graves of our keeping forefathers; let us cohfult their
venerable manes upon this momentous occasion ; would
they not, if it were pofljble, re-animate their intombed
dust, or burst forth from their glocmy caverns, and point
to those wounds they received in securing the country
which gave us birth, from the inhuman depredations of
their faithlefs enemies? would they not recount the nu
merous perils to which they were expeled, in crossing a
wide ocean ; the hardships, and almost insurmountable
difficulties, they encountered in every form ? would they
not with a degree of noble indignation upbraid us with
ingratitude to them, and want of spirit and manly reso
lution, in cruelly hesitating one moment, to defend, and
secure to our pofteafy, what cost them so much blood
and treafuie? let us cloath our faces with .an ingenious|
blush forour criminal indifference; let us drop a grateful [
tearin tribute to the memory of men, the very relation
.es whose disinterested exertions, and unparalleled fuffer-|
ings, should be fufticient to inspire us with an heroic §
ardour in the glorious ehterprife of transmitting to our|
children, those sacred rights to which we ourselves werej
born; let as fly to the only means left for our defence,
and (wear to those venerable shades, that their sons will
never disgrace their unsullied manes with the execrable
epithetof Slave. Butif these confederations are^ not fuf
ficient to inspire us with fortitude and resolution, there
arc still higher motives which cannot fail to unite us in
this noble struggle. We are engaged, my fellow soldiers,
in the cause of virtue, of liberty, of God. For God's
fake then let us play the man ; for God's fake let us
neglea no requisite precautions, to fruftrate the cruel
attempts of our remorseless foes; for God's fake let us
encourage regularity and good order in the army, by pay
ing implicit obedience to the commands of our officers ;
let us confider the importance of discipline, and the]
terror which the exadeft uniformity in performing the }
military manoeuvres generally Strikes upon the most ,
experienced enemy.
What rendered the Spartan army the glory of the|
Grecian empire, and caused even Xerxes the Great to 1
tremble, but that hardy mode of discipline to which they I
were from their infancy, by the law of Lycurgus, habitu-1
ated? what, but an unreServed confidence of the Roman 1
soldiers in the abilities of theircommanders, enabled theml
to conquer anilluftrious Hanada/^ what, but an unremit-1
ted attention to the art of war, procured them the empire 1
of theworld, by wresting it from the handsof the Grecian I
•warriors^ what, but - neglect of this, rendered them an|
easy prey to their Savage neighbours ?---In fine, these are the §
neceflary artifices, by which the glory of the Britifb arms
has extended to the most distant Shores :_Let Americans
catch that beautiful regularity, and hardy form of disci
pline, which Brians, through debauchery and effeminacy,
are losing ; let us not confider these matters as of little
importance; they are absolutely necessary in a funding
army, of the greatest importance in amilitia; we may hope
then that the latter will, by the wi@om of our senators,
be immediately put under proper regulations, since their
afliftance may be rendered indifpenfibly necessary in any
emergency ; let us be epnflant in attending our duty, and
in guarding our lines, that we may be ready at all times !
to repel our eneray. Though they may not perhaps ven-!
tore without the reach of their cannon, yet they willl
doubtless endeavour to plunder our pastures, to Satisfy
theirhunger, as in the week past; and we cannot be too
vigilant in our endeavours to frustrate them; let us refolye
to follow our officers to an honourable death, or a glori
ous victory ; at worst, it is only dying a few days Sooner
than we otherwise Should ; it is only losing a few days of
a devoted life ; if we live to conquer, we gain our free
doom and reap the fruits of it. Our cruel enemies have
forced us to pass the rubicon, we have begun the noble
work, and there is no retreating ; the Kin^of Britain has
proclaimed us rebels. The Sword is drawn, and the lcab-.
bard must be thrown away ; there is no medium between
a glorious defence and the most abject Slavery ; if we fail|
in our endeavours to repel the aflaults of tyranny, we are |
to expe& no mercy : the brave but mifereble Corfcans mayj
Serve for an example of the unrestrained ravages of en-1
raged despotism. On the other hand, the States of Hol-|
tod supply an infiance of happiness and glory, procured I
by a noble fland against absolute power; we would notb
wiffi for the absolute independance of the latter, would !
our inexorable oppraflors but listen toour just complaints;j
but, at all events, we are determined n*t to Submit to a |
fyfy of tyranny,little inferior to that flavijb tbarldbm in 9
which the fubje^s of the Turkijb Sultan are held. Our|
enemies have ridiculed our courage and military Skill, but
by dear bought experience they have been convinced of their
error, they'are obliged to Submit to the mortification of
being confined within a few acres of land, miserably fed
upon a beggarly pittance of half flarved animal food. V,e
arc driving them from our forums in the Weft, our pri
Advices we;e received a few days ago, from Colonel
Arnold, bv which we learn, that be had entered the
country of Canada and met with a friendly reception
from the inhabitants; and that there was the faireft
profpea of his being very soon in quiet pofleffion of
Quebec.
Last Thursday the noted Dr. Church, Sometime since
detected in attempting to carry on a traitorous correspon
dence with the ministerial rebels in Boston, was carried
from this town, under a,ftrong guard, and conduced to
the interior part of the country.
Williamsburg, November 10.
We hear, from very good authority, that the minifteriai
Squadron loft twenty-one of their complement in their
late attack upon Hampton, besides the seven prisoners
who were taken..
he North-Carolina people, it is said, are ready to
i n us at a moment's warning, their forces being all
iiplete. Some people fay, that fix hundred of them,
under Col. Howe, are not far from a certain borough, to
be ready to join any of our troops that may be Sent te
that place.
Yesterday. about one o'clock, the King Fisher sloop of
war, and three tenders, came up to Burwell's terry, and
sent off a bpat to beard a final! vessel lying- near the Shore,
but the boat's crew being fired upon by the rifle guard
Rationed at that place, they immediately tacked about,
and made for the Ship. The Ship and tender's then began
a heavy cannonading, and one fix pounder went through
the flore-houfeat the water fide ; many of the Shot like
wise hit the ferry-houfe, in which was a large family.
Providentially, however, hoperfon was hurt, either then
or about three hours afterwards, when they began a
second cannonading, and fired three or four broadsides.
They now lie before the ferry, and have not dared since
to come near the vessel in (here.
On Saturday last 70 fine riflemen arrived at the camp,
under the command of Captain Fountaine. The fame
day came in too minutemen, from Chefterheld, and
companies have been arriving almost every day since,
WILLIAMSBURG, November 13.
The tenders which came up to Jamestown
the week before last, being hindered by our
rifle-men from burning the ferry-boats at that
place, went down the river, and in the night
destroyed the boats at Mulberry-Island, and at
Hardy's, on the opposite snore, where there
was no notice of their arrival, and conse
quently no opposition. And laft^Thurfday, a
large schooner, and two sloops, carrying small
cannon and swivels, failed up to Burrell's fer
ry, under convoy of the Kingfisher, Captain
Montague; and coming to, in line of battle,
abreast of the ferry-houfe, .warehouse and
boats, hailed a small boat which lay at anchor
about 300 yards from the Shore, ordered her
along fide of the man of war ; but ten rifle
men,' who happened to be Rationed near this
place, marching up to the bank, as near as
they could get to the boat, ordered the Skipper
to stay where he was. Upon this the man of
war fired at the boat, to enforce her orders,
which so frightened the Skipper that he would
willingly have obeyed ; but the rifle-men also
firing, their superior metal prevailed. The
man of war then sent off a barge to bring her
off, which, as soon as within reach of our
rifles, was so warmly fainted that She thought
proper to row back with precipitation, having
loft, as was thought from their falling down,
three men ; upon which a smart cannonade
ensued, but luckily did no other execution
than fending a fix pound ball through both
sides of the warehouse, very near W some of
our men, and several struck and buried in the
bank under them. Soon after, the man of
war made a second attempt to take the boat;
but the rifle guard having received a reinforce
ment of ten men, it proved as ineffectual as
the firft, for the barge, on receiving a smart
fire, was immediately called to the Ship. Thus,
by the bravery of a mere handful of men, the
ferry-boats have been preserved from destruc
tion ; and the boat in dispute still remains
where it was, and where our people ordered it
should stay. These 20 brave fellows declare
they want no assistance, if even all the men on
board the Ship and tenders should attempt to
land, provided they come on ffiore fairly be
fore them, and not land at several places, too
far above and below them at once.
Nro. 14. Last night, the man of war and
tenders, leaving our men in possession of the
boat, which they brought close into the shore,
moved up to Jamestown, but made no attempt
to land any of their men, and still keep out
of the reach of our rifles. This day they
received , a reinforcement from Norfolk, in a
tender which was sent down on Sunday night
for that purpose ; however, Capt. Green, with
some of his rifle-men, and part of a minute
company, are ready to receive them.
Nov. 15. Last night, a boat full of men at
tempted to land near the place where two rifle
centinels were placed by Capt. Green, on the
Jamestown beach, about half a mile below the
Captain and his men. The centinels imme
diately challenged them, but received no an
swer, upon which they fired at the boat, then
about 50 yards distance, and one of them ran
off to Capt, Green, to bring him to the pl^ce,
c^rgee^of proving j
arturcs'' thefeas, where we least experie^ luc-
In fine, we arc fa,plying ourselves with every
thing neretfary to support the war. New schemes of
economy are inventing, and I doubt net butWe ffiali find^
our calamities, in a ihort time, considerably alleviated, if
not by foreign trade, yet by indufiry and frugality, whic^
arc making luch rapid progress throughout the coritinen
A,proving Heaven has hitherto foiled upon almost ev^ry
enterprize. Though fiom a natural affection to our
mother country, and a retnaance to the eftufion of hu
man blood, we quietly fullered the enemy to take pos
session of, and fortify the tewn of Boston, yet they can
boast no advantages which they have acquired by their
arms, except one dear boughtfpot, which, by hipcriority of
numbers, they -with difficulty obtained. A tew more
noble exertions, my brave fellow soldiers, a few more spi
rited struggles, and we secure our liberties ; a rew mere
fuccefsful battles, and we are a free and happy people ;
we will then retire to our families, and whilst we are re
galing ourselves with social feftivity, entertain our lifton
ing children with the fatigues and dangers to which they
owe their freedom ; and shew tha fears of the honorable
wounds we received in the field of battle; happy the man
who can boast that he was one of those heroes that put
the finishing stroke tp this arduous work ; in serenity may
he pass his future days, and when fatisfied with life, and
expiring under the smiles of an approving confcier.ee, be
queath the ittefimable patrimony to bis grateful children.
Cambridge, Nov. 14, 1775. " SOLDIER.
CAMBRIDGE, November 23.
finds ^e boat r fire and was
priding on them. The other centinel loaded
again and fired, the boat still rowing on till
within 20 yards of th- ^ ore, when he dischar
ged his rifle a third ipen which he heard
a terrible ihrieking on ^rd, and found that
. ey tacked about and made off ; so that, be
fore Capt. Green could come up, this brave
fellow had rcpulfed, a beat crowded with men.
Nou. 16. 7 bis dav Serjeant Kelly was sent
from the camp at Cu' am with the account
of the affair at Princeh Ann< He crossed a
little above where the man of war and tenders
lay, who fired several shot at 1 ^n, but luckily
got fafe ashore with his dispatches. This
Kelly is a brave soldier, and was the firft man
that boarded the tender taken at Hampton.—
The man of war likewise fired a few shot at
Col. Travis's hoafes at Jimeftown, one of
which went through the kitchen chimney.
Dr.' Thomas Walker, one of the gentlemen
appointed by the convention to treat with the
Indians, is returned to this city, and informs,
that all the different nations who attended the
treaty are peaceably disposed; notwithstanding
the endeavours of several persons from Fort
Detroit to set them against this colony in parti
cular. Mr. Walker has brought with him a
young Indian (son of the famous Bawbee) to be
educated at the college;
Nov. 17. Colonel Henry received an express yesterday
morning, with the following intelligence, viz. That Lord
Dunmore having received advice that about 200 of the
Princess Anne militia, were on their march to join the
troops defined for the proteaion of the lower parts of the
country, marched from Norfolk last Tuesday about one
o'clock P. M. with about 350 men, confining of regular
soldiers, bailors, run-away negroes, and tories, to intercept
them; who, not having the least intelligence of his
lordfllip's approach, were obliged to engage, under every
disadvantage, both as to the enemy's superiority in point of
number, and the situation of the ground, being hemmed
in by a fence. Our people fought a configurable time, and
it is thought did great execution, but were at last over
powered, and forced to retreat, with the loss of Mr,John
Ackifs, in the minute fefvice, killed on the foot; and
Cel. Joseph Hutchings, and one Mr. Williams, wounded,
who were taken prifonets, witQ^ven others. —The
public, no doubt, will be exceedingly incensed, on finding
that Lord Dunmore has taken into his service, the very
feum of the country, to assist him in his diabolical
fchetr.es, against the good people of this government, all
well attached to his Majesty, but mortal enemies to his
infamous ministry and their subordinate tools ; but it is to
be hoped,Lis fphereof mifehief will soon be circumscribed
within ' narrow bounds, as Col. Woodford, with about
800 as brave troops as the world can produce, are now on
their march to Norfolk, and, should his Lordship incline
to give them battle, we have not the smallest doubt will
give a very fatisfaftory account of him.
PHILADELPHIA, November 29.
On Saturday last the GENERAL ASSEM
BLY of thio Province adjourned to the Twelfth
of February.—During the Sellion, an ad was
passed for the Relief of fix insolvent Debtors.
Extras of a Letter, dated Prcfyed-Hill, Novem
ber \zth, 1775.
“ It is with great pleasure I inform you the
rifle regiment has, at length, had an oppor
tunity of Shewing both our friends and enemies
what mettle we are made of. On the 9th
irritant, between izand 1 o'clock, about 4 or
500 of the enemy embarked in 20 boats near
Charleitown, and landed on Litchmore's Point,
within about 400 yards of a 20 gun ship, when
the tide was uncommonly high, and the point
become an island: Here a few centries were
placed, and we kept our horses under a small
grass guard ; the distance from Boston about
three quarters of a mile.
“ Colonel Thompson and Colonel Hand
were both in Cambridge, at Head Quarters,
on business. The alarm that the regulars were
coming out, flew through the camp, our regi
ment were under arms and run off to the alarm
poll in an infant ; I immediately applied to
General Green for leave to march, but the
General said the tide was so high, it would be
impoflible to get into the point, as it would
take us over our heads in the causeway: this
the General was assured by an officer born and
bred in the neighbourhood. In the mean time,
Col. Thomson and Major Mifflin arrived, and
the Col. got, or rather took leave to march,
and pushed on through thick and thin to the
causeway, where he got firft with about ten or
twelve officers and men, and drove the enemy
off who were nearell. I then brought up the
regiment in regular two deep; we had then
run and trotted through mud and water, about
three quarters of a mile. The Colonel imme
diately took the causeway at the head of the
regiment, up to his middle in water. We
soon got through and fmined on the other fide.
The enemy at this time were behind a number
of stone fences, and were covered by an
orchard, and hedges on an eminence : The
Colonel divided the Regiment, in order to
take the enemy in flank on right and left : he
gave Col. Hand the left division, and himfelf
and I took the right: we marched up on an
opencommon, within one hundred yards of the
stone fences, and then gave the Indian halloo
and run up, but behold the cowardly dogs,
tho' greatly superior to usin numbers, had fled
and took to their boats; we pursued as far as
the water would fuffer us and fared away, they
had got almost out of our reach ; however,
two of them have since been found drifted
ashore at the point. In a few minutes we had
a verv heavy fire from the cannon of the twenty
gun fliip, which lay with her broad fide to us,
within four hundred yards ; she threw balls
and grape shot alternately. We had a pro
digous cannonade from a battery near Char
leltown, and from Bunker's- Hill, and although
the cannon were exceedingly well served, and
the balls flew among us as thick as hail for
about an hour and an half, through the good
ness and protection of Providence, not one of
us were hurt, but a private in "pt. Lofs's,
who I hope will recover.
“ We flayed until they had done firing;
andthen came off at our leisure. Lis observ
able, that above ten regiments wer^ much
Rearer die causeway than ours, and never
ventured to turn out: a few companies, aid
some straggling brave men followed some time
after us. The causeway was exposed to the
cannon from Bunker's-Hill.—The General;
Washington, Lee, &c. were witnefles to the
whole affair, from the citadel on ProfpeG.
Hill. They, as well as the other officers pas
high encomiums on our behaviour. Colonel
Thompson, and his gallant officers and men,
are thanked by his Excellency in public orders."
Extract of a letter from an officer of diftinflion in
the American frmy near Boston, dated Novi 1;.
" A guard in my division has just taken two
prisoners from Bunker's-Hill • three deserters
are come into Roxborough. They tell us that
four or five tranfpofts are just arrived in the
harbour, but that the rest are beating off the
coast. If so, they have a blessed time of it,
for the north-easterly storms have been violent,
and without intermiflion. We may, perhaps,
strike the fame motto that Queen Elizabeth
did, " Affiavit deus et diffipantur." The Con
gress have now a noble field to display virtue,
liberality and ancient leroifm. Methinks I
fee Fabricius mounting a rostrum in Canada,
proclaiming by the found of the trumpet,
Liberty to the People. I am sincerely
rejoiced that my friend Montgomery is the
conqueror. Apropos. We had a skirmish the
other day on Litchmore point, with General
Clinton and a body of his myrmidons. Co).
'I hompfon and his riflers acquitted themselves
most nobly. Our friend MIFFLIN played the
part of himfelf—that is, of a HERO."
By a gentleman from Maryland, we learn,
that on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
fe'nnight, about 1200 men mustered under
arms at Snow-Hill, Worcester-county, Mary
land, and took up a great number of Tories in
different parts of the county, and confined
them in gaol: fix of the principals they sent
last Monday to the Committee cf Safety, at
Talbot. We are also informed, that nopeople
ever shewed a greater spirit than the people of
Worcester, in purging the county of these
evil mifereants.
His Honour the Governor having received
a cornmiffion from the Testamentary Guardian,
of the son and heir of the Hon. Thomas Penn,
Esq; deceased, one of our Proprietors, re
appointing him to the Government of this
Province, and the Counties on Delaware, fat:
out yesterday for New-York, to qualify to his
Commission before his Excellency Governor
Tryon.
Last Friday Lieut, James Smith Symes was
released from confinement, and ordered by the
Honourable Continental Congrefe to reside at
Trenton, on his parole of honour.. We hear
that Captain Campbell is still to remain under
close confinement.
Last Friday evening, a person coming into
town from Bucks county, was flopped on the
Frankford road, near the Three-Mile-Run, by
two men, who robbed him of three half-joes,
two half-crown bills, and some other Imall
money.
NEW-JERSEY.
A Message from his Excellency Governor FRANK
LIN, to the ASSEMBLY convened at Burlington.
Gentlemen,
AS I understand that there is now a fufficient number
of members met to proceed on business of every
kind, proper for your confederation, I am to lay before
you a requisition from his Majesty. It is contained in a
letter, which I have lately had the honour of receiving
from the Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth, one
of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. His
Lordship writes thus
“ I enclofc an order of his Majesty in council, ap
" proving an a& for striking one hundred thousand
" pounds in bills of credit, and directing the mode for
“ finking the fame."
“ The very great attention which has been shewn to
" the wishes of the province, in the allowance of the
" loan act, is an evidence of his Majesty's gracious
“ inclination to give them every indulgence that can conjift
<c avitb the true principles of commerce and the constitution ,
“ and I beg leave to assure you, that no part of my duty
“ is more agreeable to me than carrying into execution
“ these gracious intentions of my Royal Master."
“ At the fame time, I am commanded by the King t®
<c fay to you, that it would have been more agreeable to
" his Majesty, if the Aftmbly, instead of a general
<c appropriation of the interest of the loan to the fupporc
“ cf government, in such manner as shall be directed by
“ future a&s, had thought St to make a settlement,
" during the. exigence if that loan, upon the eivil officers
"of government, of falariesmore suitable to tbeir refpeaivte
" offices, than tvbat they nra receive; and to appropriate a
€< Specific portion of the said intercity to building boufes
" for the rfider.ee of the Governor and the meeting of tba
" Legfature, of which you fay there is a fhamxful want.
" Such an appropriation is nd more than what they owe
“ to the dignity of tbeir otvn government and bis Majfly'^
" jufi expeffatiens; and, therefore, it is his Majesty's
" pleasure, that you do require the Assembly, in hia
“ Majesty's name, to make such provilion accordingly,
" trusting that they will not make such an ill return to
“ his Majesty's grace and favour, in the confirmation of
“ this law, as not to comply with so juf amdreafonable <
“ Requisition.”
I shall net, Gentlemen, so far hazard the giving you
offence, as to suppose that any arguments can be requisite
to persuade you to a compliance with his Majesty's desire
and expectations in this ref,e&; mere especially as the
mode for raising the money does not require any tax to be
laid on the inhabitants of the province, and will, if
adopted, most probably be the means of establishing a
a precedent that may render all taxes for the future support;
of Government unnecetTary. You must likewise be
fully sensible, that as the King has manifested such
confidence in the legal representatives of the people, it
cannot but be their interest as well as duty, particularly
at this time, to convince him that that confidence is not
miiplaced. Besides, luch repeated declarations have been
made to his Majesty, that he might always have the:
firmeft reliance on the compliance of his fubjeds in thia
colony, with every reafenable requisition in their power,
and this being so evidently of that nature, I cannut
entertain a doubt of your being happy in having so good
an opportunity of demonstrating that you mean youz
actions Should ever correspond with your profusions.
Wm. FRANKLIN.
Burlington, Nov. 21, 1775.
Choice old COAT BEAVER,
To be SOLD by
JOHN ROBISON,
At JAMES COBHAM's,
On the Albany Pier, in New-York.