The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-20 00:00:00, page 3

they took fire immediately and the fire spread with
amazing rapidity. It is now become general, and
the whole town will, [ doubt not, be consumed, in
a day or two Expecting that the fire would throw
us into confufion, they frequently landed, and were
every time repulled, I imagine with loss, but with
what loss I cannot tell. The burning of the town
has made several avenues, which yesterday they had
not, so that they may now fire with greater cffe&.
The tide is now rising and we exped at higli water
another cannonade. I have only to wish it may be
as ineffectual as the last ; for we have not one man
killed, and but a few wounded. I cannot enter in
to the melancholy consideration of the women and
children running through a croud of Ihot to get out
of the town, some of them with children at their
breads: A few have, I hear, been killed. Does it
not call for vengeance both from God and man? It
is but justice to inform you, that I had the plealure
to find every officer ready to execute orders at a
moment's warning, and that the men behaved with
steadiness and spirit. Col. Stevens went down at
my comm md, and headed some men near the wa
ter, where he engaged a party who had landed,
with the spirit and condud of a good officer. Of
'my friend Col. Woodford it is almolf needlel's to
speak, but I cannot avoid expressing, that I received
from him every assistance which conduct and spirit
could give me."
Yesterday were brought to this city, from the
Great-Bridge, Lieutenant Batut and five or fix pri
vates of the 14th regiment, who were at the late
battle at that place ; also several Tories, tailors, and
negroes, prisoners, in the whole about 30.
Thursday the 21st ult. in Lancaster county, a ne
groe fellow was tried and tound guilty of Iheep
ftealing; he was sentenced to be burnt in the hand,
but instead of faying God save the King (is is usual
upon ftich occasions) he roared out, with the greatest
seeming sincerity, " God d—n the King,——and
the Governor too."
Yesterday afternoon an express arrived from York,
with intelligence that two topsail vessels, and one of
a smaller size had hove in fight, which were fufped
ed to be two men of war and a tender, coming up
to cannonade that town; upon which Capt. Giblon,
with his Weft Augusta boys, were immediately or
dered to reinforce the troops Rationed there, and
prevent any of Dunmore's hell-hounds from land
ing to set fire to the houses. Many gentlemen vo
lunteers likewise went troth this city, to assist their
brethren of York; and our worthy Delegates, then
fitting in Convention, formed themfeives under that
old intrepid warrior Col. Andrew Lewis, for the
protection of the city. Capt. Gibson had marched
but a little distance from the town, when he was
met by Col. Henry, from York, with the agreeable
intelligence, that the two large vcffcls were one a
provision vessel from Cork, deep laden with beef,
butter, potatoes, &c. the other from the Grenades,
loaded with rum, tugar, and several other necessa
ries, and the Imall vessel the brave Captain Barron,
carrying them up the river, out of the reach of the
men of war.
CAMBRIDGE, Janury 4.
On Wednesday, the We^k before last. Major-Ge
neral Lee set out for Rhode-lfland: He was attend
ed from hence by his guard and a party of rifle
men ; and from Providence, by the cadet company
of that place, and a number of minute-men He
entered the town of Newport the Monday follow
ing, preceded by the cadets, his guard, and the
riile-inen. While there, he called before him a
number of obnoxious persons, to whom he tender
ed an oath of fidelity to the country, which was
taken by all except, Col. Joseph Wanton, jun.
Nicholas Lechmere, and Richard Beale, two cus
tom-house officers, who refuied taking it ; upon
which they were put under guard, and brought to
Providence. The General after having viewed the
isl tnd, and given directions tor erecting iome forti
fications, set out for Providence on Wednesday,
from whence he came to town on Saturday last.
We hear that a Gentleman is arrived at Boston
from the Mole, who fays that VaR preparations for
war are making there by the Spaniards ; and that
Jamaica is their immediate object.
N E W-Y ORK January ig.
Captain Daniel Van Vorhis, in a sloop belonging
to Philadelphia, failed from Santa Croix, for this
port, the iith 01 October last, and got in thirty
fathom water, in lat. 39 and a half, but having
sprung his mast and boom, meeting with a violent
gale of wind, and being short of provisions, was
obliged to bear away for the Weft-Indies, and arri
ved at St. Eußatia the 14th of December, with only
four bifeuits on board, and not one piece of meat.
Wednesday last the ship Sampson, Capt. Coupar,
failed lor London having on board the following
cabbin paffemgers, besides a considerable number in
the steerage, Mr. and Mrs. Plenderleith and family,
Mr Rogers, late of Charleftown in Massachusetts-
Bay, General Dalrymple, Henry Kelly Eiq; Mr.
James Rivingt'on, Lieut. Moncrieffe, Lieut. George
Robinson of the navy, Mons. Orilliard of Canada,
Colonel Glazier, and Mess. Mawleds.
We are fold, by a gentleman who lately left
Lisbon, that an account of the late hurricane at
Newfoundland was received at that place last No
vember, and that he was allured of the truth of
that matter by a master of a veftel that was at the
land when the gale come on.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 20.
By an express from Canada we learn that in
storming the city of Quebec, Gen. Montgomery
was unfortunately killed, upon which the Provin
cial Troops were immediately drawn off The
particulars of this affair the printer has not been
able to colled from any other authority than ex
tracts of letters, but as they differ much, it is tho't
proper to wait for more certain information. Our
loss is not so great as has been reported. Capt.
Jolin M'Pherfon, junr. is amongst the fl tin.
On Sunday last Col. Kirkland was brought to
town from Cambridge, under a guard, and on
Monday was committed to jail. This man was a
ringleader of a gang of Tories in the back parts of
South-Carolina; from thence he went to the Vir
ginia Negro Chief, who sent him to General Howe,
at Boston, in a tender, which was taken by Captain
Manly, in the Lee privateer. In the fame tender
was taken Mr. Robiufon, and Captain Matthews of
Virginia, whom Dunmore was fending prisoners
to Boston, under the guard of the above Colonel.
These gentlemen arrived in town also on Sunday
night, having in their turn had the plealure of es
corting Colonel Kirkland.
The Tamer (on board of which is Lord Wil
liam Campbell, late Governor of South-Carolina)
having taken a sloop for Bermuda, with two hun
dred and sixty halt Johannes, the property of a
house in Charleftown, the Convention granted the
injured an order to fell as much of his Lordlhip's
goods and chatties as would repay the money stolen
from them; on - which they fold his coach, horses,
&c. and have wrote him word that they have a
balance of thirty pounds, which they are ready to
pay to his order.
The Rev. Mr. Daniel M'Cauley is appointed
Chaplain to the firft battalion of the Pennlylvania
regulars.
In COMMITTEE of SAFETY, Jan. 27, 1776.
Such persons as are willing to ereCt Powder-mills
in this province within fifty miles distance of this
city, are desired to apply to theCommittee of Safe
ty, who will lend them Money on security if requir
ed for that purpoie, and give them other encou
ragement. Extraft from the Minutes,
Wm. GOVETT, Secretary.
On Wednesday last Thomas M'Cormick, labourer,
and Archibald Taggart, watchman, of this city,
were found drowned in the Dock. Tis supposed
they fell in by accident. M'Cormickhad beenmiffing
several days
The following is a copy of Dr CHURCH ? s much
talked of traiterous letter to a miniJierial officer in
Boston, dated July 23, 1775.
" I hope this will reach you; three attempts
have I made without fucceis; in effecting the last,
the man was difeovered in attempting his elcape,
but fortuA itely my letter was tewed in the waitt
band of his breeches; he was confined a few days,
during which time you may guels my feelings, but
a little art and a little cash fettled the matter. 'Tis
a month since my return from Philadelphia. I
went by Way of Providence, to visit mother. The
Committee for warlike dores made me a formal
tender of twelve pieces of cannon, eighteen and
twenty four pounders. They having—to a previ
ous resolution to mike the offer to General Ward.
To make a merit of my services 1 sent them down;
and when they received them, they sent them to
S ougton to be out of danger, even though they
had formed the resolution, as I before hinted, of
fortifying Bunker's Hill; which, together with the
cowardice of the clumsy Col. Gerriffi, and Colonel
Scammon, were the lucky occasion of their defeat.
This affair happened before my return from Phila
delphia. We 101 l one hundred and fixty-five killed
then, and since dead of their wounds, one hun
dred and twenty now lay wounded, the chief will
recover. They boast you have fourteen hundred
killed and wounded in that action. You lay the
rebels loft fifteen hundred, I suppose with equal
truth.
" The people of Connecticut are raving in the
cause of liberty. A number from this colony, from
the town of Stamford, robbed the King's Rores at
New-York, with some small abidance the New-
Yorkers lent them. These were growing turbulent.
I counted two hundred and eighty pieces of can
non, from twenty-four to three pounders, at Kings
bridge, which the Committee had secured tor the
use of the colonies. The Jerfies are not a whit be
hind Connecticut in zeal; the Philadelphians exceed
them both I law twenty-two hundred men in re
view there by General Lee, confuting of Quakers,
and other inhabitants, in uniform, with on thou
sand riflemen, and forty horse, who together made
a most warlike appearance. I mingled freely, and
frequently with the members of the Continen
tal Congress. They were united, determined in
opposition, and app eared allured of success. Now
to come home; the opposition is become for
midable; eighteen thousand men, brave and deter
mined, with Washington and Lee at their head,
are no contemptible enemy. Adjutant-General
Gates is indefatigable in arranging the army. Pro
visions are very plenty. Clothes are manufacturing
in every town lor the soldiers. Twenty tons of
powder lately arrived at Philadelphia, Connecticut,
and I rovidence. Upwards of twenty tons are now
in camp. Saltpetre is made in every colony; pow
der mills are ereCted, and conftahtly employed in
Philadelphia and New-York. Volunteers of the
firft fortune are daily flocking to the camp; one
thousand riflemen in two or three days. Recruits
are now levying to augment the army to twenty
two thousand men. Ten thousand militia are ap
pointed in this province to appear on the firft sum
mons. The bills of all the colonies circulate free
ly, and are readily exchanged for cash. Add to
this, that unless some plan of accommodation takes
place immediately, these harbours will swarm witli
privateers. An army will be raised in the middle
provinces to take possession of Canada. For the
lake of the miserable consulted. empire, solicit
peace, repeal the a&s, or Britain is undone. This
advice is the result of warm affection to my King,
and to the realm. Remember I never deceived,
every article here feht you is iacrcdly true. The
papers will announce to you, that I am again a
member for Bolton. You will there fee cur mot
ley Council.
" A general arrangement of officers will take
place except the chief, which will be impended but
for a little while, to fee what part Britain takes in
consequence of the late Continental petition. A
view to independence grows more and more general.
Should Britain declare war against the Colonies,
they are loft forever. Should Spain declare against
England, the Colonies will declare a neutrality;
which will doubtless produce ah offensive and de
fenfive league between them. For God's fake, pre
vent it by a ipeedy accommodation. Writing this
has employed a day. I have been to Salem to re
connoitre, but I could not elcape the geese of the
capitol. To-morrow I let out for Lev-port, on
purpoie to fend you this^ I write you fully, it be
ing scarcely pollible to elcape dilebvefy. lam out
of place here by choice, and therefore out of pay;
and determine so to be, unless something is offered
in my way. 1 with you could contrive to write me
freely in cypher, by the Way of New-post, addres
sed to Thomas Richards, merchant, inclofe it in a
cover to me, intimating that I am a perfed Granger
to you as a gentleman ol honour, you took the li
berty of tnclofmg that letter, intreating me to de
liver it as directed ; the perlon, as you are informed,
being at Cambridge. Sign some fiditious name.
This you may lend to fume confidential friend at
Newport to be delivered to me at Watertown.
Make use of every precaution, or I perish"
Anecdote of the Young Marquis of Granby.
h^HE following annecdote is laid to be a" fad,
I and has been tlie lubjed of much converlation
at many genteel tables lately, and which created him
many encomiums :--Being at Court a few days ago,
the K-— , after retiring and conversing with him
some time, said, " I am now convinced that your
brave father is dead; had he been living, he,would
have eff dually chastised my rebellious' fu bjeds in
America before this time."To which, it is laid,the
Marquis made the following reply: “ Sire, I am
afraid my father would have objected to an Ameri
can expedition ; he never was ambitious of shewing
his bravery, but against the enemies of EnMiffimen."
cfocfe^ocfocfocfocfec* ocfocfo4efo^-^^xfccfcc^xfo
A NEW EDITION of
COMMON SENS E,
I'juJl publijbed and now Selling by ROBERT
BELL, in Third Jirect, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia ff. "
WHEREAS, in purfuahce of ah ad of general
assembly, of the province of Pcimfyivania,
an attachment hath been granted by me the sub
scriber, one of his Majefty'sjuftices of peace, &c.
in and for the county of Philadelphia, against a
certain Samuel Samuel, late of the said county,
skin-dresser; upon which attachment, the goods
and chattels, and other effeds. of the said Samuel
have been attached. This is therefore to give no
tice to the creditors of the said Samuel Samuel,
that they be and appear, on Tuesday the nineteenth
day of March next, at the house of Edward Bar
rett, in Southwark tavern-keeper, then and there
to difeover and make proof of their demands, a
grecable to the diredion of the said aft.
Jan. 12, 1776 SAMUEL POWELi
Wanted as a Tenant,
UPO N a small plantation, near the Falls of
Schuylkill, a M A N (and his Wife) who
understands gardening and fruit trees: It contains
sixteen acres of cleared land, including a large
garden and a young bearing orchard of good fruit.
Any one who can be well recommended for sobrie
ty and industry, and is capable and willing to un
dertake the management of it, by applying to the
Printer, may be informed where to speak with the
Owner, who will agree with him upon advantage
ous Terms.
ALSO, Wanted a Man SERVANT, white
or black to attend table and do common house
work. Enquire of the Printer.
WA N TE D as ah AP PRENTICE to the
Printing Butinefs, a hearty, fti'ong. LA D
about 14 years of age. Enquire of the Printer