The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-02-17 00:00:00, page 2

The accounts whichhave been given of the
great strength of Algiers, are so man, mistakes;
by a Gentleman lately arrived at Birmingham,
from Barcelona, where he had been sometime
on business, relating to the M^ufaaures of
that place, we are assured that the fortifications
which the Moors have erefled are nothing
more than the mounds of sand, which has half
run down, soon after being thrown up ; and
that the place is not only very weak in re!pe&
of works, but the soldiery ill paid, worse disci
plined, and not half eloathed ; and nothing but
the most glaring ill conduct inGeneral O'Reilly
could have rendered the attack of the Spani
ards unfuccefsful. That the Moors exped ano
ther visit, and are themselves perfectly persua
ded that if the enemy bring good engineers,
the place mud inevitably be taken.
ExtraCt of a letter from Mantua. $
“ The Jews of this city assembled a few days
ago, in a large room up three pair of flairs, to
celebrate a wedding, and there being a great
number of Guests, the weight of them broke
down that floor, and those underneath, quite
to the cellar, by which unhappy accident 66
persons were killed, and i6or 17 dangerously
wounded. The Bride and' her Mother, were
among the former, but the Bridegroom, whose
name was Finzi, not being arrived when tut
accident happened, efeaped Sharing the fate of
his relations and friends.”
Tuesday a woman Rood in the pillory, on
the other tide of Westminster-bridge for keep
ing a disorderly house in Britannia-row near
the place where She flood ; and was severely
handled by the populace, on account, as it, is
fiid, ofhaving received money for the prosti
tution ofher own daughter.
Yesterday morning a young woman was found
dead in a corn field near Wandfiv.orth in Surry
by her pockets being turned inside ®ut, itis sup
posed She was firft robbed aud then murdered.
Tuesday two men having feme words, at a
public house in Greenwich, refpefting their
honesty, one of them took up a knife, and
Slabbed the other to the heart and then made
his escape.
Tuesday a man belonging to the Orange Re
giment of Trained bands, going along Fleet
ftreet from his exercise, to Shew his comrades
that he could difeharge his piece without blink
ing or winking, fired it off, by which means
a horse in a cart took fright, and in running
fell down, by which he cut his knees in a ter
rible manner, and was otherwise so much hurt
as to be rendered unserviceable. The horse
was valued at 301.
Tuesday morning a Shocking accident hap
pened at the dilblhhoufe of Meflrs. Edgar,
Langdon and Co. at Jaccb'swell, near Briibl.
— As fix men were filling a new large worm-tub
with water, in order to flench it, the hoops be
ing too flight for such an amazing power as was
contained therein, burst, by which accident
all the men were much hurt, one having nis
thigh brokein so terrible a manner, it is thought
he cannot recover,-- the engineer had his leg
broke so Shockingly that it was obliged to be cut
off as soon as he was carried to the infirmary;
the others were terribly bruised, and we hear
one is since dead.—The tub was to contain near
£xty thousand gallons.
Newcafle. A burglary was lately committed
at Ha^fhill, near _Corfenfide ;--Three villains
burst open the door of a house, in which were
a man, his wife, and woman servant, who lay
above flairs: They firft seized the wife, but
on her crying out, they alked for her husband,
who, it seems lay in another bed; him they
presently found, hauled on the floor; held a
pitchfork to his breast, then ransacked his
pockets of 15s. and demanded the keys to un
lock the drawers, but not finding the right
ones, they tore off the locks, and took away
about yl. in cash and notes.
ALBANY,
Committee-Chamber, January 21, 1777.
I, EVOLVED, That every person who shall
\ offer any thing for sale, or Shall fell any
thing fora less sum in gold or Silver money,
than in continental er other paper money, now
palling current in this county, Shall be conside
red as a depreciator of the paper currency and
treated accordingly, and that every person who
Shall refufe to take the fame in payment, Shall
be treated in like manner.
Ordered, that the above refolutien be pub
lished.
Extract from the minutes.
MATHEW VISCHER, Secretary.
NEW-PORT, February 6.
The Cerberus arrived here on Tuesday,
from rhe Secunnet Passage, being relieved by
the King's Filher.
One day last week, three seamen ran from
a rebel brig near Bristol ferry, and Since en
tered on board the Chatham.
Last evening the Unicorn arrived here from
New-York, which She left on Monday.
The Juno arrived this morning.
The Orpheus, and Ambufeade, are ready to
go to sea, but are waiting for 2 wind.
To tee honour of the commander in chief
in this town, we are informed, that provisions
are ordered to be iii'aed to the people in the
poor-house, the town not being at present in a
condition to support them.
From the Boston Gazette, of January 6.
By persons lately arrived from different
parts of the country, we have been repeatedly
informed of the difficulties the rebels meet
with in recruiting the continental rabble,
and excessive bounty, which had been of
fered to induce others to join this collection of
madmen. The truth of such information, no
persons will doubt, when they have read the
following Address, in which the writer fays,
that the present bounty is the greatest that has
been given by “ any State or Kingdom in the 1
World;" and, as if this was infufficieat to
I Tithe SOLDIERS in this STATE.
!Gentlemen,
I npHE mod illustrious cause that ever en-
II o-aged the attention of man, now calls
I for your assistance ; interest, freedom and glo-
Iry, all invite you to the field. Never before
I had men so m^ny and such noble motives to
i inlist in the service of their country. Ne
§ ver before was such great Bounty given by
lanyI any State or kingdom in the world ;itis as
great as you can desire, it is even beyond the
bounds of generosity, and more than your
country ought to give ; for you will ffiare
j equally in the happy consequences of inde
» pendence with these who tarry at home; but
I they will not (hare with you in the honors of
} vidorv !---They must toil more hours in pro-
Iportion to the scarcity of labour, pav heavy
% Taxes to support you in the field, endure all
I that anxiety which the patriots feels for tuis
filtering country ! and alter ail their generous
*exertions, they cannot be privileged with that
I pre L eminence in glory, to shine in the Heioic
%pa?e!---Yet they (hall be honorable in the
I eyes of all men, and fame will recora them
lin the page of immortality.
Every man fees the vast importance of com
;pleating the Continental army with the utmost
i expedition ; therefore, those who can engage
in 'the service of their country, ought to doit
without delay.—N C) W is the diftingaifhed
period which calls for exertion. Spirit and
Idecifion are the capital Springs on which the
salvation of States in our situation commonly
turn ; therefore do not watte a day in idle
hesitation, but immediately buckle on the
harness, and stand forth. The memorable
; year 1777 (long prophesied of as being preg-
I nant with the fate of kingdoms) has begun
; its mighty course; let our work keep pace
§ with time; our sentiments and conduct be
I elevated as the dignity of our cause ; and
Iwhile employed in supporting every thing
I great and good in this world, may they cen
:tre in heaven.---Then, although " the stars
I shall fade away, the fun grow dim with age,
kand nature fink in years, YOU lhal[ flourish
jin immortal youth."
A BROTHER SOLDIER.
,A Testimony from the Meeting of
§ Sufferings, held at Philadelphia, and ad
§ drfed to the People called QUAKERS.
ITo1 To our Friends and Brethren in religious pro-
Ifeffion, in these and the adjacent Provinces.
: Dearly beloved Friends and Brethren,
If\UR minds being renewediy impressed with
[& a fervent religious concern for your fpi
-Iritual welfare, and preservation in the love anj
)fellowship of the gofpcl of our Lord Jesus Christ
Ithe Prince of peace, by the conftrainings of his
I love, we arcengaged to salute you in this time
I' of deep exercise, afiii&ior. and difficulty ; ear
nestly defining that we may, by Ready circuni
fpettion and care, in every part of our conduct
/and consideration, evidence, that under the
I close trials, which are and may be permitted
I to attend us, our faith, and alliance, is fixed
ron him alone for protection and deliverance,
remembering his gracious promi e to his faith
[ ful followers. "Lo 1 am with you alway, even
§ unto the end of the world." Matt, xxviii. 20.
;And, " as it became him for whom are all
§things, and by whom are all things, in bring-
I ing many fouls into glory, to make the Captain
lof their salvation perfect through fuffiirings,"
I Heb. ii. 10. Let us not be dismayed if we are
now led in the fame path.
As we keep in the Lord's power and peace
able truth, which is over all, and therein seek
the good of all, neither outward iuffenngs, per
secutions, nor any outward thing thatis below,
will hinder or break our heavenly fellowship in
the light and spirit of Chrifc-G.Fox's Epistle,
1685.
'lhus we may with Christian firmnefs and
fortitude withdand and refufe to submit to the
I arbitrary injunctions and ordinances of men,
who affum'e to ihemfeives the power of com
pelling others, either in per on or by their af
iiilar.ee, tojoin in carrying on war and ofpre
fcribing modes of determining concerning our
religions principle, by imposing tells not war
ranted by the precepts of Christ, or the laws of
the happy conjiitution under which we and others
long enjoyed tranquility and peace.
We therefore, in the abounding of that love,
which wifteth the spiritual and temporal pro
sperity of all men, exhort, admonish and cau
tion all who make religious profeliion with us,
and especially our beloved youth,, to Hand fail
in their liberties, wherewith,through the mani
fold fuffering ofour predecessors, we have been
favoured, and Readily to bear our testimony
against every attempt to depriveus ofit.
And dear friends, you who have known the
truth, and the powerful operations thereof in
your good example and liability, labour to
Strengthen the weak, confirm the wavering and
warn and caution the unwary, against being
beguiled by the snares of the adversaries of truth
and righteousness---Let not the fear offuffering
cither in person and property, prevail on anv
tojoin with or promote any work or prepara
tion for war.
Our profeffion and principles are founded on
that spirit. which is contrary to, and will in
time put an end to all wars, and bring in ever
lading righteousness ; and by our constantly
abiding under the direction and inftrudion of
that spirit, we may be endued with that “ wis
dom from above, which is the firft pure, then
peaceable,gentle, and cafy to be entreated, full
draw their Attention, he immediately proceeds
to arrange every Motive that Imagination can
suggest. Surely, some People will begin to
imagine, that the Zeal of their difinterefcd
Countrymen begins to abate, or rather, as
every honed Man would with, that their Eyes
begin to be opened to behold the Precipice
over which they are, hovering.
The following Paragraphs were published in a
Newfoper, printed at Fish-Kill in this Province,
by which the Public may fee how an unhappy
People are and have ben deluded to their own
Deftruftion. Ihe Avenues of Truth being indu
ftrioujly barred, the Congress and their Agents
have bad the Opportunity of imposing every Kind
of Abfurdit, and Falfebood upon our Countrymen
in the interior Parts of the Provinces, beyond the
Pffbilit, of Detention : And they have Jo inceu
fed the Minds of the lower bort, that no Man,with
all the Reajon and Truth in the World on bis
Side, dared to venture upon a Contradiction,
through Fear of that unanJwerable Argument—-a
jail. Thus prepared by Inflammation infead of
Reajoning, and by Prejudice rather than Convic
tion; it is no wonder, that so many among us
\have rufeed into Riot and Rebellion, rcgardlefs
I (it Jbouidfeem) of all Confepuences to their Coun
"t try, their Families, or themfives. 'Pis to be|
l presumed, however, that a Delufon so gr<fs can-)
nct /übff long among afnfibb People,norfo injurious l
a Restraint upon Truth he fuffered long to act like \
a Fraud upon their UnderJ/andir.gs. Hundreds, l
who once were carried away by these Errors, are l
now fully convinced, that th, have beer, mos in
famoufly cheated.
" It is currently reported, that General I
“ Howe has lately proposed a cessation ofl
" arms till spring to General Washington,|
“ and that General Washington has refufedl
“ to agree to it, on any other terms, than
" that the Britife army foould immediately leave
" the continent.
" Intelligence is just arrived that a whole
“ brigade of Hessians had last week laid down }
“ their Arms, in Jersey, and were thereuponl
i*' taken into custody by the Britilh troops and
“ carried to New-York. We farther learn|
“ that General Howe's army have so long
I “ been kept out of their pay, that they grow ,
I“ veiy mutinous, and begin to desert in great
I" numbers.
" It is said that the greater part of the
“ American army will be completely eloathed
j “ with eloathing taken from the enemy, and
j " designed for the British army."
I Extract of a letter from Peeks-Kill, 21st inf.
f ---'' Fort Independance was to be invested
; " to day; the garrison, with a reinforce
" ment it has received Since our array advanced
;“ confits of 350 men, mostly of Rogers's
; " Corps, Col. W. arrived here last night from
'" Head Quarters ; he informs me, that the
“ light horse and the guards desert frequently
“ in small parties to our army; that the so
" rage and baggage of the enemy are sent to
" Staten Wand. That Mr. S. a cadet, nephew
" to Col. S. in the British army, had joined
" General Washington from a diftuft at their
;" service."
I "By late advices from France we learn,
I “ that great military preparations are making
" in that kingdom both by sea and land;
I " that the declaration of independence occa
" honed universal rejoicings, and that Arne-
I " rican vessels are received in every port in
t " that kingdom."
, "We learn the recruiting service goes on
; " briskly in this State, and that the regiments
1 " ordered to be raised in it will soon be full."
I Extract of a letter from a Gentleman who has
lately been to Long Ijiand.
I " There are two companies of Tories Ra
a" tioned at Huntington, but not a man eaR
; " ward of there, also about ten or a dozen
;“ regular officers, without any men. They
§" are billeted on the inhabitants, all of them
I “ without pay, and have plundered, Role and
§ " destroyed to such a degree that the inhabi-I
§ " tants must unavoidably Starve in a littlel
1" time for want of food. Sundry of the prin-I
I " cipal men have been beat in an unheard of
I" manner for not complying with their un
" righteous requests, particularly good Doctor 1
[“ Platt, and Mr. John Brush. The meeting-
I“ house made a Rore-houfe of. Nopublic wor-
I'• Jhip allowed of; and the good people affem
“ bled five miles out of town, to the place
I" called the Weft-Hills—they followed them,|
I “ and broke up their assembling together any
!" more."
1" This is one of the many inßances in
^'' which the iniquitous “ claim of binding us
I " in all cases whatfoever' 'has been exerted
§ " against the laws of God and man. By the
I “ great Creator we are ordered to affemblc
; " together to worship him.---. And by the ty
," rant of Great-Britain we are forbid.
;“ Horrible must the situation of that peoplel
j “ be, who are deprived of the inestimable
'" privilege of worfbipping their God and 1
I " Saviour in a manner agreeable to their con
66 science !"
" By the last accounts from Long-Island,
" we are credibly informed that after the de
“ feat of the enemy at Trenton, General
“ Howe ordered all the male inhabitants of
" Long-Island, capable of bearing arms, im
“ mediately to repair to New-York to rein
-1" force the Britilh-army; and that the women
" and children were reduced to great extre
“ mities by being there left destitute and ex
ofnercy and good fruits witnout parti^ty,
and without hypocrisy, James iu. 17, ^,t
this may be our happy experience, xs our rer
vent desire and prayer. <,.
Signed in and on behalf of the Meeting
for furrings held at Philadelphia, for
Pennfylvanla a*dNew-Jerfey,the 20th
day of the twelfth month, 177°'
JOHN PEMBERTON, Clerk.
P. S. Friends are d'efired solidly to read the
foregoing Epistle in their several meetings, as
soon as may be. It is also recommended to
Friends to read in their families, with careful
attention, the exellent Epistle of our worthy
friend William Penn, No. 21. in theyear 1678.
directed to the children oflight, &c. in the
Appendix of his life.
The Villainy and Falfebood of the above Para
graphs are' too obvious to every Person, who knaws
any Thing of the State and Conduct of Rg
jefty's Troops, or of this Ci, and Long Island to
need a Remark. They were meant for the un
happy People in the Back-Country fill in Rebel,
lion, and meant to delude them. What Abb,,
rence do Men deserve, who lead Thousands of their
Fellow-Subjects into Ruin, only for the Sake cf
gratifying some private Views of Faflim c r
Ambition !
" posed to the ravages of the troops left ft,.
" the defence of the ifiand."
“ We hear that General Howe has ht e i
“ issued a Proclamation in New- Jersey, com
“ manding all persons who had accepted ft
“ Protections, to repair to his army."
“ It is confidently asserted, that the Kin&
“ cf Great-Britain hath agreed with the P r i nc e
“ of Hesse to fend to his Highness's Princi.
“ polity as many American Tories as may be
“ necessary to replace the Hessians who may
“ be killed or taken prisoners by the Am%
“ ricans."1
&&iv&df&&ivdhtav%«,&idr4 n ^4n!r&&/nir
NEW-YORK, February 17.
A few Evenings ago, four Beats full of Men
came over from Rye to the opposite Shore on Long
Island, and carried off a Sloop laden with Poultry
and other Things for New-York Market. The Fog
was so thick, that the Guaid, which is constantly
kept upon the Shore, did not perceive them. One
Man was taken in the Sloop.
On Saturday the Sth Inflant, one of our forming
Parties futpiized a Body of the Rebels at Quibble-
Town, about fix Miles beyond B unfwick, and t@ok
the whole Magazine of Forage, &c. which they had
colle&ed at that Place. The King's Troops had
only four Men wounded in the Skirmish. They
killed about 12 of the Rebels, and t@ok one of their
Captains and 5 others Prisoners, whom, together
with a large Quantity of Farage, they brought fafe
to Brunswick.
On Monday last, the Genoa Galley, Capt. Saun
ders, arrived here from Corke, after a very tedious
Passage of eleven Weeks. He failed on the 24th of
November, with several other Victuallers, who have
arrived in the Course of the Week. Capt. Saunders
had exceeding hard and bad Weather during the
whole of his Passage.
By the last Advices from Orange County, we
learn, That all kinds of Provisions and Necessaries
are growing extremely scarce and dear, particularly
the several Species of dry Goods. Salted Pork fells
at yl. per Barrel. Salt is at 61. per Bulhel; and
scarce any is to be had even at that Price. They
have been obliged to give up their Scheme of inlifting^
Men to serve during the War, and, initead of it,™
draught the Militia (and very frequently by Foicej
to join their Army for one, two, or three Months.
In fomc Places, they have given the poor miserable
Inhabitants the dismal Option, either of taking up
Arms and joining them, or of removing from their
Possessions, with their Wives and Families, a^ only
what they can carry at their Backs with them. The
Cruelty of these Brutes shocks every Feeling of Hu
manity. Under the Pretence of Liberty, they com
mit the most savage Enormities, and perpetrate every
kind of abandoned Licentiousness. No Man dares
to express his own Opinion, err is filtered to be
Master cf his own A&ions. They do not, indeed,
tax People's Properties: But they have a shorter Way
of fettling the Matter; and that is, by carrying
every Thing clear away with them.
The Pafle-board Dollars of the Congress are now
refufed by the hottest among the Rebels themselves.
One, who was Member of a Committee to punish
those who might refufe them, was lately punched
for refuting them himfelf: And, in ffiort, every one
is putting them eff from himfelf, in Exchange for
aimed any Thing, that can be got for them.
The Convention, er Congress, confining of some
of the principal Rebels of this Province, is lately
removed from Filh Kill to Efopus. They find the
People every where about them most heartily tired of
the Rebellion. They have but little Stock, no Trade,
and less Cieciit.
Last Wednesday in the Night, a Detachment of
the Troops under Major Gordon puffed over from
Staten Island to the Cedars beyond Sandy Hoek,
and furprized a Party of Rebels, which had for
some Time past infetted Shrewsbury and the ad
jacent Country. They killed 25 of them, and took
70 Prisoners, with th^ Loss of only one Man. Had
it not been for a Midake of one of the Guides, they
lud feeured the whole Party, of whom about 50
Icampeted away.
The whole Rebel Army in the Jerfies, we hear,
does not exceed 60:0 Men.
Three Light Dragoons, employed as a recon
noitring Party near Fort Independence, were fired
upon last Monday, by a Party of Rebels concealed
in a House. One was killed on the Spot; another
was so much wounded, that he could not escape;
and the third rode off unhurt to out Lines. ,_„
John Burr, Esq; late Captain of the Milford ru
gate, was buried at Halifax on the ißih of lai'
Month. All the Officers of the Navy and Army
attended his Funeral, which, with the utual Honors,
rendered it the moil sumptuous as well as loleran,
that had ever been seen in that Town.
Many of the Inhabitants of this City have expres
sed their Fears, led the Filth, &c. left in several
Cellars and Vaults by the Rebels, Ihould occasion
some epidemical Disorder, upon the Opening of the
Spring. And we hear, that proper Precautions ate
taking to prevent any mischievous Conlequences on
that Account.
The Time elapsed since the Receipt of Advices,*
from England by the Packet, which arrived he^.
in December left, has been longer than was ever
remembered. The latest Letters by that Packet were
dated about the 21st of October.
On Thursday Night, the City was alarmed by the
Cry of Fire. Very happily, it proved to be occafion^
by a Crack in the Hearth of a new Chimney through
which theFire communicated to the adjoiningßeams,
at a Joiner's Shop near the Ship-Yards, which was
immediately difeovered, and almost as soon extin
guished. The Vigilance and Activity of the Citi
zens, who patrole the Streets in their Turn every
Night, cannot be toe much commended. It is per
haps impossible for any Thing of this Kind to
pen, without an instant Dricovery. The Peop e,
who watch the Ships in the Docks, keep likewise an
exceeding good Look-out, and fuffer none to com
near them, without a proper Examination, # kl
Sunset.
*§* An Ensigncy to bedifpofed of. For far
ther Particulars, apply to Hugh Gaine.