The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1778-11-02 00:00:00, page 1

PROCLAMATION.
To the Members of the Congress, the Members of
the General ffemblies or Conventions of the
federal Colonies, Plantations and Provinces of
New- Hampfeire, Maffachujetts-Bay, Rhode-
Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerfy,
Pennsylvania, the three lower Counties on De
laware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina,
South-Carolina, and Georgia, and all others,
free Inhabitants of the said Colonies, of every
Rank and Denomination.
By the Earl of CARLISLE, Sir HENRY
CLINTON, and WILLIAM EDEN, Efr,
Commissioners appointed by his Majefly, in Pur
suance of an Aft of Parliament, made and
paged in the 18th Year of his Majesty's Reign,
to enable bis Majefly to appoint Commissioners to
treat, consult and agree upon the Means of
quieting the Disorders now subsisting in certain
of the Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces in
North-America.
HAVING amply and repeatedly made known to
the Congress, and having also proclaimed to
the inhabitants of North-America in general, the
benevolent overtures of Great-Britain towards a re
union and coalition with her colonies, we do not
think it confident either with t^e duty we owe to our
country, or with a just regard to the characters we
bear, to persist in holding out offers which in our
estimation required only to be known to be most
gratefully accepted : and we have accordingly, ex
cepting only the Commander in Chief, who will be
detained by military duties,refolved to return to Eng
land a few weeks after the date of this Manifefto and
Proclamation.
Previous however to this decisive step, we are led
by a just anxiety for the great obje&s of our mission
to enlarge on some points which may not have been
Efficiently understood, to recapitulate to our fellow
fubjeXs the blessings which we are empowered to
confer, and to warn them of the continued train of
evils to which they are at present blindly and oblti
natefy exposing themselves.
To the members of the Congress then, we again
declare that we are ready to concur in all fatisfa&ory
and just arrangements for securing to them and their
reflective constituents, the re-eftabffhment of peace,
with the exemption from any imposition of taxes by
the Parliament of Great-Britain, and the irrevocable
enjoyment of every privilege confident with that
union of interests and force on which our mutual
prosperity, and the fafety of our common religion and
liberties depend. We again assert that the members
of the Congress were not authorized by their consti
tution, either to reject our offers without the previous
consideration and consent of the several assemblies
and Conventions, their constituents, or to refer us to
pretended foreign treaties which they know were de
lusively framed in the firft instance, and which have
never yet been ratified by the people of this conti
nent. And we once more remind the members of
the Congress that they are responsible to t! sir coun
trymen, to the world, and to God, for the continu
ance of this war, and for all the miseries with which
it must be attended.
To the General Assemblies and Conventions of the
different colonies, plantations, and provinces, above
mentioned, we now separately make the offers which
we originally transmitted to the Congress ; and we
hereby call upon and urge them to meet expressly for
the purpose of considering whether every motive, po
litical as well as moral, should not decide their resolu
tion to embrace the occasion of cementing a free and
firm coalition with Gieat-Britain. It has not been,
nor is it, our wish, to seek the objects which we are
commiffiqned to pursue by fomenting popular di
visions and partial cabals; we think such conduct
would be ill-suited to the generous nature of the offers
made, and unbecoming the dignity of the King and
the State which make them. But it is both our wish
ard our duty to encourage and support any men or
bodies of men in their return of loyalty to our So
vereign, and of affection to our fellow-fubje&s.
Toall others, free inhabitants of this once happy
empire, we also address ourselves. Such of them as
are actually in arms, of whitfoever rank or descripti
on, will do well to recollect, that the grievances, whe
ther real or supposed, which led them into this rebel
lion, have been for ever removed, and that the just
cccafion is arrived for their returning to the class of
peaceful citizens. But if the honours of a military
life are become their object, let them seek those ho
nours under the banners of their rightful Sovereign,
and in fighting the battlesof the United British Em
pire against our late mutual and natural enemies.
T< \thofe whose profeffion it is to exercise the
funXions of religion on this continent, it cannot fure
lv be unknown, that the foreign power with which
the Congress is endeavouring to cornea them, has
ever been averse to toleration and inveterately opposed
to the irterefts and freedom of the places of worship
which they serve; and that Great-Britain from
whom they are for the present separated, niuft both
iom the principles of life Qnftitution and of pre-
Monday, November 2, 1„8/
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
lib. 6 oz. for 14 Coppers, and in the fariie
Proportion for Loaves of a lesser Weight.
JAMES ROBERTSON, M. G.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour ar 355. per Cent.
Published February 2, 1778.
N E W-Y ORK
AND
WEEKLY
MANIFESTO
AND
Containing tbe eatlieft Subice#
0 Printed by HUGH GAINE, at the BIBLE and CROWN, in HANOVER-SQUARE.
teftanitfm be at all times the belt guardian of religious
liberty, and most difpeftd to promote and extend it;
Toall those who can estimate the blessings of p^ce
and its influence over agriculture arts and Commerce,
who can feel a due anxiety for the education and
establishment of their children, or who 'can place a
just value on domestic Security, we think it fufficient
to observe that they are made by their leaders to
continue involved in all the calamities of war without
having either a just obje& to pursue, or a subsisting
grievance which may not instantly be redressed.
But if there be any persons, who, divested of mis
taken resentments, and uninfluenced by felfifh inte
rests, really think that it is for the benefit of the
colonies to separate themselves from Great-Britain,
and that so separated they will find a constitution
more mild, more free, and better calculated for their
prosperity than that which they heretofore enjoyed,
and which we are impowered and disposed to renew
and improve; with such persons we will not dispute
a position which seems to be fufficiently contradi&ed
by the experience they have had. But we think it
right to leave them fully aware of the change which
the maintaining offuch a pofitioh must make in the
whole nature and future condu& of this war; mere
especially when to this position is added the pretended
alliance with the court of France The Policy as
well as the benovolence of Great-Britain have thus
far checked the extremes of war when they tended to
distress a people still considered as our fellow-fubjeas,
and to desolate a country fhorWy to become again a
source of mutual advantage : But when that country
profeffes the unnatural design not only of estranging
herfelf from us but of mortgaging herfelf and her re
sources to our enemies, the whole contest is changed;
and the question is, How far Great-Britain may by
every means in her power destroy or render useless a
connexion contrived for her ruin, and for the aggran
dizement of France. Under such circumstances the
laws of felf-prefervation muff direst the conduft of
Great-Britain, and if the British colonies are to be
come an acceflion to France, will direst her to render
that accession of as little avail as possible to her enemy.
If however there are any who think that notwith
standing these reasonings the indpendence of the co
lonies will in the result be acknowledged by Great-
Britain, to them we answer without reserve that we
neither possess nor expeft powers for that purpose ;
and that if Great-Britain could ever have funk so low
as to adopt such a meaftire, we fhctuld not have
thought ourselves compellable to be the instruments
in making a concession which would in our opinion
be calamitous to the colonies for whom it was made,
and disgraceful as well as calamitous to the country
from which it is required. And we think proper to
declare that in this Spirit and sentiment we have regu
larly written from this continent to Great-Britain.'
It will now become the colonies in general to call
to mind their own solemn appeals to Heaven in the
beginning of this contest, that they took arms only
for the redress of grievances, and that it would be
their wish as well as their interest to remain for ever
connected with Great-Britain. We again afK them
whether all their grievances, real or supposed, have
not been amply and fully redressed; and we insist
that the offers we have made leave nothing to be wish
ed in point either of immediate liberty or permanent
security : If those offers arc now rejected, we with
draw from the exercise of a commiflion with which
we have in vain been honoured ; the fame liberality
will no longer be due from Great-Britain, nor can it
either in justice or policy be expe&ed from her.
In fine, and for the fuller manifestation as well of
the disposition we bear, as of the gracious and gene
rous purposes of the commiflion under which we aft,
we hereby declare, that WHEREAS his Majesty in
pufuance of an aft, made and passed in the eighteenth
session of Parliament, entitled " An aft to enable
his Majesty to appoint commissioners with fufficient
powers to treat, consult, and agree upon the means
of quieting the disorders now subsisting in certain of
the Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces of North-
America" having been pleased to authorife and im
power us to grant a pardon or pardons to any num
ber or description of persons within the Colonies
Plantations, and Provinces of New-Hampshire,
Miffachufetts Bay, Rhode-Ifland, Connecticut,
New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three
lower counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia
North Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia; And
WHEREAS the good effects of the said authorities and
powers towards the people at large, would have long
since taken place, if a due use had been made of our
firft communications and overtures, and have thus
far been fruftrated only by the precipitate resolution
of the Members of the Congress not to treat with us,
and by their decling to consult with their constitu
ents ; We now in making our appeal to those consti
tuents and to the free inhabitants of this continent
in general, have determined to give them what in
our opinion foould have been the firft obje& of those
who appeared to have taken the management of their
interests ; and adopt this mode of carrying the said
authorities and powers into execution. We ac
cordingly HEREBY GRANT AND PROCLAIM
A PARDON OR PARDONS OF ALL, AND ALL
MANNER OF, TREASONS OR .MISPRISIONS OF
TREASONS, BY ANY PERSON OR PERSONS,
OR BY ANY NUMBER OR DESCRIPTION OF
PERSONS WITHIN THE SAID COLONIES
PLANTATIONS, OR PROVINCES, COUNCELL
Monday, 19 Min. after 7
Tuesday, 8 Min. after 8
Wednesday, 59 Min. after 8
Thursday, 55 Min. after 9
HIGH-WA PER atNEW-YORK, this Week.
&^^^
Friday, 49 Min.after 10
Saturday, 50 Min. after 11
Sunday. 51 Min. after 1
Full Moon on Wed.
THE
And we think proper farther to declare, that no
thing herein contained is meant, or fliall beconftrued
to set at liberty any person or persons, now being a
prisoner or prisoners, or who during the continuance
of this rebellion shall become a prisoner or prisoners.
And we offer to the colonies at large, or separate
ly, a general or separate peace, with the revival of
their antient governments secured against any fu
ture infringements, and protefled forever from tax
ation by Great-Britain. And with refpeft to such
farther regulations, whether civil, military, or com
mercial, as they may wiih to be framed and eftablfh
ed, we promise all the concurrence and assistance that
his Majesty's commission authorifes and enables us
to give.
And we declare that this Manifefto and Proclama
tion shall continue, and be in force Forty Days
from the date thereof, that is to fay from the third
day of October, to the Eleventh Day of November,
both inclusive.
And in order that the whole contentsof this Mani
fefto and Proclamation may be more fully known we^
shall direst copies thereof both in theEnglifh and Ge
rman language to be transmitted by Flags of Truce to
the Congress, the General Assemblies or Conventions
of the Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces, and to
several persons both in civil and military capacities
within the said Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces.
And for the further security in times to come of the
several persons or numbers or descriptions of persons
who are or may be the objects of this Manifefto and
Proclamation, we have set our hands and seals to
thirteen copies thereof, and have transmitted the fame
to the Thirteen Colonies, Plantations, and Provin
ces abovementioned, and we are willing to hope that
the whole of this Manifefto and Proclamation will be
fairly and freely published and circulated for the im
mediate, general, and most serious consideration and
benefit of all his Majesty's Subje&s on this Conti
nent. And we earnertly exhort all persons who by
this instrument forthwith receive the benefit of the
King's Pardon, at the fame time that they entertain
a becoming sense of those lenient and affectionate
measures whereby they are now freed from many
grievous charges which might have risen in judge
ment or have been brought in question against them,
to make a wife improvement of thefituation in which
this <lanifeito and Proclamation places them, and
not only to recollect that a perseverance in the present
rebellion, or any adherence to the treasonable con
nexion attempted to be framed with a foreign power,
will, After the present grace extended, be considered
as crimes of the most aggravated kind, but to vie
with each other in eager and cordial endeavours to
secure their own peace and promote and eftabliih the
prosperity of their countrymen and the general weal
of the Empire.
And pursuant to his Majesty's Commission we
hereby require all officers civil and military and all
others his Majesty's loving fubjeXs whatsoever to be
aiding and affixing unto us in the execution of this
our Manifefto and Proclamation and of all the mat
ters herein contained.
G I EE N at New-York, this Third Day of
October, 1778.
CARLISLE (L.S.)
H. CLINTON (L.S.)
Wm. EL-3N (1..5.)
By their Excellency's Command,
Adam Ferguson, Secretary.
ED, COMMANDED, ACTED, OR DONE, ON OR
BEFORE THE DATE OF THIS MANIFESTO
and Proclamation.
And we farther declare and proclaim, that if any
person or persons, or any number or description of
persons within the said Colonies, Plantations and
Provinces, now actually serving either in a civil or
military capacity in this rebellion, fhal), at any
time, during the continuance of this Manifefto and
Proclamation, withdraw himfelf or themselves from
such civil or military service, and shall continue
thenceforth peaceably as a good and faithful fubjeft
or fubje&s to his Majesty to demean himfelf or
themselves, such person or persons, or such number
and description of persons, shall become, and be;
fully entitled to, and hereby obtain all the benefits of
the pardon or pardons herebygran,ed ; excepting only
from the said pardon or pardons every person, and
every number or description of nerfons, who, after
the date of this Manifefto and Proclamation, shall,
under the pretext of authority, as Judges, Jurymen,
Ministers, or Officers of civil Justice, be instrumental
in executing and putting to death any of his Majesty's
fubje&s within the said Colonies, Plantations and
Provinces.
From the Pennsylvania Packet, of Odober 17.
May it feleafe the Congress,
IWAS ordered to these frontiers at a'cri
tical time—Wyoming settlement was
totally destroyed—The inhabitants on
the Weft branch of Susquehanna were
driven from their habitations, and
many women and children murdered or car
ried into captivity.
With the little force I had under my com
mand, we have endeavoured to lend every aid
and assistance possible to the distressed people.
Wheat per F„?.tl, izs. od.
Flour, 356. od.
Brown Bread, 6os. od.
Well-lndia Rum; ss. 6d.
New-England do. 4s. od.|
GAZETTE:
THE
MERCU R Y.
PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
.iMufcovado Sugar; ^, i os ,
[Single refin'd ditto, is. gd.
IMolafes, 6d.
:Beef per Barrel, £l. od.
[Pork, 81. ios°.,
foreign ano DcmeßtcL
On the morning of the 21st, at 4 o'clock,
we marched from Muncy with the force I have
.mentioned; we carried two boxes of spare
ammunition, and twelve days provision.
In our route we met with great rains; and
prodigious swamps, mountains, defiles and
rocks, impeded our march—we had to open
and clear the way as we passed.
We waded or swam the river Lycoming, up
wards of twenty times. I will not trouble
your honourable body with a tedious detail.
I have the pleasure to fay, our men surmount
ed all difficulties with great resolution and
fortitude.
With volunteers and others, we reckoned
on 400 rank and file for the expedition, besides
17 horse, which I mounted from my own
regiment, under the command of Mr. Carbury.
Our rendezvous was Fort Muncy, on the
Weft branch, intending to penetrate by the
Shefhecununk path to Tioga, at the jundion
of the Cayuga with the 'main North East
branch of Susquehanna, from thence ad ^
circumstances might require.
The troops met at Muncy the 18th of Sep
tember. When we came to count and array
our force for the expedition, they amounted
only to about 200 rankand file. We thought
the number small; but as we presumed the
enemy had no notice of our designs, we hoped
at lead to make a good diversion, if no more,
whilst the inhabitants were sowing their grain
on the frontiers.
We have the pleasure to think we have done
some good, could we have been more ufeful
we should still be happier.
About 400 militia came up from Lancaster
and Berks counties—long preparing—long on
their march—impatient to remain a moment
after their two months were out, they soon
left us.
With a frontier from Wyoming to Allega
ny, we were sensible, the few regular troops
we had could not defend the necessary posts.
We thought (if it were practicable) it would
be best to draw the principal part of our force
together, as the inhabitants would be in no
great danger during our absence, and make a
stroke at some of the nearest Indian towns,
especially as we learned a handsome detach
ment had been sent into the enemy's country
by the way of Cherry valley; we were in
hopes we fnould drive the savages to a greater
distance.
On the morning of the 26th, our advance
party of nineteen, met with an equal number
of Indians on the path, approaching each
other. Our people had the firft fire; a very
important Indian chief was killed and scalped;
the rest fled.
A few miles further we difeovered where up
wards of 70 warriors had lain the night before,
on their march towards our frontiers. The
panic commuicated, they fled with their bre
thren.
No time was loft ; we advanced towards
Shefhecununk, in the neighbourhood of which
place we took 1; prisoners, from them we
learned that a man had deferred from Captain
Spalding's company at Wyoming, after the
troops had marched from thence, and had given,
the enemy notice of our intended expedition
against them.
We moved with the greatest difoatch towards
Tioga, advancing our horse and some foot in
front, who did their duty very well, a number of
the enemy fled before us with precipitation—lt
was near dark when we came to that town, our
troops were very much fatigued, it was im
possible to proceed further that night.
We took another prisoner—Upon the whole
information we were clear the savages had
intelligence of us some days—That the Indi
ans had been towards the German Flats, had
taken 8 scalps, and brought off 70 oxen, in
tended for the garrison ofFort Stanwix—That
on their return they were to have attacked Wy
oming, and thefetilements on the Weft Branch
again—That they were commanded by young
Butler—That neither Col. Morgan nor any
other person had attempted to penetrate ino
the enemy's country, as we had been given to
underftahd; and that the collected force at
Chemung would be upwards of 500, and that
they were building a fort there.
We also were told that young Butler had
been at Tioga a few hours before we came ;
that he had 300 men with him, the most of
them tories dressed in green; that they were
retired towards Chemung, twelve miles c$
Fine Salt, gg # gg
CoArfe Salt, is. o d
Indian Corn per Bu. 7s. od
Coffee, is . 9 d
Chocolate, 265. per Do
[No. Wil