The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-13 00:00:00, page 3

" All the eight British regiments, viz. ninth, twenti
eth, twenty-firft, twenty-fourth, thirty-firft, thirty-fourth,
fifty-third, and sixty-second regiments, under embarkation or
ders, are defined for Canada, except the royal Highlanders,
the foot guards, and Burgoyne's light horse, which are to be
lent to General Howe—To prevent, if pqffible, a famine
among the King's troops this summer in America, every in
dividual, who is going out or. fervict with the armament under
failing orders, has fix months provisions put on board for him
fiom hence. —What an enormous expence for victualling,and
tonnageonly I—The1 —The two Generals, Carleton and Howe, are
each tu be allowed four Aid-de-Camps. Two of the Hessian
Major Generals are to he appointed by our Court Lieutenant
Generals on the American service, and to have extra pay ac-
CorAingly.— Though there is a clause in the Hefliair treaty,
that no soldier shall be fuffered to fettle in America,, without
the confeht of his commanding officer, it is generally believed
that very few will ever return ; as it is moll probable that
those who do not get their brains knocked out, will insist up
on flaying a mong-oneir own-countrymen, who have emigrated
there.
" March-28. Yesterday morning the guards detained for
America were mustered on Wimbledon common by their offi
cers, and immediately marched for Portsmouth. They had
twenty field pieces with them, and thirty waggons, which
carried all their baggage. They will arrive at Portsmouth
tomorrow. The brigade of guards, now on their march for
Portsmouth to embark for America, are to be quartered in the
barracks of that place, till the transports are ready for their
reception. All the general officers, and many others in mi
litary command in America, are, it is said, nominated as
Delegates in commission to pardon the submitting colonies.
The transports which failed with Sir Peter Parker, after they
had landed the troops they had on board, were to fail for
the leeward islands, to take in iwo regiments of foot, which
are to serve in America.. Upwards of fifteen hundred tons
of Whipping, that were taken up in the river a few days since,
in government service, are difeharged from the employ. Let
ters from Cork, dated the 19th inlt mention that upwards
of twelve fail of transports were then in fight of the Cove^
and that a man of war came in that day. The Eagle man of
war, Admiral Howe, has got no farther than the Nore yet,.
but lies there to receive seamen from the ships in ordinary
at Chatham. The Lucretia, Capt. Wilson, with recruits on
board, bound to America, is put into Fl, mouth by stress of
weather, having met with feme damage. The Woodland,
Capt. Manners, from London, with ordnance stores, bound
for Quebec, is,arrived at Portsmouth. Yesterday the com
mon cryer of, this city, attended by other officers, read, at
the Royal Exchange, and at Holborn bars, the King's pro
clamation for a farther encouragement to fallers to enter on
board the ships of war. It wa^afterwards stuck up in divers
parts of the city.
The following is the. circular letter sent to the Committees of
the different counties in this province, by the Committee of
Infpeduon and Observation for this city and liberties.
Gentlemen, Philadelphia, May zi, 1776.
WE have, in a former letter to you, referred to the in
itru&ions given by the Assembly of this province to
their Delegates, and they are published in the Votes of the
House ; you will, therefore, not be surprised to hear that the
Delegates of Pennsylvania did not give their voice in Con
gress on the question “ for eftablilhing governments through
out the Continent on the authority of the people ;" but, by
declining to vote on this momentous occasion, did, as far as
295
was in their power, withdraw the province from this Union
of the Colonies both in council and action.
By the inclofed papers you will perceive the city and liber
ties have been convened, and have expressed their sense on the
said refclve of Congress.
We judge the number of people met on this occasion ex
ceeded four thousand, and confided of that class of men which
are most to be depended on in times of danger.
A change of such importance, as that now proposed, is not
brought about without tome contest, arising from the oppofi
tibn of interests, and the force of prejudice in favor of old and
established forms. The Associators will have to contend, in
the present instance, against the Proprietaries and all their de
pendants, influenced by felf-intereft, and holding lucrative
offices under them—with all whom they can influence, joined
by, all the avowed, as well as secret enemies.of the cause of
American freedom.
It will, however, be absolutely necessary fer us to unite with
frrmnefs, and pursue our measures with a Ready perseverance,
which will undoubtedly carry us through every difficulty that
may arise.
This Committee have thought the obje& before us of such
consequence, to the fafety and happiness of the province, as
to induce us td fend some of our Committee and fellow-citizens
into each county, to incite such of the good people as are
friends .to liberty, and determined to oppose the cruelty and
injustice of Great-Britain, to a spirited and manly exertion of
their undoubted rights and privileges, in the present favora
ble .opportunity of eftablijhing them forever.
We have judged this the more necessary, as we are inform
ed the party, we have already mentioned as our opponents,
will be indefatigable in their endeavors to fruftrate, by falfe
hood and every other means in their power, every attempt
which shall be made to emancipate the people of this pro
vince from the bondage-in which they have been long held.
To . point out theteceffity, in our present alarming situation,
with tefpe& to Great Britain, of eilablifhing a form of govern
ment, capable of exerting, in the most effectual manner, the
whole strength of this province, in conjunction with the other
colonies, for the common defence, by cold reasoning on the
fubjed, would be to affront your feelings as men,—The insults.
and barbarity of our enemies are unequalled, and the supine
ness ofour government, can only be pardoned in consideration
of the fatal obligations cf allegiance, which they seem to hold
themfelyes bound to, by their sacred oaths—a supineness,
which, being continued, will involve us in distresses too
great to be born, and make our last struggles for liberty but
the convulsive efforts of expiring life.
From a free government, efiablifhed on " the authority of tb^
people," and having their interest alone in Diev;, we may reason
ably expe& the manly and effedual exertion of that strength
which God hath given us for our defence, and on which, next
to the providence of Almighty God, will depend the future
peace, liberty and f fety of the whole people.
We have, seen, and some of us have felt, the melancholy
effects arising from the opposing interests of the Proprietary
and the people—Who can recollect the horrors of the late In
dian war, and not shudder at the idea it brings to his mind.
Eire, sword, ,deflation, and death in the most infernal forms^
will be presented .to our view—Parents and children weltering
in their blood-/infants torn with savage brutality from their
mothers wombs, and made the food of dogs ! ! ! Objeds
yet more terrible than these will press upon our reluc
tant minds; objects which our fond affe&ion for the
fofter sex forbid our recollection ! Little does it
avail to inquire who voas most to blame, the Proprieta
ry or the people then in pouter — It is plain,. .beyond the