The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-25 00:00:00, page 2

Meffr.s. BRADFORD,
lAMI AM deeply affected ro find the reluctance with which ma
ny of mi principal people receive the plan of a bugle le
gillature. I coufefs I never was fully in the measure myfu't;
but d ft üßing my own judgment in a matter I preinmed
others had better cordiJereH, 1 ^as contented to wait till
feme trial of the expedient would prove whether it was ah
im rovement or not. I now fee die very experiment will
be mfchievops if s>t fatal.,l
The Science of govefamertt is undoubtedly as fubiime and
tint mate as any tubje# the human mind can employ its
th eights upon. To endue! the affairs of a communitv in a
fife and fucccf ful way, :equines all rhe v,ijd>m of the nioft
learned and experienced members of the flare, as well as the
v:wilan6e and particular attention c# s he peculiar deputies of
the whole people. It is for this cause a compound form of
government h^s generally had the elogiumsof the bed wri
ters num Thucydides down to the present day. But a more
particular c-iftih i< this/ The body of the people in; the
county arc farmers, men of a moderate e^ucatio'd, polled
of common Icofc, anti few of them much read in the higory;
laws or politics, cren of their own, not to mention other
Rates, from whose rises, revolutions aqd detentions the foeat
land.narks of legillaticn and government arc taken. To pre
vent their being burthem <I ^i<h taxes, to tutnith livings for
holts of placemen and >%fione;s, which a government of
great men would soon fiddle them with, & proper number of
gird Jians from the* own cTfs is ihdupcnfably nectffary; mid
to this body ire wrfdom of ages has conrosi ed the care of
the people's phrfeThio, Now. though drefe common far
mers aem-ne inserted and inclined to keep off uuneceffary
taxes, than the learned and great men; who might rhorc pro
b/biyenjoy a feeling of them, yet in matters where all arc
alike concerned, the wisdom and 10-efight of pcToes, who
lice a long acquaintance with the hiflory and manners of
manidol ihein.ercfK, prejudices, views and cmne&ions.ofi
out own countrymen, and all others we may or firmed be al
lied wth, raulf without a doubt be extremely iuteteffiug co a
CCminunity.
The affairs of a' large Bate Ire many and important. The
laws, ordinances and regulations ought to be grounded on the
stable principles of h&wal and politic law, and as well as
potable adapted to rhe habits and innocent prepoffihlit .4$ of
tin people. Regularity anJ a good discipline should be aim
ed at m every Nation arid fruition' of life, but how few are
there to be found capable of bringing large bodies of men in
to a decorous m >de of behaviour towards eath other. Men
buried with the common concerns of rural or mercantile life,
cut hardly find Icifure to acquaint themfeives with all, he re
qubites, which tender men judges of the expedience or danger
of every article proposed to form a code of laws. Nmhing
can more cmbarraG a people, rmking render them more leri
gious aid unhappy than an incoherent, implicate and dif
cordautfvQem of jurisprudence. The best aflembly of farm
ers, merchants and mechanics (considered limply as filch) that
could be picked out of the united (fates, would hardly We
equal to the talk of framing one regular digest.
Some answer to this, can we not put the wife and learned
man into rhe ITufe of Affembiy, as well as into a Legdlanva.
Council ? and Ihall we not have all the benefits of hri great
talents in dm one case that we ftiouldin the other ? f an Aver by'
no means ! The" ieglNature, ih which there may probably be
on* hundred members, will ata moderate estimate con:ain ten
to fifteen such mho as would be chosen Councillors ; a few
hands become pleaders, (peakers or. managers io leg flarive
as well as judiciary counts, and though fourteen of the h gheft
foppofed number might easily penetrate the scheme of the
ipeaker, y it it might (and probably too often fails out) that
having much credit in the house, and a perfect knack at ap
plying himfeff to paffioa, prejudice and interest, he might
carry any queflion he pleased, of which none but his eqrials
bad a tolerable comprehension ; whereas were the great man
gier of tropes, figures and dissimilar parallels, to throw out
his rhetoric in the (mail company he would be heard with
distaste and answered with contempt.
The people at large, as well as those who are, and
ever ought to be, the guardians of their purses, are gener
ally honest. All political writers ascribe integrity to plebe
ans, i. e. commons; wisdom to Senators, men better educat
ed in the general aid particular history of mankind. Ano
ther important consideration in favour of a Leghlative Coun
cil is, that the honed countryman, in his deliberations, is
always guided by what appears RIGHT to him, never
weighing so critically the probable consequences of any
proposed measure. The contemplative and well informed
rcvife r of laws may allow it to be abftra£tly right, but to
tally in xnedient.
Final y I am fully of opinion, that a wife, difereet and
well inftruard body of men is as necessary to pass laws, as
another set of men learned in them, is to explain and apply
them, for if there be a great want of learning in their
compilation, all the learning in the world will be non
plufd to make them (peak the fame language throughout,
in defea of which, initcad of being a jafe coftle, they will
become a pitta! and a firare.
A Legdlaive Council, behaving as may rationally be ex
peded, will command the refp^a of the people, give a
firmnefs to the government ; and what is of some import
ance, avoid fufyicious ionovarion and deviation from the
mode that has long pleased mankind, that now pleases all
our fitter dates, and has so many powerful partizacs a
ruoog ourfelvfs, that in no other question upon ghe proposed
form are the friends of free and equal government so much di
vided.
I conclude with observing that in the few hints I have
here hastily thrown out, I have candidly fuggcfted what I
think important to the public. I wilh for nothing but a
cool confederation of the merits of the cause. If I am
right, I wish my country may be benefited by the publi
cation of my sentiments ; if wrong I hope the other fide
the question will be set in so clear and strong a light that
J may have the pleasure of acknowledging myfelf a con
vert to the better opinion.
Magnus amicus Senates, magnus amicus Plato,
Major vero Veritas.
ryHR E American vessels were brought in here yeflerday
I by two of the cruizers, which they took just before they
reached the hay of C diz They are laden with corn, flour,
&c. and are valued at about 20,00®1. Oa board of one of
th fe v ffeis, which had eight carriage guns mounted, were
two American merchants, laid to be men cf property ; the
maure f the hufidefs they were going up a we cannot tell;
however, just before Che was tak-n they put a fmah packet
®f letters into a canvass bag wi h some ihot of fix pounders,
which bey threw overboard, and funk it immediately; we
understand there are numbers of veffi Is, fr im i§o, to Up
wrds of 30.0 tons, now on their voyage from different ports
ir America, to Cadiz, which in all probability "in be
taken, the Admiral having Rationed all the voxels he can
GIBRALTA R, M & , 18.
DEMOPHILUS.
fort to cruize for them: One of the frigates an this station
is conftantyc. zing off the entrance of C d,z 3% I oat it
will be very diffic lit if not inpotiibie for them to efeape.
Lisbon, M.r 18. The Capr. ot a Fcoch v-ffcl is arrived
here with the news that the F ulon and Bi 1 fq'uadron hrv*
joined, and that the Spanish squadron from Cadiz, comma d
€d by Dm Michael Garton, failed on the 25 Uor May, to
j inthele'wo. We know not their defti a 1 in but the or
ders sent to our different p r rtsfor battening toe mriiary pre
partitions making thetc have been r oewed.
Ma, 14. The King is now pertly re-cftablifhed in his
health.,
Marfilles, June 2. Commerce is carried m n be r e with a
great d'car-of activity, and it teems as if it received iocrai d
Vigor hum' be reports that atefnead of aa. I' na^ured
tha th l E gifli wih heir colonies w r ! fdva Te to a gen-a!
war between the maritime powis. It i<, dr^ ^y are
not on', arming at Toulon and B'reff, but also tba. thoili % ns
have a ready bwen comra ted in America. Some pnons
pretend that the Spanish (Let has pig-fled ir&lt of Jamaica;
but this important new> has iced of cootirmareft
Parts, June (3. We hear that by fdrr ot the court fit-ten
m aof war and eleven frigates are hnig out at & diff rent
dock-yards of this kingd 'm. The g uc. al opil n s,hat
this 'armatnen' -s defined to be in readin L againff any ev nt
that may concern ^ur colonies. Iwo frigates tailed !o>uc
days ago tor ,ouifenlemcaits In America.
Hfo, J^ 17 Ar port prevails here of some very b. -a
ordinary neW, trom the north, which will alto.iih all
Europe, bill the particulars arc riot known to the public.
L O £..D' O'N
foe 4'. The Han. Capt. Wald grave ^ appointed bv the
L rds of the Admiralty, Cap'. T bis Majesty's ^P R"p
pon, of 64 guns, onboard which ship S<r -Iwjid Vern r n is
to hoist his br^ad pe d&nt, bou-d to th ^ d-lndrs.
June ^. When all the troops that arc ^ne out arrive
in America, it is (aid that the %,4 IStandard is to be boil
ed in three different parts of the country, wnen.it is
ffi'mgkr,. many thoufaud people, fraud's to government,
finding thcmfeiv.es like<y to be web foppored (who were
aiiaid before to declare themfeives) will flock" to it
On Sa ufday lift his Majesty came to town when ,t was
dulk from R chmond, and without any at endants but his
footmen, on account of the dispatches rec. ived front Artik
rica, (0 very anxious was he for the -irws..
AugliQus said, give me my legions' Varus! Another An
guftus will perhaps fay, ye evil Ctronfehors give me m,
colpui.cs. t ,
By letters lately received ' from Vice Admiral Young, dated
al Antigo'*, the 3d of March and from Vice Admi alGryton,
dated at Jamaica the 28 h of tha $ month, t< hkewife cp, cars,
that the ci differs under the command of the former, bid teiz
ed 26, and these under ihe^ommaud of the litter g/drips a^d
Bedels, either belonging to or employed in carrying on a
trade with his Majesty's rebellious fubjefts in Mor h America.
The reatm that the Glasgow man of war was feut from
North-America, was owing to her being ft much damaged
by Admiral Hbpkins's armed yeff h in the late engage meat.'
She is ordered to be docked, and got ready to fail again vtiih
^il expedition,
June is. Advices from the north of Le'and fay, that the
weavers there, a auinorous and tifeful part of the people,
are in the mod diftrefrd condition, between the rents of
farms being raid d, and a ftagriation of trade, in some mca
fure owipgb> the American war.
Tie Aaron, Capr. Drinkwater, Jho is arrived at Dover
from Montfima:, with new sugars for La-ndon, brings id
vice, that all kinds of proving ns in -hat ilhod were exceed
i^g fca,cc, owing to their having no fupphes from America;
and th^ the people begin to be very muuh afraid they ihou'd
be in great wapt, unlcfs they were relieved by some Blips
from England and Ireland very foou.,
^tratl^of a freer from Plymouth, June 7.
" Arrived the Wolf (loop of war from Ireland, and his
M jlfly's Chip Glasgow from Halifax, which place she left
the xxlh of May. In the above Blip came paffepgers Sir
James Wright, Governor of Georgia. The Gerberus man of
war, with two regiments, is Ailed from Halifax for Quebec.
Anridft the Ihout of joy that has been raised on the appear
ance of the Extraordinary Gazette, it confirms one melan
choly circuniftance, which ought to be attended to by ad
miniftratibn in the midst of their tranfyorts, which is. it
clearly proves that the Provincials are not Poltroons, but
that, on the contrary, throughout the whole of the firge of
Qj-bec, and the retreat (however they might have been
overpowered by numbers, and rhe fuccour of the fleet) they
left no enterprize, however daring, unattempted. 1 his no
abating principle of courage, therefore, difleminated through
out three millions of people, is, and ought to be of serious
confiderarion, as such courage so exerted, though in o ; e or
two inff Prices it might fail, bids fair in the end for success..
We arc aflnred that the fird toast a great perf^nagc gave,
after tis return to Kew from the Review on Monday iaft,
was. “ Gen. Carlton, and his brave forces at Quebec."
This morning ten fail of transports tell down the river to
Gravefend, having taken in part of their lading, co filling
molly of provition, for the use of the droops at Quebec.
Yeftef^y four hundred horses were ferat down to fortf
m^uth from Whitechapel, to put on board tome very large
Blips there, fitting up with Bills for the purpose of carry
ing them to America.
Juneiß. Several American gentlemen, who have fold
their elates in that country and retired, have assured Lord
George Germaine, that if the King's troops can in the course
of this.campaign secure all Canada, the track of the Ohio,
and Lakes, with Crown-point, and the adjacent country,
the rebels will be kept in such e^nftant alarm on their rear,
and so injured by the men of war at sea, that they will sub
mit in the following winter.
According to letters received in town from Paris we are in
formed, that the Dutch Ambassador has had frequent confer
ences with the French Min'ftcr, relating to the views and in
clinations of the colonies; .the answer he received on offering
the point of negotiation we have not yet been made acquaint
ed wih, but by the frefh orders for augmenting the troops in
France, and fi ting cut Blips; we are to luppofe that he has
met wirhTuccefs.
Chelsea H fpital, which for feme time past, only appeared
by its inhabitants as an alms-house for old men, now looks
ind ed like a military hMpital, there being above two hun
dred invalids lately admitted into it, some of whom have no
.arms) some 1,9 legs, and others but one leg or arra. .
Letters from Jamaica mention, that they were fitting out
fevetal Blips cf force, and loading them with rum for Ire
land. to exchange for provifioos, so that they may have a
fufficient quantity in future, and which have been very much
wanted all over that Island.
And federal flops that have arrived here from Jamaica are
gone into dock, and are fitting out with the greater expediti
on, to return with proyifions.
Extraß cf a letter from Cadiz, Ma, ss..
" The ,th inllanta squadron of clean men sf war and fri
June if. T' is Blowing new cloatb e ': four tbeufo
foldiei, was 'flapped off from the Tovr on bo^rd die u^
ports hound to America, who are ordered ennd to Put
mouth :o join the fleet there.
June 29. Yefterduy at te. ''clock cane on ir -the Corn
of Common pleas, before the Right K -•. 1 ' 'Cotef Jufric.
De G?ev, and a fp-cial jury, .he cai-^ i ^l c > S--
Sayre. Esq; was plaintiff, aed th- R'< H-m Lord R\l
ford, defendant. The aiftion was fe dull rd faMemr
prifonment, in comm tt?ng the plats t rtl ^ tew r, urn
the information of Adjutant Ric> rdfon. fob treafetfabi
plattices. At four o'clock the jury - hdrv tor force ra:
when they returned in: 'c u.t with a rdic, -°nr the pl#n
with 10001. damages, ful, & to tho opinion of the court
comm n pleas upon two points of lav.
Yeftevday at twelve o'clock an expiefs arrived at the A
miraltv with advice that a fleet of F.och men if war, und
the command cf a Vice Admiral, were fa led from I ouk
for the Weft Indies.
Extras of a fetter from Corke, lune 17.
" Last nigh a fleet of foreign flops of war failed p
the Cove, the Urgeß of ^hich, fuppoud to be a flag fhk.
carried a light in her main-top, and 'ikewife three in Pt
lanterns. They are g ne to the fornhward"
Lord Shelburne, the M 'quis of Rockr %m, Lord Can
den, and ftveral other he els of the oppofi ion, have had
meeting, in order te concert measures during the summer t
a political union. Hitherto the fevera! partie, of which th
minority ceufiks, have h«d no fort of Cement, except dt
iog the meeting of parliament.
Lord Hofborough, i is (aid, has been offered the lieute
ancy of Ire and, but has declined hat honour.
The Three Sift rs Ord, from Ancona, fays, that he f#
just without he Gut of Gibraltar nine faji of large fhi,
crazing iff hat pace, which he takes to be the French fk
Oue of .htdi he believes meant to 'fpek with him, butl
Blip keeping her couri, and night coming on, he fuppm
the Frenchman put ab ur as he law no more ot them. T
days after he saw two French frigates, who, by the coup
thev fleered, seemed to belong to the above Squadron, a
were going to join them.
All the accounts received both from the Windward a
Leeward Islands agree that they very fcveiely feel the eff
of the prefect disputes with America, and not only in
fpe& 10 provisions, but alio to calk, which their piefent hr
crops render extremely necessary for 'bem.
This morning upwards of t^onhoitfard tons of (birr
were taken up into government Service, and ordered to
got ready with the greater expedition.
Extract of a letter from Pertfracutir, June 18.
" Yefteiday came into harbour from Spithcad, several lit
transports, to take on board the remains of Burgoyne's by
horle, which began embarking this morning.
" The transports with the firft division of H'ffians a
Brunfwickexs binder convoy cf the Garland, P arfou and
mazon, Jacobs, got clear of the hand y, ftrrday, mb
now a fair wind to proceed on their voyage 0 North-Am
rica. The transport having on board the vemait.s of th?
reign troops, Brtifh troops, and 'ieht-horfc, wrh the '.
Ihips and vidua^er,, under convey of the Diamond, Fix
iog; Unicorn, Ford; Lark, South; Daphne Hemy;-
down to St. Helen's, where they are to wait fm the icon
der of the horse Blips, (which it thought will he ready
Monday) and then proceed or . heir voyage."
%/y2 Yetkiday at the final close of he poll at Gui
hall, 'n* Chamberlain, the numbers c rj, for Mr. kb
kns 2869 ; for Mr. Wilkes 1071 ; Majority lox Mr. H
kins 1196.
gates, failed from,th : s port ; they were immediately joined
bv a Fienc sq - Joii,,bat brongh too off he bay,and made
a Geoal fm tht above purpole, when they failed together,
w h a fab wind for the Weft Indies.
June 2,0 1 ethers from Hamburgh mention, that every ffiip
wh cb arrived there from America with flour, wheat, &e. is
very acc-pab e, and th; America, slave in re urn whatever
they ch: ofe, and are encourage d to continue to trade with
tha port.
On Saturday last 40 060 sacks for earth, 4000 flirts for
officers, 10 000 sh rsfai private men, &c. w c repnt on boa-d
2 tanfpon at r h< Tower, and are t fail with all expedit era
t? Quebec being so: he use of the armies under the com,
roand ot Gru, Burgoy eardGiCarleton.
Extras f a letter from Pertfmouth, June 16.
" Yeftrnday upwards or ten flops, lately taken into go
vernment fcrvicc, ari- d at Spirbdad, which with the meet
of war. and other traof orts, consist of upwards of too fail,
and are ail ready to fail for America, as foot ias they receive
O'T rs,. ~
Sevcll Blips me fitting,out in the river, and loaded en
ti/dy wjfh.ptovifioni for the supply of the Plantations in the
Well T diet .
Ixfaß of a letter from Chatham, Tune 17.
" jalde/ Breit n, Esq. it appointed 'o the command of
Bis Mafrft,'s Stp Ftnibioke,. of 60 guns iww fitting out
wuh ri : grtateft expedition at this port, to serve as a huk iB
Ameri&i. . . . ,
June x,; A valuable sword (if fuch,a thing can be) made
fo' th P. of V, bring lately brought home, he ordered it to
belaid by, faying, the prefect political fyflem afforded nt
agitable id aof hc~ifu,.
L Extra" of a letter from Pw fmoutb, June 19.
,", Yesterday fix transport,, having t^ken on board draught
hotfes, went out of the halinur 0 Spithead, Where they re
main with the r ,eß of die ,ranfp rn."
, June 22. On Tuesday Th ns Oliver, Esq; Lieutenant
Governor of Maffaghufett's-Bay, arrived in town from that
place, but lad fit mi Halifax, and yesterday he delivered to
Lord,George Gcpainu, f^6difpatches from the Governor
Tire 48 h and §0 h regimemf of foot are ordered home from,
the Weft-Indies, ,an< lth 6§th from North-America.
Lord George Germac thefts .be prcugaivesof bis office
in a much more peremptory Pale than any of his predeceflos
Hi has carried it i? the cab det bv a great majority, for the
war being entirely tiansfredjo Canada.
Let,. rs from Waferfor^ brifig advice, that fcveral families
arc arrived there from Halifax in a (loop they hired for "tin
purpose.
The Betty, &uce, from Ba^badoes, is arrived at London
derri, in hopes of tak ng back with bins a freight of pint,
fions, the inhabitants being, when the (hip left Barbados
i a ftarying condition; bur 4 the Captain': great ftr prise h
found I e'and so mpch drained, that he cou dn t get any a
that pot, and was obliged to ra |for another.
T^e fpi, b of fieri,), our armed' Blips for government f?vh^
is greatly encouraged both in the winclwid and kew,^!
iflindr, and a very good reason is assign 0f ^ it—the prize
furnilhihem with th cornmodifes they Pairi in re d of.
Capt. Charles Douglass, of the Isis. ah. 2<riv d io criri
cally at Quebec, after paffi .g through a mod dang< rots nav
gatipo, is appointed a C.mu dost.
Y fterday mining General Burgoyne's Lght Hori:
march d frcrtrGq?dtord to Portfmouh : in order for bl
eniba kaorn for America