The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-26 00:00:00, page 2

refideJ at lead one year immediately proceeding the hid elec
tion in the city or county for which he than be chbfeu, and
fliall, before he takghis feat in Convention, take the follow
ing oath or allir,nation, viz.
<1 1 drdeciare that 1 do not hold m,fc!f bound to
bear albg ance to George the Third, King of Great- Britain, &c. and
.that I wid Readily and firmly at all times, promote the most effectual'
news according to the be# of mfjkill and knowledge to oppose the
tyrannical proceedings of the King and Parliament of Great-Britain
again# the American Colonies, and to cflablijh and Ju,port a govern
ment in this province on the authority of the people only, &c. that I
will opofe any mrafare chat Jhall or may in the lead interfere -with, or
'thUroß the rdigitvs principles or practices of any of the good people
of this province as heretofore enjoyed." Aifo,
Refoived, fhat.no.pcTon ehd.d to serve as a member of
Convention, (hall take his feat, or give his vote, until he (hall
have made and fubfriibed the following declaration.
« I . = do prefefs fai'oin God the Father, and
in Jesus Cbri, bis eternal Son, the true Ged, and in the Holy Spi
rit, one Ged, biffed for evermore; and do acknowledge the Holy
Scriptures of the Otd and New Testament to be given by Divine
Inspiration."
An Address and Petition from the Commanders of the thir
teen armed Row-Gallies in the service of this province, pay
ing to be heard, on Difference with the Committee of Safety
was pref need at the table and read.
Revived, That Messrs. Moulder, Lollar, Wallace, Hockley,
Lowry, Eachard, B, Dupue, M Pherfon, Clarke, Dayidfon,
Cook and Parry, be a Committee to confider of the proper
time, place and manner of holding and regulating the cabling
election, arid 'to fix a day for the meeting of the Representa
tives of the people so chosen.
A Memorial from the Patriotic Society of the city of Phila
delphia was delivered at the table by a Commute of laid So
ciety, and read by their Clerk on special request.
Adjourned to 3 o'clock, P. M.
Juae at, 1776, P. M. Conference met.
The Committee appointed to ascertain the number and prb
putfion of members to represent the province and each parti
cular city and cbdirty in Convention, made their report in the
words following, viz.
The Commerce appointed for &c. report;
That your Committee having conferred together, and en
deavoured to obtain the best intelligence that can he had,
find, that full information refpeaing the number of taxables
in each county cannot now be had; and therefore cannot be
adopted as a rule in fixing the number of Representative s for
the city arid counties refpe&ively; your Committee,
however, are fatisfied, that the number of taxables in the
counties refpeaively does not differ so much as to malic it of
any probable disadvantage to allow an equal reprefent'ation
from each county; fyeciaby as the Convention will probably
vote by city and counties (as in the preceeding Conventions)
upon the qu(ftions which Hull come before them.
We therefore recommend, That it be refoived, that eight
Representatives be sent by the city of Philadelphia, and eight
by each county in the province to the Convention.
Jn Motion, That the inhabitants of he city be divided from
the county of Philadelphia, and that they be not admitted to
vote or be voted for in the election of the county members
for the Convention.
Whereupon it was moved; that the previous queflion be
put, viz. Whether thi> question Iha I be now put, and it was
put accordingly, and carried in the negative,
Resolved, That this Conference approve of the report of the
Committee.
Refolded unsnemoufy, That our foie and primary intention,
in appointing delegates to meet in Convention was, to regu
late the mode of oppofitibn necessary to be made by us inter
nally against the arbitrary machinations of the British minis
try, and to appoint delegates to meet our filler colonies in
Congress, to recommend such measures as, by a sense of the
majority of the colonies, would best fecurc the natural and
inherent rights of the people generally.
Refoived unarimoufly, That all just and legal government was
institut'd for the case and convenience of the people, and
that the people have the indubitable right to reform or abolish
a governor nt, which may appear to them inefficient for the
exigency of their affairs.
We aifo learn, that the irtands upon the coast of Georgia,
which abound with live dock, are continually infefted by the
British pirates; but that, by the vigilance and activity of
the soldiers, and adjacent inhabitants, they have not been
able as yet to obtain any supplies, and, in the frequent ikir
mifhes, the pirates have always been fouadly drubbed— as
they ought to be.
Two makers of vessels came to town this week, who were
lately taken by he ministerial cruisers, and made their efeape.
They report, that Lord Dunmore's whole army is now re
duced to 40 regular soldiers, and 200 of the black fijileers,
175 of which last corps died on their passage from Norfolk to
Gwyn's island ; and that Andrew Sprowle, Esq; of Gofport,
th r ee days after his landing, departed this life, great part of
which he spent in Virginia, much to his emolument, having
amassed, by trade, a very capital fortune.
A tew days ago one of the enemy's vessels ran aground on
the Gloucester Ihore, within mulket foot of our people, up
on which the crew, five in number, jumped overboard. Two
got fafe to Gwyn's island, one was (hot, and the other two
were drowned.
ANNAPOLIS, (Maryland,) June 20.
In Committee for the lower diftrift of Frederick county,
June 17, 1776.
Frefent Jonathan Wilson, Esq; in the chair,
Edward Burgess, Robert Owen, Thomas Cramphin, jun.
Charles G. Griffith, Zadeck Magruder, Samuel W. Magruder,
Gerard Brifcoe, Archibald Orme, Allen Bowie, Thomas S.
Wootton,
The men of war have made prize of a Spanish brig that
was bound to Philadelphia, reported to have on board
12,800 dollars. Some deserters from the Fowey, it is fad,
give this account; likewise, that they are very weak upon
Gwin's island as to number, fearful cf being attacked, and
chiefly depend upon the fleet for their protect ,n.
This day arrived in town from Georgia, on his way to the
General Congress, George Walton, Esq; one of the
delegates from that province; alio Lieutenants Walton and
Pannell, on the recruiting service. By these gentlemen we
learn, that the Convention of Georgia have authorifed their
delegates in Congr<is to concur in any feheme which may be
proposed for the benefit of the United Colonies, even to a
total reparation from Great-Bti f ain ; and that, in the mean
while, a form of government had been cftablifhed in the
province..
Adjourned to 8 o'clock to morrow, A. M.
Saturday, J ne ax, 1776, Conference met.
On Motion Refoived. That thedmermi ations of this Confer
ence on (he repief n atiori of the city and of the county of
Philadelphia shall not be drawn into precedent in future.
(To be conimed.)
WILLIAMSBURG, (Virginia) June r 5.
Rejolved unmfoufly, That what inly be recommenced by ^
majority of the Congress equally delegated by the people of
the United Colonies, we will, at the hazard of our lives and
fortunes, support and maintain; and that every resolution of
Convention, tending to separate this province from a majori
ty of the colonies, without the consent of the people, is de
ibuaive to our internal fafety, and big with public ruin.
Refoived unanimously. That as a knowledge of the conduct
of the representative is the constituent's only principal and
permanent security, we claim the right of being fully inform
ed therein, unless in the secret operations of war, and that
we ihall ever hold the representative amenable to ? hat body
from whom he derives his authority.
Refoived unanimmfy, That the legislative, judicative, exe
cutive, and military powrs, ought to be separate, and that
in all countries, where the power to make laws, and the pow
er to inforce iurii laws, is veiled in one man, or 111 one body
of mtn, a tyranny is established,
Revived imammoufy, That these resolutions be immediately
printed in the Maryland Gazette.'
Signed per older, SIMON NICHOLLS Clerk.
WATERTOWN, Jure 17, 1776.
Lift Thursday the inhabitants of the town of Borton were
made acquainted, by beat of drum, that an expednien was
to be undertaken against our enemy's Blips in Nautalket road,
and for credbog proper fortifications in the lower harbour.
Accordingly detachments from the Colonial regiments com
manded by the Cols. Marthail and Whitney, and battalion
of train commanded by Lieut Col. Crafts, were embarked
on board boats at the Long Wharf, together with Cannon,
ammunition, prov fion, intrenching toots, arid every necessa
ry implement, and proceeded for Pettick's Island and Hull,
were they were joined by some Continental troops, and sea
Coast companies, so as to make nea : 600 men at each place ;
a like number of he militia from the towns in the vicinity of
Bolton harbour, with a detachment from the train, and some
field pieces, took polt at Moon Island, Hoff's neck and Point
Alderton—At the fame time a detachmen from the Conti
nental army under the command of Col. Whitcomb, with
two 18 pounders, one 13 inch Mortar, with the necessary ap
para us, intrenching tools, &c. were embarked for Long-
Island, to cake putt there. —The troops did not arrive at
their several places of dedication till near morning, occasioned
by a flat calm; not withstanding, such was the activity and
altertnefs ofcur men, that they had the cannon planted, and
a line of defence hove up on Long- Island and Nantafket hill
in a few hours, when a cannon foot from Long Island an
nounced to the enemy our design; upon which a signal was
immediately made for the whole fleet, consisting cf 3 ffiips,
a foows, 2 brigs, and 1 fchooncr, to remove and get under
way.—Tie Commodore, Banks, bore our fire, and returned
it with spirit, till a (hot from Long-Island pierced the upper
work of his Grip, when he immediately unmoored or cut his
cables and got under fail, and happy for him that he did so,
for in a (mail space of rime afterwards, a shell from our works
fell into the very Ipot he had but just before quitted. Unhap
pily our ca non did not arrive at Pettick's Island and Nan
tafket as soon as might have been wished, but the fire from
the latter place being property pointed against the Commo
dore's (hip who came too in the Light House Channel, is ap
prehended to have done coofiderable execution.—ln short,
the enemy were compelled once more to make a difgraceful
precipitate flight; and we have it now in our power to con
gratulate our readers on our being in full possession of the
lower harbour of Button; and had the wind been to the
eastward, we are confident we Should have had the much
greater pitafure of giving them joy or. our being in the pos
session of many of their ffiips.—Through divine Providence,
not one of our men were hurt.
The Ministerial fleet, on Friday last, before they quitted
the harbour of Butt n, blew up the Light House, which en
tirely defkoyed rhe fame.
We can assure the public, that there is not a Ministerial
troop in all New-England, except what are prisoners; nor is
there a Ministerial fliip in any ha bour in New England.
NEW POR T, (Rhode-lfland) June 17.
Last Friday arrived here from a cruise rhe brig Andrew Do
ria, Capt. Biddl, who about 14 days before took two trans
port ffiips from Greenock io Scotland, having on board each
100 Scotch roops; Capt. Biddic took out the officers, navi
gators and sailors, to the number of 40, with all the small
arms and baggage of value, manned the (hips with his own
men, and kept company with them 13 days; when, being
a li tie with ut Nantucket Ihoals, they were chaced by five
vessels, one a pretry large man of war, upon which he or
dered the prizes to deer different courses, and though the
man of war chaced him, night coming on, he soon loft fight
of them. We hope soon to hear of the prizes being arrived
at some fafe port. The prisoners brought in were landed here
on Friday evening, who report that they were part of 33 fail
of transports, which left Greenock in company, having
3coo troops on board, bound to Boston.
Last Saturday arrived here the brig Charming Peggy, Capt.
Joseph Jauncey, in 21 days from Curacoa, having 12 car
riage and 12 swivel guns, and 3$ men; (he has brought in
about i§ tons of powder, and a considerable quantity of
dry goods. On Thursday Capt. Jauncey spoke with Cape.
Mur.ro, in a (loop belonging to Providence, from Hifpanio
-la, who on his passage had retaken two (loops, which bad
been taken by the AGeon frigate, and ordered for Jamaica ;
these Hoops were from Cape Fear, bound to Hispaniola, to
which place Capt. Munroe sent them. On Friday Capt. Jaun
cey was chafed by two (loops, with which he exchanged a
few shot ; and the next morning, just as it was light, with a
fair wind, he parted within about three miles of a man of
war, which lay at anchor under the east fide of Block Island,
who, as soon as they difeovered the brig, made all the fail
they cou'd after her, and followed her within a few miles of
our harbour. T hose vessels being seen at some distance off,
from the heights about this town; the Columbus, Captain
Whipple, the Andrew Doria, Capt. Biddle, and the Piovi
dence, Capt. Jones, put out as faft as possible; but as soon
as they had got within about two leagues of the ship, sup
posed to be the Cerberus, fire made all the fail (he could from
them, and Rood up the western found; they chaced her till
toward night, when the weather coining up thick, they loft
fight of her and returned.
The Columbus, Doria and Providence, are this morning
going out again, in pursuit of the enemy, they not being in
a proper condition for continuing cut on Saturday.
HARTFOR D, June
The General Assembly of this Colony, in their present
session, have repealed the a & passed in May last, for imme
diately inlifting or drafting a part of the militia to' be held as
minute men, and have (in consequence of a request fr°m the
Hon. Continental Congress) voted eight regiments of troops
to be immediately raised for the defence of this and the
other Colonies, and have appointed the Hon. David Water-
V?' ?" d ^" WddQth > Efqrs. Brigadiers General.
The other officers are not yet fettled.
By a letter from a gentleman at Albany we are informed,
~ at H °?° General Thomas died of the small-pox at
Chamblee, about a fortnight face.
$ Extract of aletter from New-York, June 24, 17,6.
Since Friday last a molt barbarous and infernal plot ha=
been uncovered among our Tories, the particulars I canned
give you, as the Committee of examination consists of but
three who are fweru to secrecy. Two ot Gen. Walhingtonri
guards are concerned, a third who they tempted to join them
made the hi^ diQvery. The general report of their design is
as follows, upon the arrival of the Britilh Troops, they toe
to murder all the|Staff Ofhcers, blow up the Magazines, and
ftcure he passes of the town. Gilbert Forbes, a Gun-Smith,
in the Broad way, was taken between two and three o'Clock
on Saturday Morning, and carried before our Congress whn
were then Utting, he refufed to make any difeovery, 'upon
which he w, sent to goal. The Rev. M r . Livingston went to
r e A m f a '7 '" '" mornrc ^ and told him, he was sorry to
find he had been concerned, that his time was very ffiort, not
Th b °rj h : ec ^ a ¥’ to hve ' & advised bim to prepare him.
+'' n"r '" ',' dc ^' cd effect, he defiied to be carried hr
c ° tbc Congress again, promising to difeover all he k^ew
Several have been hnce taken, between 2© and 30, amen,
them our Mayor, they are all now in confinement. Th^
party, it is laid, confided of about 500.—0 n Saturday after
°"^ ^"1 '"T" ed " om sand y Hook > with ontbrim
ab.e to effect their design; they attacked the Light House
Friday at twenty minutes after three in the morning, and con
tinued faring till fix, but had no cannon Efficient to make 2
T /°' 1 ° n ° ur fid ^ tTCC )m ^ ^ ver,
wounded. A large party goes off this tnornin>
,° k .^% r^heavy cannon, the men of war, l° a m
afraid, will gall them, as they can command the pass C
nerai Burgoyne is arrived at Quebec, with his fleet.
Extract of a letter from New-York, June 24, 17,6.
Ycltcrday the Mayor was examined twice, and reernm
prisoner under a strong guaxd. We have now , 4 p r ,fo nc „
and many more it is cxpc&ed will be taken up.A party of cm
men went over to Long-Bland, Saturday last, to take up fom
of the tones; they returned yesterday, and brought to town
one Dowmg, who is charged with being in the hellish pl^
A hey took o more prisoners and put them ifymaica goal
ca Long-Bland. The toxics made some refinance, and kn
on our men in the woods, our people returned the foe, wound
cd one man mortally; they then called fm This
morning a party of 300 men is ordered, but of what buhrri
is not known I cannot give you the particulars, but was
'r"'h °d/°°^ ^b o "^" w ^ surprise every hoaeft man 0,
, P lot& I am told the Mayor acknowledges he pair
Mt. Fotbes, the guu-fmith, who is one of the gang nose
lit irons j 4 ol. by order of Governor Tryon. Yefterday fr
General s houfe-xeeper was taken up ;it is frd, Ifo- cnr
ccracd., n.-^crm
^ E W- Y O R K, Janez®.
, ^dy-hook, June 21, 1776.
this morning about four 0 clock we attacked the Light-
Houle with about three hundred men ; they were fliongly re
inforced, being (as I saw a boat goon hoard from Long- Island)
previously informed of our design. I continued the attack for
twohours with field pieces and small arms, being all that time
between two fniart tires from the (hipping and the Liyht-
House, but could make no impression on the walls. I then
returned to my camp at the south end of the cedars, which 1
have occupied two days and nights, and after refre'fhing my
men sent oat fifty to fee for game, they have this moment at
tacked them with small arms, and Icven boats are making
from the land to the flops. My men areal! well, and in high
fpints, not one of them being either killed 01 wounded.
We hear the tories about Indian River have Applied the
enemies flops woh poultry, iheep, &c.
Capt. Walker of Wilmington who was taken in a brig off
our Gapes by the pirates, is sent with the brig to Halifax.
John Baldwin s Pitor-b. at, which was tak^n some time aye
by the Liverpool, is fine© retaken by the Virginians.
About a fortnight ago the Liverpool drove a small fchoe
ner belonging to Egg-Harbour, ashore, which they afterwards
got off, and brought into the road, where they set her on iff'
Saturday Lift arrived LereGeneial Wooster and Major she:
burn from Canada.
“ Captain Puller, in 5 weeks from Halifax, fays, a bri^
arrived there a few days before he left it, who sp oke so
a fleet ofl the Banks of Newfoundland, for Quebec with
10,000 troops. 2-
L'Atraß of a letter from New London^ dated JuKe z®, 1776.
^ I wrote you yellerday by post in full; since which, the
Provincial Schooner is arrived, who informs us that he was in
fight of 6 frigates and 2 tenders, who had taken a hoop ilnt
failed from this in company with two more who were then
near the (hips, and in all probability are taken. The Capt.
and sloop s company that is taken, abandoned the (loop ter
leagues at lea in their boat, and are fafe arrived here, and
fays, that he taw a number of ffiips in light when he left hi
poop, and that Capt. Jo,line in Stewart's (loop is taken. Toe,.-
is a number of vessels here for lea, but we this morning wen
to the Capt. of the province fchooncr to know when he wouid
go put with us? when he made for answer, That he believed
w e meant to supply the enemy, and furthermore, that it any
vefie presumes to fail he will fc at them. These are the c/-
cumftances we are now in."
Extract of a letter fam New York, Jane 23, 1776.
' f ' By tS" l ?'' Lmdld y fr ° m Providence we learn, that cn Wed
nefday ,aft, by accounts from Boston, that a New-Haven priva
teer brig of ,6 guns had taken off Nantalkct Road two +
ports from Scotland, with 200 Highland troeps, and tarri.
them ft into Boston: And on Tuesday afternoon at t,^
0 clock, the Hup Columbus, Capt. Whipple, fell in with t^
Cerberus frigate near the Light-house, New-Port and ex
changed 2 01 3 heavy breadlines, in which the Columbus loft
one man and another wounded.
P H I L A D E L PHI A.
Extras of a letter from Accomack connty, (Virginia) June ^
“ A few days ago arrived at Chincoteague Inlet, in this
county, Capt. Speake, belonging to Alexandria, having on
bo^d 6ooolb gun-powder, r^oolb. imphur, some fire
arms, and fundey other valuable articles, which are all fafe
lauded.
By letters from Canada we learn, that Gee. Burgoyne, with
a large number of troops, is arrived at Quebec; chat'Oen.
rhompfon, with 3000 men, were sent down the river St.
Lawrence to attack a party at Three Rivers; but having in
telligence of a body of troops Superior to his own coming
against him, thought it most prudent to retreat, in doing of
which, himfelf, Lieut. Col. Irvine, and the Rev. Mr. M'Cali^
with ao or 30 soldiers, were taken prisoners, by a pattv of
Canadian m litia who intercepted their rear.'
By a letter from New-York, we learn, that intelligence was
received there of the i,th inst. of the armed sloop Schuyler,
having taken, about fifty miles from that city, on the south
fide of Long-lfland, a ship and a sloop bound to Sandy Hook,
.the fllip from Glasgow with a company of the forty-fecond
regiment had been taken up the Continental Brig And. 6
Doria, who took the soldiers out and ordered her to Rhode-
Bland; after which flie was retaken by the Cerberus, and
put under convoy of the (loop. As Capt. Pond informs,
there were five commifliontd officers, two ladies, and four
privates on board.