The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-28 00:00:00, page 1

P HTL A D ELP H I A.
ON Wednesday the 7 h instant, the Committee ot Infpesi
on for t e county of Cumberland, in the Stateof New-Jer
fry, the officer> ot the militia, & a great number of other inha
bir ants, having met at Bridge- own, went in procefiion to the
Cart House, what the Dec.aration of Independency, the Confi
rm on f New 'Jefe,, and Treason Ordinance, were publicly r^ad,
a^ luanimufl. approved of : Theie were followed with a
ipirited addiefs by Do Elmer Chairman of the Committee,
after which the peace officers Raves, on which were depicted
the King's coat of arms, with other ensigns of royalty, were
bu.ut in the Rreet The whole was conduced with the
greatell decency and regularity.
The following being the fu stance of the before-mentioned
addrefi is published at the particular request of the committee
and all pefent.
Gentlemen of the Commi tee. Officers of the Militia, and gen
tlemen SpeHaors,
From what has now been read you fee, the long wished
for, but much dreaded period has arrived; in which the con
nexion between Great-Britain and America is totally ddlolv
ed, and these colonies declared free ad independent Raes.
As this is an event of the greatest importance, it mull afford
fatiladbon to every intelligent person, torefl^a, that it was
brought about by unavoidable necellity on our part, and has
been conducted with a prudence and moderation, becoming
the wifeff and,heft of men.
With the independency of the American Rates, a new era
in politics has commenced. Every, consideration refpe&iag
propriety or impropriety of a reparation from Britain, is now
entirely out of the question; and we have now no more to
do with the King and people of England, than we have with
the Kng and people of France or Spain. No people under
Staven, were ever favored with a fairer opportunity, of
laying a sure foundation for future grandeur .nd happiriefs,
than we. The plan of government ellabhlhcd in mod hates
and kingdoms of the world, has been the effea of chance or
necessity, ours of sober reefon and cool deliberation; out fu
ture happiness or misery therefore, as a people, will depend
entirely upon ourselves. If actuated by principles of virtue
and genuine patriotism, we mike the welfare of our country
the frie aim of all our actions; If We entruß none but per
sons of abilities and integrity, with the management of our
public affairs; If we carefully guard against corruption and
undue influence, in the feverat department of government;
If ,e are it ,dy aml zealous in putting the laws in (kia exe
cution; the fptrit and principles of our new constitution,
which we have just now he^d read, may be preferyed for a
long time : but if faction and party spirit, the deßruftion of
popular governments, take place, anarchy and confufion
wiil soon ehfue, and we fhali eiher fall an easy prey to a
foreign enemy, or Lone factions, and afpiriog Demagogue,
p< d^Dd of popular talents and whining qualities a Julius
Ctfar, or an Qnvcr Cromwell, will faring up am< ng ourselves,
who, taking a Ivan age or our political ^nim fi les, will lay
violent bands on the government, and facufice th^ liberties
of his country to his own ambitious and domineering hum ur.
God grant that neither of tinft may ever be the u happy fate
of this or any of the united Rates! To prevent which, while
we are Driving to defend ourfdvg^ against the unjust cn.-
craachments of a foreign and unnatural enemy, let us not
ocgQ, ttrkeep a Uria and jealous eye, over our own inter
nal police and condi| tition. Let the fate of Greece, Rome,
Carthage, and Great-Britain, warn us of our danger; and the
)qfs of liberty in all those Rates, for want of timely guarding
against the introduction of tyranny rind ufurpati >u, be a
Raiding admonition to us, to avoid the rock on which they
have All shipwrecked.
Let us, as honest citizens and fircere lovers of our coun
try, exert ourselves in the defence of our Rate and in fopport
ofour new constitution; but, while we drive to vindicate
the glorious cause of liberty on the one hand, It us on the
other hand, carefully guard against tunning into the contrary
extreme, of disorder and licentiousness.
In our prefect situation, engaged in a bloody and danger
ous war with the power of Great-Britain, for the defence of
our lives, our liberties, our property, and every thing that
is dear and Valuable, every member of this Rate, who enjoys
the benefits of its civil government, is absolutely bound, by
the immutable law of felf-prefervation, the laws of God and
of society, to assist in protesting and defending it. This is
so plain and felf-evident a proportion, that I am persuaded,
every person here present, makes it the rule of his conduct on
all cccafions; and consequently, in a time of such imminent
danger, will be extremely careful, at our ensuing election,
not co entrust any one with the management of our public
affairs, who has not, by his vigilance and activity in the
cause of liberty, proved himJelfw be a true friend to his,coun-
Cry. The fuccets, gentiemtn, of our present glorious Rrug
gle wholly depends upon this tingle circumßancr. For,
though the situation a- d extent of the united Rates of Ameri
ca, and our numberlcfs internal resources, are fufficient to
enable us to bid defiance to all Europe; yet, ffiouid we be
so careless about rur own fafety, as to eutruft the affairs of
car Rate, while the bayonet is pointed at our breads, to per
sons whole conduit difeovers them to be enemies to their
country, or whose religious principles will not fufFer them to
lift a hand for our d fence, our ruin will inevitably follow.
As it is impossible for any one, possessed of the spirit of a
min, who is a friend to the united Rates, aud wuofe con
science docs not furnifh him with an excuse, to Rand by,
an idle fpedator, while his country is struggling and bleed
ing in her own necessary defence; all such inaiftive perrons
ought therefore to be shunned as enemies or defpiLd as
rewards. And as I have reason to believe that many who
plead conscience as an cxcufe are sincere in their pretentious,
and as every man's conscience ought to be free from com
THE A.
A h A Numb.
Augustus, 1776. ^ £ }%s
PENNSYLVANI A ^rl JOURNAL;
WEEKLY § W^^ ADVERSER.
s^ws^s^^w^qA^ |^W ^s^^^^^^^^^
WEDNESDAY, ^ ^ 2B , 17 , 6 .
tßtafrwme&rteftt^fe.. .^^SSffISS^^OMO
pulfion, this tingle confederation should retrain us from forc
ing such into any of the departments of government. For
to put such persons, at this time, in places of public trust, is
actually to deprive them of. liberty of conscience; for we
thereby compel them either to betray the truß reposed in them,
or to adt contrary to the dilates of their own confcienccs. —
A dilemma in which, a& as they will, their conduct muR
be criminal. Besides, if we confuted only our own fafety,
it is plain, that to entrust the affairs of our government, at
this juncture, to such people, is as dangerous, as to entruß
the management of a ship, tn a violent florin, to an infant
or an ideot.
As a friend to my country and a lover of liberty, I thought
it my dury to address you on this occasion ; and having now,
as a faithful member of society, difeharged my duty, I shall
leave you to the excrete of your own judgment, and con
clude with a request, that you would conduct yowfelvcs this
day, in such a manner, as. to convince the public that your
abhorrence of the cruel add bloody Nero of Britain, and his
despicable mihions of tyranny and oppreflion, arises, not
from the mere impulse of blind passion and prejudice, but,
from sober reason and reflexion; and while we rejoice in be
ing formally hmancipat d trom our haughty and imperious
Task ma ers, let us remember, that the final termination of
this grand event is not likely to be brought about, without
shedding the blood of many of our dear friends and country
men:
**** *ft *********^* ** *
HANOV E R, Ma, i,.
TH E laR column of Hedian troops pahed vefterday by
this place, inorder to embark at Ri^ebuttle, as did the
Biunfeickers. #
Cologn, Ma, 20. The corps of artillery of Ileflfe-Hanau,
in the service of Great-Bri*ain, arrived in our road the isth,
on board some vessels, and aft^r taking in feme lefrefhments,
continued their course trom WillemiUdt, in Holland, where
the English tranfp rt, were waiting fir them.
Paris, Mar 17. The King has at last, appointed the Mar
quis de Noailles his Ambassador at the Court of London, and
the Duke de la Vaguion to succeed him at the Hague. It is
said, that the Count de Guignes is going to be created a Duke.
All our letters from Spain and Portugal continue to aifert, that
a rapture between those Courts is unavoidable.
LONDO N.
May 4. It has been constantly and confidently circulated
by all the tools of adminifl.ation, that the government has a
g>eat number of friends in America, who only wait for a pro
per opportunity to Chew theii Zealand attachment. This in
deed, has principally been the cant of thf Scotch for these
twelve months pad; but experience has given the lie to their
affervation.
The Scotch politicians aver, that above two-thirds of the
Virginia planters are enemies to the Cougreis. The truth is,
that they are determined unanim^ully to refill the force sent
against the colonies; one Wiiliamfon, indeed, a Scotch Vir
ginia planter, endeavoured to raise a small force in favour of
government, which was immediately dispersed, and he him
felf is not permitted to ftu five miles from his own plantation.
May rB. A certain popular preacher, not tar from town,
last Sunday, took for his text, these words, from liaiah xxi.
15. For the, fed from the fvord, from the drawn sword, and from
the bent bow, and from the grievoufaefs of war. Which words
he thought to be highly descriptive of the inglorious retreat
of the King's troops from Boston. And if it really was true,
that these troops had ever turned a boufe of religious worihip
into a play-house, he thought, go where they will, they cam
never expea success in any one enterprize, 'till, by a deep
repentance, they had conciliated the favour of heaven.
A moR furious quarrel happened last Thursday night at the
club in St. Paul's chuich yard, between two of the fugitive
clergy from North-America; the cause, it is said, was about
who should be the Biihop in that country (the idea of a fuff
ragau being revived) Cepef was much too many for Peers!
and would, if Tucker and Vardill had not in'erpofed, not on
ly have won the mitre, but have rendered his competitor to
tally unfit for any episcopal function. Alas! A as! these men
in bla@k are not all of theffi under the operation of grace.
One of the Hessian regiments, now at Portsmouth is com
posed of as goud mailmen as any among the riflemen in
North-America, of which they gave us a Specimen; when, to
the furprize of the fperftators, they fired mufquet Shot through
a Sheet of paper at 230 yards dillance; at the lame time they
were very quick in their motion, and never miffed their mark.
The following intelligence is just transmitted to us by a gen
tleman arrived from America:
" The Americans ate now in poffeffi >n of a very strong
battery near Halifax, which intirely commands that harbour,
and is a complcat barrier to the entrance of the most capital
Blips of war in Europe. This battery is on a very high hill,
and consists of the cannon of the Mars, a man of war of Sixty
guns, taken from the French in the war before the last, but
since in our service, and was loft ,n a gale of wind as She was
entering that harbour in the year 1755-
" A tingle house, of a very great height, is hkewife erect
ed by the Americans near the sea fide, which commands a
profpea for Several leagues at sea. whch is conßtu<9:cd tor
the purpose of giving an alarm to the above garrison on the
approach of any man of war or transport."
A letter received in town from Virginia, fays, the Admiral
ty Court appointed here, by the Authority of the Congress,
has condemned 13 English vessels, which tave been taken by
our privateers, as lawful prizes,—Several cf them were laden
wih provisions for Boston.
That America will now raise herfelf into an iodependency,
is now beyond adoub*; and that the people and their riches,
will be transplanted hence to that rising land of liberty, is
more than a CGnjeaure.
The court faces are very long and grave; the, are cautious
of confeffiog particulars, but they Shake their heads, and
own that General Howe and his navigable army have not
been able to rest their weary feet on the earth. Long-lßan<
is totally destroyed, and so is Rhode Eland. There is no al
ternative but the Leeward Illes, which ;re Starving, and these
unfortunate men are embarked for an uncertain voyage, with
14 days provisions. |r ,-; < Cjf
Whatever alarm and dread our Governors in the Wt ft-Tn
dies may be under, on account of the great force the French
have there, the information from the East Indies is equally
important. The French have a large force at the MaurituS,
with no probable objeeft for its employment, but what must
be hostile to us. ' One of the Circus of Coromandel, brother
to the Nabob of Arcot, has taken 500 French officers into his
service. This Rep is not on y material, but is very alarming
to us, because the English East-India company have the re
version of the Circas's territory. It is probable the view of
the French court is to prevent the territory coming into our
hands, for it lies at the back of Pondicherry, and therefore
they are securing a timely possession of it; and are, betides,
assembling a considerable force to be ready to a& as exigen
cies may require. Be the view what it will, Gen. Clavcring
is alarmed at it, and has sent to the Ci'rcas to request, that he
would dismiss the French officers from his service. The Cir
cas has refufed General Clavering has sent, or prep ring to
fend, a force to compel him. Is any Rep more probable to
bring on a war with France than this ? By the time that French
mininfter can officially and ostensibly, take this matter up,
we Shall beTully and deeply engaged id the present mad and
impolitic war with America in which, with all Strength, we
arc ignorantly destroying ourselves.•
Ma, 30. 'fhis morning four large Dutch Ships, lately tak
en into the transport service, arrived at Spithead, They wilt
carry from fix to nine hundred tons, and we are informed, are
to be entirely loaded with provifioos from Ireland, for the
use of the army in North-America. They arc tb join the fleet
in Plymouth.
Yesterday an express was fi nt to Corke and Waterford, sot
the Ships loading with provisions at those ports to hold them-
Selves in readings to fail by the 4th of June, to join the fleet
the firft fair wind, as they are already.
Orders are sent down to Woolwich from the board cf Ord?
nance, for Several thousand balls to be made with all expedU
tion ;'a transport is lying off Woolwich to take rhe said balls,
some ihoufands of boots, waißcoats, &c &c. for ihe Heffians#
It it now pretty confidently afferud, that the firft news of
Lord Howe, will be of his landing at Philadelphia, where the
peaceable difpofaion of the Quakers, and the deffcrence
foewn to the mandates of the Congress, by the numourous
fwa mos German proteßant< at the back of that town has
pointed this province out as the most proper for the firft at
tempt in favour ot government. For confirmation of this,
we must have patience for ab>ve a qionth ; but the firft three
or four days of wefteriy wind we may expert news of Sir Pe
ter Parkers fleet, and the Generals H we and Burgoyne.^
Thr packets which are in future to carry dupatches to and
from America, are to nvunt from 16 to 20 guns each
Lord Bruce, one of the Lord, of the bed chamber, is ap
pointed Governor terthe Prince of Walts, and his brother the
Bishop of Ofnaburgh in rhe room of the Earl of Holderncfs;
and Dr. Hurd, Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry,it appoint
ed preceptor to their fcoyal Higbaeffes, in the room of the
Bishop of Chester.
We hear that the manner government intends to employ
the convicts i<, in raising badaft in thb river for the trinity
boufe ; and that orders are given for building vessels on a
new conßruaion, for the purp^fe of securing them from cf
cape when they quit their work ; and the humfhment on be
ing found on shore is the fame a, attends returning from their
transportation.
The reafoo of difmifling the Prince of Walts's governor,
preceptor, &c is said to be a dfeovery, that they were still
connected with feme of the refpeaable families, who oppofc
the ptefent jacobite measures of the Court ; which uffi nded
his Majesty (God blcfs him) that he took a refolntion, there
flrmld not be one about his son.
The fallowing hand-bill was delivered last week to man, members ts
two great Assemblies, April 24, 1776.
By an acc tint of extraordinary services incurred and paid
by the Right Honourable Richard Rigby, Pay-Maßer. General
of his Maj fty'sforces, between the 9 h of March, 1775, and
the iR of January, 1776, and not provided for by parliament.
It appears there was paid, between the gift of March, 1775,
and the 27th of January, (being less than ten months) to
Thomas Harley, and Henry Drummond, Etqrs. to be by
them applied and inveßed in the purchasing S r anifh and Por
tugal coin for the use and service of his Majefty'sforces in
North- America, the sum of 408 809 . §s. rd.
If the above sum was required for che ute and service of a
body of men (never exceed ng 8®oo) in the space of less than
ten months, tow much specie will it be neceflary to fend to
North-America in twelve months, for the use apd service of
40,000 men, which our Scotch ministers have determined (hall
be there this summer to give the cowardl, Rebels a compete
cafe.'-Tire Answer iq ' £. % 455 3SS-
Qtere. If the above 40 cco mfn should attempt ent r,ng
upon action, whether the expence will not encreafe the above
sum very cor fiderably?
Whether any part, and how much of the above sum can be
expeaed to ever return higher again, and when? ,
How long can an annual drain of 2 455355 1 - of specie last
without danger of entirely cverfetting < u. public credr ?
Whether the North - Americans, tailing the fwee s of such
immense wealth flowing into the country will not keep them
fc'v:s wholly upon the d fenfrve till we are exhausted by ci
police so as to be forced to yield to their terms.