The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-22 00:00:00, page 2

BOSTO N, Maj Tfc
George Merchant, a private in Captain Morgan's com
pany of riflemen from Virginia, who went to Canada
with Col. Arnold last fall, was taken prisoner with two
Indians and a New-England soldier, passing over the river
St. Lawrence, Merchant was sent to England to be hang
ed, but never was even examined, and the other three
were kept close prisoners in Quebec, confined in Irons:
He left Bristol the 24th of March, and arrived at Halifax
in 23 days, tarried there 10, when he with several matters
of vessels that had been taken by the ministerial cruizers,
hired a small vessel to bring them to Newbury ; but, by
reason of contrary winds, put into Old York last Thurs
day, and came to town by land yefterdayrto General
Ward, who soon dispatched him express to General
Washington :—By him we have the following important
and very interesting advices, viz.
HALIFA X, April 23.
Tuesday afternoon last arrived his Majesty's sloop Vi
per, with some transports from the Welt-Indies, being
part of the fleet which was drove off this coast by the se
vere weather last winter.
Wednesday evening last arrived a schooner from Boston
[in England] in 23 days passage.
Thursday morning arrived his Majesty's ships Rose and
Glasgow, Captains Wallace and Howe, from New-Port,
Rhode-lfland.
Friday arrived the Tamer, from South-Carolina.
Saturday failed the Viper Sloop of War, for Quebec,
with a Number of Transports and Troops on board.
Same day arrived a packet from Falmouth [G. B.] in
5 weeks and 3 days.
Sunday arrived here the Scarborough from Savannah in
Georgia, fn whom came Governor Wright of that pro
vince.
We are informed that Governor Campbell, of South-
Carolina, is on his passage for this place.
BRISTO L, February 17.
The Weft-India traders outward all take guns:—The
captures of the homeward bound would alarm the mer
chants and distress, —those are yet unprovided.
Extras of a letter from an eminent gentleman in London,
to bis friend in America, dated February 7.
" Lord Howe is appointed commander in chief of the
fleet, the commander at land is not yet determined. Lord
Cornwallis is now ready to fail from Cork with 3000 men
for Virginia, to meet General Clinton. The plan is, to
march through that colony and attack Philadelphia by
land, if impracticable by sea ; they reckon upon paper to
have an army of 30,000, mostly Germans, in America,
by June. Burgoyne is to retake Canada with 10,000
men; if the passage over the Blue-Ridge is fortified, that
way will be impracticable. If offers of settlement, &c.
are' prepared to fling into the camp, in German, when
the Germans arrive, it must have a great effect.—They
trust to the slaves, but more to the Scotch among you.
" The Generals talked of are Amherst, Count La Lippe
or Harvey, the last is most probable.
“ A General of the firft abilities has offered to go over,
if I could assure him of being received by the Congress.
If the ministerial efforts do not succeed this campaign,
it is over with them."
From the PUBLIC LEDGER.
LONDO N, February 14.
[AUTHENTIC.]
CORPS in AMERICA, and under Orders for the
CONTINENT, January, 1776.
NOW IN AMERICA.
X,th drag. Prefton's3
4th foot, Hodgfon's >at Boston.
sth Percy's )
2 Taken at Chamblee the greatest
j part, the rest with Carleton.
Sth Armorers } At the ^ftf
10th — Sandford's )
22d — Gage's C at.Bofton.
23d — Howe's )
~ ) Ld. Wm. Gor- (Taken the greatest part at St.
2 sdon's5 don's late Scott's ( John's, rest with Carleton.
35th — Fl. Campbell's
38th — Pigot's
40th — Hamilton's
43d — Carry's
44th — Abercrombie's ;
45th — Haviland's } at Boston.
47th — Carleton's
49th — Maitland's
53d — Clavering's
63d — T. Grant's
64th — Pomeroy's
65th — Urmfton's - - at Boston and Halifax.
Royal Artillery, at Boston, five Companies, each one
Captain, oug Captain-Lieutenant, one First Lieutenant,
three Second Lieutenants, three Serjeants, three Cor
porals, fix Bombardiers, twelve Gunners, one Fife, two
Drums, and forty-eight Matroffes.
I Company ditto, at Quebec.
I Company ditto, at Montreal, &c. part foppofed
(to be taken.
I Company ditto, at St. Augustine.
I Invalid Company ditto, at Newfoundland.
Marines, —intended to be made up to 2000, and it is ex
pected that more Artillery will be sent.
INTENDED for the SERVICE in NORTH-AME
RICA, 1776.
29th foot, Evelyn's,—Now at Chatham, ordered to be
in readiness to embark on board of men of war, sup
posed to be destined for Quebec, and to fail so as to
arrive there as early as the navigation of the river
St. Lawrence will admit.
3d foot. Sir J. Amherft's]
A'Court's 'Now ordered to be in readi
^h-Parke^ h^ for embarkation in the
24th—G. Cornwallis's, I 'P""^'
now Taylor's J
34th —Ld. F. Cavendish's
53d —H. Elphinftone's I
63d — Strodes's, now >now at St. Vincent's.
Joness I
6th —Boothby's J
^Partly at St. Augustine, partly
14th —Cunningham's }with Lord Dunmore, the rest at
) Halifax.
zsth —Cavan's - ready to fail from Corke.
6th —Gifborne's at Pensacola.
% ion their passage from Ireland.
%b-Mamh fe^r™" ° f **^ "^ *
28th —Erle's - put back to Corke.
3 3< i-Cornwallis's) Read to f ai l from Corke.
37th —Cootes ) j
42d —Lord Murray's recruiting in Scotland.
His Majesty's sloop Nautilus, of 18 guns, is arrived in
Hampton road.
PROVIDENCE, May 11.
The Honourable General Assembly of this colony
stands adjourned to the second Monday in June next,
then to meet a Newport.
The House have ordered a monument to be erected
over the remains of the Honourable Samuel Ward,
Esq; late a Delegate from this colony in the Continental
Congress, in testimony of the refpeC tdue to his memory,
and in grateful remembrance of his public services.
William Ellery, Esq; is chosen a Delegate for this
"), companies put bqck to Corke,
46th— Vaughan's } the other three on their passage to
) Boston.
54th —Frederick's ready to fail from Corke.
55th —Ja. Grant's on their passage frora Ireland.
57th —Irwine's ready to fail from Corke.
:iv ) raising in Scotland, to consist
2d. batt. Fraser s corps , c & '
r 5 of 2000 men.
Goreham and M'Lean's) railing in America, to consist
corps J of 4 or 500 each.
N. B. The marching regiments, for the Americas ser
vice, are to consist of twelve companies of fifty-fix
effective rank and file each company; the three Highland
battalions excepted, viz. Lord John Murray's and Fra
ser's, which are to consist of 1000 men each.
16th Drag. Burgoyne's —under orders for Boston.
N. B. The present establishment of the 16th and 17th
drag, exclusive of the commissioned officers:-—two fer
jeants, two corporals, and thirty-five effective privates to
each troop, fix troops; but an augmentation is ordered
of one cornet, one ferjeant, corporals, and thirty pri
vates to each troop, to do duty on foot, no horses to be
provided for this augmentation. loco of the guards to
be drafted from the three regiments, and commanded by
Col. Matthews. Besides the above British force, it is
reckoned there will be 15,000 foreign auxiliaries; and.
that the Ihipping necessary for the embarkation will be
90,000 ton. - &
We further learn, by extracts from the St. James's
chronicle, of the 19th of March, inserted in the Halifax
Gazette, that General Burgoyne was to fail for Quebec
with io,qqo troops, and retake it if in the hands of the
Rebels, and then proceed to Montreal, St. John's, &c. —
that General Gage and Lord Howe, with 7000 troops,
were to join General Howe at Boston, at which place it
is supposed there is 8000 —Gage to remain as Governor
of Massachusetts, while the Generals Howes are to at
tack and beat the rebels from the ; r polls; they are then
to. secure their embarkation and proceed to New-York,
land there and occupy Hudson's-river, and proceed up
and join Gen. Burgoyne from Quebec, and establish a
chain of forts round New-England. Also that 100
fail of frigates and sloops of war are to line our coast, it
is said three deep, to cut off all communication between
the Colonies.—That the above troops ars to be Hessians,
who enter into pay before they march, and Hanoverians
and British; the foreign states are fubfedized for two
years after the troops (hall be returned to their own land
again, if ever that Ihould be.
WILLIAMSBURG, May ic.
Last Monday 45 members of the House of Burgesses
met at the Capitol, pursuant to their last adjournment;
but it being their opinion, that the people could not now
be legally represented according to the ancient constitu
tion, which has been subverted by the King, Lords; and
Commons of Great-Britain, and consequently dissolved,
they unanimously dissolved themselves accordingly.
The fame day the General Convention of Delegates
from the counties and corporations in this colony met
at the Capitol, when the Hon. Edmund Pendleton, Esq;
being elected President, addressed himfelf to the Con
vention in the following manner:
Gentlemen,
BE pleased to accept my sincere thanks for the honour
done me in your election to this high and important
office, which I esteem the more, as it affords a public
teftimoriy that my former endeavours for the proper dis
charge of that trust have not been unacceptable to my
country. I beg leave to assure you of my unremitted at
tention to the arduous duties of my appointment, which
I will endeavour to execute with the utmost impartiality;
and, con feious of my want of abilities, I shall rely with
confidence on your candour to make the most favourable
interpretation of all my actions.
" We are now met in General Convention according
to the ordinance for our election, at a time truly critical,
when fubjefts of the most important and interesting na
ture require our serious attention.
" The administration of justice, and almost all the
powers of government, have now been suspended for
near two years. It will become us to reflect whether we
can longer sustain the great struggle we are making in
this situation; and the case of criminals confined and
not tried, and others who may be apprehended pursuant
to our laws, deserves particular notice.
" Our military and naval arrangements, as well as
the funds for supporting them, will call for our revision;
and the ordinance prescribing a mode of punishment for
the enemies of America in this colony being very de
fective, will require amendment.
" There are some articles more immediately necessary
for our people, particularly salt, which it may be wife to
encourage the production and manufacture of, either by
increased bounties, or erecting public works, as shall be
judged most effectual to that end.
" Several resolutions of Congress, and letters from our
Delegates on these and other fubjeCts, I am directed by
the Committee of Safety to lay before you, together with
several petitions they have received, on which it was not
within their powers to determine.
" In the discussion of these, and all other fubjeCts
which may come under our consideration, permit me to
recommend calmness, unanimity hud diligence, as the
most likely means of bringing them to a happy and pros
perous issue."
There is advice from North-Carolina, that eight or
ten transports have arrived at Cape-Fear from Ireland,
being part of a fleet which failed from that kingdom with
4000 troops on board. The rest were looked for daily.
Col. John Willoughby, of Norfolk county, with his son,
and between 60 and 70 Negroes, have gone on board Lord
Dunmore's fleet. This old gentleman, some few months
ago, acted as Lieutenant of his county under a commis
sion from Lord Dunmore, but pleaded in his justification,
that he had been compelled to receive it, and to take the
oath prescribed by his Lordship. Some witnesses appear
ing in the old man's favour, the last Convention were
pleased to restore him to the former good opinion of his
countrymen; and now, in requital for such kindness,
has voluntarily, and without any compulsion, gone over
to our enemies, thereby marking himfelf a vile apostate,
and black traitor.
Moved, That the inftrudions given by the House of
Assembly to their Delegates in Congress be read, and the
fame were read accordingly as follows:
“ Gentlemen,
" 1 HE truit reposed in you is of such a nature, and
the modes of executing it may be so divertified in the
course of your deliberations, that it is' scarcely possible
to give you particular inftru&ions refpedting it.'
“ We therefore, in general, diredt, that you, or any
four of you, meet in Congress the Delegates of the se
veral Colonies now assembled in this city, and any such
Delegates as may meet in Congress next year; that you
confiilt together op the present critical and alarming
state of public affairs; that you exert your utmost en
deavours to agree upon, and recommend such measures,
as you shall judge to afford the best profpea of obtain
ing redrtfs of American Grievances, and" refloring that
union and harmony between Great-Britain and the Co
lonies so eflential to the welfare and happiness of both
countries.
+ “ Though the oppressive measures of the Britfb Par
liament and admimftration have compelled us to relift
their violence by force of arms, yet we ftri&ly enjoin
you, that you, in behalf of this colony, diff^t from,
and utterly reject, any propofilions, fnouid such be made,
that may cause, or lead to, a separation from our Mo
thei Country, or a change of the form of this govern
ment.
“ You are directed to make report of your proceed
ings to this House.
Signed by Order of the House,
November 9, 1775. _ JOHN MORTON, Speaker."
Col. Thomas M'Kean informed, that the Committee of
the City and Liberties, apprehending the dangerous ten
dency of the said inftruftions, had prelected a memorial
to the Honorable House of Adembly, prayinc that they
might be refeinded, and that the Houle taking the said
memorial into their consideration did, as the'laft a& of
that body in their last sessions, determine not to alter
the said inftru&ions.
Upon motion, refolded unanimofh, That it is the opi
nion of this meeting that the said inftrudioßs have a
dangerous tendency to withdraw this province from that
happy union with the other colonies, which we confider
both as our glory and protection.
Upon motion, refolded unanimorfy, That the present
House of Assembly was not elected for the purpose of
forming a new government.
On motion,^ refolded, (ivith one difenting voice only )
That the present House of Assembly; not having the au
thority of the people for that purpose, cannot proceed
thereon without affirming arbitrary power.
Revived u^animotfly, That a protest be immediately
entered, by the People or this City and Liberties, agaiirft
the power of the laid House to carry the said Resolve of
Congress into execution.
It being moved, and the question thereupon put, Whe
ther the present government is competent to the exi
gencies of our affairs? the fame was carried in the nega
tive unanimously.
Refolded unanimouJly, That a Provincial Convention
ought to be chosen by the people, for the express purpose
of carrying the fed Resolve of Congress into execution.
As some difficulties may arise refpeding the mode of
electing Members for the said Convention, therefore
Refilled unanimofo, That the Committee of the Citv
and Liberties of Philadelphia, be directed to fend the
aforementioned Resolve of Congress to the several Com
mittees throughout the province, and to call together a
number from the Committee of each county, to holdk
colony, to attend the Continental Congress, in place of
the Hor. Samuel Ward, Esq; dcceaf&.
One of the Continental ships, now building here, will
be launched on Fuekiay next, at five 0 clock in the after
noon, the other on Saturday next, at eight o'clock in the
morning.
N E W-LONDO N, May to.
Last Monday, a New-York privateer which was bound
out from this port, was chafed for several hours by the
Cerberus frigate, and a brig her contort, from Montauk
point to the westward, but the privateer, by making short
tacks close in shore, kept out of reach of their shot and
got clear; mean while sundry vessels which had been
some weeks waiting an opportunity to get to sea, ran by
Montauk point, and got out. °'
E W-Y O R K, May 20.
Captain Mihon, who arrived at Newbury port on the
firft instant from France, has brought with him the fol
lowing valuable cargo, viz. 21,600 pounds of gun-pow
der, 10 eight pounders, 6 fix ditto, and 2 four ditto,
10,478 pounds of fulphxr, loco ditto of German steel,
iiooo flints, and 12 muskets with bayonets.
Extras of a letter from Providence, N. E.
,“ Yesterday a matter of a vessel arrived here from Ha
lifax, who made his escape from thence, with a number
of other ship matters:—he informs, that the fleet and
army are in a wretched condition, great part of the
latter being Fill on Clipboard; that garrets rent at 5 dol
lars per week, and that many of the officers and soldiers
curie Lord North as heartily as the Americans."
Extract of a letter from Montreal, May 1, 1776.
" On Sunday last arrived here, Baren Woedlke; and
Col. De Haas, with Mr. Joseph Terry, of this place, ac
companied by several other gentlemen of the army. And
on Monday the Committee of the Hon. Continental Con
gress, tor establishing and regulating the Continental af
fairs in this province, with the celebrated Dr. Franklin at
the" head. I hey were received on the beach at the port
de vaudrcuil by General Arnold, and the friends to li
berty, and a salute was fired from the Citadel* being
eicorted to head-quarters, they and a number of friends
to liberty spent the evening with decent mirth."
rhuifd a y last 24 Indians, the chiefs of several Indian
Nations, arrives here bom Albany: we hear they are to
let out for Philadelphia in a few days, in order to wait
on the Honourable Continental Congress.
Saturday last arrived here from New-London, a priva
teei sloop, in the Continental service, lately commanded
b) Capt. Hazard, but now by Captain Jones: —(he brought
some recruits for the army.
PHILADELPHIA, May 22.
A T a Meeting at fie State-House, on Monday last, of
I la very large number f the Inhabitant^of the City
and Libei ties of j liiladeiphia, upon cue notification,
Major John Bayard, as Chairman of the Committee of
l nd Observation of the City and Liberties
of I biladelphri, &c. informed the people that the meeting
was called at the request of a considerable number of
refpeftabie citizens. Whereupon Col. Daniel Roberdeau
was appointed to, and seated in the chair—and it was
Moved, That the Resolve of Congress, of the 15th inst.
be read M heieupon it was read in the following words.
f Far the Resolve es Congress fee the ffl Page.]
The people, in testimony of their warmelt approbation,
gave three cheers.