The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-04-17 00:00:00, page 2

Meffieti^ HAtt aid SEttER&
HAVING been favoured with a fight of several let
ters on political fubjedts lent by the last Packet, and
recollecting that one of them treated on Mr. Hartley's
Plan, frnce published in the Pennsylvania Ledger, I have
obtained a copy, with pefmiffion to fend it to you.
Extract of a letter to London, Marc&Q4, 1776.
After mentioning the evacuation of Boston, he fays,
" go where they will, their landing will be opposed with
the utmost efforts the country can make, and though
they may make an impression at their firff attempt, yet
wherever they land they will be immediately followed. —
What horrid frenzy possesses the minds of the King and
Miniitry, thus to facrifice the lives of so many brave men
cn oota fide;. —I have often said (in my former letters)
that the forces of England cannot conquer America, and
I am more convinced of it now than ever. —The friends
to peace have long been flattering themselves with expect
ing proposals of accommodation on your part, for our
Con^refs have done all that men could do, in their last
petition, by requeuing the King to point out some mode
of reconciliation; but alas! we hear of nothing but fub
miffim. Commidioners are talked of, yet their powers
and their bulinejs are undefined; those who are molt sus
picious expert nothing from them, whillt others cannot
give up the hope of an honourable reconciliation. Mr.
Hartley's plan (which you have favoured me with, toge
ther with your comments) so far as it refpedts a " perma
nent reßoration of harmony," is certainly a principal ob
ject, and the bill of “ indemnity and oblivion" is also
very proper, because Americans, hereafter landing in
England, might meet with trouble: His bill refpetting
" slaves" is undoubtedly upon humane principles, but he
has flipped into the error which Englishmen, under imme
diate fubjefti>n to Parliament, find it very difficult to
avoid: he should consider that the Americans cannot
consent to the operation of the cvijefl and bfl a& that a
British Parliament could frame, if it meddles with inter
nal matters; and his proposal to annul, by such aft, all
laws repugnant to the regulations therein to be made, is
of the mod dangerous tendency ; for if Parliament has
the power of annulling bad laws, existing in the colonies,
it also has the power of annulling good laws; and as they
would always undertaketo become the only judges in the
case, our liberties would stand upon slippery ground,
I know he meant to serve the general cause of liberty, but
he has certainly mistaken the means. Before a happy re
conciliation can take place, this positive doctrine mult be
eftabhlhed, that no law shall ever pass the legislature of
Great Britain, that will act as eompulfory to do, or pro
hibitory to present, if its operation is to have effect in
ternail^iw the colonies. The only a@s which can ever
bind America must refpe& foreign trade, and this mult
be handled with the utmost caution and judgment. If
he had proposed a law to difeourage theflaie-trade, to be
binding on the African traders in England, it would be a
noble object, and worthy of the humanity of a Hartley.
“ You will by this ship, and the last, have many pub
lications upon independence; it is a doctrine which has
spread very faft amhngß us; and unless your ministry
Should make some overtures that can be received with ho
nour, I fear we shall be obliged to take the dreadful leap,
and try the fatal experiment. There are some amongst
us so ripe for reparation, that they abhor the thought of
even treating with Commißioners, and think we can
fland alone; that we can stand alone, 1 wont pretend to
deny, but that we shall hand fafer and firmer, whilst con
nected with England, I am mod firmly of opinion ; and
if ever I give my voice for cutting the cord of union, it
will be as matter of necefity, not of choice. I well know
that the warmed friends we have amongst you will be
Blocked at the idea of American Independence, but rest
assured, if ever it takes place, that you have only to
thank the ministry for it: The majority amongst us, I
believe, still wiiii for a re union, but how long they will
continue in that mind depends upon the conduct of the
Commifßoners."
I am quite; of opinion with the letter writer with re
fped to Mr. Hartley's proposal of the save-bill, and the
more so, as he offers it for a test of Subordination, but
the principle of the bill itfelf I hope to fee one day taken
up by every Assembly upon the Continent, and that ab
solute uninfringed liberty may reign through a land now
contending tor its dearest rights; for I will venture to de
clare, that no fufficient authority, human or divine, can
be produced in support of the ptadice that has unhappily
obtained amongst us, and that every argument we use in
the prefect difyute with Great Britain applies with re
doubled force in the mouth of an injured African.
LETTER CARRIER.
WATER T O W N, April 8.
Last Wednesday Capt. Manly took and sent into Be
verly, a large brig, after some refinance. This vessel was
purchased by William Jackson, at the Brazen-head, who
with Crean Brufli, and a number of others, women and
children, were oh board, besides a ferjeant and 12 pri
vates of the 4th or King's own regiment, who are made
prisoners. She was bound for Halifax, and has on board
a variety of articles; Ilie is estimated to be worth about
75,0001. Rerling.
N E WP O R T, April 8.
Last Friday the ministerial fleet went a little without
the mouth of our harbour, and in the evening they all
returned and anchored between Gould-Island and Cod
dington's Point, except the Glasgow of 24 guns, and a
fmad tender, which kept out all night# —As soon as it
was light the next morning, a party of the troops Ra
tioned on this illand got down two of their 18 pounders
upon the point, and played so well upon those worse than
Algerine rovers, that they hulled the Rose 2 or 3 times,
the Nautilus once or twice, and sent one Ihot through
and through one of the armed tenders, upon which Capt,
Wallace, of the Rose, sent off a boat to cut away the
buoy of his anchor, then flipped his cable, and made off
as t<ll as poodle, arid the rest of his Beet followed in the
utmost hurry and confufion, having tired about 15 can
non upon our people without the least effect, though they
flood in coufiderable numbers as open as they could well
be, without the bast bread-work or other shelter.
For several hours before, and during the above engage
ment, a vast number of cannon were heard from the S.
E. and about sunrise, 8 or 10 fail of ships, brigs, &c. were
seen a iittle to the eastward of Block-Id :nd, and indeed
the fhfhes of th. cannon were seen by dime people about
day break. These things caused much speculation; but
in a few hours the mystery was somewhat cleared up, for
away came the poor Glafgoiv, under all the fail the could
set, yelping from the mouths of her cannon (as bad as a
broken lege ed dog) in token of her being sadly wounded:
And though the fettled away, and hailed the most of
her lads, just before (he came into the harbour, it was
plainly perceived by the holes in those she hadftanding,
and by the hanging of her yards, that the had been treat
ed in a Very rough manner.—The other veficls fcen off
Rood tip the ,weheth found ; and by very authentic intelli
gence, received on Saturday evening, we are fully con
vinced; they were 12 fail of the Continental Navy, very
deeply laden with cannon, mortars, cannon-lhot, bombs,
and other warlike stores, from the Weft-Indies; so that
it is probable their precious cargoes were the foie cadfe of
Mrs. Glasgow's mating her escape; her tender it is sup
posed was taken ; as also the bomb brig, and a fchooncr,
which had been out near a week in search of prey.
As soon as the Glasgow got in, the Rose, Capt. Wal
lace, the Nautilus, Capt. Collins, the Swan, Capt. Ayf
cough, with feverai tenders and pirated prizes, flood out
to sea, leaving the Glasgow, a large fnew, and two small
Hoops, at anchor, about three quarters of a mile from
Brenton's point. —The ensuing night, a party of troops
carried one 18 plunder, one 9, one 6, and two 4 pound
ers on said point; and early yesterday morning faulted
the Glasgow with such warmth that the flipped her cable,
and pulhed up the river without firing a gun, under all
the fail the could make, and the others followed with
great precipitation. By the terrible cracking on board
the Glasgow, the noile and confufion among her men,
'tis thought the cannon did good execution —The wind
fhifting to the northward about noon, those vessels run
down the back of Conanicut, and Ro Rout to sea, sup
posed to have gone in quest of Capt. Wallace, to make
a woeful complaint of the incivility of the YANKIES!
Yesterday in the forenoon, as a company of American
regulars were getting up the cable and anchor which the
Glasgow had a little before left in her great fright, a large
prize sloop came in, which Wallace had carried out with
him the day before ; and it being a very thick air, and the
expecting to find the Glasgow lying where the was left,
got dole in with the boat before they discovered her,
when the boat immediately laid her aboard, and brought
her in here. She had on board 7 men, and one woman.
This sloop was loaded with flour, &c. and was, when
taken by the pirates, bound from Maryland to Providence.
Last week nine men deserted from the minillerial navy
on this station, and brought off three boats.
N E W - Y O R k, April 11.
By a gentletnan who was present last Lord's day, on
Staten Island, about nine miles from this city, we are in
formed, that the riflemen who were Rationed on that
island to guard it against the depredations of the mini
sterial robbers on board the King's ships in the Bay, had
received intelligence, that the Savage sloop and a tender
had come as near the fhbre as they could with fafety, and
had sent on Ihore two of their boats and a number of
men, who had placed a centinel with his musket and co
lours on an eminence; when our riflemen appeared the
the centinel fired, struck his colours, and ran for the shore
with all his speed; in the mean time the flrip began firing
to cover the embarkation of her men, who were all flying
to their boats, but our brave riflemen, with unparalleled
Agility, out-ran them, and notwithstanding the fire from
the drip, furrouuded the men, took ten of them prisoners,
and secured one of their boats, the other pushed off and
two men in it; one of the riflemen ran after it in the
water, but miffing his grasp, fired and killed one of the
men, who fell over board, the other by lying on his back
rowed to his vessel. The Savage kept up a continual fire
for some hours, without the least hurt to any of our men,
who lay snug behind the rocks, and defied their thunder,
and at lucid intervals fired at the ship. One man was seen
to tumble off the quarter-deck into the water, whom they
took to be an officer. More, it is thought, were killed.
In a few hours there was not one man on board the ship
appeared on deck ; the tender flipt her cable, and the ship
cut hers, and both fell down with the tide, which proved
kinder to them than the riflemen. Among the prisoners
is one Killigrew, who had been rone qf our pilots, but
was base enough to desert his country's cause, and assist
its enemies; however the fox is caught.
Monday night 1000 of the continental troops Rationed
here, went over and took poffefiion of the Governor's
island, and began to fortify it; the fame night a regi
ment went over to Red Hook, and fortified that place
likewise.
April T 5. Wednesday morning arrived in the harbour,
23 transports from the eastward, having on board the
brigade commanded by General Sullivan.
Saturday last his Excellency General Washington
arrived here fre m Cambridge, attended by Palfrey,
Esq; his Aid de camp, Horatio Gates, Esq; Adjutant-ge
neral, and several other gentlemen of diftinftion.
We hear his Majefly's fliips Phoenix, Savage and Nau
tilus, now on this Ration, will fall down to Sandy-Hook
this day or to-morrow.
On the 3d of March last, a son of Mr. Peter Wakeman
was baptifed in Greenfield, Connecticut, by the name of
Charles Lee, and on the 24th, a son of Capt. Jonathan
Dimon, now in the continental service, by the name of
Richard Montgomery; and a son of Mr. James Good
fel, by the name of John M'Pherson. —May the chil
dren live and possess the patriotic virtues of those distin
guished perfous, whom their parents and every friend to
his oppressed and bleeding country with to be kept in
grateful remembrance till time ffiall be no more.
The famous, or rather infamous, Joshua Barns, from
Philipfburg, in West-Chester county, has lately been very
busy in inlifting men for Gov. Tryon's service, who were
to be called the Governor's Life Guards; he told his re
cruits that they would bear the character of gentlemen,
and meet with extraordinary good usage; he prevailed
upon some deluded people to join him ; but on Monday
evening fix of these new made gentlemen landing en the
Jersey shore near Powles-Hook were all taken prisoners,
and are now in close confinement.
Head-barters, Ne^w-York, April 8, 1776.
The General informs the inhabitants, that it is become
abfolntely necessary that all communication between the
ministerial fleet and shore should be flopped,—for that
purpose has given positive orders, the ships should no
longer be furnifhed with provisions: Any inhabitant, or
others, who shall be taken that have been on board (after
the publishing of this order) or near any of the ships, or
going on board, will be considered as enemies, and treat
ed accordingly.
All boats are to fail from Beekman's-Slip; Capt. James
Abler is appointed Infpedtor, and will give permits for
oyftermen: It is expected and ordered that none attempt
going wrthout a pass. ISRAEL PUTNAM,
Major-General in the Continental Army, and Com
mander in Chief of the Forces in New-York.
PHILADELPHI A, April 17.
Extract of a Letter from Eseck Hopkins, Esq; Com
mander in Chief of the American Fleet, to the President
of the Congress, dated on board the Ship Alfred, Ne<w-
London Harbour, April 9, 1776.
“ When I put to sea, on the 17th of February, from
Cape-Henlopen, not thinking we were in a condition to
keep on a cold coast, I appointed our rendezvous at
AbaGGo, one of the Bahama Mlands-
“ I arrived at the rendezvous, in order td' wait for
them fifteen days, agreeable to orders. I then formed an
expedition against New-Providence,, which I put in exe
cution the third of March, by landing two hundred ma
rines under the command of Capt. Nicholas, and fifty
sailors under the command of Lieut. Weaver, of the
Cabot, who *as well acquainted there. The fame day
they took possession of a small fort, of seventeen pieces
of cannon, without any pppdfition, save five guns which
were fired at th^m' without doing any damage. I re
ceived, that evening, an account that they had two hun
dred and odd men in the main fort, all inhabitants. I
then caused a nwnifefto to be published, the purport of
which was, that the inhabitants and their property should
be Rife, if they did not qppofe me in taking p®ffeffion of
the fort and King's ffofes. This had the defined effect,
for the inhabitants left the fort almost alone. Captain
Nicholas, by my order, sent to the Governor for the keys
of the fort, which were delivered, and the troops march
ed directly in, where we found the several warlike stores
agreeable to the inventory inclofed; but the Governor
sent one hundred and fifty barrels of powder off in a small
sloop the night before. I have paken the Governor,
Montford Brown, the Lieut. Governor, who is a half
pay officer, and Mr. Thomas Irwin, who is a Counfellor
and Collector of his Maj eftys quit rents in South-Caro
lina ; and it appears, by the Court Callendhr, that he is
also Infpedor General of his Majeßy's Customs of North-
America. Since we came out, we have loft company
with the Wasp.
" The fourth inflaut we fell in with the eaR end of
Long-Island, and took the fchooncr —• ——„ commanded
by young Wallace, of fix carriage guns and eight swivels;
and the fifth we took the bomb brig of eight guns and
two howitzers, ten swivels and forty-eight hands, well
found with all forts of stores, arms, powder, &c. The
sixth in the morning we fell in with the Glasgow, and her
tender, and engaged her near three hours. We loft fix
men killed, and as many wounded. The Cabot had
four men killed, and seven wounded, the Capt; is among
the latter. The Columbus had one man who loft his
arm. We received a confidcrable damage in our ship,
but the greatest was in having cur wheel rope and blocks
foot away, which gave the Glasgow time'to make fail,
and I did not think proper to follow, a^ it would have
brought on an action with the whole of their fleet, and 1
had upwards of thirty of our best fcarnen on board the
prizes. I therefore thought it most prudent to give over
the chace, and lecure our prizes, and having taken the
Glasgow's tender, arrived the seventh with a Ithe fleet.
“ Among thedead are Mr. Sinclair Seymour, Mafterdf
the Cabot, a good officer; Lieut. Wilson, of the Cabot;
and Lieut. Fitzpatrick, of the Alfred.
" The officers all behaved well on board the Alfred;
but too much praise cannot be given to the officers of
the Cabot, who gave and sustained the whole fire fol
some confiderabie time, within pistol Ihot."
Inventory of STORES, taken at Fort Montague.
March 3, 1776.
17 Cannon, from 9 to 36 pounders.
I 240 Round shot.
.121 Shells.
81 Iron trucks for carriages.
22 Copper hoops.
2 Copper powder meafurcs.
I Worm.
I Ladle.
Some old iron, copper and lead.
STORES taken at Fort Naffiu, March 4, 1776.
71 Cannon, from 9 to 32 pounders.
15 Mortars, from 4 to 11 inches diameter, and beds.
5337 Shells.
9831 Round shot, and 165 chain and double head ditto.
140 Hand grenadoes.
816 Fuzes, or falfe fires.
99 Spunges, rammers and worms.
46 Copper Ladles.
407 Copper hoops, and 5 copper powder measures.
220 Iron trucks for carriages.
3 Bells.
24 Calks of powder.
A quantity of match rope, not weighed.
2 Double blocks, with brass fheafs.
I Scale-beam, 1 hammer, 3 tanned hides.
2 Boxes of tallow candles.
4 barrels of flour, 4 ditto bread, 4 ditto beef.
Part of a calk of spirit, 1 fun-dial, and 1 Englilh flag,
fublijbed by Order of Con^refs,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Extrafl of a letter from an Officer on board the Alfred fbf:
of <war, dated Neau-London harbour, April 10, 1776.
" I doubt not but you have heard of our arrival at this
place, and of owr engagement with the Glasgow man of
war, of which I shall now give you some particulars :
" On the 4th instant we made the caftend of Long
Island, and discovered the Columbus, who had parted
from us the night before, to windward, with a schooner
of fix guns (one of Capt. Wallace's tenders) which she
had taken in the morning. We made Rlock-lfland in the'
afternoon, when the Commodore ordered the brigs to
stand in for Rhode-Ifland, to fee if any more of the fleet
were out, and to join us the next morning, which was
accordingly done, without feeing any vessel except a
New-York sloop, which Capt. Biddle brought to the fleet,
and after her papers were examined she was released. At.
day-light we discovered a brig to leeward, made fail, soon
came up with, and after a few shot took her; Rie proved
to be the bomb-brig belonging to Wallace's fleet, mount
ing 8 guns and 2 howitzers, commanded by one Snead,
a Lieutenant in the navy. We continued to cruize all
day within fight of Block-Iffand, and in the evening took
a brig and sloop from New-York, and have brought both
into port with us, not being fatisfied as to their clear
ances. At sun-set we were 12 fail in all, and had a very
pleasant evening: At half paR one Twas awaked by the
cry of all hands to quarters. —We were soon ready for
action, the main body of my company, with my firft
Lieutenant, being placed in the barge on the main-deck,
and the remaining part, with my 2d Lieutenant and my«
felf, on the quarter-deck. We soon discovered a large
ship standing directly for us. The Cabot was foremoß
in the fleet, our ship close after, not more than 100 yard,
behind, but to windward withall. When the brig came
close up she was hailed by the fuip, which we then learn
ed was the Glasgow man of war. The brig immediate
ly fired a broad-fide, and received a return two-fold,
which, owing to the weight of metal, dama ; ed her so
much in her hull and rigging, that fhe,was obs, -d to re
tire for a while to refit. Our ship thep can; ip (hot
having it in our power to fire a shot before without hurt
ing the brig) and engaged her fide by fide for 3 gfaffes,
as hot as it could pofiibly be on both sides. The firff
broadside she fired, my 2d Lieutenant fell dead by my
fide, having a musket-ball through his head. In him 1
have last a worthy officer, a sincere friend, and aeom