The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-04-10 00:00:00, page 2

viz. to expend millions of treasure, and thousands of lives,
in order to patch up a second re-union, that the way may be
open for a third quarrel; and in this endless and chequered
round of blood and treacherous peace, hath Cato disposed
of the Continent of America. That I may not be thought
to do C^to injustice, I have quoted the whole pafiage; " But
" should Britain be so infatuated, fays he, at any future period,
"as to think of subjugating us, cither by the arts of corrup
" tion, or oppressive exertions of power, can we entertain a
" doubt but we /ball AGAIN, with a virtue equal to the pre
" sent and with the -weapons of defence in our hands (when ne
" ceffary) convince her that we are willing, by a constitutional
'' connexion with her, to afford andreeeive reciprocal benefits;
" but although fubje&s of the fame King, ire will not consent
“ to be her slaves." Come hither ye little ones, whom
the poisonous hand of Cato is rearing for deftrudtion, and re
member the page that warns ye of your ruin!
Cato, in many of his expressions, difeovers all that calm
command over the passions and feelings, which always distin
guishes the man who hath expelled them from his heart. Of
this careless kind is the before mentioned phrafc ; " our pre
sent differences^" and the fame unpardonable negligence is
conveyed in the following one " Although I confides her, fays
" he, as having in her late conduct towards us, a&ed tie
" part of a cruel step dame." Wonderful sensibility indeed!
All the havoc and desolation of unnatural war ; the deftruc
ticn of thousands ; the burning and depopulating of towns
and cities ; the ruin and separation of friends and families,
are just fufficient to extort from Cato, this one callous confeffi
on. But the cold and creeping foul of Cato is a Granger to
the manly powers of sympathetic sorrow. He moves not, nor
can he move in so pure an element. Accustomed to lick the
hand that hath made him visible, and to breathe the grofi at
mofpherc of servile and sordid dependance, his foul would
now starve on virtue, andfuffocate in the clear region of dis
interested friendfhip.
Surely when Cato fat down to write, he either did not ex
pe& to be called to an account, or was totally regardless of
reputation, other wife, he would not have endeavoured to pcr
fuade the public, that, the dec-Line of Independance was
broached in a kind of seditious manner, at a time " when,
" fays he, fame gleames of reconciliation began firft to break in upon
" us." Come forth Cato and prove the assertion? Where do
these gleames of reconciliation spring from? Are they to be
found in the King's speech, in the address of either House of
Parliament, or, in the adt which lets loose a whole kennel of
pirates upon our property, and commissions another set
to insult with pardons, the very men, whom their own mea
sures had fought to ruin? Either prove the assertion, Cato, or
take the reward of it, for it is the part of an incendiary to en
deavour with specious falfhoods to mislead the credulity of
unwary readers. Cato likewise fays, that, while we continue
united, and renounce all thoughts of Independance, " that we
" have the utmost assurance of obtaining a full redress of our
" grievances and an ample fecurit, against any future violation
" of ourjuft rights." If Cato means to infatuate that we have
received such an aflurance, let him read the conclusion of the
proceeding paragiaph again. The fame answer will serve for
both.
Perhaps when we recollect the long and unabated cruelty
of the British court towards us, & remember the many prayers
which we have put up both to them and for them, that the
following piece of declamation of Cato, can hardly be equal
-ratoirCTrffitirf^ now effea inde
" petulance, fays he, we mult be considered as a faithlefs ,eo
" pie in the fight of all mankind, and could fared, expert the
" confidence far, nation upm earth, or look up to Heaven for its
" cppcuing sentence." Art thou mad, Cato, or art thou
fool/li —or art thou both—or ait thou worse than both? In
this peffsge thou haft fairly gone beyond me. I have not
language to bring thee back. Thou art fafely intrenched in
deed !—Reft thciefore in thy strong-bold till he who fortified
thee in it (hall come and fetch thee out.
Cato seems to be poffaffed of that jcfuitical cunning, which,
'always endeavours to disgrace what it cannot disprove; and
thistle sometimes effects by unfairly introducing our terms
into his arguments, and thereby begets a monster which he
fends round the country for a Show, and tells the good peo
ple that the name of it is independance. Of this character are
ftveral passages in his fourth and fifth letters, particularly,
where he quotes the term " foreign affiance," which he un
generously explains into a surrender of the Continent to
France and Spain ; such an unfair and fophiftieal reasoner doth
not deserve the civility of good manners. He creates, like
wise, the fame confufion by frequency using the word peace
for union, and thereby charges us falfly by representing us as
being determined to " reject all proposition of peace :"—
Whereas, our wish is peace, but not re-union; and though we
would gladly listen to the former, we are determined to refill
every proposal for the latter, come from where it will; being
fully peril: tried. that in the present date of affairs separation
^governments is the only and best thing that can be done for both
countries.
The following case is unjustly put. “ There never was a
“ war, fays Cato, so implacable, cvenamong dates naturally
“ rivals and enemies, or among savages thcmfelves, as not
“ to havener for its object as well as end." But was there
ever a war Cato, which had union for its object? No.
What Cato means by dates naturally rivals and enemies, I
Shall not enquire fato, but this I know (fer myfelf at lead)
that it was not in the power of France or Spain, or all the
Cato, while Britain hath the government of the Continent ?
Unlcfs we arc to foppofe, as you have hinted in the former
paragraph, that our oaks are to gr^w into fllips, and be
launched felfbuilt from their " native spots of earth." It is
Cato's misfortune, as a writer, not to distinguish jußly be
tween magic and imagination; while on the other hand there
arc many pillages in his letters so seriously and deliberately
t'alfe, th.it nothing but the most hardened effrontery, and a
Gift of mind bordering upon impiety would have uttered. He
frequently forces me out of the common trade of civil ian
gm.ge, in order to do him justice, moderation and temper
b mg really unequal to the talk of expoling; him.
Coo uncC lie meant to detiroy the ground he flood pp
oh, ought not to have let the following paragraph been seen.
“ If our present differences, fay's he, can be accommodated,
" there is Jc^ce a ,'obabil:t, that Britain will ever renew her
'• late fatal fyhem of policy, or attempt again to employ
" force againd us." How came Cato to admit the probability
of our being brought again into the fame bloody and expen
sive fixation ? But it is worth remarking, that thofe,.who
write without principle cannot help foinetimes blundering
upon truth. Then there is, no real feeurit,, Cato, in this
reconciliation/ of yours, on conjiitutional principles? It still
amounts to nothing; and after All this expence of life and
wealth, we arc to rest at laftupon hope, hazard, and un
certainty. Why then by all that is sacred "it is time to
pa c t."
But Cato after admitting the probability of our being brought
again into the fame situation, proceeds to tells us, how we
ac to conduct ourfcives in the second quarrel; and that is,
by the very fame methods we have done the present one,
Refolded, That any goods, wares and merchandizes, ex,
cept Slaves and empty calks, other than Shaken or knock'd
down cafles for molafles, may be exported from the Thirteen
United Colonies, by the inhabitants thereof, and by the peo
ple of all such countries as are not Subject to the King of
Great- Britain, to any parts of the world, which are not un
der the dominion of the said King : Provided that no velfel
be permited to expert any greater number of Shaken or
knock'd down molasses calks than the fame vessel is capable
of carrying when they Shall be tilled with molaffei
Resolved, That any goods, wares and merchandize, except
such as are of the growth, production or manufacture of, or
brought from any country under the dominion of the King
of Great-Britain, and except East-India tea may be import
ed from any other parts of the world, to the Thirteen United
Colonies, by the inhabitants thereof, and by the people of
other powers in Europe, tc have given such a wound, or
railed us to such a mortal ha' ed Britain hath done. We feel
the fame kind of undefcribi I anger at her condud, as we
would at the fight of an anamal devouring it's young: and
this particular fpecics of anger is not generated in the transi
tory temper of the man, but in the chaftc undcfiled womb of
nature.
Last Wednesday the two brigs belonging to the ministerial
fleet took a Small Sloop, a little to the eastward of this har
bour; and the next day one of the brigs, a schooner and a
small Sloop tender, took two large Sloops, one bound to Nan
tucket, loaded with provision, &c. and the other to the Weft-
Indies; and on Friday these cruisers took another large Sloop
just without Seconet Rocks.
Last Saturday arrived here the Nautillus Sloop of war from
Boston, with a small tender, and a schooner taken on her
passage.
A Town-Meeting was called to be held at Boston, by its
proper inhabitants, last Friday, the whole power of Great-
Britain having been employed to put a flop to town-meetings
in that place for about one year and nine months.
N E W-Y O R K, April 4.
Cato towards the conclusion of his third letter, (at which
place I dial! leave him for the present) compares the date of
Britain and America to the quarrels of lovers, and from thence
infers a probability, that our affc&ions will be renewed
thereby. This I cannot help looking on as one of the most un
natural and didorted similes that can be drawn. Come hither
ye that arc lovers, or ye that have been levers and decide the
controversy between us ? What comparison is there between
the foft murmurs of an heart mourning in secret, and the loud
horrors of war—between the silent tears of pensive sorrow,
and rivers of wafted blood—between the sweet ftrife of affec
tion, and the better drife of death—between the curable cala
mities of pettish lovers, and the fad fight of a thousand Hain.
" Get thee behind me," Cato, fox thou haft not the feelings
a man. The FORESTER.
Tuesday evening last, a number of our troops went and
set fire to all the buildings on Bedlow's-lfland, where the
men of war were entrenching and fortifying it, for an asy
lum for the tory refugees, burnt and brought off all their en
trenching tools, with a large number of white shirts and
great coats, &c. likewise an abundance of poultry of all
forts; the Asia fired on our people, but not one man either
killed or wounded.—Same evening, a barge, Sull of men,
supposed to be from the men of war, landed and endeavour
ed to set fire to the Air furnace, but they were timely dis
covered before much damage was done.
Aprils. The following is a true lift of the stores, &c. left
in Bolton by the ministerial troops, on evacuating that place.
100 pieces of cannon in town, from , to 3a pounders.
100 ditto, at the Castle.
4 mortars, 13 and a half inches, two of them with beds,
weighing 5 tons each.
afoo chaldrons of sea coal.
as,cco bushels of wheat.
2390 bushels of barley.
600 buShels of oats in one (tore.
160 jars of oil, containing me barrel each.
150 horses, marked G. R.
Tuesday afternoon five Battalions of the Continental
Troops now Stationed here, were reviewed by his Excellency
General Heath, on the green, near the Liberty Pole : They
made a martial appearance, being well armed, and went
through their exercise much to the fatisfa&ion of a great
concourse of the inhabitants of this city.
Wednesday night last arrived here from the camp at Cam
bridge, Brigadier General Putnam ; and the evening before
Col. Mifflin, Quarter-Master General of the American army,
arrived here from the fame place.
PHILAD ELP HI A.
In C O N G R E S S, April 6, r 7 76.
Philad Iphia, April $, 1776.
cfofoX^c^ofc^^cfo^otooßofoc^r^c&^c^oQob^ofo
WILLIAMSBURG H, (in Virginia) March % ~
There is a report that General Clinton is arrived at Cape
Fear, North Carolina, with the troops he brought with him
from Bellon, and that he has been since joined by ra or 1500
from England or the Weft-Indies. We iikewife hear that
the provincial troops are in motion, and marching from all
quarters to attack him ; so that we may soon expert to hear of
another battle in that province, which we hope will prove
equally glorious to the American arms as that which was, but
a few weeks ago, so fuccefsfully fought by the brave Colonel
Cafwell.— The account of General Clinton's return from
North-Carolina, and failing out of our capes again, was in
fested in the lift Gazette from the information of some gen
tlemen from Hampton; the Kingfisher, with a number of
tenders, and some prizes they had taken, having been
mistake n for the Mercury frigate and h itransports which
went out with Gen. Clinton, who, after lending up the prizes
to Norfolk, went out again upon another piratical cruise.
This day his Excellency Charles Lee, Esq; Major-General
in the continental army, arrived at head-quarters in this city,
to take the command of the Virginia troops, attended by Ot
way Byrd and Lewis Morris, Efqrs. his Excellency's aids-de
camp, his secretary, Mr. Nourlc, Mons. Leßrun, Engineer,
and the rest of his fuitc.
WATERTOW N, April r.
We hear that the enemy left about too pieces of cannon
at Castle-William; but each of them either with a trunnion
beat off or spiked up.
Near or quite all the enemy's fleet lay below the castle
till Tuesday last, when a considerable part of them (said to
b#about one half) put to sea. The remainder (except five
Ships of war) failed on Wednesday afternoon.
Thegeneral opinion is, that the enemy's fleet and army,
lately fled from Boston, are bound for Halifax
Since our last Col Mifflin, Quarter- Matter General of the
American army, set out from Cambridge for New-York.
Thursday last General Sullivan, with his brigade of the
Continental forces, began their march for the fame place.
The man of war building at Portsmouth for the Conti
nental fervicc, will, it is said, be ready to launch in about a
month.
NEWPORT, (Rhode-fed) April 1.
Extrafl of a letter from Batflo, near F.„-Harbour, April 3.
" Tuesday, the second inst a inab boat belonging to &
small sloop from Dartmouth, bound to Philadelphia, w u
Continental service, came on shore at Tuckers, on Futt
Beach, in whom came the Captain, Mate, and three for*
mast men, belonging to said sloop, which was taken -he.
firft instant in the evening by a King's tender, from out of
Sandy-Hook, who boarded and riffled her of every thio
valuable cu board : after which they let fire to her ao.
burnt her to the water edge. They had on board lehr
from the provincial Congress of Dartmouth to the Continental
Congress, which fell into the hands cf the enemy. TG
Capt. has one of his thighs broke, and a mufker ball thie,"
the other, and the Mate is badly wounded in tie buLL
They had no alternative, but to take to their boats, and
trust to the mercy of the waves, or to fray on hoard th: -
vessel and petifh in the flames A gentieman, who w%
lately taken prisoner off Barnagat, was on board, and g..^
intelligence, that ^he said tender intended to come into &,-
inlet with the firft north-weft wind, to take ofl the caH^
from the beaches, and deflroy all die veffcls that were ^
here. The tender is a small (loop, of about 40 tons bur
then, mounted with two fix pounders, four four pourf ^
some fwivcls, and feme small arms, with 36 men ma b°a-.
After the sloop had (buck to the tender, and dig were ch^
aboard, they gave her a full brod-hde, which is a pieor
of inhumanity, scarcely to be equalled.
" There was a brig seen off the inlet last Monday morn
ing about eight o'clock, which made a signal for apiktt^
come, but did not get one. This morning several gur>
were heard off the inlett, and die beat of drums.''
all such countries as are not subject to the said King, liable
however to all such duties and impositions as now arc or may
hereafter be laid by any of the said Colonies.
Resolved, That nothing herein contained Shall be under
flood to prevent such future commercial regulations as Shall
be thought just and neceSTary by these United Colonies or
their refpe&ive legislatures.
Re/olved, That no Slaves be imported into any of the 1 hir
teen United Colonies.
Refilled, That it be recommended to the AfTemblies and
Conventions in the several <oonics to appoint proper officers
at convenient places in their refpe&ive Colonies to take
bonds in adequate penalties, for observing the regulations
made by the Congress or Assemblies or Conventions, concern
ing trade, and for securing the observation of such parts of
the Affociatiun as are not inconfittent therewith, and that
the obligor Shall within eighteen months after the departure
of the vessel, produce to such officers a certificate under the
hands and seals of three or more reputable merchants residing
at the port or place where the cargo Shall be delivered, that
the fame was there unladed, and take manifefts upon oath of
the cargoes exported and imp rted, and keep fair accounts
and entries thereof, give bills of health when desired, grant
registers, Skewing the property of 0 the vessels cleared ou; , and
Sign certificates that the requisites tor qualifying vrffels to
trade have been complied with, and that the fees of the said
officers be Stated by the refpeaive Assemblies or Conven
tions.— Provided always, that no prosecution upon any of
the said bonds Shall be commenced but within three yean
after the date thereof.
By Order of the CONGRESS.
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
Extras of a letter from Nev-Yoik, April 8, 177^.
' Yetterday it was reported in town that three men of
war were arrived at Sandy-Hook; one of them came up in
the morning to the watering place, near Staten Illind, (said
to be the Viper) and sent her boat on Shore with rx men;
a number of our rifle men being there, made an attack on
them and took them all prisoners, wounding one.—The flop
began a heavy fire at 9 o'clock, and continued until three
A. M. and then was obliged to cut her ©able, quit her Rati
on, and drop down below the Narrows, without (o<fo, a
top fail, on account st our men picking the Seamen off. —
We have since taken up their cable and anchor.—The
Ship Dutchefs of Gordon, where Governor Tryon and a
number of his alleviates are, left the Noh Riv < Saturday
night last, and is gone down either to the Phceirx or the H ok.
A number of our guns were hauled to the tort and bat ery
yesterday, and we are pieparing as last as possible to receive
the gentry if they c me up"
Extract of a letter from Savannah in Georgia, dated February ~
" We have now, and have had for some time pad two,
three and tour men of war in our port, one of which is Rati
oned here. Since their arrival they have not permitted any ves
sels to come up to town, though this we rather believe is owing
to our having refufed them any admittance to our town tc
purchase provisions, which it is probab c may be allowed
them ia a few days, in which case we presume they will per
mit all vessels to come up that is legally cleared, but any ochc
it is no doubt they will make a prize of. There is the Raven
Scarborough of ao guns, Tamar 16 guns, a d Cherokee me,
of war in our port, besides which they hav generally an arm
ed schooner on the coail Tht Scarborough of ao guns is Rati
oned here lire relieved the Raven ; the others we w at Charief
town, but were obliged to quit it for wan of provisions; we
presume they will return there as fcon as they get supplied.
At present there is no men of war in any of the ports of
South-Carolina, they have always a pilot beat cut to fpeal
vessels."
At an Election of Field Officers for the Riffl' Battalion
of this County, on the Bth instant, rhe following Gentlemen
were appointed, viz. Timothy Matlack, C^lon~l; Daniel
Clymer, Lieut. Colonel; Lawrence Herbert, First Major; and
George Miller, Second Major.
The Roebuck man of war at our Capes, on Friday lap
put to sea and returned on Saturday, having taken a schooner
commanded by Seymour Hood, wi<h naval Hores from
North-Carolina for this port. — They took 30 bariels out of
the schooner arid then scuttled her.— the people they lent
ashore in their boat.
A lift of letters for J' ladelpb'a, now in New-York,
brought by the last packa'd may be seen at the Lennen
Coffee-Houfe ^tl
On Monday last the folk wing Gentlemen were chefen
Dite&ors and Treasurer of the^hiUdelpbia Contributionflnp,
for the Insurance of houses from fcfi hy fire; for the enfui%
year, viz, Samuel Shoemaker, Jacob Simcroaker, Peter Reeve,
Gunning Bedford, Joshua Howell, David Dafhler, Jonathan
Evans, Michael Hillegas, Joseph Fox. Samuel Wciherill, jun.
Luke Morris, George Roberts, Directors, and Samuel San
fom, Treasurer.
Resolved, That all goods, wares and merchandize, except
such as are made prize of, which Shall be imported dt.TLy
or indirectly from Great-Britain or Ireland, into any of
these United Colonies, contrary to the regulations eftabtiih
ed by Congress, Shall be forfeited and dilpofed of agreea
ble to such rules as Shall be made by the several Assem
blies or Conventions, and (hall be liable to profecudoa
and condemnation in any Court, erected or to be created
for the determination of maritime affairs, in the Colony
where the seizure Shall be made.