The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-06 00:00:00, page 2

Messieurs ll A t L And SELLER S.
A FTER premfing, that in the following essay yoti are
by no means to expect a formal answer to the piece
f^ned Rationales in your lift paper; I would inform yob,
that in a company where the important doctrine of Inde
pendancy was pretty thoroughly agitated, a few evenings
ago, I gathered the plan of the moderate man to be, for
bearing arris and repelling the force that might be sent
against America, till Great-Britain would grow weary of
the enterprize, and be willing to make up with us on equi
table terms; This he urged to be necelfafy for the seasons
tommoidy produced to nvaintaih that portion, as our de
scent from Britain, our connection by blood, interest, hn^
guag% laws, constitutions, religion, commerce, &c. with
its inhabitants ; our need of the national protection, if at
tacked by any foreign power, and the lullaby of our hav
ing Lem a very happy and flourishing people during our
dependance upon the parent date.
To all this was answered, that there were certain timc3
when minor Rates, as well as persons, became capable to
judge and art for themselves; that the obligations for pa
rental care and protection could never extend so far, as to
entitle the former to oppress the latter in,demands of an
indefinite cpnfideration for such favour ; and finally, that.
tinlefs the minor Rate should at feme certain time be al
lowed to hrve power to depate, and fettle the quantum
due for protection, and choose whether it comply with
such certain terms, or give up the protection offered, they
Were by no means on an equal footing with natural per
sons, who, at a moderately early age, were at full liberty
to leave their parents, and do the belt they were able for
themselves. America, it was observed, was not sent out
a colony at the charge of Great-Britam, and, for all the
protection afforded her, might well be esteemed an orphan
instead of a child ; and with all the clamour railed on that
head, with intention to lull the people into a fubmiflion
to the molt ruinous exactions, were a fair account Rated,
it would be found that the balance in favour of America
would amaze all mankind ! It was further observed, that
the efforts used to persuade the Americans they are in a
Rate of perpetual non-ageand dependance difeovers feme
thing very different from maternal affection or common
justice. If minors labour for parents, they are also sup
posed to be provided for in all things by them, and to be
come lords of all they pofflfs at certain periods. Here the
parallel fails refpeCting Rates, each of which is presumed
immortal. It remaining, therefore, that the American
Rates are neither the provinces, colonies, nor children of
Great-Britain, any more than of Holland, Ireland or
Germany, and that from their very fcttlement Britain
ineaned rather to milk than suckle them, the pretended
right to controul their manufactures and commerce, to
fell them che lands at a heavy purchase, aridhubjea to an
enslaving quitrent, which were in great part gained by
their own blood and treasure, is founded in prefumptibn
of flip riot force rather than solid reason. Luxury (and
the Search of ways and means to support it) is arrived to
such a pitch in Britain, that the junto, who have usurped
a tyrannic power, want provinces to drain of wealth, as
their patterns, the debauched Romans, had. Many are
found so bate, as to be willing their countrymen Should
become tributary to such vultures, if they might have.a
fmill pittance for gathering thetax —yea, even on condi
tion it were demanded at the point of the bayonet. Here
is the true foundation of the claim of Great-Britain, and
here is ifr. undeniable cause of the support this claim finds
in America! What then are the honest, industrious and
independent freemen of America to do in this case? My
guide I have id long followed tells us. Declare independ
ance immediately! Issue a manifefto, containing a full
view of our rights, our grievances, and the unwearied
applications we have made for their redress! Apply to the
Rate of whole readiness and power to ahift us we have
undoubted affurauce. A. negkrt to improve the openings
given us for that putyofe may iufpire those statesmen with
relentment, and incite them to accept overtures from our
enemies, and then we may indeed become Provinces ! If
we can withstand the tyrant of Britain without allies, we
can, inconteftibly, letter withßand him with an ally that
has ever commanded a very complatfant behaviour from
him. This ally can with for nothing more, than such
flare of our commerce as will be convenient to both par
ties ; and as that must be rather a gain than loss to us, we
must be stupid beyond conception to delay the measure.
England has long protested Portugal, for a much less lu
crative trade than we would carry on with France. Men
must be viry blind, who cannot fee the fairnefs, the open
nets and fafety of this obvious road to honour, wealth,
freedom and internal happiritfs. By how many ways
does Divine Fh evidence invite us to emancipate ourselves
from a Rate, which, remained in, would be the ruin of our
posterity, as certainly aS they became human beings. Let
prejudiced mortals dream what they may, and confound
the ignorant with their jargon, freedom and dependancy
are opposite and irrcconcileable terms ; and depeudancy on
a power, over which we have no influence nor controul,
is slavery, or lam yet ignorant of the term. The petty
tyrants of every country always with to have the people
dependant on such a power; for, under colour of autho
rity from that power, they can carry on their oppressions,
Vexations and depredations, and when they are expostu
lated with on the occasion, they are sorry indeed they are
put upon so disagreeable a service, but what can they do?
such are their express orders! I am widely mistaken, if
nine tenths of the clamour railed against American inde
pendency do not arise from that quarter. They tell you,
" they had rather be governed by the mild and wife tows
of Great-Britain, than the decrees of an American mob."
The truth is, neither they, nor their principals, with to
be governed by any laws that will effectually secure the li
berty and property of the people from their ravenous
clutches. If the people, by any means, obtain an ade
quate Glare in the legislature of this country, they know
their visions of golden Mountains, and millions of acres
of tenanted foil, wdl all vanish, and themselves remain in
the defpifid rank of their honest and contented neigh
bours. iam apt to think, however, that both principals
and accomplices for once overshot themselves, and carried
the matter too far for a Safe and honourable retreat. Cir
cumstances have Strangely co-operated to open feenes,
which no human forefight could have viewed in their full
latitude. And what is there now wanting to compleat
the triumph of the friends of human nature, but a little
fortitude, patience and perseverance? All Europe must
Allow, that while America was in the greatest good hu
mour with her old mother, a scheme was laid to keep up
a large handing army in her capital towns, and to tax her
at pleasure for the support of it. They fee that, from
time to time, the molt fraudulent and violent measures
have been takcM to support their entirely unprecedented
tlaim, till at led, drained of their national troops, they
free applied for abidance to other nations. By the law
of nations, we were discharged from our allegiance the
moment the army was potted among us without bur con
htt, wr a finale farthing taken from us in like manner;
either of these being fundamental fdbverfions of the con
stitution; It remains entirely with ourselves to have am
ple justice done to us; We have nothing to do but declare
off, and appeal to the droit des gens. A very refpe&able
power has given as unequivocal proofs as can be wished,
of her disposition to right us. Even the body M' the peo
ple minifcft the warmest deiire to form a friendly alliance;
witness the assiduous refpert Shewn' to a private gentle
man, whom they only fufp rted to be a Delegate from
the Congress; And on the other hand, what does all the
hurry of appointing Commissioners, and no one knows
what, on the other fide the British channel indicate ? Be
tides the discoveries of Cassandra, I will venture to affirm,
that our ambitious mailer at length begins to fear in good
eatneft, that the firing drawn too tight will break, and
leave all his colonies to make new bargains for themselves.
Obstinate and mulish as he is, h # amot longer perfuado
himfelf that two such potent communities as France and
North-America will negiert such a fortunate opportunity,
to pay themselves the prodigious fume he has damaged
them in a few pad years. Aye, Dy feme moderate men,
that is our fear, that France will be for invading Canada
or the Floridas, and thus we Shall be for ever involved in
war. Nothing, I confefs, is more probable, if France
can have nothing to expert from us in an amicable and
Commercial way; but, e contra, if we cast offher ancient
enemy, there Rill remain islands, which, from present ap
pearances, she has some eye upon. From what has hap
pened in the Mediterranean, it seems die is now no way
Ikittilh about affronting Oceana onher own element.
I cannot express my contempt of those wretches, who
fay, let us by all means defend ourselves against the vio
lence of administration till we bring them to reasonable
terms, and then unite again, as we fhali ever Stand in great
need of the protection of Great-Britain. I verily believe
a party among us feels much need of foreign protection;
but a people who can make the proudest tyrant in. Europe
talk of Hanoverians, Hcffiins, Ruffians, Scotch-Dutch
men, and half an caßcrn world, even while they are in the
very infancy of preparation for defence, need not keep
such a puling and whining about protection.
I mutt again exclaim, I cannot have patience with such
incontinent mortals, as diffuse us from, accepting assist
ance from a power who has at present no possible claim
upon us, nor can Cverdemand more than we voluntarily
and expressly Stipulate, and that when we ate in actual
war with a power, by themselves called the most formid
able in Europe, and yet press us to fight that power alone,
and bring her to terms, that we may enjoy her protection.
If such do not with to have us reduced, rather than pro
te&ed, by the arms of Great-Britain, I am a novice in
politics.
One word concerning these august Commissioners we
bear so much of every day. Those Americans, who flat
ter themselves their million bodes any advantage to the
country in general, will find themselves as much deceived
as they have hitherto been by any similar declaration. The
true Rate of the case is limply this, their efforts to subdue
us to their absolute command have founded through every
court in Christendom, yea, in all quarters of the world,
and they canpot keep themselves from doubting of the„
success. Now a formidable armament is to come, and
with them the commissioners, to receive fubmifiion, and
grant pardons on the most humiliating terms they can re
duce us to, that they may let Europe know their great
power in reducing their rebellious fubjedts to a genie of
their duty. They are certain their time is short, they
therefore aim to put as good a face upon the matter as
possible, but at any rate to put an end to it for the present,
Rill retaining so much acknowledged power as will fink
us into slavery, whenever they find a proper opportunity
to exercise it.
Finally, by the most unconstitutional, cruel and unjust
measures, they have driven us to arms; we have emitted
millions on the credit of the United Colonics, those mil
lions must be funk by the power which issued them, or a
fund of the like kind can never again be effablifhed in
America. Had our enemies no other object in view than
the diferedit of the Continental Currency, it would be
fufficient to engage them to fend a good number of emis
saries, on any pretence which might give them opportuni
ty to effect it. One deposit we have in our hands, which
will solidly fund all the money we will need during the
contest, which mus tinevitably be given up by the most
favourable negotiation we can possibly flatter ourselves to
expert, Surely a declaration of confifcation on one fide
will warrant reprisal on the other. This is not only just
in point of the present question, but absolutely neceffery
to keep the power of the crown within any possible limits,
which cannot be, while it is possessed of millions of acres
of land which it may dispose of at pleasure.
All parties agree we must one time Separate from Bri
tain. Set us back to sixty-three, and we will be as lucky
as a farmer, who should have all his houses, fences, &c.
destroyed, and the fields and meadows cleared in that
time grown upon again. CANDID US.
CA MB RII) GE, February 22.
We bear the sloop Grampus, John Bracket, matter,
loaded with tread and Hour, bound from Baltimore to
Cape Cod, on Tuesday laR fell in with, and was taken
by a number of armed yeffels (part of the British navy)
off the Race Point; they took out of the fioop the mas
ter, mate and all the hands except one, and put in their
place one midshipman and three seamen, and directed
them to fail for Boston.—The morning following they
Rruck on Cohaftet rocks; the people took their boat and
went on ihore —The inhabitants of Cohaffet went on
board the sloop, took out part of the cargo, and have
got off the yelici: The men are on their way to head
quarters. At the fame time the above armed vessel took
a large fchoouer from Baltimore, and have sent her into
Boston.
We hear from Dorchester, that about 4 o'clock last
Wednesday morning, a large party of the minißerial
butchers were difeovered crossing the ice on Boston
Neele to Dorchester Neck, supposed to be about 1000,
the centry immediately discharged his piece at them,
and run for the guard-house to inform'Capt. Barnes (who
commanded the guard) who had already took the alarm
by the centry's firing his piece; and from information he
could get of thecourle they were fleering, judged their
design was to cut off the retreat of the guard which con
fitted only of 60 men. Capt. Barnes immediately marched
his guard off the peek to the edge of the marlh, and just
escaped them; and left the guns that had been tired
should Dot alarm the camp, he had sent off several mes
sengers. The 'enemy marched along with two field pei
ces, and polled themselves in so advantageous a manner,
that Capri Barnes could not attack them with the least
hope, of success, but waited for the arrival of reinforce
ments. In the mean time the cut-throats improved every
minute of their time in felting fire to the buildings on
Dorchester Neck, while they' still moved towards the
Cadle, where bo^ts were ready to receive them, but our
troops were so close upon them, that they put out the
fire of fix or seven of the buildings, and reached the
point next the Castle before the sons of Bdiel had reached
the Castle, who had made prisoners of fix of the guard
and one old man an inhabitant,
N. B. It is about two miles from the encampment at
Dorchester over the causeway, &c. to said guard-boufe,
and one mile from thence to the point near the castle.
We just hear, that the Yankey Hero, of 14 guns,
Capt. Thomas, belonging to Newbury Port, took and
sent in there last Friday, a bark of 300 tons, laden with
coal, pork and flour, which was designed for the use of
the ministerial butchers in Boston.
N E W-FI A V E N, February 21.
The following is an extras of a letter from General Arnold;
it is not dated, tut b, part of the contents, it is fafepofed
<was wrote the laji of January.
" I have the pleasure of informing you my wound is
in so fair a way, that I expert to be on my legs in a fort
night. Notwithstanding our misfortune, we have conti
nued the blockade effectually ; though the enemy arc
double our numbers, they have not dared to show them
selves without the walls. I expected General Wooster
nn M itrcj, to take the cormn^nd here, a Council of
,/ar, theeght his pretence absolutely necessary there, so
tri ' I have Lad a moR fatiguing time. The continual
agp: ri I have been in has, in a great measure, retarded
ter hearing of my,wound. —Yefttyday 1 received a rein
fmcerrunt of one hundred men from Montreal, and ex
pect several regiments from below in a short time. I
have made every possible preparation to annoy the enemy;
and if I am properly Supported, as I make no doubt I
Shall be, from be&.w, I have not the lead doubt of Que
bec's failing into our bands,"
RPOVID " N C E, February 24.
Saturday evening last che ministerial fleet went down
the Bay to Newport, and have Since returned to Hope
Iflmd.
The fame day a brig put off from Newport' for N<w-
London, having on bo^ d a quantity of fait, some houf
hbld.furniture, &c. the hands being apprehensive that they
fhquld^be taken and impreijed by the nfinift'eriai fleet,
obliged the Captain to put back; ^t in returning the
vehel ran aground near the entrance of the harlcnr~
where, as She could not be defended, some men from
Head Quarters went on board, and affßedin unbend ng
her faiis, and laving some of the furniture, —WJaace difr.
covered her next morning, when the bomb brig and a
tender took possession of her; a few Shot were exchanged
between them and some of our people on Shore, but
without doing any execution. After taxing out tlxe salt,
they set her on fire, and she burnt to the water's edge.
N E vV -Y () R K, March 4.
By several gentlemen from. Albany we learn, thet the
noted Indian Bartizan, Luc La Corne, arrived there last.
Thursday evening, cfcorted by Major Melchior, with a.
number of the Officers taken at Chamblee; that Captain
Dqrfey, with the firft company of Peimfylvaniana, arrived
at Montreal,the 16th of February; the i : Bth Captain jeu
kins was met 011 Lake Champlain, with his company ;
Captain Davis at Crown Point; and Captain W.lhams at
'1 iconderoga, all of the firft battalion of Pennsylvania
forces, in high. Spirits; that three companies of Green
Mountain Buys were also arrived at Montreal ; that the
lakes were lined with troops from Mgffachufetts-Bay;
and that nothing material has lately happened at Quebec'
Extract of a Letter from Canada.
" It is not improbable that, unacquainted with all the
circumstances, Some persons, who while they applauded
the courage and resolution of our late brave General
Montgomery, m attacking, under every disadvantage, a
city So prongly fortified both by art and nature, as Que,
'° c % with less than half the number of men that were
within the walls to defend it, ma^y censure the attempt
as rash and desperate. But his fituatiau not only justi
fied, but made it a matter of indiipeniible dyty, tiro' a
duty of a nature so difficult and arduous, that the most
heroic virtue and intrepid cohrage was al folutely neces
sary to the performance of it. The expiration of the
time for which a great part of the provincial troops had
been inlifted being near at hand, in a council of war,
an attack of the town before that time was determined
upon, and a plan concerted. But just before its execu
tion, it appearing that some defefters from our army
had difeovered it to the enemy, an alteration became
necessary, nor was there any time to delay, for the ffiea
were on point of returning home, and the General was
reduced to the dilemma of making an attack under ah
disadvantages, or of railing the siege, and retiring with
the loss of all the advantages we had gained by the un
paralleled fatigues of a winter campaign in such a coun
try. It is no wonder therefore, that perilous as it was
he, with Col. Arnold, &c. determined to make the attack',
tho' to Stimulate his men the General was obliged to
head them in Person.
“ The attack was made with as much bravery as it
was resolved on, and probably would have succeeded.
had not a fatal discharge from the enemy's cannon, foor
after he mounted the wall, finished the glorious career of
bur gallant General and some of the bravest of his follow
ers. The principal of these were his Aid de Camp, Cap
tain M 6 Phcrfoi), of Philadelphia, Capt. Cheefeman, of
New-York, and ten of his company, who all fell at the
firft fire. This mighty loss at the firft onset so confined
and difeouraged our men, that the remaining officers in
the detachment thought themselves under a necessity of
drawing off the men.
" Captain Cheefeman was the firft that Seated the wall,
and intrepidly pushing forward, he received a cannister of
grape Shot through his body, which brought him to the
ground: He attempted to rife, and his motions indicated
a desire to press forward, but all was over, the fatal
wound was given, through which fled as brave and heroic
a spirit as ever animated the bread of an Alexander.
“ He seemed to have a remarkable presage that he
should fall in the attack; he mentioned it without the
least superstitious fear, but with the undaunted bravery
of a foldicr. He dressed himfelf that morning extremely
neat, and putting five Half Joes in his pocket, Did
that would be fufficient to bury him with decency. In
him I have loft a valuable and much efteem^d friend."
PHILADELPHIA, March 4.
Extract oj abetter from Cambridge, February 22.
“ Captain Manly has refitted his Schooner, and will
fail in a day or two. The Foy man of war, lately Ra
tioned off Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, &c, returned to
Bolton on Monday. It is said that four smaller vegtls are
to be Sent in her dead, to block up those ports. We
have lix mortars fitted to their beds—lo twelve pounders
—6 eightee: pounders—and 12 field pieces, of different
calibres (all from Ticonderoga) mounted. The remain
der' Will be fit for Service in a week.
On Saturday last,, David Rittenhoufe, Esq; was choice
Burgess for this city, in the room of Dr. Franklin, whu
is appointed upon an Embassy to Canada by the Con&tQ