The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-04-03 00:00:00, page 2

Cato proceeds very importantly to tell us, " the, tie eyes of
all Furpe arc upon us." This stale and hackneyed phrafc,
hath had a regular defeent, from many of the King's fpccches
down to several of the fpcechcs in Parliament; from thence
it took a turn among the little wits and bucks of Sc James's;
till after fuffering all the torture of fcnfclcfs repetition, and
being reduced to a date pf vagrancy, was charitably picked
up to embellish the fccond letter of Cato. It is truly of the
bug-bear kind, contains no meaning, and the very using it
difeovers a barrennefsof invention. It fignities nothing to tell
us " that the eyes of all Europe are upon us," unless he had
likcwife told us what they arc looking at its for : which as he
hath not done, I will : They are looking at us, Cato, in hopes
of feeing a final separation between Britain and the Colonies,
that they, the lookers on, may partake of a free and uninter
rupted trade with the whole Continent of America. Cato!
thou reafoneft wrong.
For the prelect, Sir, farewell. I have seen thy soliloquy
and difpife it. Remember thou haft thrown me the glove,
Cato, and cither thee or I muff tire. I fear not the field of
fair debate, but thou hall hepped aside and made it personal
—Thou haft tauntingly called on me by. name; and if I
ceafc to hunt thee from every lane and lurking hole of mifehief,
and bring thee not'a trembling culprit before the public bar,
then brand me with reproach, by naming me in the lift of
your confederates.
Philadelphia, March 28, J 776. The FORESTER.
^ofoc^cfeofc o^oo%^^o^o%ofcc^c^ OXC^O(ZO ofo
Wilmington diftrifl.
Peter Simon, of Rhode-bland, maketh oath on the holy
cvangclifts of Almighty God, that he was on board a vessel
bound from Dominica, to Ocracock, and taken off Hatteras
toy the (loop General, Gage, George Stibbles, master, and
brought into Cape-Fear about the 25th of February. That
Capt. Collett was on board the said Hoop when this deponent
was taken, and was very communicative with him, fliewing
his papers and inftrudtions, and informing what route he was
to take, &c. That the said Collett said, he expected to find
General Clinton here with 15 or 1600 men, and that the Ge
neral was to be reinforced in April with ,000 After this
junaion, they were to march to Crofs-Creck by way of Wag
gamaw, and there join General Macdonald. That there was
only a fufficient number of men for a garrison to be left at
Boston, and that x§,ooe men were to be landed in the Jerfies,
between Philadelphia and New-York, in flat-bottomed boats,
and that if they could not possess New-York, they were to
destroy it. That the said Collett declared, that he would kill
man, woman, and child, reserving all the young ladies for
his private pleasures. That the night before last, this de
ponent, with fevcral other persons, made their efcapc, and
came up to Wilmington; and farther faith not.
PETER SIMO N.
Sworn to before me, the ,th of March, 1776.
WILLIAM PURVIANCE.
(Copy) John Cooke, Secretary.
New Hanover County.
William Raddon, of the city sf Philadelphia, mariner,
maketh oath on the holy evangelists of Almighty God, that
he failed from Philadelphia, the nth of February last, as
master of the (loop Joseph, bound for South-Carolina, or
Georgia. That on the 13th following he was taken by the
Hoop General Gage, on board of which was Capt. Collett,
and brought into Cape-Fear. That Lieut. Pitcairn informed
this deponent, that every transport vessel that was to come
from England was to bring one or more flat-bottomed boats.
That this deponent has seen the deposition of Peter Simon,
made this day, and was informed ,y Capt. Collett of the se
veral circumstances therein mentioned. That Lieut. Osborne,
of the Raven sloop of war, informed this deponent, that
there were to be 60 fail of armed vessels, of different fixes,
Rationed on the coast, and to fail of ao gun flrips and Hoops
of war were to be on the coast from England in April ; and
that bomb-ketches were to be brought out, to throw bombs
into those places where (hips of war could not go up, and
were particularly intended against Philadelphia, because the
Congress fits there; and that he made his efcapc with Mr.
Simon, and others. WILLIAM RADDON.
Sworn to before me the sth day of March, 177#.
WILLIAM PURVIANCE.
(Copy) John Cooke, Secretary.
William Raddon within named farther depofeth, and faith,
that on or bofore the 17th of February, this deponent being
then on board the Falcon (loop of war, Capt. Lindsay, and
a Lieut. Wright, who commands an armed iloop, declared,
that they had intended that night to go up to the town of
Brunswick, with about 100 Tailors, to set the town on fire in
front, station their men on the back of the town, and destroy
man, woman, and child, that escaped from the flames ; but
the reason they did not put their design in execution was,
that the sloop commanded by Lieut. Wright got aground
when the went out to examine what vessel the fl >op General
Gage was, and that afterwards Lindsay told Wright that the
inhabitants had left the town, and therefore it was of no use
to burnit. WILLIAM RADDON.
Sworn to before me the sth of March, 1776.
(Copy) John Cook e, Secretary.
N E WBE R N, (North-Carolina) March 8.
Last night arrived in town from the Camp, Col. RICHARD
CASWELL. The signal services he has rendered his country
by the total defeat of the Scotch army under the command of
Gen. McDonald, induced the Committee of the town of New
bern to represent him with an Address, which was this day
done by the Chairman of the Committee, attended by the
principal gentlemen of the town.
W ILL T AMSBURGII, [M Virginia.] March 0.
Lad Tuesday General Clinton, and the troops he <a
xied out with him a few weeks ago, arrived in Hampton
toad (from North Carolina it is supposed, where his piefence
is not now necessary, Since the defeat of the tories) and this
day, we hear, he went out of the capes again, but upon what
nene? Yet let their persons be fife from injury and outrage —
but trust them not. Our butinefs with them is short and ex
plicit, viz. We are dehrous of peace, gentlemen ; we are rea
dy tor • fy the terms, and will virtuously fulfil the conditions
thereof; but we should deserve all and every misery which
tyranny can inflict, were we, after fuffering filch a repitition
of lavage barbarities, to come under your government again.
Cato, by way of dealing into credit, fays, " that the contest
" we are engaged in is founded on the mod noble and virtuous
'• principles which can animate the mind of man. We arc
“ contending, (fays he) against an arbitrary Ministry for the
" rights of Englishmen." No Cato, we are now contending
against an arbitrary King to get clear of his tyranny. While
the difputc rested in words only, it might be called " contend
ing with the ministry," but since it is broken Out into open
war, it is high time to have done with such filly and water
gru,l definitions. But it suits not Cato to (peak the truth. It
is his interest to dress up the feeptered savage in the mildest
colours. Cato's patent for a large tra& of land is yet unfiga
cd., Alafs poor Cato!
N ORTH-C A ROLI N A, March 4.
March 23. On Friday fe'nnight, in the evening, a tender
ran aground opposite to Jamestown ; the crew not being able
to get her off, threw the guns overboard, and went offin their
boat, leaving her for our men to take possession of, which
was done the next day. She is fitting up for service, and
will be ready in a few days.
A vessel with a confidcrable quantity of gunpowder went
up Potowmack this week, and has landed the cargo.
We hear that Lord Dunmore's Royal Regiment of Black Fu
fileerj is already recruited, with runaway and Bolen Negroes,
to the formidable number of 80 effcaivc men, who, after
doing the drudgery of the day (such as aiding as scullions,
&c. on board the fleet) arc ordered upon deck to perform the
military exercifc; and, to comply with their native warlike
'genius, inßead of the drowsy drum and fife, will be gratified
with the use of the sprightly and enlivening barrafoo, an in-
Brument peculiarly adapted to the martial tune of " Hungry
Niger, parch'd Corn !" and which from henceforward is to be
styled, by way of eminence, the BLACKBIRD MARCH.
We hear from North Carolina, that parties of men are
dispersed all over the colony, apprehending fufpe&ed per
sons, and disarming all the highlanders and regulators that
were put to the route in the late battle. The conquerors have
already taken ,§e guns and Shot bags, about igo swords and
dirks, 1500 excellent rifles, two medicine chests frefh from
England, one of them valued at 300 I. Sterling, a box con
taining half-johanneffes and guineas, fccreted in a Stable at
Cross Creek difeovered by a negro, and reported to be worth
if,ooo 1. Sterling; also thirteen waggons, with compleat sets
of horses. Eight hundred and fifty common soldiers were
made prisoners, disarmed, and difeharged. Col. Long has also
apprehended several of their officers, who are now in Halifax
goal, viz. Col. John Piles, Major Thomas Collins, Captains
David Jackson, Enoch Bradby, John Piles, and Thomas
Bradby; Lieutenants Stephen Parker, and Daniel M'Do
nald, the latter wounded through the thigh; Ensign Downing,
and Doiftor Robinson York. There arc in the fame gaol four
persons of the name of Field, one Turner, and three Bells ;
a midßlipmao, and a quarter gunner of the Scorpion; like
wise one Kingib rough M'Donafd Colonels Hugh M'Donald,
Thomas Rutherford, He&or M Neal, and Alexander M'Do
nald ; Captains Morrison, M f Kenzie, Thomas Weir, Leg
gate, Solomon Gross, Parsons, M'Coy, Muse, John Miche
fon, Neil M'Carter, and Adjutant Fraser; Lieutenants Colin
M Iver, JoShua Hews, -Cameron, Donald Hews, Donald
Cameron, and sundry other Lieutenants and Ensigns, whofc
names we have not an account of ; Kenneth M'Donald, aid
de camp, James Hepburn, secretary, Parson Beattie, Aaron
Verdy, W. Master, and Dr. Morrison, commissary. General
M'Donald and Brigadier General M'Lcod, (the latter of
whom was killed, and the other taken prisoner,) set out at
the head of this banditti with the avowed intention of car
rying Governor Martin to the interior parts of the province.
These two officers passed through New-Bern a few months
ago, where they took a folemu oath, before the committee
of that town, that their business in the province was only to
fee their friends and relations.
CAMBRIDGE, March ar.
The prisoners. who were long confined in gaol, were
cruelly carried off in irons.
A part of the Continental Army are now employed in for
tifying Fort-Hill, in Boston, to secure the town against any
attacks which may be mane by the enemy's Blips of war.
Two vessels arrived at Portsmouth the beginning of this
week, and brought in fix tons of gun-powder.
The enemy's fleet, consisting of about 100 fail, Bill lie
between the Cattle and Nantafket.
We have just learnt that between go and 100 pieces of can
non, a or 3000 buShels of wheat, and a vast quantity of coal,
have been found in Boston : also upwards of too horses.
Tuesday evening the enemy set tire to the block-house and
barracks at the Castle, and yesterday they were employed at
the fame place in blowing up and demolishing the for
tifications.
NEW-LONDO N, March as.
Last Monday Capt. Munroe arrived here from George-
Town in South-Carolina, and fays, That Charleftown harbonr
was made very Strong, having nr cannon mounted, mostly
While a couple of tenders were on their way up James ri
ver, last Thursday night, which was very dark and stormy, one
of them got fad aground below Jamestown, within a small dif
tancc of the Shore ; and the crew, finding it impracticable to
get her off, flayed on board till next niorning, when all hands
left her, and rowed to the other tender, leaving behind a num
ber of cannon balls, a quantity of salt, some sailors clothes,
&c. They then proceeded up to a plantation of Mr. Harri
son's of Brandon, from whence they dole eight fleers out 01 &
cart, and twelve lean cows, which they Slaughtered and took
with them, for the use of Lord Dunmore's hungry fleet and
army, robbing the overseer likcwife of all his houlhold goods,
Gripping the negro cabins, and carrying with them, by force,
two valuable negro men, as recruits, we fuppofc, for the Royal
regiment of black fuzilcers.
About ten days ago,, iloop bound from Hispaniola to Phi
ladelphia, the property of Mr. Beveridge, merchant in that
city, and commanded by Capt., Forrester, was taken in the
bay by a tender belonging to the Roebuck man of war, and
,one Rogers, a midshipman, with five feamcn, were put on
board to conduct her to Norfolk; at the fame time taking
out all the hands, except the mate and a boy. In her voyage
thither, one of the calks of wine in the hold becoming leaky,
by some accident, the midshipman and his party went down
to Bop the leak, when the mate and boy, with great address,
fliut down the hatches and secured the prisoners, and then
pushed to the eastern Shore with the vessel and cargo, the lat
ter worth at lead 4000!. Sterling. Capt. Hammond, on hear
ing of this affair, ordered Capt. Forreflcr, who was on board
the Roebuck, up to the prison Ship at Norfolk in a pilot boat,
under the escort of a midflripman and fix hands ; but the vef
fcl running aground on an oyster-bank, two miles below Lord
Dunmore's Blip, the midihipman ordered one of the feamcn
into a canoe to do something for the relief of the vessel, when
Captain Forrester seized the opportunity, and, leaping into
the canoe, cut the painter with a jack-leg knife, on which flic
swung off with the tide ; then turning to the seaman, swore
he would cut his throat if he offered to obßrud thim in his
cfcape. This menace quieted the fellow till Capt. Forrester
had paddled about too yards, when, finding his efcapc was
practicable, he pulled with all his might, and both got fafely
ashore, amidst a cloud of curses and imprecations from the
midshipman and sailors. The Captain, and his comrade
whom he has taken, have gone to Accomack, to look after
the vessel, and to dispose of the cargo to the bed advantage.
Capt. Forester informs, that the King-Fisher is gone round
to Boston, to bring a number of ships of war up Delaware ri
ver, to prevent the Philadelphians from making any farther
preparations for the defence of their city ; it being determin
ed upon, it seems, that the grand attack Biall be made upon
Philadelphia, as soon as the fleet and troops arrive from Eng
land, but we hope will prove equally abortive with the rest of
the curled ministerial Schemes to enslave America.
expedition time only can unraueL We wiffi it may prove as
fortunate as his Carolina excursion.
Tuesday last arrived here from Philadelphia, Brigadie
General Baron De Wocdlke, the Hon Benjamin Franklin
and several other gentlemen.
By intelligence from Cambridge of the 44th of March, tl
whole fleet was lying in Nantafket rbad.
• 'PHILADELPHIA.
On the 35th ult. arrived at our Capes a man of war am
her tender, where they took a iloop and a pilot boat belong
ing to Mr. Henry Filher. Some days after a midfhipm^
and three hands cruizing along shore in the pilot boat, r.
her afliore, where the inhabitants of the coast soon retoc.
her, got her off, and carried her to a place of fafety. Th
midihipman being a little restless, they confined him i;
Lewis -Town gaol, and the men they set at liberty. Th
above men fay, Ilie is a fifty gun Ihip trom England, and tin
the officers talk much of burning New-Castle. From Lewi:
Town we learn that the women, children, and valuable fv
niturc were removed; that two companies of militia fron
Kent were got down there, and that there was at least ro^
men affembicd for the defence of that part of the country.
Extras of a letter from St. Euftatia, March 16, 1776.
" The men of war are taking prizes daily.—They took
sloop a few days ago from Providence, in Rhodc-Illanc
with a cargo of £.3000 on board. A Gentleman in St
Euftatia received a letter from his friend in Martinico, ti:
day before yeherday, informing him of advice from France
that <6 ships of the line, and frigates, were waiting, a;
prepared, for an expedition, but their destination was kep
a profound fccret."
On Monday evening last a fire broke out in the malt-house
of Mr. Robert Hare, porter brewer, which got to so great a
head before it was difeovered, that it was impossible to fto.
the flames till they had destroyed the roof and upper floo
with a great quantity of malt.
By the Massachusetts papers we find the following veffeir
ordered for trial, the latter end of March, & beginning of April
having been taken by our several Cruisers going with cargo;
on board for the use of the enemies of the United Colonic:
then penned up in Boston.— This is but a part of what w:
have taken. r^f
Ship Jenny, Williara Foster, - - , 00
Ship Concord, James Lawrea, - - 300
Schooner Two Sifters, Robert Robins, g o
Ship Friends, Archibald Bowie, - ao o
Brig Sukey, M. Engs, - ^ -
Sloop North Briton, John Ritchie, - 60
Brig Nancy, Robert Hunter, - - „ o
Sloop , Smith, - -
Sloop Little Hannah, Robert Adams, > 4 o
Sloop Betsey, Aikinfon, - 6@
Sloop Industry, Samuel Lane, -
Sloop Success, John Hitch, - 50
Schooner Fisher, John Moody, - 5o
Snow James, William Littledale, - ig 9
Ship Henry and Esther, Nellis, j o o
' Sloop Sally, Robert Badfden, -
Sleop Polly, White, - -x;
Schooner Industry, Coffin, - - 85
Schooner , Donfe, - ^
Ship Happy Return, James Hall, -1,,;
Ship Norfolk, Jonathan Grindal, - i%o
Sloop Dolphin, Lot Norton, - - 80
Brig St. Laurence, James Coffin, - 165
Sloop Sally, George Middleton, - , 0
Sloop Lively Locust, Weyman, - 30
Sloop Britannia, James Hall, - - go
Sloop Betsey, William Heath, - 113
Ship Harriot, Wemifs Orrock, - - 24 a
Ship Jenny, William Wood, - - ^OO
Brig Nelly, John Robinson, - - 180
Sloop Rainbow, Perkins, - - 60
* This sloop was American property, and was taken !
the Niger man of war, who put the said Badfden, one<
their officers, on board as prize master.
Extraft of a letter Jrora a Member of the Virginia Conventic^
February 10, 1776.
" Some people among us seem alarmed at the name of in
dependence, while they fopport measures, and propofc plan
that comprehend all thefpirit of it, —have we not made laws
creeled courts of judicature, established magistrates, made
money, levied war, and regulated commerce, net only with
out his Majesty's intervention, but abfolutoly against hr
will? Are we not as criminal in the eye of Britain for wha:
we have done, as for what we can yet do? If we iuftitute an-
Government at all, for God's fake, let it be the best we can ;
we fltali be as certainly hanged for a bad as a good one; for
they will allow nothing for the waverings of final tendernef
/ it will be all placed to the account of blundering ignorance—
If therefore we incur the danger, let us not decline the re
ward—-In every other instance, indepeedance raises an idea ir
the mind, that the heart grasps at with avidity, and a feeling
foul never fail^ to be ftrickcu and deprefled with the ver
found of dependance—lf in a private family, the children
instead of being so educated as to take upon them the func
tion of good citizens, should be brought to years of matu
*6 pounders, being the guns that belonged to his Majesty's
Blip Fodryant that was condemned there: That at Wilming
ton, the British ships had taken out their guns to lighten over
the bar, in order to get up to the town.
Since the above, another vessel has arrived here from South
Carolina, by whom we learn, that , or 4 Bririfh ships are at
Georgia, who had landed 3 or 400 men, who joined the
tories, and had drove the sons of liberty out of the town (Sa
vannah,) but that some thousands of men had marched from
Charleftowu to their assistance.
N E W-P O R T,' March is.
The ministerial fleet on this station, about a fortnight pall,
took a double decked brig in Naraganfet-Bay, belonging to
this place; the, took off her upper deck, and fitted her with
8 or 10 guns, and last Wednesday and Thursday the whole
fleet, confiding of the ships Rose, Glasgow and Swan, tw
brigs of 8 or 10 guns each, 3 armed tenders, and a large trans
port Blip, failed on a cruiie, and next day in the afternoon
returned again, with two prize Iloops, both from Conne<fticu
one bound to the Weft-Indies, and the other to the caftward
loaded with provisions.
N E W- Y O R K, March aS.
By the Albany post we are informed, that letters had just
come to hand in Albany, informing, that Governor Carlton
one morning, had shot 17 of his men for refufing to fight
That the few forces under his command, as well as the peopi
in general, in Quebec, were much divided : That our force
amounted to 5700 men, and many on their march, which
when joined, would augment their army to upwards of 6000
and that our troops were to storm the city the aoth of March
April i. Thursday about 1000 riffle men arrived here from
Boston; and Saturday last brigadier general Heath, with
Stark's, Webb's, Bond's, Patterson's and Gretou's regiment
arrived here fr®m the fame place, by way of New-London.
Part of col. Dayton's battalion from Elizabeth-Town, am
several companies from Connecticut came to town last wee'
also; so that we now have here about 8000 men.