The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-07-31 00:00:00, page 2

B&, d^ LONDON (u bine) Gazette, May 3.
WHIT^HALL, M 4,3.
fl RNERALHOWA, Command,i i Chief of bis Ma
&jfy'sbu esin N nth Aoct.ca,having akefta nfdutmn
on the 7th of Mirch to remove from Bolton to Halifax with
the troops u 'd°r his command, and fitch ot toe inhabitants,
with their effects, as were demons to continue under the pro
tection of his Majesty's forces; the embarkation was cff,-&ed
on the 17th of that month, with the grca<ert order and regu
larity, and without the lead interruption from the rebels.
When the packet came a way, the firft division ofthe traufports
was under Lil, and the remainder were preparing to follow
in a few days; the Admiral leaving behind as many of the
fltip. of war, as could be (pared from the convoy, for the fe
cuvity and protection of such veflels as might be bound to
Bofttn/
Whitehall, May so The King has been pleaded to order let
ters patent to be passed under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
coaßituting and appointing Richard Lord Viscount Howe, of
the kingdom of Ireland, and the Hen. William Howe, Esq;
Major General of his Majesty's forces, an,:General of his
M & j fly's forces in North America only, to be his Majesty's
Comindlidners for restoring peace to bis Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations in North America; and for granting pardons
to such of hi) Majesty's fubjedts there, now in rebellion, as
ills'll deferred royal mercy. "Ibis is the mini,erialidea.
LONDO N.
May 3. Never was England in such a filiation as the pre
sent, as the following anecdote, which may be depended
upon, doth certify : There is not a fix pounder fit for service
in this kit gdom; and very few of any other weight. Now
it 40, .bo French er Spaniards Bwuld land ou our coart—how
could we repel them?
However, to remedy this as fart as possible, the Board of
Ordnance have ordered Verbruggen the founder at Woolwich,
to get ready with all possible dispatch another boring ma
chine, in which case he will be able to supply government
with what number of guns they pkafe. Lord Towufeud is
amazingly active in the datiou ot Matter General —viftts
Woolwich aimoft every week—and carefully infeeds the
minuted cir. umQauce.
. Extract of abater from Shithead, Maj 2.
'' It is expected we fuall fail to-morrow tor Button, under
the command of C°mniodore Avilliam Hotham, who is to
hoist his broad pendant 'on board of the Preftoo, a 50 gun
fliip. The Blips which go nuder bis command are rhe Jeffry
hnfpital ship; the Emerald, of 32 guns, the Brane, of 32
guns; the Strombolo fire flip, the Carcase bomb, and all the
transports uhjch are ready. There arc upwards of one hun
dred fail of transports now here, all of which have foreign
troops on board. We have on board five final! calks, and
30 chests of Spanifli dollars, amounting to 35,900!. for pay
ing the marine troops at Borton.
Upon an average, the Blips of war now equipping for
America have not more than fix seamen to ninety others in
their complements.
Lord Howe is inverted with unlimited military powers,
which, it is laid, he poGriveiy demanded previous to his ac
cepting the chief command of the King's forces in America.
May 4. The charge made by the Lord Mayor against Lord
Ninth and the Lords of the Admiralty, for licensing Blips to
trade to any part of America, is no less than a breach of an
a& of parliament; it is in its nature a very important and a
very serious charge; it is a breach of the laws in the most
glaring and audacious manner; it it encouraging the most il
licit pr d aces, under a most violent, abandoned, and daring
contempt of the constitution of this country, and the three
great branches of the legislature.
The house began to debate on this fubjed about half part
four, which continued till nine, without calling in a witness.
The debates were expected to iart long, and that the gentle
men ot the Cuftom-lioufe would be ordered to attend again
this day.
As the gallery doors were locked, and no person whatever
admitted, all we can fay is, that notwithstanding the flagran
cy of this a&, it is not to be expected from the complexion
otihe members, that such defining and detertable praaices
so ud meet with an adequate punrihment. Our opinion is
the better founded, on the Shaftfbury and Hindon Incapaci
ffflng Bills being REJEC TED, and new writs issued, by
which the fame corrupt praaices may be exercised again, and
pass with imparity.
Ma, 6 The Friendship, Holmes, from London for Boston,
whi&laded in ORober laft,after being out 16 weeks and being
blown off the coart several * tries, was driven on the banks of
Newfoundland, where she beat to pieces; the Captain and
etc w are saved.
Extras of aletter from Portfmsutb, Mia, 3.
“ Yefteiday Commodore Hotham, in the Preflon, with
the rest of the men of war, transports with the Hessians,
Guards, and Train of Artillery, dropped down to St.
Helen's, but cannot proceed on their voyage, the wind blow
ing strong wefteriy.
" Lord Howe is expelled down this everting.
" Sir Hugh Pailifer, a Lord of the Admiralty, is come
down here, and yerterday he,went on board several cf the
men of war bound to America, to Ice they were properly
vitfuailed and fitted."
The following is the message from his Majerty to the House
cf Commons, delivered by Lord North, on Thursday.
GEORGE R.
“ His Majerty, relying on the experienced zeal and affec
tion of his faithful C ,mmons, and confideiing, that, during
the prefect troubles in North America, emergencies may arise
which may be of the utmost importance, and be attended
with the most dangerous consequences, if proper means
(hon'd not be immediately applied to prevent or defeat them,
is desirous that this House will enable him to defray any ex
traordinary expences incurred, or to be incurred, on account of
military services for thereat 17,6, and as the exigencies of af
fairs may require. And his Majesty, having judged it expedient
to irfue his proclamation, in pursuance of an a& of parliament,
puffed in the fourteenth year of his reign, for calling in the
rernaird r of the deficient gold coin, doubts not but that his
faithful Commons will enable him to male good the charges
which ih?H be incurred in this service, and which cannot at
this time be ascertained. G. R."
By the mail which arrived on Friday, it appears, that the
Court of Naples, b Tides the two Blips of war long fierce en
gaged by them io his Catholic Myrty's service, and which
they have been called upon to fend off immediately to join
th< Spanish fl et die moment it Tall appear in the meditera
nean, are likcwife to transfer over their whole naval forces,
lto the service of that crown, which they are to fit our as
soon as possible.
In the mean time the Eugene, S. Michael and L'Orient, of
70 guns each, failed from Cadiz on the 20th of February, as
pretend d:o crude off the Cape of St. Vincent. These were
followed the 'err day by two frigates, the S. Gertrude and 3.
Catharine. The PHucefs cf 70 guns, with the Pnderofo of
the fame force, failed after them on the 5 h of March, but in
getting our of the bav. the Princess ran on some recks and re
ceived considerable damage in her rudder and upper works,
niards.
WILLIAMSBURG, (Virg nia,) July 19.
From Hampton we learn, that advice was brought there
from the cadem shore, of a tender, mounting two carriage
and twelve swivel guns, being drove ashore in a squall of
wind five or fix days ago, with eighteen pirates on board a
movg them Mr. James Parker, late of Norfolk, merchant :
who immediately surrendered th mfclves to a party of our
troops and beggedtor quarters. A boat from another render,
hey consort, attempted to cut her out from the creek where die
W&s secured ; but our people, perceiving their design, lay in
autbufh for them, and, when nigh enough, rushed into the
witer and fired upon them, killing five of the crew, it was
supposed, as three were seen to fall overboard, and twoto drop
down in the boat, upon which the pirates tacked about, and
rolled, farter than they came, to their tender.
Benjamin Woodward, against whom an information was
lodged for attempting to counterfeit the paper currency of
the American states, was brought to town lad Wednesday,
with tour other persons, fiifpe&ed to be accomplices, and lodg
ed in the public jail. They were taken in Pittfylvania coun
ty, with types and other implements to carry on their wicked
and deftrudtive fehemes.
Lord Dunmore's pertilential fleet was seen last Sunday
merning at the mouth of Potowmack.
The following is a particular ac^u^t cf the attack and rout of Lord
punmore, with his piratical cre^ from Gwyn's iJlard.
We got to the island on Monday the Bth, and next morning
at eight o'clock began a furious attack upon the enemy's flap
ping, campaud fortifications, from batteriesone of five, 6 and 9
pounders, the other mounting two 18 pounders. What forces
the enemy had were encamped on a point of the inland, near
ly opposite to opr five gun battery, covered by a battery of
sou; vm^zafures, and a breaA-work of coufidcrxble extent.
Besides this, they had two orhet batteries, and a stockade fort,
higher up the haven, where troops were stationed to prevent
our lauding. In the haven were three tenders, one a sloop
(the Lady 'Charlotte) mounting fix carriage guns, a fchoouer
of two carriage guns, fix swivels and a cohort, and a pilot
boar, badly armed; who had orders from Capt. Hamim nd, of
the Roebuck, to prevent out boats passing over to the island,
Ind to annoy the rebels by every means in their power.
General Lewis announced his orders for attacking the ene
my by putting a match to the firft gun, an eighteen pounder
hinifclf; and the Dunmore being then nearest to us, at the
diflance of only four or five hundred yards, the Brot passed
through her hull, and did confiderablc damage. Our fivegua
battery likewise began playing 00 the fleet, the enemy's camp
and works; and the fire soon became so hot that the Dunmore
was obliged to cut her cables and haul off, after receiving ten
shot, tome of which raked her fore and aft. The Otter lay
next to her, and it was expected would have taken her b^th ;
but the firft ihot we gave her took place fuppofd between
wind and water, as (he immediately flipped her cable I kewiie
and hauled out on a careen, without firing a gun. By this
time all the fleet, any way near Tore, began to flip their ca
bles, in the utmost confufion ; and had the wind set in with
a flood tide, we mart have taken great numbers of them. Our
18 pounders did great execution from the upper battery, which
raked the whole fleet; and Capt. Denny, who commanded
the other battery, soon frenced the enemy at the point, knock
ing down federal tents, which put their camp into great eon
fufion. At half after ninethe firing ceased, which was renew
ed again at twelve, with double vigour from both batteries ;
and nothing prevented our puffing to the island, during the
cannonade, but the want of vefftls.
The General being determined to cross next day, gave or
ders for all the small craft to be colleaed together from the
neighbouring creek that night, and two brass field pieces, fix
pounders, to be carried to a place called Lower Windmill
point, to attack the tender that lay there, and facilitate our
crossing. Accordingly, in the morning. Capt. Harrison, who
had the direction ot those held pieces, began playing upon the
tenders, which he galled so much, that the Ichooner ran up a
fmali creek which made into the island, where the crew aban
doned her, and the sloop got aground in reach of our cannon;
upon which the General ordered Capt. Smith, of the 7th re
giment, with his company, to man the canoes and board her,
which was done with alacrity. However, before our men
came up with her, the crew got into their boat and pushed
for the island; but Capt. Smith, very prudently parting the
tender, pufued them so elofe, that, before they could reach
the shore, he exchanged a few Ihot with them, and took part
of them pfiforcH The enemy's lookouts, perceiving our
men elofe upon the lower part of the iflaad, cried out the font
men are coming, and Tampered off. The pilot boat made no
refinance.
General Lewis then ordered 200 men, under col. M'Cla
nahan, to land in the island, whi&h was performed as expedi
tiously as our final! veffcls would admit of. On our arrival,
we found the enemy had evacuated the place with the greatest
precipitation, and were Bruck with horror at the number of
d ad bodies, in a Bate of putrefaction, Brewed ail the way
from their battery to Cherry-point, about two miles in
length, without a ihovel-full of earth upon them; others
grafpiag for life; and some bad crawled to the water's edge,
who could only make known their dirtrefs by beckoning to
us. By the fmalj-pox, and other malignant difuders which
have raged on b raid the fleet for many months part, it is
clear they have loft, since their arrival at Gwyn's-iOaud, near
500 fouls. I myfelf counted 130 graves (or rather holes,
loosely coveted over with earth) elofe together, many of
them large enough to hold a corporal's guatd. Ooe, in the
middle, was neatly done up with turf, and is supposed to
contain the remains of the late lord ot Gofport. Many were
burnt active in bruflr huts, which, in their confusion, had got
00 free In short, such a feene of misery, diftreft, and cru
elty, my eyes never beheld; for which die authors, ope may
reasonably conclude, never can make atonement in this
world.
The enemy left behind them, in their battery, a double
fortified nine-pounder, great part of their baggage, with
several tents and marquees, besides the three tenders, with
their cannon, small arms, &c. also the anchors and cables of
the Dunmore, Otter, and many others, to the amount, it is
supposed, of 1% or 15001. On their leaving the island, they
burnt fume valuable veffcls, which had got aground. Mr.
John Grymes'sufeds on the iflaud have fallen into our
hands, confirting of 35 negroes, hoifes, cattie, and furni
ture.
Major Byrd, on the approach of our canoes to the island,
wait huddled into a cart, in a very tick and lew condition.
wh-ch cb!:"~d her to retain. On the irthof March the regi
rlmtOf Beliefs embarked at Cadiz, which, with that of Spain,
failed some few days before, is not to open its orders, till
it arrives in a ce&ain latitude. Such are the armaments al
ready made on thJude of the Spaniards, not to mention much
greater nearly ready in the port of Cadiz
On the French fide betides the Toulon fleet, 17 fill are fit
ted out at Brett, amorr whiph is one of 7@ guns, and two of
64, the red frigates; ^ on board these. which were re.dy on
the >oth ult. the Qke de Chartres, after joining the Toulon
fleet, was to proc&d to €aAz, to join both these to the Spa-
it is said, and carried down to C':c7%„>'r.t, vfheehe °m
bark.-d. The second ihot the D^merc received cr* her
boatswain in tWb, aed wousdiwo Or tree 0 hers; avd the
had fearccly recovered from the iheck when a nine pound f
from the lower battery entered he. qnarier and bear in a large
timber, from 'he tyliwes cf wh.ch Ltd Dunmore got
wounded in the legs, and had alibis valuable chica ImaCicd
about his cars. It is lad his uifhip uas exec^oing'y alarm
ed, and roared „ut. Good God, that ever IfroMd c^me so this !
We had our information from one of his people that came
ashore after the engagement, who was taken by < ue iconic;
he likes,ife laid, that many were killed in the fi.ee, which
had sustained fonie thoufiod pounds worth of damage. The
Fowey and Roebuck were the lewermert tiups, besides which
there were too and odd fail of large veffcls, who took their
departure on fhmfday afternoon, and arc supposed to hav,
gone into Potowrsack, f 1
In this affair we loft not a man but poor cvitain Arundeq
who was killed by the. bunting of a mortar of his own inven
tion; although the general, and ail the rfficer«, were againil
his filing it. his zeal for the service ted Uimips hfe
We hear the Delaware Indians have kihed and scalped ore
man on our frontiers. Toe Shawanefe have ie^t in our
homages, agreeably to a treaty fettled with them feme time'
B OS TO N, JGy |B.
It is reported that Captain Johnson, in the Yiukey pnvr~
te#, who i nt into this.port two valuable prizes, on his pas
sage home, the prisoners ofc and overcome the privateer,
confined him and his crew in irons, and carried them i to
Halifax.
By Mr. Stone we learn, that the day before he left St.
Peters, a French man of war arrived there from France, who
informed, that the Spaniards had declared war against
Portugal.
Last Saturday arrived at Salm fom Guadaloupc, the
fchooncr Pglly, D.vid MC/eod, r after, who has brought
one hundred calks of powder about fcv.nty or eighty fatal!
aims, a number of carriage and swivel guns, a quantity of
brimß.me, Ihot, flints, &c.
Yesterday rnurui g, a fifth 13 inch mortar was found off
the end of the Hon. John Hancock, Ftq*'s. wharf
N E W-P O R T, (Rh de foa) fob 2% .
Yeft;iday arrived here, from a c/nife of abe ut a month,
the Brig Andrew Doria, Cart Biddr. who about ten days
before took the fl:ip Nathaniel and Elizabeth, C;|pt. If ar,
from Jamaica to London, 1 ad^d with 300 hogthecds ot Su
gar, roo hogsheads cf rum, &c. Capt. Philip Brown, rd this
place, was put in ,prize-mafier, and ordered to the lift port
he could make. Capt. Biddie saw two frigates under an cafy
fail near Block-Iflatd yefteiday morning.
Yesterday in the afternoon, Lieut. Calcott of the Merlin
ship of war (which lay a little without the harbour) came in
a barge with a flag, to this town; the General Assembly bcieg
then fating, he, was cor. dotted to the Setehoufe, wh re he
delivered a letter to his Honor Governor Cook, from Rich
ard Viscount Howe.
N E WY O R K, fol) 2 §.
Our. troops, Rationed on Bergen Point, givethe ministerial
fleet and army fomc uneHiaeft, by firing at the u coh:>, boats,
&c. L so galls and provokes them, that they re-urn the lira
with great fury, but have not done the R^d daunt to our
people.
Last Lord's day, a great many slot were heard in this city
from Bergen-point. The occasion was this : A barge from,
the fleet full of men, landed on the point, but we ; eppofed
and driven off with precipitation by out tr ^ps ; a fin at 'he
ensued from a tender fr a confiderab^ time, withou o.^
any injury. By two defaters, we ar. informed, that ? C?. f ..
and two privates were killed on board their large.
We hear from New-jeTcy and Connteicu* a great
part of the men being abfeut on oHhfary fefve co the time
of harvest coming on, the women, assisted by he elderly men,
whole age rendered them unfit for the army, have so eff.equ
ally exerted themftlves, that they have generally got i- he
haveft completely, th laudable example being f e % by the la
dies of the fi.fi chaiadt rin each pla c And we are credibly
informed, that many of them have declared that they will
take rhe farming bufmefs upon themftlves, in h ng as the
rights and liberties of their country require the pref nee of
their fans, hufband<, and levers in the fr hl.
Extreß of a letter from an officer at Feri Gec-ge. to Vs friend, an
officer in New-lcrk, Ju, 14. 1776.
" I never knew the fatigues of a campaguthl T arrived in
Canada. The most Blocking feezes that ever appeardin a
camp were constantly exhibited to view. When General Sul
livan arrived in Canada the amy way torn in pieces by sick
ness and other unaccountable occurrences. — A whole regiment
was not to be found together — General Suilivan with his efu
al activity and alcrtnef,, cohered together a debilitated at d
defpitited army ; tri dthe fllength ot the enemy, who were
at lead four to our car, and performed one of the moB re
markable retreats that ever was known.—No person who was
not picfcnt can conceive a tenth part of the difficulties at
tending it; the enemy at our Lee!, 3000 of our men sick of
the final! pox, theft who were most healthy like so mine walk
ing apparitions. All our baggage Bores andarrihery '0 he re
moved, officers as well as men ari employed in hauling can
non, &c. Our batteaus loaded were all removed up the ra
pids fix miles, one hundred of them were towed up by our
poor wearied men, up to their arm pis in water. This was
performed in one day and an half; our sick aid baggage ari
fafely landed at St, Jehu's, and from thence at Crown P„ .n,
with the loss of three 1 cannon only, which were poor e^es.
Ail this was accompliffied (hr ugh the amazing exertion of
General Sullivan, who performed what,appeared to be : hrtert
impossible to have been doze by mchal man ! He is now on
bis way to New-York."
The men of war that lately went up the North River, % in
Haverftraw-Bay. Their tenders cruise about, and lart Saui
day one of them went near the fort, upon which cue pe pie
fired a thirty two pounder at her, which went through iter
quarter, when the racked abo>.t and hoed down the ri co
Some time after, they landed a party cf their men at Feck's
kill, set fire .to a wheat field; and burnt thehoufr of Mr. John
Lilly. A number of the mhiia were soon ccliaed, who at
tacked and killed ftven of them without any loss en our tide.
Joi, 29. . An old gentleman between 60 and 70, now does
duty in the militia near Newark,hi New-Jerfcy,who is the f :hex
of about eg children now alive, , of which are in the Conti
nental army, from Captains to Privates.
The Whaling sloop Gilbert and Join, Capt. J gge% be
longing to the company returned 'here last More ay fiem a
n months voyage, but narrowly efe^ped briig tin (if
Block Island by two frigates : he is last from GurdGou^e,
where he fold his cargo of about 250 barrels of (ty, there
took in Molaffi s, and has now on board 12,000 grinds as c
30 hogsheads 'in another vessel that failed in cercpany wot
him bound to the eartward.'
The Rev. Synod of New Ymk and PhiH^rirhri, at Loh
meeting in May last, appointed rhe f.-cond Thtufiay of Ac
gust, to be dhferved as a day of Humiliation, Fading @K
Prayer, to Almighty God, by all ^c Cur<grfg&n.B o^i