The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-17 00:00:00, page 2

he thought on some oecafions it was expedient and neeeffary
for gentlemen who did not mike politics their entire study.
To support his portion he said, that the variety Of contra
dictory affections, which often happened in the house, mult on
fubjefts of importance unavoidably bewilder the understand
ing of many;—foT instance, that he had heard it averted,
that the greatest part of his Majesty's Colonies were now in a
state of rebellion, and on the other hand, that they were on
ly contending for their natural rights in opposition to a tyran
nic ministry. He heard it said, that the American proceed
ings were abhorred by almost all his Majesty's fubjeCh; ana
that he bad heard it infixed, that an infinite majority of the
Protestants •£ Ireland wished them an emancipation from their
opprsffion, as the probable consequence of the ministry issu
ing their design on America, must be the inevitable vassalage
of Ireland. That he had heard it inlirtuated, that a great man,
veil known in the political world, was a man of lire without
judgment, and words without truth, that by others it was al
ledgod, he was revered by every friend of the confutation,
and was a molt able and unrivalled ftaefman. That he heard
it laid, the imp >rt of the clause in the addsefs refpeaing the
American disputes, was of no other consequence than to de
clare our attachment to his Majesty. And on the other hand,
he heard it strenuously contended, that it was a very danger
ous foundation for a more dangerous fuperftru&ure. 1 hat
he heard it averted the Americans were an infamous, fanatic
banditti, confiding of the ont-cafts of both kingdoms; and on
the other hand as warmly maintained, that they were a weal
thy, honed, brave, industrious people, toiling to enjoy their
natural rights. He then said, he would not at that time pre
tend to give an opinion ; but, that if they were that desperate
gang, as represented, they were very unfit to be trusted with
dangerous weapons, wherefore he begged to submit a proposal
to the consideration of gentlemen, which was that in the next
address they ih mid insert the following clause.
“ That bis Majeftfs minifies may gracioufi, take into eonfitoa
tion the dangerous fas, on bis Majed's liege troops, on these in
human "Weapons called rifle guns ; and that they may be plea/ed to
issue a proclamation forthwith, that such of the provincial^ troops as
are called rijt men he disbanded, and the barrels of their, guns be
turned onto plough irons; and by way of punishment to those who
have made °fe of such weapons, that they ma, be converted into
Plough ho fes ; and if any difficulty feou!) attend the exertion ff^h
orders, that said men and guns, be sentf ent to bis Majed, s mini/iers of
she gospel in Canada, who will ver, soon have the matter accom
,lifted, as they do not fad the leaf trouble in m&b more miraculous
transformations". „
The House then adjourned till Tuesday the 24th instant.
WILLIAMSBURG, (in Virginia) Jan. 5.
J fetter from Cols. Howe and Woodford to the Hon. the Profit
of the Convention, dated Norfolk, 10 o'clock at night, Jan.
I, 1,76.
“ Between 3 and 4 o'clock a feverd cannonade began from
all the (hipping, under cover of which they lauded small par
ties, and set fire to 'he house son the wharves. The wind
favoured their design, and we believe the flames will become
general. In the confufion which they supposed would ensue,
they frequently attempted to land; but this, by the bravely
of our officers and men, we have hitherto prevented, with
only a few men wounded on our fide, and we persuade our
selves with a good deal of loss on theirs. Their efforts, and
our opposition, still continue. We have Rationed ourselves
in such a manner as will, we believe, render every thing but
burning the houses ineffectual. We wait with impatience
y r farther orders, and are refpeafully, &c".
Ertr^ft @f a letter from Col. Howe, to the Preftdent of the Con
vention, Jan 2.
" The burning of the town has made several avenues,
™'„ ^ ^^} they had not, so that they may now fire with
greater effect. The tide is now fifing, and we expert at high
water another cannonade. I have only to will it may be as
in ff c aual as the last; for we have not one man killed, and
but a few wounded. I cannot emer into the melancholy con
fiderafon of the women and chil Iren running through a croud
ct (hot to g-t out of the town, tome of them with children at
their freaft. A few have, I hear, been killed. Does it not
cad for vengeance, both from God and man! It is but justice
to inform v< u, that I had the pleifure to find every officer
ready to execute orders at a moment's warning, and that the
men behaved with steadiness and spirit. Col. Stevens went
down at my countand, and headed some men near the water,
where he engage! a party who had landed, with the spirit and
conduct of a goodofficer. Of my friend Col. Woodford, it
is almost ncedlefs to speak; but I cannot avoid expressing,
that I received from him every assistance which conduct and
spirit could give me
Extract of a letter from Col. Elliot, to Col Patrick Henry, dated
' Harpton, Jan. §, 1776.
“ Enclofsd you have the copy of a letter from Col. Wood
ford to me, dated 3 o'clock yesterday, since which a fmow
and two small veffelshave gone up to Norfolk. She appear
ed to have a great mtny men on board, but was not a vessel
of war. There are fee others (one a brig) in the bay, this
morning coming up which Capt. Barron has just gone to look
after. Some little tme after my express left Norfolk, with
the enclofcd, a ver heavy firing began and continued chief
part of the night; nd a confidcrable fire was difeovered there
about dark, which continued burring many hours".
NORFOL K, Jan. 4, 1776, 3 o'clock, P. M.
" About a quarter past 3 00 Monday afternoon the whole
fleet began a heavy cannonade, which lasted seven hours,
wohoutany intermission, and indeed continued, off and on,
till last night, since which we have been tolerably quiet. Un
der the fire of their fliips, they landed in many places, and
set fire to the houses on the wharves. In these attempts, ma
ny e of them, we are certain, were killed, and never failed be
ing repulsed by our people. We had not a man killed, and
°,hly 5 or 6 wounded, one supposed mortally! and two or
three women and children are said to be killed. Providence
certainly interfered in our favour, or more lives must have
been loft. They once landed and got into the Greets with
Id-pieces, but were beat back with loss, and no execution
done by their fire. Nine tenths of the town are destroyed,
but the fire is now out.
This morning Lieut. Batut and § grenadiers of the 14th
regiment, who were wounded at the Great Bridge, with 17
torics, and 11 Negroes, arrived it town, under a strong guard,
from Norfolk The wounded foldiets are sent to the hos
pital, most of the Tories and Negroes lodged in the public
til, and Lieut. Batut, with a few others, admitted on their
sarole.
Yesterday afternoon \n exp cfs arrived from York, with
ce that two top-rtiaft vessels, and one of a smaller
hove in fight, which were fufpeaed to be two men
nd a tender, coming up to cannonade that town;
rich Capt Gibson, with his Weft Augusta boys, were
ately ordered to reinforce the troops stationed there,
prevent any of Dunmore's hell-hounds from landing
i to the houses. Many Gentlemen volunteers like
ent from this city, to assist their brethren of York ; and
rtthy Delegates, then filing in Convention, farmed
! vcs under that old intrepid warrior, Col. Andrew
Lewis, for the protection of the city. Captain Gibson had
marched but a little distance from town, when he was met by
Col. Henry, fiom York, with the agreeable intelligence, that
the two large veffcls were, one a provision vessel from Corke,
deep ladaii with beef, butter, potatoes, &c. the other from
the Grenades, loaded with rum, sugar, and several other ne
cessaries, and the small vessel the brave Capt. Barron, carry
ing them up the river, out of the reach of the men of war.
Mr. PURDIE,
IHOPE our countrymen will not be at all dispirited at the
deftrud on of Norfolk, but rather rejoice that half the
mifehief cur enemies can do us is done already. They
have destroyed one of the firft towns in America, and the
only one (except two or three) in Virginia, which carried
on any thing like a trade. We are only sharing part of the
fufferings of our American brethren, and can now glory in
having received one of the keeueft strokes of the enemy,
without flinching. They have done their worst, and to no
other purpose than to harden our soldiers, and learn them to
beii without dismay, all the most formidable operations of a
war carried on by a powerful and cruel enemy ; to mo other
purpose than to give the world specimens of British cruelty,
and American fortitude, unless it be to force us to lay aside
that childilh foadnefs for Britain, and that foolifh tame de
pendence on her. We had born so long with the oppression
of an ungenerous reftriCbon of our trade, of a reftri&ion, in
some infiances, which seemed calculated merely as badges of
our fubje&ion, and had been contented so long with barely
refufing to purcbafc commodities which they had taxed for
the purpose of raffing a revenue in America, that our pati
ence and moderation served but to encourage them to pro
ceed to greater lengths. To greater lengths the, have pro
ceeded, as far as the proudest tyrants lust of despotism, sti
mulated by cruelty, a rancorous malice, and an infernal spirit
of revenge could hurry them. How funk is Britain! could
not Britons venture to wage war with Americans till they were
told that Americans were cowards, till they had disarmed
them, or had, as they thought, put it out of their power to
procure arms, nor even then without the affiftaace of Roman
Catholicks and Indians, and endeavouring to raise amongst us
a domestic enemy ? Was this like a brave and generous na
tion! If they were loft to all the fecungs of Britons, for men
contending for the support of the British constitution, if they
were determined to conquer America, why did they not at
tempt it like Britons ? Why meanly run about to the diffe
rent powers of Europe, entreating th m not to assist us ? Why
make ule ot every base and inhuman stratagem, and wage a
savage war unknown amongst civilized na ions ? Surely who
ever has heard of Carleton's, Connolly's, and Dunmore's
plots against us, cannot bus allow that they must have been
authorized by a higher power ; and whoever believes this
cannot but wish to be instantly and for ever removed from
under such a power, and to be guarded most ctfecftually
against it. Most freely would I Cut the Gordian knot which
has hitherto so firmly bound us to Britain, aid call on France
and Spain for affiftaace against an enemy who seem bent on
our deftru&ion ; but who, blessed be the God of Hosts, have
been baffled in most of their attempts against us, been ehaf
tifed in all, and have made many attacks upon us without
being able to kill a single man.
An AMERICA N.
CAM BRIDG E, January 4.
On Wednesday, the week before last, Majut-Gen.ral Leo
set out tor Rhode-Aland : He was attended from hence by
his guard and a party of rifle-me^ ; and from Providence,
by the cadet company of that place, and a number of mi
nute-men. He entered the town of Newport the Monday
following, preceded by the cadets, his guard, and the rifle
men. While there, he called before him a number of ob
noxious perftos, to wham he tendered an oath of fidelity to
the country, which was taken by all of them, excepting Col.
Joseph Wanton, jun. Nicholas Lechmere, and Richard
Beale, two custom-house officers, who refuted taking it; up
on which th y were put under guad, and brought to Provi
dence. The General after h ving viewed the island, and
given directions for erecting some fortifications, set out for
Providence on Wednesday, from whence he came to town on
Saturday last.
We hear that a Gentleman is arrived at Boston from the
Mole, who fays, that vast prepararions far war are making
there by the Spaniards; and that Jamaica is their immediate
object.
A Gentleman who came paffeoger in a transport whidh
arrived at Borton last week from London, informs, that 26
fail of vessels laden with stores and provisions were, when
he left England, failed or fitting out for Boston, for the sup
port of the garrison the prefect winter; but that no troops
may be expelled before the spring: And that iro fine large
sheep were brought out in the vessel in which he came pas
senger, but that only two ci them were carried into Button
alive. (A largefup^ly for §o<o men.)
Last Saturday about 120 mor of the inhabitants of Boftoa
arrived at Chelsea, among whom were Mr. Peter Edes (son
of Mr. Benjamin Edes, printer)and Mr. Wil^m Starr, both
of whom were confined in Borton gaol for several months
by order of the execrable Thomas Gage.
We are credibly informed that the Ministerial troops in
Boston are dying faft with the scurvy; that it is judged their
stores cannot last them many weeks longer; and that their
fuel cannot last them but about fix days.
It is confidently reported that General Howe is come to the
determination of feeding out of Boston all those who refufe
to take up arms in the service of the mini dry.
N E W-Y O R K, January 11.
On the 2d instant, the Governor issued a proclamation, to
dissolve the Assembly of this Colony, and writs were issued
for a new eie&ion ot Representatives of the people to serve
in General Assembly. The Sheriff of this city and county,
has published an advertisement, giving notice to the Free
men and Freeholders of the fame, that he has appointed
Thursday, the firft day of February next, for them to mee
at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, on the Green, near the W& l-'
house in the city, to cleft four members to represent thei^ in
General Assembly. The adveruferaent expresses it thus:
To be Rep efentati^es of the said city and count, to asst the Captain
General or Commander in Chief, in a General ^fembl,.
+ Montreal, Dec. z. •' Last night General Wooster received
information, by letters from Boucharvihe, that a plan was
laid for cutting off the communication between Gen. Mont
gomery's army and our garrison. and at one stroke, to destroy
all the friends of the United Colonies; that a magazine of
aims, &c. was deposit d with a Captain of the Militi.. d
the scheme was concert'd, and to be conducted, 1
Lacorne, who had a strong party in readincis
execution.
" On this intelligence, Colon© Ritzma, wit
ment of 100 men, among whom was part of
was oidcred in quest of the principal person
the information.—About ten o'clock at nigl
three butteaus, crossed the river, and marcher
to B>ucharvilie, where we surprised and tc
cmme, his fon-inlaw, Major Campbell, a
whom we brought to General Wooster, wt
La Prairc in order to be sent down to one of the United
Colonies.
“ I do not think the information was supported by fuffici
cnt evidence, but it was such as made it indifpentible for the
General to aft as he did; and St. Luc Lacorne was known to
be a very dangerous person in Canada.—Our garrison is
weak, but General Wooster is taking the most prudent and
spirited measures to put it in the belt order of defence puffi
ble.—l hope a full conviaion of the very great importance
of this place, and the meceffity of a powerful army to defend
the peffeffion, in obtaining which Providence has favoured
us in so remarkable a manner, will stimulate the United Co
lonies to fend speedy and ample supplies of men, well fitted
with every article necessary to that end; 10,000 men will se
cure the country against all attempts that may be made to re
take it from them."
PHILADELPHIA.
In CONGRESS January 11, 1776.,
WHEREAS it appears to this Congress, that several evil
difpoled perlons, in order co obftrua and defeat the efforts
ot the United Colonies in the defense of their just rights
have attempted to depreciate the BILLS of CREDIT emitted
by the authority of this Congress.
Refolded therefore, That if any person shall hereafter be so
loft to all virtue and regard for this country as to refufe to
receive the said bills in payment, or obftru& or difeourage
the currency or circulation thereof, and £hall be duly convicted
by the Committee of the city, county, or diftria, or in case
of an appeal from their dicifion, by the Assembly, Conven
tion, Council, or Committee of Safety of the colony where
he shall reside, such perfous (ball be deemed, published, and
treated as an enemy of his country, and precluded from all
trade or intercouifc with the inhabitants elthefe colonies.
Extract from the minutes.
Publifeed by c ler of Congref,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
ExFaR of a letter from the Plains of Abraham, before Quebec,
December 16, 1777.
.“ General Carleton escaped from Montreal by paddling
with hi# hands past our men in the night, and got fafe to
Quebec, where he gave immediate ou ers for all that would
not take up arms to leave the city, on which fevaal came
out, among the rest Mr. Swift, who informed me tl at Co!
Alien and his party, who were taken prisoners, are sent home
". ?,P> loaded by one Clark a Boston tea commissioner
with flaxfeed tor Cork, but is to touch in England with the
Governor's dilpatchcs, the prisoners, &c. We have got up
on the Plains of Abraham, within 500 yards of the walls of
Quebec, a battery of Gabines, filled with snow and water
poured on till it froze quite hard, which does very well • and
we have some mortars in St. Roch, behind a Tory's house at
a little distance from the Palace gate, from both of which'we
have put the enemy in some confufion, and set the town on
fire in several places. We have railed them up these five
nights successively, and I believe they are almost tired out
Yefteiday we sent a flag of truce to them which they would
not receive, and it was with great difficulty the raw fiilors
could be prevented from firing on Macpherfon, who carried
it. General Montgomery in that offered a fafe convoy to
Carleton and Cramhie, Lieutenant Governor, but he would
not read it. Last Saturday night we made the Indians flioot
several letters into the town with bows and arrows, which
were found by the inhabitants and are circulating through
the town; one was directed to the inhabitants, informing es
ou requests and the eonfiquence of a refufal; another tc
Carlcron, threatening him with immediate death unless he
gave up the city.—Was it not for Carleton, Cramhie, Col.
M Lean, (a Scotchman who was taken up by the Con^efs a'
New-Y^rk, but denied all interfering in the difpute° when
a. a° h ° h ^ a commi ssion to raise men) and
e "°' ° f I th ' Customs > we Should have been in
Quebec before now; but in a few nights we are to take it
by form, to pay from both batteries, attack in the I®wer
so? ° e 7 with hddefs > which arc almost
done, and every one that gets fife , nto t h e city will live well
for they are allowed to plunder and take what they plea( e '
By authentic advices from the Camp at Cambridge, of the
3d and 4 th instant, we learn, that the bay and harbour of
Boston yet continue open, that a ma* of J ar is so fc ione „
as to command the outran e of Salem, Beverley and Marble
head harbours— 1 hat 500 freffi troops had arrived from Ire
land-two regiments had gone to Halifax— two had pushed
into the rive St. Lawrence in hopes of getting up to Quebec
^ch was very dnubriul-That the two regiments ar %dat
B ° ft °° tb e ssth and 17th—T hat Admiral Shuldham was
afo arrived.—An imelligent person got out of Boston on the
3 d ", nt ', vh ° informed General Washington that a fleet
confining of 9 tranfpom, containing 360 men, were ready to
fall under convoy of the Scarborough and Fowey men of war
with t, bomb vessels and some fht
avowed delation in Boston was to Newport, but it
^a!l y flipped to be Long Island or Vifo-That a num
ber of other transports are taking in water, and they are hik
ing large quantities of bifeuit in Boston, some fay to
ot the Shipping, who are to lay in Nantucket on accou it
of the ice, while others believe a mor^ imports movement
is in agitation:—This person a if o .flfuri% that they have
not the least idea in Boston rs attr K % ° ur lines, but will be
very thankful to be permuted to remain quiet---That before
General Burgoyne's dei c ° U£e it was circulated thro' the army,
in order to keep the, '"diery quiet under their diftieffes, that
the disputes wouW'von be fettled, and that he was going 10
England fo* ch, 'purpofe—That they had intelligence at Bol
ton of font vtftls having tailed from Hdpaniola for this Conti
nent forie <ln e ago, laden with arms and ammunition.
Our Advic s co,elude with the following anecdote : That
upon the fling! sf/cech arriving at Boston, a great number of
r>em ^ere reprinted and sent out to our lines on the second of
January, which being also the day of forming the new army,
thg gieat Union Flag was hojfted on Profpe& Hill, in com
pliment to the United Colonies—this h^
the speeches were delivered at Roxbur
received at Cambridge, the Bofton #
token of the deep impression the fr
nal of fubmiflion—That thev
ing several days elanfo
to a surrender
selves.—
in 1 •