The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-18 00:00:00, page 2

The following is one of the elaufss of the Aa to autho
rise, for a limited time, the punishment, by hard labour, of
offenders, who, for Gerten crimes, are or Shall become lia
ble to be transported to any of his Majesty's colonies and
plantations : " And be it further enaaed, that every offend
er who fliall be ordered to hard labour, in the custody of
inch overseer or overseers as aforefaid, thall, during the tim^
of such Service, be fed and sustained with bread, and any
coarse or inferior food and water or Small beer, and also
eloathed ; and such offender fliall not, during the term of
his said service, be permit ed to have any other food, drink,
or eloathing, than such as Shall be allotted to them ; and if
any person Shall Supply any such offender, at any time duri g
the term of his said Service, with any drink, food, or eloath
ing, other than such as (hall be so directed or permitted, he
or (he so Supplying Shall, for every Such offence, forfeit any
film not weeding forty drillings,"
The following creations, fays a correspondent, will take
place previous to the next meeting of parliament:—The
Earls ot Hartford, Gundford, and Harcourt, and Lord
Totrnfhend, to be Marquiffcs; the Lords Mansfield, Paget,
Weymouth, Cranley, Hume, and Cardiff, to be Earls of
Stormont, Uxbridge, Grenville, Cranley, Berwick, and Car
diff ; and Sir Fletcher Norton, Sir John Borlace Warren,
Sir Charles Tynte, and the Earl of Offory, of the kingdom
of Ireland, fliall be advanced to the dignity of Barons of
Great-Britain, by the titles of Baron Fletcher, Baron Surry,
Baron Wharton, and Baron Offory. It is likewise supposed,
that Lord Bruce will be created Earl of Wiltshire, not Earl
sos by the future legislature of this foe, as fbot i a * may
be and pupifameuts made, in some cases left Ungwna.y,
and in gefoal moie proportionate to the crimes. In the
mean time the laws IhUI remain in full force as they now
stand, except such as deciare any allegiance to the Mog ot
Great-Britain, or vest any authority in the Proprietors or
Ute Governor of this State, or which are in any wire repug
nant to, or incontinent with this constitution. ,
Seft. 40. Houses ought to be erected tor pumfhing by hard
labor title who are guilty ofcrimes not capital, wherein the
criminals Shall be employed for the benefit of Hie public, or
for reparation of injuries done to private persons..
Se 9 41. No man, or set of men, of any denomination
or profeffion, are intitled to particular privileges or cxemD
tioßs from punishment for offences; therefore the words
“ without benefit of clergy," where the punishment is de^h,
ouvht to be hereafter disused in legislation, and the pumlh
meets inflicted that fliall be dire&ed by law.
Se& All officers Shall take an oath or affirmation to
endeavour to preforve this constitution inviolate, and toge
ther with the oath or affirmation pertaining to the efface.
Sefl. 43. No money or goods Shall be raised up mor paid
by any of the people of this date, by way of public tax,
custom, or contribution, except by a law made for that pur
pose; and before any law be made for railing it, the purple
for which any tax is to be railed, ought to appear, clearly to
the legislature, to be of ^ore fervid to the community than
the money would be, if not collated, which being well ob
ferred, taxes can never be burthens.
Se&. 44. Every foreigner of good character, who comes to
fettle in sail Slate, having firft taken an oath or affirmation or
atleg ance to the fame, may purchase, or by other just means
acquire and hold land or other real estates; and after one
year's residence, Shall be deemed a free denizen thereof, a^d
entitled to all the rights of a natural born freeman of this
Gate, except that he fliall nut be capable of elevon as a
teprefentative until after two years refrdenee.
Sea 45. The inhabitants ot this date ihali have liberty to
fowl and hunt, in feafmable times, 04 the lands they hmd,
and on all other lands therein not inclolcd; and in me
.manner to filh in all beatable writers, and others not private
'"sfffl'46. A School hr Schools Shall be established fa each
county by the legislature, for the convenient inibuaion of
youth, with such Salaries to the mailers, paid by the public,
as may enable them to inftrua youth at low prices . And all
ufeful learning fliall be duly encouraged and promoted in one
or more univeriities.
Sea. 47. Laws for the encouragement of virtue and pre
vention of vice and immorality, fliall be made and eonftanny
kept in force, and provilino Shall be made for their due exe*
cution.
Sett. 4 S. No article of the declaration of rights of this
flats oiw&t ever to be violated on any pretence whatever.
Sep, 49. In order that the freedom of the commonwealth
may be preferred inviolate for ever, there Shall be chosen by
bailor, on the fi; St Monday in October, in the year one thou
sand Seven hundred and eighty-three, and on the hili Monday
'in OSober in every fevemh year thereafter, two perfonsin
the city of Philadelphia, and two in each county or this ftae,
to be called the Council of Cebfors, who Shall meet together
on the second Monday of November next enduing the%r
election, the majority of whom Shall be a quorum, and
whole duty it fliall be to inquire whether the p.efent coniti
tution has been preserved inviolate in every part? And whe
ther the legislative or executive branches of government have
performed their duty as Guardians of the people, or ariumed
to themfdves or eroeifed other or greater powers than they
are iatitled to by this present coiifticunon. They are also to
inquire whether the public taxes have been juftiy laid and
corrected in all parts orthe commonwealth; in what manner
the public monies have been disposed of, and whether the
laws have been duly executed. For their purpefss they Ihall
have power to fend for perfin, papers and records; the,
fliall have authority to pari public censures, to order im
peachments, and to recommend to the legislature the repeal
ing such laws as appear to them to h^ve been enacted con
trary to the principles of the constitution. These powers
they thill continue to have for and during the space of one
vear from the day of their election, and no longer. The said
Council of Ceafors Shall also have power to-order the calling
a convention to meet within two years after their Bering, if
there appear to them an abfohne necessity cf amending any
article of this constitution, - which may be dtft&ve, explain
ing such as may be thought not clearly expiclfed, and of add
ing such as are necefl'ary for the preservation of the rights and
happiness of the people : But toe articles to be amended, and
the amendments proposed, and such at ic u as are proper d
to lie added or abotifhed, fliall be promulgated at lead fit
months before the day appointed tor the ele& an of such
Convention, for the previous consideration of the people;
that they may have an opportunity ot inftruaing their Deie
gates on the fubjea.
^^ofo*^oi^ofo^^^ ^oto^*^
LONDON.
June 3. A gentleman who arrived on Friday from the
Hague fays, " the people there, who have money in the
English funds, begin to be very uneasy about the fate of it.
They apprehend, that by next furomer the Americans will
have totally thrown off their dependancy on England, con
ftqtiently the credit of the nation will be loft, and the Stocks
Sink to nothing. He declared he was comm dinned by twen
ty capital people to draw their money out for them, and fend
it over."
of Ay'Nbury, as has been repotted: and that Lord Howe,
upon his return, will be created Vifeoutit Howe, and Earl of
Nottingham in England.
Zee 4 Xefterday morning bis Majeftv. attended by Se
veral general officers went from the Quern's palace to
Blackheath, and these reviewed the tour troops of horse and
horse grenadier guards.
On Saturday the embarkation of the horses for America,
began on board the Dutch transports, and two of them
having taken on board their complement, are failed to Spit
head.
Just arrived, the Race Horse, Drew, from London for
Quebec, laden with bait goods; the hops here to take on
board 50 artificers from the dock-yard at this port.
Yefte day Lord Bruce kissed the King's hand at St. James's,
on his bring created Earl of AylcibUy ; as did Lord Hyde,
on being created Ear! of Clarendon ; and Lord Trever, on
beir g created a Vifcouat.
WiritebaH, June ir£,ii morning Major Caldwell, Lieu
tenant Coionel Commandant of the British militia in Canada,
arrived from Quebec in his Majefiy's Ship Hunter; by whom
was received the following letter from G neral Carleton to
Lord George Germaine, together with the copy of a letter
from Geneial Carleton to General Howe.
M, Lord, Quebec, May 14, 1776.
After this town bad been elofely invented by the rebels for
five months, and had defeated all their attempts :ht Surprize
frigate, Ids, and sloop Martin came into the Bafon the 6tli
inst.
As soon as that part of the 29th they had on board with
their marines, in all about 200, were landed, they, with the
greatest part of the gairifon, by this time much improved,
and in high fpiri-s, marched nut of the ports of S. Lopis
and St. John's, to fee what those mighty boaters were about ;
they were found very hufy in their preparations for a re
treat, a few Shots being exchanged, the line marched for
ward, and the plains were soon cleared of those plunderers ;
all the^r artillery, military Bores Scaling ladders, petards,
&c. &e. were abandoned. Tne Surprize, Martin, and a pro
vince armed vessel, went op he river, when they also quit
ted the Gafpee, and the armed Schooner Mary : The rear of
the rebels have halted at Dechamb-uh ; and the Surprize,
with the othertwo vel? Is, arc a little upon this fide of the
falls of Richbell.
This ended our fege and blockade, during which the mix
ed garrison of foldicQ (a lors, British and Canadian militia^
with the artificers from Halifax and Newfoundland Shewed
great zeal and patience, u -dei very f/vere duty and uncom
mon vigilance, i^difpeufabic in a place liable to be (formed,
besides great labour necessary to render such attempts less
practicable.
N aw^Banding the inclement season they preserved good
health, ad their Spirits cncrcafcd every day. A copy of
my letter to Gen. Howe vriilinform your Lordfllip of our
Situation to the defeat of the rebel- upon th- : 3 ft of Dec.
For three months after they confined their operations to
the preventing ail Supplies from coming to town, and ia
burning our Suburbs and (hipping; the latter have almost all
escaped. but the gieaieft part of the Suburbs of St. R que
and St John have been burnt; the remainder was brought
into town for fuel, wlich was much wanted.
The beginning of February the rebels again attempted to
enter into a correip ndence by a flag ot truce, 1 supp fe, by
a perm ffion granted for the prisoners baggage to enter the
town; but as they were told immedia ely co withdraw, un
kfs they came to implore the king's mercy, they have not
Since retuined.
My Lord,
I have this moment received an account from Capt. Foster,
that he, with a detachment of the Bih regiment, Some Cana
dians, and a number of Indians, had taken the 19 h iqftant,
a fort at the Cedars, two pieces of cannon, and 390 rebels
June it. By an authentic lift it appeals, that ber een the
26(11 of Jure and the 31st of December lad, 72 trading vef
Seis and one armed thip of the Americans, were tak n by the
fleet wider the command of Vice-Admiral Graves, which
then consisted of 24 Ships of different Sizes, and has finee
been increafcd to upwards of too fail.
June 13. The King wrote a card bimfelf to the Duke of
Montagu, to accept of the governorship to the Prince of
Wales, upon the refufolof L rd Bruce, whose lady was pe
remptorily averse to the office.
Whitehall, Ju..: 24. The following letter from General
Carleton to Lord George Germain was hs morning received
by Lieutenant Focks, of his Majesty's fllip Lizard, arrived
from Quebec in the Hope transport.
On board the Maria, oppefte St. Ann's, May 25, 1776.
March the 25^1, the advance guard of a party, railed by
Me. Beaujeau to relieve the town, was defeated; the rest
difrerfrd. The gift it was dilcoveted that the rebel prifovl
ers had formed a plot to escape, to Seize the guard at St.
John's gate, and let in Mr. Arnold ; which was ofleCually
diSapp inted
1 be 4.11 pf April the rebels opened a battery of four guns
2nd one howitzer from the opposite fide or tne river St.
Lawrence, and the ud another cf two guns on the river St.
Charles : These were also intended to burn the town and
Shipping. From beth these they fired red hot ball. The 23d
they attempted throwing feme Shells into the town from a
battery on the heights opposite to port St. Louis: all these bate
teiies were much damaged by our artillery.
May the 3d, about ten at night, a fire Ship attempted to
run into the Col d&Sac, where the greatest part of our Ship
ping were laid up, but this also proved abortive, and She
burned to the water's edge, without doing us the lead injury :
It is fuppoted they intended a general aflault, had they fuc
needed in Setting fi-e to the Ships and lower town. J cannot
conclude this letter without doing ;uft:ce to Lieut. Colonel
M Lean, who has been iudetatigably zealous in the King's
Service, and to bis regiment, wherein he has coHedled a
number f experienced good officers, who have been very
uftful. Ct I. Hamilton, (Captain of his Majrily's Ship Lizard)
who commanded the battalion of seamen, his officers and
men. discharged their duty with great alacrity and Spirit.
The fame thing mutt be acknowledged M the masters, iofe
mar -office is, and .fc,men bc?up,irgjo his, Maj fty'§ trans
ports and merchantmen defined here lab fall : olv one sea
man d'erred the whole time. The militia, Britifli and Ca
nadian, behaved with a haidinef and r Solution chat could
hardly have b-enfTp^ed from men unuted to aims Judges
and the- reffic is of government, as wel as merchants,
chearfu ly Submitted to every inconvenience to p-eferve die
town ; the whole indeed up- n rhe occasion Shewed a Spirit
and perfeveraner that do them great honor.
The 47th [Carleton',] bom Halifax, arid the greatest ,art
of the 29^ [Evei) n's] are since arrived.
Major Cridwell', who commanded the Britifli militia all
winter, as Lieutenant Col. Commandant, and is bearer of
these difpatchcs to your Lordship, ba, proved himfeda faith
ful Object of his M jetty, and an active diligent officer. He,
and indeed aim fl every loyal fubjea. are very cobfidcrable
fufFerers by the present hostile invasion. I am, &c
GUY CARLETON.
prisoners at discretion. The day following a party cf rxo
rebels eroded from the irtand of Montreal to Kitchin ; those
were attacked by Mess. Lorimer and Mongtiny, defeated and
taken.
The Small force that is already arrived is drawing nearer
to the rebels, to fee if any aSlifiance can be given to the
King's good {objects above, who have begun rather £ oner
than 1 could have wiihed. The rebels are bill numerous
in the province, and talk of large reinforcements.
I am, &c. GUY CARLETON.
Lieutenant ,Fooks failed from Quebec on the afternoon
of the 26th of May, and gives an account that before his
departure Some Indians had arrived from the party at the
Cedars about eight leagues from Montreal, who informed
him that the Indians of the western confederacy were in
motion to join the King's troops, and that a very large
body of them were within three days march of the Cedars:
He adds, that the fame night he left Quebec he met the
transports with the British regiments from Ireland, under
convoy of the Cirysfort and Pearl, and had no doubt of
their arriving at Quebec the next morning; ahd that on
his arrival at the file of Coudre on the 28th, he found the
traufports with the Brunfwic troops, under,convey of the
Juno and Blonde, at anchor, waiting the return of tide in
order to proceed up to Quebec, the wind being then un
favorable; but that Lieutenant-General Burgoyne was gone
before in the Surpnte frigate, and probably would land
at Qi <bee on the evening of the %6.h.
Portsmouth, June 22, On TJiurfday last arrived at Spithead,
the transport with the Waldeck troops on board; and they
are preparing for t ;cir immediate departure f.-,r America.
At the elofe of the poll yesterday, at Guidhall for the of
fice of chamberlain, the numbers were,
For Benjamin Hopkinfon, Esq; 1089
John Writes, Esq; 721
Exttaß of a letter from Portfmoutb, June 23.
" Saturday night arrived at Spithead 16 fail of wanfports
from Brcmeiiehc, with the last division of Hessian troops,
amounting to 1500, who are all well; and this morning
four traalports from the Domes arrived at Spithead, whirls
we hear are the last. We have now four men cf war,
four frigates, and federal small armed veHels, who are to
convoy the transports to America, which amount to about 60
fail in all, and arc all ready to fail at an hour's notice."
Extract of a letter from Amfl^rdam, Me, 20.
" Since the beginning of March to the ptefeut time, no
less than (even vessels have failed, and three are up, ard
will fail in eighteen days hence for Surinam, and other
Du ch settlements, all loaded with German and Polish emi
grants to fettle there, mod of whom would have gone for
Bitifli-America, had it not been for the present difurbance^
June 26. Something very interesting is certainly at this
moment in agitation, between our court and that of
France Lord Stormont has carried over a very fb?rp re
monstrance, on the difiagenuous proceedings of the latter,
which have not yet transpired; however, in all probability
the next mail will make the whole affair public.
Lady Stormont accompanied his Lordihip to France;
they embarked in the u most haste at Dover, en Sunday
morning last at two o'clock.
The following particulars of a sea engagement which lately
happened off the Canary Inlands, is extras d from a letter re
ceived in town from Lisbon. " Two Spanish men of war
and cze frigate fell in with, off the above Islands, three Por,
tufu-ze men of war; when the commander of the Spanish
fqnadron ordered the latter to hoist out his Iroat, and come 011
board his (hip, which the Portugurze refuting, the Spaniards
fired into them, an engagement ensued, which was disputed
with obftnacy on both tides for a cdo6derah>e time, when
the former being greatly damaged, sheered off."
Yesterday advice was received flora Governor Carleton,
at Quebec, that General Burgoyne, with most of the (hips
that failed with him, is fafe arrived there; that they acere ve
ry plentifully fuppbed with provificns, and all in good health
and fairies, and under no appreheuGons of a further attack
from the provincial army.
This running fomed'fpltches were received at Lord George
Germaine's office from Virginia, but the particulars are not as
yet made public.
Orders are tent to Ireland for draughting 325 merf out of §
regiments of foot on &t establishment, being 65 our of each
regiment, and the number draughted to be replaced by re
cruits ; the draughted to be sent on board the tranfporis lying
at Cork, in order to join Gen. Burgoyne's forces at Quebec.
It is confidently asserted, that government has received the
most agreeable accounts from New-York, of the disposition
of the people in general there, and at RhedeTf^ud and Con
neaicut, being ready to join the King's forces, and to give
them every peffible assistance.
The plan of operations laid down for the King's forces the
ensuing campaign, is to attack the provincials on the back
settlements, and tire whipping at the fame time, diannoy the
towns on the coast, whereby it is expe&d to cut them out
more worh than all the hands they have will Ise able to do.
The last df,arches from Versailles, we hear, contain the
most potitive ass of the friendly difpobtion of 'hat
court towards Geat-tiririaic, both in rrfpe& to our oil u^t
with the American Colonies, and the new arrangement his
M ft Christian Mjefty has thought fit to make in adminillra
tion of onblic affair..
Extroß of a le ter from Paris, dated Jure sfo
" It is said, that the Ambassadors from Spain, Portugal
and England, are to have a meeting with our minifiers a: V^~
failles, in order to endeavour to fettle matters between Spain
and Portugal, upon an amicable footing. A ma # riage is even
said to be on foot between the 1 rincefs Elizabeth, det of
the King and the Prince de Brira, of Portugal.
Extraß of a letter from Verfaihes June rp.
“ Their Maj,.(V s, accompanied by Monfeur and Madame,
art arrived at Marly, where the, propose to continue the
principal part of the summer.
“ All the Court being at Marly, this place is at prefect very
dull. A vast number of English famiies have arrived."
At Bar fe Due there has lately been a prodigious Borm, at
tended with a tall of rain and bail, which damaged the hn%
and entirely laid waste several of the villages in the neigh
bourhood.
GLASGOW, Jure 6.
Ltraß of a letter from London, May „.
" The Lords of Admiralty, have ordered an old man of
war, of 60 guns to be fitted out immediately as 2 store ship,
fire is to carry fails cables, fmatt anchors and ether abides
for the use of his Majesty's ships of war, and armed vessels ia
America "
CHARLESTOWN, (South-Ca^Kna.) Aagu) 14.
On Monday last week, the DECLARATION of INDE
PENDENCE was proclaimed here, amidst the acclamations
Of a vast coacourfe ot people.
Since our last, his Excellency General Lee, and Brigadier
General Howe have set out for Georgia.
Ten very fine double fortified 9 pounders lately belonging
to the A&zon Frigate, and several anchors, spars, &c. which
.he men of war thought prudent to leave behind them on the