The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-23 00:00:00, page 2

^ following Ad-vices are taken from an Englfb Paper oft
Jay %,, found on boa*' one of the Prizes lately taken at
the EaJlward, viz.
M ADRI D, JUNE jo.
TH E Court received last week two couriers at Aran
juez, one from Lisbon, and the other from Co
frunnh. Although nothing has been published of the
contents of their dispatches, yet we are allured that they
bring a relation of the hoftilitics committed by the Por
tuguese in the river Plata, where they have besieged and
taken three different forts, and made the garrison prison
ers of war. it is very certain, that the court sent, im
mediately after the arrival of the laid couriers, two ex
presses, one to France, the other to England, and that
Several regiments have received orders t? defile; without
delay, towards the frontiers of the kingd in of Portugal.
LONDO N, July 23.
The lad dispatches from Gen. Howe contained pres
sing demands for regular supplies of piovifious from
England or Ireland.
The troops that will serve in America this campaign
will be divided as Follows:
Under General Howe, 34,6x4. Gen. Carlton, 13,377.
General Clinton, 3,397. Total of the King's troops to
adt in Ahierica this campaign, 51,388.
Extract of a letter from Hamburgh.
" Letters from Hanover advise, that the King of Great
Britain has given orders to remount the artillery hot
only at Hanover but at Stade, Hamelen, Hardeburgli,
Nienburgh, and other strong places, to make new bag
gage waggons, copper pontoons, and also to take
throughout the Electorate an exaCt lift of all the young
men able to bear arms."
The Earl of Rochford, we are informed, is making
great preparations for embarking for Ireland, his appoint
ment, as Viceroy of that kingdom, being determined
upon in Council.
A letter from Cadiz, dated July 8, fays, " An advice
boat is just arrived here from South America, which has
brought some very particular, and, it is said, very dis
agreeable news. An express is gone up with it to Ma
drid. I have just now heard that there has been an en
gagement, and that the Portuguese have killed and taken
above one thousand of our troops, and destroyed some
towns and villages.'”
July 25. It is positively asserted that the transport ser
vice, extraordinaries of the army, and contingent expence
attending the American campaign, will amount, in the
course of the year 1776, to five millions and a half, which
is more than they amounted to in any one of Mr. Pitt's
mod fuccefsful campaigns, when there were above 318,000
effective Englishmen in British pay, besides above 100,oco
foreigners, including those paid and eloathed by the Prus
sian subsidy; and when we had fleets and armies in every
quarter of the globe, gaining victories and making con
quers that will for ever immortalize the fame and glory
of Great-Britain.
July 27. Capt. Williamson, of the Francis, who is ar
rived in town from Antigua, brings us the following ac
counts, viz. That a few days after they were on this tide
of the Bermuda idands, the following Blips were taken by
the Revenge and Montgomery, two small American pri
vateers, viz. The brig Henry, Blyth, from Barbados to
Halifax, taken the 28th of May, laden with rum; the
Rover, Hunter, from Antigua to Dublin, taken the 13th
of June, laden with ditto; the Isabella, Kirk, from ditto
for ditto, taken the ijth of June, loaded with ditto; the
Harlequin, Goodwin, from Nevis to ditto, taken the 2d
of July, loaded with sugar and rum; the Devopfhire,
Fisher, from Antigua to ditto, taken the id of July,
loaded with rum; the Polly, Lear, from ditto to London,
taken the 2d of July, loaded with sugar and rum, in lat.
34:55, long. 53:36. They are valued all together at
three hhndied thousand pounds.
Capt. Stephenson, of the Lady Juliana, arrived in town
yesterday, add gives us the following account of the cap
ture of his ihip, from Jamaica to London, in company
with the Reynolds, Capt. Rufden, from ditto for ditto,
and the Juho, Capt. Marfden, from ditto for Bristol.
" On the ninth and twelfth of May last, they were
attacked by two American privateers, Capt. Henry,
mounting fix three pounders and ten swivels, on the
ninth of May; and Lady Juliana, Stephenson, and Juno
Marfden, were taken by the Chance, Capt. Adams, who
mounted four fix pounders and ten swivels, the twelfth;
that the Provincials put the Captains and passengers on
board a Spanish vessel that was leaky, to carry them into
Providence, where the Captains purchased a vessel, cal
led the Baltimore, which is lince arrived at Plymouth.
The certain advice received yesterday of nine fail of
Blips being taken by the American privateers, has raised
the insurance on all Jamaica (hips, and ships from the
Weft-India i (lands zol. per cent, more than it was before ;
and many of the underwriters even refufe to enter their
names on a policy; for they look upon it as a hazardous
Venture, as there are a vast number of privateers out to
intercept our homeward bound Weft-India ships.
Forty per cent, insurance was offered on Wednesday,
and 50 per cent, insured last Thursday, on some ships
exoefted from Jamaica. It is said privateers will, in conse
quence of the above intelligence, be fitted out here im
mediately.
WHITEHALL, July 27. The following letter
from General Sir Guy Carlton, to Lord George Ger
maine, was this day received by Capt. Le Maitre, who
arrived express from Montreal.
" My Lord, Montreal, June 20, 1776.
“ In a former letter I informed your Lordihip that
the troops were ordered to assemble at Three Rivers;
they,all pushed forward with great expedition, as'fift as
they arrived off Quebec, by land or water, as best an
swered that end. The eighth infant the rebels attempt
ed a very bold enterprise indeed ; they crossed over from
Sorrel in fifty boats, better than two thousand men, land
ed at the Point du Lai before day-light, and marched to
attack the troops at Three Rivers, disregarding the (loop
Martin, some armed vessels and transports full of troops,
that were at anchor three miles above the town, other
wise than to keep out of reach of their cannon. They
made some attempt to force the sixty-second regiment ;
but whether they found Brigadier General Fraser, who
commanded at Three Rivers, too strong and too well
polled, or that they were alarmed by Brigadier General
Nefbit, who landed the troops from the transports be
hind them, 'tis certain they footigave up offenfive mea
sures, and retreated with all speed up the river, keeping
in the woods. The Brigadiers Nefbit and Fraser pulhed
up likcwife, but kept by the water fide, in hopes of get
ting their ' boats and cutting off their retreat; the firft as
far as Machiche, the latter to the Point du Lai. The
sloop Martin and armed vessels failed as high as the Ri
ver du Loup, and took two boats, but the rest Were gone
too far, as was their troops.
" I know not the number killed and wounded of the
rebels ; about two hundred Surrendered or were taken
prisoners, among those was their chief, Mr. Thompfoti,
whom I think they call Major-General, and a Mr. Erwin,
Who was second on this expedition, and some others.
The killed and wounded of the King's troops amounted
to 12 or 13 soldiers only.
“ The next day the troops were ordered to their for
mer stations; all who hau transports up reimbarked.
Brigadier-General Fraser was ordered to march alon^
the North Shore with the troops, whole transports had
not been Able to get up, and measures were taken to
march a body of troops also by the South Shore, ban
the wind continued favourable; for it seemed of great
importance in this unhappy war, that the rebels should
be driven from the upper part of the province as soon as
poflible. The wind springing up fair, the fleet failed;
and arrived off Sorrel the evening of the 14th inst. the
lift of the rebels had retreated from thence some hours
before. The grenadiers and light infantry of the troops
in this division immediately landed, Supported by Briga
dier-General Nefbit and part of his brigade. The next
morning more troops were sent on shore, and the com
mand of this column given to Lieutenant General Bur
goyne, with inftruCtions to pursue the rebels up the rivet
Sorrel to St. John's, but without hazarding any thing
till the column on his right should co-operate with him.
As soon as the regulations for the different transports
could be made out, the remainder of the fleet failed for
Longuiel, four leagues from Chamblee (Chamblee is fif
teen leagues from Sorrel, by the river of that name) and
had not the wind failed, this column might have arrived
at Longuiel the fame night, and about the fame time
with Mr. Arnold, and the remainder of the rebels, re
tiring from Montreal. The next day the troops landed,
and marched by La Prairie towards St. John's. The ad
vanced guard was supported by all the English remain
ing after the dispositions already mentioned, under the
command of Major-General Philips, and this division
followed by two regiments of the Brunswick troops, and
that of Hanau, commanded by Major-General Ricdefel.
" The advanced guard arrived the morning of the
19th inst. near to St. John's, when they learned that the
head of Lieut. General Burgoyne's column had taken
possession of the redoubts the night before; they found
all the buildings in flames, all the craft and large boats
the rebels could not drag up the Rapids of Chamblee,
with some provisions, were also burned. I hear twenty
two pieces of cannon are left behind, hid in the woods;
several other marks appear of great precipitation and
fright ; on this occasion I think they had no small cause.
All his Majesty's national and foreign troops (hewed a
great zeal and eagerness to overtake the rebels; and I
doubt not but they would have given every proof of fide
lity and valour, had the enemy delayed their retreat a
little longer.—The corps of artillery (hewed great dili
gence likewise on the occasion ; there were brigades
which marched with both columns. —Brigadier Fraser's
corps crossed from the north, and fell into the rear of the
two columns on the south fide; they were also joined by
numbers of Canadians, and that on the right by many
Indians.
" Capt. Le Maitre will have the honour to present to
your Lordfliip these dispatches. He is an intelligent of
ficer, and well qualified to give any farther information
of the tranfadions in this province. I shall take the liber
ty to recommend him to your Lordship as an officer of
merit, l am, &c. GUY CARLTON."
NEWPOR T, OBober 11.
Last Monday the continental sloop Providence, Capt.
Jones, arrived at a fafe port, having, in a cruise of fix
weeks, captured 16 fail of veflcls, 6 of which he burnt;
among the others is Qe ship with 3000 quintals of cod
filh, some smaller fifhermen, and two Weft-Indiamen.
PHILADELPHI A, October 23.
Intelligence received in CONGRESS, October 21st,
from the Middle and Northern Departments.
In the night of the 15th instant General Mercer palled
over to Staten-Island with part of the troops posted at
Perth-Amboy, and advanced within a few miles of Rich
mond town, having been informed that a company of
Britifli troops, one of Heflians, and one of Skinner's
militia lay there—Colonel Griffin was detached with
Colonel Patterson's battalion, and Major Clarke at the
head of some rifle-men, to fall in upon the east end of
the town, while the remainder of the troops enclosed it
on the other quarters; both divisions reached the town
by break of day, but not before the enemy were alarmed;
mod of them fled after exchanging a few (hot with Col.
Griffin's detachment. Two soldiers of the enemy were
mortally wounded, and seventeen taken prisoners; with
the loss only of two soldiers killed on our fide. Col.
Griffin received a wound in the foot from a musket ball,
and Lieut. Col Smith was (lightly wounded in the arm.
Amongst the prisoners taken in this action are eight
Heflians. Our troops brought off from Staten-Island 45
muskets, a number of bayonets, cutiaffes, &c. and one
standard of the British light horse.
It has been determined in a Council of War at Head
Quarters, to remove the army from the Heights of Haer
lem towards East and Well Chester, in order to outflank
the enemy, and disappoint their intentions.
On Friday the 18th instant one of the enemy's advan
ced parties near East Chester fell in with part of Col.
Glover's brigade, when a finart and close engagement
ensued; in which our men behaved with great coolness
and intrepidity, and drove the enemy back to their main
body.
That on the 11th instant, at 8 o'clock in the morning,
the enemy's fleet on Lake Champlain, confiding of one
ship mounting 16 guns, one snow mounting the fame
number, one schooner of 14 guns, two of twelve, two
sloops, a bomb ketch, and a large vessel, (her force un
known) with fifteen or twenty flat bottomed boats or
gondolas, carrying one 12 or 18 pounder in their bows,
appeared off Cumberland Head: General Arnold with
his forces immediately prepared to receive them —At 11
o'clock the attack began, at half pad 12 the engagement
became general and very warm; some of the enemy's
ships and ail their gondolas beat up and rowed within
musket shot of our fleet. They continued a very hot fire
with round and grape shot till 5 o'clock, when they
thought proper to retire about fix or seven hundred yards
distance, and continued there until dark. Gen. Arnold
and his troops conduced themselves during this action
with great fnmnefs and intrepidity, and made a better re
finance than could have been expected against a force so
greatly superior—the whole of our killed and wounded
amounted to about 60. The Philadelphia gondola and a
schooner were loft in the engagement, but all the men
were saved. The enemy landed a large number of Indians
on Schuyler's Island and on each shore, who kept up an
incessant fire, but did little damage. The enemy had to
appearance upwards of loco men in batteaus prepared
for boarding.
The^enemy's force being so greatly superior, it was
determined in Council to remove to Crown Point, in
order to refit and colled our force. At 2 o'clock, P. M:
the 12th, our fleet weighed anchor, with a frefh breeze
to the fouthwprd: The cm my's fleet at the fine time got
binder way: 'Our gondalas made very little way ahead.-
In the. evening the wind moderated, and we made such
progress, that at fix o'clock next merning we were about
28 miles from Crown P int. The enemy's fleet was very
little above Schuyler s Island, the wind breezed up to the
southward, so that we gained very like by beating or
rowing'; at the fame time the energy took a frefh breeze
from the N. E. And, by the time we had reached Split
R< ck, were along fide of us. The Walhington and the
Congress were in the rear, the rest of our fleet were
ahead, except two gondolas funk at Schuyler's Island :—
The Wafhingt n galley was in such a fluttered condition,
and had so many men killed and wounded, that die (truck
to the enemy after receiving a few broadsides. The Con
gress was then attacked by a ship mounting 12 eighteen
pounders, a schooner of 14 fixes, and one" of 12 fixes;
two under her hern and one on her broadside, within
musket-shot: The enemy kept up an incefiant fire about
five glasses with round and grape shot, which was return
ed as briikly. The fai|s, rigging and hull of the Con
gress were mattered and torn in pieces; when, to prevent
he? falling into the enemy's hands, Gen. Arnold, who
was on board, ran her ashore in a small creek ten miles
from Crown Point, where after taking out her small arms
the was set on fire, with 4 other gondolas; with whose
crews the General reached Crown Point that evening,
luckily escaping the savages, who way-laid the road in
two hours after he had palled it. —Of our whole fleet we
have saved two gallies, two schooners, one gondola, and
one sloop.
Gen. Arnold behaved with such intrepidity, that he
covered the retreat of the few vessels we saved at the ex
pence of one third of his crew —Our commanders and
men behaved most gallantly; some vessels having loft all
their officers, fought notwithstanding, and refufed to
yield but with their lives. The enemy acknowledge our
bravery, and coufefs their loss of men equal to curs.
Our troops are now busily employed in compleating
the lines, redoubts, &c. at Crown Point, expe&bnr the
enemy to attack them with their fleet and army. Put as
the season is now far advanced, and our men are daily
growing in health, they have the most flattering expecta
tions of maintaining their post against any force the ene
my can bring.
N. B. Two of the enemy's gondolas were funk the firft
day by our fleet, and one blown up with 60 men.
Monday last arrived here the prize brig Sherburne,
Jonathan Bunnell, late master. taken by the Hanc< ck
privateer, Captain Newman, of this port. We hear her
cargoe consists of 580 barrels of oil.
The Britifli and Hessian troops, lately taken on Staten-
Island, were brought to town under guard last Monday.
A schooner, Captain Wilson, bound from Boston for
Bourdeaux, was taken about five days after she failed, by
the Perseus man of war, of 20 guns,' lately arrived from
England; after taking out the matter and mate, they
put two midfllipmen and four sailors on board, to navi
gate her to New-York, but she fan ashore last week near
Sandy-Hook, and was taken possession of by our troops,
who saved the cargoe, and it is thought the vessel may be
got off. The midihipmen and sailors were made pri
soners, and arrived here last Monday night.
* The said Constitution differs from others lately
formed, in these particulars: ift. It eftablilhes only a
Jingle legislative body. adly. It renders the judicial de
pendant on that Jingle legislative body, who may remove
any judge from his office, without trial, for any thing
they plcafe to call " misbehaviour." jdly. It renders the
executive dependent on that fugle legislative body;'by
whom alone the executive officers are to be paid for their
services, —and by whom, from the great disproportion
between the numbers of the Assembly and Council, the
President and Vice-President must always be annually
chosen, —besides, that every officer, executive or judicial,
may be impeached by the Affmbly, before fa' of the
Council thus dependent on the Assembly, and be tried and
condemned. 4thly. It erects no Court of Appeals, more
necessary here than in some other States, as our Supreme
Court may try causes in the firft instance, and finally de
termine them, so that there is no mode fettled for cor
recting their errors.
The said Constitution differs from the sentiments of the
Hom. Congress, in rendering every Judge in the State en
tirely dependent on thef„g/e legislative body.—For in the
firft petition to the King of Great- Britain, the Congress,
in enumerating “ grievances," fay, " The Judges of
Courts of Common Law have keen made entirely de
pendent on one part of the legislature for their Hilaries, as
well as the duration of their c< mmiihons." Again, the
said Constitution differs from the sentiments of the Hon,
Congress, in not having “ feparat.d and dfributed pow
ers into different hands, for checks upon one another ;" for
in their address to the inhabitants of Canada, mentioning
At a Meeting of a large and ref,enable Number of the Citi
zens of Philadelphia in the State-boufe hrd, on Monday
and Tuesday, the ztyl and aid Days of October infant,
(Colonel John Bayard in the Chair) the folloauin^
RESOLUTIONS mere agreed to by a great Majori
ty, and affeEionately recommended to their Fellew-citizenj,
in every Part of the State of Pennsylvania.
Refolded,
1. HAT the late Convention was called for the
1 express purpose of forming a new government in
this State, on the authority of the people only, with
power also to appoint Delegates in Congress, and a Coun
cil of Safety.
2. That the said Convention assumed and exercised
powers with which they were not entrusted by the peo
ple.
3. That in the Constitution formed by the said Con
vention, the Christian religion is not treated with pro
per refped.
4. That the said Constitution unnecefcrily deviates
from all resemblance to the former government of this
State, to which the people have been accuflomed.
5. That it is the sense of this meeting, that the peo
ple did not delire such flrange innovations, but only that
the kingly, parliamentary, and proprietary powers should
be totally abolifh~d, and such alterations made as would
thereby be rendered necessary, so that a well formed go
vernment might be eftabliflied solely on the authority of
the people.
6. That the said Constitution differs not only unneces
sarily from that to which the people have been accufiom
ed, but in many important articles from every Govern
ment that has lately been eftabliflied in America on the
authority of the people —from the sentiments of the Ho
nourable the Continental Congress refpedting govern
ment —and from those of the most distinguished authors,
who have deliberately considered that fubjedt. *