The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-08-07 00:00:00, page 2

LIS B 0 N, March r,
^'f^HE King's health is ftdi in the fame fituattoh.
1 The itmaur rib prevails respecting preparations
b: war, blithe C.mot forefce on whut lide the ftorr.a
threaten'^,
Kd/fa^o, Mdr:b 23. The deputes rose so high at the
holding df the Dietines at Kaun in Lithuania, that they
came to blows, and twelve perlons were killed. The con
test between the Oginiki and Tyzenhaufen parties was so
great, that fabres were immediately draWn. This fuf
ticitmdy ihews what would have been the consequence if
no Ruffian treieps had ^en in this country.
^aris, April 13. A tragical adventure has just happened
it Line between the regiments of Auvergne and Maine,
that are in garrison there. An uniform was found in one
of the barracks, which belonged to one of these regi
ments. That event fired the brains of some of the fol
biers. They imagined it to be the spoil of one of their
comrades that had perhaps been killed. Others thought
it left there to mbek them. Some were for burning it,
and cithers thought it better to take fatisfadion for it.
The latter opinion prevailed. The flames of war were
kindled, and the day and hour appointed, when the two
regiments fought with such fury, that a great number of
killed and wounded were left on the field of battle. The
Officers of these two regiments had heard nothing of
waat ; had puffed ; and on information of it being given
to the Minister of war, the regiment of foot, Soiflonnois,
is to be lent to Lirte, to replace the regiment that buffer
ed molt. L.'A
L O N D O N.
April 11. Advices from Constantinople by the way of
Genoa fay, that the Grand Signior is beginning again to
make new armaments, the designs of which do net in the
lead appear, which occalions a variety of (peculations.
They write from Warsaw, that it was generally re
ported in that city the King of Poland was going to have
ah interview with his Prussian Majesty on the frontiers of
the kingdom, relative to some general matters between the
two kingdoms.
Orders are sent to Chatham for his Majesty's frigate
Amazon, Capt. Jacobs, of 32 guns, to be fitted out for
the North-American Ration.
April 23. The Congress has determined to declare
America an Independent State; and it is said they will
fend Ambafladors to such of the Courts of Europe , as
will permit it.
The B UDGE T.
Two millions are to be borrowed towards the service
of the prefect year, and funded.
The plan for raffing the Supplies is said to be as follows :
For 4 2,000,000 of calh to be paid by
the subscribers, Government funds
immediately, . . . 1,550,000
And are to deliver to them 60,000
tickets at iol. each (the prizes to
be funded after the drawing of the
lottery) amounting to - - 600,000
£ 2,150,000
For which firm of £ 2,000,000 received, the sum of
£ 2,150,000 is to be added to the capital of the 3 per
cent, confols.
The following is the manner it is to be divided among
the Subscribers, and their supposed profits:
For every 1001. cash fubferibed,
To receive - 77 10 0 3 percents, worth 65 17 6
3 tickets at 101. 30 0 0 supposed to fetch to
fubferibers 121. 36 0 0
101 17 6
So that the profit of the fubferibers appears to be at
present il. 17s. 6d. per cent, the stock reckoned at 85
per cent. The present price is 85I; but 4 per cent, in
terest, due on Lady-day last, is to be taken off, which
reduces them to the above price; the interest of this new
fund to . begin from Lady-day.
tor paying the interest of the above, the duties on
Wheel carriages, and on windows are to be doubled, and
an additional duty is to be laid on wines. A further tax
on cards and dice is alf# said to be intended.
A vote of credit for 1,600,000! is likewpe to be asked
for, which makes the budget 3,600,000!.
The Ship Williams, Capt. Wheatley, from Jamaica, is
arrived at Bristol, and brings an account, that the latter
end of February nine fail of Spanish men of war of the
line, and five frigates, with a great number of soldiers
An board, arrived at Cape Francois, where they landed
their men; that this news has much alarmed the inha
bitants of Jamaica, who expert a visit from them; and
that necessary preparations are making to give them a
proper reception.
Letters from Lisbon, dated the 7th of April, mention,
that seven Ships from Philadelphia had arrived there with
corn and flour, and that they were to take loading, and
return to Philadelphia the firft opportunity.
Among the above Ihips is one called the Hancock and
Adams, Captain -, with a cargoe of fine wheat and
other produce of that country.
Letters by yesterday's Irish mail fay, that a vessel ar
rived at Beifaft from Bourdeaux brings advice, that three
flips belonging to the Americans were lying in that port
when She failed —two of them had delivered cargoes of
tobacco, and the other flour, and they were then taking
on board goods, but could not tell of what kind.
The following transports failed on Sunday from
Gravefend for Spithead, in order to take on board the
guards for Boftou, viz. the Jameson, Putterfun; the
Morning Star, Janfon ; and the Lord Rochford, Lambert.
Letters from Alicant by the Chambre, Capt. Smith,
which is arrived off Dover, bound to Oftend, bring ad
vice, that on the firft of February a considerable fleet of
men of war, having on board near 2000 troops, failed
forn thence for the Inland of Cuba and Hispaniola.
Several Jamaica merchants, it is said, have received
hotels from thence yesterday, with orders not to fend
anv more goods there till further orders, as they imagin
ed dirt there would soon be a Strange revolution in that
ifemd.„
Orders we-e sent down last night to Portfmonth for
feverni hoops of war to get ready to put to sea at fix
I nrs notice, in order to carry expresses to America, and
,tile Governors of the Wed-India ifiands.
b is believed in the city, that th^ men of war and
troopsdefined to bring the Americans under fubjedion,
mod now be employed to defend the Weft-India islands
ag^nh the united force of France and Spain.
lucre is such want of Seamen, that the Resolution
floors of war, Captain Hawker, which is failed from the
Donns for Haverfordweft, to take under convoy some
transports bound to America, has no more than four
fiilors on board, betides the officers: They depend on
getting men at Haverfordweft.
It is computed, by those who have the belt opportu
nity of knowing, that the whole calh 06 this kingdom
amounts to about fifteen millions Sterling; and from a
fair calculation we may compute, that fifteen millions
Sterling will be required by the Ministry for the service of
the present year, and paid by this oppressed nation into
his Majesty's Exchequer; so that the whole coin of the
kingdom will go in one year to the Crown.
CALCULATIO N.
I. For the army and havy, already
Voted by Parliament - 6,266,302 0 9
2. For purchasing provisions for the
army in America, at the rate they
have hitherto con ; and for arms,
ammunition, and other (lores,
and f®r transport service - 4,000,000 0 0
3. For the payment of the interest
of the public debt, about 4,000,000 0 0
4. For various other wants and de
mands of government 800,000 0 0
Total 15,066,302 0 9
We neither know, nor believe, that this account is at
all exaggerated. What a hopeful condition this nation is
in !
Some purfons may perhaps think, that the second arti
cle in the above calculation, concerning provisions, &c.
is too high ; but the most certain method of estimating
how much those particular articles will cost this year, is
by what they cost the last, in proportion to the number
of troops ; and whoever makes such an estimation, will
find they are rather too low than too high.
Extrafl of a letter from Greenock, April 16.
" On Friday last the 42d regiment, or Royal High
landers, came down from Glasgow to this place and Port
Giafgdw. They embarked on Saturday on board the
transports.
" Sunday evening the Flora frigate of 36 guns, com
manded by Capt. Brisbane, arrived at the Tail of the
Bank, who is to take the transports under convoy."
To the Printer of the London Evening Post.
SIR,
THERE have been very warm debates in council,
as some es the ministry forefee the intentions of the
French and Spaniards, and therefore want to bring about
a reconciliation with the Americans before a war with
those two powers breaks out, but are strongly opposed.
Lord S h, it is said, is terribly frightened; Lord
G. looks very filnple; and the most violent of the party
are quite dejected. VERITAS<
WILLIAMSBUR G, July 26.
Yesterday afternoon, agreeable to an order of the Hon.
Privy Council, the DECLARATION of INDE
PENDENCE was Solemnly proclaimed at the Capitol,
the Courthouse, and the Palace, amidst the acclamations
of the people, accompanied by firing of cannon and muf
quetry, the Several regiments of continental troops hav
ing been paraded on that solemnity.
Advices from Charleftown, which arrived here by ex
press, fay, that the Cherokee Indians have committed
Several outrages; which seems to be only a part of the
capital and favourite plan laid down by his most excellent
and element Majesty, George the Third, to lay waste the
provinces, burn the habitations, and mix men, women,
and children in one common carnage, by the hands of
those merciless savages. It is to be hoped, however, that
our frontier riflemen, joined by those of the Carolinas,
will be able, before long, to strike some blow that may
intimidate the numerous tribes of Indians from falling
into the measures of the tyrant, and make a severe, last
ing and salutary example of the treacherous Cherokees.
By the fame express, we learn that the army and squadron
under Clinton and Parker have remained tolerably quiet
since the ; r late drubbing; Wit daily make some alteration
in the difpbfition of the land forces, from one island to
another, probably for the fake of water, of which de
serters fay they are in great want, as also that consider
able sickness prevails among them, and great discontents,
from hard duty and bad 'diet. The deserters likewise
fay, that was not the army on an island from which it is
difficult to escape, two thirds of them, they are con
fident, would soon be with General Lee.—An officer of
diftin&ion writes, “ That when he confiders the diffi
culties which the enemy's generals have to encounter,
the temper and disposition of their troops, and the im
proving foirit of our people, he assures himfelf that the
game in that quarter is in our hands, and hopes that
God will give them more grace than to fhuffle it away."
Capt. Denny has lately taken up before Gwyn's island
it anchors add 10 cables, which were left by Lord Dun
more's fugitive squadron. One of the anchors is of
1300 wt. with a new cable 120 fathoms long, supposed
to have belonged to the Otter.
By advices since bur last ^relearn, that Lord Dunmore,
in attempting to get vofTeffion of St. George's island, in
Maryland, was drove off with the loss of 11 men killed,
and 2 tenders, which the Marylanders set fire to, after
taking out what was valuable in them, and fending back
to his Lordfllip, by way of present, the stinking black
prisoners they had taken.—His fleet has since gone up
Potowmack, to get water, of which they are much in
want; and some of them, it is said, have appeared in
fight of Alexandria.
B O ST O N, July 25.
Last Lord's day arrived here Capt. De Silvere in twen
ty-fix days from Martinico; he informs that a number of
fail were soon to follow for this port, and the different
parts of the continent.
Same day the transport fliip Queen of England, Capt.
Arnard, came into Nantafket road, when the was soon
made prize off. This Ship failed from Cork last Septem
ber, bound to this port, but by reason of contrary winds
and bad weather put into Lisbon to refit, from thence
came upon this coast, and meeting with bad weather
again, loft her rudder, &c. file was obliged to put away
for Jamaica; the failed from thence the loth of May,
and was upon her last cask of water when foe arrived :
Her cargoe consists of 1760 barrels of pork, 550 calks
butter, 100 casks oatmeal, and a quantity of oats in bags
and casks.
%/, 29. Yesterday was carried Into Marblehead, taken
by the Privateers Hancock, Captain Tucker, and the
Franklin, Captain Skimmer, the thip Peggy, command
ed by James Kennedy, mounts fix 3 and two 2 pounders,
bound from Halifax for New-York —she is one of .the
fleet of 24 fail who came out with transports, under con
voy of two men of war, the Renown of 50 and the Flora
of 20 guns, having ch board a number of troops. —The
cargoe consists of 75 dozen hose, 180 yards Irish sheeting,
2 boxes cord, 74 dozen porter, 83 dozen strong beer, 311
tierces salted beef, 6 barrels herring, 24 camp kettles, 5
dozen hantens, 2 dozen kettles with covers, candlesticks
and Spoons, 264? mutton hams, 40 dozen rappee fnuff,
loc gallons rum, 3884 yards oznabrigs, 12 dozen claret,
4 barrels flour, 2 kegs of hurley, 230 dozgp red port wine,
50 dozen sherry, 53 dozen white 'port wine, 16 dozen
firing beer, amounting to £ 1509 is pd. sterling, and
some cash. Also the following Tory gentlemen and la
dies, viz. Patrick Reed, Thomas Frazier, Robert Sem
ple and wife, Elizabeth Burns, John Burns, Abigal Pe
cty Thomas Semple, and the pious Benjamin Davis and
f<fa, Benjamin Davis, Thomas Pamp, and John White
head. The privateer Warren, Captain Burk, engaged
frith another of the fleet, and near taking her, when by
some accident ihe had 3 of ter men blown up, and 7
wounded, which obliged them to put into port.
Tuesday 2d of July put into Halifax, a transport ship,
having on board a number of the Hessian troops.
The above tories were brought to town in a Marblehead
schooner early this morning, and escorted up to goal;
they fay they left Halifax near a month ago; that three
transports with Hessian troops, failed in company with
them bound to New York; and that the day they left
Halifax, they saw a fleet of 40 fail, which they supposed
to be transports with Hessian troops.
N EW - H A V E N, July 31.
Major Meigs of Middletown, in this State, and Capt.
Dearborn of Nottingham, in the State of New Hamp
ihire, who were taken prisoners at th> unfucccfsful at
tempt on Quebec, the 31st of December last, have been
released on giving their parole, to return when called
for; and we hear they have both got home.
A few days since Captain Packwood arrived at New-
Londun, in 9 days from Cape Fr&cois, and has brought
14 tons of powder, some blankets, arms, &c. on ac
count of the States.
PROVIDENCE, July 27.
Since our last Capt. Arthur Crawford arrived here from
Halifax. He was taken the 28th of April last, on his pas
sage from this port to the Weft-Indies, and carried to
Virginia, from whence he was sent to Halifax. He in
forms that it was reported at Halifax that Lord Howe
parted with 14000 foreign troons off the Webern-Elands.
NE WPOR T, July 29.
The Jamaica Ihip lately taken by the brig Andrew
Doria, Capt. Biddle, was last Friday chafed alhore near
Watch-hill, by the Cerberus, Capt. Simmons, who had
almost got within gunshot ot her, but being afraid to rife
his fliip any nearer, was obliged to stand off again and
leave her. The prize, we hear, is a little bilged, but by
the afflftance of the Cabot, and Connecticut brig, and a
number of small craft, the cargo is likely to be heaaly all
saved, and his thought the vessel may be got off.
Yesterday the privateer Montgomery, Captain Buckley,
of Providence, went in the east fide of this bland, and'
carried with him a fine large snow, Capt. Gooding from
Antigua, loaded with 300 hogsheads of sugar, and 100
hogsheads of rum; and we hear Capt. Buckley, in com
pany with another privateer, has taken 5 other consider
able prizes, viz. 3 flips. 1 snow, and 1 brig, which were
but about one day's fail behind him, two of which with
the other privateer were to make some port to the east
ward.
N E W-Y O R K, August 5.
Extrafl of a letter from Fort Montgomery, dated %dy 23.
“ The flips of war in the North River are now at Ha
verftraw. ''fis evident their designs are fruftrated, not
expecting we were so well prepared to receive them.
They are well watched on both tides of the river. Capt.
Wallace, with 30 men, landed and set fire to Captain
Lilly's house: Tho' the house was owned by a great
tory, we find the British Ad of Parliament makes no
provision to diftiuguifh such from the freemen of Ame
rica. At this post we have 1000 men, and 700 at Fort
Constitution, well equipped ; several thousands are at
Peek's-Kill and the opposite fide of the river. I came
here yesterday at the request of Gen. Clinton. Should
the fllips attempt to pass, it must be through much fire
and fmoak. Last Thursday a man made his escape from
on board the Roffo by swimming. He is well known
here by officers and men from Borton, in the train. He
was taken last Summer by the Rose, in going to the
Weft-Indies. He fays, they expeded to be joined by
several hundred tories, who were to drive down to them
stock of all forts; they had been informed that great
quantities of goods were deposited in the stores at Peek's-
Kill, that they were to destroy, after which to proceed
through the Highlands to Poughkeepsie, and burn our
flips of war there : That they were much chagrined at the
disappointment, —they had on board 120 men and boys,
and 20 marines: That the most damage they received
was in passing the battery at Powles-Hook arid the Blue
Bell. —The cook of the Ihip had a leg foot off, some
others wounded, a 12 pounder lodged in their fore mart,
one came through her quarter -gallery into the cabin,
and that her shrouds and rigging fuffered much. The
Phoenix's damage, be could not tell, only that the had
received a Hot in her bowsprit. What he saw he declar
ed. As he was a prisoner, 'tis not likely they would let
him know,their difarters."
Tuesday last arrived Capt. M'Kay from St. Cbrift^-
phers, with a cargo of rum, sugar, fruit, &c. having
met with none of his Majesty's cruizets in the voyage,
till he made Block-Island, on his homeward bound pas
sage, when he was chafed by two frigates, but being
near the shore, soon got out of their reach. —He fays
the inhabitants of St. Chrirtophers continue warmly at
tached to our cause, and th# their reigning toasts are,
Washington, Lee, and INDEPENDENCY to
America.
The Public are desired to take notice, that no person
whatever, either male or female, above the age of 14
years, will be permitted to pass any of the ferries in the
State of New-Jersey, without a proper pals from the'
place they leave.
Since our last a number of veffcls have come in from
sea, and joined the ministerial fleet at Staten-IBand: but
whether their cargoes are Englilh, Scotch, Irish, Hessian,
or Hanoverian, we know not at present.
Saturday afternoon a heavy cannonade was heard, sup
posed to be an engagement between our Gondolas and
the men of war that lately went up the North-river; and
we have been favoured with the following particulars by
a gentleman who was an eye witness to the attack.
At about a quarter after one the Gondolas came up
with the fllipping, and the Lady Washington being the
foremoft, fired a Shot which hulled tha Rose, who was
then under way, and obliged her to come to an anchor.
The Phoenix and Rose then began a very heavy fire,
which lifted for an hour and twenty minutes, and was as
smartly returned. Four Shot were seen to strike tie
Shipping, but the smoke encreafug very soon prevented
us from faying with certainty what farther execution
was done. During the action we had one man killed,
one had his leg flrot off, and another badly wounded;
there were 6 or 8 more lightly wounded. The Spitfire
received 13 Shot in her hull. The Lady Washington
unfortunately Split her gun, and one other of the Gon