The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-22 00:00:00, page 3

from Cork with 3000 men for Virginia, to meet Genera; Clin
ton —The plan is to march through that colony and attack
Philadelphia by land, if impracticable by sea; they reckon
upon paper to have an army of 30,000, mostly Germans, in
America by June. —Burgoyne is to retake Canada with 10,000
men; if the passage over the Blue Ridge are fortifyed, that
way will be impracticable.—ls offers of settlement, &c. are
prepared to fling into the camp in German, when the Ger
mans arrive, it mud have a great effe&.' They trust to the
slaves, but more to the Scotch among you.
The Generals talked of are Amherst, Count La Lippe or
Ilirvey, the last is most probable.
A General of the firft abilities, has offered to go over, if I
could assure him of being received by the Congress.—ls the
minifteriai efforts do not Recced this Campaign, it is over
with them.
Feb. 14. This is certainly the Minister's (Lord G. Ger
maine's) plan upon paper for the war against America in 1776 ;
but the attentive reader will readily conceive it will prove
very deficient in point of numbers; though possibly there
may be in the whole, 30 or 35,000 effective men in America,
in 1776. The 15th, 3tft, ?3d 37th, 54:11, 55th, and 57th
regiments are now embarked at Cork to fail with Lord Corn
wallis, under Sir Peter Parker, commander by sea, for Vir
ginia. The Germans are a&ually engaged, and will be em
barked most probably at Hambro' or Stade, by the last of
next March.
N E W-L ONDO N, May 10.
Last Monday, a New-York privateer which was bound out
from this port, was chafed for several hours by the Cerberus
frigate and a brig, her consort, from Montauk Point to the
westward, but the privateer by making short tacks close in
shore, kept out of reach of their (hot and got clear; mean
while sundry vessels which had been some weeks waiting an
opportunity to get to sea, run by Montauk-Point and got out.
N EW- Y O R K, May ±O.
Thursday last 24 Indians, the Chiefs of several Indian na
tions, arrived here from Albany: We hear they are to set
out for Philadelphia in a few days, in order to wait on the
Hon. the Continental Congress.
Saturday last arrived here from New-London, a privateer
(loop in the Continental service, lately commanded by Capt.
Hazard, but now by Capt. Jones :—She brought some recruits
for the army.
PHILADELPHIA.
The faft appointed by the Hon. Continental Congress was
observed in this city on Friday last, with the greatest solem
nity.
On Monday last a. flag that was sent down to the men of
war in our bay, for the-exchange of several Americans they
hive on board, returned to this city, as the men of war weigh
ed and put to sea about an hour too soon for the'flag, they
followed them to leagues to sea, but couldnot overtake them.
It is supposed by the course the men of war fleered, that
they are gone to Virginia to refit, as by account, and the
great number of pieces which have since been picked up, they
received a great deal of damage in the late engagement with
our galiies.—Their Carpenters were fecn at work every day
for a week after the action.
We are well informed that the bodies of two men sewed in
hammocks (one marked No. ax.) were drove afhorein the Bite
of New-Castle on Friday or Saturday last. They both be
longed to the Roebuck, and it is said the one in No. ax. was
the gunner's mate.
We hear General Clinton has landed xooo troops at
Cape-Fear, North Carolina, and that General Lee has
marched with four battalions from Virginia, to the assist
ance of that Province.
Extraa of a letter to the CONGRESS, dated Montreal,
N May 10, 1776.
" By Col. Campbell, who arrived here early this morning
from Quebec, we arc informed that two men of war, two fri
gates and one tender, arrived there early on Monday the
sixth inftanr. About eleven o'clock the enemy sallied out,
to the number, as is supposed, of one thousand men. Our
forces were so dispersed at different parts, that not more than
two hundred could be collected together at Head-quarters.
This small force could not refill the enemy. All our cannon,
five hundred muskets, and about two hundred sick, unable
to come off, have fallen into their hands. The retreat was
made with the utmofl precipitation and confufion. However,
Col. Campbell informs us that he imagines we have loft very
few men, except the.fick abovementioned.
" General Thomas was last Thursday evening at Decham
beau. At a council of war it was determined to retreat to the
mouth of the Sorel. This day Gen. Arnold goes down there,
and if he can get information of the enemy's real strength,
and it Should be found inconsiderable, perhaps a council of
war, on reconsideration, may think proper to march the army
back to Dtckambeau, which is now Strengthened by Col.
Gratton's, Burrel's, and Sinclair's regiments. Besides the a
bove losses, one batteau loaded with powder, supposed to con
tain thirty barrels, and an armed vessel, which the crew were
obliged to abandon, were intercepted by one of the enemy's
frigates. Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary,
In COMMITTEE of Infpeflion and Observation, Philadelphia,
Ma, 18, 1776.
WHEREAS a quantity of Salt, supposed to be about four
thousand bushels, belonging to Joshua Fisher and Sons, im
ported in December, 1774, contrary to the Continental As
sociation, was then Bored under the care of the Committee
of lufpeaion and Observation for the City and Liberties of
Philadelphia, and now remains unfold : The said Joshua
Fisher and Sons having refufed to fell it, according to the re
commendation of Congress, and still continue contumacious
ly so to go — And the said Joshua Filner and Sons, by their
letter dated the Bth of this month, directed to this Commit
tee and received the nth of the fam&, have proposed, that,
if the fame be delivered to them without an, conditions vhat
foever, they will retail it in small quantities to the consumer
at three (hillings per bushel.—This Committee being well in
formed, that the aforefaid proposal was spread through the
country before it was made to the Committee; was calculated
to involve them in difficulties, and has a tendency to induce
the People to believe, that the Committee have some sinister
views in detaining the Salt in their posse ffion.—The Commit
tee think it their duty to remind the public, that Thomas
Fi(her and Samuel Fisher, of the house of Joshua Fisher and
Sons, have been adjudged and advertised as enemies to their
cuntry, and incapable of all trade and intercourse with the people
of these Colonies ; and therefore, that the Salt cannot be
delivered to them, nor, if it were in their possession, could
it be purchased of them by any friend to American Liberty.
— The Committee at the fame time assure the Public, that
they,have under their consideration, a mode of disposing of
rhe said Salt, so as to serve the Public in the most effectual
manner, without doing the least injustice to the said Joshua
Fisher and Sons.
At a meeting, at the Statehouse, of a very large number of
the inhabitants of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, upon
due notification, Major John Bayard, as Chairman of the cem-
PubliJhed b, order of Committee,
SAMUEL C. MORRIS, Secretary.
mitcee of infpeaion and observation of this cit, and liberties,
&c. informed the people that the meeting was called at the
request of a confiderab'e number of refpeaable citizens,
whereupon Col. Daniel Roberdeau was appointed to, and
seated in the chair, —And it was moved, That the re
solve of Congress of the r§th instant be read—Whereupon
it was read in the following words:
[For the resolve fee the firft page of this paper.]
The people in testimony of their warmest approbation,
gave three cheers.
Moved, That the inftruaions given by the house of Assem
bly to their Delegates in Congress be read—And the fame
were read accordingly as follow :
" Gentlemen, The trust reposed in you is of such a nature,
and the mode of executing it may he so diverfified ia the
course of your deliberations, that it is scarcely possible to
give you particular inftruaions refpeaing it.
" We therefore, in general, direct that you, or any four
of you, meet in Congress the Delegates of the several co
lonies now assembled in this city, and any such Delegates as
may meet at Congress next year; that you consult together
on the prefect critical and alarming date of public affairs ;
that you exert your utmost endeavours to agree upon, and
recommend, such measures as you shall judge to afford the
bed profpea of obtaining redress of American grievances,
and restoring that union and harmony between Great-Bri
tain and the colonies, so effcu.ial to the welfare and hap
piness of both countries.A
" Though the oppressive measures of the British Parlia
ment and Administration have compelled us to resist their
violence by force of arms, yet we ftrialy enjoin you, that
you in behalf of this Colony, dissent from, and utterly re
je&, any proportions, should such be made, that may cause,
or lead to, a separation from our mother country, or a
change of the form of this government.
" You are directed to make report of your proceedings
to this house. Signed by order of the house.
Nov. 9 . 1775, JOHN MORTON, Speaker."
Col. Thomas M'Kean informed, that the Committee of
the City and liberties, apprehendtng the dangerous tenden
cy of the said inftruaions, had prefixed a memorial to
the honourable House of Assembly, praying that they may
be refeinded, and that the House, taking the said memorial
into their consideration, did, as the last a& of that body
in their last sessions, determine not to alter the said instruc
tions.—On motion, Refolded unanimoufli,
That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the said in~
Oruaions have a dangerous tendency to withdraw this pro
vince from that happy union with the other Colonies, which
we confider both as our glory and proteaion.
Resolved, That the present House of Assembly was not
elected for the purpose of forming a new government.
Refolded, (One diffentient voice only) That the present
House of Assembly not having the authority of the people
for that purpose cannot proceed thereon without assuming
arbitrary power.
It being moved, and the question, thereupon put, Whe
ther thejprefent Government is competent to the exigencies
of our affairs. The fame was carried in the negative una
nimously.
Refolded, Unanimous,, That a protest be immediately en
tered, by the people of this city and liberties, against the
powers of the said Hoafe to carry the said Resolve of Con
gress into execution.
Refolded, That a Provincial Convention ought to be cho
sen by the people for the express purpose of carrying the
said resolve of Congress into execution.
And as some difficuulties may arise refpe&ing the mode of
eluding Members for the said Convention, therefore
Resolved Unanimously, That the committee of the city and
liberties of Philadelphia, be directed to fend the aforemen
tioned resolve of Congress to the several Committees through
out the province, and to call together a number from the
Committee of each county, to hold a provincial conference,
in order to determine upon the number of which the Con
vention for framing a new government shall be composed,
and the manner in which they shall be eleaed.
A protest being produced and read, the fame was uma
nimoufly approved.
THE PROTEST
Of divers of the Inhabitants of this Province, in behalf of them
selves and others.
To the Honorable the REPRESENTATIVES of the
Province of PENNSYLVANIA,
Gentlemen,
WE the Inhabitants of the City and Liberties of Phila
delphia, in behalf of ourselves, and others, the Inha
bitants of Pennsylvania, conceive it our duty to represent unto
this house as followeth;
That whereas the Hon. Continental Congress hath
by a resolve bearing date the i§th inst. recommending the
taking up, and eftablifoing new Governments throughout all
the United Colonies, under the " AUTHORITY of the
PEOPLE," and as the chartered power ®f this House is de
rived from our Mortal Enemy the King of Great- Britain, and
the members thereof were elected by such persons only, as
were, cither in real, or supposed allegiance to the said King,
to the exclusion of many worthy inhabitants, whom the
^forefaid resolve of Congress hath now rendered eledors,
and as this House, in its present slate, is in immediate inter
course with a Governor bearing 'the said King's commission,
and who is his sworn representative, holding, and by oath
obliged to hold official correspondence with the Ministers of
the said King, and is not within the reach of any a& of
ours to be absolved therefrom. We therefore in this solemn
manner, in behalf of ourselves and others, do hereby re
nounce and protest against the authority and qualification of
this House for framing a new Government.
As we mean not to enter into any altercation with this
House, we fliall forbear enumerating the particular incon
sistencies of its former conduct, and content ourselves with
declaring, that as a body of men bound by oaths of allegiance
to our enemy, and influenced as many of its members are,
cither, by connexions with, or pecuniary employments un
der the proprietary of this province, who is likewise the said
Kips'' Representative, it is to all good intents and purposes,
disqualified to take into consideration the late resolve of Con
gress, and as an Houle is not within the description mention
ed in the said Resolve as an "Assembly, under the authority
of the people only and because likewise, that we have very
alarming apprehensions, that a new Government modelled
by persons so inconsistently circumftaneed would be the means
of fubjeXing ourselves and our posterity to greater grievances
than any we have hitherto 1 experienced.
In thus protecting against the authority of this House for
framing a new Government, we mean not to object against
its exercising the proper powers it has hitherto been aecuf
tomed to use, for the fafety and convenience of the pro
vince; until such time as a new Conftitu ion, originating'
from, and founded on, " The authority of the people" Shall
be finally fettled by a Provincial Convention, to be ele&d
for that purpose, and until the proper officers and represen
tatives of the people shall be chosen agreeable thereto and
qualified to fleeced this Ecufc*—Fer which purpose an ap
plication will be made to the Committee of Infpeaion and
Observation of the city and liberties, (whose services on all
occasions hath been applied to the support of the rights of
the people) for calling a conferrenee of Committees of the
several counties of this province, agreeable to the powers it
is already invested with for that purpose, which said con
ference of Committees, shall issue out summonses for elect
ing, ^ ballot, a Provincial Convention, confining at least of
one hundred members, for the purpose of carrying the said
Resolve of Congress into execution—As we are fully con
vinced, that our fafety and happiness, next to the immediate
providence of God, depend on our complying with, and
supporting firmly, the said Resolve of Congress; that thereby
the Union of the Colonies may be preserved inviolate.
Refolded unanimous, That the Chairman be direded to
sign and present the said Protest to the Honourable House
of Assembly.
Resolved unanimouflj, That we will fapport the measures
now adopted, at ail hazard, be the consequences what they
may.'
Ihe thanks of the City and Liberties being presented
by a unanimous vote, to Col ROBERDEAU, "for his im
partiality and faithful discharge of his trust as Chairman.—
He was pleased to reply : “ That he acknowledged the
" honor done him, and that he esteemed it more, than if
" conferred by a Prince."
The thanks of the City and Liberties were also presented
by a unanimous vote, to their Committee of InfpeXion
and Observation, for their zeal, fidelity, and ftcady atten
tion to the duties of their important station. And Col.
THOMAS M KEAN, as Chairman of that Committee, ac
cepted and politely acknowledged the fame.
The Meeting was conduced with the utmost decorum
and harmony.
DANIEL ROBERDEAU, Chairman.
The Protest, agreeable to the Resolve, was the fame day
presented to the Speaker of the Hon. House of Assembly
To the PUBL I C.
V 7" ERE ' S m "! mif repre'fentations have been circu
▼V lated, refpeXing the quantity of ammunition, and
other circumftanccs, relating to the condition of the gallics
at the time of the late engagement; the officers on that
service, in justice to their reputation, conceive themselves
called upon to give a true account thereof.L
The number of cartridges on board, at the commencement
of the action, on the Sth instant, amounted on an average
to twenty-eight rounds only, when filled up fit for service
which was expended in many of the boats, and only a round
or two left in others, at the time the Roebuck got aground,
otherwise, we have every reason to believe we Ihould have
made a prize of her, as we had above an hour's day light
when we were obliged to retreat for want of ammunition.
Soon after this, we received a small supply, partly of loose
powder, amounting to eight rounds only, and deficient of
catridges to put it in, which we judged insufficient to renew
the attack with.
On the 9 th we received a second supply, which made up 4;
rounds, including the former eight, but not till long after the
Roebuck was got off, which flic cffeded before day-light. Soon
after receiving this, we began the second attack, under the dis
advantage of being obliged, in the time of the action, to cut
up blankets, jackets, trowfers, flockings, &e. to supply the de
feX of cartridges ; and for want of wads, some were neceffi
ated to cut up cables, and take the oakum out of the netting
this Supply was also expended about sun-set, after a very close
engagement, when some retreated to look for frefli (applies
and meeting with a barge, three of us got seven rounds there
from and returned to the attack, which was continued till the
enemy was below New-Caftie. Next morning they dropt to
R^d,-Island, we continued watching them three days, in
which time we received a farther supply of powder, but as
many of the boats were then without (hot, and others hav
ing but very few, we were still ill provided either for attack
or defence.
Uc have on former occasions from firft entering on the du
ty experienced many distresses, both for service and accomo
dation, which we have borne with a soldier-like patience,
under the hopes that future regulations would relieve us'
therefrom.
We are the Public's most obedient humble servants
H^r, Dougherty, Alexander Mender Jon;
John Rice, Thomas Moore,
John Hamilton, Nathan Boyce,
fames Montgomery, Hugh Montgomery,
fames Blair, Thomas Mouflon,"
Richa,d Eyers,
Lieut. Benjamin Thermpfn, commanding the Experiment,
Lieut. Robert Hume, commanding the Ranger.
TO BE SOLICTOR CA SH,
B' ANDREW CALDWELL, a few barrels of excellent
COFFEE, also a few pieces of striped Russia linen, fit
for Gentlemans jackets or breeches.
The well known HORSE
DAB S T E R,
IS now at William Dibley's at the Fountain tavern in Chef
nut-ftreet, where he will cover mares at aos. the leap, or
30s. for the season, and ss. to the groom; the money to be
paid at the time of covering.—Dabfter is a beautiful bay,
if hands high, remarkable for strength and lofty carriage;
he was got by the noted running horse Valiant in old Virgi
nia, imported by Col. Cox, came of the mare Express, (he
was a full blood, and sprung from the best stock in Europe
and was likewise imported by Col. Cox.—He woo three grand
purses in Old Virginia, and was allowed to be one of the
fwifteft horses there.
Kent County on Maryland, i 4 h 1776
WAS STOLEN,
OUT of the fubferiber's pasture, on Friday night the x6th
of April last, a DARK ROAN HORSE, nine years old
this season, near fourteen hands high, well made in proporti
on, a natural pacer, he has a ihort dock, and the hair rub'd
off his sides with the gears, (has neither brand nor ear mark)
Whoever will bring home the said horse or give intelligence
where he is, (hall have a reward of Twenty Shillings ifin the
county, Forty Shillings if out of the county, and Three
Pounds if the thief is brought to justice, paid by
§__ WILLIAM MAXWELL, senior.
RAN AWAY, a servant man named JOHN MACKAY
about five feet four inches high, well set, blackish com-'
plexion, with a thin beard and is pretty much pockmarked-
Had on a dove coloured (hort coat cut sailor fashion, pea
jacket of the fame cloth, with an under jacket and trowfers"
he is very talkative, and is supposed to be enlisted. Who
ever takes up said servant and secures him in any jail, or
brings him home so that I may have him again, fliall have
the above reward and reafouDle expenc^s from
t EDWARD ANDREWS.
FORTY SHILLINGS Reward.