The New-Hampshire gazette and historical chronicle (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1775-06-09 00:00:00

THE New-Hampshire AND HISTORICAL CONTAINING the Frestest ADVICES
Vol. XIX. GAZETTE, CHRONICLE, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
FRIDAY June 9, 1775.
No. 972 { Weeks since this Paper was first Publish'd. }
In the last Week's Paper, the Publisher hereof gave Notice, that he must take Leave of his Customers for the present, for Reasons that would be given this Week; which are,
First, There is no Prospect of procuring the Paper to carry it on in the Manner he has heretofore done it---which in Reality he thinks is a sufficient Reason of itself.
Secondly, He apprehends, as he has printed this Paper eighteen Years and nine Months, several Hundreds of the Customers are dead, and a great Number, if living, have not contributed to the Support of it;---so that it will be necessary to have living Customers.
Thirdly, It will be also necessary for every one to settle up to the present Time, and pay off, if there should be but a Quarter of a Dollar due from them; as Credit will not be given as heretofore, for Paper to print on.
Fourthly, It is proposed to print a Paper under the Title of the New-Hampshire Gazette occasionally, on no certain Day, for the present; but once within a Week, on account of Advertisements that may offer; and the Pay made on the Delivery either single or by the Dozen, and the Advertisements paid for when sent, unless the Publisher is indebted to the Person.
Those Persons who have received Papers of Mr. Hill, at the Eastward, and Mr. Porter who rides from hence to Dartmouth-College; and those which have been sent to Haverhill are also desired to pay off immediately. Hand-Bills, or the New-Hampshire Gazette will be sold at the Printing Office, every Day in the Week, for ready Money only, as remarkable News may happen if Paper may be had.
It has cost the Printer hereof above One Hundred Dollars extraordinary for Paper since the Port of Boston was shut up.
This Interruption in breaking in upon the Order that has been observed, seems to be agreeable to the great Disorder there is in the Body Politic; for the whole Head seems to be sick. It is an old Observation, that the World every Day puts on new Dresses, and it is so disfigured in various Shapes of Policies, that he must be a wise Man that is able to unridle the Transfactions of it. The Horrors and Distresses of a Civil War now make their Appearance; which was begun in a very unpolitic Manner. The political Fever runs high, and though much Blood has been let it still increases. The best of Pilots, Men of cool Heads and honest Hearts, ought to be at the Helm, for the political Ship seems to be among the Brakes; therefore we ought to be very cautious, lest some Persons make Use of others as the Fox did of the Ca's Paw, to pull the Apple out of the Fire, for his own eating. It may be observ'd, when State Policy is push'd too far, very great Dangers arise, and sometimes convulse a Kingdom so as to throw it into an Agony. It is recorded of "a certain KING of Peru, who had long been made uneasy by those whom he call'd Rebellious Subjects, that he banish'd and destroy'd a great Number of them, that he might more easily govern the rest, but the Country was so thinned by this Reformation, that his Neighbours took the Advantage, and made themselves Masters of Him and His Kingdom." This is one Instance of State Policy being push'd too far. A Word to the Wise is sufficient.
***** The 1st Instant arrived at Boston, Capt. Chads in the Cerberus Frigate from England, by whom we have the following Advices, viz.
H A G U E, (Holland) March 20.
THEIR High Mightinesses the States General have this Day issued the following Proclamation: Be it known, that we, for particular Reasons us thereunto moving, have thought fit absolutely to prohibit, and we hereby absolutely do prohibit, all Exportation of Ammunition, Gun-Powder, Guns and Shot, by Ships belonging to the Dominions of Great-Britain, provisionally for the Term of 6 Months, upon Pain not only of confiscation of the Arms and Ammunition which shall be found there on Board, but also of a Fine of 1000 Guilders over and above, at the Charge of the Commander, whose Ship shall be answerable and liable to Execution for the same.
L O N D O N. April 4. The Transports for Boston are ordered NOT to be crowded to full of Men as usual, that the Officers may have Room for as much Baggage (Goods) as they please. There is 40,000 worth of Merchandise going to America in the above Transports.
News, it is said, was on Saturday Night received from Gibraltar, which has thrown the Ministry into the greatest Confusion, and from what could be gathered from it, it is expected the Fleet intended to distress the Americans, must go to relieve that Place from the combined Force of the Spaniards and Algerines.
April 5. The advices of several late unconstitutional Bills are said to appear much alarmed, since the last Advices from America, and seem extremely anxious to dive into the Disposition of the People.
Capt. Drummond, of the Artillery, is appointed Aid-de-Camp to Major General Clinton, on the American Expedition.
April 8. The Troops going from Ireland are part destined for Boston; the Remainder for New York.
By Letters arrived on Wednesday from Cadiz, we are informed that a Ship laden with Ammunition, going to America, was stopped there by Order of the British Consul.
A Remonstrance actually arrived last Week from the Court of Versailles, on the Subject of the British Armaments now in America.
There is a Report that Col. Mercer, an American Officer of great Reputation acquired in the last War, and now in America, has accepted a principal Command in the American Army, raised to defend the Rights of that Country.
On Thursday last died, at his House in Grosvenor Street, the Right Hon. William Lord Boston.
April 18. In Consequence of some Advices last Week from Admiral Mann, three Ships of the Line are ordered to sail immediately to join the Squadron in the Mediterranean.
The plan of Military Operations projected against the Americans is said to be this: Gen. Gage is to continue Chief in Command; the Head Quarters are to be at Boston; detached Parties of 2000 Men each, commanded respectively by Clinton, Howe, and Burgoyne, are to be sent to South-Carolina, Virginia, & such of the Provinces as are deemed the most refractory. This Plan is founded on the Principle that two Thousand brave Regulars will be at twenty Thousand cowardly Irregulars.
Upwards of forty Ships have already sailed from Waterford for Newfoundland.
It is now said that the Parliament is to meet early in October, to fix the Sums to be paid by the respective Provinces into the Hands of a Paymaster-General of the Troops, whose Residence is to be at New-York. The Amount at present asked is said to be only the annual Expenses extraordinary, which this Nation has been put to, in protecting the American Conquests in the late War.
There is another Fund, they say, to be established, for paying the Interest of a large Sum to be raised to build Forts in certain Places. The Interest of this new Fund is to be Seven and a half per Cent, payable at New-York half-yearly, to an Agent, who is to be empowered to draw upon the Treasury here in Case the extra Sums for the Government of America, over and above the Money to be raised there, should amount to so much. This new Mode of funding upon American Credit, it is thought, will meet with the Approbation of the landed Interest.
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia, May 5. Late on Wednesday Night, Col. Charter Braxton, arrived in Town, from a Number of armed People, all Men of Property, led by Patrick Henry, Esq; on their March for this City, from the Counties of Hanover, New Kent, and King-William. The Intent of their coming, we are well-assured is the general Alarm spread over the Country, by the Removal of the Gun-Powder, from the public Magazine, and to secure the Treasury from a like Catastrophe; as also to seize upon the Person of his Majesty's Receiver-General (then in this City) till either the Gun-Powder was restored or a Sum of Money paid down to its Value. Next Morning Col. Braxton returned with the Hon. Richard Corbin's Bill of Exchange for 300l. Sterling; and at the same Time the Inhabitants of this City engaging themselves to guard the public Treasury, the Gentlemen dispersed yesterday Afternoon, and are returning to their respective Homes, perfectly satisfied with the Success of their Expedition. They had proceeded as far as Doncastles, about 15 Miles from the Town, where they were encamped to the Number of 150 Men and upwards, all well accoutred, and had a very martial Appearance.
As soon as his Excellency the Governor received Intelligence of the above armed Force coming down, he dispatched a Messenger to the Fowey Man of War, now lying before York-Town, and by 10 o'clock Yesterday Morning, a Detachment of 40 Sailors and Marines belonging to that Ship, under the Command of Captain Stretch, arrived at the Palace; they did not march through the Main-Street, but were led through the Governor's Park.
The Town of York, we are well informed, was threatened with a Cannonade from his Majesty's Ship the Fowey, by her Commander, if the Inhabitants presumed to molest the Troops in their landing, or on their March to this City. They are now at the Palace; how long they will stay is uncertain.
Upwards of 100 of the Citizens last Night guarded the Treasury and patrolled the Streets.
This Morning a Warrant was issued to search certain Houses, for Arms, suspected to have been taken out of the Magazine in this City, a considerable Number being missing; but the Officer we hear has not been able to find any.
N E W - Y O R K, May 29, 1775.
Friday last the Asia Man of War arrived here in 16 Days from Boston.
An Ensign belonging to one of the Regiments in Canada, dispatched from Governor Carlton, to General Gage, was taken Prisoner at one of the Forts: His Dispatches contained a Return of the Regulars in Canada, which amounted to no more than 700, including those that garrisoned the Forts at Crown Point and Ticonderoga.
Major General Wooster, an experienced Officer, was to march from New-Haven for Greenwich, within about 12 Miles of this Province, with 2500 Men last Friday; there to encamp during the Summer Season, in order to be at Hand to support the City of New York, in Case their Assistance should be wanted.
Last Wednesday the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq; set off from Philadelphia for Virginia, to attend his Place as Speaker of the House of Burgessess of that Province; when the Hon'ble John Hancock, Esq; was appointed President of the Continental Congress in his Room.
Yesterday Morning Capt. Duncan arrived here in seven Weeks from Newry; by whom we have a certain Account, that two Regiments of Foot (Part of those destin'd for America) arrived there from Belfast, &c. where they had Orders to stop until the first of June; and that it was said, no Troops of any kind would embark from Ireland for America, before that Period.
P H I L A D E L P H I A, May 25.
Eight Companies of Col. Parsons's Regiment, are ordered to rendezvous in this Town: Four of the Companies are already here.
N E W - L O N D O N, May 26th, 1775.
Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman belonging to this Place, now in Cork, dated April 2, 1775.
"There is now lying here, all ready to sail, twenty five Sail of large Transport Ships for Boston, and many more are ordered to get ready for that Purpose; therefore I forewarn you all to be in readiness, for God only knows the Event."
W A T E R T O W N, (9 Miles from Boston) June 5 1775.
Wednesday last the new Provincial Congress met at the Meeting House in this Town, before whom (& a numerous Audience) the Rev. Doctor LANGDON, President of the College, preached a Sermon, well adapted to the Occasion, from those Words in Isaiah 1. 26. And I will restore thy Judges as at the first, and thy Counsellors as at the beginning: afterwards thou shalt be called, the City of Righteousness, the faithful City.
Joseph Warren, Esq; was chosen President, and Mr. Samuel Freeman, jun. Secretary of the Provincial Congress.
General Putnam hath received a Letter from one of the Indian Nations near Canada, by which they testify their Friendship for him, and for the glorious Cause in which he and the American Patriots are engaged.
Capt. Collyer is arrived at Salem from Lisbon, which Place he left the 14th of April: He informs that five or six days before he failed, advice was received from Cadiz that there were fitting out at that Port, twenty five Sail of the Line, together with a large Number of Transports for Land Forces, but their Destination was not known. They had taken up a Number of Danish and Swedish Vessels for Transports, and had wrote to Lisbon to take up a Number there, two or three of which sailed from Lisbon with Capt. Collyer, bound for Cadiz. It was said the above Fleet is to sail very soon.
Last Wednesday a Number of Provincials, under the Command of Col. Robinson, made an Acquisition of about 500 Sheep, and 30 Head of Cattle off Patrick's Island.
And on Friday Night last the Provincial Troops made another Acquisition of about 800 Sheep and Lambs from off Deer Island, together with a Number of Cattle.---Major Greston, who commanded this Party, also took a Barge belonging to one of the Men of War, together with 4 or 5 Prisoners.
The New-York Provincial Congress have desired the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut to send sufficient Force to hold the important Fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, until the Province can raise Troops for the Purpose, and they will reimburse the Expense. Those Fortresses being within the Limits of that Province.
We hear that five Tons of good Gun Powder has within a few Weeks past been made at Philadelphia.
We are well informed, that a few Days after the Battle of Lexington, the Regular Troops stole away all the Cattle, Sheep, Hay, &c. from Governor's Island and Thomp's Island, in Boston Harbour.
C A M B R I D G E, June 1, 1775.
On the 29th ult. as a Party of the Massachusetts Forces, together with a Party of the New-Hampshire Forces, in all about 600, were attempting to bring off the Stock upon Hog Island, & about 30 Men upon Noddle's Island were doing the same, about a hundred Regulars landed upon the last mentioned Island, and pursued our Men till they had got safely back to Hog-Island: then the Regulars began to fire very briskly by Platoons upon our Men. In the mean Time, an armed Schooner, with a Number of Barges, came up to Hog Island to prevent our People's leaving said Island, which she could not effect; after that, several Barges were towing her back to her Station, as there was little Wind, and flood Tide: Our People put in a heavy Fire of small Arms upon the Barges; and two or three Pounds coming up to our Assistance, began to play upon them, and soon obliged the Barges to quit her, and to carry off her Crew: After which our People set Fire to her, although the Barges exerted themselves very vigorously to prevent it. She was burnt upon the Ways of Winisett Ferry.
We have not lost a single Life, although the Engagement was very warm from the armed Schooner (which mounted four 6-Pounders and 12 Swivels) from an armed Sloop that lay within Reach of Small Arms, from one or two 12 Pounders upon Noddle's Island, and from the Barges, which were all fixed with Swivels.
Hog-Island was stripped of its Stock, and some was taken from Noddle's Island.
Two or three Persons only of our Men were wounded, but not mortally. How many of the Enemy were killed and wounded we cannot ascertain.
We have got into our Hands all in the Schooner that was not destroyed by the Fire.
We have to inform our Friends that since the above Attempt to remove the live Stock from the Islands, it has been actually done: Five or six hundred Sheep and Lambs, upwards of twenty Head of Cattle, and a Number of Horses, have been removed to the main Land.
Perhaps History cannot furnish us with a more miraculous Interposition of divine Providence: Although our Enemies kept a warm Fire, both from their Cannon and Small Arms, yet we have but three Men wounded, two of which received their Wounds from our Men: none of them supposed to be mortal.---By Way of Caution, we would inform the Public, that one of the Captains that was killed in the late Engagement at Concord, was killed by his own Countrymen. This was the unhappy Consequence of firing at too great a Distance.
We still beg the most earnest and constant Prayers of our pious Friends, that our Heads may always be covered in the Day of Battle. The Lord is a Man of War; let Salvation be ascribed to the Lord.
Our Enemies in Boston, we are informed, are very confident of having made a great Slaughter in the above Engagement. They report various Accounts of the Number of our Men whom they killed and wounded; some of them are so moderate as to mention only 2 or 300; others of them make our Loss amount to 600.
We are informed, that in the Cerberus Frigate, Capt. Chads, who arrived at Boston last Thursday from England, came Passengers, Major-Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne.
Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in London, March 2d, 1775.
"The Ministry, it is now generally thought, are inflexible.---Lord North was asked again and again this Week, in the House of Commons, whether he had any Thing more of a lenient or conciliatory Nature to propose. He said there was nothing farther of that Kind intended; and acknowledged that the Remainder of the Scheme was intirely coercive. When he was asked, whether the three Bills of the last Year were to be repealed, he replied, that when the Colonies had come to an unconditioned Submission, Parliament would consider what was fit to be done. [Very gracious indeed!]
"The Ministry are now in pretty good Spirits, on Account of what they conceive to be a Division among yourselves in Favour of Government, both in New-York and New-England. We think that like drowning Men, they are catching at every Straw.---Such, however, we hope their present Expectations will prove."
"A Friend of mine saw a Letter just received from Lord Percy, in which he expresses his Apprehensions of an Attack being made upon the Troops at Boston before any Reinforcement can arrive, as the People in the Province are provided with a compleat Train of Artillery: So that all their Servants have not the same Assurance of Success with themselves. But indeed it is impossible that the Ministry should really think themselves so secure as they pretend to be; and it is even thought by many that Lord North, when he moved for the late Resolution, really meant to have advanced some Steps towards a solid Reconciliation, had it not been for what is called the Bedford Party in the Cabinet. Instead of this, the Terms that are now proposed amount to nothing but an Insult upon your common Sense and Spirit, and, I doubt not, will be resented accordingly."
W E Levy Mead and Levy Harrington, both of Lexington, in the County of Middlesex, and Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, and of lawful Age, do testify and declare, that on the Morning of the 19th of April, being on Lexington Common as spectators, we saw a large Body of Regular Troops marching up towards the Lexington Company, and some of the Regulars on Horses, whom we took to be Officers, fired a Pistol or two on the Lexington Company, which was then dispersing. These were the first Guns that were fired, and they were immediately followed by several Volleys from the Regulars, by which eight Men belonging to said Company were killed and several wounded.
Lexington, April 25, 1775. Levy Harrington, Levi Mead.
*****
P O R T S M O U T H, June 9, 1775.
Thursday the Twenty-second Instant, is appointed by the Provincial Congress of this Province, a Day of Fasting and Prayer, on Account of the distressing and alarming Situation in which all America is involved.
The Provincial Congress, now sitting at Exeter have Resolved to raise Two Thousand Men to join the GRAND AMERICAN ARMY at HEAD QUARTERS in Cambridge with all speed, and appointed General NATHANIEL FOLSOM, to head them: Immediately after the Orders were issued, a sufficient Number of Men appeared to enlist without any difficulty, and the same Number it is thought could be raised with the like ease.
*****
Nath l Sparhawk
Informs the Public, that he has just opened a Variety of English and India Goods, at his Store near the Post-Office; which he determines to sell exceeding cheap for Cash.---
N. B. Constant Attendance will be given at said Store.

L O N D O N, April 11.
Y ESTERDAY at one o'clock the Lord Mayor, accompanied by Alderman Bull, Sawbridge, Lewes, Hayley, Newnham, the City Remembrancer, Town-Clerk, and Mr. Silvester, a City Counsel, who officiated for the Recorder (he being indisposed) and the two Sheriffs, with about 36 Common-Councilmen and Liverymen, waited on his Majesty at St. James's, and presented the following Address, Remonstrance and Petition.
To the KING's most excellent Majesty. The humble Address, Remonstrance, and Petition of the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, in Common Hall assembled.
W E your Majesty's dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, beg Leave to approach the Throne, and to declare our abhorrence of the Measures which have been pursued, and are now pursuing, to the Oppression of our Fellow-Subjects in America. These Measures are big with all the Consequences which can alarm a free & commercial PEOPLE.
A deep, and perhaps fatal Wound to Commerce, the Ruin of Manufactures, the Diminution of the Revenue, & consequent Increase of Taxes, the Allineation of the Colonies, & the Blood of your Majesty's Subjects.
But your Petitioners look with less Horror at the Consequences than at the Purpose of those Measures. Not deceived by the specious Artifice of calling Despotism Dignity, they plainly perceive that the real Purpose is to establish arbitrary Power over all America.
Your Petitioners conceive the Liberties of the whole to be inevitably connected with those of every Part of an Empire founded on the common Rights of Mankind: They cannot therefore observe without the greatest Concern & Alarm, the Constitution fundamentally violated in any Part of your Majesty's Dominions. They esteem it an essential, unalterable Principle of Liberty, the Source and Security of all constitutional Rights, that no Part of the Dominion can be taxed without being represented. Upon this great leading Principle they most ardently wish to see their Fellow Subjects in America secured in what their humble Petition to your Majesty prays for—Peace, Liberty, and Safety. Subordination in Commerce, under which the Colonies have always cheerfully acquiesced, is they conceive, all that this Country ought in Justice to require. From this Subordination such Advantages flow, by all the Profits of their Commerce centering here, as fully compensate this Nation for the Expense incurred, to which they also contribute in Men & Money for their Defence and Protection during a general War; and in their Provincial Wars they have manifested their Readiness & Resolution to defend themselves. To require more of them would for this Reason derogate from the Justice & Magnanimity, which have been hitherto the Pride & Character of this Country.
It is therefore with the deepest Concern, that we have seen the sacred Security of Representation in their Assemblies wrested from them; the Trial by Jury abolished, and the odious Powers of Excise extended to all Cases of Revenue; the Sanctuary of their Houses laid open to Violation at the Will and Pleasure of every Officer and Servant in the Customs; the Dispensations of Justice corrupted, by rendering their Judges dependent for their Seats and Salaries on the Will of the Crown; Liberty and Life rendered precarious by subjecting them to be dragged over the Ocean, and tried for Treason or Felony here, where the Distance making it impossible for the most guiltless to maintain his Innocence, must deliver him up a Victim to Ministerial Vengeance; Soldiers and others in America have been instigated to shed the Blood of the People, by Establishing a Mode of Trial which holds out impunity for such Murder. The Capital of New-England has been punished with unexampled Rigour, untried and unheard, involving the Innocent and the Suspected in one common and inhuman Calamity; chartered Rights have been taken away without any Forfeiture proved, in order to deprive the People of every legal Exertion against Tyranny of their Rulers; the Habeas Corpus Act, and Trial by Jury have been suppressed, & French despotic Government, with the Roman Catholic Religion, have been established by Law over an extensive Part of your Majesty's Dominions in America; dutiful Petitions for Redress of these Grievances from all your Majesty's American Subjects have been fruitless.
To fill up the Measure of these Oppressions, an Army has been sent to enforce them. Super-added to this, Measures are now planned upon the most merciless Policy, of Star-
ving our Fellow-Subjects into a total Surrender of their Liberties, and an unlimited Submission to arbitrary Government.
These Grievances have driven your Majesty's faithful Subjects to Despair, & compelled them to have Recourse to that Resistance, which is justified by the great Principles of the Constitution, actuated by which at the glorious Period of the Revolution our Ancestors transferred the imperial Crown of these Realms from the popish and Tyrannic Race of the Stuarts, to the illustrious House of Brunswick.
Your Petitioners are persuaded that these Measures originate in the secret Advice of Men who are Enemies equally to your Majesty's Title, and the Liberties of your People: That your Majesty's Ministers carry them into execution by the same fatal Corruption which has enabled them to wound the Peace, and violate the Constitution of this Country. Thus they poison the Fountain of public Security, and render that Body which should be the Guardian of Liberty, a formidable Instrument of arbitrary Power.
Your Petitioners do therefore most earnestly beseech your Majesty, to dismiss immediately, and forever from your Councils, these Ministers and Advisers, as the first Step towards a full Redress of those Grievances which alarm and afflict your whole People. So shall Peace and Commerce be restored, & the Confidence and Affection of all your Majesty's Subjects be the solid Supporters of your Throne.
His MAJESTY's Answer.
It is with the utmost Astonishment that I find any of my Subjects capable of encouraging the rebellious Disposition which unhappily exists in some of my Colonies in North-America. Having entire Confidence in the Wisdom of my Parliament, the great Council of the Nation, I will steadily pursue those Measures which they have recommended for the Support of the constitutional Rights of Great-Britain and the Protection of the commercial Interests of my Kingdoms.
H A R T F O R D, May 23, 1775.
Extract of a Letter from Ticonderoga, dated May 23, 1775.
I Shall endeavour to give you a very concise Journal of Matters here, since the 12th Instant.
"May 11. We set sail from Skeenesborough, in a Schooner belonging to Major Skeene, which we christened Liberty.
"Sunday, 13. Arrived at Ticonderoga, from whence after some Preparations, we set sail for Crown-Point.
"Monday, 14. Contrary Winds retarded our Voyage, and the Day drew to a Close when we anchored at Crown-Point.
"Tuesday, 15. Contrary Winds. Col. Arnold with thirty Men took the Boat, and proceeded on for St. John's, leaving to Capt. Sloan the Command of the Vessel with the Sailors; and to me the Command of the Soldiers on board: About 12 o'Clock, while beating down, we espied a Boat, sent out our Coxswain to bring her in, it proved to be the French Post from Montreal, with Ensign Moland on board, we examined the Mail, and among other Things, found an exact List of all the Regular Troops in the northern Department, amounting to upwards of 700.
"Wednesday, 16. A fair Gale, we overtook Col. Arnold in the Boat, took him on board, and at Night arrived within 30 Miles of St. John's, when the Wind fell, and the Vessel was becalmed.—We immediately armed our two Boats, manned them with thirty five Men, and determined by dint of rowing to fetch St. John's, and take the Place & the King's Sloop by Surprize at break of Day.
"Thursday. After rowing hard all Night, we arrived within Half a Mile of the Place at Sunrise, sent a Man to bring us Information and in a small Creek, infested with numberless Swarms of Gnats and Muskitoes, waited with Impatience for his Return.
"The Man returning, informed that they were unapprized of our coming, though they had heard of the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown-Point. We directly pushed for Shore and landed at about 60 Rods from the Barracks; the Men had their Arms, but upon our briskly marching up in their Faces, they retired within the Barracks, left their Arms, and resigned themselves into our Hands.
"We took 14 Prisoners, 14 Stands of Arms, and some small Stores. We also took the King's Sloop, two fine Brass Field Pieces and Four Boats. We have destroyed five Boats more, lest they should be made use of against us. Just at the Completion of our Business, a fine Gale arose from the North! we directly hoisted Sail, and returned in Triumph.—About 6 Miles from St. John's we met Col. Allen with 4 Boats, and 90 Men, who determined to proceed and maintain the Ground.
This Scheme Col. Arnold thought impracticable, as Montreal was near, with Plenty of Men and every Necessary for War: Nevertheless, Col. Allen proceeded, and encamped on the opposite Side of the Lake (or River as it is there called) the next Morning he was attacked by 200 Regulars, and obliged to decamp and retreat.
"Friday, 18. Returned again to Crown Point, from thence to Ticonderoga.
"Saturday, 19. Encamped at Ticonderoga. Since that Time, nothing material has happened. It is Col. Arnold's present Design that the Sloop Enterprize (as she is called) and the Schooner Liberty shall cruise on the Lake, and defend our Frontiers, 'till Men, Provisions and Ammunition are furnished to carry on the War."
N E W-Y O R K, May 25.
Last Monday the Provincial Congress met here and chose Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq; for their President, Volker P. Douw, Esq; Vice President, John M'Kisson, Esq; and Mr. Robert Benton, for their Secretaries.
In Provincial CONGRESS for the Colony of New-York, at the City of New-York, on Wednesday, May the 24th, 1775.
R ESOLVED, That this Congress will, before they rise, provide the best Ways & Means in their Power, as Representatives of the People, for the Discharge of such Money as is now lent, or shall be subscribed, or otherwise advanced, or supplied on the public Faith to defray the Charges that are or shall be incurred in the present Exigences of the Colony or that shall hereafter be expended or incurred by Recommendation of the Continental or this Provincial Congress.
Ordered, That the preceding Resolution be published in the public News-Papers.
A true Copy from the Minutes, ROBERT BENSON, Secretary.
John Greenleaf,
TAYLOR from BOSTON,
T AKES this Method to acquaint the Public, that he carries on the Taylor Business in all its Branches in the neatest Manner, and on reasonable Terms, at his Shop in the pav'd Street, directly opposite to JOHN PICKERING, Esq;—Those Gentlemen who please to favour him with their Commands may depend on being serv'd with Fidelity and Dispatch, and the smallest Favours gratefully acknowledged by their most humble Servant
Oliver Brewster,
R ESPECTFULLY begs Leave to acquaint his Friends and the Public,—that he has taken the SHOP, formerly occupied by Mr. WILLIAM APPLETON Bookfeller, in Queen-Street, directly opposite Mr. JACOB SHEAFE, jr. where he has for Sale, a great Variety of Summer Goods, at the lowest reduced Prices for Cash only.
To Mr. Joseph Peirce,
Clerk of the Proprietors of the Town of Piermont. W E the Subscribers being Owners of more than one 16th Part of the Land in the Township of Piermont hereby request you to call a Meeting of the Proprietors of said Town to be held at the Dwelling House of Capt. Zebariah Foss, Innholder in Portsmouth on Monday the 26th Day of June next at 10 of the Clock before noon, for the following Purposes, viz, 1st. To chuse a Moderator to regulate said Meeting. 2d. To see if the Proprietors will vote any Thing to the inhabitants of said Piermont to enable them to settle a Minister. 3d. To see whether the Proprietors will give any further Assistance towards repairing the Roads through said Town. 4th. To vote such a sum or sums of Money as may be thought necessary. 5th. To chuse Assessors to assess such a Tax as may be voted, and likewise any Taxes already voted that have not been assessed or paid. 6th. To chuse a Collector or Collectors to collect the same when assessed or any other Officers necessary. D. WARNER.
RICHARD JENNESS, jr.
Portsmouth, May 17th, 1775. Rockingham ss.
P URSUANT to the above Request, and by Virtue of a Vote of the Proprietors of said Town of Piermont, impowering their Clerk to call Proprietary Meetings when required agreeable to said Vote, I hereby notify and warn the said Proprietors to meet at the Time and Place mentioned in the foregoing Request for the Purposes therein expressed.
JOSEPH PEIRCE, Proprietors Clerk.
Portsmouth, May 18, 1775.
T HESE are to inform all to whom it may concen, That the Co partnership between WILLIAMS and STANWOOD is dissolved this 29th of May 1775; and also, beg it as a Favour, that all Persons that have any Accounts open with them, would be as soon as possible.

NEW-JERSEY, May 16, 1775. SPEECH of his Excellency WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Esq; Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of New-Jersey, & Vice-Admiral of the same, &c. to the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the said Province convened at Burlington.
Gentlemen of the Council, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,
THE sole occasion of my calling you together at this time is to lay before you a resolution of the House of Commons, wisely and humanely calculated to open a door for the restoration of that harmony between Great Britain and her American Colonies on which their mutual welfare and happiness so greatly depend.
This resolution having already appeared in the public papers, and a great variety of interpretations put upon it, mostly according to the different views and dispositions by which men are actuated, and scarcely any having seen it in its proper light, I think I cannot, at this critical juncture, better answer the gracious purposes of his Majesty, nor do my country more essential service, than to lay before you as full an explanation of the occasion, purport and intent of it, as is in my power. By this means you, and the good people you represent, will be enabled to judge for yourselves how far you ought or ought not to acquiesce with the plan it contains, and what steps it will be prudent for you to take on this very important occasion.
You will see in the King's answer to the joint address of both Houses of Parliament on the 7th of February, how much attention his Majesty was graciously pleased to give to the assurance held out in that address, of the readiness of Parliament to afford every just and reasonable indulgence to the colonies, whenever they should make a proper application on the ground of any real grievance they might have to complain of. This address was accordingly soon after followed by the resolution of the House of Commons now laid before you. A circumstance which afforded his Majesty great satisfaction, as it gave room to hope for a happy effect, and would, at all events, ever remain an Evidence of their justice and moderation, & manifest the temper which has accompanied their deliberations upon that question, which has been the source of so much disquiet to the King's subjects in America.
His Majesty, ardently wishing to see a reconciliation of the unhappy differences by every means through which it may be obtained, without prejudice to the just authority of Parliament, which his Majesty will never suffer to be violated, has approved the resolution of his faithful Commons, and has commanded it to be transmitted to the Governors of his colonies, not doubting that this happy disposition to comply with every just and reasonable wish of the King's subjects in America, will meet with such a return of duty and affection on their Part, as will lead to a happy issue of the present dispute, and to a re-establishment of the public tranquility on those grounds of equity, justice and moderation, which this resolution holds forth.
What has given the King the greater satisfaction in this resolution, and the greater confidence in the good effects of it, is his having seen that, amidst all the intemperance into which a people jealous of their liberties, have been unfortunately misled, they have nevertheless avowed the justice, the equity, and the propriety of subjects of the same state contributing, according to their abilities and situation, to the public burthens, and this resolution it is tho' holds no proposition beyond that.
It would probably be deemed unjust to suppose that any of the King's subjects in the colonies can have so far forgot the benefits they have received from the parent state, as not to acknowledge that it is to her support, held forth at the expence of her blood and treasure, that they principally owe that Security which hath raised them to their present state of opulence and importance. In this situation, therefore, justice requires that they should, in return, contribute according to their respective abilities to the common defence; & their own welfare & interest demands that their civil establishment should be supported with a becoming dignity.
It has been the care, and it is the firm determination of Parliament, to see that both these ends are answered, and their wisdom and moderation have suggested the propriety of leaving to each Colony to judge of the ways and means of making due provision for these purposes, reserving to themselves a discretionary power of approving what shall be offered.
The resolution neither points out what the civil establishment should be, nor demands any specific sum in aid of the public burthens. In both these respects it leaves full scope for that justice and liberality which may be expected from colonies, that, under all their prejudices, have never been wanting in expressions of an affectionate attachment to the mother country, and a zealous regard for the general welfare of the British empire, and therefore the King trusts, that the provision they will engage to make for the support of civil government will be adequate to the rank and station of every necessary officer, and that the sum to be given in contribution to the common defence will be offered on such terms, and proposed in such a way, as to increase or diminish according as the public burthens of Great Britain are from time to time augmented or reduced, in so far as those burthens consist of taxes and duties, which are not a security for the national debt.
By such a mode of contribution, the colonies will have full security that they can never be required to tax themselves, without Parliament's taxing the subjects in Great Britain a far greater proportion; and it may be relied upon that any proposition of this nature made by any of the colonies, and accompanied with such a state of their faculties and ability, as may evince the equity of the proposal, will be received with every possible INDULGENCE; provided it be at the same time unaccompanied with any declarations,
and unmixed with any claims, which will make it impossible for the King, consistently with his own dignity, or for Parliament, consistently with their constitutional rights to receive it. But it is not supposed that any of the colonies will, after this example of the temper and moderation of Parliament, adopt such a conduct; on the contrary, the pleasing hope is cherished that the public peace will be restored, and that the colonies will enter into the consideration of the resolution of the House of Commons, with that calmness & deliberation which the importance of it demands, and with that good will and inclination to a reconciliation, which are due to the candour & justice with which Parliament has taken up this business, and at once declared to the colonies what will be ultimately expected from them.
It has been already observed, that the King entirely approves the Resolution of the House of Commons, and I have his Majesty's commands to say, that a compliance therewith by the General Assembly of New Jersey will be most graciously considered by his Majesty, not only as a testimony of their reverence for Parliament, but also as a mark of their duty and attachment to their Sovereign, who has no object nearer to his heart than the peace and prosperity of his subjects in every Part of his Dominions. At the same time, I must tell you, his Majesty considers himself as bound by every tie to exert those means the constitution has placed in his hands, for preserving that constitution entire, and to resist with firmness every attempt to violate the rights of Parliament, to distress and obstruct the lawful commerce of his subjects, or to encourage in the colonies ideas of independence inconsistent with their connexion with Great Britain.
Here, Gentlemen, you have a full and candid state of the disposition and expectations of his Majesty and the Parliament. They require nothing of America but what the colonies have repeatedly professed themselves ready and willing to perform. A late Assembly of this province, in their petition to the King in 1766, express themselves thus, "As no danger can approach Britain, without giving us the most sensible alarm, so your Majesty may be assured, that with filial duty we shall ever be ready to afford all the assistance in our power, and stand or fall with that kingdom from which we boast our descent, and to which we are attached by the strongest ties of duty, gratitude and affection." And, in a subsequent petition they say, "Very far it is from our intentions to deny our subordination to that august body (the Parliament) or our dependance on the Kingdom of Great Britain: In these connexions, and in the settlement of our liberties, under the auspicious influence of your Royal House, we know our happiness consists; and therefore to confirm those connexions, & to strengthen this settlement, is at once our interest, duty and delight."
Similar declarations have been repeatedly made in other colonies. The following vote was passed in the Assembly of Pennsylvania many years ago, to wit, "The House taking into consideration the many taxes their fellow subjects in Great Britain are obliged to pay towards supporting the dignity of the crown, and desiring the necessary and contingent charges of government, and willing to demonstrate the fidelity, loyalty and affection of the inhabitants of this province to our gracious Sovereign, by bearing a share of the burthen of our fellow subjects, proportionable to our circumstances, do, therefore, cheerfully & unanimously resolve, That Three Thousand Pounds be paid for the use of the King, his heirs and successors, to be applied to such uses as he, in his royal wisdom, shall think fit to direct & appoint." And the said 3000 Pounds was afterwards paid into his Majesty's Exchequer by the Agent of the province accordingly.
Nor can I avoid mentioning what was done in the convention of Committees from every county in Pennsylvania, who met in July last, for the express purpose of giving instructions to their Representatives in Assembly on this very subject. Several of these instructions manifest such a candour and liberality of sentiment, such just ideas of the importance of our connexion with Great Britain, and point out so rational a method to be pursued for obtaining redress for the supposed grievances (previous to any attempts to distress the trade of that kingdom) that it is greatly to be regretted that the conduct of America, in a matter of such vast importance to its future welfare, had not been regulated by the principles and advice they suggested. In those instructions, speaking of the powers Parliament had claimed and lately exercised, the convention say, "We are thoroughly convinced they will prove unfailing and plentiful sources of dissensions to our mother country and these colonies, unless some expedients can be adopted to render her secure of receiving from us every emolument that can in justice and reason be expected, and secure us in our lives, properties, and an equitable share of commerce. Mournfully revolving in our minds the calamities, that, arising from these dissensions, will most probably fall on us and our children, we will now lay before you the particular points we request of you to procure, if possible, to be finally decided; and the measures that appear to us most likely to produce such a desirable period of our distresses and dangers." Then, after enumerating the particular acts of Parliament which they consider as grievances, and desire to have repealed, they add, "In case of obtaining these terms, it is our opinion, that it will be reasonable for the colonies to engage their obedience to the acts of Parliament, commonly called the acts of navigation, and to every other act of Parliament declared to have force, at this time, in these colonies, other than those abovenamed, and to confirm such statutes by acts of the several Assemblies. It is also our opinion, that taking example from our mother country in abolishing the courts of wards and liveries, tenures in capite, and by Knight's service and purveyance, it will be reasonable for the colonies, in case of obtaining the terms before mentioned, to settle a certain annual revenue on his Majesty, his heirs