Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-17


70, 1875, published at the corner OF
Front and Market streets, Philadelphia,
by WILLIAM and Thomas BRADFORD.
Though this copy is nine days older
than the Declaration of Independence
1t is in remarkable state Of preserya-
tion and though faded to light brown
color it's types still stand out Us clear
and bold as did the voices OF our noble
forefatherS, which it records, bidding
defiance To British tyrantS.
1t first article is devoted to report
of the proceedings of the Provincial
Conference Of Committees of the
Province Of Pennsylvania, held at Car
penters Hall-thiS Hall, by the way, is
still in existence ia Philadelphia. The
report bears date of June 1S,1776. After
organization aud the selection of Col.
THOMAS mexican as President and Col.
JOSEPH HART Us Vice President, the
! Conference with l2 committeeman and
81 members present, took the following
action:
on motion, 1t was ordered that the reso-
luton of the Continental Congress OF 18th
May last, recommending the total sup
preston Of all authority under the King OF
Great Britain, ETC., be read aud it was read
accordingly, and as In the words following,
Uiz: for which see this paper Of May 2Sd.
ReSOlred unanimously the said reso-
luton of Congress Of 18th May last, IS
fully approved by this conference.
On motion, ii was Resolved ,asdn iBously.
That the present government of this prov
ince is not competent to the exlgencies of
our affairs.
On motion, RESOLVED, N. c. d. That 1t is
necessary that provincial convention be
called by this conference for the express
purpose Of forming new government IN
this province, on the authority of the Peo
pie only.
This is the test oath it was resolved
TO administer TO voters at the polls:
T. do slUear or affirm that 10 not
hold myself bound 20 bear allegiance TO George
III, King Of Great Britain, and that ] iOiu
not, by any means, directly or Indirectly, OPP
pose the establishment Of free government in
this prOrince by the convention nOlO 10 be
chosen; nor the measures adapted by The Con-
greSS against the tyrGRny attempted TO be eS-
tdbliShcd in these colonies by the court Of
Great Britain.
Following was the oath of Office OF
members of the convention:
- do declare that do not hold my
self bound 10 bear allegiance TO George III Of
Great Britain, &c. And that i0u steadily
and firmly at oil times, promote the most Ggec-
y o. IL .affl
and kROCledge to oppose the tyrdnnicdl proceed
ings Of the King and Parliament of Great
Britdin dgGiRSt the american colonies, and
to establish and support a government in this
pTOrince on the authority Of The People only,
&c, That | iCW oppose any measure that shall
or may in the least interfere lCith or ObStTWct
the religious principles, or practices Of any 0f
the good people of this prOUiRce hare hereto
fore enjoyed. Also,
ReSOlUed that no person elected to serve
as a member of Convention, shall take his
seat, or give his vote, until ne shall have
made and subscribed the following declara
ton:
- - do propose faith in God the
Father, and IN Jesus Christ His Son, the true
God, ana IN the Holy Spirit, our God blessed
for eUCr more; and do acknowledge the Holy |
Scriptures Of the old and NelU Testament TO !
us gtren by dt0inc Inspiration.
The report takes the proceedings of |
the conference up to Saturday, June %,
and winds up ito be continued"
Correspondence from Williamsburg,
Va, dated June Is, says among other
things: ..
Two masters of vessels came to town
this week. who were lately taken by the |
Ministerial cruisers and made their escape. |
They report that Lord Dunmore's whole !
army is now reduced 10 40 regular soldiers, |
and 200 of the black fiSilesrS, 115 OF which |
last corps died on their passage from Nor
folk to Gwyn's Island.
Two DAYS ago one of the enemy's vessels !
ran aground on the Gloucester shore, With |
in musBet shot OF our people, upon which |
the crew, five in number, jumped over
board. Two got safe To Gwyn's Island,
one was shot, and the other two were
drowned.
The following interesting letter
bears date Of Watertown, June II,
l776:
Last Thursday the inhabitants Of the
town of Boston were made acquainted by
beat of drum, that an expedition was 10 %
taken against our enemies ship IN Nan
tasket Road, and for erecting proper torti-
fications in the lower harbor. Accordingly
detachments from the colonial regiments,
commanded by Colonies Marshall and
whitney, and a battalion Of train COM
manded by Lieutenant-C Colonel Crafts were
en- marked on board boats at the long wharf,
together with cannon, ammunition, pro-
vision, intrenching tools, and every neces-
sarv implement, and proceeded for Pet
ticks Island and Hull, when they were
Joined BY some continental troops and
sea-coast companies, Sc as TO MAKE
near 800 men at each place; a like number
of the militia from the towns in the vicinity
OF Boston HarOOr, with detachment from
the train. and some field pieces, took post
NJ Noon island. Hoffs Neck and Point AL
dertOn. At the same time detachment
from the Continental Army under command
of Col. Whitcomb two lS-popnders, one Is
inch mortar. with tina necessary apparatus,
introducing tools, etc, were embarked Tor
Long Island 70 take post there. Inc
troOps did not arrive at theii several places
of destination till near morning, occastoued
by fiat calm; notwithstanding, sucs was
the activity and alertneSs OF our men, That
they had the cannon planted, ard lipe oil
defense hove up on Long Island and Nan
tasket Hill in a few hours, when cannon
shet from Long Island announced tc the
enemy our design, on which the signal was
Immediately made for the whole feet, con-
sisting Of ! ships, , scows, = briggs and
enc schooner 10 remove and get underway.
The Commodore (Banks) bore our fire,
and returned il with spirit, till q shot from
| Long Island pierced the upper works OF
| bis ship. when he Immediately unmoored,
or cut his cables and GOT under sail. And
happy for him that he did so. for in small
| space of time afterwards, shell from our
works fell into the very spot he had just
before quilted. Unhappily our cannons
/ did not arrive at Pettick's Island and Nan
| tasket as soon as might have been wished,
| but the fire from the latter place being
/ ,ro,erlv Doipte6 against the COmmOdore's