The New America Times

In Congress

Philadelphia, October 2

A letter of the 30th of September, from General Washington, with two papers enclosed, was laid before Congress and read. Letters were also read from Colonel S. Moylan, of the 27th; from General Gates, of the 23d; from Colonel Wayne, of the same date; and from Brigadier General Mercer, recommending Colonel Humpton to the command of a regiment in the new army, and Captain Dawson to a majority.

Resolved, That William Shepard be promoted to the rank of colonel of the regiment, whereof he is now lieutenant colonel.

A petition from Bartholomew Von Heer was presented and read. Resolved, That the same be referred to the Board of War.

A petition from John Bayard, Alexander Henderson and Matthew Irwin was presented and read; whereupon Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to sell the petitioners 1,600lb. of powder and 800lb. of lead, for the use of their privateers, the General Lee and the Parry.

The Parry is the vessel noticed in our first number, fitting out in this city and named for the late Colonel Caleb Parry, who fell on the 27th of August. She is now to have powder.

Philadelphia, October 2

The committee appointed to confer with Brigadier General Mifflin, upon his resuming the office of quarter master general, have reported what supplies they find will be necessary for the use and comfort of the army. The report is long, and is given nearly entire, for it is a truer account of the war than any letter from the camp.

Two hundred waggons, with four horses each; fifty for commissary uses; twenty-five thousand bushels of Indian corn; fifteen thousand bushels of oats; ten thousand bushels of rye meal; ten thousand bushels of spelts; eighteen hundred tons of hay; fifty cutting boxes; two thousand axes; two thousand wheel and hand barrows; eight thousand cords of wood; a set of carpenters' tools for each regiment; a waggon master and one deputy; twenty conductors of waggons on captains' pay, allowing ten waggons for each conductor; five conductors for the artillery; one hundred casks of nails and spikes; ten thousand knapsacks; ten thousand camp kettles; two million feet of boards, planks and joists, for barracks, platforms and the like.

That a company of fifty blacksmiths should be immediately sent to camp, twelve makers of harness and collars, and twenty-five wheelwrights.

Resolved, That for these various and necessary supplies, three hundred thousand dollars be furnished to the quarter master general.

That as five thousand tents will be necessary for the spring campaign, they be provided in due time.

That it be recommended to the several states to make legal provision to compel the furnishing of necessary supplies and assistance to the quarter master general, on reasonable terms, for the public use.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider of a plan for providing carriages for the public service, so as any demand may be speedily complied with, and all oppression of private persons effectually prevented. The members chosen, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Huntington.

Resolved, That Benjamin Fishbourne be appointed pay master to the second Pennsylvania battalion, commanded by Colonel Wood.

From Head-Quarters

Heights of Harlem, September 27

General Washington to the President of Congress, read in Congress on the 30th.

Sir: I have nothing in particular to communicate to Congress by this day's post, as our situation is the same as when I last wrote. We are now sitting on the business the Committee came upon, which it is probable will be finished this evening. The result they will duly report upon their return.

I received yesterday the enclosed Declaration by a gentleman from Elizabethtown, who told me many copies were found in the possession of the soldiers from Canada, that were landed there a day or two ago by General Howe's permission. I shall not comment upon it. It seems to be founded on the plan that has been artfully pursued for some time past.

The Declaration the General declines to comment upon is the one given entire in our last, signed by the two Howes at New-York on the nineteenth. It was found in the pockets of prisoners returning from Canada, put ashore by the enemy's leave.

Head-Quarters, Amboy, September 27.

Extract of a letter from Colonel Patterson.

I arrived here last Monday morning, with six companies, my battalion. The General has chosen our Light-Infantry for his body guard.

The evening before last I was officer of the day. About sun-down a boat of Hessians came over to our shore, opposite a large marsh above the mill guard, and stuck stakes there, with a number of bills, which were taken down.

The same letter continues.

This morning a flag was sent over to the Island, with Captain Hamilton and a lady, Mrs. M'Monty's daughter and child, opposite my door. They ordered them not to come near; which, our people not beating the parley by drum so soon, they, the Hessians, were near firing over our flag for want of it. They sent a boat off, and would not let ours land.

Since I have been here they have been fortifying opposite to us by batteries and small lines, all masked with bushes, as also the same done to their tents, which were open here when I came. It is the opinion here they are afraid of us. I hope we shall make them so on trial.

The battalion is kept busy on duty. About twenty-seven sick, owing principally to the water, but are somewhat mending. I suppose about four thousand men here. I am happy in my situation. Fine quarters, great plenty of oysters, fish, and the like; no ladies, to be sure.

What the bills said, the letter does not say. It says they were taken down.

The Fire at New-York

Newark, September 28

In our last we gave the first word that the city of New-York was in flames on Saturday morning, the 21st instant. Since then there have been many and different reports concerning that melancholy affair. The most authentick we have is as follows.

That the fire originated at or near Whitehall, soon extended to the Exchange, and took its course up the west side of Broad-street as far as Verlattenberg Hill, consuming all the blocks from the Whitehall up. The flames extended across the Broadway from the house of Mr. David Johnston to Beaver-lane, or Fincher's alley, on the west, and carried all before it, a few buildings excepted, to the house at the corner of Barclay-street wherein the late Mr. Adam Vandenberg lived, sweeping all the crossed streets in the way.

The buildings left standing on the west side of the Broadway are supposed to be Captain Thomas Randall's, Captain Kennedy's, Doctor Mallet's, Mr. John Cortlandt's sugar-house and dwelling-house, Dr. Jones's, Hull's tavern, St. Paul's, Mr. Axtell's, and Mr. Rutherford's.

The cause of the fire is not known. A sixth part of the whole city is supposed to be destroyed, and many families have lost their all.

New-York, September 30

On Thursday the Halifax Packet, Captain Bolderson, sailed from this port for England.

On Wednesday last, the Eagle man of war, Vice Admiral Lord Howe, came up from off Bedlow's Island, and moored off the Fort in the North River; and, next morning, the Bristol, Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham, and the Preston, Commodore Hotham, came up and placed themselves likewise in the North River just above the Eagle. Many transports and other ships and vessels are anchored off the town in the North and East rivers.

It was the part of the city near the North River that burned on the night of the 21st, as was noticed in our last. The flag officers have moored in front of it.

We print the houses left standing because they are the only part of the account that can be checked by anybody who walks the Broadway. What burned is told by absence.

Committee of Inspection

Philadelphia, September 17

In Committee of Inspection and Observation for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, September 17, 1776.

On motion it was unanimously Resolved, That the Committee of Inspection and Observation for the city and liberties of Philadelphia, and the townships of Moyamensing and Passyunk, be dissolved, and they are hereby dissolved. The Committee of Accounts, and for the distribution of salt, to be continued until the business for which they were appointed be finally settled.

Extract from the Minutes, SAMUEL C. MORRIS, Secretary.

All persons who have any accounts against the late Committee of Inspection for this city and liberties are desired to bring them in immediately to any one of the subscribers, in order for settlement. It is expected that every demand will be furnished by the 15th day of October next, at which time they intend completing this business.

John Bayard, Jonathan B. Smith, Joseph Dean, Sharp Delany, Francis Gurney, Christopher Marshall, William Ball, and Samuel C. Morris, Committee of Accounts.

Two of those names have stood in this paper already. Mr. Bayard is one of the three to whom Congress yesterday ordered powder and lead sold, for the privateers General Lee and Parry. Mr. Jonathan B. Smith asked leave of Congress, on the 25th of September, to resign the office of deputy muster master general, and had it.

From Lancaster

Lancaster, September 26

At a meeting of the Committee of Observation and Inspection, at the house of Adam Reigart, the 26th September, 1776. Present: William Atlee, Lodwick Lowman, William Bowsman, John Miller, Christopher Crawford, Henry Dehuff, George Moore. William Atlee in the chair.

The Committee, to enable them the better to comply with the request of the Council of Safety in returning an account of the state prisoners in that county, had required the serjeant-majors of the Seventh and the Twenty-Sixth to make returns of the number and names of the prisoners of those regiments, when they arrived, and where such of them as have left Lancaster are now stationed.

The serjeants made their returns. In accounting for their men, Serjeants Taylor and J. Wilkinson set down in writing, signed by them, that some of the men are enlisted with the Rebels.

The Committee look upon the conduct of those serjeants as insulting and designed to affront them, and therefore Order, that they be immediately sent to gaol, and be kept there on bread and water.

The same day, fourteen men of Captain Dehuff's company in Colonel Atlee's battalion — Christian Kuntz, John Wittson, Joseph Nagle, John Muscatuns, Frederick Widely, Martin Frey, Lodwick Roch, Frederick Keller, John Epple, Frederick Mellinger, Joseph Seemer, Frederick Segmiller, Frederick Hartoffle and John Wentzell — appeared in Committee and agreed to march off to join the battalion at three o'clock that afternoon, under the direction of Lieutenant George Brickman, from Lancaster to this city. Mr. Beckham is to give them certificates for their rations on the road.

In Council of Safety

Philadelphia, October 2

The Council met agreeable to adjournment. Present: Thomas Wharton, President; Samuel Morris, sen.; Owen Biddle; Francis Gurney; John Bayard; Frederick Kuhl; George Gray; David Rittenhouse; Henry Keppele; John Bull; Samuel C. Morris, jun.; and James Cannon. The Council sat again at three o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Rittenhouse in the chair.

An account was passed for blankets, attested by Frederick Antis, lieutenant-colonel of Colonel Potts's battalion of Philadelphia county, to be charged to his account, left in the Flying Camp, amounting to £21 1s.

An order was drawn to James McCanless, captain in Colonel William Smith's battalion of York county, directing him to hire a waggon to carry some sick belonging to his company to their homes, and that the Council would pay all reasonable expenses attending the same.

An order passed in favour of Peter Lukins for £7 14s., charged to Colonel T. Potts. An order was drawn upon the Treasurer for £500 in favour of Samuel Morris, Esq. An order was drawn in favour of John Mitchell, Esq., for Joseph Ferree, for forty bushels of salt.

An order of Congress upon their Treasurer, Michael Hillegas, Esq., for one hundred thousand dollars in favour of this commonwealth, was directed in Council to be passed to the credit of the same.

The Council sat again at three in the afternoon, Mr. Rittenhouse in the chair, with Mr. Joseph Blewer added to those of the morning.

An account passed of Vandel Burdisway, of £3, for bringing down Captain Pawling's company, to be charged to Congress. An account of eight guns received by Robert Towers, amounting to £66. An account of thirteen blankets delivered to Clement Biddle, Esq., at camp, delivered by Abraham Laitcher, major in Colonel Green's battalion, Lancaster county, amounting to £14 8s., passed, to be charged to Congress.

New commissions were given out to the captains of the gallies, and they were qualified to execute their trust faithfully, which qualification they signed.

The Council adjourned to eight o'clock the next morning.

That is the hundred thousand dollars Congress voted on the thirtieth, as was noticed in our first number.

Advertisements

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS Reward.

DESERTED from Bergen town, the 5th of September last, out of Captain Miller's company, belonging to the Flying Camp, John and Benjamin Williams, country born; Owen Jenkins, Ephraim Hallen, John Falls, William Erwin, John Ryan, of Chester county, Pennsylvania; Samuel Stacy, of Philadelphia. From Fort Constitution, deserted the 16th of September, William Idding, Thomas Lyons, Moses Lyons, John M'Kie, Adam Stack, William Grey, and Samuel Marshall. Whoever takes up and secures the said deserters in Philadelphia gaol, shall have the above reward, or Eight Dollars for each.

THOMAS MILLER, Captain.

FOUR POUNDS Reward.

RUN away from the subscriber, living in Spring-Garden, a servant man, named Frederick Keyerlein, about 19 or 20 years of age, short and well set; has brown hair, one of his fore fingers is crooked and stiff; had on a fine hat, a green cloth coat, with edged steel buttons, a white linen jacket, white striped breeches, white stockings, new shoes, steel buckles, and white shirt. Whoever takes up said servant, and secures him, so that his master may get him again, shall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges.

JAMES BUTLAND, FRINGE and LACE MAKER, in Front-street, near Arch-street, makes and sells all kinds of uniforms for officers and soldiers, in gold, silver, silk, worsted, or thread; where whole battalions may be supplied with lace for hats or clothes, and made to any pattern or colour, at a short notice. Likewise Coachmakers, Upholsterers, Sadlers, and Hatters trimmings, &c. Great price will be given for gold or silver Lace, either old or new, in any quantity.

Wanted 3 or 4 hands, either men or women, that can weave ribbons, lace, fringe, tapes, or other narrow works, who can be well recommended, may have constant work, and good wages.

PHILIP MARCHINTON HATH removed his stock of GOODS, from his store in Market-street, to his store at his Woollen Manufactory, in Front-street, between Market and Chestnut-streets; which are brown and black broadcloths, English and India black, pink, green, and cloth coloured paduasoys; blue, orange, and cloth coloured, plain and flowered satin damask; striped and sprigged pink and white, and blue and white tobines; black and cloth coloured silk breeches patterns; black and cloth coloured silk stockings; blue, black and purple, best double-top genuine cotton velvets; black and brown best silk and hair plush, &c.

He continues taking in Wool; Spinners and Weavers may have full employ.

STRAYED away, on the 26th of September last, from the subscriber, in Frankford, near Philadelphia, a brown MARE, about 15 hands high, 10 years old, well shod before, neither brand nor natural mark remembered, only a few white hairs in her forehead; she is a natural pacer, though trots at times out of hand, has a switch tail, and is trimmed under the bridle. Whoever shall take up the said mare, and secure her, so that the owner may get her again, shall have Fifteen Shillings reward, and reasonable charges, paid by

JOSHUA GIBSON.

LOST, on Monday the 2d instant, about noon, between this city and the Four Mile Stone, on the Wissahickon road, a short heavy KEY of an iron chest. Whoever brings the same to the Printer hereof shall be rewarded for their trouble.

TO BE SOLD,

AGREEABLE to the last will and testament of Robert Callender, deceased, about 1200 acres of excellent limestone land, situate in East-Pennsborough township, about 10 miles eastward of Carlisle, on the great road leading from Harris's Ferry to the said town, whereon are erected an excellent merchant-mill and saw-mill adjacent, both in very good repair, and now in the tenure of Mr. Francis Silver, on a never-failing stream of water known by the name of Silver's Spring, which abounds with the finest of trout; the mill-house is built of limestone, two stories high, and has in it two pair of stones, three boulting reels and hoisting works, all which go by water, together with a new two story dwelling-house and stone barn.

Several other very valuable tracts of land, in the same neighbourhood, belonging to the said estate, are also to be sold, together with a number of tracts of very valuable unimproved land in the counties of Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland.

And on the 29th of October will be sold by public vendue, on the last mentioned premises, several very valuable Negroe slaves, viz. two men, a woman, and several male and female children; also all the farming utensils and live stock, consisting of very valuable working horses, mares and colts; a large number of horned cattle, sheep and swine; at which time and place attendance and reasonable credit will be given by

FRANCES CALLENDER, Executrix; WILLIAM NIEL, WILLIAM IRVINE, and MATTHIAS SLOUGH, Executors.

FOUND, some time ago, a sum of MONEY. Whoever has lost the same may hear of it, by applying to Loose Baker, at the Lower Ferry, Trenton.

FOUR DOLLARS Reward.

STOLEN, on the night of the 28th of September last, from the pasture of Hugh Ely, living in Buckingham township, Bucks county, a sorrel MARE, about 10 years old, full 14½ hands high, with a large blaze in her face, both hind feet white, whitish mane and tail, a small saddle spot on each side of her back, and a small hard lump at the place of buckling the throat strap, paces and trots well, and suckled a foal when taken. Any person taking up said mare, and giving intelligence, so that the owner may get her again, shall have TWO DOLLARS, and if brought home the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by

JOHN ELY.

TO BE LETT, and may be entered on immediately, A WELL-ACCUSTOMED FULLING-MILL, in a good neighbourhood, situate in Londongrove township, Chester county, being the mill lately occupied by William Wood, deceased. The said mill is on a never-failing stream of water, in good repair, and may be had on reasonable terms; together with all the utensils necessary for carrying on the Fulling Business.

Ninth Month 28, 1776. HENRY HAYES.

† WANTED, a JOURNEYMAN PRINTER, who is master of his business, and can be well recommended for sobriety. Constant employ and good wages will be given. Enquire of the Printer hereof, at the head of the Valley road.