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Philadelphia, October 3
Congress has resolved to borrow five millions of continental dollars, and has set out the whole manner of the borrowing in the same day's resolutions, so that any man who has money by him may read the terms and judge of them himself.
Resolved, That five millions of continental dollars be immediately borrowed for the use of the United States of America, at the annual interest of four per cent.
That the faith of the United States be pledged to the lenders for the payment of the sums to be borrowed, and the interest arising thereon, and that certificates be given to the lenders in the form following:
The United States of America acknowledge the receipt of ——— dollars from ———, which they promise to pay to the said ———, or bearer, on the ——— day of ———, with interest annually, at the rate of four per cent. per annum, agreeable to a resolution of the United States, passed the third day of October, 1776. Witness the hand of the treasurer, this ——— day of ———, A. D.
The certificate is to be countersigned by the commissioners of one of the loan offices.
That for the convenience of the lenders, a loan office be established in each of the United States, and a commissioner to superintend such office be appointed by the said states respectively, which are to be responsible for the faithful discharge of their duty in the said offices.
That the business of the said commissioners shall be to deliver certificates for all such sums as shall be brought into their respective offices; to keep books, in which regular entries shall be made of the sums borrowed, and the time when, and the names of the persons by whom the said sums were lent; to transmit to the continental treasurer, once a month, an account of the cash in their respective offices; and to answer all draughts of the treasurer to the amount of the cash which they shall at any time have in their hands.
That no certificate be issued for a less sum than 300 dollars.
That the several sums of money to be borrowed shall be repaid at the office where the same was lent, at the expiration of three years, and that the annual interest shall be likewise paid at the said office.
That the said commissioners be entitled to receive of the United States one eighth per cent. on all monies brought into their respective offices, in lieu of all claims and demands for transacting the business of the said office.
Three hundred dollars is the least that will be taken, and three years the term. What the money will be worth at the end of them is not a question the resolution answers.
Philadelphia, October 3
Resolved, That Captain Persifor Frazer be commissioned as major of Colonel Wayne's Pennsylvania battalion, in the room of Major Haussegger, promoted.
The letter from Brigadier General Mercer noticed in our number of yesterday, recommending Colonel Humpton to the command of a regiment and Captain Dawson to a majority, is referred to the Council of Safety of this State.
Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed immediately to purchase one hundred hogsheads of rum, and forward the same to the commissary general, for the use of the army.
The Board of Treasury reported sums due: to Martin Housman, for the hire of his waggon and ferriages, with Generals Prescot and M'Donald's baggage to Newark, forty three dollars; to George Campbell, for his and Mr. Caldwell's and Mr. Tod's expences, as an escort to money from Philadelphia to Albany, 189 67/90ths dollars; to John Sparhawk, for quills for the use of the Treasury Office, 27 84/90ths dollars; and to Ludwick Karcher, a balance of 3,150 36/90ths dollars, his whole account amounting to 8,483 66/90ths, of which he has received 5,333 30/90ths. Ordered, That the above sums be paid.
Philadelphia, October 3
The committee appointed to repair to the camp, being returned, brought in their report, which was read.
Ordered, That it lie on the table.
That is the whole of what is given out. The committee left this city on the 21st of September and were three days in conference with the general officers at Harlem; the General wrote on the 27th that they were then sitting on the business they came upon, and that the result they would duly report upon their return. They are returned, and the report lies on the table of a house that sits with its doors shut.
What is in it we do not know. What was ordered upon it we do print: nothing.
Savannah, September 18
Accounts are come from Georgia of an affair upon Wilmington Island, below Savannah, on the morning of the 17th of September. They are given here as they came to us.
Intelligence having been received at Savannah on September 16th, by Colonel Elbert, that a party of the enemy from Cockspur had surprised two of the guard posted on Wilmington Island, and that they were expected to return the next night to plunder the other part of the Island, where a Sergeant and six privates from the Georgia battalion were fixed; he ordered a reinforcement of fifteen men to march and take post on the above mentioned Island.
The reinforcement consisted of one private from the First Regiment, two from the Second, and twelve privates and one Sergeant from the Rangers of South Carolina, commanded by Lieutenant Hicks, of Thomson's Rangers. They arrived on the Island early in the morning of the 17th of September, and soon discovered the plunderers, viz. twenty-one blacks, and five white associates, busy in carrying off their booty. They were soon interrupted by Mr. Hicks, who, on the first fire, killed seven or eight of them; an engagement here ensued.
The enemy lost eleven or more negroes killed, and one prisoner; four of the whites were also taken, one wounded. The one who got off was much wounded. Lieutenant Hicks lost two men.
Captain Goodwyn, of the Rangers, was sent immediately off to the assistance of our men, in expectation of the enemy returning to the Island, but they had learned wisdom by their late drubbing, and did not care to venture for more delicacies for their brother pirates' palates.
Colonel Elbert is named in the account, and Lieutenant Hicks, and Captain Goodwyn, and Colonel Thomson's corps of Rangers, and the two men Mr. Hicks lost. Of the twenty-one, no name is given.
Eleven or more are said to have been killed, and one taken. What became of the rest, the account does not say. It does not say who they were, nor from what place they came to Cockspur, nor with what the four white men taken are to be charged, nor before what court they are to answer.
Philadelphia, October 3
Two men were let go by Congress this day, on two different sorts of terms.
On application from the Council of Safety of North Carolina, Resolved, That Michael Holt, a prisoner in the gaol in this city, be discharged from his imprisonment, that he may return to his family; he taking the oath prescribed by the said Council of Safety.
The oath is not set out in the resolution, and neither is the cause of his commitment. He was held here, and it is North Carolina that has asked for him back.
Resolved, That Charles Startin be permitted, with his wife and family, to return to England from any of the United States he thinks proper, except New York.
A man who wishes to go to England may go, and may choose his port. The one port he may not choose is the one the King's ships are lying in.
Philadelphia, October 3
Present: David Rittenhouse, Vice President; John Bayard, Joseph Blewer, Samuel Morris, sen., Francis Gurney, John Bull, Frederick Kuhl, Samuel C. Morris, James Cannon, Owen Biddle.
The following commissions were granted this day, agreeable to the resolve of Congress:
For the privateer sloop Congress, William Greenway commander, of the burthen of 40 tons, mounting 6 carriage guns, navigated by 40 men, owned by John Bayard, Joseph Dean and Company.
For the privateer brig General Lee, John Chatham commander, burthen about 100 tons, mounting 12 carriage guns, navigated by 90 men, owned by John Bayard, Alexander Henderson and Company.
The General Lee is the vessel for which the Board of War was directed, the day before, to sell the owners 1,600lb. of powder and 800lb. of lead. Mr. Bayard is named in that petition to Congress, is named as owner in the commission, and sat in the Council that granted it. The Council is made of merchants, and the merchants of this city are the men who own the vessels. It could hardly be otherwise. We set it down because it is so.
Orders were drawn on Mr. Nesbitt: in favour of Major Lewis Nicola, for £100; of Mr. James Dundass, for £100, on account of the fortification; of Mr. John Sparhawk, for £2 3s. 6d.; and of Colonel Nicholas Haussegger, for $1,000, to be charged to the Colonel, for the use of the German Battalion. Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Emanuel Woodbey £4 5s. for seventeen days' boat hire.
Colonel Haussegger's is the majority that Congress filled the same day, Captain Persifor Frazer being commissioned major of Colonel Wayne's battalion in his room.
The Council adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon, when the following members met: John Bayard, Francis Gurney, Joseph Blewer, Frederick Kuhl, Samuel C. Morris.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Henry Fraley £4 15s. for a rifle delivered to Colonel Matlack, to be charged to the Colonel. Mr. Nesbitt to pay Sacheverell Wood £46 12s. 5d. for dieting prisoners in the State Prison in this city, to be charged to Congress. Mr. Nesbitt to pay Mr. Robert Towers's account for making cartridges, and men's wages, £42 1s. 6d.
Philadelphia, October 3
We learn from Rhode-Island that Governour Cooke has entered the hospital for inoculation, and that the business of that State is in the meantime done by the Deputy Governour, Mr. Bradford, of Bristol, with the committee appointed to act in cases of emergency during the recess of the General Assembly.
They have forwarded the march of one continental battalion to New-York, part setting out one day and the remainder the next; have desired Colonel Richmond to hold the other in readiness to march at the shortest notice, upon intelligence that the regiment from the Massachusetts has entered the State; and have ordered a battalion of militia, of seven hundred men, to be raised and embodied to replace it.
A man who takes the small-pox by choice is shut up with it for some weeks together, and the business of Rhode-Island at present is emptying itself of soldiers. The account adds that the State is exhausted, and weakened further by the great number of privateers fitted out from it.
Entered in. No entries are come from the office this day.
Cleared out. None entered this day.
Regulations for carrying the publick mails.
IN CONGRESS, August 30, 1776.
Resolved, That the communication of intelligence with frequency and despatch from one part to another of this extensive Continent, is essentially requisite to its safety; that therefore there be employed on the several Post-Roads a Rider for every twenty-five or thirty miles, whose business it shall be to proceed to his stage three times in every week, setting out immediately on receipt of the mail and travelling with the same by night and by day, without stopping, until he shall have delivered it to the next Rider; and that the Postmaster-General be desired, either by the use of way-bills or by such other means as he shall find most efficacious, to prevent delays in the Riders, or to discover where they happen, that such dilatory Riders may be discharged.
And as it is requisite that the Deputy Postmasters should attend with punctuality at their several offices for the receipt and delivery of Letters:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Assemblies and Conventions of these States, to consider how far it may be consistent with the policy and good of their respective States, to excuse such Deputy Postmasters from those publick duties which may call them from attendance at their offices.
Extract from the minutes: CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
William Goddard, Esq; Surveyor of the General Post-Office, is gone through the Northern States to carry the resolution into execution. The Deputy Postmaster of New-York has had orders to remove his office from Dobbs's Ferry to Head-Quarters.
Three times a week, and night and day without stopping, is what the Continent has resolved upon. What arrives at this office is set down as it arrives.
No price current is come to hand.
Court of Admiralty, at the State House, September 26.
The sloop Betsey, Samuel Kerr master, of about forty tons, taken at sea on or about the twenty-fourth day of August by the continental brigantine of war Lexington, John Barry commander, the private sloop of war Chance, James Robertson commander, being in sight at the time of the capture.
Notice of the time, place and cause of holding the Court having been published in two of the publick news papers printed at Philadelphia, and the bill being read, proclamation was publickly made that if any persons had aught to say why the said sloop, with her tackle, apparel, furniture and cargo, and the Negro slaves mentioned in the said bill, should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said bill, they should come forth and be heard.
No person appeared to claim or defend.
The jurors sworn and affirmed were William Adcock, John Ashmead, Woolman Sutton, Joseph Wetherill, Thomas Nevil, Benjamin Worrell, Evan Evans, Daniel Dolby, Benjamin Jones, Robert Fitzgerald, Robert M'Knight and Jedediah Snowden. Their verdict, that all the facts alledged and set forth in the bill are true.
Whereupon it is adjudged and decreed that the sloop, with her tackle, apparel and furniture, and the goods, wares and merchandizes found on board at the time of her capture, and the Negro slaves in the said bill named and mentioned, be condemned as lawful prize; and the Marshal of the Court is ordered to sell the same at publick vendue. Of the residue, after costs and the wages due to the seamen, forty one parts in one hundred and thirty five to the sloop Chance and her company, and ninety four parts to Captain Barry: two third parts thereof for the use of the thirteen United States, and the other third for himself, his officers, mariners and seamen.
The Betsey was carrying the master's family and effects out of Virginia to St. Augustine, in East Florida, by a pass from the Earl of Dunmore and Captain Hammond of his Majesty's ships, laden with molasses, coffee, rum, wine, sugar, flour and tobacco, with a variety of household goods.
Philadelphia, October 3
On Sunday morning last departed this life at Elizabeth-Town, Mr. Garret Noel, many years an eminent bookseller in the city of New-York. He was a kind husband and tender parent, and justly esteemed and beloved by all who knew him.
The notice does not say what carried him to Elizabeth-Town, nor how long he had been out of New-York, nor who has his stock.
College of Philadelphia, September 24, 1776.
THE Lectures on MATERIA MEDICA, CHEMISTRY, and the PRACTICE OF PHYSIC will begin on the last Tuesday of October.
TEN DOLLARS Reward.
RUN away from the subscriber, living in Evesham, in the county of Burlington, on Monday the 9th of September instant, a Negro man, named MOSES, about 5 feet 4 inches high, a thick set fellow; had on when he went away, a short light coloured coat, with binding of the same colour, a pair of strong new shoes, with large plated buckles, homespun linen trowsers, a black stock with steel buckle. He also stole, and took with him, a blue great coat, with white metal buttons; the other part of his clothes not known. As he has been endeavouring to prevail upon the Negroes in this neighbourhood to go with him and join the ministerial army, it is hoped every lover of his country will endeavour to apprehend so daring a villain. Whoever will secure him in any gaol in this State, shall be entitled to the above reward, with reasonable charges if brought home, paid by
CHARLES READ.
TO BE SOLD for 100l. and not less, or hired for 22l. a year,
A VERY likely young Negro man, who can cook, bake, and do all sorts of house-work, understands tending on a gentleman's table and taking care of horses well, is sober and good tempered. Whoever wants, may apply to the Printer hereof, who will inform them where to write for said Negro. The duty was paid for him, at Philadelphia, some years ago; he has had the small-pox.
TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward.
RUN away from the subscriber, living in Vine-street, an apprentice boy, named JOHN PETER POWEL, between 16 and 17 years of age, has red hair, freckled face, an old hat, black striped linsey-woolsey jacket with sleeves, striped linen trowsers. Whoever takes up said apprentice, and secures him, so that his master may get him again, shall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges.
TO BE SOLD by public sale, on Thursday the 24th of October next, at three o'clock in the afternoon, on the premises,
THAT noted TAVERN called the FOX CHACE, being on a cross road leading from Philadelphia to Lancaster, Darby, Chester and Brandywine, in the township of Haverford, Chester county, about ten miles from the city of Philadelphia, adjoining the lands of Charles Humphreys and others, containing about 60 or 70 acres, more or less, to be surveyed after it is sold; about 18 or 20 acres of which are well timbered, and the rest cleared, with all the improvements thereunto belonging. It is now in the tenure and under a lease to the Widow Coats, which will expire the 10th of April next, at 45l. per annum. Whoever inclines to view the place before the day of sale will please to apply to Nicholas Pechin, adjoining said place. The conditions of sale will be made known on the day of sale.
THE Members of the SOCIETY for the Relief of poor and distressed Masters of Ships, their Widows and Children, are requested to meet at the Coffee-house, on Monday evening, the 7th of October instant, at six o'clock.
THE Members of the COMMITTEE of the County of Philadelphia are requested to meet, at twelve o'clock, on Saturday the fifth day of October.
MAREDANT's ANTI-SCORBUTIC DROPS, prepared only by John Norton, Surgeon, in Golden Square, London, will perfectly cure the most inveterate scurvy, leprosy, pimpled faces, of ever so long standing, so as never to return again: Likewise the evil or struma, fistulas, piles, old obstinate sores or ulcers; and, by purifying the blood, prevent malignant humours of every kind from being thrown upon the lungs.
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.
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.
† 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.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by Davidson Signal, near the Sign of the Wolf and Bear, at the head of the Valley road.
The news of the world, 250 years late. A daily paper of the birth of America. Each issue is published on the 250th anniversary of its dateline, and knows only what Philadelphia knew by that day: an issue dated the 1st closes with the post of the 30th, nothing is foreshadowed, and a report that was believed at the time and later proved false is printed here as it was believed.
Written by AI, to rules its publisher set. The events are real and drawn from whatever source records them — not only from what a printer happened to set in type. Where the record is thin, the item is short.
† marks an advertisement composed for this paper — the advertiser, the goods and the terms are ours. Everything else in the advertising columns is reproduced word for word. Nothing concerning an enslaved person or a bound servant is ever composed.
Davidson Signal is a pen name. Corrections run in a later issue; we do not change one that has gone out.
Why this paper takes a side, why Philadelphia, what is made and what is not →