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Philadelphia, October 5
Letters were read from James Bowdoin, of the 23d of September, with a copy of resolutions passed by the general assembly of Massachusetts bay; from Governor Livingston, of the 3d October; and from the Committee of Safety of New Hampshire. The letters from General Washington and General Schuyler, read yesterday, were referred to the Board of War, and Mr. Bowdoin's to the Marine Committee.
Resolved, That the letter from Governor Livingston be referred to a committee of three, and that the said committee be directed to take into consideration the case of the prisoners in the gaol of Philadelphia. The members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Ross, and Mr. Floyd.
Resolved, That five months' pay be advanced to the officers and three month's pay to the men who were taken prisoners in Canada, and sent to these United States by General Carleton.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to bring and lay before Congress, the papers relative to the dispute between the court martial and General Arnold.
Resolved, That the continental agents be directed to deliver to the commissary general, for the use of the army, all the salt in their hands belonging to the Continent.
Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.
Philadelphia, September 30
The committee of five, to whom were referred the letters from General Washington of the 24th and 25th, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; whereupon Congress resolved, among other things,
That General Washington be directed to call upon such of the members of the court martial, as sat upon the trial, and concurred in the acquittal of Ensign Macumber, to assign their reasons for their first judgment; that those reasons, together with the names of such of the said members, who were for the acquittal, be returned to Congress:
That Mr. M'Donald, having a commission of brigadier general from Governor Martin, be not exchanged for any officer under the rank of brigadier general in the service either of the United States or of one of them.
The remainder of the report is postponed.
Philadelphia, October 5
Present: Thomas Wharton, jun., President; David Rittenhouse, Samuel Morris, sen., John Bayard, Joseph Blewer, Francis Gurney, Frederick Kuhl, George Gray, James Cannon, Owen Biddle.
The Council arranged the three Pennsylvania battalions now in the Continental service at New-York: two of them to be on the new Continental establishment, and to serve during the war; the other to be retained in the service of this State until the first of January, 1778, the privates of all three to continue in the service of this State, and the officers, according to seniority, to have the choice of entering into either. Colonel Brodhead is to consult the officers and return those who desire the Continental service, the affair being "of immediate necessity and very great importance."
A detachment of fifty men from the artillery companies of this State is to be sent to Fort Montgomery, under Captain Strohbogh, subject to the direction of the Commander-in-Chief; two of the commissioned officers of his company, and Lieutenant Proctor, of Captain Forrest's company, to go with it, "that they may have an opportunity of seeing service." They march as soon as they are furnished with camp equipage.
Philadelphia, September 26
The House of Assembly of this State, sitting while the Convention was still met, has declared two of the Convention's ordinances not binding, and has denied that the Convention may tax at all. On Thursday afternoon a member read in his place some resolutions, which, after the previous question had been called for and carried, were agreed to in these words:
"Resolved, by a majority of the Members present, That it is the sacred right of Freemen to give and grant their own Money; and that all Taxes levied without their consent, are arbitrary and oppressive: and that no Freeman can be constitutionally restrained of his liberty, or be sentenced to any penalties or punishment whatsoever, but by the judgment of his peers, and a trial had by a jury of his country.
"Resolved, That the Convention have derived no authority from the good people of Pennsylvania to levy Taxes and dispose of their property: and therefore, that the late Ordinance, imposing a rate of twenty Shillings per month, and four Shillings in the Pound on the Estates of Non-Associators, is illegal, and the said sums ought not to be paid.
"Resolved, That the late Ordinance of the Convention, empowering two or more Justices of the Peace to imprison, for an indefinite time, at their discretion, all persons whom they shall judge to be guilty of the offences therein specified, is, in the opinion of this House, a dangerous attack on the liberties of the good people of Pennsylvania, and a violation of their most sacred rights; and therefore ought not to be considered as obligatory."
On Tuesday, with twenty-eight members, the same House had voted the Governour one thousand Pounds "for his support during the present year," the yeas and nays being taken; and on Thursday, the first line of the incidental expenses being that sum to the Hon. John Penn, Esq., Governour, Mr. Speaker signed the orders for the wages and salaries of the past year, and the House rose.
Philadelphia, October 5
The salt for the townships. The Philadelphia County Committee gives notice, that each township in the county is, by the allotment of the City Committee, entitled to the proportion of between nine and ten bushels of the salt belonging to Joshua Fisher and Sons, and Joseph Shewel, at the moderate prices of three shillings for the fine, and seven and sixpence for the coarse, per bushel. The committee-man of each township is to attend at the Conestogoe Waggon, on Friday, the 18th instant, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to receive it; and should any township neglect applying on that day, its proportion will be divided among the rest.
It is the salt which the Convention, by its resolves of the 24th and 28th of August, empowered the Committee of the City and Liberties to distribute in equal proportions between the city and counties of this State, according to their reputed numbers.
Fish-Kill, September 25
A letter from General Scott was read, giving an account of the great fire in New-York, and of a little expedition to Montresor's Island, in which our troops failed of success, and were obliged to retreat with the loss of the brave Major Henly, killed, and several others wounded and missing.
A memorial of Cornelius Atherton, who has contracted to make muskets, was read, praying that he and his men be exempted from military duty; his workmen, he says, are called away to "general musters, Tory hunts, drafting, &c." Referred to the Convention.
Fish-Kill, September 26
Upon a letter from Stephen De Lancey, Esq., "now confined on his parole to the Town of Hartford," a resolution was proposed that a horse of his, taken by persons in the Continental Army, be put in the custody of States M. Dyckman, care being expedient "to prevent the destruction of the property of all persons who are removed from their vacant places of residence by the authority of this State." The Committee were equally divided, nine and nine. The Chairman then determined against the said proposed resolution; wherefore it was rejected.
Newport, September 23
It is reported that General Arnold has lately destroyed most of the enemy's boats, at the north end of Lake-Champlain; and made prisoners of 600 English, Scotch, and Hessian soldiers, on a small island in the lake.
We give it as it is reported. We have seen no letter from that quarter which confirms it.
Boston, September 26
The privateer General Greene, of East-Greenwich, and the privateer Harlequin, of Baltimore, have taken a Jamaica ship, and sent her into a safe port. Her cargo consists of 312 hogsheads of sugar, 82 puncheons of rum, 36 pipes and 4 hogsheads of Madeira wine, copper, &c.
Last Sunday was sent into Providence by Capt. Munro, the prize ship Blaze Castle, from Barbados, bound for London, with Madeira wine, 120 hogsheads of sugar, whalebone, 120 barrels of oil, &c.
Last Monday was sent into this harbour by the Eagle, Captain Paine, a ship of 160 tons, from Grenada bound to London, with 150 puncheons of rum, sugar, some cotton, &c.
Boston, September 30
A letter of this date says, that the conference of the committee of Congress with Lord Howe has eased the minds of many people, who now see that unconditional submission is aimed at by Britain; and that Captain Coes, of the Warren privateer, has carried into Newbury-port, or Cape Ann, a very rich prize, laden with sugar, rum, cotton, plate and money.
Williamsburg, September 27
Since our last two vessels have arrived at Hampton, one with 800 bushels of salt, the other with 300; and one is just come up to Jamestown with 2500 bushels, and some fruit.
A small Baltimore privateer carried into Chingoteague, upon the Eastern Shore, the beginning of last week, a brig from Jamaica, laden with 400 hogsheads of sugar, and rum.
Georgia, August 17
Extract of a letter.
A vessel is just arrived from Cape-Francois, loaded with gunpowder, arms, rum and sugar, and brings a letter to the President from a principal house there, informing that they have permission to trade with us, and offering to supply any thing that is wanted.
The Raven, Stanhope, and the Sphynx, Reed, are now at Cockspur, and receive all Negroes that run away and get to them, whom they send to the West-Indies for articles of supply.
Providence, September 28
Extract of a letter from Montego-Bay, in Jamaica, dated August 6, found on board a vessel lately captured.
The confusion that we have been in here since you left the island, on account of the slaves, prevents my sending you the articles which you desired. God knows how the affair will end, for they are daily impeached faster than they can be taken up; and, what is amazing, none have yet fled to the woods. It is said they have sent to St. Ann's, to procure a man to command them, who was concerned in the last rebellion; but I fancy he will be deterred on hearing of so many of their chief officers being taken up. I was obliged to go to Lucea on the first information. Two of the maroons were accused, but it appears at present that only one worthless fellow, who never staid at home, and is detested by the rest, has had any knowledge of it, and they wish to have him punished, if it can be proved that he has endeavoured to represent them as inclined to serve the slaves. You cannot imagine how it has affected my remittance this year, I expect it will ruin me, as well as some other planters; but I have not spirits to write any more on the subject.
Extract of another letter from Jamaica, dated Hanover parish, August 7, which follows it in the Providence account.
The purport of this is to acquaint you, that we are still alive in this parish. A most horrid conspiracy had been formed by the Negroes to cut us all off to a man, and even to a white male child; the women were to have been spared, to make concubines for the Ethiopeans. Such was their intention, and Sunday, the 21st of July, at night, was the time appointed for putting the plot in execution; but Providence was kind enough to order it to be discovered the Monday before the 21st, since which time military duty has been very severe. Martial-law has been proclaimed, and every person, without exception, is obliged to turn out. There is no intelligence of the Negroes in the other parishes having joined them, but suppose the massacre was to have been general throughout the island. Scarce any thing is now going on in this parish but taking up, trying, hanging, and gibbeting alive, though many have been acquitted. The shipping have been laid under an embargo till this day.
Philadelphia, October 2
The Pennsylvania Journal of this day has the following:
By the ships from Jamaica, we learn, that provisions have become very scarce there, that the negroes had actually rose and cut off several plantations in that island, and that the Governor had proclaimed martial law. We also learn, that the humane Butchers of Britain had ordered the scattered remains of the 60th regiment, stationed there since the year 1772, to this continent to cut our throats, instead of letting them remain there to protect the island.
Cape Nicola Mole, August 15
Extract of a letter.
From the best authority, I am informed, that four French frigates are ordered to cruize about this island to protect the American trade, and two Spanish ships are to do the same about Porto Rico for the like purpose. There are about 8 or 10,000 troops in this Island. — Twenty-nine ships of the line are getting ready at Brest, and 14 at Toulon, & 20,000 land forces, to put to sea, but where bound is not known. — Twelve Spanish ships of the line and 6 frigates, with many land forces, went by here some weeks past for the Havannah, but for what end is a secret.
Entered in. No entries are come from the office this day.
We are since informed, that the brig from Barbadoes for London, given in our last, was taken by the Continental sloop Providence, with 200 hogsheads of rum; and that the ship William, Captain Bond, from Jamaica for Liverpool, which the privateer sloop Chance brought in, had on board 150 hogsheads of sugar, 9 hogsheads of rum, and 2 bales of cotton.
Cleared out. None entered this day.
No notice is come from the office this day.
No price current is come to hand.
Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ss.
To all whom it may concern.
NOTICE is hereby given, that a Court of Admiralty will be held at the State-house, in the city of Philadelphia, on Tuesday the fifteenth day of October next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the same day, then and there to try the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of John Barre, commander of the brigantine of war called the Lexington (who as well, &c.) against James and Joshua, Negro Slaves, lately taken on board the prize sloop called the Edward, commanded by Richard Boger. To the end and intent that the owner or owners of the said slaves, or of either of them, may appear and shew cause, if any they have, why the same should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said bill.
By order of the Judge, ANDREW ROBESON, Register.
Sept. 27, 1776.
Middletown township, Cumberland county, Sept. 25, 1776.
ALL persons who have any demands against the estate of Robert Callender, late of the township aforesaid, deceased, are requested to bring in their accounts, properly attested, that they may be adjusted and paid as soon as possible; and all those who are indebted to the said estate, by bond, note or otherwise, are requested to pay the same to the subscribers.
FRANCES CALLENDER, Executrix; WILLIAM NIEL, WILLIAM IRVINE, and MATTHIAS SLOUGH, Executors.
THIS day is published, printed and sold by R. AITKEN, printer and bookseller, Front street, price three Dollars,
L'INGENIEUR de CAMPAGNE, or FIELD ENGINEER. Written in French by the Chevalier de Clairac; and translated by Major Lewis Nicola. To which is added, by way of appendix, a short Treatise on SEA BATTERIES, shewing their defects, and an attempt to remedy them. Likewise an explanation of all the technical terms used in the work. By the Translator. Embellished with forty useful quarto copperplates. Price three dollars neatly bound.
Likewise sold by said Aitken, SIX SKETCHES on the HISTORY of MAN. By Henry Home, Lord Kaims.
Philadelphia, September 21, 1776.
EIGHT DOLLARS Reward.
RUN away from the subscriber, the beginning of last month, a Scotch servant lad, named JAMES HAY, 17 years of age, about 5 feet 3 inches high, dark brown hair, and generally wears it tied, is much pitted with the small pox, and has a down look; had on, when he went away, a green cloth coat, brown check linen waistcoat, fustian breeches. Whoever apprehends said servant, and secures him in the workhouse of this city, shall have the above reward.
GEORGE MIFFLIN.
Philadelphia, September 24, 1776.
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 edge 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, paid by
LEWIS STROAK, Tanner.
TWENTY-FOUR DOLLARS Reward.
DESERTED from Captain Thomas Holme's company, of the first of the Philadelphia county battalions, of Flying Camp, commanded by Colonel John Moore (Perth-Amboy) James Smith, about 28 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches high, of a brown complexion, black hair, has a remarkable scar on his right cheek; he formerly belonged to Captain Wolf's company, in Colonel Patten's battalion, of Berk's county. Thomas Slice, about 19 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, brown hair, fair complexion, brown coat faced with red, leather breeches, yarn stockings, old shoes, and a wool hat. James M'Cleland, 45 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, brown complexion, black hair, given to drink; yellow frock and trowsers, good shoes, tied with strings. Slice and M'Cleland, belonged to Col. Bull's battalion, in John Porter's company, of Philadelphia county. Whoever takes up said deserters, and sends them to their respective corps, at Amboy aforesaid, shall have the above reward, or Eight Dollars for either, and reasonable charges, by
THOMAS HOLME, Captain.
EIGHT DOLLARS Reward.
DESERTED from Capt. Smith's company, in Colonel Hand's regiment of riflemen, CHARLES GREEN, about five feet seven inches high. He had on a white hunting shirt and trousers, an old beaver hat, red face, much broke out about the mouth, and plays on the fife.
JOHN DAVIS, from the same battalion and company, about five feet eight inches high. He had on a brown hunting shirt and trousers, short brown hair, and full face.
Whoever apprehends said deserters, shall have the above reward, or FOUR DOLLARS for each.
BENJAMIN LYON, Lieut.
TWENTY-TWO POUNDS Reward.
THE Wardens of the City do hereby promise a Reward of Twenty-two Pounds, to any Person or Persons who shall make Discovery to them, by whom three of the Public Lamps were broken on Wednesday Night last, and eight others on Saturday Night following.---The above Reward to be paid on Conviction of the Aggressors, or Forty Shillings per Lamp.
Philadelphia Barracks, Sept. 23, 1776.
DESERTED, last night, from Captain Holmes's company of militia, of the first battalion, of Cumberland county, a certain JAMES COLE, about 21 years old, fair hair, about 5 feet 3 inches high, is slim made, a good looking lad; had on a hunting shirt and leggings, of a light lye colour, a striped jacket, good shoes, a small brimmed hat. Whoever takes up said deserter, and secures him in any goal, so that he may be delivered to his company, now on their way to camp, shall have FOUR DOLLARS reward.
ANDREW HOLMES, Captain.
Philadelphia, October 1, 1776.
STRAYED, the 22d of last month, from a stable in this city, a light sorrel HORSE, with a long mane and switch tail, no shoes on, he trots and paces, and has a big belly. Whoever takes him up, and brings him to ISAAC LORT, Crier, shall have Twenty Shillings reward.
CAME to the plantation of the subscriber, in Buckingham township, Bucks county, in August last, a brown Gelding, supposed to be 7 or 8 years old, near 15 hands high, branded A. S. on the off buttock, with a star in his forehead, his mane hanging long, and a switch tail; trots for most part, and when moved from a walk halts upon his off hind leg. The owner is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges, and take him away.
NATHAN M'KINSTRY.
CAME to the plantation of JOHN ROBERTS, near Logan's mill, in Bristol township, a red COW, with a star between her horns, flanks, feet, and half her tail white. The owner is desired to prove property, pay charges, and take her away.
† 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.
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.
† 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.
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