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Harlem, October 3
Extract of a letter from Harlem, dated October 3.
"Yesterday morning eleven hundred men were ordered to parade at daylight, to bring off the corn, hay, &c., which lay on Harlem Plains, between the enemy and us. This property has lain for a fortnight past unmolested, both sides looking at it, and laying claim to it until to-day, when it was brought off by us. A covering party were within musket shot of the enemy, but they made no other movements than to man their lines; and three thousand of our men appearing, the enemy struck their tents, expecting an attack. Our fatigue party finished the business, and not a single shot was fired. These plains would afford an excellent field for a fight. I really expected an action, but the enemy declined it.
"Opinions here are various with respect to the enemy's designs. This is the best month in the year for fighting. The enemy must be near twenty thousand effective, and the taking of York is not a sufficient compensation for the expense of so vast an armament as the British King has sent out this year. Thence it is thought General Howe will attempt to give us a defeat, at least to get complete possession of the island and the adjoining heights. General Washington has, in publick orders, assured the whole army, he intends, at every hazard, to defend the ground the army now occupies. The other opinion is, that the enemy will wait for the disbanding of our army, which takes place the last of December, and then obtain a bloodless victory by getting possession of our present works, as there may then be nobody to defend them.
"We have had five French officers come to camp this week; they come from Old France, last from Philadelphia, and are in Continental pay. Two of them are Engineers. Three of them are very genteel men, and all come well recommended."
Fish-Kill, October 9
The Committee of Safety of that State this day agreed to a report on the behaviour of the Scotch prisoners at Goshen, in the county of Orange, which sets forth, "That as the said Prisoners are not content with their enlargement from close confinement and privilege to labour, as the said Committee have heretofore permitted them, but have behaved indecently and unbecomingly," the committee at Goshen is to maintain and provide for them in such manner as shall seem most consistent with the security of the prisoners, the safety of the State, and the resolve of the Continental Congress; "Also, as to the boys among the said Prisoners, that they shall be put out to such service and in such families as the Committee shall think proper, and that the said boys, upon their behaving impertinently or unfaithfully in their said service, shall be subject to such punishment from their respective employers or masters as in such cases by custom immemorial hath been hitherto practised in this country: Provided nevertheless, that the said Committee be directed to see that the said boys are not treated with cruelty or unnecessary severities."
The Committee being informed by the chairman of the committee of Goshen, that one Richard Speight, a disaffected person, sent from New-York some time since to Goshen, to remain there on his parole, is, with his wife and children, in a starving condition, being unable to support himself and family, ordered that he, his wife and children be each allowed one ration of provisions per day, agreeable to the rations allowed prisoners of war.
Philadelphia, October 11
Two letters from General Washington, of the 7th and 8th instant, with sundry papers enclosed, were this day laid before Congress, and read; whereupon the release of Mons. de Chambault, as proposed by General Washington, on the request of the Count D'Emery, governor general of the French part of St. Domingo, was agreed to; and it was
Resolved, That General Washington be desired, if it be practicable, by every art, and whatever expence, to obstruct effectually the navigation of the North river, between Fort Washington and Mount Constitution, as well to prevent the regress of the enemies' frigates lately gone up, as to hinder them from receiving succours.
Philadelphia, October 10
The Marine Committee having recommended Captain Abraham Whipple, of the ship Columbus, to the command of the Providence frigate, at Rhode-Island, Congress resolved, that he be promoted accordingly.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of War of the 19th of September; whereupon,
Resolved, That the inhabitants of Canada, captivated by the United States, and not taken in arms, be released and sent home, except St. Luke la Corne and Mons. Rouville, the elder, upon this condition, that they sign a parole that they will not take up arms against the United States, nor give intelligence to the enemies of these states: That a register be kept of their names.
Philadelphia, October 9
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee who went to the camp, and resolved, that no regimental hospitals be in future allowed in the neighbourhood of the general hospital; that John Morgan, Esq; provide and superintend a hospital, at a proper distance from the camp, for the army posted on the east side of Hudson's river, and William Shippen, Esq; an hospital for the army in the state of New Jersey; that they make weekly returns to Congress and the commander in chief of the number of sick and deceased in their hospitals; "That the wages of nurses be augmented to one dollar per week"; and that the commanding officer of each regiment send a commission officer once a week to visit the sick of his regiment in the general hospital, and report their state to him.
Philadelphia, October 11
The Council of Safety this day resolved, that Messrs. David Rittenhouse, Joseph Blewer, Emanuel Eyres and Peter Brown are to go down to the piers, and fix upon a method for fastening the chain, and give directions to Thomas Davis and Lewis Gyon to prepare every thing necessary to fasten it without delay; and that the Commodore order the boom to be brought up to Kensington, to Mr. Peter Brown's landing, as soon as the tide will serve.
Colonel Brodhead is directed to procure proper lists of such clothes and other articles now in possession of the Quartermaster, as were the property of the soldiers of the three battalions of this State either killed or taken prisoners on Long-Island; to have them properly appraised, and to transmit to the Board certificates of the appraisements, with the names of the persons whose property they were; and after the appraisement, to distribute the said clothing amongst the men now under his command, in such manner as he shall think proper.
An order was drawn in favour of William Coleman, a sick soldier, discharged from Colonel Miles's battalion, for 1l. 5s. per month, agreeable to resolve of Congress, "until he recovers his sight, or further orders".
Boston, October 5
On Tuesday, the 1st instant, the privateer schooner Speedwell, Captain John Greely, which sailed from Boston the day before, took a snow from London, which sailed last July in company with twenty-four topsail vessels, bound to Boston, but finding the harbour evacuated steered off. It is said, by the information of the mate of the prize snow, as part of the proprietors of the Speedwell this day report it, that the fleet are now hovering about Nantucket, not knowing where to go, till they get orders from New-York, as they signed bills of lading for Boston. In consequence of this information, several gentlemen of the Council in this town have thought it advisable that Captains Souther, Samson and Williams, commanders of State vessels of war, proceed towards Nantucket, in order to fall in with the said fleet.
Portsmouth, New-Hampshire, October 5.
The Freeman's Journal of this day says, "Yesterday arrived here the Brigantine Marquis of Kildare, Capt. Thomas Palmer, in 7 Weeks from Bourdeaux, with a Cargo of military stores, &c. He informs us the French treated him with the utmost kindness, and seem'd ready to do every thing in their power to serve him; that the Custom-House officers permitted the American vessels to pass without examination, while the English, were all searched."
Philadelphia, October 11
We hear that a gentleman has received here, by the Eastern post, a letter from Nantes, in Old France, advising that two vessels were there loaded for Virginia with blankets, coarse cloths, arms, ammunition, &c., and two with the same commodities for Rhode-Island, and that another would sail in a few days.
Annapolis, October 7
On the 3d instant a petition from Robert Cowell and Nicholas Reilly, setting forth that they had, on the 25th day of September last, been convicted of felony and received sentence of death before Baltimore County Court, and praying the Convention of that State to grant them pardon, was read, and ordered to lie on the table; and on motion of Mr. Sheredine the Convention resolved, that it would on the morrow resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the Declaration and Charter of Rights, and form of Government for the State.
This day a petition from Thomas Scott, now confined in Frederick County jail, under sentence of death for murder, praying to be reprieved, and a petition from Roger Jones and John Jones, of Dorchester County, "setting forth that they were possessed of two negro men slaves, to wit: Roger Jones of a negro man slave named Kit, and John Jones of a negro man slave named Robin; that the said negro men slaves were indicted before the last Dorchester County August Court, for the murder of a certain John Woolford, late of the same County, and thereof were convict; and also that the said negro Kit was at the same court indicted and found guilty of feloniously stealing a certain schooner vessel, and recommending the aforesaid negroes Robin and Kit to the clemency and mercy of this House," were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.
The Convention then proceeded to elect a Judge of the Court of Admiralty, in the room of John Hall, Esq., who resigned that office; and John Rogers, Esq., was elected.
Philadelphia, September 25
In Convention of this State, a letter from the Reverend Messrs. Duffield and Marshall, praying that the clergy of this State may be exempted from the burthen of civil officers, and setting forth their reasons for such exemption, was read, and ordered to lie on the table for consideration. A petition from the Reverend Messrs. Muhlenberg and Weynberg, praying for an addition to the 47th article of the proposed frame of Government, confirming the incorporations for promoting religious and charitable purposes, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Princeton, September 11
The Governor's Speech to the Council and General Assembly, concluded from this paper of Friday last.
The pay of our militia lately called out for the defence of New-York (which has acquired signal renown by the spirit and alacrity with which it engaged in the common cause) admits of no delay.
That of half our Militia now on duty, will be due in a few days.
Some farther regulations respecting the better ordering the Militia merit your speedy attention.
A law for regulating the impressing of such articles as the exigencies of the service may require, is of great importance.
No allowance having been made for the provender of the Light-Horse when in actual service, and it being impossible, from their perpetual station and being frequently employed as expresses, for the Commissaries to provide them, it is reasonable the men should be allowed an equivalent for keeping their horses themselves.
The fixing the seat of government in some convenient and plentiful part of the State, calls for your seasonable deliberation.
Such other matters as may occur to me during the session, and appear more particularly conducive to give vigour to the Executive branch of the Constitution, I shall take the liberty to lay before you.
To enable me, Gentlemen, the more successfully to execute the arduous office wherewith your unsought and unexpected predilection hath invested me, it affects me with singular pleasure to find both Houses composed of the most respectable characters. This affords a happy presage of your zeal and unanimity, in promoting the true emolument of that state of which the uncorrupted voice of a free people has made you the guardians and protectors. As it is our indispensible duty, may it be our invariable aim, to exhibit to our constituents the brightest examples of a disinterested love for the common weal; and be inflexible in our resolution to know neither friend nor favorite, whenever his solicitations appear incompatible with the general good. In our public capacities we ought to rise superior to all private attachment or resentment, and make the intrinsic merit of every candidate for an office our sole rule for his promotion. Let us, Gentlemen, both by precept and practice, encourage a spirit of œconomy, industry and patriotism; and that public integrity and righteousness which cannot fail to exalt a nation; setting our faces at the same time like a flint against that dissoluteness of manners and political corruption, which will ever be the reproach of any people. May the foundation of our infant state be laid in virtue and the fear of God, and the superstructure will rise glorious and endure for ages. Then may we humbly expect the blessing of \*the Most High, who DIVIDES to the nations their inheritance, and SEPARATES the sons of ADAM. In fine, Gentlemen, while we are applauded by the whole impartial world for demolishing the old fabric, rotten and ruinous as it was, let us unitedly strive to approve ourselves master builders, by giving beauty, strength and stability to the new.
WILL. LIVINGSTON.
Princeton, Sept. 11, 1776.
\* Deut. xxxii. 8.
Entered in. No entries are come from the office this day.
Cleared out. None entered this day.
Yesterday the Council of Safety granted a commission, agreeable to resolve of Congress, to James Smith, commander of the letter of marque brig Rutledge, mounting twelve carriage guns, navigated by sixty men, burthen about one hundred and twenty tons, owned by Alexander Gillson.
No notice is come from the office this day.
No price current is come to hand.
Chester County, Ninth-Month 23, 1776.
ALL persons who are indebted to the estate of JOSEPH PRATT, late of Edgemont, deceased, are desired to make speedy payment to the Executors; and all persons having any just demands against said estate, are desired to produce their accounts, properly proved, that they may be settled by
ABRAHAM PRATT, and JOSEPH PRATT, Executors.
Lately published, and now selling, by ROBERT BELL, in Third-street,
(Price Five Shillings)
A POCKET ENGLISH DICTIONARY; containing Explanations of the most difficult Words, which are commonly made use of in the English Language: With a Variety of memorable Things: Collected from the most celebrated Historians, Poets, Philosophers, and Geographers.
By JOHN BROWN, M.D.
A Work useful for such as wish to understand what they read and hear, speak what they mean, and write true ENGLISH.
N. B. At said BELL's may be had Variety of Military Books, also Latin and Greek Classics.
RUN away from Speedwell Forge, Lancaster county, on Wednesday, the 4th of September instant, an English indented servant lad, named John Norman a thick well set fellow, 5 feet high, dark complexion; had on a beaver hat, brown hunting shirt, and tow trowsers; he worked in the Forge for some time, and is a very good half bloomer. Whoever takes up said servant, and secures him in any goal in this province, shall have FIVE POUNDS reward, paid by HENRY GOOD, at the Forge, or JAMES OLD, at Reading Furnace
Philadelphia, October 11, 1776.
TWENTY SHILLINGS REWARD.
RUN away, on the night of the 9th instant, an indented English servant boy, named Samuel Tutton, born at Bridgwater, in Somersetshire; about 17 or 18 years of age, 5 feet 2 or 3 inches high, pale face, with a scar on it, a little pitted with the small-pox, has sandy hair; had on an old felt hat, with a bullet hole through it, a short brown coat, with yellow buttons (which makes it singular they being all odd ones) a blue-grey waistcoat, much broken at the button holes, a pair of old Russia sheeting trowsers, old white shirt, deep blue yarn stockings, old shoes, with lorg square steel buckles in them. Whoever apprehends the said servant, and secures him, so that his master may have him again, shall be entitled to the above reward.
BENJAMIN POULTNEY.
N. B. All masters of vessels, and others, are warned not to carry him off, or conceal him, at their peril.
SIXTEEN DOLLARS Reward.
STOLEN from the subscriber, in Lampeter township, Lancaster county, on Friday, the 20th of September last, one brown coloured broadcloth coat and jacket, almost new, one turned blue coat and jacket, one pair of black velvet breeches, one mixed claret coloured waistcoat, one blue surtout coat, stained with paint, 3 fine linen shirts, and several coarse ditto, and several womens shifts, 3 stocks, one of them cambrick, and marked DM, one white metal stockbuckle, one pair of white diamond knitted cotton stockings, one pair white and blue wove ditto, one new beaver hat, cut round the edge, two castor hats, one of them torn a little and sewed with silk, and the other almost new, with white lining, one pocket-book, with a bond in it, payable by Samuel Finley to the subscriber, and also other writings, one coarse bag, &c. Whoever takes up the said goods and the thief, so that he may be brought to justice, shall have the above reward, or Eight Dollars for the goods only, paid by
ROBERT FINLEY.
Whitemarsh, September 14, 1776.
STOLEN, last night, out of the pasture of REES BELL, near Plymouth Meeting-house, a brown HORSE, with a large star, one hind foot white, and a half-penny out of one of his ears, about 14 hands high, about 10 years old, trots and canters well. Also a bright bay MARE, about 15 hands high, branded on the near buttock W.S. a natural pacer, going on 4 years old, dim sighted in the night time. Whoever secures the creatures, so that the owner may have them again, shall have Three Pounds reward, and Five Pounds if the thief is brought to conviction.
REES BELL.
CAME to the plantation of the Subscriber, in Mountjoy township, Lancaster County, the 12th of July last, TWO BLACK COWS, both giving Milk; one of them has a Bell. The Owner or Owners are desired to come, prove their Property, pay Charges, and take them away.
JAMES MOREHEAD.
Springfield, Philadelphia County, September 21, 1776.
CAME to the Plantation of the Subscriber, last Week, A red MILCH COW, she is ear-marked. The Owner is desired to come, prove Property, pay Charges, and take her away.
CHRISTIAN DONAT.
HANNAH RUSSELL carries on the trade of Stay-making, in the same place where her late husband EDWARD RUSSEL, deceased, lived, in Water-street, near Arch-street, Philadelphia, and begs the ladies of this city will be pleased to favour her with their custom, as she will always make it her business to have the work well done, and procure the best of stuff and materials for that purpose; she hopes she will be able to give satisfaction, and merit the esteem of her kind employers. She likewise begs leave to return thanks to those ladies who employed her husband in his life-time, and hopes they will continue their custom.
TO BE SOLD,
A VALUABLE plantation, situated in West-Caln township, Chester county, containing 256 acres of land, 100 of which are cleared, and in good fence, the remainder well timbered; there are 12 acres of choice meadow, and a great deal more may be made at a small expence; the whole of which may be watered from different springs; there is erected on the premises a new large well finished two story stone house, containing two spacious rooms on a floor, and a large hall, with a cellar under the whole; also a large stone kitcken at the back, with garrets, and a pump of good water at the door; a large barn, stables, &c. and a good bearing orchard; the situation is remarkably healthy, and would answer very well either for a tavern or a store, being situated on the great road leading from Lancaster to Wilmington, in an agreeable neighbourhood, and contiguous to different places of worship. The title is indisputable. For terms, apply to Mr. DOMINICK JOYCE, in Philadelphia, or to the subscriber, on the premises.
JOHN TELLES.
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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