£300 did not only take men off from acting, but even of thinking of this business-some of the most interested and patriotic Americans felt more real distress on account of this appearance of things than they had done at any one time since the commencement of the dispute." May God bless our friends in the camp and send them comfort; I mean in the eating and drinking way, is the constant wish of your very sincere friend." General Wayne being very desirous of aiding with his presence every application which he deemed proper to present to the constituted authorities of his country on That guardian angel of the United States, the beloved the subject of military affairs, after spending a short Washington, seeing, knowing, and feeling this most a- time with his family and friends in Chester county, relarming state of affairs, thus addressed "a very respec- paired to Philadelphia, where he addressed the followtable friend, and a gentleman of splendid political tal-ing playful letter to one of his favorite officers, then stationed in Virginia. ents." "I am particularly desirous of a free communication of sentiments with you at this time, because I view things very differently, I fear, from what people in general do, who seem to think the contest at an end, and that to make money and get places, are the only things now remaining to be done. I have seen, without despondency, even for a moment, the hours which America has styled her gloomy ones, but I have beheld no day since the commencement of hostilities, when I have thought her liberties in such imminent danger as at present. Our enemy behold, with exultation and joy, how effectually we labour for their benefit; and, from being in a state of absolute despair, and on the point of evacuating America, are now on tiptoe. Nothing, therefore, in my judgment, can save us, but a total reformation in our own conduct, or some decisive turn of affairs in Europe." He proceeds to say, "It is a fact too notorious to be concealed, that Congress is rent by party, that much business of a trifling nature and personal concernment withdraws their attention from matters of great national moment, at this critical period-when it is also known that idleness and dissipation take place of close attention and application. &c." He further adds "It is never consistent with the views of the speculators, various tribes of money makers, and stock jobbers of all denominations, to continue the war for their own private emolument, without considering that this avarice and thirst for gain must plunge every thing, including themselves, in one common ruin." General Wayne being fully aware of the alarming supineness which pervaded the constituted authorities of the country, and anticipating the evils which must result from the total neglect with which the comforts of the army had, heretofore, been treated, previously to his leaving camp, dispatched a few confidential officers to the seat of government, for the purpose of repre senting and opening the way for the redress of grievances, which both the officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line were suffering. One of those officers, after addressing the General very fully on the subject of the army, thus proceeds to animadvert on the state of society in the metropolis of the United States: "I am distressed, my dear General, at the present prospect, I must assure you. Nothing but party reigns in different bodies. Every thing confirms the opinion that the enemy have been long enough in this country. Permit me now to say a little of the dress, manners, and customs of the town's people. In respect to the first, great alterations have taken place since I was last here; it is all gaiety, and from what I'can observe, every lady and gentleman endeavours to outdo the other in splendor and show; the manners of the ladies are much changed; they have really, in a great measure, lost that native innocence in their manners which formerly was their characteristic, and supplied its place with what, they call, an easy behaviour, &c. The manner of entertaining, in this place, has likewise undergone its change. You cannot conceive any thing more elegant than the present taste; you will hardly dine at a table but they present you with three courses, and each of them in the most elegant manner. It is really flattering to the officers of the army the attention paid them by the people.—I have heard many of them mention it; we, I assure you, have tickets, in general, for five or six days forward; God knows we deserve it; much have we suffered, whilst these people were enjoying all the luxuries and ease of life. Philadelphia, 18th Feb. 1779. Dear Colonel:-I have been honoured with two of your favors, the one from this place, the other from Virginia; but I have never had it in my power to acknowledge them before, and I now send this as a flyer, by Major Forsyth, who passes near your winter quarters. I need not attempt to give you a description of the manners, customs, fashions and extravagance of this place, as you had a sample of them on your way through; all the difference is, that the whole rather increase than diminish; and party runs so high that all public business is at a stand, and all public bodies lulled into an unworthy torpidity, from which nothing will arouse them but the approach of the enemy. Apropos, while I am writing an express announces the burning of a great part of Elizabeth Town, with Governor Livington's house, &c., and that the enemy are in force two miles on this side of the town. Should they proceed further, I will join General Washington as a volunteer; and in the interim will, as I have done ever since my arrival, enjoy every moment that I can spare, and participate in every pleas ure this place affords; and this, too, without the least contamination. I must do the citizens the justice to say, that they have honoured me with every attention, and treated me with evey possible politeness. You know that I have a fondness for ladies' society, yet, excepting the few days which I spent with my family in Chester county, I have not been at a single tea-party since my leaving the army. I have many cards of invitation, and I mean to avail myself of them; this is an indulgence which I have some right to claim, having been sequestered nearly four years from the society of the fair, and perhaps the next fair bullet may make my quietus; but a truce to this. A Light Corps, on a respectable establishment, is about to be formed. His Excellency has lately written to me on the subject, and has offered me a command in it, which under existing circumstances, I will cheerfully accept. My best wishes to all our brother officers, and believe me, your's most respectfully, ANTHONY WAYNE. However determined as the General was to partake of the luxuries and pleasure of the day, he never for a moment lost sight of his country's welfare, especially that of the army. While he was anxiously waiting a propitious juncture to present yet more fully the grievances of the Pennsylvania troops, he received the following letter from Colonel Josiah Harmar. Millstown Camp, March 8th, 1779. Dear General:-Agreeably to your request I do myself the honour of transmiting you exact copies of the two arrangements. The latter is likely to create great uneasiness. General St. Clair has recommended a board of field officers to sit, and endeavor to settle it amongst themselves. We shall have a difficult task of it.-The officers are greatly irritated. Yesterday they presented a letter to the committee, signed in behalf of all the officers present, stating many well-founded grievances, desiring us to paint them in as striking terms as possible, and to inform the House of Assembly, unless immediate redress is granted, they would unanimously resign their commissions by the 15th April. The matter is really serious; such a step will dissolve the division. We have written to the committee of correspondence yesterday, informing them of the fixed The information contained in this and other letters was of such a serious cast, that General Wayne immediately addressed the following memorial to the Assembly of Pennsylvania: To the Honorable House of Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, in Assembly met:— The memorial of Anthony Wayne, a Brigadier General in the armies of the United States, and late Commander of the Pennsylvania Line, humbly sheweth, That a committee was appointed by your Honourable House, at your last session, to correspond with the officers of this State-that in the latter end of December, your memorialist was honoured with a letter, signed by two members of that committee, mentioning the disposition and intention of the House to place the officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line on as equal and good a footing as the troops of any other State, which letter your memorialist laid before the field officers of the line, who, through your committee, have addressed your Honourable House on the occasion, accompanied with certain resolves of the States of Maryland and Virginia in favor of their officers and troops. They also transmitted an estimate of clothing immediately necessary for the officers of the line, who were then experiencing every possible inconveniency, for want of proper and comfortable uniforms. That nothing has yet been done in the premises, owing as it is said, to an exhausted treasury; while the distresses of the officers continue to increase, and their feelings but too severely to be hurt, under the idea of being neglected by a State, whose credit and honour they have, in every vicissitude of fortune, supported with their blood. That within these five or six days the Executive council have caused their commissary to forward to camp such spirits, sugar, coffee, &c. as he purchased, which was the first ever sent in pursuance of a resolve of your Honourable House. That the quantity of these articles is so small as to afford but a very limited and partial supply, and that at nearly double the price paid by the troops of other States for goods of the same kind and quality. Your memorialist, therefore, begs leave to submit to the consideration of the Honourable House, whether it would be more proper to fix a certain price on all such articles furnished for the use of the troops of this State, and that in proportion to their pay, than to leave it to the unequal and fluctuating depreciation or appreciation of our currency, which is a very unfair criterion to determine the value of goods, especially for officers whose pay continues the same as it was at the commence ment of the war. The dignity of the state, the general benefit of the service, the justice due to the worthy officers and soldiers, whom your memorialist had once the honour to command, induce him to wish the honourable house seriously to consider the expediency of making provision for the widows of such officers and soldiers belonging to this state, as have fallen or may fall in defence of their country; and also whether gentlemen who have been long se questered from every social and tender connection, and whose health and fortunes, from the times as well as the nature of the service, are much impaired, ought now to be assured of an honourable provision during life, after they return to private citizens, perhaps grown grey in arms and covered with honourable wounds received in support of liberty and the rights of man; or whether for 27 want of such assurances they should now be necessitated to retire from the field in order to make some provision against old age. Whilst the attention of the honourable house is drawn to these essential points, the recruiting business, which is totally stopped, merits notice; for however sanguine many gentlemen may be about the contest being nearly terminated, yet common prudence dictates that the surest way to secure an honourable and advantageous peace is being well prepared for war. Your regiments are far from being complete; besides the frequent deaths and desertions, incident to all armies, require a constant supply of men to fill the vacancies occasioned by those and other causes. If in stating the many points contained in this paper any unguarded expression has dropped from the pen of your memorialist, he begs the indulgence of the honourable house to attribute it to an error of the head rather than a fault of the heart,-and to give the whole that decided consideration and effect that it may justly merit. Signed, ANTHONY WAINE. Philadelphia, 10th March, 1779. Immediately after the memorial was presented it was referred to a committee, who were instructed to associate General Wayne with them in the consideration of its details. The following letter announces the consequent proceedings: Philadelphia, 14th March, 1779. Gentlemen,-In consequence of a memorial of which the enclosed is a copy, a committee was appointed, with orders to call me to their assistance, to form some plan for putting our officers and troops on an equal footing with those of other states. We went a little further than was expected, and presented the honourable house with the enclosed resolves, which, after some debate, were carried by a great majority. Your letter of the 7th came to hand too late, but had it been in time, it would not have been presented, as threats often irritate, and sometimes defeat the ends they are intended to obtain, however, I should have retained it as a dernier resort. The recruiting business is now before the house, which has demanded a loan of money from Congress for that purpose, and for procuring clothing, &c., for the officers, who are now put on a footing equal to the British establishment, and superior to any other on the continent. You will, in my name, please to congratulate the officers and troops on the occasion, and believe me, Your's, Most affectionately, ANTHONY WAYNE, The Committee of Field Officers of the Pennsylvania line. To this communication the General received the folfollowing very gratifying, not to say flattering reply: Milestown Camp, March 27th, 1779. Sir,-The manner of expressing the grateful sense of a set of men (conscious of their inability) is harder to conclude on than is generally imagined, especially when they know they are more acknowledgements indebted, than the delicacy of the benefactor would choose to bear, where disinterested friendship is the excitement. In this dilemma of gratitude, we are really at a loss, but fully sensible of the open goodness of your heart, are confident every reasonable allowance will be made for our want of capacity and expression. We are (long since) acquainted with your endeav ours to render the troops of the State of Pennsylvania respectable and comfortable; and the recent proof you have given of your attachment to them, has rivetted the hearts of all ranks more firmly to you (if possible) than before.-Your manly and pathetic address to the assembly must (nay does) render your name more dear to the whole line, who are confident of its effect with the house. If there be a merit in keeping the present "Total amount-109,278,031 pieces of coin making $32,206,825 384.” set of officers in the service, or a benefit hereafter re-making 57,029,555 pieces of copper coin, amounting sult by it to the state, it is much owing to your deli- to $539,512 984." cate mode of proceeding on the occasion, as they were generally determined to quit the field; but as a provision is now made that will enable them to serve, we hope our friends and country will be convinced and see by our future conduct, it was no licentious or parsimonious view, but real necessity, and an apparent neglect caused the resolution. We therefore beg leave to assure you, Sir, that we have the highest opinion of your integrity and worth, and though we have not now the honour to be commanded by you in the field, we hope you will not imagine us so contracted in sentiment, as to lose any part of that sincere esteem and respect we have ever had for you as a friend, a brother and commander, and hope in a short time to see justice done to your well-known merit, and you placed in that station we are confident you can fill with honour to yourself, satisfaction to the public, and benefit to your country. Filled with these sentiments, and conscious of your deserts, we pray you to receive, through us, the most grateful acknowledgments of your services, and the sincere thanks of the whole line present, with their best wishes for your health and welfare-and in a particular manner the thanks and friendship of, dear General, Your most obedient and very affectionate humble servants, James Chambers, Col. 1st., P. Reg't. To the above are added all the names of the field ofAcers then at camp. MINT OF THE UNITED STATES. The foundation stone of the Edifice about to be erected", under the provisions of the law for extending the Mint establishment, according to a plan thereof approved by the President, was laid, on the morning of the 4th of July, at 6 o'clock, in presence of the Officers of the Mint, and a number of distinguished Citizens. Within the stone was deposited a package, securely enveloped, containing the newspapers of the day, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, of the Constitution of the United States, and of the Farewell Address of General Washington; also, specimens of the National Coins, including one of the very few executed in the year 1792, and a half dime coined on the morning of the 4th, being the first of a new emission of that coin, of which denomination none have been issued since the year 1805. Within the package was also enclosed a scroll with following inscription. "Mint of the United States." "This Institution was originally established by Act of Congress April 2d, A. D. 1792, Gen. George Washington being President of the United States, and the fol. lowing fifteen States members of the Union, viz:-New Hampshire, Masssachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky. "The operations of coinage commenced in the year 1792. The coinage effected from that period to the 1st of January, 1829, was as follows:" "Gold coins: 132,592 eagles: 1,344,359 half eagles: 39,239 quarter eagles-making 1,566,190 pieces of gold coin, amounting to $8,395,812 50." "Silver coins: 1,439,517 dollars: 41,604,347 half dollars: 1,855,629 quarter dollars: 5,526,250 dimes: 265,543 half dimes-making 50,691,286 pieces of silver coin, amounting to $23,271,499 90." "Copper coins: 50,882,042 cents: 6,138,513 half cents S. W. Corner of Chesnut and Juniper St. "An extension of the Mint establishment was authorised by Act of Congress, March 2d, 1827, John Quincey Adams being President of the United States, and the following twenty four States members of the Union, viz: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama. In fulfilment of the law for extending the Mint establishment, this foundation stone of the Edifice designed for that purpose, was laid on the 4th day of July, A. D. 1829. Gen. Andrew Jackson, being President. Architect of the Edifice. William Strickland. On the morning of the 26th the lowest state of the Thermo. was 50°. At noon of 17th the highest was at 909 for a few hours before a thunder gust came on-range in the Mo. 40°. Difference of temp. between the mornings and noons, varied, from 5° to 20°. On the 11th the highest state of the Baro. was 29.89. On the 29th the lowest was 29.15-range 74-The wind has been 9 days E. of the Meridian 9 days W. of it, 7 days S. and 5 days N. This month has been but 3° colder than June 1828,and 70 warmer than last May. The former part of June 1828, was cold and wet, the reverse took place this month, for the latter part has been cold and showery. There have been but 7 days in this month that the temperature at noon, was above summer heat, 1829.] EARLY HISTORY. 29 FROM MANUSCRIPTS IN POSSESSION OF THE AMER. PHIL. SOCIETY. We have now the pleasure to commence the publication of documents with which we have been favoured agreeably to the resolution of the American Philosophical Society. We purpose allotting a department in our paper for these documents and to designate it by the title "From manuscripts in possession of the Historical Committee of the Amer. Phil. Society." A PETITION OF THE MAYOR, RECORDER, ALDERMEN AND COMMONALLITY OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA-January 19, 1710. To the General Assembly of the Province of Pensilvania the petition of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Commonallity and other Inhabitance of the City of Philadelphia Humbly sheweth THAT being Devided from the County has Rendered Devise nessessary laws of this Govt. Useless to this City and Experiance here, as well as the example of other places shews that where a multitude Resorts togeather there spetiall Provison for suppressing Vice and Establishing good Orders in a Perticular manner is found absolutely needfull. which a former Assembly of this Province wisely considering Essay'd to supply some years since by law. But theire Endeavours Proved Ineffectuall, which Defect has bin accompanied with many Evils and Inconveniences too Troublesome here to inumerate. as the groth of Vice & Imorality, and the Decay of the Publick Credit (things of a Discouraging Nature and dangerous Consequence to Place and People) Both which we humbly conceive is only Retrievable by a law Placing a Discretionary Power in the Mayor Recorder Aldermen and Commonallity of this City; In such sort and manner as you in wisdom shall think fitt; for the more Effectuall Suppressing all vitious and Disorderly Practise, by such Rules and ordinance with moderate Penalty's as they from time to time shall find needfull. And also to Inable them to Build a Watch house and Cage, erect a work house: to Imploy the Poor) vagrant and mend the streets make and Repair Warfs and Bridges &c. By Leveing money on the Inhabitance and Estates, of all Persons within the limitts of the same; for Defraying the public necessary charge thereof, as in Justice and Prudence the Case may require (allway having Due Regard to ye Laws of ye Countrey) for which we become your supplycants and humbly pray a Speedy Redress, which will more strictly Ingage your Petitioners as in Duty bound. Philadelphia, 19th January 1710. Will Allen Leeson Loftus John Warder Caleb Jacob James Wood Matthew Robinson George Blumly Robert Burrough Johannis Nys Ab'm Bickley Peter Stretch Caleb Ransted Jo'n Warder (Signed) Thomas Bradford Tho. Murray Samuel Wamrise Wm. Fforrest Salomon Cresson Ed. Noble Chas. Sober Arch'd Starr Alexander Badcock Robert Teap? Presented to the Assembly 11 mo. 25th (Feb'y. ?)—leave given to bring in a bill. In 1705—a law was passed in which it is enacted "that no persons shall be capable to vote in the house, or sit there during any debate until he shall make and subscribe the following declarations and profession of his Christian belief." It was to be done at every succeeding assembly-"betwixt the hours of nine in the morning and four in the afternoon, by every member at the table in the middle of the house, and while a full house of representatives is there sitting, with their speaker in his chair; and during the making and subscribing thereof all business and debates shall cease."-It was to be recorded in Rolls or books prepared for the purpose-for which each member was to pay the Clerk "five pence and no more."-It was to be first read and subscribed by the speaker, and after him by every member. The following is the QUALIFICATION—from the original in possession of the Committee of the Society. We whose names are hereur.to subscribed elected Representatives by the ffreemen of the respective Countys in this Province of Pennsylvania and City of Philadelphia in pursuance of the Law and the Prop'ys. Charter to serve in assembly, do each of us for himself sincerely promise, and solemnly declare before GOD and the World, That we will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to Queen Anne. And we do solemnly profess and declare, that we do, from our heart, abhor, detest and renounce, as impious and heretical, that damnable doctrine and position, that Princes excomunicated or deprived by the Pope, or any Authority of the See of Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any other whatsoever. And we and each of us do declare, that no foreign Prince, person, prelate, state or potentate hath, or ought to have, any power, jurisdiction, superiority, preheminence or authority ecclesiastical or spiritual, within the realm of England, or the Dominions thereunto belonging. And we and each of us do solemnly and sincerely, in the presence of God, profess, testify and declare, that we do believe that in the sacrament of the Lord's supper there is not any transubstantiation of the elements of Bread and Wine into the body and blood of Christ, at or after the consecration thereof, by any person whatsoever; and that the invocation or adoration of the Virgin Mary, or any other Saint, and the sacrifice of the mass, as they are now used in the Church of Rome, are superstitious and Idolatrous. And we and each of us for himself do solemnly, in the presence of God, profess, testify and declare, that we do make this declaration and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words read unto us as they are commonly understood by English protestants, without any evasion, equivocation or mental reservation whatsoever and withont any dispensation already granted us for this purpose by the Pope, or any other authority or person whatever, or without any hope of any such dispensation from any person or authority whatsoever, or without thinking we are or may be acquitted before God, or man, or absolved of this declaration, or any part thereof, although the Pope, or any other person or persons, or power whatsoever, should dispense with or annull the same, or declare that it was null or void from the Beginning. And we and every one of us do profess faith in God the father, and in Jesus Christ, his eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit; one God, blessed for evermore; and do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New-Testament, to be given by divine inspiration. Chester Co. Daniel Williamson Samuel Lewis (Levis) Henry Lewis Richd. Hayes John Hood Thomas Pearson Bucks Co. Joshua Hoopes Saml. Darke Saml. Beaks Ezra Croasdill EARLY SETTLEMENTS ON DELAWARE. English Records concerning the early settlements on Delaware River-1664 to 1682; copied from the Records in the Secretary of states office at Harrisburg, and presented to the Historical and Literary Committee of the American Philosophical Society, by Redmond Conyngham, Esquire, May 26, 1829. Philadelphia Co. compared with the original remaining in the said office And that according to the best of his skill & understanding he has translated the same into English as is wrote over against the Dutch and that the Certificates by him made under the same are true In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the province of New York to be hereunto affixed Given at Fort George in New York this Twenty ninth day of November and the Thirteenth Year of his majes By his Excellency's Command W BURNET J. S. BOBIN D Secry By his Excelleney William Burnet Esq Captain Gentys Reign (1774.) GOVERNOR STUYVESANTS FIRST LETTER. To All to whom these presents shall come Greeting Right Honourable Sirs Whereas we have received inKnow Yee that on the day of the date hereof Isaac telligence that about three days since there arrived an Bodin Esq Deputy Secretary of the province of New English man of war or ffrigatt in the bay of North River York personally came and appeared before me and made belonging to the new netherlands and since that three oath on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God that the more are arrived by what order or pretence is yet unwriting hereto annexed purporting copies of several known to us and having received various reports conmatters of record relating to Delaware are true and ex-cerning their arrival upon the coast and not being apt to act copys & was by him this deponent carefully examin-entertain any thing of prejudice intended against us ed and diligently compared with the original records re- Have by order of the Commander in chief of the New maining in the secretary's office of this province And Netherlands thought it convenient and requisite to send further Know Yee that on the day of the date aforesaid the Worshipfull (the bearers hereof) that is to say The Abraham Gouverneur Gent Sworn interpreter of the Worshipful John Declyer one of the chief council The province of New York also came and appeared before reverend John Megapolenses minister Paul Lendelvanme and made oath on the holy Evangelists of Almighty degrist major of this town and have joyned with them God that the Dutch writings beginning from fo 30 till Mr. Samuel Megapolenses Doctor in Physick whom by fol 45 inclusive hereunto annexed on the one side and these presents have appointed and ordered that with the English on the other side purporting several mat- the utmost respect and civility they do desire and enters of record relating to Delaware (in Dutch called treat of the Commander in chief of the aforesaid men of Zuyt Rivier) are due and exact copies as they are en- war or ffrigotts the intent and meaning of their aptered into the Dutch Books & papers remaining in theproach and continuing in the harhour of Nayally withsecretaries office of this province of New York and were out giving any notice to us or first acquainting us with by him this Deponent carefully examined & Diligently their design which action hath caused admiration in us |