nate man, and declared their intention of putting him to death. Having also laid hold of Meff. Buckeridge, Sims, Thomas Storey, and Drinker, they paraded through the city with their victims, attended by drums and fifes, founding the rogues march, "O poor Tory!" The cavalcade proceeded to the houfe of Mr Wilfon, an attorney, who had pleaded in behalf of Mr Wirt, and committed the most violent outrages. Mr Wilfon was at dinner with feveral perfons of charac ter whom he had invited, when the mob fired into his house, burst open the doors, and attacked him and his guelts. A party of the Philadelphia light horfe, which is compofed of men of the greateft opulence in the city, immediately affembled, and fired upon the rioters. The falute was returned; and a skirmish enfued, in which four or five men were killed, and a number wounded. Among the former was Capt. Campbell, of the light horfe; and among the latter, Gen. Mifflin, Robert Morris, and Sharp Delany, of the fame corps. Three white children and a negro boy were killed while beholding the fcuffle. The whole city was in the grea eft confufion and confternation; and it is probable that more blood would have been fpilt, had not Jofeph Reed, Prefident of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, appeared at the head of the light horfe, and harangued the combatants, whom he earnestly intreat ed to defift from committing any acts of hoftility; and promifed, upon his honour, that if the populace would wait upon him the next morning, he would oblige the light horfemen to give ample fatisfaction for the depredations they had committed upon them. Soothed by this rhetoric, the mob dispersed." In a Bofton paper of Nov. 4. there is an account of a great mob rifing at Philadelphia, compofed chiefly of farmers and country-men, on account of the regulations made in the price of provifions. The depretiation of the Congrefs dollars advances fo rapidly there, that if matters go on as they have done lately, the prefent price of them, which is fifty for one hard dollar, will be fixty or feventy for one in a month or fo; and no body can blame the country-men and farmers if they are diffatisfied with a regulation that fo materially affects them as thefe regulations of prices muft. Their party gained many profelytes even in the town, and they made the principal attack upon VOL. XLII. fome of the leading men among the pro vincial regulators; one of whom, fufpecting a vifit from them, got fome affiftance, to the number of 200, into his houfe; and when the infurgents came, they found them ready to receive them. The mob was quiet a little at first, but at last feveral hot were fired into the house; which was returned with fuccefs, for feveral of the mob were killed. A party of the horse-volunteers was at laft fent for to prevent further mifchief; and upon their approaching, with fome of the leading men of the town among them, the mob difperfed; but not before feven or eight of them were killed on the fpot by the firing from the houfe, and a great deal of mischief done in the town. there is a meffage from the Supreme In the New-York Mercury of Dec. 3. Executive Council to the General Affembly of Pennsylvania, dated Nov. 13. and figned Jofeph Reed, President, viz. "Gentlemen of the General Affembly, THE fhort space of time which has elapfed fince our addrefs to the late affembly, has produced but few events fuffici ently interesting to become objects of your attention. The advanced feafon of the year feems almoft to forbid the hope of any thing more decifive. But when we look back, and take a general review of the operations and events of the campaign, we thall find fufficient caufe to acknowledge the favour and goodness of Providence, and to congratulate you on the happy state of public affairs. While the efforts of the enemy have been feeble, fpiritlefs, and indefenfive, our defensive systems have been supported with firmness and effect in every part of America; and when it has been departed from, the bravery, discipline, and good conduct of our officers and foldiers, have been eminently confpicuous. The feasonable and generous affiflance of the Count d'Estaing, and the gallant force under his command, though not attended with all the fuccefs which our fanguine expectations fuggefted [41.716.], may juftly be reckoned among the happy events of the year; as it has difconcerted the plans of the enemy, been attended with fuccefs in capturing many of their veffels, and is in every respect a freth proof of the magnanimity and attention of our allies, which will justly endear them 26 America: Pennsylvania council to the affembly. them to every fincere lover of his country. The evacuation of Rhode island, the acquifition of which was deemed by the enemy an object of fuch great importtance at a former period, is at once a proof of their weaknefs and apprehenfion, and, we truft, a prelude to their total evacuation or expulfion from this country. The expedition under Gen. Sullivan Our domeftic tranquillity has been in- The inftitution of a court of errors, Vol. 42. from public view. The time appears to The counterfeiting the currency of the we The fupplies of the army, though attended with very heavy expence, have hitherto been able to compafs, fo as to draw the grateful acknowledgements of the troops for this juft attention to their neceffities: We fhall, in a few days, forward, both to officers and men, fo complete a fupply of cloathing, both in quantity and quality, as will enable them to meet the rigours of the approaching feafon with eafe and chearfulnefs. But while we contemplate, with grateful fatisfaction, the general profpect of public and domeftic affairs, we cannot help expreffing our concern and apprehenfions on the ftate of public credit. The depreciation of the currency, and its fatal confequences to the honour and interest of America, feem now fo generally felt and acknowledged, that we truft a fafe and fure foundation is laid for the fuccefs of any meafures which may be adopted to check this growing and alarming evil. How far any ftate can fafely adopt a feparate fyftem on a matter of fo great and general concern, we cannot venture to decide; but we can have no doubt the reprefentatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania will countenance and promote every meafure that will tend to establish the public faith, and fix it upon the folid bafis of truth and juftice. We fhall think our time and labour devoted to the most valuable purposes, if we render the public any fervice on this important point; and, in every other, as far as as depends on us, to forward the bufinefs of the state with difpatch, utility, and mutual fatisfaction.' "New York, Nov. 13. The week before last thirty-five loyalifts, fome of whom were under fentence of death, made their escape from Albany gaol, and eluded the vigilant pursuit of the rebels. Since the commencement of this wicked rebellion, eighteen perfons have been publicly executed in the city of Albany, for perfevering in their loyalty: fome have perished in their gaol through the extreme rigour with which they were treated, and want of the neceffaries of life, which their friends durft not bring, for fear of being shut in to keep them company; inftances of that kind having frequently happened." "London, Jan. 17. The American Congrefs have confifcated the eftate of a Mr Jamiefon in Pennsylvania, he having been detected in carrying on a correfpond. ence with an officer in Sir Henry Clinton's army. Mr Jamieson attempted to make his efcape, but was taken on fhipboard, thrown in prifon, and it is thought he will lofe his life." "New York, Nov.10. Advice is received from Albany, that on the ad inft. Sir John Johnfon, with Col. Butler, and Capt. Jofeph Brandt, at the head of 1500 loyalifts and Indian warriors, furprifed and took Fort Stanwix, in which there were only at the time 100 American troops, the greateft part of the garri. fon having been drawn out to affift in demolishing the Indian corps and wig wams." In the Madrid Gazette of Dec. 31. there is an account of the taking of the three British forts on the Miffilippi by the Spaniards. According to this acCount the Governor of Louifiana, Don Bernardo de Galvez, on being informed of the rupture between G. Britain and Spain, formed an enterprise against the British fettlements in his neighbourhood. He began to collect his troops on the 7th of Auguft; and, of old corps, recruits, militia, Mulattoes, free Negroes, American and Indian volunteers, &c. formed a body of 1427 fighting men. But by the time they arrived at Manchack, an English poft, they were redu ced more than one third by ficknefs. On the 7th of September he furprised, and took by affault, the fort of Manchack; making prifoners one captain, one lieutenant, and eighteen foldiers; a fubaltern and five men having efcaped. Thence he proceeded to Batan-rouge, which was tolerably well fortified, had 14 guns mounted, with 400 regular troops, and 100 armed inhabitants. Judging it impoffible to take this fort by torm, he refolved to batter it. Having finished his trenches and battery, his ar tillery began to play on the 21ft of September; and at half past three in the afternoon, the fort was fo much damaged tion; which was granted, they to march that the garrifon demanded a capitula out with the honours of war, and to be prifoners of war, and that the fort called Panmure, in the country of the Natches, with its garrifon, confisting of 80 grenadiers, thould furrender at the fame time: but this poft was evacuated. By this expedition is reduced to his Catholic Majefty's obedience, (fays this gazette), a country of 450 leagues, the most fertile of thofe which are watered by the Miflifippi, and where the beft fettlements are, the natives being occupied in the fur-trade. The Spaniards loft only one man killed and two wounded; that of the English not known: but 550 regulars were made prifoners, including twentyeight officers, among whom were one lieutenant-colonel, five captains, ten lieutenants, &c.; and they took eight boats laden with provifions, and feveral barks, with upwards of fifty failors. "One may judge (fays the gazettewriter) of the importance of this expedition, by the contents of two letters intercepted by Don Bernardo de Galves, one written Sept. 9. by order of Maj.-Gen. Campbell, and the other Oct. 1. by Brig. Stuart. Both are addreffed to Capt Forftel, commandant of the fort of Panmure, and the district of Natches: he is order ed to keep himfelf in readinefs with his company, and the inhabitants of the neighbouring parts, to join, at Manchack, Lt-Col. Dickfon, commandant of the fort of Batan-rouge, in order to act in concert against the perfidious and implacable enemies (the Spaniards); and he is informed of the preparations of thefe two chiefs of his nation, to surprise, by hoftilities, these fame Spaniards, before the declaration of war could come to their knowledge. With that view they difguifed their preparations with divers pretences, giving out that they were only meant against the Ilionois. In the fame manner they deceived the nation of the Chactaws, and other In D 2 dian America: Affairs in Jamaica. 28 dian favages, to draw them over to the English party, and engage them to ftrike a blow on the Spaniards, promifing them for their recompence all the booty they fhould make. Thefe ftrokes prove with what infincerity the English chiefs acted in that country, to commit hoftilities against the provinces of Louisiana. then with the greatest reafon that we Congratulate ourselves in having prevent ed them, and attacked their own fettlements, thus caufing to mifcarry the project they had formed of falling upon ours unawares." We go now to the West Indies. It is About the end of last fummer an univerfal concern prevailed for the fate of Jamaica. Some, indeed, affected to ridicule the apprehenfion of an attack on that island, as they likewife did the defign of an invafion of this country; but the lapfe of a few months difcovered, that both the one and the other were within the views of the enemy. Indeed it fortunately happened, that where the danger was moft imminent, the intention of the enemy was fooneft obferved. The formidable force affembled at Hifpaniola excited the jealoufy of Gen. Dalling; and that wary governor took care to provide against any sudden furprife of Jamaica, by embodying the militia, and establishing martial law; and, in conjunction with Sir Peter Parker, the commander in chief of the navy, did not fail to apprife the commanders in chief, both naval and military, at New York, of their critical fituation. On the 13th of Auguft, Gen. Dalling acquainted Sir Henry Clinton, by letter, with the ftrength of Count d'Estaing, and his weaknefs to oppofe him; and of the little hope of preferving the ifland, without the fpeedieft and strongest reinforcements to oppose him. About the fame time, Sir Peter Parker acquainted Adm. Byron of the intelligence he had received of the intentions of that enterprifing officer Count d'E. ftaing, and of the readiness he was in to put his defigns in execution; that at Cape François fix flags were then flying; and that Count d'Estaing, with a ftrong detachment from his fquadron, was ex. pected at Jamaica in three or four days. On the 18th of the fame month, the fame Admiral acquainted Adm. Byron of the arrival of Count d'Eftaing at HiSpaniola the 31ft of July, with twentySx fins of the line, ten or twelve frigates, board, On the 16th of September, Sir H. On the 17th of September, Vice-Adm. Arbuthnot, at New York, acquainted Vice-Adm. Byron, then on the WeftIndia ftation, with his having fent the Ruffel of 74 guns, the Europa and Raifonable of 64 guns each, being the whole force there, or likely to be there for some time, as convoy to the reinforcement under Gen. Cornwallis; and requesting that thofe fhips might be returned the moment the fervice in which they were employed was over, as the fafety of New York depended upon it: at the fame time he gives him to understand, that two frigates are much wanted. To the fame purpose he wrote to Sir Peter Parker; adding, that to man the Ruffel he had been obliged to unman all the floops and fire-fhips in the port of New York. But mark the fudden reverse of fortune: The ifland of Jamaica, that was in fo critical a fituation about the middle of September, on the 6th of November was iffuing a proclamation for enlisting volunteers to go upon an expedition, by which thofe who inlifted might acquire riches to themselves, and render effential fervice to their country. This was no doubt, the expedition against Omoa: the fuccefs of which, and its importance, were announced in our last volume [41.666.]. The day before this proclamation appeared, a fleet of transports arrived from Cork, under convoy of his Majefty's fhip the Leviathan, which had been detained near a month at St Kitt's, waiting the event of the intended attack by Count d'Estaing. - Such were the contents of thofe curious letters from the Jamaica Gazette, which filled the papers about the middle of the month of January. "London, Fan. 31. Monf. de Sartine has tranfmitted to the committee of proprietors proprietors interested in the island of Grenada two arrets of the French King's council of ftate; one concerning the debts of the inhabitants of the island of Grenada, the other for the adminiftration of juftice in that island; and at the fame time has obligingly written to Meff. Scott and Pigott, delegated by the com mittee to tranfact this butinefs, the following letter. "Verfailles, Dec. 23. 1779. I acquaint you, Gentlemen, that the King has ordained and enacted, by two arrets of his council, refpecting the ordinances iffued by the Count de Durat [41. 559, 60.], dated the 7th, 10th, and 19th of July laft. One of thefe arrets enacts, that the debts, titles, and claims, reciprocally fubfifting between the inhabitants of Grenada and the subjects of his Britannic Majefty, fhall be preferved and maintained entire and inviolate. The otner, at the fame time that it orders that the French laws fhall be obferved in the said island, ascertains the rules, the times, and the forms, according to which juftice fhall be there adminiftered, by the courts of law which his Majefty has thought proper to establish. The arrangements which I have above communicated to you, annul the late ordinance of Monf. De Durat, of the 7th of September laft. His Majefty has given orders to the adminiftrators to abolish the office of confervators, eftablished by that ordinance, and to leave the attornies of the abfent English proprietors in the full and entire power of acting for their conftituents." On the receipt of the above letter, the committee of proprietors held a meeting on Friday fe'ennight, and came to the following refolution: "That it may be neceffary, for the ease of the minds of all concerned, to take notice, that although the firft of the faid arrets of his Most Christian Majesty, of the 12th of December laft, grants to the inhabitants of Grenada a fufpenfion, until a peace, of the payment of debts due by them to British subjects, residing in Britain, or in any other part of his Britannic Majefty's dominions, and alfo of fuch debts due to the subjects of the United Provinces of Holland, as are guaranteed by any of his Britannic Majesty's fubjects, and confequently the faid inhabitants cannot be compelled to do juftice to the creditors; yet it leaves them at full liberty to pay their faid debts, without incurring any penalty; whereas the ordinar-ce of the Count de Durat the 7th of July laft, abfolutely prohibited them to pay any fuch debts, directly or indirectly, under pain of difobedience, milirary execution, and confifcation of their estates.” His Majefty has alfo given orders, that the abfent English proprietors may difpofe, as they think proper, of the produce of their plantations; under this exception only, that the importations and exportations fhall be on board of French veffels; or, in cafe of neceffity, on board of neutral veffels, which fhall depart from and return to France. Finally, his Majefty's intention is, that the English proprietors, if there are any who A have been difpoffeffed of their eftates by force, shall be reinftated in their poffef fions by authority; referving to thofe who may have committed the violence, the right of making good their claims before the courts of juftice; which recourfe fuch of the English shall alfo have, as having formerly acquired poffeffions by force, may have been in their turn forcibly difpoffeffed upon the conqueft of Grenada. You will be convinced, by these arrangements of the juftice, the beneficence, and moderation, which characterize the King, and from which examples to the contrary have not influenced him to depart. I am, Gentlemen, your very humble and very obedient fervant, DE SARTINE, method of making Artificial Loadstones. By Mr Benjamin Wilson, F. R. S. THE method of making artificial load ftones, as it was difcovered and practifed by the late Dr Gowin Knight, being unknown to the public, and I myfelf having been frequently prefent when the Doctor was employed in the most material steps of that curious procefs, I thought a communication thereof would be agreeable to you and the philofophic world. The method was this: Having provided himself with a large quantity of clean filings of iron, he put them into a large tub that was more than one third filled with clean water; he then, with great labour, worked the tub to and fro for many hours together, that the friction between the grains of iron by this treatment might break off such smaller parts |