n'ere repeatedly clr'ven withgreat ftatrgliter Finding no great efFecft from our lire, and corifu fion beginning to spread from the great of men who were falling in all quarters, it be came neeeflary to try what could be done bv tilt bayonet. Lieutenant Colonel Darke was accord - jngly ordered to make a charge with part of the second line, and ro turn the lefci'atii. .f the ere my—this was executed vvitli great fpirit—ijiein dians instantly gave way, and were driven b:.ck tliree or four hundred yards ; but for want of a foffieient number of rifle-men to poifue this ad vantage, they soon returned, and the troops were obliged to give back in their turn. At rbis mo ment they had entered our camp by the Icftftr.rk, having jmflied back the troops tint were posted there. Another charge was made here bv |he second regiment, Butler's and Clarke's battali ons, with equal effect, and it was repeated seve ral times, and al ways with success ; in all of them many men were loft, and particularly tin which, with so rhw troops, was a lois altogether irremediable.—ln that just spoke of, tnsde.bv the 2 fl regiment, and Butler's battalion, Major But ler was dangeronfly wounded, and every officer of the fee Aid regiment fell, except three, one of whom, Mr. Grewton, was fliot through the bodv. Our artillery being now silenced, and all the poli ce rs killed, except Capt. Ford, who was verv \Ud ly wounded, and more than half of the arinyfral len, being cut off from the road, it becajne i;«:ef fary ro attempt rhe regaining it, and to in aJe a retreat, if poilible—to this purpose the rertiflns of the at my were formed, as well as circuinllan res would admit, towards rhe right of the en campment, from which by the way of the fecfend line, another charge.was madejupon the-enemy, as if with the design to turn their right flank, but, in fa&, to gain the road. This was effected, and, as soon as it was open, the militia rook along it, followed by the troops, Major Clarke, with his battalion, covering the rear. The retreat, in these circuin (lances, was, you may be sure, a ve ry precipitate one—it was, in facfr, a flight—The camp and the artillery were abandoned ; but that was unavoidable, for not an horse was left ajive, to have drawn it off, had it otherwise been prac ticable. But the most difgracefnl part of the bu ness is, that the greatest part of the men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the ptirfnic, (which continued about four lailes) had ceased. 1 found the road strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to remedy it ; for having had all my horses killed, and being mounted upon one that could nor be pricked out of a walk, I could nor get forward myfelf; and the orders I sent forward, eitherto halt the front, or to prevent the men frotn parting with their arms, were unattended to. Tli- rjcte continued quite to Fort-JeffeiTon, 29 miles, which was reached a little after fun fetiing. Tbe-a&ion began about half an hour before fun-rife, and the retreat was attempted at half an hour after nine o'clock. I liave not yet been able to get returns of the killed and wounded; but Majoi-Genernl Butler, Lieut. Cel. Oldham of the militia, Major Fergus Heart, and Major. Clarke, are auiong the former. Col. Sargent, ray Adjutant-General, Lieut. Col. Darke, Lieut. Col. Gibfon, Major Butler, and the Viscount Malartie, who me as an aia-de-carnp, are among the latter, apd a gjreat number of captains and subalterns in both. 1 have now, Sir, fini/hed my melancholy tale— a tale that will be felt sensibly by every one that has sympathy for private distress, or for public misfortune. ! I have nothing. Sir, to lay to the charge of the troops but rheir want of discipline, which, from the short tinpe they had been in service, it ; was impoilible they fiiould have acquired, and which rendered it very difficult, when they were thrbwn into confufion, to reduce them again to 01 der, and is one reason why the loss has fallen so bea vily upon the officers, who (lid every thing in their power to effetft it; neither were my own exer tions wanting, but worn down with illness, and fuffering under a painful disease, unable either to mount or difmoiiTit an horse withoiit afliftance, they were not so great as they otlierwife would, and perhaps, to have been.—We tfere Overpowered by nu>iibers ; but it is no more than justice to observe, that though composed of so many different species of trnops, the iitjmoft hai tnony prevailed ihrotigh the whole army during the campaign. At Fort Jcfferfon, I found the firft regiment, ha<l returned from the feVvicc sent upon without either overtaking thede fcrtefs, or meeting the convoys of proyilioni ] a ni not certain, Sir, whether I ought to coniuler the abfe nee of this regiment from the field of ac tion fortunate, or otherwise—l incline to think K w as fortunate ; for 1 very much doubt whether, had itA>een in the adtion, the fortune of the day turned : and, if it had not, thetrinmph enemy would have been more complete, "•"•nd the country would have begn destitute of every means of defence. ' • akin* - v-w of the firuation of our br-jken tro/v-s at Fort 'terlon, and Hit there was no provisions in the Fort I called UOOT> the heU.offi.cers, viz. Lieut. Col. Darke, Major Harnn wnck, > ytn Zcigier and Major G.iither, together wiiii the Adjutant tor their advice, what would be proper further to be ■'n and it ivas their unanimous opinion, thatthe addition ot the '■it regiment, unbroken as ii war, did not put the army on lo re °f I,|t a '"oting a. It was in the moiiiing, becaule a great part , " u, " s nnw unaimed—that it had been then found unequal to enemy ; and thould they come on, whit Ii was probable, would 'It ouiid so again—.That the tiaopscould not be thrown into the fori, ooth because it was so small. and that ihere were no provi )">"> in it That prowifions were known to be upon the road, at i"i dill.inceof one, or at mod two matches—That theietore it v> ould be proper to move. without lot's of tune, to meet the provi sions, when lhein en might have the fooncr an opaortumty ot some rcfieijipcnt, and than a proper detachment mj'ght be lent back with it to have it. fafely deposited in the fort. This advice was accepted, and the army put iii m jiiun again at to o'clock, and marched al! night, and the fuccecdtng day met with a quantity of Hour— part of it was diflributed immediately—part taken back 10 supply the army on the march to Fort-Hamitton, and the remain der (about fifty horfe-loacjsj sent forward to Knrt-Jeffei son—the uext clay a drove of cattle was met with for the lame place, and 1 ■'ive information that both got in : The wounded w ho bad been ' It at that place, w ere ordered to be brought here by the return horses. 1 have faid,Sir, in a former part of th'» letter, that we were ovei powered by numbers : of that, hewever, 1 have no other evi j ence than -the weight of the fire, which was always a most dead ly one, and generally delivered from the ground, of the ene my flic wing ihemft-ives on foot, except when they Were charged ; and that in a few minutes our whole camp, which extended above ihije hundred and fifty yaids in length, was entirely fuirounded and attacked on all quarters. The loss, Sir, the public has fufhined bv the fall of so many of ficers, particularly general Butler«nd majqr FcrgufonJ cannot be too much regretted ; but it is a ciicumftafice that will alleviate the misfortune m some measure, that all of them fell moft.;gallantly, Wing their duty. I have had very particular obligations to many »l them, as well as to ihefurvivors, hut to none more than to co lonel Sargent—He has difcharj-ed thtr various duties of his office with zeal, with exaftrtefs and with intelligence, and on all occa lions afforded me every afliflance in hit power, which I have also experienced from my aid-de-camp, lieutenant Denny, and the ■ lc.ouut-.Malarrie, forved with me jn that itauon vo lunteer. With every sentiment of refp¥© and regard. I have the honor to be, Sir, vout most obedient fervan „ . ARTHUR St. CLAIR. Ihc Honorable Major-Genera] Kno;:, Secretary of War. P. S. Some orders that had been given to Colonel Oldham ri ver night,'and which were of much confcquence, -were not exe-. cuied ; and some very material intelligence was communicated by Captain Slough to' General Butler, in the course of the night before the afbon, which was never imparted to me, nor did I hear of it until after my arrival here. I.ijl of the killed and wounded Officers in 'the Battle of the sth Koverrfrer KILLED. Major-General. Richard Butler. L:eutirant-Co!onel Oldham. Kentucky militi*. Majors, Fergufon, C,lSrk,' and Heart. Captains. Bradtord, Phelon, Kirkwcod, Price, Van Sweyringen, Tipton, Smiih, Purdy, Pratt, Guthrie,Cribbs, and Newman. Lieutenants. Spear, Warren, Boyd, M'Math, Burgess, Kelfo, Read, Little, Hopper, and Lickens. Erjtgvs, Cobb, Balcb, Chace, Turner, Wilson, Brooks, Beattv. and Purdy. Qjiart^y t oJ{err. Reynolds and Ward. Adjutant, Andcifon. ■DefiOr. Grnffon, WOUNDED. Lieutevant-Cbfor.efs. Gibion, arid Darke. Adjutant-General. Sargenr. Major. Butler. Captains. Doyle, Truman, Ford, Buchannen, Dark?, and Slough. Lieutevauts. Greaton, Davidfon, De Butts, Puce, Morgan, M"Cre&. Lvfleanci Thomplon. Erijig w. Bines. Adjutants. Whistler afnd Crawford. The Vifcounl Maiartie, who acted as i a voluuteer Aid du Camp. [The above Lift was forwarded by r-Mafter Hodsrdon at Fort-Waihipgton, to the Secretary of War.J The amendments proposed by the Senate t»the Reprefentatii Bill were taken into conlideiatvon. A motion to agreee to the fir It amendment, which is to encrea the ratio from 30 to 33 thoufanci, occasioned a lengthy debrf which continued till pall 3 o'clock, when an adjournment bein called for, precluded any decision on the motion. TUESDAY, Decfmcer 13, ScvrrJ petitions were read and rcterred to the Sccre'avy at \l'a A petition from j. F. proprietor or a gMs manu ac tory in the State ot Maryland, praying the patronage of rhe go vernment to his manufacture ; was rend and laid on the table. A memorial ot the Illinois and Wjbafh land companies, was presented by Mr. Hartley—read and referred to a feleft com-j mittee, ccmltftmg of Meli'rs. Livermore, Fitzfimons and Clark. I A ni-jffage was received trom t e President of the United States by Mr. Secretary Lear—communicating a plan of the city, laid out as the permanent feat of the government of the United States. A message from the Senate by Mr. Secretary Otis, informed the Hou'.e that they have palfed a bill lor the relief of David Cook and Thomas Campbell, with amendments. The amendments ol the Senate to the Representation bill, were again taken into consideration—Aster foroe debate Jelpefting or der—The House went into a committee of the wjjole, on thofej alMndmtllls. i A motion by Mr. Sedgwick, to amend striking out one after the word DdjWlrc, for the puipofc of iq. {erting two, induced a lengthy debate. The question being at length taken, was negat/ved, twenty-om members only riling in favor of ir. The qiieilion for agreeing to the firft amendment of the Senate, being then put, was negatived, 31 to 30. The ottter amendment was mt-erly literal, and was agreed to. The committee then rose and reported accordingly, and tb< Hruiff adionrned. N E W-Y O R K, December p. On WedTiefday night lalt, about ten o'clock, a most alarming fire broke out in the large work fltop in John-it reet, belonging to Mr. Hallet, Coach Maker, Broad Way, which entirely con sumed the fame. By the united exertions of all ranks of citizens, the Theatre (which caught fire several times) and the adjoining buildings were preferred. Fortunately no lives were lolt. The person who exerted hiinfelf so much on the top of the Theatre, was David Burgher of this city. 263 Philadelphia, December 1-4. to ndvevcifoment, riie lecfvftf on I'.arc nnd ( by the Hon. Jav.es Wi lso K , L. L. D. co/mtfcnccd* Uft Monday evening, at the College in this City-. -The Le&wos of this Genth man, last Winter, Were entenain-n,* arid inftr.n&ivf —Good re .w sons may be fuggelVd why tho-fc of the pr-efcni T- ifoa may prove more highly inteieftipe. On Friday theo l '* mft. the Governo** t' ♦ met Houles of the Leg>i future in the Senate V'bamlu *', and communi cated his Speech, oil the bunneOj of t'We prefetit I*ftion.1*ftion. Anion'** otherobjeOs contemplated in thrspeeh. was, the opening of the navigation of the Sntouphlannah ; plan for rormtnga commnn - cation by water, witrj few eafv places, - from the Ohio to Lie rivers (particularly Delaware) 'sifting into the Atlantic Oct<tn iiej£/<r iarion b<? -f w- 4- 'u .ilu-H Jirs ni Pennfvlv:no j and Maryland for the rurpofe or uniting (he navigation of the Dela waieand Chcfape 'kt: bays, and thereby, opening a new avenue from thisptrt 10 the,ocean. A Connc&icut paper inform*, that dtewa prize o* 10, coo dollars in t 1 Maffachiifects Lottery. It was the proptit-y of the Commonwealth. Of fh/- 68,664 neg'tocsthat have revolted in Hifpanioh, 30.000 mav be de«m«d, loil, Jirher by being actually kiHed, or besoming wild in mountains to which there is no access,. The value of each ofthefe negroes may He estimated at 2500 livres each,which makes the whole loss in revolted negroes, 75,000,000 hvres. Thelofe iocunefl from the deftruftion of 172 fujjar works, plantation honfes, cattle, &c. See. is reckoned at 11 t,800,0c0 li- vres. The WTes in buildings, produce, and the cattle on 936 coffce plantations, is livres.—Villages, cotton and indigo plantations, and catife, buildings, &c. upon them, are cftimated at 6,400,000 livres. Total 10f5—324,600,000 livres. » says a correspondent, The benefits refultlrtg from general knowledge have been re puted. The oppofc rr, of the m«ms oi learning for the po<ji *r dafs of people have said, tha* you cfnnot male* rvery poor nan a good, scholar : They aflc, what is gamed by Taking fmatterers learn ing ; science they affirm, gains little, and labor lose* much—for men who read muc t, w j}j _ Wf)F k little.—'Thev become difcrw tented with their lot, and even if they could change it to then own advantage, the ca'e would no; be mended, for others mull b<* found to take their places. The drudgery of the world mull' be done ; and it would be found a* hard on those who have it to do as before learning was given them ; and harder, because they would then know it to be drudgery. These are plausible arguments in favor of ignoiance.—and such as ignorance could not have suggested in its own defence; t's thus that the Tons of science turn parricides agamft tire mother whole milk has nouryftjed them.—»— The answer to this ungene rous philofophv is not hard to be found : — Education is not re commended inertly to make men book wife, but to extend the comprehension of their minds—to increase their ideas, that ij to fay, to increase their wisdom ; real wisdom can flo no harm ft ire lv it will not make m;-n prefer idleness to indifftry, nor a va.o ambition to thrift and-Aeadinefs even man humble calling. It is true that the attempt to make them wiser may fometttnes fail, and mav even make a k w morovaio, idle worthlcfs, thau it they had been left to tfternfelvcs. The like charge may be Uived against education in tlx; families of the wealth v, and indeed agaiDfti any good institution whatever. It is plain that education has the oppofitc tendency, which is a fufficienL answer to that part of th« oration in favor of ignorance. But why is it forgotten that a few instances of folly made worse by teaching, are nothing compared with the mariv initan ces of men made njorcfober virtuous and diligeiit t»y it. Add to this that it is as likely to happen that an eminent genius fhafl start up from the family of a poor man as of a rich one; one such might benefit mankind more 4han education ever' cpft them. Then give to all the means of knowledge, and leave it to nature to mark out the differences between har children. The .light of heaven is pleasant, would you pluck poor men's eyes oyt ? The light of knowledge is no less foj and will you blind them? Thin eltablifh schools, that is, ooen. the windows and k?t in the day light. ' ExtYaß of a letter from the PoJ!-Maf!er at Hartford, to the Edityr, ddted Dec ember d. An extraordinary failure of your papers has happened, but one having arrived thef« five posts. " The fubferibers have ptiri with reluflance owing to the lufs of former numbers, and thefc frequent disappointments." Extratt of another letter to the Editor, from the Pojl-Majler at Mew. Haven, dated December 5. i "I am sorry to inform } »u thai the old complaint refp»ain°- the conveyance of your rnptrs grows worse and worse.-, w'e have 1 eceived but one Dapcr in two weeks ; your cullomers here arc' on the point of givingthem up. I) there not fom-i persons be tween Pnilwdelphia and this town unjtiendly to vou, or to New- Haven folks ? As the papers for thole beyond this town, come on more regularly." (£3™ The above are among the numerous letters which the E d itor is constantly receiving on the fame fubje£f. He would inform the iPoii-Mafters refpe&ivel y,that the names of the tubfcribeis (or the Gauttj of the United States, have beep principally colleflad and forwarded to him by the Puit-Mal ters in various parts of cfie Union. pit receipt of the abo, t letter., the Editor enquired at the port office 111 this city, rcfpecfing the bulinefs, and was informed that all the packets of the Gazette which had been lodged therein had b -en forwarded, for their several drflinations— Punftualuy is'iuft lyconitdered as the Jja/jof this business—the Editor has been un remitted in his attention,to that point. 1 lie Icit-Malters of the Lnited States are in general, men of liberal and enlightened romds—ihe Editor, tlio peVfonallv ac quainted with but few of tli-m, has received innumerable inftan #s of their attention and politer,eft-He foltchs a continuance of their tnendfhip; and particularly that they would ficiK'tatethctr an!- miffiorl of thole packets of the Gazette which are difpatchc-d liom the Poft-Officeof this ci*y. Indeed it is extremely difficult to conceive now an article cm be arretted 1.1 its progress to a omicular deftinaiion, that ts once depofned in the mail port-manteau Information refpeftinj. any tn,fling packets of the Giaette'oC the Unitrd States will be thankfully rceeived. (£3" The Kejponient till onr next I PRICE CURRENT.— PUBLIC SstCURITIES FBINDED DEBT. 6 pr. C*nts i s f 2 2/1 pr./. 3 pr. Cents 12/io Defered 6 pr. Centi tgfy U.N'f'UNDKoIIF.HT. Final Settl. and other Certificates 20/ 20/6 102& do Indents 12/ x 2/6 621 Hank S'nbftnptions. .34 Dollars. sJc'u.;'*.!. South Front-Street, John MACPHkusoN will Lc&ur* on ASTRONOMY T- ■. r"." 1 , F ecifc] ,V " tight o'clock. Tickrts are fold by MS Poulfm, at the Library • Mr P.l r i d^a h cT ,iC9ffCehoUfri fild "«**">• J)ec. r*s? pr. cent, 65 do. *>6$ do.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers