yet made up. And the soldiers suffering every privation for want of money and clothing. 3. That it is very hurtful to the feelings of the soldiery to be prevented from disposing of their depreciation certificates as they please, without consulting any person on the occasion. It is agreed on the part of the General and Colonels; that one disinterested sergeant or private from each regiment shall, with the commanding officer of the corps, when an enlistment is disputed, determine on the case. A sergeant from each regiment to be appointed to carry an address to Congress, backed by the General and Field Officers. This was followed by the proposals from the sergeants to General Wayne, which with his answer is gone already forward. Propositions January 4, 1781, delivered to Gen. Wayne. Proposals from the Committee of Serjeants, now representing the Pennsylvania Line Artillery, &c. Rec'd. at Maidenhead, January 6, 1781, by me. Article 1. That all and such men as were enlisted in the year $76 or '77, and received the bounty of 20 dollars, shall be without any delay discharged; and all arrears of pay, and depreciation of pay, be paid to the said men, without any fraud, clothing included. Article 2. Such men as were enlisted since the year '77, and received the 120 dollars bounty, or any more additions, shall be entitled to their discharge at the expiration of three years from the said enlistment, and their full depreciation of pay, and all arrears of clothing. Article 3. [Signed in conjunction.] General Wayne having maturely considered the foregoing proposals and articles presented to him by the serjeants in behalf of themselves, the artillery and pri vates of the Pennsylvania line, thinks proper to return the following answer. That all such non-commissioned officers and soldiers as are justly entitled to their discharges shall be immediately settled with, their accounts properly adjusted, and certificates for their pay and arrearages of pay and clothing given them agreeable to the resolution of Congress, and the late act of the Honourable Assembly of Pennsylvania, for making up the depreciation, and be discharged the service of the United States. That all such non-commissioned officers and privates belonging to the respective regiments, artillery or infantry, as are not entitled to their discharge, shall be also settled with, and certificates given them for their pay, depreciation, and clothing, in like manner as those before mentioned, which certificates are to be redeemable at a short period as the nature of the case admits; to be paid in hard cash, or an equivalent in continental money of these states, and be immediately furnished with comfortable warm clothing, they returning to their duty as worthy, faithful soldiers. These propositions are founded in principles of justice and honour, between the United States and the soldiery, which is all that reasonable men can expect, or that a General can promise consistent with his station and duty, and the mutual benefit of their country, and the line which he has had so long the honour of commanding. If the soldiers are determined not to let reason and justice govern on this occasion, he has only to lament the total and unfortunate situation to which they will reduce themselves and their country. (Signed) ANT'Y. WAYNE, Commanding Pennsylvania Line. Princeton, Janucry 4, '81. General Wayne then received the following note: Sir-We would be glad you would inform us who these men are that you mean, that are entitled to their discharges. As we jointly think that you dont deem the men enlisted with the bounty of twenty dollars to be entitled to their discharges; therefore sir, be punctual what you say, and do as we reasonably think our due. (Signed Committee.) WM. BEARNELL? Serj't. To which General Wayne returned the following answer. Princeton, January 4, 1781. The question asked me by the Committee of Sergeants is one of such important consequence, and on which so great a variety of opinions are given, and your not choosing to leave it to the decision of a committee of yourselves and the colonel of the regiment, where any dispute might arise, (agreeably to the propositions of yesterday,) I cannot think myself fully empowered to decide upon the occasion, but will immediately send off an express to the Governor and Council of the state of Pennsylvania, and desire a committee of that body to meet the line at Trenton or elsewhere, who with myself and Colonels Butler and Stewart, will give you a full and explicit answer. General Wayne afterwards received the undermen tioned note. tice, and wright, we are now so well situated to receive Sir-As we know are upon a principle of honour, jusany gentlemen of rank at this post, as if we were to think that we cannot settle these matters by such a formarch any further, and therefore I would not have you midable body of men, as we are, therefore should be glad you would be explicit in your expresses or otherways we must take some measures that will procure our own happiness. To the above note General Wayne, Colonels Butler and Stewart, would not reply. Copies-W. STEWART, Col. PRINCETON, 4th Jan. 1781. Dear Sir:-The unhappy defection of our line you must have been made acquainted with by General Potter and Colonel Johnston. Colonel Charles Stewart will present you with some propositions on the part of the troops together with our answer. He will also be able to give you an idea of our situation and their temper. Enclosed are copies of a very serious question and out* reply. You will, therefore, please to appoint one or more of the council to meet us at this place with all pos sible despatch, and with full powers to them and us to treat on this subject and inform us what prospects you have of furnishing an immediate supply of clothing and cash which will be indispensably necessary to ensure success. We shall not attempt to express our feelings on this unfortunate occasion. Your own will be the best criterion to judge them by. We have yet some glimmering of hope from the enclosed copy of a letter giving intelligence of the enemy's intended manœuvres, as the troops assured us they will act with desperation against them. Whether this be their sentiments or not, a few hours will probably determine. Be that as it may, and should the worst events take place, we trust that we shall produce a conviction to the world that we deserved a better fate. them, but were not permitted. An express is this moment arrived, that they have refused General Wayne's terms, and propose to march to-morrow. His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esq. President of the state of Pennsylvania. -- Bristol, January 5, 1781. Dear Sir-I was met here by the light horse return We have the honor to be with sincere esteem your ing-as they brought me only a verbal message, Mr. DoExcellency's most obedient humble servants, ANTH'Y. WAYNE, naldson will be able to give it you with more exactness than I can at second hand. They left Princeton at 4 o'clock this afternoon; the mutineers seem undetermined, and I hope are beginning to divide, as their board of officers or serjeants is large, and of course there will be a variety of sentiment. They behave well to the people of the country, and hitherto have committed no excesses. They permitted General St. Clair and the Marquis to come among them, but afterwards ordered them to leave the place at a short warning. They say they will march against the enemy under the command of Genl. Wayne, Cols. Butler and Stewart, but will not have their other officers; this is a bad symptom. I met a serjeant and one or two others on the road, who gave out that they are going to town to prevent the bad report of their abusing people, &c. Col. Nicola should be directed to have an eye on these fellows as they come into town, least they infest the invalids, and spread bad reports among the militia, but by no means to use them ill, least it have a bad effect on their fellows in Jersey. I think my presence at Lancaster may well be dis- If the enemy advance, I shall endeavour to draw them pensed with. TRENTON, Jan. 4, 1781, 5 o'clock. Sir:-The Marquis and myself with several other officers, arrived at this place about three o'clock. The mutineers, consisting nearly of the whole Pennsylvania line and the regiment of artillery, are at Princeton, where they arrived last night, and this day has been spent in negotiation betwixt them and Gen. Wayne, Col. Richard Butler, and Col. Stewart, and I have the honour to enclose you a copy of the terms proposed by them, with Gen. Wayne's answer. These are the only officers they allow to have any communication with them, or to pass within their posts; which are, I am told, well chosen, and the guards very regularly mounted, and a committee of serjeants manages their business. You will see how extravagant their proposals are, and Gen. Wayne has gone as far as he well could do in compliance with them. They have as yet done very little injury to the inhabitants, and profess that they do not mean any, but they begin to talk of their neighborhood to New York, which makes it justly feared that there are amongst them some emissaries of the enemy. This circumstance induces Governor Livingston to think that it would be prudent in case they persist, to suffer them to pass the Delaware, as it then would be out of their power to go to the enemy, and if force should be necessary, a part of the militia of this state might be thrown over to co-operate with those of Pennsylvania in their reduction. No definitive resolution is however taken upon that head, but it is necessary your excellency should be apprized that it is in contemplation, that the proper measures may be concerted in case of necessity. We propose to go to Maidenhead to night, to be able to get to them early to morrow before they have opportunity to intoxicate themselves, and your excellency shall have the earliest notice of what may happen or of any thing that may occur to night that comes to our knowledge. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, Humble servant, AR. ST. CLAIR. The Chief Justice of this state, and some members of the Legislature, went up to-day to expostulate with this way, rather chusing to take the chance of any bad consequences here than going to the enemy. If they take their officers back generally, I shall think they mean fairly. If they do not, I do not think their profes sions ought to be regarded. I send inclosed a letter from Mr. Stewart. I think it will be best to send provisions on, but not to unlade it out of the shallop without orders. In the mean time, let the clothing be forwarded, and the money prepared. At all events I fear we must make some douceurs in some way or another.—I write this in a hurry, and shall write again to-morrow from Trenton-they altered their plans this morning-The sergeants use every effort to keep at Princeton by way of keeping together. Trenton, Friday afternoon, January 5, 1781. Sir-I wrote you by express last night, it was likely when I left Princeton yesterday, that the troops of the Pennsylvania Line would be here to-day-this afternoon am told they will not come from Princeton before their business be settled-Am told General St. Clair and the Marquis are rode towards Brunswick on hearing the British are landed at Elizabeth-I fear this is true, yet am not certain-Mr. Donaldson can tell you perhaps more of it. At this rate we shall soon want beef; your militia, and those of Jersey must be fed, and so must those tumultuous troops. I beg if in your power you would order on some cattle, I am your most obedient servant, CHAS. STEWART. His Excellency Governor Reed, Philada. Printed every Saturday morning by William F. Geddes, No. 59 Locust street, Philadelphia; where, and at the Editor's residence, No. 51 Filbert street, subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price five dollars per annum--payable in six months after the commencement of publication--and annually, thereafter, by subscribers resident in or near the city--or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance. REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD, NO, 51, FILBERT STREET. VOL. II.-NO. 11. CLIMATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. Account of the Climate of Pennsylvania, and its influence on the human body. By Benjamin Rush, M. D. Concluded from page 154. NO.39. in the river Schuylkill, which had never been observed before, by the oldest persons then alive. On one of them were cut the figures 1701. The atmosphere, during part of this dry weather, was often filled, especially The air, when dry in Pennsylvania, has a peculiar in the mornings, with a thin mist, which, while it deelasticity, which renders the heat and cold less insup-ceived with the expectation of rain, served the valuable portable, than the same degrees of both are in moister purpose of abating the heat of the sun. I am sorry countries. It is in those cases only, when summer show- that I am not able to furnish the mean heat of each of ers are not succeeded by northwest winds, that the the summer months. My notes of the weather enable heat of the air becomes oppressive and distressing, from me to add nothing further upon this subject, than that being combined with moisture. the summer was "uncommonly cool." From tradition, as well as living observation, it is evi- The summer of the year 1788 afforded a remarkable dent, that the waters in many of the creeks in Pennsyl- instance of excess in the quantity of rain, which somevania have diminished considerably within these last times falls in Pennsylvania. Thirteen days are marked fifty years. Hence many mills, erected upon large and with rain in July in the records of the weather kept at deep streams of water, now stand idle in dry weather: Springmill. There fell, on the 18th and 19th of Auand many creeks, once navigable in large boats, are now gust, seven inches of rain in the city of Philadelphia.— impassable, even in canoes. This diminution of the wa-The wheat suffered greatly by the constant rains of Juters has been ascribed to the application of a part of ly, in the eastern and middle parts of the state. So unthem to the purpose of making meadows. productive a harvest in grain, from wet weather, had not been known, it is said, in the course of the last seventy years. The heat of the air, during these summer months, was very moderate. Its mean temperature at Springmill was 67.8 in June, 74.7 in July, and only 70.6 in August. The mean elevation of the barometer in Philadelphia, is about thirty inches. The variations in the barometer are very inconsiderable, in the greatest changes of the weather, which occur in the city of Philadelphia. During the violent and destructive storm, which blew from the south west on the 11th of November, 1788, it suddenly fell from 30 to 29 3-10. Mr. Rittenhouse informs me, that long and faithful observations have satisfied him, that the alterations in the height of the mercury, in the barometer, do not precede, but always succeed changes in the weather. It falls from the south and south west, and rises with the north and north west winds. The quantity of water, which falls in rain and snow, one year with another, amounts to from 24 to 36 inches. But to complete the account of variable qualities in the limate, it will be necessary to add, that our summers and autumns are sometimes marked by a deficiency, or by an excessive quantity of rain. The summer and autumn of 1782 were uncommonly dry. Nearly two months elapsed without a single shower of rain. There were only two showers in the whole months of Sept. and October. In consequence of this dry weather, there was no second crop of hay. The Indian corn failed of its increase in many places, and was cut down for food for cattle. Trees newly planted, died. The pasture fields not only lost their verdure, but threw up small clouds of dust, when agitated by the feet of men, or beasts. Cattle in some instances were driven many miles to be watered, every morning and evening. The earth became so inflammable in some places, as to burn above a foot below its surface. A complete consumption of the turf, by an accidental fire, kindled in the adjoining state of N. Jersey, spread terror and distress through a large tract of country. Crabs, which never forsake salt or brackish water, were caught more than a mile above the city of Philadelphia, in the river Delaware, which is sixty miles above the places in which they are usually found. Springs of water and large creeks were dried up in many parts of the state. Rocks appeared It was remarked, during this dry weather, that the sheep were uncommonly fat, and their flesh well tasted, while all the other domestic animals languished from the want of grass and water. VOL. II. 23 It is some consolation to a citizen of Pennsylvania, in recording facts, which seem to militate against our cli mate, to reflect, that the difference of the weather in different parts of the state, at the same season, is happily accommodated to promote an increase of the same objects of agriculture: and hence a deficiency of crops has never been known in any one year throughout the whole state. The aurora borealis and meteors are seen occasionally in Pennsylvania. In the present imperfect state of our knowledge of their influence upon the human body, it would be foreign to the design of this history of our climate to describe them. Storms and hurricanes are not unknown in Pennsyl vania. They occur once in four or five years; but they are most frequent and destructive in the autumn. They are generally accompanied by rain. Trees are torn up by the roots; and the rivers and creeks are sometimes swelled so suddenly, as to do considerable damage to the adjoining farms. The wind, during these storms, generally blows from the south east and south west. In the storms, which occurred in September 1769, and in the same month of the year 1785, the wind veered round contrary to its usual course, and blew from the north. Even the After what has been said, the character of the climate of Pennsylvania may be summed up in a few words.There are no two successive years alike. same successive seasons and months differ from each other every year. Perhaps there is but one steady trait in the character of our climate, and that is, it is uniformly variable. To furnish the reader with a succinct view of the weather in Pennsylvania, that includes all the articles that have been mentioned, I shall here subjoin a table A similar mist was observed in France by Dr. Franklin, in the summer of 1782. The winter, which succeeded it, was uncommonly cold in France, as well as in Pennsylvania. * containing the result of meteorological observations made for one year, near the river Schuylkill, in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, by an ingenious French gentleman, who divides his time between rural employments and useful philosophical pursuits. This table is extracted from the Columbian Magazine for February, 1788. The height of Springmill above the city of Philadelphia, is supposed to be about 70 feet. It is worthy of notice, how near the mean heat of the year, and of the month of April, in two successive years, are to each other in the same place. The mean heat of April, 1787, was 54° 3, that of April, 1788, was 520 2. By the table of the mean heat of each month in the year, it appears that the mean heat of 1787 was 53° 5 at Springmill. "The temperature of the Atlantic, under this parallel, is 62: but the standard of this part of the globe is the North Pacific, which is here 4 or 5 degrees colder than the Atlantic. The yellow sea is the nearest to Pekin, being about 200 miles distant from it: but it is itself cooled by the mountainous country of Corea, which interposes between it and the ocean, for a considerable part of its extent. Besides, all the northern parts of China (in which Pekin lies) must be cooled by the vicinity of the mountains of Chinese Tartary, among which the cold is said to be excessive. "Madrid lat. 40° 25′ long. 3° 20' E. "The greatest cold usually experienced during this period, was 5°, the greatest heat, 98°: On the 25th of The following accounts of the climates of Pekin and July 1778, the heat arose to 1080 and 110°: a N. E. or Madrid, which lie within a few minutes of the same lati-N. W. wind produces the greatest cold; a S. or S. W. tude as Philadelphia, may serve to show how much cli- or S. E. the greatest heat." mates are altered by local and relative circumstances. The account of the temperature of the air at Pekin, will serve further to show, that with all the advantages of the highest degrees of cultivation, which have taken place in China, the winters are colder, and the summers warmer there than in Pennsylvania, principally from a cause which will probably operate upon the winters of Pennsylvania for many centuries to come, viz. the vicinity of an uncultivated north west country. "Pekin, lat. 39° 54, long. 116° 29 W. "By five years observations, its annual mean temperature was found to be 55° 5. 72° January 20° 75 May "The usual heat in summer is said to be from 75 to 85°; even at night it seldom falls below 70°; the mean height of the barometer is 26,96. It seems to be about 1900 feet above the level of the sea.'t The above accounts are extracted from Mr. Kirwan's useful and elaborate estimate of the temperature of dif ferent latitudes. The history, which has been given, of the climate of Pennsylvania, is confined chiefly to the country on the east side of the Allegheny mountain. On the west side of this mountain the climate differs materially from that of the south eastern parts of the state, in the tempera83, 75 ture of the air, in the effects of the winds upon the weather, and in the quantity of rain and snow, which * "6 Mem. Scav. Etrang. p. 528." Mem. Par. 1777, p. 146. 84 August 83 8 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, MADE AT SPRING MILL, THIRTEEN MILES N. N. W. OF PHILADELPHIA. From a review of all the facts which have been mentioned, it appears that the climate of Pennsylvania is a compound of most of the climates in the world. Here we have the moisture of Britain in the spring, the heat of Africa in summer, the temperature of Italy in June, the sky of Egypt in autumn, the cold and snows of Norway, and the ice of Holland in the winter, the tempests (in a certain degree) of the West Indies in every season, and the variable winds and weather of Great Britain in every month of the year. falls every year. The winter seldom breaks up on the mountains before the 25th of March. A fall of snow was once perceived upon it, which measured an inch and an half, on the 11th day of June. The trees, which grow upon it, are small: and Indian corn is with difficulty brought to maturity even at the foot of the east side of it. The south west winds, on the west side of the mountain, are accompanied by cold and rain. The soil is rich, consisting in many places of near a foot of black mould. The roads in this country are muddy in winter; but seldom dusty in summer. The arrangement of the From this history of the climate of Pennsylvania, it is strata of the earth on the west side, differs materially easy to ascertain, what degrees of health, and what disfrom their arrangement on the east side of the mountain. eases prevail in the state. As we have the climate, so "The country," says Mr. Rittenhouse, in a letter to a we have the health, and the acute diseases, of all the friend in Philadelphia, "when viewed from the western countries that have been mentioned. Without attemptridge of the Allegheny, appears to be one vast, extend-ing to enumerate the diseases, I shall only add a few ed plain. All the various strata of stone seem to lie un- words upon the time and manner in which they are disturbed in the situation in which they were first form- produced. ed, and the layers of stone, sand, clay, and coal, are nearly horizontal." The temperature of the air, on the west, is seldom so hot, or so cold, as on the east side of the mountain. By comparing the state of a thermometer, examined by Dr. Bedford at Pittsburg, 284 miles from Philadelphia, it appears, that the weather was not so cold within 12 degrees in that town, as it was in Philadelphia, on the 5th of February, 1788. To show the difference between the weather at Springmill and in Pittsburg, I shall here subjoin an account of it, in both places, the first taken by Mr. Legeaux, and the other by Dr. Bedford. This account is unfortunately confined only to the first fifteen days in April 1788; but it affords a good specimen of the differences of the weather, on the two sides of the mountain, in every month of the year. It is remarkable, that in five days out of seven, the rain which fell, was on the same days in both places. Meteorological observations, made at Springmill, 13 miles 12 44 5 calm. 1 13 60 5 SW. 14 50 2E. 1 15 58 1 SW. Weather. overcast, fair. overc. windy. overc. rainy. I. It appears, from the testimonies of many aged perkinds, are less frequent now than they were forty and sons, that pleurisies and inflammatory disorders of all fifty years ago. fevers have increased in Pennsylvania, in proportion as II. It is a well known fact, that intermitting and bilious the country has been cleared of its wood, in many parts of the state. ed or disappeared, in proportion as the country has III. It is equally certain, that these fevers have lessen been cultivated. duce fevers, unless they be succeeded by unseasonably IV. Heavy rains and freshes in the spring seldom pro warm weather. weather, if they occur before the 20th August, seldom V. Sudden changes from great heat to cold, or cool produce fevers." After that time, they are generally followed by them. VI. The same state of the atmosphere, whether cold or warm, moist or dry, continued for a long time without any material changes, is always healthy. Acute and inflammatory fevers were in vain looked for in the cold winter of 1779-80. The dry summer of 1782, and the wet summer of 1788, were likewise uncommonly healthy, in the city of Philadelphia. These facts extend only to those diseases which depend upon the sensible qualities of the air. Diseases from miasmata and contagion, are less influenced by the uniformity of the weather. The autumn of 1780 was very sickly in Philadelphia, from the peculiar situation of the grounds in the neighbourhood, while the country was uncommonly healthy. The dry summer and autumn of 1782, were uncommonly sickly in the country, from the extensive sources of morbid exhalation, which were left by the diminution of the waters in the creeks and rivers. VII. Diseases are often generated in one season, and very fair. [ny. fair, overc. rai-produced in another. Hence we frequently observe fevers of different kinds to follow every species of the foggy, rainy. Meteorological observations made at Pittsburg, 284 miles weather, which has been mentioned in the last observafrom Philadelphia, Month of April, 1788. Day. Far. Wind. Rain. Thun Weather. VIII. The excessive heat in Pennsylvania, has sometimes proved fatal, to persons who have been much exposed to it. Its morbid effects discover themselves by a difficulty of breathing, a general languor, and, in some instances, by a numbness and an immobility of the extremities. The excessive cold in Pennsylvania has more frequently proved fatal, but it has been chiefly to those persons who have sought a defence from it, by large draughts of spirituous liquors. Its operation in bringing on sleepiness, previously to death, is well known. On the 5th of February 1788, many people were affected by the cold. It produced a pain in the head; and, in one instance, a sickness at the stomach, and a vomiting appeared to be the consequence of it. I have frequently observed, that a greater number of old people die, during the continuance of extreme cold and warm weather, than in the same number of days in moderate weather. |