The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-08-16 00:00:00, page 1

From the Pennsylvania Gazette.
An ADDRESS from the Supreme Executive Council
to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania.
Friends and Countrymen,
WrHE N firft we resolved to resist the ty
rannical encroachments of Britain, and
rather to meet her in the held as an
enemy, than submit to her illegal do
mination ; mankind beheld our determination with
wonder and astonishment, and however they ac
knowledged the justice of our cause, and greatness of
our spirit, trembled for the event. Britain in the
zenith of glory, mißrefs of the ocean, great in arms,
and connected by friendship or alliance with every
nation in Europe. America, without a friend to con
sult, or ally to give aid, unpradifed in arms, and
without funds or resources. The contest appeared
so unequal, that the long enjoyment of liberty, and
the consideration that death had charms, when com
pared to slavery, would alone juftify our proceedings.
But commending ourselves to the Ruler of the Uni
verse, and confiding in the goodness of our cause, we
closed with the appeal to arms, and braving danger
and difficulty in the service of freedom, boldly des
pised the disparity of Rrength, determining to main
tain our cause, or fall in the conflict. The love of
liberty, and equal government, inspired our resoluti
ons, and to fall in so glorious a contest was worthy
of freemen; but it rested with Him who directs the
councils of mankind, fully to reward the generous
effort. Our ambition would have been gratified with
a redress of grievances, and the repeal of a few ob
noxious Ads of Parliament, but He determined to
raise us to glory and to empire, and from the hum
ble dependants on a distant Island in the Atlantic, to
give us rank among the nations. Under His conduct
and direction, we have baffled the most Rrenuous ef
forts of the best disciplined, well appointed, and for
midable armies, and humbled beyond the concepti
ons of mankind, and our own most sanguine expecta
tions, the haughtiest and proudest nation in Europe.
There now therefore remains but one vigorous exer
tion to put an eternal period to her infolcr.ee, her
power, and her cruelty.
The time is come when an honourable peace mud
be the molt ardent wish to every friend to happiness
and mankind, and the war has been so conducted on
the part of the enemy, as mull fati^fy the most obsti
nate of her adherents, that he who inclines to relide
in America, must maintain her Independence. But
to obtain these much wished for objects, the dates
matt firft be cleared of the enemy. We have often
been amused with the profpe<fts of approaching peace.
The commotions in Ireland, committees in England,
and favourable sentiments of European powers, have
been held up as omens prognosticating this happy e
veat. But it ought to be engraven on the heart of
every American, that the pride, the obstinacy, and
tire vengeful disposition of the power we contend wi%
will never gnnt us a peace worth accepting, while
(he can maintain a single post in our country, or the
shadow of an army amongst us: The lull of power,
the hopes of division, the falfe information of the dif
affefted, and the rapacity of her armies, will induce
her to reinforce, and tempt a continuation of the war.
To oblige her to peace, we must sweep her armies off
the continent, and even British folly cannot hope to
replace them.
To men who in the cool moments of temperate de-
liberation pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honours, and who appealing to Heayen
for the jufticc of their cause, the rectitude of their in
tentions, and the firmnefs of their resolutions, drew
the t'word in defence of their liberties, every attempt
to animate to action may be deemed unnecessary.
But as no other period of the contest has furniihed
such cogent reasons for vigour and activity, nor could
any combination of circumstances exhibit a more glo
rious profpea, we have been induced to address you
on this interesting occasion.
Our enemies having long since relinquished the idea
of coaqueft by arms, have converted a war of manly
offence into one of mean distress and pitiful depreda
tion, hoping to weary us out ; and by that wicked
industry for which fraud and art are often conspicu
ous, sow dissensions, and thereby encourage that mo
mentary fapinenefe, to which they owe the few suc
cesses they have to boast. It is their laR resource;
a rd perhaps the only instance in which their pride
and ignorance have yielded to motives of discretion.
But it is also univcrfally acknowledged that we are
abFoy one common effort to crush the remaining
force of the foe, terminate the war, and remain pos
sessed of that Peace, Libert;, and Safe,, for which
we have hitherto encountered such difficulties and so
freely bled- Were this not the case, our great and
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. lII.]
WEDNESDAY, August 16, 1780.
generous ally, inspired with the purest zeal for the
common interests, affection to our cause, and respect
for our virtue, has lent to our aid such a reinforce
ment as puts it entirely in our power. And Provi
dence by granting the enemy a late partial success, has
so divided her force that it is impoßibie for the one to
give aid to the other. If we mean not then to be
wanting to ourselves, regardless of our allies, and to
renounce the favourable interpofitiou of Heaven ; if
we mean not to furnifh our unfeeling and haughty
enemy with a barbarous triumph, let us by one he
roic exertion, convince those cruel spoilers that we
are able and determined to expel them our country.
There is not an evil of which we complain, but is
comprehended in the continuation of the war, and
the longer it remains the mere they will accumulate.
Put a fuccefsful period to the one, and the other ter
minates of course. The credit of our money will in-
Rantly revive, taxes become moderate, commerce re
turn to its proper channels, and avarice be forced to
content itfelf with moderate gain ; {peculation and
monopoly will cease forever, and foreigners of all
ranks flock to our country, to enjoy the liberty for
which we have so gallantly fought. Shall we forever
complain of the distress of the times, and yet have
it in our power to end them whenever we please ? Shall
we be thoroughly feniiblc of the designs of the enemy,
and never take measures effectually to counteract and
defeat them ? If we wish peace, prosperity and hap
piness to return, nothing is wanting but to drive the
foe from our country. The secret machinations of
difaffettion and treason will only cease with their ex
pulsion. It reds therefore with ourselves whether we
ihall be the victors or the vanquished ; whether we
shall eftabliih a great, extensive and free empire, or
whether we shall finally surrender at discretion to the
treachery of toryifm, and the rapacity oftyranny. —
In conjunction with our Sifter States we are called
upon to join our accomplished General and his vir
tuous and brave army, to co-operate with the forces
of his Most Christian Majesty in the reduction of New-
York. Can any thing equal the advantage and re
nown attending this glorious atchievement ? Who
that has one spark of spirit or patriotism within him,
could bear to have it recorded in history and trans
mitted to poftcrity, that Pennsylvania, whose exerti
ons have equally declared her spirit and ability, after
five years exhibiting the most unihaken firmnefs and
unconquered refolutiou ; after refeuing the Continent
from apparent ruin, in the crilis of her fate, and after
so eminently maintaining the weight of the war, and
supporting by the credit and liberality of her citizens,
the armies of the Union, ihrunk back from the con
test in the last moment of action, and tarnished the
glory of years by the folly of an hour?
Bolides the honour and advantage which will result
to this in common with the other dates, from a hap
py termination of the war ; Pcnnfylvania has peculiar
reason to exert herfelf with uncommon energy and
effect. The immediate accession of wealth and inha
bitants which the will acquire by the event, makes it
highly her interest to push on the operations of the
campaign with extraordinary vigour. And our affairs
are to circumstanced, that every man in the state may
be ufefully employed, arid enjoy the exquisite plea
lure of relating to his offspring in the peaceful Dour
of domestic security the Ihare he had in the contest ;
and how much his exertions contributed to the lalva
tion of his country. The benevolent hand of all
bountiful Heaven in a plentiful harvest, has furniihed
the means of supplying our armies for the campaign,
and on tha: supply depends the success of their ope
rations; every man therefore whether at home or in
the field, has it equally in his power to assist in doling
the war and (topping the further effufion of blood.
We entreat you to repress the spirit of discontent,
and uncharitableness towards our rulers, or each o
ther, ever remembering that our great strength lays
in union, and that a state of war is always attended
with many unavoidable calamities and diftreflcs. You
will also remember how difficult it is for those en
trusted with the conduct of affairs, to regulate to ad
vantage our internal police, or to call to account the
public defaulters, while their whole time is employ
ed in furnilhing the means of relifting the attacks, or
stopping the progress of the common enemy. In vain
(had we bewail the diftrefles of the times, and the lay
ing waste our country ; unjustly shall we arraign the
conduct of our rulers, if we do not hep forward with
the most determined activity to fuppoft the present
exertions of authority, crush the murmurs of obstina
cy and diicontent, and oblige every man, and even
difaffe^tion itfelf to contribute to the immediate relief
of America. Placed at the head of government, and
entrusted with the power of enforcing every salutary
measure, we wish to be indebted to your feelings as
T H E
patriots rather than to any possible exertion of autho
rity. We call upon you therefore, by every conside
ration which can animate men, enliven hope, or in,
vigorate resolution, not to fuffer the curse of another
campaign to rest on America, so far as deperds 011
you. The forces of our ally have eroded the ocean,
and already taken the field in our favour, determin
ing to share with us the danger and glory of terminat
ing the war. The eyes of all Europe are upon us.
The devastation of our frontiers, the cries of women
and children flying in dißrefs before inhuman savages,
and unoffending infants butchered in the presence of
their captured parents, point to the field. The ghoßs
of our fellow-citizens lufiocated in prison-ships, and
starved in the .gaol of New-York, demand vengeance
on the enemy, and Providence feeins to declare its
purpole, that where the ; crimes were committed,
there the criminals should fuffer, and appointed us to
the honourable service. Rouse then, Friends and
Fellow-Citizens, at the call of your country! Set
one more example worthy of Pehnfylvania to your
Sifter States. View that Liberty, that darling Liber
ty, for which you so cheerfully flew to arms. Be
hold that peace, fafety and independence you have
so long sighed for. All are within your grasp, and
will be the reward of your vigorous exertions. Fur
nish in time the fupplics to the army, follow with a
lacrity your Commanding Officer to the field, par
take with him and your brethren in the neighbouring
Rates in the glory of finilhing the contest, and hasten
the happy hour when agriculture shall flourish, com
merce revive, peace be in your borders, and plenty
in all your dwellings.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Council-Chamber,
August 7, 1780.
From the LONDON GAZETTE Extraordinary.
Admiralty-Office, May 25, 1780.
CAPE. Uvedale, late commander of his Majesty's
drip Ajax, and Capt, Bazely, of his Majesty's
fliip the Pegasus, arrived late last night with difoatch
es from Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney,' Bart.
Commander in Chief of his Majeßy's flops at the lee
ward inlands, to Mr. Stevens, giving the following
account of the defeat of the French fleet under the
command of the Comte de Guichen.
Extras of a letter from Sir George Brydges Rodney to
Mr. Stephens, dated Sandwich, off Fart Royal bay,
Martinique, April 26, 1780.
QINCE acquainting their Lordfnips of my arrival
O at Barbados and St. Lucia, and taking upon
me the command of his Majesty's Blips on this Rati
on, the enemy, who had paraded for several days be
fore St. Lucia with 25 (hips of the line, and 8 fri
gates full of troops, and were in hopes of furprizi^g
the island, were disappointed, in their views by the
good disposition made of the troops by Gen. Vaugh
an, and of the fllips by Rear-Admiral Parker. They
retired into Fort Royal bay a few hours before my
arrival at Gros-Iflet bay on the 27th of March.
" As soon as the fleet could possibly be got ready,
I determined to return their visit, and offerthem bat
tle ; and accordingly on the 2d of April proceeded
with the whole fleet off Fort Royal bay, where, for
two days, offered the enemy battle, the flegt being
near enough to count all their guns, and at times
within random (hot of some of their forts. Monsieur
de Guichen, notwithstanding his superior number,
chose to remain in port. I thought it most proper
for his Majeßy's service to leave a squadron of coppcr
bottom'd ships to watch the motions of the enemy,
and to give me timely notice should they attempt to
fail. With the other I anchored in Gros-Iflet bay,
ready at a moment's warning to cut or flip, in order
to pursue or engage the enemy, should they leave
Fort Royal bay.
" In this situation both fleets remained till the 15th
inst. when the enemy with their whole force put to fer
in the middle of the night; immediate notice of whicf r
being given me, I followed them, and having lookf''
into Fort Royal bay, and the road of St. Pierre's, h lll
the 16th we got light of them about 8 leagues to k ind
ward of the Pearl Rock. A general chace to t
north-weft followed ; andat 5 in the evening we plai!^
ly difeovered that they confided of 23 fail of the lin
one fifty gun fliip, 3 frigates, a lugger and cutte
When night came on, I formed the fleet in a line J'
battle a-head, and ordered the Venus and Greyhound
frigates to keep between his Majesty's and the enemy'?*
fleets to watch their motions, which was admirable
well attended to by that good and veteran offic
Captain Furg uffon.
." Tl ! e manoeuvres the enemy made during th :
night, indicated a wish to avoid battle, which I wa,
[Numb. 138.]