The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1786-10-16 00:00:00, page 2

Rev. and dear fir,
", RIE two following years of which I am to give
1 Lome account, will seem as an absolute blank in
a very' snort life.—But they served to give me still
deeper experience of the dreadful Rate of the heart of
man, when left to itfilf. Had niy affairs taken a dif
ferent turn—had I remained in England, my fad story
would probably have been worfe —worse in myfelf,
indeed, I could have hardly been; but my wickedness
would have had greater scope, and might have been
hurtful to others. —At a time when I was big with
mifehief, and like one infeded with a pestilence, the
Lord in mercy banilhed me from human society, and
placed me where I could do little harm.—The few I
had to converse with were too much like myfelf, and
I was soon brought into filch abjed circumstances,
that I was too low to have any influence—there being
few, even of the Negroes themselves, during the firft
year of my residence among them, but thought them
selves too good to speak to me. I was yet an outcaff,
and to all appearance exposed to perilh —but though
the appointed time for the mauifeflation of mercy to
cover all my iniquities was not till long afterwards---
vet, even now, mercy bid me live, and 1 can only
ascribe it to the secret upholding power of Divine
Providence, that what 1 futfered in a part of this in
terval did not bereave me either of my life or senses---
yet as by these fufferings, the force of my evil ex on
pies and evil inclinations was lessened; I have rcalon to
account them among my mercies.
My new master now fettled upon the largest of the
three illands called the Plantanes, seven leagues from the
Benanoes. It isa low sandy island, about two leagues
in circumferance, and almost covered with palm-trees.
We immediately began to build a house, and to enter
upon trade, I had now some desire to retrieve my loft
time—and he was a man with whom I might have
lived tolerably well, if he had not been soon influenc
ed against me. But he was much under the direction
of a black woman, who lived with him as a wife. —
She was a person of some consequence in her own
country, and he owed his firft rile to her interest.
This woman, I know not for what reason, was Itrongly
prejudiced against me from the firft ; and what made it
dill worse for me, was a severe fit of illnels, which
attacked me very soon, before I had opportunity to
shew what I could, or would do in his service. He
failed to Rio Nima, and left me lick in her hands—at
firft I was taken some care of; but as I did not recover
very soon, flie grew weary, and entirely neglected me. —I
had sometimes not a little difficulty to procure a
draught of cold water, when burning with a fever. —
My bed was a mat, spread upon a board or chest, and
a log of wood my pillow. When my fever left me,
and my appetite returned, I would gladly have eaten,
but there was no one gave unto me. She lived in
plenty herfelf, but hardly allowed me' fufficiefit to
sustain life, except now and then, when in the highest
good humour, she would fend me victuals in her own
plate, after the had dined—and this, so greatly was
my pride humbled, I received with thanks and cager
nefs, as the most needy beggar does an aims.
Once I well remember I was called to receive this boun
ty from her own hand; but, being exceedingly weak and
feeble, I dropped the plate—those who live in plenty
can hardly conceive how this loss touched me —but
she had the cruelty to laugh at my difappomtment;
and though the table was covered with dilhes— for
she lived much in the European manner —she refuted
to give me any more. My distress has been at times
so great, as to compel me to go by night and pull up
the roots in the plantation, though at the risk of being
punished as a thief, which I have eaten raw upon the
spot, for fear of discovery—the roots I speak of are
very wholesome food when boiled or roasted, but as
unfit to be eaten raw as a potatoe. The consequence
of this diet was the fame as if I had taken tartar eme
tic—yet necessity urged me to repeat the trial several
times. I have sometimes been relieved by Grangers —
nay, even by Haves in the chain, who have fccretly
brought me victuals, for they durst not be seen to do
it from their own slender pittance. Next to pressing
want, nothing fits harder upon the mind than fara
and contempt ; and of this likewise I had an abundant
measure. When I was very slowly recovering, this
woman would sometimes pay me a visit, not to pity
or relieve, but to insult me —even her attendants she
let to abuse and ridicule me —though when she was not
present, I was rather pitied than scorned by the mean
est of her Haves. At length my master returned —I
complained of ill ufage —but I fared no better for it.—
In his second voyage he took me with him—we did
pretty well till a brother trader of his persuaded him
that i was unfaithful, and hole his goods. This was
almost the only vice 1 could not be justly charged
with —the only remains of a good education, I could
boast of, was what is commonly called honeJly, and as
far as he had entrusted me, I never once thought of de
frauding him in the smallest matter. —However, the
charge was believed, and I was condemned without
evidence —from that time he likewise used me very
hardly. —Whenever he left the vessel, I was locked upon
deck, with a pint of rice for my day's allowance ; and
if he staid longer I, had no relief till his return. In
deed, I believe I Ihould have been nearly starved, but
for the opportunity of catching fifh at flack water, in
which I often fucceeded —and a filh hastily broiled or
half burnt, without sauce, salt or bread, was a delici
ous meal. —If I saw a fifh upon my hook my joy was
little less than any other person may have found in the
accomplishment of the scheme he had most at heart—
if I caught none I might, if I could, deep away my hun
ger till the next return of flack water, and then try
Th Life cf John Newton, in a series of fetters
to the Rev. Mr. HawEis---continued.
LETTER VII.
again. Nor did I fuffer less from the inclemency of
the weather, and the want of clothes—the rainy season
was now advancing—my whole suit was a Ihirt, a pair
of trowfers, a cotton handkerchief instead of a cap,
and a cotton cloth about two yards long to supply
the place of upper garments---and thus accoutred, I
have been exposed for twenty, thirty, near forty hours
together, in incessant rains, accompanied with itrong
gales of wind, when my master was on shore. The
effects of this I feel to this day---the excessive cold
and wet, so soon after a long sickness, quite broke
my constitution and my foirits---my spirits were soon
restored; but a broken constitution (till remains
with me, as a needful memento of the service and the
wages of tin. In about two months we returned to
the Plantanes- --where I lived under the fame regimen
already mentioned. My haughty heart was now
brought down---not to a wholesome repentance; not
to the language of the prodigal; this was far from me;
but my spirits were funk---! loft all resolution and al
most all reflexion. I had loft the fiercenefs which
fired me when on board the Harwich, and which made
me capable of the most desperate attempts ; but I was no
further changed than a tyger tamed by hunger---re
move the occasion, and he will be as wild as ever.
Yet one thing though strange, is most true---though
destitute of food and clothing---though deprefled to a
degree beyond common wretchednefs', I could some
times colled my mind to mathematical ftudics---the
only book I brought on shore was Euclid's Elements---
I drew my diagrams with a long hick upon .he sand---
thus I often beguiled my sorrows--- and almost forgot
my feeling---and thus, without any other afliftance,
I made myfelf, in a good meafu e, maker of the firft
fix books of Euclid.
[To be continued.]
The legislature formed a plan for the cmiliion of
twenty thousand pounds, to be let out at four per
cent, on land security, redeemable at a future peri
od, carrying an interest at fix per cent, and to be a
tender in taxes for the internal support of the state,
and for fees and salaries of the officers of govern
ment. This plan was sent as early as the fourteenth
instant, to the several towns, to collect their minds
upon the fubjed.
On the twentieth, at four of the clock in the af
ternoon, about 4.00 men on horseback and on foot,
entered the town of Exeter, where the general court
were fitting. About fifty of them, or perhaps more,
were armed with muskets, and the others with blud
geons. Their principal leader appeared to be one
Moses French, a farmer of Hampftead, aided by one
Coffin, a major in the militia, and two or three
others. They affeded military parade, and hid a
drum: after they had halted a while, they sent a
paper into the house of reprefentatiyes, who were
convened in the meetinghouse, demanding an answer
to their former petition without delay; it was dated
on Exeter Plain, and signed “ Moles French,
moderator."
The house appointed a committee of three, to be join
ed by a committee from the fenate,to take the matter in
to consideration. 1 his vote the senate unanimously non
concurred.—Whereupon, a conference took place in the
meetinghouse, between the two branches of tbe legisla
ture. The president (general Sullivan) beingex officio,
a senator, opened the matter, by giving publickly, in
the hearing of the people, and as many of the mob
as chose to attend, the reasons on which the senate non
concurred the vote of the house. He firft considered
the petition, and shewed with great firength of rea
soning, and very coolly, the extreme folly, as well
as the very great injustice of the prayerof their former
petition. And also observed, that even if the mea
sure was just and reasonable, the general court ought
not to pay any attention to it, as it had the voice of
thirty towns only, out of two hundred in favour of
it. He concluded by faying, that if the voice of the
whole state was for the measure, yet the legislature
American Intelligence.
BOSTO N, Sept. 25.
Account of the late disturbance in New-Hamp
foire —by a gentleman who was prejent.
IN the beginning of the year 1785, the Complaints
of those unhappy people, who had contracted
debts during the time of the too great plenty of mo
ney, induced the legislature to pal's an act, making
every species of property a tender, at an appraised
value, it was soon, however, found from experi
ence, that this answered no purpose, but to prevent a
demand on the part of the creditors, and a neglect
on the part of the debtors, to difeharge their just
debts. The scarcity of money still remained a com
plaint; for, as far as goods arid-real property were
substituted as a medium in commerce, so far specie,
of course, ceased to circulate; and credit being thus in
jured, the money-holders turned their keys on that
cafn, which might otherwise have been loaned to
the needy.
In August last, a convention of committees from
about thirty towns assembled. They agreed upon, and
preferred to the general court a long petition, setting
forth their grievances on account of the scarcity of
money, and praying for an emission of paper bills
of credit.
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N E W-Y O R K, Sept. 20.
NORTH PO L E.
Extract of a letter from Captain Wyatt, of the Jhife
Whale, to his friend in London, dated Leith, July 24.
" Dear Sir,
" Upon our passage to the northward, we made
Hackluyt's Headland, in Spitzenbergen, on the .38th
of May last. We then ran N. N. W. about ten leagues,
after which we fleered north ten leagues, then N. N. E.
and afterwards N. having a fine southerly wind, for
the mildness of the weather and openness of the sea,
induced me to go as far to the northward as pofoble ;
but to my great surprise, in lat 87 deg. north, we
found no ice. I therefore determined to go to the
north pole, well knowing the discovery of a pa
of that importance, if fuccefsful, would more
indemnify me for the voyage, and as the ship was
own, I could therefore stand to the loss. In la:
deg. north, we were alarmed with a rumbling none
like thunder at a distance. As there was but little
wind southerly, the imall fails were taken in, and the
courses hauled up and furled; but we kill kept our
course to the northward under our topsails, and the
noise increased the further north we got---when the
noise became excessively loud, we difeovered some
thing like an ice hill about three leagues off, the sai
lors called out land, we therefore founded in sixty
fathoms water, and constantly kept the lead going af
terwards. When we were a league off, the anchor
was let go in ten fathom water. The shore seemed
ought not to comply with it, while they were surround
ed by an armed force. To do it, would be to betray
the rights of the people, which they had all solemnly
engaged to support : and no consideration of personal
danger should ever impel him to so flagrant a viola
tion of the constitutional rights of the people, who
had placed him in the chair of government.
As soon as this speech was made, the mob beat to
arms, and surrounded the meetinghouse, where the pre
sident, the senate and the house remained. Those of
the mob who had muskets, were ordered to charge
with ball, which command they instantly obeyed.
The house proceeded to business as usual, wither
taking any manner of notice of the manageme
the doors,-at each of which centinels were ।
with fixed bayonets, and the whole legislature w
prisoners. After fun set, the president attempted tv
come out, but was prevented by a firm column. He
reasoned very coolly with them on the impropriety
and fatal tendency of their conduc'd, and assured them
that the force of the state would support the govern
ment; which they denied with as much confidence as
he had averted it. In this state affairs remained till
the evening was quite dark; the minds of the sober
part of the people were exasperated at the indignity ;
while the mob clamoured some paper money, some
an equal distribution of property, some the annihi
lation of debts, some release of all taxes, and all
clamoured against law and government. A drum
was now heard at a distance, and a number of men
huzzaing for government. The mob appeared fright
ed, and some of them began to run. Ihe president
told them he would prevent bloodshed, and walked
through them, the general court following.
On this the insurgents retired to another part of
the town, and the legislature, who had throughout
the whole, a&ed with the most inimitable firmnefs
and magnanimity, resumed their business, and requelt
ed the president to call foith the power of the date
to quell the rebellion. At eleven at night he iffuec
his orders: and by fun rife the next morning, the
militia were marching in, well armed, with military
music, and other incidents to military movements
The major and brigadier-generals of all the state, as
sembled early in the morning. The gentlemen of
the firft rank and education, emulous to save a go
vernment, for which they had done and fuffered so
much, appeared either on foot or horse, in order:
and an enthusiasm, quite inexpressible by words, ap
peared through the whole. About ten o'clock, the
president, attended by the general officers, followed
by several companies, advanced towards the insur
gents, who were drawn up at a tavern, in the outer
part of the town. There was no conflict; the mob
fled, and nothing was to be done but to pick up the
prisoners. A number who had run, made a stand al
a bridge. General Cilly soon came up with them
rushed in and seized their leaders, one of whom or
dered them to lire, but government appeared with
such force that they dared not to obey, ribout forty
of them were made prisoners, and are now in goal
to be tried for high treason—the rest are fled to their
lurking places, from whence they mull be dragged
to an ignominious death, unless the clemency of go
vernment shall pity and save them. By this time
there were more than two thousand men in arms,
about three hundred of whom were horse, all ready
to make any exertions to preserve legal government
and thedue execution of the laws. The sentiment was
constantly re echoed, “ How can we live without
government? Shall we give ourselves up to a mob ?'
If the legislature appeared magnanimous the preced
ing day, a free government, the people's government,
shone this day with a splendor and glory that never
was before equalled.