The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-08-22 00:00:00, page 2

(Copy)
Gentlemen, WritebaU, ,tb March, 1781.
THAV E received your dispatch of the 2d of Ja-
I nuary, and one from Sir Henry Clinton ofthe 20th ;
and had the honour to lay them before the King.
Your declaration of the 29th December, inclofed
in your joint dispatch, will, I trust, be productive
of all the good effects you hope from it, and which
so well timed a publication intitles you to expect,
and I shall be very happy to carry to the King an
application to you from any of the revolted provin
ces for pardon, and reßoration to the privileges of
British fubjeCts.
The narrow limits to which you have reduced
your exceptions, and the generality of the assurances
you have given of a refforation of the former con
feitutions, were, I doubt not, well considered and
judged necessary and expedient; but as there are
many things in the constitutions of some of the co
lonies, and some things in all, which the people
have always wiined to be altered, and others which
the common advantage of both countries required
to be changed, it is necessary to be attentive that
either your acts or declarations preclude any dis
quisitions of such fubjecls, or prevent such alterati
ons being made'in their constitutions, as the people
may solicit or consent to. The inftru&ions trans
mitted to the truttees of rebel estates in Carolina,
appear to be very proper and applicable to the case
of the British creditors, and those to whom I have
communicated them express themfelvcs well fatisfi
ed with them. 1 am, Gentlemen,
Your mofl obedient bumble ferqjant,
(Signed) GEORGE GERMAINE.
Commissioners for re/loring Peace.
[All propositions from Great-Britain for a resti
tution of peace, from Lord North's conciliatory
plan to the above extraordinary declaration, have
been a series of treacherous arts and designed am
biguity; and no one, but a person of Lord George
Germaine's ambiguous character, could so peremp
torily have decided that the exceptions alluded to in
this declaration were reduced to narrow limits.
" Excepting always such person who have been in
ftrumcntal in putting to death any of his Majesty's
loyal fubje&s," are the words of the commissioners,
when stripped of fuperfluous expressions. Are these
narrow limits ? What description of persons or crimes
do they contain ? All officers who have given sentence
upon courtsmartial forthe condemnation of spies and
villains are fully comprehended ; all judges, justices,
iheriffs, constables and other petty officers, jurymen,'
witnesses, and fpe&ators at the time of execution,
may be said to be instrumental “ in putting to death
his Majesty's loyal fubje&s." The word "instru
mental" is indefinite and of almost unbounded ex
tent. All causes, however remote, which conduce
to an event, arc " instrumental," and in the present
case, all those who made the laws to enable the judg
es to pronounce sentence; all those who ele&ed the
Legillators ; all those who contributed, either in the
pe&ed to be wanted, and were to have gone to the
northward. One es the regiments mutinied a few
days since at Dorchester ; in quelling which near an
hundred men were killed and wounded : It is said to
have arisen from the nature of the service the men
were employed in, different from what they expect
ed. They came over as settlers, not as soldiers.
Nothing can equal the cruel ravages of the enemy
in these part, where they leave the country. The
tones are all ordered down below Orangeburgh, but
I believe few will go ; and I am happy to hear a far
less number have joined the enemy, in their ^te
movements, than was expected. The militia on
our fide are increasing: In Georgia a considerable
body are collected, and in readiness to defend the
state.
Extract of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Lee,
dated July 3d.
" KNOWING the deftreffed state of the British
army, and having learnt that his Lordship had left
a body of his cavalry at Ninety-fix, I detached
Captain Armstrong with an additional troop to rein
force Captain Eggleftone, with advice to pals the river
Saluda, to gain the forage country, and to seek an
opportunity for striking at the enemy's foragers.
In the night of the 2d Captain Eggleftone fortu
nately crossed the enemy undiscovered, and took
a judicious position two miles in their front. Ear
ly in the entiling morning, the main body of the
British horse were observed advancing. On the firft
notice preparations were made for manoeuvring,
and the enemy presuming on a militia prize, pushed
on with vigour: They were met with great gallan
try, and were in a few moments entirely defeated,
and pursued to the piquets ofthe army. One Capt.
one Lieutenant, and one Cornet and forty-five pri
vates were brought off, with their horses, arms and
accoutrements; but one man escaped.
" Captain Egglcftone speaks in the most hand
foine terms ofthe zeal displayed by the soldiers on this
occasion, and declares the greatest obligations to
Captain Armstrong and Cornet Winston, who second
ed his exertions with the most exemplary intrepidity
and judgment. Captain Eggleftone has claim to eve
ry praise for his efforts, and adds to the many ob
ligations which his zeal for the publick service, and
unwearied attention to duty, had imposed on his
commanding officer."
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry.
civil or military line, to the revolution, have been
" instrumental" in executing incorrigible tories
and villains, whose crimes could be exceeded only
by the superior enormities of George the Third, and
his abandoned ministry. These are limits in which
the greatest poflible scope may be given to inexora
ble malice, and where the sanguinary monarch may
glut his appetite with the best blood of America!
These, O Britain ! Are thy terms of proffered mercy
to thole thou calleft thy deluded children ; calculat
ed for " the removal of distress by the remission of
offences," and may succeed when the citizens of
America cease to be men, when the sacred love of
freedom dial! be banished from the earth, and when
Heaven shall cease to guqrd the rights of mankind !
The avowed object of the commission, and which
comprehends " too general assurances," are " the re
storation of the benefits of an extensive commerce,"
" and the enabling the conft tutional officers of govern
ment to re-atiume their former functions." A com
merce fubjed to the limitations, and reftri&ions of
a flagitious parliament, and permitted only as a chan
nel through which the fruits of our honest industry
may be wrested from us to support these " constitu
tional officers" in the exercise of their oppressive
" functions." What might we expect from a redo
ration of our former local legislatures ? The minider
is undilguifed, and directs the commissioners, that
" neither in their acts or declarations they preclude
disquisitions of fubje&s which refer to the alteration
of former conditutions." These are alterations
“ which the people may solicit or content to." By
" people," we presume his Lordship intends the
tories, or " loyal fubje&s ;" for all others are com
piled " in the limits and the exceptions ;" and after
a fufficient number of them shall be facrificed to re
duce the remainder to a date of abjett servility and
despondency, so as to prevent the possibility of future
oppolition, it would not be difficult to introduce
such forms of government as would bed firit the
purposes of tyranny and oppression. What trust or
confidence can be placed in a nation that makes
assurances with delign to evade them, and, under
the solemn declaration of " sincerity and affectionate
intentions," reserves a power to sport with the
rights of free communities—Witness the kind of
government instituted in Charleftown, under " the
board of police" Philadelphia can declare the
wretched fate of the unfortunate citizens of that
town. Notwithstanding the mod solemn capitulati
on, by which their persons were to be iafe, and
their property secured to them, they arc inhumanly
robbed of all their possessions, driven amongst dran
gers to seek lubfittence for famifhing wives and
helpless children! Governor Tonyn in a late speech
to the legislature of Ealt-Florida, has given a ffyple
of tlie intended reforms in the colonial governments :
His words are, “ the result of your deliberations,
gentlemen, will not only be of con sequence to this
province, but to his Majesty's government in gene
ral, and will at lead give a tin&ure to future As
semblies; and as one of the chief reasons assigned
for this unnatural rebellion in the colonies, refuf
ing to acknowledge the supreme right and authori
ty of the British Parliament, to prevent as far as
poflible any future contest upon so just and equitable
a point, I hope your good sense and attachment to
the,conditution will lead you in the mod publick
and avowed manner, by an aCt of the provincial
legislature, to recognize your allegiance to the bleff
ed' Prince upon the throne, and the supremacy of
Parliament ; thereby to edablilh upon the mod solid
foundation, our copditutional liberties and depen
dencies." The obsequious Assembly re-echoed the
Governor's sentiments, in the mod submissive lan
guage, and have given an example, worthy, in his
I.ordfllip's opinion, to be followed by the United
States. To the feelings of every citizen of Ameri
ca let the appeal be now made —On the one hand
the glorious profpe& is not far distant of enjoying
in peace, in fafety the inedimable blessings of civil
and political liberty, secured under the mod excel
lent constitutions, formed by themselves, and sup
ported, with unshaken fortitude, through every
hazard and againd every danger:—On the other, a
base return to the mod barbarous of matters, with
the dreadful, though certain expectations of feeling
all the effects of British clemency —Halters for the
mod virtuous and brave ; chains, whips and scourges
for their remaining brethren, enforced with all the
horrors oftory revenge, fan&ified by the exertion of
supreme legislation in the Parliament, inflamed by
reientment, and rendered familiar by a long series
of cruelty, to every idea of inhumanity.]
LONDO N, May 17.
Since the news of the unfortunate capture of our
Euftatia fleet on the 2d current, the publicly has
been pestered with a variety of reports concerning
them. One of these yesterday went so far as to fay,
that the grand fleet, under Admiral Darby, had fal
len in with them, and retaken all the transports, to
gether with four line of battle ships belonging to the
French, and that one only of their m^n of war had
escaped. We are sorry to add that 110 confirmation
has yet been received of this matter. It is some con
solation, however, to reflect, that after the word'
which has happened touching this misfortune, the
Vengeance, with all the prize money on board her,
is certainly fafe.
Two thousand soldiers are to be sent out in the
next fleet to America.
B o s t o n, August 6.
Friday lad arrived the privateer Ihip Thorn—Ard
on Saturday arrived a privateer Ihip, formerly called
the Saucy Jack, of Salem, prizes to the French fri
gates Hemoine and I'AI rca.—The Thorn lately
failed from this port, commanded by Capt. Tucker,
and had been captured by the British frigate Hinde,
five days previous to her falling in with the above
frigates.—'l he Saucy Jack was captured by the Bri
tilh about twelve months since, ard was ernifing in
consort with the Charleftown, (formerly the Boden)
who at the fame time surrendered; but taking an
advantage of a thick fog got off.
Lad week arrived at New-London, a ship of up
wards of four hundred tons, said to be immensely
rich. It's certain they offered a ranforn of £. ioc,ooo
herl. She was captured by the privateer schooner
Minerva, Capt. Dudley Saltondall of New-London ;
was from London, bound to New-York, with feve
"', others tinder strong convoy, but separated in a
gale of wind.—Her cargo corfifts of dry goods.—
The Minerva has also captured a schooner of lo gons,
from New-York, ard the Rising-Sun of Philadelphia.
The ihip Harlequin of Salem, hat sent in there
since our last, three prizes; Several others have also
arrived there since Wednesday last.
By a gentleman from New-York a few days since,
we learn that a considerable number of empty trans
ports lately failed from that place, bound to the south
ward.
The privateer sloop Randolph, Capt. Peck, ha^
arrived at Providence from a cruize, and carried in
with her a Ihip from Bristol. —Her cargo consists of
1500 barrels of flour, 100 crocks of butter, a quan
tity of cheese, window glass, hard ware, &c. The
above ihip, previous to her falling in with the Ran
dolph, had been in company with a veflel that foun
dered, out of which the took the crew, also about
1 600 beaver hats, feme trunks of ffioes, &c.
' I is reported, a vessel is arrived at Marblehead
from Cadiz, which fail'd in company with a fleet of
15 fail of the line, besides transports, with jeoo
troops on board, bound for the Weft-Indies ; so
that it is probable we shall soon have some news
from that quarter.
U ednefday last arrived here a prize schooner, la
den with salt, bound from St. Martins for Charlef
town, captured by the Bellifarius, Capt. Munroe.
Friday last arrived here the Cartel Trepaffa, from
Newfoundland, but last from Halifax, with about
130 of our countrymen who had been taken prison-
, s ° " e Trepaffa was taken by the Alliance on
hei padage from France as has been before men
tioned.
Friday last arrived in the port of Salem, seven
prizes, one privateer and a merchantman.
EW p O R T, July 28.
I he French frigate Surveilante, of 32 guns, com
manded by M. de Cillart, arrived a few days ago
111 this port, has had a very severe engagement with
a British man of war, supposed to be a 44 gun ship,
near the Behama islands; an engagement which
cncreafes the reputation that frigate acquired in her
battle with the Quebec; the following relation of
her late engagement may be depended upon.
The sth of June the Surveilante, trying to enter
the Channel to the windward of Mogane, saw a large
vessel four leagues to the windward cf her, at dark
the vessel bore down upon her, M. de Cillart made
clear ship, and continued to ply to the windward,
in company with a merchantman he had under his
convoy.
At nine o'clock, the enemy being at one mile's
distance, M. de Cillart tacked and stood for her,
soon after the engagement began both vessels upon
different tacks ; after they had fired their broadsides,
the enemy bore down to attack the Surveilante in her
quarter, the did the fame to avoid the difadvanta-
St. CHRISTOPHE R's, June 26.
By a vessel from Barbadoes, which failed from
that island on Wednesday last, we are favoured with
the following intelligence, which on the whole is
not so favourable to us as could be wished. Admi
ral Rodney as soon as he received notice of the invest
ing of Tobago, dispatched Admiral Drake with se
ven fail of the line, to the relief of that island. This,
Admiral, not far from Tobago, fell in with the whole
French fleet, and narrowly escaped being captured :
He returned to Barbadoes the third day after l^
failing from thence, when Admiral Rodney, with
twenty fail of the line, and the Panther which a&s
as a frigate, with eight frigates, failed immediately
for Tobago; when off that island the Admiral's pi
lot, Mr. Carter, was dispatched in a tender to pro
cure intelligence, he landed at Barbadoes bay, and
was informed by a gentleman there, that 5000
men had been landed from the French fleet, and
that the island had capitulated two days before.
The terms obtained were the fame as those granted
to Dominica; the Admiral was then in fight of the
French fleet, which lay to, to receive him; but as
Tobago was taken, their fleet much superior to his,
the Cork fleet momently expected, and which must
be taken in case he had been worsted, and as he mo
mently expected a reinforcement of seven fail of the
line, he prudently returned to Carlifle bay in Barba
does.
It is uncertain what day Tobago surrendered,
some lay the 2d, others the 9th inst.