The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-02-25 00:00:00, page 2

For the New-Jersey Gazette.
THE detention of Burgoyne and his army, until the
Convention of Saratoga is ratified in the Court of
Great-Britain, is a measure fourfded on the truest po
licy and the ftfidteft justice. Ever since the commence
ment of the present war, it hath been the cruel and
perfidious policy of Britain to confider us as rebels,
with whom engagements were not to be observed and
whom the might treat with the utmost severity.--Early
in the contest we find the king's representative in the
double character of Governor and General, violating
his plighted faith, and in defiance of a publick and
solemn treaty with the inhabitants of Bolton, detain
ing them prisoners and robbing them of their proper
ty :---For these, it seems, were men, " Whose lives
by the laws of the land were destined to the cord."
His surly successor carefully treads in the fame trad
of perfidy, and seldom hath he deviated from it —
Three thousand freemen capitulate on condition of
being treated as prisoners of war —but the moment
their arms are out of their hands, they are treated as
rebels, crowded together in the holds of transports, or
amidst the unwholfome damps of churches, and fuf
.fered to perish with hunger and cold —The parlia
ment itfelf, conlidering the feamep in the service of
these States as pirates and rebels, worthy to die, have
cruelly condemned them when taken, to. shed the
blood of their brethren and friends, directing that
they be entered as volunteers on board their ships of
war, and punifoed with death if they presume to de
fert —But these ads, it seems, did not speak plain
enough, —Lord Stormont has been more explicit—-he
has given us his matter's determination on this head,
and has assured the American Ambassadors at the
court of France, that "he treats not with rebels, ex
cept when they come to ask pardon"—Thus consi
dered, and thus treated as we are, can folly itfelf sup
pose that the British tyrant would confider the Con
vention of Saratoga as sacred and inviolable ; or that
a haughty parliament, in the plenitude of its omnipo
tence, would regard an agreement which they cpuld
cancel with impunity ?—Nay, did not their Lieute
nant-General himfelf so far disregard the honour of a
gentleman and the faith of the treaty, as to violate it
grossly the moment it was signed ; for it is a known
fad, that between his final agreement to the terms,
and the hour of surrender, the arms were so abused
and mutilated, that of 5000 muikets which were
grounded at the verge of the river, there were not 300
fit for service.
One advantage however hath flowed from our
meekness. It hath convinced the world that the as
persions of our enemies Are falfe, and that cruelty
and outrage are not the charadterifticks of America.
And I hope that our future conduct will also prove
that our forbearance flowed, not from poorness of
spirit, but from the pure principles of policy and
humanity.
*The late resolute measure of the Congress refpeft
ing Burgoyne will , no doubt gall the haughty spirit of
Britain.—She muff either acknowledge that she con
fiders us as an independent power, or she must leave
her northern army prisoners in our hands—lt will
show her that we are determined to be trampled on no
longer---It will teach her to refpeCt us as freemen,
and will compel her to be honest by making it her
interest.---I hope the spirit which dictated this man
ly resolve will never subside in our national council.
We have crouched to insult long enough---For the
future let us aft with that resolution which should
mark the character of an independent people---Let
every injury meet its proper retaliation---Let us
treat them as robbers and murderers when they pre
sume to treat us as rebels—our character will rife in
the eyes of the world as well as of the enemy---
But if loft to a sense of interest, of honour and of
justice, we tamely submit to be treated as the rebel
fubjeds of a tyrant,---let us blush to fay we are free
and independent.
Pennf. san. 28, 1778. ADOLPHUS.
Mr. Printer, January 9, 1778.
ANY hint or improvement in agriculture, ought
to be communicated to the publick, especially
at the time of this unhappy struggle, when necessity
will, if inclination don't, urge each individual to
ceconomy and industry—the grand article ofthe cul
ture of flax at this juncture, deserves a particular at
tention I last season made the following expe
riment, having often heard of a second crop of flax,
that is, to sow the fame ground over again with
flax-feed as soon as the firft crop is taken off.—l was
of an opinion, that if it would answer then, it was.
These repeated violations of all that is honour
able and just, forbid us to trust the faith of Britain
again until the publicly and expressly acknowledges
our national capacity to make treaties, and our power
to bind her Generals —We have pursued an open and
ingenuous conduce long enough—we have pursued it
too long —for in no instance did it ever induce a simi
lar return —We treated them generoully while they
violated every principle of juftice —We treated them
kindly while they outraged every sentiment of huma
nity We remonstrated often but we flopped
ihort in remonstrance., and seldom proceeded to reta
liation---- We have borne their cruelty and. frauds
with a patience unparallel'd in history with a pati
ence which sometimes appeared to border on timi
dity ; and frequently have they braved us, and said
that we treated them well because we dared not use
them ill---My cheek reddens with ihame and indigna
tion at the recollection of the insult.
highly probable it would do three weeks or a month
sooner had about two acres of common pasture
land, ploughed and intended for wheat ; one half I
had crofs-ploughed and well harrowed, the other
was only harrowed, on which I sowed the feed
pretty thick the last week in June, andin ten weeks
from the time of sowing, I had the flax pulled, spread
and fufficiently rotted for dressing; the flax, accord
ing to the opinion of good judges, was well linted
and very foft ; and that there will be at least an hun
dred and forty weight of flax from the two bushels
of feed, which I account as so much clear gain,
having a tolerable good crop put in at the usual
time, and a lucky fhift for any farmer, whose early
sown flax may be cut short by the froft or any other
accident. Yours, &c.
A Farmer of Middlesex, South Raritan.
L O ND O N, OF. 31.
T ORD Chatham is better in health than he has been
' for many years pas. Apartments are taken in
tgwn for his winter rejidence, by which it is foppofed
he means to give elofe attendance at FVeJlminJler the
enfamgfeffions.
Upwards of thirty foil of Jhips, with their lading on
board, are now detained in the river for want cf fai
tors ; and so great is the scarcity of landsmen, that the
ordinary [earner refufe to go on board, unless the cap
tains will Jign to give them 31. 16s. per month, during
the whole voyage.
Extract of a-letter from L'Orient, Oct. 10.
" Four prizes to American privateers are now lying
in this harbour, two of them Weft-Indiamen, one a
brig from Ireland to Bourdeaux, and the fourth a
Newfoundlander. The privateers took care to get
rid of the masters and mates, and the crew never care
for the Jbip and cargo, if they can get their clothes and
liberty ; so that though the court of France has ordered
no Prizes to be admitted, yet who is to claim them ?
And before letters can be sent to England, and received
from thence, the vefeJs and cargoes are fold, and the
money disposed of.
Last Tuesday arrived here the Jbip Portfmoutb, John
Hart, commander, in nine weeks from Bourdcaux.-—
On his passage to this place, fell in with and took the'
following vessels, viz. Brig Emperor of Germany, la
den with beef anti butter : Brig George, laden with dry
ffo : Brig Swan, of 8 carriage guns, laden with beef,
butter and herrings : And letter of marque Jhip, New
Duckinfelf mounting 20 carriage guns, laden with
dry goods, wines, &c. #
N E W-LOND O N, Jan. 23.
The Alfred frigate, capt. Hinman, belonging to the
United States, is arrived at France, where she carried
in and fold two Jamaica men of considerable value.
YORK-TOWN, ( Pennfy/vania.)
In CONGRESS, December 30, 1777.
Refolded,
THAT all persons inhabitants of any of these
United States, who have voluntarily inlifted, or
shall so inlift with or join the enemy ofthe said United
States, and have been or flhall be taken in arms, be
confined in close goals, fubjed to be delivered up to
the refpe&ive States, to which they refpedtively be
long, to be dealt with agreeable to the laws thereof;
'and that the Commissary General of prisoners and
his deputies be directed from time to time to transmit
to the refpe&ive States the names of such of their
citizens, who have been made prisoners.
February 9.
Refolded, That it be recommended to the supreme
executive powers of every State, to give attention to
the conduct and behaviour of all continental officers,
civil or military, in the execution of their refpedive
offices : That the said executive powers be authorifed
to suspend from pay and employment for misbeha
viour or neglect of duty,within their refpedive States,
any officer of the Staff, or other civil, officer aforefaid
not immediately appointedby Congress, and to make
a temporary appointment in his place, if necessary,
and to remove such of the said civil officers as shall
appear to be supernumerary, forthwith reporting in
either case their proceedings to Congress. That in
case of any reprehensible conduct in any other officer
of the United States, it be recommended to the exe
cutive powers aforefaid, to inquire into the circum
stances of the case, and if in a civil officer appointed
by Congress, to transmit an account thereof to Con
gress, if in a military officer, to lay the fame as soon
as poffibie before the Commander in Chief, or Com
manding Officer of the department.
Refolded, That it be recommended to the Legisla
tures of the several States, to enaft laws for the most
speedy and effectual recovery of debts due to the
United States of America.
BURLINGTON, Feb. 25.
To the Inhabitants of New-Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia.
Friends, Countrymen and Fellow Citizens !
AFTER three campaigns, during which the brave
fubjeds of these States have contended, not un
fuccefsfully, witW one of the most powerful king
doms on earth, we now find ourselves at least upon
a level with our opponents ; and there is the belt
PORTSMOUTH, (N. II.) Jan. 20.
Extras froth the minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
reason to believe that efforts adequate to the abili
ties of this country, would enable us speedily to
conclude the war, and to secure the invaluable
blessings of peace, liberty and fafety. With this
view, it is in contemplation, at the opening of the
next campaign, to assemble a force fufficient not
barely to cover the country from a repetition of those
depredations, which it hath already fuffered, but
also to operate offenlively, and to strike some decisive
blow.
In the prosecution of this objed, it is to be feared
that so large an army may fuffer for the want of
providers.—The distance between this and the east
ern States, whence considerable fupnlies of flelh.
have been hitherto drawn, will neceifarily render
those fupplies # extremely precarious. And unleH
the virtuous yeomanry of the States of New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, will exert
themselves to prepare cattle for the use of the army,
during the months of May, June and July next,
great difficulties may arise in the course of the cam
paign : It is, therefore, recommended to the inha
bitants of those States, to put up and feed immedi
ately, as many of their frock-cattle as they can spare,
so as that they may be driven to this army within
that period.. A bountiful price will be given, and
the proprietors may assure themselves that they will
render a most essential service to the illustrious cause
of their country, and contribute, in a.great degree,
to shorten this bloody contest. But should there be
any so insensible to the common interest, as not to
exert themselves upopthefe generous principles, the
private interest of those whose situation makes them
liable to become immediate fubjeds to the enemy'^
incursions, should prompt them at least to a measure
which is calculated to save their property from plun
der, their families from insult, and their own oer
fons from abuse, hopeless confinement, or perhaps
a violent death.
G. WASHINGTON.
Head-Barters, Valley-Forge, February 18, 1778.
We hear that an exchange of prisoners is soon to
fake place between General Washington and General
Howe, the latter having contented to give up the
point so long in dispute about the prisoners fentout
last winter on parole : Most of them were treated so
hardly that they died soon after their arrival among
us, or were rendered for-ever unfit for service; and
confequentlv were not proper objects of an exchange.
Last Monday a handsome collection of eloath
ing and linen was sent to the hospital at Princeton,
for the use of the tick and wounded, being the sea
sonable and charitable donation of the Rev. Mr.
Green's congregation in Hanover, Morris county.
A transport Jbip, having on board upwards of 200
American prisoners, lately left Halifax under convey
of an Englijb frigate, bound for New-rork-.-Fortu
natcly a form arose soon after they left port, and, fe
paruting the transport from her convoy, the prisoners
rose and made themselves masters of the Jbip, and car
ried her into Marblehead.
It is reported, that on Sunday fe'nnight upwards of
100 ofthe enemy's foot, and a number of cavalry, were
made prisoners near Derby, by a detachment from ^ur
army under the command of General Scott.
Several deserters have come to this city from Phila
delphia face our last.
From Philadelphia we learn, that great part of
Charles-Town, the capital of South-Carolina, has lately
been by accident reduced to afoes.
From a New-York Paper we have extracted the fol
lowing Intelligence, viz.
LONDO N,
Dec. 9. General Haldimand, the new appointed
Governor of Quebec, is now in Germany aiding the
endeavours of Col. Fauch, to procure more troops
for the service of Great-Britain.
It is asserted, that notwithstanding the present un
promising afpe& of bur affairs in America, Admini
stration are determined to prosecute the war with
greater vigour than ever ; 'for which'purpofe 25,000
additional troops are to be sent over in the spring.
A bill was read the second time for the continu
ance of an aQ, intitled, " An aft for receiving and
lodging in proper prisons, all such persons as shall be
found guilty or fufpefted of high treason in his Ma
jesty's colonies in America, or on the high seas, &c."
The following German troops, are said to be nego
ciated by Colonel Faucit, in addition to those already
in America.
From the Duke of Wirtemberg, 3000
From the Prince of Hesse, 2500
From the Duke of Mecklenberg, 3CCO
From the Margrave of Anfpach, 1000
From the Duke of Saxe Gotha, acco
Total 11,500
Dec. 10. The conference between Lord Weymouth
and the French Ambassador on Monday last, is said
to be in consequence of a determination in the cabi
net to employ 20,000 Ruffians, for the ensuing cam
paign.
Dec. 11. From Dublin we learn, that three re
giments of Roman Catbolicks are again become objects
of publick attention, and that it is generally believed
will be e/labliJbed, and sent to America.
We hear from undoubted authority that the prin
cipal inhabitants of the loyal town of Manchester,
as soon as they had received the disagreeable news
from Quebec, met and resolved to make an offer to
his Majesty, to raise him a thousand men, or more.