The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-12-22 00:00:00, page 2

For the New-Jersey Gazette.
Mr. Honestus,
ALTHOUGH lam wo redoubtable champion in
any fort, yet I cannot fit still and fee such pro
durations as your last pass through the channel of the
Gazette to the publick, without exposing the wretch
ed inconsistencies it contains. You seem to throw
the gantelope to all around you, and, Quixote like,
are for raffing up enemies to combat with, that you
may shew your skill in difcomfitting them. Your
position that regulation is a solecism in politicks, is to
me a most extraordinary one, and the illustration or
proof is wholly unintelligible; unless you mean that
A stands for A —s and B for B—k-h---d, and then
I can easily conceive that A=B ; or, supposing A to
stand for yourself, that you may very well make
A=2 B, or two 81---k-h--ds, or even 3 B or three
B--k-h--ds.
But to leave this Jeu d'Efprit of yours, for I can
conceive it to be nothing else, let us proceed to some
of your expressions and principles---You ask whether
the fame feene of iniquity is to be again repeated, the
meaning of which is that you accuse Congress of a
feene of iniquity- -pray what do you mean by this
charge ? Do you suppose that the members of Con
gress have filled their pockets, or that they have aded
as betrayers of their country ?---If you know of any
such it is your duty to expose their names--if you
do not, why do you charge them with iniquitous
pradices ?
I believe there never was a fubjed in any age or
country so bespattered and beplaiftered with non
sensical obfeivations as this of our paper money
The plain fact is this---The Rights of these States
are attacked by the ministers and parliament of
Great-Britain. The advances were carried on flow
at firft, and in so desultory a manner that we every
now and then entertained hopes of fettling the dis
pute upon terms advantageous to our liberties. But
after flattering ourselves some time in this way, they
assailed us in a more open and hostile manner---we
were determined to maintain our Rights inviolate,
but had not time to raise funds or procure arms,
cloathing or military stores. Our harbours were shut
up, our ships taken in every quarter, and, by this
means, the prices of all things imported encreafed,
occasioned by the rilk and the diminution of our
trade.---The only expedient in our power was then
to put in practice what we had often before tried
with success, namely, to strike paper money—This
was done, and it parted as gold and filver —The war
went on, the ships of our enemies multiplied on the
coast, our trade became more embarrassed, the prices
of all imported articles doubled, and as we raised no
taxes on ourselves, the constant expenditures neces
sarily increased the quantity of paper, till it has ex
ceeded fix times more than is necessary for a medium
of trade—lt is true the bills express, that " the bear
r is entitled to receive Spanish milled dollars, or an
equal sum in gold or silver," and some men are so ri
diculous or absurd as to exped, after having seen and
been convinced of the truth of what I have already
mentioned, that Congress should perform in the very
terms of the bills. What is Congress but the Repre
sentatives of the United States of America —In fad,
the ability of Cong-efs is nothing more than the abi
lity of America —They have not the secret of the phi
losopher's stone, to turn base metals into gold—they
have no other real wealth but the purses, the affedion
and confidence of the inhabitants of America.
But the question is, what is now to be done in the
present emergency ?—Are we to lit with arms across
and vent our fplenetick complaints, like old women ?
—Remember the fable of Jupiter and the waggoner,
who, having got his waggon into a slough, prayed to
Jupiter to draw it out for him—But the God reproved
his Doth, and ordered him to clap his Jboulder to the
qvheel.
As no man can doubt the ability of America to be
competent to the discharge of the present debt, on
supposition of a peace happening soon, there is no
reason why the prices of all things should be fuffered
to increase as they have done, in a ratio so far ex
ceeding the point at which the depreciation ought to
be, from the quantity of money emitted—This quan
tity, as I said before, is about fix times more than is
necessary for a medium of trade; therefore, the
prices at which the produce of this country should
fell according to this rule, are as fix to one, or fix
prices—But Congress having a liberal regard to the
state of America in general atthis time, have recom
mended twenty prices to be given for " articles of
“ domeftick produce, farming and common labour,
" the wages of tradesmen and mechanicks, water
" and land carriage. Articles imported from foreign
'' parts, to be in due proportion with labour and the
" articles as above Rated, making a proper allow
" ance for freight, insurance and other charges—Salt
" and military stores, whether of home manufacture
" or imported from abroad, to be excepted from
“ limitation of price."
It is evident from the difference between the pre
sent prices now current among us and what they
ought to be from the excels of the quantity beyond
what is necessary for a medium, I fay it is evident
how great have been the arts of dishonest and difaf
feded men.---The taxes this year will be very confi
derablc--this circumstance and the striking no more
bills will, at the end of the next year, without the
other aids which Congress are devising, if the pre
sent limitations are ftriftly enforced by severe penal
laws and carried through in every state, put us on a
most enviable footing. Every man will then fee the
wisdom and policy of the present measure, and feel
the benefit arising from it.
CASSIUS.
LO N1)O N, Augtf 25.
YES FERDAY it was currently reported, that
the combined fleets of France and Spain had
taken an English fllip bound for Quebec, laden with
military cloathing, stores, &c. and having besides
200,0001 in specie on board.
We (hall probably be informed from France next
week, of the proceedings of the combined fleets in
the English channel, and of the numerous captures,
which they have made; for we cannot well have an
account afeertained for some time from any other
quarter, when besides the Ardent, we Ihall read the
capture of the Ramillies, of 90 guns; the Marlbo
rough, of 74; the Seaforth, of 32 guns; with two
hundred thousand guineas on board for the'pay of
the troops in Canada, two of her convoy, one with
soldiers cloathing, the other a rich ftorefhip, and
the Alert cutter, and a variety of ships of different
denominations, which detail will be wound up with
a boast, unfortunately too well founded, of their tri
umphant entry into, and possession of the Channel,
and of the ignominious flight of the British fleet.
Can any man, who has a grain of spirit in his com
position, anticipate this probable account for a mo
ment, without burning with indignation at the name
of Sandwich.
We are sorry to find that a dreadful distemper
rages on board the Foudroyant, one of Sir Charles
Hardy's fleet; insomuch, that one of her officers, in
a letter received a fortnight ago, fays, " that he
hopes to God they may meet the combined fleets
soon, however great their superiority, for that in a
few days time they would not have 100 men able to
work on board her." Similar accounts have been
received from other ships, nor is it to be wondered
at, considering the haity manner in which men were
colleded, which surely need not have been the case,
had Lord Sandwich done his duty.
Extract of a letter from Folkjhne, August 27.
" There is a great murmuring all along our coast,
occasioned by our privateers being blocked up, and
hindered from doing that service they otherwise
would, by keeping the channel clear of French ves
sels, and protesting our merchants ships; if govern
ment does not relieve our privateers, the channel
will soon be filled with French; all our coast at this
time is in great fear and dread, expecting the French
privateers will do some mifehief on shore."
A letter received by the last Lisbon packet, at a
principal house in Dublin, gives intelligence, that
the Fame privateer of that port has taken and car
ried into Meffina, in Sicilly, a French homeward
bound Turkey ship, computed to be worth between
30,0001. and 40,000!. sterling.
They write from Madrid, that frefh orders have
been issued for recruiting the army from every dif
trid with the utmost dispatch. It is added the
Spaniards are fitting out a squadron of men of war
and transports in their several sea-ports, which are
to rendezvous at Cadiz the iftof September, where
they are to take on board alarge body oftroops, and
fail immediately on some secret expedition.
Extra!? of a letter from the Hague, AuguJl 24.
" We have accounts from Lisbon, that the court
is determined to observe the ftrideft neutrality in
the differences between Spain, France and England;
for which end, as soon as the Queen heard Spain
had declared war agairift England, her Majesty im
mediately published an ordinance, permitting the
vessels of all nations, without diftinftion, freely to
enter any ports ofher dominions, either to trade or
repair any damages they may have received by
storms or otherwise. How the King of Spain will
take this condu&, time will shew.
" The States at their last meeting only deliber
ated upon the old story of granting convoys, which
was opposed point-blank by the province of Zealand,
while those of Gelderland, Utrecht, Friefland, 0-
veryffel and Groningen, declared in their answers
to the circular letter from the States of Holland,
that they were not against giving their consent to
the convoy, provided an augmentation was made in
the land forces of the republic, which is at present
much talked of. As to the giving an answer to Sir
Joseph Yorke's memorial, that is again put off to
next week."
Extract of a letter from Scarbro, September 21.
" Yesterday a fltip, (a two decker) a frigate, a
sloop and a cutter, appeared about a mile off the
Pier, supposed to be French; they fired at several
ships, took two, and obliged two others to run into
the harbour, damaging their rigging and fails, by
keeping a continual fire after them; they then
steered their course to the northward."
Sept. 27. A letter from Sunderland, dated the
20th of September, fays, " that an express arrived
there the 18th from Aymouth, with information,
that Paul Jones was off there, with five fail of ships
of war, and 2000 troops on board; that on the 19th
they appeared off Sunderland, and came up within
two miles, which put the inhabitants into great
confufion, as they expected them to land every
hour, or destroy the ships in the harbour. The
inhabitants and soldiers got immediately under arms,
and continued so at the writing of the letter, as
they were still in fight."
Extrallof a letter from Stockton, Sept. 21.
" Copy of an express which arrived here this day
from Sunderland, dated September 21.
" The under-mentioned ships having appeared off
this place, under the command of Paul Jones, we
have sent the bearers to inform all light colliers they
may meet with, to take harbour as soon as possible,
and there to remain till they receive advice of their
being oft the coast; the bearers are to proceed to
Bridlington with all speed. Two ships, appearing to
be 5° guns each; one frigate, about 40 guns ; one
brig, like a collier; two sloops; one snow and one
brig, both armed. E. Linfoall, J. Young,
7. Marshall, J. Smith."
J. Wall,
On Saturday noon two gentlemen of the corpo
ration of Hull arrived express at the Admiralty,
with the alarming account, that the celebrated A
merican corsair, Paul Jones, had entered the river
Humber on Thursday last, and chafed a vessel to
within a mile of the Pier, where he funk, burned
and destroyed sixteen fail of valuable vessels which
threw the whole town and neighbourhood into the
utmost consternation; as a very few men in armed
boats, might have laid the town in allies. He had
taken nine or ten colliers and other veflels a day or
two before he appeared at Hull; one of which, be
ing left to the charge of only four men, her former
crew rose upon them, and carried the vessel into a
port near Hull; and which men state the strength of
his squadron to be as follows:
A Boston-built frigate with 40 guns upon one
deck, (Jones's ship.)
A French ship (an old Indiaman) of 44 guns.
Two American frigates of 32 guns each, new.
One 20 gun ditto.
Two brigantines of 18 guns, and
Two small tenders.
Some of this squadron conducted the prizes they
had made to the coast of France, and returned to
Hull the Friday noon, attended by other Dunkirk
privateers.
On Saturday night another express arrived at the
Admiralty from Hull, (which set out at three in
the morning) with the further disagreeable intelli
gence, that Paul Jones's squadron, after having
done more mifehief in the shipping on Friday, had
fell innvith the Baltic fleet, (for which purpose he
principally ventured to cruize in the North Chan
nel) and had taken their convoy, the Scrapis man of
war of 44 guns, Capt. Pearson, and the armed ship
hired to government by a gentleman of Hull, called
the Countess of Scarborough, Capt. Piercy, of 24
guns. This adion was seen by thousands of spec
tators, and the last express was dispatched in conse
quence of it, and feeing the other ships of Jones's
squadron making havock among the fleet; mod of
which however, had taken shelter near Flamborough
and the Head.
Their plan generally was to alarm the coasts of
Wales, Ireland, the western parts of Scotland and
the North Channel, while the combined fleets kept
Sir Charles Hardy at bay to the westward. Jones
took several prizes on the coast of Ireland, (parti
cularly two armed transports with stores for New-
York) in the North Seas, and near the Firth of
Forth, and had it in his power to have burnt Leith ;
but his orders are only to destroy shipping. His
squadron is now but weakly manned, owing to the
great number of prizes he has taken, and it will
likely fall an easy conquest to the 16 fail of men of
war who have orders to go after him.
The Serapis man of war loft her main-mart, bow
sprit and mizen top-mart, before she struck; and the
Countess of Scarborough made an exceeding good
defence against one of the 32 gun frigates. The
enemy's 44 gun ship was not in the adion, and the
Serapis struck to Jones's ship and the other 32
gun frigate.
From the four captured Americans it was difeo
vered, that this fleet failed (with stores for three
months) from Brest the beginning of August; and
that two other small squadrons were to fail soon
after them for the coasts of Ireland and Wales.
They were all in the service of the Congress, and
few, or no, French seamen on board.