The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1777-12-10 00:00:00, page 1

It is confidently spoken at the weft end of the town,
that a Great Man in office, is meditating his retire
ment ; which he will put in practice the moment he
cm do it, without the imputation of cowardice, or
tie dread of a parliamentary inquiry.
The astonishment and indignation of a great per
sonage, at the conduct of a neighbouring Potentate,
r fpeding our colonists, is said to be extreme, as he
fid not the least conception that a Prince, whose
possessions on the American Continent are capital,
v ould have dared to hazard so dangerous an event as
teaching his fubjefts an evil lesson against himfelf.
LONDO N, July 7.
LAST week was underwrote at one oi the
firft houses in the city, upon the situation
of affairs between England and France, as
follows, viz. One thousand pounds were
given to receive three thousand pounds, in case war
Should be declared by.either power against the other,
on or before the 4th day of January next.
A correspondent fays, that a greater insult could
not be offered to this kingdom, than by a late tranf
adion in France, viz. the French court permitting
Dr. Franklin and Silas Dean to open the mail that
was taken out of the Prince of Orange packet, by
Cunningham and his crew, and taking what papers
they pleased ; not only to fatisfy their curiosity, but
to feud what intelligence they could to their masters
the Congress, in order to fruftrate the measures of
Government ; and at the fame time deprive individu
als the fatisfadion of hearing from their friends and
commercial correspondents. This is a degradation
to the honour and dignity of the British nation. But
he observes, that in this and on every other occasion,
the court of France has given us undeniable proofs of
what every body, but our Ministers, have perceived
from the beginning of the American war, that it was
the determination of the court of France to assist our
colonics (if they may now be so called) all in their
power, in order to distress this country ; and by the
above and similar means, they have done, and will
continue to do us more mifehief than by an open war;
for it is a common observation, that a falfe friend is
more dangerous than an open enemy; and tho' our
%uife MiniJlr, are continually trumpeting forth to the
public the pacific dispositions of France and Spain,
in regard to this country, there is every day some
proof to the contrary, which gives the direct lie to
inch affertion#.
July 10. The following is the fate of Old England :
An unnatural war, an unnatural season, and.an un
natural ministry ; commerce failing, taxes riling, and
the people repining ; our engagements with foreign
powers violated, our remonstrances derided, and our
ambassadors despised. An excellent situation for the
firft maritime power in the world.
August 2. A few days since Charles Jenkinfon, Esq.
set out for the court of Versailles, with orders to de
mand a positive answer refpedting the part that court
intends taking, refpedting the American disputes. If
it turns on measures disagreeable to our court; Lord
Stormont will be ordered to leave the court of Ver
sailles without taking leave.
The great scarcity of cash might, in some measure,
be accounted for, when we are well informed, that
in one man of war lately sent to America, no less a
sum than 400,000 guineas were fllipped for the use of
t le king's forces there.
The state of anxiety and apparent undecifion, in
which our troops remain 011 their conquered spot,
New-York, too plainly speak the difficult talk they
are engaged in, and too plainly indicates, that the
present campaign will be as ineffectual as the past.
It is said, that such is the disadvantage under which
we are fighting our colonies, that all the American
flips are supplied with English pilots, while the
I nglifh have only their own people to run them into
tie harbours of their enemies.
Not. 6. Tuesday morning arrived at a fafe port, a
prize brig, taken by a boat, Capt. Conway, about 18
tons; her cargo, consists of 93 hogsheads of rum, ,•
hogsheads of sugar, 4 barrels of limes, 6 barrels^f
ta, &c. &c. the boat had about 18 men, who is
momently expected ; in her short cruize she concert
ed with another boat, who have sent in a sloop with
;o hogsheads of rum, fome,.fugar, &c. a sloop with
hour, drove afliore at Plymouth, the cargo saved;
and a small schooner with hay, &c, &c. &c.
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. I.]
BOSTO N.'
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1 777-
We have advice from Europe, that there was a very
great drought in England, Scotland, and Ireland,
the latter part of last summer, which had greatly di
minished the fruits of the earth.
Beef, pork, wood, &c. have been for several days
carting to the barracks in Cambridge, for the subsist
ence of Gen. Burgoyne's army. — Not so was the
treatment of our poor countrymen, who have fallen
into the hands of the inhuman Gen. Howe; parti
cularly those taken in Fort Washington, when zeco
were made prisoners, carried through the city ofNew-
York, and treated with all the insult possible ; were
afterwards thrown into large store-houses, where
they remained four days without any subsistence, and
kept there till near two thirds of them perifhed —
Blush Britons! blush!
The Civil Usage privateer, belonging to Newbury-
Port, has sent into port, a large brigantine of 300
tons burthen, laden, we are told, entirely with Bri
tish goods. l
Not. 17. Monday last arrived at a fafe port at the
Eastward, a prize brigantine, double decked, from
London, bound to Halifax, taken by Capt. Stacpole, in
the privateer brigantine Me Clary, belonging to Ports
mouth ; the invoice of her cargo amounts to twelve
thousand pounds sterling, in the following articles,
viz. English goods, thirteen chests bohea tea, loaf su
gar, cheese, Reel, porter, hard ware, provisions, &c.
The Capt. of the prize informs, that on hearing Ge
neral Burgoyne had taken Ticonderoga, and his pro
gress towards Albany, looking upon it that America
was conquered, 35 fail came out with him, ladened.
with the like articles, bound to different ports in
America.
Tuesday last a vessel arrived here in a short passage
from St. Peters, Newfoundland, the master of which
informs, that a packet had arrived there from France
in 30 days, with orders for the Governor and inhabi
tants to evacuate that place in eight days, as a war
with Great-Britain was inevitable ; in consequence
of which, several vessels with all kinds of goods were
preparing for these ports.
Last Monday a cartel failed from this port for
New-York, with 149 prisoners for exchange.*
NEW-LONDON, Odober 3 .
Since our last, Capt. Roland arrived here in a
sloop from the Weft-Indies, with eleven hundred
bushels of salt.
We have advice from the Weft-Indies, that three
French men of war had failed from Martinico for
Virginia.
Nov. 7. When the account of the surrender of
Gen. Burgoyne's army was reported in New-York,
great pains were taken to prevent its circulation:
however, it occasioned great part of their public
stores and provisions to be put on board the transports.
Last Tuesday, a frigate and three other vessels
went down the Sound, having troops on board;
supposed to be from New-York, bound to Newport.
Extrafl 0/ a letter from Providence, Novem
ber 10, 1777.
“ Thursday night last, the Syren ship of war, of
twenty-eight guns, a transport ship, and a tender,
bound up the Sound from New-Port, ran on Point
Judith ;I they were discovered early on Friday morn
ing, when the few troops we have posted at that
quarter got down some small field-pieces, and fired
on the two latter; the tender got off, and was get
ting under way to take out the Syren's hands, &c.
but a lucky shot from the shore cut her main halli
ards, when die grounded a second time, and with
the transport, submitted. Meanwhile an eighteen
pounder was sent for to salute the Syren, which lay
at a greater distance from the shore than the others ;
it arrived timely, and a few well-directed shot com
pelled her to strike her colours also. Capt. For
neaux, of the Syren, with seven other officers, ar
rived here last evening; the remainder of the pri
soners arrived this afternoon—l 66 in the whole.
The Syren is bilged, but every thing excepting the
hull and powder will be saved. A boat was dis
FISH-KILL, November2o.
THE
patched to New-Port for affiEance, and two ships
came out, but durst not approach near enough to
afford them any„ relief. The capture of these ves
sels, with their crews, will be considered as a va
luable acquisition, especially as it will enable us to
redeem a number of our brave seamen, who are
now in captivity."
Extrafl of a letter from Boflon, dated Nov. 8.
" Gen. Burgoyne and the firft division of his
disarmed corps are arrived at Cambridge, and the
rest are expected next Saturday."
There is advice from St. Euftatia, upon which
we place some dependence, that a vessel had arrived
there from Holland, bringing an account, that
Capt. Weeks, who carried Dr. Franklin to France,
had, in company with a number of French vessels,
under Continental commissions, taken fifty fail of
the Jamaica fleet and carried them into France; —•
that Lord Stormont had remonstrated to the Court
of Versailles, and demanded a categorical answer,,
whether they were determined to aid the Ameri
cans; and had taken leave of the Court unfatisfied.
—That flocks in England had fallen fifteen per
cent. — That the King of Pruma had opened the
port of Embden to the American trade, —and France
and Spain were resolved to afford us assistance in
the most effectual manner.
TN following is part of a Resolve puffed by the
General Afembly of Massachusetts Bay; by
•which the public ra,ill observe, that the Bosni
ans mesyl to keep up a commendable distance
from their British neighbours.
" RESOLVED, That the troops under Gene
ral Burgoyne, be quartered in the barracks on
Profped and Winter Hills, and such others as a
committee of both Houses hereafter to be appoint
ed, shall judge most fafe, retired, and easily guard
ed; and that they obtain suitable houses for the
General Officers, and proper rooms for the other
officers of tank ; the Foreign troops to be kept se
parate from the British as far as practicable ; both
officers and soldiers to be prevented coming into the
town of Boston, or on this fide Charleftown neck;
and the committee aforefaid are directed to fix such
limits for the restraint of officers and soldiers, as
may secure the public from any ill consequences, so
far as may be confident with a ftri& fulfilment of
the Convention.
Nov. 27. A report prevails here for some days
paft, that the enemy have evacuated Ticonderoga;
which is corroborated by the following extrad of
a letter, just now received by the Albany post,
"The enemy have evacuated Ticonderoga and
Mount Independence."
Extrafl of a letter from a gentleman of charafter
at Hartford, dated November 20.
" A letter from Capt. Hinsdale of this town, of
a late date at the Island of St. Peters—fays, “ I
arrived here, and found every thing in the utmost
confufion, the Governor has received orders frona
the King of France, to quit the island as soon as
possible, and bring off all the inhabitants, and also
the vessels laden or not—this must be in consequence
of a war intended or declared with England,"
" And it is further RESOLVED, That no in
habitant of the United States, or any other perlon
whatever, shall at any time enter the limits aligned
for preventing their communication with the prison
ers, without a written license obtained for that pur
pose, from the Council or General Heath, under
pain of military discipline, which General Heath is
hereby empowered and requested to inflict.—That
the Honourable Council be requested to order one
thousand men, including officers, and as many more
as they shall find necessary, from such parts of the
militia of this State, as they shall judge equitable
to serve as guards; and to be under the command
of General Heath."
[Numb. I.]