The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-04-25 00:00:00, page 2

Before the Spanish fleet failed from Cadiz they were
assured that the British fleet was not arrived near
Gibraltar —as Cadiz is about 20, leagues from that
place, and they had advice boats and other intelli
gence every day.
Extract of aletter froma gentleman in Philadelphia,
dated March 5, 1781.
" We have lately had a vessel seized here that came
from Cork with goods for private persons in this
city.—All honest men among us only wilh that all
Upon the admission of this truth is founded the pro
priety of the recommendation of Congress, “ that
Thursday the third day of May next, be observed as
a day of humiliation, falling, and prayer, that we
may, with united hearts, confefs and bewail our ma
nifold fins and tranfgreEions, and by sincere repent
ance and amendment of life, appease God's righte
ous displeasure ; and, through the merits of our bles
sed Saviour, obtain pardon and forgivenefs."
And while an advertance to the Divine displeasure
manifested to cities, to kingdoms, and to the whole
world itfelf, for the practice of evil, cannot butjuftly
cause a people of guilt and impenitence to dread the
effects of heavenly justice. A linful nation, if possess
ed by contrition, and returning to holiness, from the
federal precedents of the Al nighty's clemency sensi
bly displayed to penitence, may humbly hope for the
enjoyment of his holy favor, and the salvation pf his
arm of strength.
It ever should be remembered, however, that the
eye of Omniscience penetrates the veil of disguise, and
that the Divine Majesty " will not be mocked ;" that
the oblation of deceit will be an offence to his truth,
add tin to ton, and occasion bypocrif, more forcibly to
feel the power of his wrath.
You will therefore permit me, my fellow-citizens,
with fervency to implore, that in our observance of
the ensuing solemnity, fncerity may dwell on our lips,
and piety poflefs our fouls ; that duly recognizing our
afts of guilt, with heart-felt grief we may supplicate
the Almighty's grace, and be devoted to his sacred
will.
And becoming the obje&s of his love, what may we
not hope for from his munificence ! —ln the language
by himfelf expressed, shall not " our light break forth
as the morning, and our health spring forth with
speed !" Will not " our righteousness go before us,
and his own glory be our reward ?"
On us, indeed, all good thall wait that can be de
sired by wisdom, or conferred by bounty. " Peace
shall dwell within pur walls, and plenty within our
dwellings !" Science shall grace our schools of youth,
and honor attend our commonwealth ! —No more
shall flow the patriot's blood ! —No more shall hapless
widows weep ! —Nor more shall orphans cries be
heard.
But should the approaching day be unduly noticed ;
should ,it be marked only by seeming goodnejs, and
shall v^ fill continue in thepath of fice, what venge
ance may we not fear from incensed Omnipotence !
And how could we endure the Almighty's " terrors !"
or whither flee to avoid his presence ! —Look we may
for " mercy," but we " shall not perceive it !" And
expe& ' salvation," but it " shall be far from us !"
If, therefore, we regard prosperity ; if we with to
escape perdition, let our steps be directed by pru
dence, and our actions impelled by virtue !—Let each
one himfelf reform, do honor to religion, and to his
1, power; without confeffing therein not "any evil"
of punishment " in a city" but what is inflicted by
“ the Lord" himfelf.
failed from Brest with a large fleet, in order to inter
cept the British : That a Spanish fleet confining of 31
fail of the line had likewise failed from Cadiz-Bay,
in pursuit of the above British fleet.
Capt. Ross likewise informs, that there had been
a manifefto published in Cadiz, authorizing all the
fubjeds of the States of Holland to make reprisals of
all British vessels that may fall into their hands:
That their High Mightinesses had entered into a date
of alliance with France and Spain : And that they
had hauled up nearly all the (hips that were in Hol
land, in order, it is supposed, with a determination
of fixing out a powerful fleet.,
Before Cart. Ross failed the following American
vessels had arrived there, viz.
The ship Thomas, Capt. Bordman, of this port ;
brig Alexandria, from Virginia; brig Phoenix, from
Boston.
Last Sunday arrived at Newbury the privateer ship
Thorn, Captain Tucker, having captured a second
prize, viz. a fllip from Liverpool, bound to Charlef
town, mounting sixteen 6 pounders, her cargo cow
gifts of wine, brandy, dry goods, &c.
(Capt. Ross, from Cadiz, assures us, that the Dutch
had declared war againit Great-Britain the 12th of
January : That immediately upon their receiving the
British declaration, they laid an embargo through all
the states, and applied themselves with the greatest
expedition to the fitting out their men of war, and
would have 25 fail of the line ready to put to sea by
the firft of April.
BOST O N, April 12.
Since our last arrived at Marblehead, Capt. Ross,
from Cadiz, in a passage of eight weeks : He brings
intelligence that Admirals Digby and Derby had
failed for Gibraltar with 27 fail of the line: That in
confequeiice of which Count D'Eftaing immediately
country become a blessing!
State of New-Jersey, ?
April 9, 1781. J
CLERICUS.
of blood; the blood of your country. I hope the
governments of the United States will use every pre
caution to prevent, and employ all proper measures
for punishing, when detected, a commerce, that if
winked at, may ruin our glorious cause, and enslave
America forever. What ! shall we trade with our
cruel enemies, and thereby enable them the better
to support a war, in which they are ravaging our
possessions, and deluging our land in blood, with a
barbarous ferocity. We cannot be guilty of a
meaner and blacker treason. I own lam particularly
affected with the disgrace such a commerce reflects
upon our whole country. Our enemies themselves
must despise such base Avarice, and think us worthy
of all the cruelties they inflift upon us.—Our allies
must be justly offended with it, towards whom it is
a most difhonourable violation of faith, at a time
when they are Ihedding their blood in profufion, to
establish our independence and fafety, against these
very enemies. It is at the fame time a gross injury to
the fair trader. I know that men are to be found in all
countries who will facrifice every principle of honour
and humanity for gold: but I believe, at the fame
time, there is virtue enough in the body of the citi
zens of America, to detect and effectually to prevent
such an injury to the honest merchant, such an im
putation on our government, and such a stab to our
liberties, as this odious trade, in every branch of it."
By the last accounts the garrison of Gibraltar was
so straitened for provisions that a sheep was fold there
for 50 guineas, and a fowl for ten.
Extract of a letter from an American gentleman in
Cadiz, dated Feb. 6, 1781.
) " The Spanish fleet fails to-morrow, to intercept
the British, who are on their way to Gibraltar, it is
said consists of 22 fail of the line, and 100 trans
ports : The Spanifli of 32 fail of the line."
NEW- LONDO N, April 13.
Saturday last was brought into port, by the letter
of marque snow Rochambeau (late the Defpencer)
Captain Melally, the ship Polly, Jonathan Simpson,
late master, from Cork, bound to New-York, laden
with pork, flour, butter, peas and cordage. She
took in her lading at the file of Wight, and joining a
fleet of 40 fail of transports at Cork, they failed
from thence the firft of December, under convoy of
the ship Assurance, Captain Cummings, of 40 guns.
The prize parked from the fleet the day after they left
Cork, and was out eighteen weeks.
F I S H-K I L L, April tg.
Mr, John Slott, of Smith's Clove, on Tuesday the
3d instant, was unfortunately shot by one of the
guards Rationed at his boufe. The soldier, not
knowing that any of the family were out, and taking
him for some enemy, after hailing him properly, and
no answer given, fired and wounded him, of which
he died next morning : He said before his death, that
he thought the soldier was hailing some other person,
which caused him not to answer—he fatisfied his
friends as to the soldier's innocence.—His wife has
101 l a tender and lovinghufband, and his friends and
neighbours a worthy member of society.
CHATHAM, April 18.
Last Monday night Capt. Baker Hendricks went
from Elizabeth- Town to Staten-Island, and brought
off one Lieutenant and a private of the Refugees,
and one inhabitant —Previous to the above, a party
went over and brought off a Captain.
A sloop belonging to Captain Thomas Wert, laden
with valuable goods, and bound for this port, was
taken by the enemy's armed boats, a few days ago,
in Back-Creek, at the head of Chesapeake.
We hear that the enemy have, within a few days,
plundered Poplar-Illand, in our bay, of a quantity
of live stock, and burnt several buildings thereon.
They have recently committed other excesses 011 both
fhorcs of the bay.
April 10. A letter from France mentions, '' that
the very capital print of Dr. Franklin, which was
painted by order of his most Christian Majefly, is
now placed in the Picture Gallery, at Fontainbleau ;
and that at the bottom is the following.fhort, but ex
pressive, infeription: HOMO."
Lord Sandwich, in a late debate in the House of
Peers, in reply to the Duke of Bolton, took notice
of the description the noble Duke had given of the
present condition of Britain, and did not fee it in 16
melancholy point of view as his Grace, though he
confeffed he had seen pleasanter times.
Since our last the Marquis de la Fayette, with his
division of continental troops, in a number of trans
ports, failed for the Head of Elk (where they have
undoubtedly arrived) from Annapolis, the British
ships having left their Ration off the harbour of that
place, and gone down Chesapeake.
A few days ago, 47 transports arrived in Hampton
Road from New-York, having on board a body of
British troops, under the command of Major-General
Phillips, destined, it is said, to reinforce Earl Corn
wallis, who, by the lateftaccounts, was making
forced marches towards Wilmington, on Capefear-
River, and had reached the difaffeCted settlements on
Cross-Creek, on that route. We have various ac
counts of the number of troops with General
interested in such voyages may fuffer in proportion
to their guilt.—How deteftabie is such a trade ? How
infamous the wealth acquired by it? It is the price
BALTIMOR E, March 27.
At a meeting of the principal inhabitants of this
town, at the court-house on Thursday last, for the
purpose of taking into consideration its present fitua^
tion, and the means of giving it security, they thought
proper to nominate and appoint the following gentle
men, a Committee, with full powers for deviling and
directing the execution of such a plan of defence, as
the circumstances and abilities of the town will per
mit, viz. Messrs. Isaac Grist, Robert Henderson,
Thomas Johntton, of the Point : James M'Henry,'
Nathaniel Smith, Nicholas R.ogers, William Smith,
of the town.
PHILADELPHIA, April xB.
Yesterday evening was sent in here, by the Fair
American, a sloop loaded with rice and tar, late bound
from Charleftown for New-York.
At the fame time arrived the ship Chatham, Capt.
Smith, from Hispaniola.
Extract of a letter dated at General Greene's bead
quarters, Col. Ramsay's, Deep River, March 30,
1781.
" I wrote you on the 23d infl ant from Buffaloe
Creek, since which we have been in pursuit of the
enemy, with a determination to bring them to add
on again.
" On the 27th we arrived at R igden's Ford, 12
miles above this, and found the eliemy then lay at
Ramsay's mill, from which it w; is imagined they
meant to wait an attack ; our bag gage was accord
ingly left under proper guard in 0 ur rear, and the
army put in motion without loss <if time; but we
found the enemy had crossed some hours before our
arrival, and with such precipitati( in, that they left
their dead unburied on the ground . Our men had
fuffered so much for want of proi ifions in this ex
hausted part of the country, tha t many of t:hem
fainted on the march, and the dis iculty of procur
ing any immediate supply, prevente d our further pur
suit. The enemy are on the rout t< ) Cross Creek and
Wilmington.
" From undoubted rinformation f ve learn, the ene
my's loss, in the battle of Guilfo rd, amounted to
633, exclusive of officers, and mofl of their principal
officers were killed or wounded.
" Nothing but blood and flaug liter has prevailed
among the Whigs and Tories, an d their inveteracy
against each other must, if it coa tinues, depopulate
this part of the country.
" Since we re-crossed the Dan river, we have tak
en, at different times, upwards c f izo British prison
ers, and several officers.
" The enemy left 70 of our w< ninded who had fal
len into their hands in the aftior 1 of the 15th, behind
them ; except these, they have I .aken but few prison
ers: not so many as we took oft heirs, notwithstand
ing they kept the ground.
" Lord Cornwallis issued the following proclama
tion, soon after the battle at G uilford, and in two
days after retreated towards C/< Ms Creek, leaving the
deluded people, who had submitted after that action,
to the vengeance of their injured country, from whom
they may perhaps experience b etter treatment than
their unhappy neighbours, in I South-Carolina, met
with from his Lordship, who, trusting to a former
proclamation ofthis fort, had q 0 sooner delivered up
their arms, and given their par ole, than they were
called upon to bear arms againfl their fellow citizens,
and revolting at the idea, immediately left their ha
bitations, which have lince bet :n entirely destroyed,
and such of them that afterwards fell into his hands,
have been hanged without ever 1 the form of a trial."
By CHARLES EARL CORNV I/AILIS, Lieutenant-
General of his Majesty's Forces, &c. &c. &c.
PROCLAMA7 lON.
WHEREAS by the ble/ ling of Almighty God
his Majesty's arms have been cr owned with signal suc
cess, by the complete victory obtained over the Re
bel forces on the 15th instant, I have thought proper
to issue this proclamation, to call upon all loyal fub
jeds to stand forth and take an active part, in re
storing good order and government. And whereas
it has been represented to mi ?, that many persons in
this province, who have tak< n a share in this unna
tural rebellion, hut having e xperienced the oppressi
on and injustice of the rebel government, and hav
ing seen the errqrs into whic h they have been delud
ed by fallhoods and mifrepn Mentations, are sincerely
desirous of returning to thei r duty and allegiance.
Ido hereby notify and pr< >mife to all such perlons
(murderers excepted) that if they will surrender
themselves, with their afn is and ammunition, at
head-quarters, or to the of ncer commanding in the
diftrift contiguous to their refpedtive places of resi
dence, on or before the 2otl 1 day of April next, they
will be permitted to return 1 0 their homes upon giv
ing a military parole, and f lall be protected in their
persons and properties from all fort of violence from
the British troops, and wi 11 be restored, as soon as
possible, to all the privilege 3of legal and conftituti
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Annapolis,
dated on Sunday last.
“ Two ships and a brig appeared off our harbour
this morning, about an hour by fun, and immediately
flood down the bay. They were out of fight by it
o'clock.—lt is said fix ships are gone up Potowmack„
and that they had destroyed Col. Richard Barnes's
house, and robbed him to a considerable amount.—
They have, it is reported,/ alio burnt Priest Hunter's
house."
Phillips ; some fay they amount to 3500, while other;
assert they consist of but 1500.