The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1786-11-06 00:00:00, page 2

Aug. 12. There never was any thing so ridiculous
as the attempt to excite an alarm about the tempora
ry departure of Mr. Adams from court. He is gone,
as we have announced, to the Hague, for the pur
pose of exchanging the treaties between the king of
Prussia and the American States. First, it was said
that Mr. Adams was going to Madrid, and now he is
pronounced to have left the court with a vapouring
speech about the back forts. Both these stories are
equally falfe; and the publick may be assured that he
is limply gone for a few weeks to the Hague.
Aug. 16. The American loyalists are now receiv
ing at the treasury 30 or 40 per cent (according to
their merit) on the account'of their losses in America.
By the Deptford we have received the following
intelligence: That in February last a most dreadful
llorm of thunder and lightening happened in the
neighbourhood of Seringapatam, the capital of the
late Tippo Saib's dominions: during the storm a
very large magazine was Rruck by lightning, which
immediately took fire, and spread so rapidly that one
third of the town was consumed before the alarm
was given, and many persons threw themselves among
the flames through despair, rather choosing to end
their exigence than survive the loss of their relations
and property.
Extract of a letter from Berlin, Angufi 8.
“ The king of Prussia was a few days ago very ill,
and it was even reported he was dead, but he is now
perfectly recovered: yet Ihould his death happen, it
would not make the least alteration in the affairs of
Germany, for there is the best understanding between
the heir apparent and the emperor."
The directors of the Eaft-lndia company are now
seriously employed in making the neceflary arrange
ments for completing a plan which has long been in
agitation, and under consideration of the court, viz.
the opening a trade from China to the Ruffian
dominions of Kamfchatka.—The vessels to be em
ployed on this service, are to be from three to four
hundred tons burthen only; to carry, besides the
captain and other necessary officers, from twenty to
thirty or at most forty seamen and boys. The inten
tion of this trade is to supply a barter for Chinese
goods, in order to prevent (uch large sums in specie
being sent out every year from this country, whereby
the nation is drained of its circulating cash, as it is
but seldom that either the gold or silver sent out
thither comes back to Europe. The barter held up
to view, is the furs, with which the Kamfchat
kans abound, and of which the Chinese are re
markably fond; but there seems to be a difficulty in
refped to the goods which it may be necessary to fend
from this country to barter with the Kamfchatkans,
who, though a plain and simple people, are not quite
of that childish Ramp as th@natives of the new dis
covered islands; besides that, the empress their so
vereign, is endeavouring to polish every part of her
dominions, and her leave must be obtained.
The Americans do not want policy to encourage
the emigration of all ranks and degrees, as it supplies
them with an additional number of valuable citizens,
and weakens that power, which if it cannot now be
called unfriendly to their liberty and independence,
is at least foreign in the highest acceptation of the word.
^. --J— x: - — - -$$ —-- --~ ^
American Intelligence.
SHELBUR N, September 28.
'"TUESDAY arrived here from Cape Forchee,
I capt. Colfax, Joseph Smith his mate, Richard
Joy and Thomas Williams, two of the hands, with
a black man, all taken from the wreck of the sloop
Fame, by captain Bydder, of the sloop Sally, be
longing to this port, and arrived at Cape Forchee
from the Weft-Indies.
The above sloop belonged to New-London, and
was on her passage from Demerara to that port,
with a cargo of rum, sugar, cotton, &c. On the
9th instant, in lat. 33, 30, long. 69, while scudding
in a severe gale of wind, fire was struck on the stern
by a sea, which in an instant carried away her mast,
and drove her totally under water. She Shortly after
rose again to the furface of the water, when the
fty's dominions to be entitled to be owner of any (hip
authorized to be registered, unless he be made a
member of some British factory, or agent or partner
in any house carrying on trade in Great-Britain or
Ireland. Persons giving falfe descriptions of Ships,
or making falfe registers, to forfeit tool. Bond to
be given .not to tend certificates, &c. Ships names
and their ports to be painted on the velTels in white
or yellow letters, not less than four inches in height
upon a black ground, on some conspicuous part of
the stern. A penalty of tool, for altering the name
of a vessel, or if any person erase, obliterate or hide
the name, &c. to forfeit the like sum. Ships ' leaving
port without certificates to be forfeited. Persons
making falfe oaths to fuffer the fame pains and penal
ties as are incurred by persons committing wilful and
corrupt perjury and falsifying or using falfe certifi
cates, to forfeit 5001. This ad took place the firft
instant.
On Wednesday laR the hull of a vessel, bottom
upwards, was difeovered on a ridge between Point
Buckaro and the Brazil Rock by two schooners be
longing to Barrington. They took her in tow, and
had got her into Barrington bay, when by a hidden
squall of wind the tow-line broke, and they were
obliged to quit her, since which she has not been seen,
and as it was strong ebb tide she is supposed to have
gone to sea, and some boats we are told are gone in
search of her. She is supposed to be about 60 tons,
and having a very foul bottom, it is conjectured she
is from the Weft-lndies.
-o. .0.000^«, <>..<,
BOST O N, Od. it.
Yesterday the hon. Rufus King, Esquire, appeared
before the hon. house of representatives, in compli
ance with their vote, and gave full information rela
tive to the affairs of the United States, immediately
affecting the interest of this commonwealth, as fol
lows :
Mr. King stated, that though our delegates had
been unfuccefsful in their efforts to procure a redemp
tion of the old continental bills of credit, as in
ftru&ed, yet their exertions had been productive of
such measures as by prefling the other Rates to pay
in their quotas, had procured a market for part of
the surplus of those bills, which had rested on the
good people of this commonwealth.
That the expences of the Penobfcot expedition
had not yet been allowed by Congress from the fol
lowing causes—the demand from the southern part of
the continent against the union, were chiefly by indi
viduals. Ihe governments there, during the ra
vages of the enemy, were more deranged than those
at the northward, and for that reason, greater exer
tions had been made by particular citizens.—l hefe
demands not being supported by vouchers, and being
thought exorbitant, had been held in some measure
inadmissible. And it had now become a condition
by their representatives in Congress, that the ex
pences of the Penobfcot expedition Ihould be allow
ed or not, as those demands were admitted or reject
ed. But there was nevertheless a great profped of
those expences being allowed, as the southern Rates
had taken the debts of their own citizens upon them
selves, and though this had been an embarrassing cir
cumstance in making requisitions, yet the Rates would
probably agree, and then our expences would be
more advantageously adjusted than they could have
been at any past time, or in any other mode.
That the delays in fettling the accounts between
the several Rates and the United States had been re
tarded by the fame causes, but would now probably
issue equally favourable to Massachusetts. This, it
was to be hoped, would ease the minds of those citi
zens, who supposed that their burthen from unequal
exertions was neglected by Congress.
I hat the alloy and value of coins having been
established by Congress, a mint would probably be
soon erected, and a coin with an American imprefli
on relieve the citizens under their distresses arising
from the want of money.
That the demands of sundry individuals for pro
perty taken by British commanders, the fubjed of
the eastern boundary of Maffachuffetts, and the in
solent conduct of a late navy officer to our chief ma
gistrate, had been before the British ministry. The
latter business had been noticed in a manner suitable
to the dignity of this Rate.
As to the matter of interest due to British fubjeds,
Mr. King observed, that nothing final had been ac
complished, but much attention had been paid in
England to American ads which were said (and of
them which postponed the payment of British debts
were justly said) to be breaches of this part of the
treaty. But the treaty was the law of the land, and
there could not be a question that the peculiarity of
the situation of the two countries juftified the wishes
of Americans, as to withholding interest during the
war. Juries had a right to determine the question,
and this would render legislative interference unne
cessary.
above persons got on her bowsprit, and were there
four days without food or water, before they were
relieved by captain Bydder.
A Mr. Edward Arthur, pafTenger (to whom the
above black man was servant) with Allen Ingram, Sa
muel Clift and Joseph Silvier, a boy belonging to
the vessel, being below at the time she funk, were all
drowned.
1 hat the report of the commercial convention was
before Congress. The honourable gentleman observ
ed, that doubts had arisen as to the mode of agree
ing upon commercial regulations. The confederati
on was the ad of the people. No part could be al
tered but by consent of Congress and confirmation
of the several legislatures. Congress therefore ought
to make the examination firft, because, if it was done
by a convention, no legislature could have a right to
confirm it. Did any legislature fit for such purpose ?
No. It must be referred to the people, and then
what degree of assent was necessary to make it an
article of the confederation? Whereas if it was con
cluded agreeably to the Confederation, no such difficulty
would exist. Besides, if Congress Ihould not agree
upon a report of a convention, the most fatal conse
quences might follow. Congress therefore were the
proper body to propose alterations.
That the federal treasury afforded a most melan
choly profped. Decency forbid his making any ob
servations upon the supplies of this commonwealth;
the other New-England Rates were equally in arrears
with Massachusetts; that New-York had lately exert
ed itfelf; butthat no monies were received from New-
Jersey or Delaware; Pennsylvania had complied with
the late requisitions with considerable exactitude, and
Maryland and Virginia had Supplied with liberality;
but that very little or no money had been paid by
any of the four southern Rates since the conclusion of
the war: in the courfc of the last two years but"
tie more than half a million of dollars in specie
been paid into the federal treasury, a sum fear
equal to the annual expences of the federal gov
ment.
It has become a fubjed of admiration how gov<
ment existed. From foreign loans nothing was tot~
expeded; the gleanings of these had hitherto kept
things along. But what were to become of our de
mands from foreigners? The French crown no doubt
would be, as it had been, magnanimous; the Spa
nish debt was small; but our creditors in Holland
were not to be put off. Educated in the science of
money matters, they held every man as much bound
as though he had sealed his obligation, and all pro
petty would alike be exposed to their reprifels.
So melancholy Was the Rate of the federal treasu
ry, that all men seemed to turn away from it, as an
evil which admitted of no remedy. If all the Rates
could be brought into the continental impost, this re
source indeed might be anticipated, and the national
credit strengthened in that way, but there remained
two Rates which had not acceded to it; Pennsylva
nia and New-York. Ihe situation of the former was
known, and Ihould that Rate be brought over, there
could be no doubt but that the fafety of the union
would induce the accession of New-York.
That as to the domestic debt, it had been urged
that the people were not able to pay it; but there
were not wanting means of reducing it in a short
time. At any rate the great representative body of
the Rates would never disgrace themselves by any
dilhoneft measures relative to the securities. There
were good grounds for the creditors to entertain a
confidence of this. The Rate of New-York had
nearly collected their proportion or quota into their
treasury, and had done more, by the ademption of
the federal debt due to their citizens, and by the sale
of vacant lands, they therefore will not fail to en
force an honourable payment of this debt.—The
means which Congress poffefTed to extinguish it,
were not trifling. Their lands were now almost rea
dy to be fold; near 3.000,000 of acres would be
surveyed by November next, and purchases were ea
gerly fought after. That, in short, if America had
any virtue left, she might be happy. Her resources
from the impost duty and her lands, would very soon
relieve her from her burthens.. Near half a million
of dollars might in a short time be applied from the
duty, to linking the domestic debt, and this fund
would in a few years be neatly adequate to extin
guilhing the whole.
But the honourable gentleman observed, that there
was an evil in publick affairs, infinitely greater than
any he had mentioned. It was not, perhaps, imme
diately within the order, under which he had the
honour to Rand before that house; but so serious
were the effeßs which it seemed to him must follow
that confideratiohs of duty to the legislature, and t(
his country, had emboldened him to mention it. The
house, to be sure, would anticipate, that he fpoki
of the commotions now existing in Massachusetts
This was viewed by Congress, as the most impor
tant fubjeß that ever came before that refpedabl
assembly. Every member considered himfelf as per
fonally interested in it. He realized his life, liberty
and property as involved in the issue of their decifi
ons. There was a league subsisting between the Rate
of America, to oppose every force that Ihould aril
against either of them. The United States woul
not be inactive on such an occasion. They were con
cerned—deeply concerned, in the result. If such
barrier was removed, every other government woul
be evidently swept away. Let numbers be compared
if government had only a minority, let it be remerr
bered, that they had a majority of every Ratein th
union, to join them. It ought not to be concealer
that the British packet had been defpatched a da
earlier, perhaps in consequence of the commotior
which had happened with us.
Advantages might be taken of the divided Rate <
the people, to bring about measures which othei
wife could never be effeded by the enemies of 01
country. When Congress Ihould know this; whe
they Ihould fee government prostrated in the dul
what would be their feelings? They were not at
thorized to fee any government fabvertad. If th