The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-02-23 00:00:00, page 2

would not treat, because the condition precedent,
that they would not, has already actually taken
place, for Spain is no longer a neutral or mediating
power; all neutrality and mediation is over, and
that within a few days. The treaty is determined
very recently, within less than a week, perhaps five
days. I agree with my honourable friend, that
Spain, as (he is now actually leagued with France,
will turn the scale against us ; but I do not despond,
could we get rid of the American war. We often
contended with those powers, and vanquished them
on our proper element, the ocean; and 1 trust still,
if we are united, our councils wifely and vigoiodfly
conduced, and the spirit of the nation called forth,
that we are able to relift their utmost efforts. If
the confidence of the people was restored ; if a dan
gerous court system was broken; it the influence of
the crown was regulated and limited within its due
and constitutional bounds, we should have no reason
to despair; but the inftairt is critical; the moment
muff be seized ; recall your troops from America :
If flie will not treat upon a political connexion, as
soon as the perceives the House of Bourbon leagued
for our total deftrU&ion, die will dead from all en
mity, and forget all former injuries; the will feel
all the emotions of a child for the miseries of an
harsh or milled parent; but even were (he to ob
serve a neutrality, I would not despair but we should
prevail in the contest. She mult at once perceive
that it is no longer a struggle for her liberties, but
a plan, concerted between our natural enemies, to
ereft schemes of ambition, and endless deftiu&ion
on the ruins of het once kind and indulgent parent.
I lepeat once more, that all ncgociation is at an
end, that Spain is openly leagued with trance The
noble Lord knows it. I call upon him to contra
dict me; if he does not, 1 Ihall take it for granted.'
If so, then I earnestly implore the noble Lord not
to lose a moment's time, but mftantly seize an oc
casion which the interval of a very few days may
place for ever beyond his reach. Ihe fate of the
empire, the exigence of this country depend upon
celerity, vigour, and union in this very important
"concern.
I have but one word more to add; my honour
able friend has stated the naval force of Spain, I be
lieve, very correctly ; for 1 have a lilt myfelf in my
hand which confirms it. At present we are superior
to France in the ocean, and the Weft-lndies, and
believe in the East. We are inferior only in the
Mediterranean, where, most certainly, our two im
portant fortreffes are at the mercy of the House of
bourbon ; and for this tingle reason, if for no other,
that we cannot at present fend a tingle officer or man
there, unless we can be happy enough to smuggle
him in a rum puncheon, or brandy calk. But Spain,
fays my honourable friend, with 40 or 48 ships id
the line in Europe, will give to the House of bour
bon a decided majority—Granted; and that, in its
probable consequences, urges me to press the mat
ter more seriously on the noble Lord in the blue
ribbon ; because, if the empire of the sea once leaves
us, our distant dependencies must follow of course.
It is true, the East-Indies is able to defend itfeif,
so is the Weft; but no longer than we fh'all main
tain the empire of the sea. If the House of Bour
bon have a superiority in the European leas, that
superiority will loon extend itfelf to the East and
Weft Indies, because having it in their power to
cut off all supplies of men, ordnance, naval stores,
&c. thole places muff necessarily submit in time, be
their local strength ever so equal. Dispatch is
therefore the only thing that can save us from im
pending ruin, and the intention of prefling it forci
bly upon the noble Lord, w^ the true cause of giv
ing the committee so much trouble.
He concluded with a few words on the critical
and dangerous flare of Ireland.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Pennsylvania.
Monday, February 14, 1780.
The House took up the second reading of the re
port of the Commissioners of this State, who met in
Convention with Commissioners from other States,
for the purpose of fixing on a limitation of prices ;
Whereupon, ordered, That the fame be printed in
the minutes. Extract from the minutes,
THOMAS PAIN E,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
WE the fubferibers Commissioners appointed by
the Honourable House of Representatives for the
State of Pennsylvania, to meet other States in Con
vention, for regulating of prices, &c. beg leave to
make the following report, viz.
In CONVENTION, Monday, Feb. 7 th.
WHEREAS at a meeting of the several States
of New-Hamplhire, Massachusetts, Rhode Inland,
and Providence Plantations, Connecticut and New-
York, held at Hartford in Connecticut, on the 20th
of October, 1779, it was then resolved, that a Con
vention of Commissioners from the States of New-
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Ifland, and Pro
vidence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and
Virginia, be requelled to meet at Philadelphia, on
the firft Wednesday of January then next, for the
purpose of considering the expediency of limiting
the prices of merchandize and produce.
zind whereas in consequence thereof, Commissi
oners have met in Convention, from the States of
New-Hampihire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and. Maryland.
And whereas the Assembly of the State of New-
I ork, has not met since the adjournment of the Con
vention at Hartford, but did previously authorize
their Delegates to pledge the faith of the State, for
carrying into effect, a general plan for regulating of
prices, if recommended by Congress ; and this Con
vention have the fulled alfurance, that the measures
which they may adopt will be agreed to by laid
State.
And whereas it is the opinion of this Convention
that any measures for regulating prices, adopted
without the concurrence of all the States proposed
by the Convention at Hartford, might prove inef
fectual;
Iherefore, Resolved, That the President of the
Contention be desired to inform the Governor of
the State of Virginia of the proceedings of this Con-
vencion, and request him to give the earliest notice
of the determination of said create, with refpeCt to
the appointment of Commissioners to meet this Con
vention.
Resolved, That the State of New-York be in like
manner informed of the proceedings of this Con
vention, and be requeued to appoint Commillioncis
to meet the lame at their adjournment.
Resolved, 1 hat a Committee be appointed to
form a general plan for the limitation of prices in
the several States, and report the fame at the next
meeting of this Convention.
Resolved, 1 hat the President, Mr. Ellery, Mr.
Gerty, Mr. Paca, and Mr. Henry, of Pennsylvania,
be a Committee for the purpole aforefaid.
P RE SE N T.
u - (Mr. Fulfom,
-New-Hampshire, < o L j
r Mr. Peabody.
Massachusetts,
( Mr. Ozgood.
Rhode-Ifland, Mi. Ellery.
<Mr. Shearman,
Connect, so Ellfrb.
D S M r - Henry,
Pennfylvama, —^ Bull.
Delaware, Mr. Vandyke.
Maryland, Mr. Henry.
Adjourned to Tuesday fix o'clock, P. M.
Then met according to adjournment.
Resolved, I hat the adjournment of this Conven
tion be to the fourth of April next, to meet at the
State-House, in the city of Philadelphia. And it
was accordingly adjourned.
Extract from the Minutes,
j, WILLIAM MOORE, President of the
• JOHN BULL, [Convention.
WILLIAM HENRY.
Attest. SAM. OZGOOD, Secretary.
From the St. Christopher's Gazette, cw e have
the folloquirg Paragraphs.
L O ND O N, November 4.
r r II E Earl of Cornwallis will be appointed Com-
I mander in Chief in America, in the room of Sir
Henry Clinton, returning home.
A letter from the Hague, dated Sept. 14, fays,
" Yesterday Sir Joseph Yorke received the final an
swer to his memorial. It was notified to him in form,
that the States General were resolved to observe a
ftridt neutrality in every concern which related to the
belligerent powers. That in consequence of this re
solution, the assistance required on the part of Eng
land was not to be expetted."
Yesterday his Excellency the Ileffian Minister wait
ed on his Majesty at St. James's, and laid before him
a schedule of the subsidy treaty entered into between
his Majesty and the Prince of Hesse for 12,000 Hessi
an troops to be taken into British pay, to form part
of the body of forces defined to open the next sum
mer campaign in America, under the command of
Prince Ernest of Mecklenburgh, her Majesty's brother.
A cartel for the exchange of prisoners is now in a
gitation between our Court and France.
They write from Corke, that provisions are at pre
sent dearer in most parts of Ireland than ever was re
membered, owing to the very large quantities which
still continue to be bought up for government service.
Nov. 6. If the mediation of the Courts of Peterf
burgh and Berlin, to accomplish a peace between the
HARTFOR D, February 1.
Height of the Mercury in Farenheit's Standards
Thermometer.
January. Sunrile. 2 o'clock P. M.
16 - - 10 - 27
17 - - 17 - 32
18 - - I 2 - 2I
19 - - 13 below 0 - 14
20 --5 -8
21 - - 6 below 0 - 26
22 - - 5 , - 29
23 - - 9 below o - 16
24 - -6 - 30
25 - - 16 below 0 - 19
26 - - 6 do. - 28
27 - - 2 do. - 28
28 - - 8 do. - 18
29 - - 20 do. - 7
The morning of the 19th was one degree colder
than any other morning this winter. And the after
noon of the 20th was the coldest afternoon we have
had.
The lowest the Mercury has fallen within 7 years
We are well allured that the reinforcements of
fillips and troops are fare arrived at St. l,ucia.
jam. 7. The fleet of ships which Admiral Parker
attacked, confuted of 24 vcffels ; nine of which were
taken, seven were burnt, and eight got off. When
this account left Barbados, Admiral Parker was in
full chace of the French squadron.
A gentleman is now here who saw a 40 gun Ihip,
and two frigates, carried into St. Lucia, that were
taken by Admiral Parker.
B O S T O N, January 17.
Rivington, in one of his late papers, lays, "When
the Dutchefs of Leinfter, Mrs. Damar, and some o
ther ladies of rank, were taken by the French cutter
of Dunkirk, the ladies were not afraid of the ihut
fired at them ; they did not even change colour, nor
run into the hold, or under the boat to save themselves,
as it was observed that some of the Maccaronies that
happened allo to be passengers, could not help doing,
with marks, tokensand signs of no small trepidation.
When the French officer came on board, he found
the ladies on deck, and treated them with all possible
politeness. The majority of the gentlemen were in
the cabin; when the officer stepped down into that
apartment, something so very particular fainted his
nose, that he declined going further till the place was
a little sweetened ; at the fame time, to prevent fur
ther mifchief, he assured the gentlemen that they need
not be under any apprehension, for no hurt should
be done to them.—lt is much to the honour of the
French Lieutenant, Mons. de Couloune, who com
manded the cutter, that he treated them all with the
greatest politeness, took nothing whatever from them,
and let them on shore as soon as possible ; the ladies
and gentlemen perfectly free to proceed on their
journey, and the officers on their parole : The Com
mandant of Dunkirk behaved also in a molt polite
manner."
three belligerent powers prove abortive, his Prussian
Majesty will fend an army of 50,000 men into Cleves,
under the command of Prince Henry, his brother; and
as he has guaranteed the dominions of the three pow
ers at the peace of Verfaillesin 1763, he has assured
the Dutch, that he experts they will perform their
treaties with Great-Britain ; and the Empress ofßuf
fia has given the fame intimation to their High Migh
tinesses.
A memorial was presented on Monday morning by
Count Weldren, the Dutch Ambassador, to the Se
cretary of State, containing frefh and heavy com
plaints of their trade in general being much annoyed
by the English cruizers.
By a letter from Brunswick we learn, that a body
of 50,000 Pruhians have received orders to aflemble
on the Lower Rhine, and they are of opinion there,
that with the Hanoverians, their own troops, and
those that may be procured from Helle, this will co
operate t> turn the balance, by enabling the Dutch
freely to declare in favour of Great-Britain.
Frequent imposts, politic al fqueezings and experi
ments, are to bufirefs and manufactures what the
sword is to commerce and liberty, viz. decay or
death. A prodigal, taxing administration is the pe-
Itilence itieif in the walks of commerce.
The Duc de Choileul privateer, of Dunkirk, has
taken the Fortune cutter of Weymouth, after an ac
tion of near an hour, and carried her into St. Ma
locs. The Fortune liad 0 ly fix guns and 24 men,
and the Frenchman 14 guns and 100 men.
It was Capt. Griffiths, formerly of the Nonfuch,
who was killed on board the Conqueror, in an attack
on the French fort. Tie Conqueror was some time
engaged with M. de la Mothe Piquet, whofc Ihip was
almost destroyed, and mult have been taken, had not
two 74 gun blips come up to her assistance, and with
great difficulty towed her off.
BASSETERRE, (St. Chriftophers) Dec. 13.
On Sunday last arrived here the Ihip Mary, Capt.
Beaty, from London, after a tedious palfage, in which
he met with several gales of wind, 111 one of which
he pared company with the Charming Fanny, Cap
tain Stoards. He providentially fell in with the wreck
of the Grampus armed Ihip, formerly Admiral Tyr
rcl's Buckingham, and laved 200 of her people, a
mong whom that gallant officer Captain Hammerton
of the 55th grenadiers.