The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-08-26 00:00:00, page 2

From the Pennsylvania Packet.
The following is a true copy of a handbill, (written by
Mr. Mauduit, under the direction of Lord North, and
circulated through England by order of administra
tion. A. L E E.
C O long as there was any hope of preserving the
° American empire, we could not begin a treaty
with acknowledging the American independence in
the firft article, because they might have broke off
the treaty, as soon as they had gained that firft arti
cle, and made use of the concession to juftify other
nations in trading with them ; and we could not
then have taken foreign ships that came upon their
coasts.
That precaution is now useless, for France will
treat and trade with them ; and if France will do it,
we can have no interest in keeping other nations from
trading with them too ; rather let other nations come
in for a part, than France have the whole.
The Americans will new be supplied from France
with all military stores, whether we will or not ; and
(if we go to war) with ships and men, and all they
want for their defence, and our annoyance.
All hope of conquest is therefore over. America
sands on high ground; France and England muji now
court her.
We have no possible chance of making peace with
her, but by an immediate ad of parliament, giving
her perfed independence.
If we pretend to retain any authority over them,
we immediately throw them into the arms of France,
and oblige them to look up to France as their pro
testors and defenders; by whose aid only, they can
gain and secure what they call their liberty. If this
be not done immediately, and an ad passed and sent
over before they hear of a commencement of hosti
lities between France and us, the Americans will then
become associates with France in a common cause
and a common war against us ; and after that alli
ance, we Ihall be at the mercy not only of the Ame
ricans, but of the French.
Now we may treat with America only ; and having
their independence granted them, they h^ve no rea
son to desire the continuance of war with us. If we
drive them to a elofe alliance with France in a war
against us, our future treaty with America inufibe
made by the cnnr.urren< e of France, who will excite
them to make the most extravagant claims, in order
to delay the peace, and alienate them so much the
more from us.
To retain them as fubjehls is now impqffible. : The
only hope left is to regain them as friends. But they
never will be friends with us, so long as they have
any thing to fear from us, by our keeping up any
the least claim of authority over them.
I need not paint the dreadful consequence of our
going to war with both, and how much they can assist
each other in all refpeds against us; but more espe
cially in gaining and giving intelligence peculiar to
such a war.
Instantly declare them independent, and you have
no cause of quarrel with France. We have no rea
son to differ with France for having declared them
free Rates, when we have done it ourselves.
The Americans will then have full liberty to trade
with which nation they please ; they will like belt to
trade with both, and we shall have our full share.
Their manners, habits and eloathing is now English ;
if we instantly declare their independence, they will
continue so; but if we continue a long war with
them, and oblige them to receive all things from
France, they will, in time, be totally Gallicized, and
estranged from us, and prefer French manufactures
of all kinds to ours.
Their children will be sent to France for their edu
cation, to learn the French language (as Franklin
has began already) and to be apprenticed in French
houses, and set up French factories, &c.
Could we be sure of prevailing at last against France
and them, we could gain nothing by victory, at the
end of a long war, that could compensate for that
estrangement of their affeCtions and habits from the
English manners and manufactures, which the Ame
ricans would contract in that period.
To fay nothing of the heavy debt we must have
incurred, even if our funds fliould hold out so long,
which will enhance the price of our labour and ma
nufactures above that of other nations, and all this
expence of the war incurred to no purpose.
Should hostilities be commenced between France
and us, yet the sooner this aft of independence is
passed and sent them, the better. They may not then
ratify a French treaty, or at least be less ready to
assist the French, when, having gained what they
want, they will stand less in need of their help.
France has sent this message on purpose to provoke
us to go to war, and thereby secure all these good
effects to themselves, and to bring down and perpe
tuate all these evils to England.
The menace of it is peculiarly, calculated for that
purpose. Politicks know no passions or resentments,
but confider only what is the nation's interest. For
officers and others on the flaff, in lieu of extra rati
ons, and that henceforward none ofthem be allowed
to draw more than one ration a day.
Ordered, That the Committee of Arrangement be
directed to report to Congress as soon as possible,
such an allowance as they shall think adequate to the
Ration of the refpedtive officers and persons employ
ed on the Raff. Extracts from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
BOSTO N, August 13.
[By expresses which have arrived every day face Sun
day last, we are favoured with the following letters
and extracts of letters.]
Extras of a letter from Major Lyman to Major-Gene
ral Heath, dated Tiverton, August 10, 1778.
" We are this moment arrived oppolite the ferry
and am set down to give you all the intelligence we
have been able to colled. General Sullivan with the
troops under his command, went on to Rhode-Ifland
yesterday, at fix o'clock in the morning, marched
about five miles and encamped; we don't learn that
they are advancing to day. A brisk cannonade has
been heard since eight o'clock, supposed to be from
the Dipping, and the preemption is, that it is be
tween the fleet from New-York, under the command
ofLord Howe, and Count D'Eftaign. The presump
tion is this moment confirmed—we are impatient to
know the issue—the firing has ceased about ten mi
nutes. We occupy the whole extent of the island
for eight miles. The firing commences.
The following is a copy of a letter from the Hon. Major
General John Hancock, dated Rbode-Ijiand, August
nth, 1778, to the Hon. Jmemiab Powell, Esq. Pre
fdent of the Hon. Council of this State.
S I R,
THE cannonading in Major Lyman's letter to
Major-General Heath, which we handed to your
Hon. Board, proved to be between the batteries at
Newport and the French ships passing them. A fleet
of ships being seen off, the French Admiral went in
pursuit of them, and while the day-light lasted, he
was seen firing his bow-chafes, and the Britifli their
stern-chases. This fleet we suppose to be from New-
York, under Lord Howe; for, by an express that
arrived yesterday from General Washington to Gene
ral Sullivan, he acquaints him of Lord Howe's fail
ing fc m New-York with his fleet; a lift of which I
do myself the honour to inclofe.
General Sullivan intends to advance to-morrow,
and if the French fleet returns, to attack the next
day. I shall communicate every occurrence worthy
of notice. I am, Sir, your molt humble servant,
To Hon. Jer. Powell, Esq. J. H.
Lift of BRITISH SHIP Sat Sandy-Hook.
Centurion, Trident, Albion, Ardent, Somerset,
and Eagle, of 64 guns each ; Isis and Experiment, 50
guns each ; two 40 gun ships, names unknown, and
13 frigates. Daphne, 20; Tamen, 28; Emerald,
30 guns, lying at Staten-Island. Apollo, 28; Gala
tea, 20 ; Ariel, 20 guns, repairing at New-York.
The Renown and Redoubtable, one a 50, the other
64 guns, lying at Hell-Gate, from Newport, by the
last accounts, could not get through. The Le
viathan, a shore-ship,. nearly fitted at New-York, to
carry 70 guns.
Extract of a letter from an Officer on Rhode- Island, to
another in this town, dated August 11, 1778.
" The cannonade, which continued very brisk for
about two hours, was occasioned by the French fleet's
passing the enemy's batteries as they were going out
to sea after the fleet which lay at the mouth of the har
bour. They firft appeared in fight yesterday, just at
night—their numbers are not known —from the belt
accounts there are not more than eight ships of the
line, besides a large numberof frigates. The Admi
ral sent to General Sullivan, that he fliould attack
them in the morning, which obliged the land army
to lay upon their oars 'till the event is known. The
British, as soon as they saw the French, came to fail,
every one making off the belt he could. It was said
the French fleet gained upon them.
" The advance of the army is composed of the
light troops, independent companies, and fifty men
from each brigade, commanded by Col. Livingston,
the right wing of the army by General Greene, the
left by the Marquis de la Fayette, the second line
by General Hancock, and the reserve by Col. Weft.
" The army are in fine spirits, and are determin
ed to return victorious."
that very reason, beeaufe it is the interest of France
to provoke us to a war, it is our interest to avoid it,
'till we have made up with America.
France may not long refrain. But this makes it
so necessary instantaneously to pass an ad for Ameri
can Independence, and to hasten a peace with Ame
rica, before we precipitate ourselves into a war with
France. There can now be no great hurt in recalling
our cruizers, and fuffering French ships to pass ; and
then France has no pretence to go to war with us,
and the few we fliould take out of the many that will
fail to America, will not compensate for the evils of
precipitating the rupture.
A letter from a gentleman in the army on Rhode-
Island, to a General Officer in this town, dated Au
gust if, fays—" I embrace this firft moment since
our landing, to inform you, that at 9 o'clock yester
day, landed with the firft line of the army, the artil
lery, of which I command, the enemy having left
their works here the evening before. We have net
So long as you keep the Americans in fear, by
retaining any, even a latent claim of authority over
them, so long will they unite together against you.
Quit that claim, they will then have each to con
fider of fettling a government for themselves. They
may then differ with one another, and some of them
may come in time to think that they were better off
when they were united with England, and offer to
return, which they never will do while we are striv
ing with them, so that the only chance we have of
recovering some, is to give up them all.
yet got to loggerheads. The heavy artillery is most.
ly over ; its probable we shall move forward t^s
',"r°",’.f,°"' distance from the e^emy is seven miles'
An English fleet of 8 ships of the line, and frail of
other vessels, appeared yesterday, near the evening
to the mouth of the harbour of Newport. The French
fleet failed out this morning to meet them. The can
nonade from the enemy's forts as they passed them
and from the ships, was beyond description. We
are in anxious expectation for the event, as our fa
ther proceeding depends much upon it."
He are indebted to a Gentleman in Providence for the
following particulars, relative to the Rhode-Ifland
movement. '
The French troops to the number of about 4000,
landed on the island of Connanicut, opposite to New
port, 3 miles distance, on Saturday night and Sunday
morning last. The fame time the French fleet like
wife made a movement into Newport harbour ; in
pacing the enemy's batteries they v ere fired upon ve
ry smartly, but none ofthe shot took effect, except one
which struck the main shrouds of the Admiral's ship
The fleet returned a few a shot, but with what efte^
we have not heard.
Sunday the 9th inst. Our troops to the number
of 10,000, landed at Rhode-Ifland, and took posses
sion of the enemy's forts at Quaker and Batts hills
and at Bpftol ferry, with the whole of the island north
ot their lines, which are about two miles this fide of
Newport, without a gun fired on either fide- the
enemy having evacuated the fame, ard retreated to
their works, where (by a Hessian Lieutenant, wh &
came off the island and surrendered himfelf yester
day, we are informed) they intend to make a stand.
Extract of a letter from an Officer, dated JEhite Plains
July 28th, 1778.
" Were I tojudge from appearances, I should sup
pose you would hear frompis before long, and I care
not how soon we get in motion, as the summer spends,
and we are not fully saved. Every thing looks very
favourable, a fine army of at least Twenty Thousand
Men, in remarkable good health and spirits: Cor
fummate wisdom centered in a Washington to di
ledt theii operations, and a determined' spirit in the
whole body to die or carry them into effect.—The
enemy dispirited, desertions more frequent than ever
known in history: I saw seven come in with their
arms and every accoutrement, about three days ago:
Four light-horse, and fcveral others of infantry since
that time.
The situation where we are encamped is beauti
ful, and I believe contributes much to the men's
health ; provisions plenty, liquor scarce: I have liv
ed for several days on brook water, but find myfelf
as well as though our marquee abounded ^th Ma
deira. When I ihall fee you again is uncertain, but
hope not until the independence of the rising Repub
lick of America is acknowledged and confirmed by
the haughty tyrant of Britain, and his obsequious
slave-making junto.
" General Gates commands the right wing of the
army, Baron d'Kalb, at present, the left: We have
17 Brigadiers with their brigades on the ground, with
out including the cavalry or artillery. Lord Stirling
and a number more General Officers, are about 7
miles in our rear on the trial of General Lee, whose
affairs, by common report, are a good deal perplexed,
time must determine his character. Being ordered
to move before I could finifh my letter, I laid it aside
for a few hours, during which, two light-horse men,
compleat, came in from the enemy, and 12 of their
infantry, a few hours will produce as many more."
A fllip is arrived at Portsmouth from St. Croix,
laden with rum, sugar, molasses, &c. &c. She is a
merchantman.
Last Monday came round from Newbury-Port, the
new continental frigate ALLIANCE, commanded by
P. Landais, Esquire. She mounts 36 guns, but will
carry 40.
Nine of the new levies deserted from Rhode-Ifland
on Wednesday last.
WORCESTER, August 13.
The enemy are acquainted with our movement,
and are in great consternation, their only hope is on
the arrival of the Britifli fleet from England ; but by
the best accounts we have been able to get, it will
be some time before it can come to their relief; pro
vided it has failed from England, which at present is
a matter of uncertainty, and if it fliould have failed,
it is beyond a doubt, it will be followed by the
French fleet from Breit, of at least an equal force.
Gen. Prefcot, commander ofthe enemy on the island,
has called in his out-posts from all quarters, aban
doned a strong post near the centre of the island,
called Quaker-Hill, and collected all his force in and
about Newport, particularly on an eminence called
Tamany-Hill, a little less than two miles from the
capital, where, it is thought, they will make a reso
lute stand, as they have entrenched and fortified it to
the best advantage in their power. Deserters and
prisoners who have made their escape from Newport
fay, the enemy have taken the guns from their ships of
war, the better to fortify themselves on shore, and
that they have funk some vessels in the channel to pre
vent the passage of the French before that town.
Those wretches, the tories that are on the island, are
in a most deplorable condition, some, it is said, have
died in despair, while others, attempting to extract
the tory blood from their veins, died in the operation.
Two of the Cork provision fleet, one of them a ship
of 500 tons, the other a large brigantine, are taken by