The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-01-03 00:00:00, page 1

For the New-Jersey Gazette.
On THt Subject of the NEW-YEAR.
IMPOSSIBLE is it seriously to reflet on the nar
row limits of human life, and that another Very
j large portion of our time, even the term of a
„ whole year, hath elapsed, without being fen
<;bly affected at the near approach of that hour which
will put a period to our exigence in time, and ulher
us into the regions of eternity.
This important moment is contemplated by the
righteous, those who have so improved the talent of
time as to have attained the riches of grace, not only
without trepidation and fear, but even with compla
cency and delight. For however temporary interests
and connections may demand their attention, or
occasionally, in an inattentive season, absorb too
great a degree of their affections, habitually their
love is supremely fixed on that most holy, beneficent
and divine Being, the Father of nature and Lord of
compassion, who hath absolved their offences, thro'
the merits of his son, renovated their hearts by the
energy of his spirit, and qualified them for the enjoy
ments of his presence : a spiritual apprehension of
which, through the medium of faith, of the smiles
of their Saviour, and of the ineffable and everlasting
honours and glories, and joys of his kingdom would
occasion them, were they to be attentive to their own
happiness only, most ardently to delire a deliverance
from those years which may yet await them, and im
mediately to “ pat's through the valley of the Sha
dow of death." —As their treasures are above, un
remitted and fervent are their aspirations after the
possession of their celestial inheritance, and nothing
but the fatisfaCtion of doing good, the expectation
of arriving to greater eminence in virtue, and an en
tire acquiescence in the divine will, cause them "in
patience to possess their fouls," and, with submission,
to " wait all the days of their appointed time, till
their change shall come."
Not so is it with him who hath consumed his time
in impiety, who hath been regardless of his almighty
Creator and munificent Benefactor, —except to offend
him by deeds of wickedness—and who is ever ob
noxious to the power of his difpleafurc.—The finful
wretch cannot view the time of. his death, but with
sensations the most painful. His foul, indeed, is
applied and possessed by terror, when he recognizes
that awful second which will at once rob him of the
world, and of its guilty pleasures, and precipitate
him into endless and inconceivable mifcry, which
will seclude him the happiness of Heaven, cover him
with infamy, and pierce him with the anguish of re
'norfe and felf-revenge. The gulf of despair, the
nages of horror and scenes of woe which will then
e perceptible to his fight, may justly occasion the
ml to be (truck with dismay, shrink back on itfelf
ith fear, repine atits exigence, and with a state of
nnihilation.
The person who to himfelf is confeious that he is
:pofed to the maledictions of the divine law, that
s actions are attended by vice, his thoughts pol
led by fin, and that his years have been marked by
dolence, it is presumed he will awake from his
I>th, gratefully adore that divine mercy which hath
I -t preferred him from divine justice, permit wisdom
: 1 predominate to excite him to contrition, and to
' ft '^ s ' n "' P at E °' holiness. Solicitous
i " is h °P ed , that the new year to him
1 ail be happy, by its becoming the beginning of a
(wlife; thatin future, new Ihall be the object of
1 , esteem. the pursuit of his ambition, and the plca
] ?f hl " heart > an d that no longer be will fuff cr
! !n ^ f ?°? e allured by the tinsel of vanity, to be
a vetted of peace bythe reproaches of guilt, or be
f tbie to wrath through the demerits of sin.—ls he is
^^ ^ y youth > he will ^ oi ^ that he may
t tbe enabled to devote years to the service of his
od; but if demlitated by age, he will be particu
jy anxious to “ redeem the time," because his
days have been evil."
The man of goodness will deplore his infirmities
' that , his I'fc of hotels, innocence and
1 ulity hath not been more conformable to the all
>Tied example of his divine Redeemer.—His profi
"in grace will elate his foul, and a retrofpeCt of
:t° f L rell ^ n ' as ^ey evince the juttnefs of his
( atn, his heavenly extract and assurance of the divine
p^aion, will solace him if in afflic
,im'h'm ! ' a ff aidte d by temptation, inspire
invite r ffol, ions of piety, stimulate him
f e persevere in the chriftian
"^ ^r lol ' to every impediment in
> ° f . Ovation.'
Thus acting; the faint will revere his character,
[Vol. IVj ^ ^, THE [Num^.lsß.]
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
Wednesday, January 3, 1781.1
excel in righteousness, add luftre to splendor, and
felicity to pleasure.
Thus acting, the finner will retrieve his name, do
honour to chrihianity, escape perdition, and enter
upon a new Rate on the commencement of the new
year. PHILACATHUS,
January 1, 1781.
From Rivington's New-York Gazette of Dec. 9, 1780.
DECLARATION of the King of Denmark and Nor
<wu, to the Courts of London, Verfai/te^ and Madrid.
IF the most exatt and perfeft neutrality, with the
most regular navigation and the molt inviolable rc
fpedt of treaties, could have kept free the commerce
of the fubje&s of the King of Denmark and Norway
from the inroads of the powers with whom he is at
peace, free and independent, it would not be necessa
ry to take measures to ensure to hislubje&s that liber
ty to which they have the molt incontrovertible right.
The King of Denmark has always founded his glory
and his grandeur upon the esteem and confidence of
the neighbouring people. It has been his rule, from
the beginning of his reign, to teftify to all the pow
ers, his friends, a conduct the most capable of con
vincing them of his pacific intentions, and of his de
sire to contribute to the general happiness of Europe.
His proceedings have always been conformable to
these principles, against which nothing can be alledged:
He lias not, till now, addreficd i.imfelf but to the
powers at war, to obtain a redress of his griefs, and
he has never wanted moderation in his demands, nor
acknowledgments when they have received the fuc~
cel's they deserved, but the neutral navigation has
been too often molested, and the most innocent com
merce of his fubjedts too frequently troubled, so that
the King finds himfelf obliged to take proper measures
to assure to himfelf and his allies the fafety of com
merce and navigation, and the maintenance of the
inseparable rights of liberty and independence.
If the duties of neutrality are sacred, the law of
nations has also its rights, avowed by all impartial
powers, established by custom, and founded upon
equity and reason. A nation independent and neuter,
does not lose by the war, because peace cxifts between
her and the belligerent powers, without receiving or
being obliged to follow the laws of either of them,
ihe is allowed to follow, in all places (contraband
excepted) the trafiick which the would have a right
to do it peace exited with all Europe as it exists with
her. The King pretends to nothing beyond what the
neutrality allows him. This is his rule, and that of
his people ; and the King cannot accord to the prin
ciple, that a power at war has a right to interrupt
the commerce of his fubjedts. He thinks it due to
himfelf, and his fubjedts, faithful observers of these
rules, and to the powers at war themselves, to declare
to them the following principles, which he has al
ways held, and which he will always avow and main
tain, in concert with the Empress of all the Ruffias,
whole sentiments he finds intirely conformable with
his own.
I. That neutral vessels have a right to navigate
freely from port to port, even on the coasts of the
powers at war.
11. 1 hat effects of the fubjedts of the powers at war
Ihall be free in neutral vessels, except such as are
deemed contraband.
111. That nothing is to be understood under the
denomination of contraband, that is not exprcfsly
mentioned as such in the third article of his treaty
of commerce with Great-Britain, in the year 1670,
and the 26th and 27th articles of his treaty of com
merce with France, in the year 1742; and the King
will actually maintain those rules with those powers
with whom he has no treaty.
IV. That he will look upon that as a fort blocked
up, into which no vessel can enter without evident
ganger, on account of vessels of war Rationed there,
which form an effectual blockade.
V. I hat these principles serve for rules in proce
dure and that justice fliall be expeditiously rendered,
alter the rules of the sea, conformable to treaty and
usage received.
VI. His Majesty does not hesitate to declare that
he will maintain these principles, with the honour of
his flag, and the liberty and independence of the
commerce and navigation of his fubjetls; and that
it is tor this purpose he has armed a part of his navy,
although he is desirous to preserve, with all the powers
at war, not only a good understanding, but all the
friendfhip which the neutrality can admit of. The
King will never recede from these principles, unless
he is forced to it; he knows the duties and the obli
gation, he refpe&s them as he does his treaties, and
desires no other than to maintain them. His Majesty
is persuaded, that the belligerent powers will ac
knowledge the justice of his motives, that they will
be as averse as himfelf to do any thing that may
oppress the liberties of mankind ; and that they will
give orders to their admiralty, and to their officers,
conformable to the principles above recited, which
tend to the general happiness and interest of all Eu
rope.
Copenhagen, July 8, 1780.
The declaration of the King of Sweden, to the
fame Courts, was to the fame efted.
In the above declaration the King of Denmark dis
covers his intentions are to abide by the former
treaties between Great-Britain and his own king
dom, and the following additional inftr^tiou enu
merates the articles which are declared to be con
traband. To this declaration the King of Sweden
has acceded.
An additional inftruftion to all Rips of war, and pri
vateers, that have or may have letters of mart a
gainst the French King, or the King of Spain, their
vaffids or fubjetts, or others inhabiting within any
ot their countries, territories, or dominions, or
a ^t"', an y ° ther cnemies REBELLIOUS SUB
JECT $ of the Crown of Great-Britain.—Given
at our Court of St. James's, the 15th of September,,
1 780, in the twentieth year of our reign.
' GEORGE REX.
That in conformity to an explanatory article of the
treaty of alliance and commerce, between England
and Denmark, concluded at Copenhagen, July 11,
17^0, which hath been lately concluded on and a
greed upon between us and the King of Denmark,
all forts of arms and things thereto belonging, as mus
kets, mortars, polards, bombs, grenadoes, fauceffes,
carriages, rests, bandaliers, powder, match, falt-pe-,
tre, bullets, pikes, fivords, head pieces, cutlafßs,
halberts, lances, javelins, horses, holsters, belts, and
generally all other implements of war: as also ship
timber, pitch, tar, rosin, copper in sheets, fail cloth,
cordage, and generally every thing that is used in the
equipment of ihips (except unwrought iron and fir
planks) laden in Danish Blips, and bound to the cue,
mies country, are accounted contraband goods ; but
fifh and flefh, frclh or salted, wheat or other grain,
flour, oil, wine, and generally every thing that serves
for the nourishment and sustenance of life, laden in
Danish ships, and bound to the enemies country, are
not accounted contraband, provided that the places
to which they are bound, are not besieged or blocked
U P* By his Majesty's command,
STORMONT.
HfcAD-(^ARThRS, New-Windier, Dec. 8, 1780?
]'HE commander in chief is pleased to accept and
^ approve the following report of a court of en
quiry held at Weft-Point, the 19th day of November
lafl, “ to examine into the condud of Major David
S. Franks, in his connexion with the late Major Ge
neral Arnold, during his command at Weft-Point
and relative to his desertion to the enemy."
Colonel H. Jackson, president.
Lieut. Col. Dearborn, Major Reed, and Captains
Cox and Walker, members.
The court report their opinion,—" That every part
of Major David S. Franks's conduct was not only un
exceptionable, but reflets the highest honour on him
as an officer—diftinguiihes him as a zealous friend to
the independence of America, and justly entitles him
to the attention and confidence of his countrymen.
Extract from General Orders,
Alexander Scammell, Adj. Gen.
BOSTO N, Nov. 27.
Arrived in port some days lince, His Most Christi
an Majesty's frigates the Surveillant and Hermoine,
who most gallantly distinguished themselves in en
gagements with his tyrannic Majesty's frigates; the
former after a bloody engagement with the Quebec
(a ship of equal force) blew her up---The latter in
an obstinate engagement with the Iris, of equal force,
whom he forced to retire ; the Hermoine being so
much damaged in her masts and rigging, was unable
to pursue her. Much honor is due to the command
ers or the French ships for their bravery and good
conduct
The British frigate Unicorn, that has harraffed our
coast so much, was since taken and carried into Cape
Francois, by the French frigate Landremarqne.
Dec. 14. By a vessel which arrived here from
Cape Francois, since our last, we learn that Capt.
Porter, in the flrip Aurora, from this port for the
Weft-Indies, on his passage met with a wreck, on
board of which were 4 men only, the rest of the crew
having perished. She proved to be the Sterling Cas
tle, a Britilh ship of 64 guns, which was difmaficd
in the fate hurricane, off Cape Nichola-Mole.