The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-08-12 00:00:00, page 2

from Commodore Hotham, who aligned no other rea
son for this conduct, than" that the cloaths were pur
" chafed in Nezu-York,” though with General Hoove's
consent, and paid for in previous. On Admiral Gam
bier's arrival, a few weeks ago, in hopes of some re
dress, the, presented the following petition :
To James Gambier, Esq. Rear Admiral, &c. &c.
The Petition of George Lacey, &c. &c. &c. Gentle
men Passengers and Matter Mariners for themselves
. /and other prisoners on board the prison ship Judith,
Humbly fheweth,
THAT your petitioners for many months last past,
having laboured under the most poignant and inex
pressible distress, beg leave to congratulate you, Sir,
on your fafe arrival, and accession to the command
in chief on the North-American station.
Your petitioners with every possible gratulation of
heart from so opportune and fortunate an r vent, can
not forbear felicitating themselves on the happy pro
fped of a speedy redress of all their grievances— a
after fall into vour hands, may participate in, as the
common diffufive blessing of a mind, humane and
compassionate Commander in Chief.
To avoid the prolixity of a minute detail of their
innumerable grievances, your petitioners, with great
humility, beg leave to state their wretched, unhappy
situation to you, Sir; in as few pointed fads, and as
generally conefe, as their peculiarly distressed cir
cumstances will possibly admit of.
Your petitioners therefore making up the number
inclusive,' of 197 fouls, on board this small prison ship,
of whom are beyond all human hopes of recovery
sick with malignant putrid fevers ; and about 50 other
emaciated living Skeletons dragging about the decks
such naked miserable carcasses, that it should seem
were only (pared as a favour like another Polyphemus
for the after sport of death, while the tyrant exercises
his dominion-on the more healthy frefli men, with
which they are continually reinforced.—With this
miserable group of unparalleled human wretcliednels,
your petitioners are indiscriminately drove down by
the marines with fixed bayonets, and the most oppro
brious language, every night between decks precisely
at fun set ; and as the numerous sick and infirm na
turally claim a preference to occupy what is called the
births or cabins, your petitioners, with numbers of
others, think themselves very happy in securing a feat
on a chest to set on ; for to lay down, Sir, is an in
dulgence that more than 40 in number every night
cannot obtain, unless they overlay each other. In
this melancholy situation, the famifhing, sick and dy
ing are frequently heard to cry out for mercy's
fake, in vain, for one single mouthful of water and
frefh ^ir, when the possibility of the firft resort for
their relief is prevented by the crowd, and the last
precluded to them by the hatches being shut close
down upon them ; fo' that v >ur petitioners have as
much to dread from a general fuffocation, as from
the unremitting malignancy of the pestilential distem
per, which continues to diminish their numbers at
the rate of 3, 4 and 5 every day.
Your petitioners therefore most humbly
pray, &c. &c. }
Prison-ship Judith, June 12, 1778.
In justice to the Admiral his answer is subjoined—
The Admiral taking the prisoners petition into con
fidemticn, and desirous at all times to alleviate their
distresses as soon as possible, by giving every relief in
his power, has ordered a large commodious ship to
be got ready immediately for the reception of the
matters, mates, and gentlemen passengers—and an
other fllip will be got ready in a few days, to thin
the numbers on board of each prison ship, and to se
parate the well men from the sick.
On board his Majefty ? s ship Ardent, June ij, 1778.
your pro|6fition, add suppose a negociation begun,
pray anf&r me with a franknefs that becomes your
characters, What could you do ? Look over your com
million again. You could propose a treaty of recon
ciliation and amity with Great-Britain, on such terms
as you think proper to give and we to ask —You could
return home with the fullcft evidence of our faithlefs
disposition towards our new ally, and with a little
ministerial aid, (as in the late instance of the 29th of
March) you could endeavour to make the Court of
France the laughing stock of Europe: And —You
could, after the firft session of Parliament, or perhaps
if delay was necessary, after the second session,
inform us, with a grave and distressed countenance,
that you were exceedingly mortified to find that Par
liament being made up of so many men of different
sentiments, views and interests, they woulQot ratify
and confirm the compact or agreement, unless this,
that, and the other articles were altered, explained
or given up ; but that as it was previously known,
that nothing was to be conclusive or obligatory till
such ratification, you modestly hope, that it will not
prove injurious to us.
Gentlemen, Can you believe that the Independent
States of America in Congress assembled, are posses
sed of common sense, common prudence or common
honesty. If you can, I would advise you seriously
to confider the absurd and hopeless state of your com
mission. Return from whence you came. Let your
matters know that the foil of America is incompati
ble with bribery and corruption, which, 'as exotics,
have treqt&i 7 beeq transplanted from the other fide
of the AGhrttic, but ?:ould by no means be made to
take root; that therefore you have no hopes of fuc-
cefs, and advise them, as the only card left them to
play, immediately to recognize our independence,
and to improve the advantages offered them in a share
of our trade, it being possible that repentance in this
instance, as in another, may come too late.
You have been long deceived by an obstinate mini
stry and their servile dependents—Be deceived no
longer. Believe not the idle tale, that the people of
America are led by a few individuals into the present
measures. If ever there was a popular cause, the
present is one; and hence the dread of those very
tories who now surround you---Their fears ought
to be to you, a fufficient proof, if there was no other.
We mean not to glory in, or altogether avail our
selves of the present success. We know the fate of
war +3 uncertain ; and though unlikely, it is not im
possible, that we may again descend into the valley.
But remember, Gentlemen, we have not changed our
language from a change of circumstances. It was the
fame when we were as low as we were at Trenton,
and lower I think you need not with us. These have
been, and still are our determinations, even if the
British arms should be victorious throughout every
State of America ; for I can assure you of a fad,
which may make you tremble---that there are a noble
few in every state, whose fouls are well tried in the
school of misfortune; who disdaining again to wear
the yoke of bondage, would in such extremity, re
tire to the mountains and lakes, and there preserve
a feed of Liberty, in hopes that Heaven, who re
gards the cries of the helpless, would in his own time
raise up such fruit from it, as would again fill this
happy land, to the execution of the whole race of
slaves and parasites. Think Ye that those who in the
midst of winter, in spite of every difficulty, without
nail or hammer, mortar, brick, and I may almost
fay stone, with a powerful army in front, could rear
a city in the wilderness on the tops of ragged moun
tains, in which they could live comfortably and joy
ously, at the fame time confine their enemies (con
lifting of almost twice their number, well disciplined,
cloathed, and found in every necessary) within a
circuit of about two or three miles. I fay, can you
conceive that a people with such fouls, could ever
be deprived of an affylum in a country like this, even
against the united powers of the earth. I fay again,
be not deceived---hasten not your own deftruftion---
Think for yourselves---ad a rational part---dream
not of dividing a people who know that their politi
cal salvation depends on their union---pay some at
tention to your private characters--- depart hence,
and be wife. Gentlemen, farewell.
Philadelphia, July %2, 1778. C I V I S.
NEW-L OND O N, July 3 r.
x.^<± "uz^u^cj^ 7- -«+-4cet of Frmreti mips arrived be
fore the harbour of Newport, and have blocked up
the fame.
Letters from on board the fleet, dated last Wed
nesday, were received in town on Wednesday night,
by express.
A number of pilots have been sent from this place,
on board the fleet.
HARTFORD, August 4.
Last Thursday afternoon about 17 fail of transports,
under convoy of three ships of war, passed by New-
London, fuppbfed to be bound for Newport.
The spirit of desertion still prevails in the British
army; 150 have come into deneral Washington's
camp since it has been at White Plains.
FISH-KILL, July 30.
Last week two brigades marched to the Eastward,
to join the army there. The Marquis de la Fayette
is gone to Rhode-Ifland to take the command of
3000 French troops. The French squadron have
failed from Sandy-Hook, to co-operate with the ar
my against Rhode-Ifland.
By a gentleman who left Boston on Thursday last,
we hear, that^an express arrived from Gov. Cpok,
of Rhode-Ifland, to the Council of Massachusetts-
Bay, informing them that the enemy had landed 4000
men at Newport, from New-York.
From the New- York papers of the 3d and sth infant, we
have extracted the following advices ;
LONDO N, June 2.
Orders had been previously sent into the country
before the press broke out on Wednesday night last in
London, so that it was general throughout the king
dom.
Many important changes are expected to-morrow
at St. James's, if we are to give credit to what we
have always efteeined important information: The
Earl of Suffolk resigns on account of his very infirm
state of health, upon terms more honourable than
lucrative, the Garter, with a small douceur, and Lord
Shelburne succeeds; Lord Talbot quits the Steward
ship in favour of the Earl of Dartmouth, who gives up
the Privy Seal ; but the successor to the high office of
Privy Seal our correspondent confeffes himfelf at a lots
to afeertain.
A new arrangement in administration will certainly
take place to-morrow, or in a few days. The prin
cipal changes are said to be as follows: The Attor
ney-General, Mr. Thurlow, with a peerage, to be
Lord High Chancellor; Mr. Wedderburnc, Attorney-
General ; and Mr. Wallace, Sollicitor-General ; Lord
Shelburne, Secretary of State, in the room of Lord
Suffolk ; Col. Barre, Secretary at War; the Earl of
Gower, First Lord of the Treasury , and Mn Corn
wall, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord North ie
tires upon the Cinque Ports.
June 4. Yesterday the workmen belonging to the
board of works, by order of the Lord Chamberlain,
measured the painted chamber at the House of Peers,
in order to begin hanging the fame with black on
Thursday next, for the reception of the corpse ofthe
Earl of Chatham, where it is to lie in public state.
His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houses of Par-
Your presence in your refpedive counties may at
this time be of great public advantage. It is unneces
sary for me to recommend to you to do your duty in
your several Rations: On my part I have no other
with or object, but to deserve the confidence of my
Parliament, and the affections of my people.
T/^^n tho Lord CJ-^^f^Jlor,-LfrLs^Jtf^^^Q^J.^oxoso,nfol,
My Lords a?id Gentlemen,
IT is his Majesty's royal will and pleasure, that this
Parliament be prorogued to Tuesday, the four
teenth day of July next, to be then here holden ; and
this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday,
the 14th day of July next.
NE W-Y OR K, August s.
On Monday morning about one o'clock the city
was alarmed by a tremendous fire, which broke out at
the house of Mr. Stewart, at Cruger's dock, and not
withstanding the utmost efforts of the navy, army and
inhabitants, soon confirmed all the buildings on the
east, south and weft end of said wharf, with every
house on the south fide of Little Dock-street. The
street being narrow, the flames soon communicated
to the north fide of Little Dock-street, and consumed
the whole (five houses excepted) at the weft end. The
fire soon caught the back buildings in Dock-street,
and burnt every house to the east of Mr. Jfaac Low's,
as far as the old flip, and three opposite the flip.
Mr. Low's house, tho' not burnt entirely, is greatly
damaged, as well as that next to it on the weft.
The loss on this melancholy occasion is great, there
being 110 less than 64 dwelling-houfcg besides stores,
consumed.
liament, on Wednejday, June 3, 1778.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
AFTE R so long and laborious an application to
the public business, I think it proper at this sea
son of the year to give you some recess. I come at
the fame time to return you my particular thanks for
the zeal you have shewn in supporting the honour of
my crown, and for your attention to the real interest
of all my fubjefts, in the wife, just and humane laws
which have been the result of your deliberations, and
which, I hope, will be attended with the most sa
lutary effects, in every part ofthe British empire.
My desire to preserve the tranquility of Europe has
been uniform and. sincere : I reflect with great fatis
fahtion that I have made the faith of treaties and the
law of nations the rule of my conduct, and that it has
been my constant care to give no just cause of offence
to any foreign power ; let that power by whom this'
tranquility Iha.ll be disturbed, answer to their fubjedts
and to the world for all the fatal consequences of War.
The vigour and firmnefs of my Parliament have en
abled me to be prepared for such events and emergen
cies as may happen ; and I trufe that the experienced
valour and discipline of my fleets and armies, and the
loyal and united ardour of the nation, armed and ani
mated in the defence of every thing that is dear to
them, will be able, under the protection of Divine
Providence, to defeat all the enterprizes which the
enemies of my crown may presume to undertake, and
convince them how dangerous it is to provoke the
spirit and strength of Great-Britain.
Gentlemen ofthe House of Commons,
I thank you for the chearfulnefs with which you
have granted the large and ample supplies for the ser
vice of the current year, and for your care in railing
them in a manner the most effectual and the least bur
thenfome; and my warmest acknowledgments are
due to you for the provision you have enabled me to
make for the more honourable support of my family.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
There were two small vessels burnt, but we hear of
no lives being loft.
Yeflerday about one o'clock a slash of lightning
struck a magazine of damaged powder on board the
ordnance sloop Morning Star, lying in the East river,
which occasioned the most awful explosion ever per
ceived in New-York, where most of the houses re
ceived very great damage. It had an effect similar to
an earthquake, and occasioned a tremendous alarm
to every resident in this city.
We are assured by accounts from England, dated
in June, that the remainder ofthe French naval force
in Europe was blocked up in the harbour of Brest ;
the chief commanders there are Mons. de la Mothe
Picquet, and Mons. D'Arvilliers ; this important ser
vice was effected by Vice-Admiral the Hon. Augustus
Keppel, with 27 principal ships of Great-Britain ; —
that Lord Chatham was dead, and Parliament had
unanimously voted an Addfefs, humbly entreating his
Majesty to order the sum of 40C0I. a year to be annexed
to the dignity ofthe earldom of Chatham,limited to the
defeendaqts from the late-Right Honourable W. Pitt.
There was no war declared against France when
the Packet left Falmouth,
TRENTON, August 12.
The following DEP 0 s 1 TI 0 N was emitted last week
for want of room.
BE it remembered, that on the 30th day of July,
Anno Domini 1778, personally appeared before me,