The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1786-09-11 00:00:00, page 2

The Life of John Newton, in a ferae: of letters
to the Rev. Mr. Haweis—-continued.
LETTER 11.
Rev. and dear fir,
THE tender mercies of God towards me were ma
nifeft in the firft moments of my life— I was born
as it were in his house, and dedicated to him in my
infancy—My mother, as I have heard from many, was
a pious good woman —I was her only child—and, as
die was of a weak constitution, and a retired temper,
almost her whole employment was the cate of my edu
cation---! have some faint remembrance of her care
and inftruftions. At a time when I could not be more
than three years of age, die herfelf taught me Eng
hjb, and with so much success, that when I was four
years old, I could read with propriety in any common
book that offered---She stored my memory, which was
then very retentive, with many valuable pieces, chap
ters, and portions of scripture, catechisms, hymns and
poems---! had little inclination to the noisy sports of
children, but was belt pleafcd when in her company,
and always as willing to learn as die was to teach me.
How far the best education may fall short of reaching
the heart, will strongly appear in the sequel of my
history---yet, I think, for the encouragement of pious
parents to go on in the good way of doing their part
faithfully, of forming their childrens minds, I may
properly propose myfelf as an instance. Though, in
process of time, I finned away all the advantages of these
early impressions, yet they were for a great while a
restraint upon me---thcy returned again and again,
and it was very long before I could wholly (hake them
off-.-and when the Lord at length opened my eyes,
I.found a great benefit from the recollection of them---
Further, my dear mother, betides the pains the took
with me, often commended me with many prayers
and tears to God, and I doubt not but I reap the fruits
of these prayers to this hour. My mother intended
to bring me up with a view to the ministry---in my
sixth year I began to learn Latin---but the plan of my
education was broke ihort---The designs of Provi
dence were far beyond the views of an earthly parent---
I was reserved for an unusual proof of the patience--
the long-fuffering--and the grace of God in favour of
an unworthy finner---the purpose of my friends was
over-ruled by depriving me of this excellent parent
when I was something under seven years old---! was
born the 24th of July, 1725, and flic died the iith cf
that month, 1732.
My father was then at sea---he was a commander
in the Mediterranean trade at that time---he came
home the following year, and soon married again---
Thus I passed into different hands---! was well treated
in all other refpe&s---but the loss of my mother's in
firuflions was not repaired. I was now permitted to
mingle with careless and profane children, and soon
began to learn their ways. About this time I was sent
to a boarding-school in Essex, where I learned to read
Tully and Virgil---but, not being well grounded, I
soon loft all I had learned---for, when I long after
wards undertook the Latin language from books, I
had little, if any advantage from what I had learned be
fore. After Raying two year: at school in Essex, when
I was eleven years old, my father took me with him
to sea. He was a man of remarkable good sense, and
great knowledge of the world---he took great care of
my morals, but could not supply my mother's part---
having been educated himfelf in Spain, he always ob
served an air of distance and severity in his carriage
which over-awed and difeouraged my spirit---I was
always in fear before him, and therefore he had the
less influence. From that time to the year 1742, I
made several voyages, but with considerable intervals
between, which were chiefly spent in the country,
excepting a few months in my 15th year, when I was
placed upon a very advantageous profped at Alicant
in Spain---but my unsettled behaviour, and impati
ence of restraint, rendered that design abortive.
In this period my temper and condud were exceed
ingly various. At school, or soon after, I had little
concern about religion, and easily received very ill im
pressions---but I was often disturbed with convi&ions---
I was fond of reading from a child---Among other
books Burnet's Cbrijlian Orator, often came in my
way, and though I understood but little of it, the
course of life therein recommended appeared very de
sirable, and I was inclined to attempt it : I began to
pray--to read the scripture, and to keep a fort of diary
---I was presently religious in my own eyes; but, alas!
this seeming goodness had no solid foundation, but
passed away like the morning cloud or the early dew ;
I was soon weary, gradually gave it up, and became
worse than before. Instead of prayer, I learned to
curse and blaspheme, and was exceedingly wicked
when from under my parent's view : All this was be
fore I was twelve years old.
These struggles, between fin and conscience, were
often repeated, and upon many occasions. I was once
roused by the loss of an intimate companion---We
had agreed to go on board a man of war—l think it
was on a Sunday —but, providentially, I came too late
—the boat was overfet, and he and several others were
drowned. I was invited to the funeral of my play
fellow, and was exceedingly affected, to think that, by
a delay of a few minutes, which had much displeased
and angered me till I saw the event, my life had been
preserved. This likewise was soon forgot. In brief,
though I cannot diftinclly relate particulars, I think I
took up, and laid aside, a religious profeffion three or
four different times before I was sixteen years of age;
but all this while my heart was insincere. My last par
tial reform was most remarkable, both for degree and
continuance. For more than two years I spent the
greatest part of every day in reading the scriptures,
meditation and prayer. I fafted often—l abstained
from all animal food for three months---! would hard
ly answer a question for fear of speaking an idle word
---I bemoaned Tny former miscarriages, sometimes
with tears---as far as my lituation would permit I
renounced society that I might avoid temptation - --but
this was a poor religion ; it only tended to make me
gloomy, stupid, unsociable and useless. Such was the
frame of my mind when in a voyage to Holland. I
bought, at a petty shop in Middlebury, the second vo
lume of lord Shaftbury's Charaderifticks. Nothing
could be more suited to the romantick turn of my
mind than the address of the pompous declamation in
the second piece which his lordship with great propri
ety styles a rhapsody, of the design and tendency I
was not aware. I thought the* author a most reli
gious person, and that I had only to follow him and
be happy. Thus, with fine words and fair speeches,
my simple heart was beguiled. This book was always
in my hand; I read it till I could nearly repeat the
whole rhapsody verbatim-No immediate effect fol
lowed, but it operated like a flow poison, and pre
pared the way for all that followed.
[To be continued.^
* Under the appearance of writing in favour of reli
gion, lord Shaftbury attempts to undermine it.
Foreign Intelligence.
L ONDO N, June 15.
A Violent dispute has happened at the India-hottfc.
The Board of Controui have Seconded the mini
ster in what the court of directors call an unjuftiliable
interference with their commercial concerns and cha
tered rights. Mr.. Pitt has infitted not only on giving
advice, but on taking an active part in the taking up
of their whipping, a matter which the court claims as
its own indisputable office. A spirited opposition has
arilen in the court, and fo'much has it iucenfed some
of the directors, that Mr. John Smith has disqualified
and quitted the direction; a step in which it is ex
pected he will be followed by others. Lad year Mr.
Pitt endeavoured to do the fame thing, but he was
more fuccefsfully opposed.
Mr. Pitt, in speaking of the personal aft of tyranny
and cruelty practifed by Mr. Haflings against Cheyt
Sing, at Benares, made use of the following fpccifick
expressions : —" He called them arts of enormous in
justice, severity and oppression; that they outraged
every European idea, every natural idea, and every ac
quired idea of justice, of equity, and of humanity.
That, in fining the Rajah 500,010!. for a mere de
lay to pay 50,0001. (which fifty he had actually paid)
Mr. Hastings had proceeded in an arbitrary, tyranni
cal manner, and not guided by any principle of reason
and justice : that this proceeding destroyed all relation
and connection between the degrees of guilt and pu
nishment; that it was grinding : that it was overbear
ing :—that, admitting the supposed guilt of the Rajah,
viz. in delaying to pay an additional tribute demanded
of him, the punishment was utterly difproportlonate,
and fhamefully exorbitant." Mr. Pitt concluded with
the following identical words: ' 'How then can I fay
such ads are not crimes, or that the perlon by whom
they are done is not a criminal ? I cannot fay so. con
fidently with my duty, with my honour, or with my
conscience. They are crimes; they are high crimes ;
they are a high misdemeanor; they are a fit fubjeft
for impeachment, and I give my vote for the queftiou."
The chancellor of the exchequer was on Tuesday
night accompanied not only by his own adherents, but
by those gentlemen who have the appellation of the
king's friends —Mr. Jenkinfon and Sir George Howard,
as well as Mr. Dundas, Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Banks,
Mr. Rose, and Mr. Steele, voted with Mr. Pitt for the
impeachment.
All that description of members, known by the
name of the Bengal Squad, voted in the majority in
support of Mr. Hastings, and it is a well-known fad,
that the Squad and their connections amount to be
tween 50 and 60 members. They were followed by
lord Mulgrave, the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney
general, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Phipps, and some few
others.
It is to the lord chancellor's advice that Mr. Hid
ings is indebted for the predicament in which he now
Hands. On his arrival in England the lord chancel
lor advised him by all means to press Mr. Burke to
bring forward the charges, and not link into the fix
ation of an honourable Baronet, who had been ac
cused, and never had been cither acquitted or con
demned.
The condud of Mr. Pitt, in the case of Mr. Hast
ings, has done him great credit, and will g^e him po
pularity in the country. He not only voted himfelf
againtt Mr. Hastings, but left the whole 01 the gen
tlemen accustomed to divide with government to pur
sue the dictates of their own consciences.
The former part of Mr. Pitt's speech, indeed the
firft two hours of it, was so decidedly in favour of Mr.
Hastings, so much in the general praise of his admini
stration, and so direCtly in answer to the arguments of
the other fide of the house, that every one imagined
the conclusion would be the fame; and so convinced
were they, that the division would be decilive in his
favour, that the solicitor-general went away, thinking
his single vote unnecessary.
June 17. The publick will do us the justice to fay,
that we are not among those who studiously propagate
calamities, and give credit and currency to every do
ry which the flock-jobbers invent. The accounts
laid to be received from America of a body of troops
having marched to dispossess the British of the pods,
which they hold contrary to treaty, we from the be
ginning discountenanced ; but finding they are dill be
lieved, [no doubt from their probability—from the
knowledge of the fad, that we do hold possession of
polts contrary to the treaty—and from the menace
thrown out by Congress in the year 1784] —We think
it right to date the deafens of our disbelief. We have
news-papers and letters both from New-York and
Massachusetts, none of which give the mod didant
hint of any such event, and our despatches came by
the veffcls that were laid to bring the news. In addi
tion to this we know that the American minister de
nies it to be true. The molt intelligent of our Ame
rican correspondents also deny that it has happened as
yet, though they know not how soon it may happen.
Mr. G. R. Fitzgerald is the fun of the amiable lady
Mary Fitzgerald, one of the ladies of honour to the
princes Amelia, nephew to the carl of Bridol, coulin
German to lord Mulgrave, and brother-in-law to the
right honourable Thomas Connolly, the firft common
er of Ireland, to the couutefs of Buckinghamshire,
and the lady of fir W. Howe. He was poffefled of
one edate worth upwards of 30001. a year, the poffef
hon of which he had got only a Ihort time ago, by the
death of his father : his personal Accomplilhmcnts were
such, that few men could To loon ingratiate themf° ^
with Grangers. He was polite, affable, agreeable, with
all the air of what he really was, a man of fafhion:
and so little could he, from his appearance, be fuf
pedcd of being of a cruel, barbarous, or vindictive
dilpofition, that he seemed to be genticnefs and meek
ness itfelf; but, under this imposing appearance, he
conceived qualities the most dangerous to society;
irascible and easily provoked, he would quarrel for the
merest trifle: implacable in his resentments, he could
not forgive a real or supposed injury ; and, as we may
now fay, after the verdiCt that ba^ been given against
him, nothing but the blood of his enemies couio sati
ate his spirit of revenge.
June 19. By letters from Guernsey, dated June
8, we are assured, that the policy of France, has
just adopted an expedient which will, in all probabi
lity, rival the British fisheries. A bounty of five
livres per quintal is allowed on the exportation of
fi(h to any part of Europe, and ten to the Weft-In
dies. This will give the French a decided fupetiori
ty in foreign markets. One merchant alone, of St.
Maloes, has lately, in consequence of this advantage,
added the sum of 6^0,000 livres to his former capi
tal employed in the Newfoundland filheties.
T he fame advices add, that the balance of trade
with France, which was so much in favour of Guern
sey and Jei fey last year is now entirely turned; and
that, instead of thole prodigious quantities cf British
manufactures which used to be lodged in those islands,
not a single article can now pass over to France, in
confcqnence of the late regulations.
June 20. Ihe number of ships for the Newfound
land lifhery, this year, are about one eighth fewer
than thole of the preceding, while those of France
are increasing. It is still more alarming, that the
island of Guernsey, which sent out fourteen last year,
will this year fend out only eleven. How are we to
account for this falling off? Will the minister refer
us to this very wonderful 1789, when such wonders
are to happen. It will, indeed, be the long expeXed
annus miferabilh if it should.
An additional number of troops is to be sent to
Canada, to ftiengthen Cfwego, and the other forts
upon the boundary line which the Americans are at
tempting to wrest from us, minidry being wifely de
termined not to make a tame surrender of them to a
rabble who have no national authority for the enter
prise which they have undertaken.
1 hey write from Copenhagen, that on the very
night of the nuptials cf rhe Princess Royal, the prince
ly bridegroom was robbed of a hat adorned with dia
monds, to the value of above 6000 crowns, and that
notwithstanding the closest and most speedy enquiry,
no trace could be found to identify the bold plun
derer.
June 21. The report of the contest in India be
tween the crews of two French Eaft-Indiamen and
our settlers there, experiences a fate quite the reverse
of that experienced by other reports of publick cala
mity, for it is only half believed. It ought
however to obtain more credit, if truth can entitle it
to credit. Gur government have doubtless received
authentick notice of the dispute. though they (we do
not fay improperly) choose to keep the publick in the
dark. Let them do so for a while—but the matter
will transpire---and when it does, may it be less awful
than it is reasonable now to think it will be.
The French want a war with us---they are prepared
for it. Nor have the Dutch forgot the injuries they
lately sustained. The Spaniards must follow their
Gallic brethren. And if we add to this, that our
friendfhip with the Eastern princes is far from being
solid, we shall find that we have but a gloomy prof
peX before us. A war must follow, and a short space
of time will shew it. We shall then have more need
than ever of the aid of mr. Hastings's unfufpedted
virtue !
The celebrated Compte de Caglioftro arrived in
town on Sunday morning, and, after flaying about
two hours, set off for Dover, to wait the arrival of
his lady. It is the intention of this undefcribable
couple to reside in London.
When the above gentleman left Boulogne, and had
got fafe into the packet, he returned to the French
Ihore, and gave it his blefling, in token of an eternal
farewell.
Caglioftro's examination before the parliament of
Paris, though short, was entertaining. Being asked