The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1785-09-12 00:00:00, page 1

Mr. Collins,
lAMI AM situated in the upper part of Hunterdon
county. I have for several years before and
since the war enjoyed an ealy competency,
which is not the worse for being small, be
cause, by my own industry, it fully fatisfies
my desires. The little Jeafure which my circumstan
ces afforded me, I have not been inattentive to im
prove by books, religious, moral and folitical. It
was with a vital ardour that I embraced the late cause
of America for independence, and gloried in its fuc
cefsful termination. It was often that I reflected
upon the maxim, that it requires more prudence and
forefight to make a government happy io peace than
vigorous and coercive in war. Its sinews becoming re
laxed when dangers are dissipated, lose that strength
which is necessary to preserve the political machine
in its due order and harmony. But notwithstanding
the impression of these ideas were deep, I had faith
enough to hope that America would be singularly
blessed—That her rising after so many precedent
examples, would be fufficient to inftru& her states
men into a system of experimental politics, that
should make her citizens more happy in peace than
they had been virtuously intrepid in war.
The several circumstances which alarm me, at pre
sent, I think muff carry conviction to every reflecting
patriotic mind.
The present political deadness of the press, as to
opening the eyes of the fubjedt—the intereft.which
difaffe&ed people endeavour to acquire at elections,
and the countenance which they meet with—each of
these pictures to me, in the strongest colours, our
present unhappy and probably more ilavifh situations.
It h^ been said by some, that if an Angel should
descend from Heaven, and paint our situation in the
most lively manner that ever was expressed, it would
be of no avail to avoid our political career to ruin.—
Oh, Heavens ! I hope this requires the spirit of pro
phecy to divine, and that our brethren will seek in
ftru&ion even from the meanest pen.
But not to digress, it has been often faid.my country
men, but never can be too often repeated, that the
press is the great bulwark of liberty. It is the
scourge of tyrants and demagogues; and, in fine, one
of the most effectual means to secure to the fubjed
his natural rights—his acquired property — and his
own voluntary choice. Ought any man to be deaf to
such a resource for the fafety of himfelf and his neigh
bours, or inactive to contribute his share of informa
tion? Independence has not been acknowledged till
lately, nor should its blessings in the sunrise of enjoy
ment vanish, and leave us in the dark among in
triguiog powers and neighbours. Cn this, in a good
measure, depends the liberty and exercise of the
press (if wife and good rulers make a happy people)
with that attention paid to it, which ought to be, by
a virtuous community. Wifdpm and goodness ftp
port the system of nature in so much harmony, and
where-ever we can find these qualities united, there
is happiness. It is only wife and good Legislators then
that can make a country happy and prosperous. The
last quality is as efl'ential as the firft. A man may be wife,
and yet injurious to his country. It may be the very
weapon with which he facrifices,byhis artifices, its dear
est rights and privileges. We will then fay, to give
the just definition of a desirable legislator, ' that he
oughtto be wife and good ;' or as a Roman would have
said, ' prudent and patriotic.' But how (hall we dis
cover such a man? fays the multitude. Why you must
attend to what comes from the press. Perhaps it is
impossible for each individual to be perfenally ac
quainted with every character or candidate; and it is
a lamentable case that those who are belt acquainted per
sonally, either through favour or affection, often
make the most injudicious choice. Perhaps we are
not always to believe every thing that comes from
the press; but we ought to give it full weight till
^e can obtain more convincing testimony. If we
lay news-papers are too dear to buy, because we can
now get but little money (which 1 believe is true
enough for the want of good legislators) let two or
.free of us neighbours join, and let every political or
charaderiftic matter engage our attention. Think
whether it will be moie for our advantage to rifle
[Vol. VIII.] T H E [Numb. 383.1
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
TRENTON: Printed by ISAAC COLLIN S, Printer to the State.
MONDAY, September 12, 1785.
our all than a few (hillings. If we fhduld know or
be convinced of certain criminal fads against a man,
if other new ones be adduced in print, by a writer
perhaps as honest as ourselves, it is presumptive proof
that they also be true ; and they tend greatly to cor
roborate or strengthen what we know. From this
circumstance it is apparent that much may be relied
on that comes from the press. Even on the suppo
sition that it be falfe, it may still answer a valuable
purpose. It will put virtuous people .on an enquiry
into the character described, and if they cannot find
fufficient proof to acquit him of the charge alleged,
will not eled him to offices of trust, honour or profit.
But a most inestimable advantage of the press, is, to
shew from reason and undoubted experience the ave- 1
nues which lead to liberty—-to the happiness of free
men; and how to avoid by a&ivity the dangers which
await us. The present deadness of the press strikes
me forcibly that we are not free. There surely are
men in the county of Hunterdon who are capable of
writing worthy of freemen and patriots; but why are
they chained? Is it because they are afraid of some
tories who, it is very induftrioufiy spread, are grow-|
ing popular. Why is a farmer, of but a mean educa-;
tion, obliged to step forth at this critical period: In 1
my opinion NOW is the time our liberty is at stake—-
now is the time we should shake off this lethargy :
when we are surrounded by latent dangers. Our
woift enemies are now concealed, but, like hydra in§
the dark, will ere long lung us imperceptibly to thel
heart. Let fvery one who has ftept forth against thej
common enemies of his country, with as much refo-I
lution hunt out and vanquish .its internal foes. Letl
every one who can inftruft his countrymen from thel
press, shew some zeal for their welfare. In my next,
which shall be within a few weeks, T shall point out
some deplorable circumstances of our Eledions. But
I hope some pen, more able than mine, will espouse
this cause meritorious—and, if my sentiments be illy §
founded, set me right.
RUSTICUS.I
cfo*tfc*ofosffo^ ofccfocfccfocfoj
Foreign Intelligence.
^^-s*==_^
CONSTANTINOPLE, May 12 . {
The late grand vizier, although deprived of all his ?
pofieffions, was not permitted to retire to the govern-|
ment to which he was exiled; for whilst he was on his §
way, he was overtaken by the Capigibachi, who by,
order of the grand fignior presented him with thel
fatal cord; his head was brought to this city, and I
after being as usual presented to the grand fignior, 1
was publickly exposed upon the gate of the feraglio,|
a place famous for having been too frequently orn^- !
mented with heads once revered with the most vile
adulation.
VIEN N A, (Germany) June i.
The emperor has sentenced the Aulic Counfellor
Von Kreutfnatch to sweep the streets of Vienna for
fix years. His majesty has discovered that he has
been guilty of great oppreflion and peculation. His
hair has been already cut off, and it is said he is to
begin sweeping the streets next Monday.
An association of twelve ladies has been appointed,
who are to introduce a hew regulation of dress among
the several classes of the fair sex—They have givenl
their opinion that women may be clad at one-third of
the prelent expence; and yet preserve a smarter and §
more captivating appearance. J
A prelate, whose diocese lies in Upper Austria, *
presented a memorial last week to the emperor, re- 3
questing his majesty's permission to make a pilgrim- |
age at Rome, to visit the tombs of St. Peter and St. I
Paul. His Imperial majesty sent him word, that in- §
Read of visiting the tombs of those faints, he oughtl
rather to visit his own bifhoprick; and 1 ^ill ahjtuer |
for it, fays the emperor, thqt St. Peter and St. Paul
^ill be much better pleafeL
June 25. Vast damage is sustained at Leopoldftadt,
IRoffau, and the neighbouring parts, by violent inun-
Idations, which have not only carried away particular
;houfes, but even the buildings of whole villages.
I Yefterday thu waters began to abate. *
C A D I Z, May 27.
_Several vessels are arming on the king's account to
fail for the different American colonies, to whicli
they are to carry warlike ammunition. Le Rufe,
a ship of 60 guns, is fitting out, to be commanded
by D. Cajetan de Langara, which, after having
made trial of a machine for freshening sea-water,
and of some portable kitchens, after the English fa
fhion, of a new invention, will fail, it is said, to
Peru, to be Rationed there for some timd.
SCHWEIDNIT Z, (in Silesia) June 24.
We have had a febond inundation, more terrible
in its effeds than the former. A.violent fall of rain
having melted the snow upon the mountains, im
mense torrents of water defeended, and occafiohed
the rivers to oveiflow their banks. Th 4 houses in
our suburbs, which had refilled the former overflow,
together with the remaining bridges and embank
ments, were carried away by the fury of these tor
rents. All our grain and hay in the country round
this city are- destroyed. The whole of Upper Silesia
is under water. The posts are flopped, and several
couriers have been drowned. Great quantities of
linen have been carried away hom the bleaching
grounds by the violence of the waters. The river
which runs tp Proffen is prodigiously swelled • ab
likewise is the Oder.
AM ST E R D A M, June 22.
All our accounts concur in faying, that the pacific
treaty between the republick and the court of Vienna;
is in a favourable train of being brought to a speedy
conclusion.
Letters from Paris, dated June 20, mention, that
the celebrated Dr. franklin, a few days b'efore, had
taken his leave of the king and the royal family at
% erfailles, and proposed immediately setting out for
the port of Nantz, from whence lie was to embark
for Philadelphia.
The fame advices declare, that in consequence of
a plan laid before M. Vergennes, by Dr. Franklin,
the king had been pleased to permit the United States
to unload their American commodities at the islands
of France, or Bourbon, and take in East-India pro
duaions;,or, if they choose to proceed to China,
&c. they should have the liberty of disposing of their
cargoes at the above inlands, or at that of St. Mauri
tius. This concession, it is fall tyill probably turn
out very advantageouffy to the Americans.
P A R I S, june 12.
It appears that for this time, Europe may rejoice
in having ended without bloodshed a difference
which certainly might have occafoned the death of
many innocent perlons. Ilie moderation and wis
dom of the comte de Vergennes have brought over
both parties to agree to terms of reconciliation. Those
who pretend to be ip the secret fay, that he had most
difficulty in conquering the obstinacy of the repub
licans.
Mr. Franklin is on the point of returning to Phi
ladelphia.
June 13. We feain from Francke-Comte, that
a fare lately broke out at the foot of the mountain
°f Votes' which consumed no less than ten villages.
Ihis calamity is known to be the result of a wicked
combination, various parcels of the combustible mat
ter, with trains laid from one to the other, having
been found in different places.
June 17. By an arret of council, dated the goth
of last month, the firft thirty volumes of Voltaire's
Works, printed by a foreign literary society, are
fuppieffed, and a fine of one thousand livres ordered
to be levied on whoever does not bripg his copies
and deposit them in the syndic chamber. The arret
adds, that these works are fupprefled because ini
mical to good morals, and the authority of th^
laws.
Lo n d o n, June 4.
, Last week died, Mr. Robert Tellar, gardner in
Wrexham.—He left a widow almost inconsolable, who;
after weeping near the long period of a week, like
another fyhefa'n matron, listened to the foft tale of