The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-06-09 00:00:00, page 1

Mr. Collins,
A MONG the various writers who are endea
/U vouring to eftablilh the political salvation
°' ''"" country, none have been attended
with so bad confecuences in depreciating
the currency, as the writings of your correspondent
the True Patriot ; nor has any recommended so un
just and impolitic a plan as he has done in his con
cluding nuitiber, in recommending Lafonabß laws to
be made by the Legislatures, that no citizens receive
payments for debts contrasted before the year 1777,
iif this depreciated currency, ddiegarding those who
have already received the money, and that for lands
fold and debts contrasted before the depreciation of
the currency, and probably have not one farthing on
loan before the firrt of March, 1778, possessing no land
atppreset, the unjurt depreciation having rendered
them unable to purchase now. Are tbefc the men
to hold a tenth of their Rock, ought they not rather
to receive the full value of every bill, according to
the resolution of Congress, read in the face of it?
The injustice of his scheme is so glaring, and is in
deed to be wondered at how a perlon of patriotic
principles ihould undertake it; but when we reflect
that men of fangume tempers, who often flart a no
tion merely as a point of [peculation, will think and
tills: so much about it, as at length to persuade them
selves into a firm belief of the reality of what is all
the while the creature of their own brain : Strange as
this may seem, I am a!moft tempted to believe this
patriotic gentleman has brought himfelf to believe
that what he has proposed is the most equitable of
any scheme poflible now to enter into. I dismiss the
True Patriot to reflect on the wildness of his propo
rtions, and make my address to the Honourable the
Congress, the Governors and Legislative Bodies of the
United States : May the Congress once more warmly
recommend to and afiift them in making laws for the
regulation of trade. Necessity calls ; fear urges ; rea
son exhorts ; companion alone exclaims ; the whole
fabrick appears in danger of falling to the ground,
and if so, would bury thousands in its ruins ; I mean
the natural death of publick credit. Who can be
hold this deftrudion with the remedy in their hands !
laws of regulation. —This, and this alone, will pay
millions of money for those yet unborn ; this would
defeat ail the depreciating schemes of the emiffarics
of Britain, the machinations of the friends of tyranny,
and enemies to liberty. In the mean time, let taxes
be competent on propcity of whatsoever kind : * By
competent taxes I would be understood to lignify a.
low medium between those who have been so unfor
tunate as to possess their estates. in cash at present,
and have a right to call every dollar equal in value to
one silver one, and those who have fifteen or twenty
for one ; the unequal division of property renders it
impoflible to do equaljuft ice to every one. The source
of degeneracy, so remarkable in free goverments, is
mollly owing to the practice of contracting debts and
mortgaging the publick revenues, by which taxes may
in time become intolerable, and all the property of
the State be brought into the hands of the publick.
Zenophon tells us that the Rcpublick of Athens paid
near two hundred per cent for Sums cf money, when
emergent occasions made it necessary for them to
borrow. In popular governments! the people, who
have the higheli offices, are commonly the publick
creditors. "Iris difficult for the State to make use of
this remedy, (though it may be attainable on cafy
terms) which however it may be some times neces
sary, is always cruel and barbaroue, and is an incon
venience which nearly threatens all free governments,
especially our own at the present conjuncture of affairs.
And what a strong motive is this to encreafe our fru
gality of the publick money. Ergo, Laws to regu
late trade will confirm what was formerly said of Re
publicks alone, that they are a government of laws,
not of men ; property would thereby be secured and
industry encouraged ; for this the honed farmers arid,
mechanicks are now looking up unanimously to their
great servants: The merchants, the bane of society,
engroffers and foredailers I exclude.
A FA RME R.
Letter from Mr. Peter Dubois in New-York, to Mrs.
Dubois at Second River.
My DEAR Catey, Friday, May 28, 1779.
" J WROTE you on Wednesday, and lent you two
l pair of heels and the materials for the bonnet,
withthe news-paper, which hope you will receive in
proper time. —Since which I am told Mrs. Burly and
* Should it be practicable to tax cajb itfelf, two
pence a year front every dollar will pay or Jink the
whole, no matter how enormous the fcm, in forty-five
years.
NE^-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. ll.]
WE DN ESD AY, June 9, 4779.
conveyance.
" I am anxious to hear of the progress of the
continental troops which marched towards the fron
tiers —the particular objects of their destination are
probably known by this time, if they have thought it
expedient to proceed upon their original plan; out if
the Savages should have began any operations, I think
it probable they have been diverted from their design.
I could with to hear as icon as poflible any thing that
may transpire relative to the achievements of either,
though I dread to be told cf the cruelties that will
probably be pradifed. Indeed we have lately had a
icene (which by report has been marked with cir
cumstances of Savage barbarity) iranfaCkd between
this and your diftrift, and which I believe is secreted
from the commander in chief, whose sensibility and
humanity, I am persuaded, would be wounded with
the reprefentatien—But, notwithstanding, it has its
advocates, and could you believe it, the Governor *
of your province avowcdly patronizes the mifereants.
It tills me with horror to relied 011 the probable ef
feds of such a temper in a man who declares he is at
the head of this ahociation, which appears to me to
be formed for the purpose of plundering and desolat
ing a country, which reason and the maxims of found
policy should induce him to regain the affections of,
by treating those whom he subdues with lenity and
justice. lam far from willring to pi ad the cause of
those who are the props and support of the present
unnatural conflict: No! I would . we the leading
men secured and treated with liumai .y, but reserv
ed lor juQice; but the aged and dec epid—the wo
men and the children—the induftriv s pcafant and
the man unarmed and unarray^d for ortrie purpose,
should rest in quiet in his 6wn cotta v, and pursue
the labours or his field without interr mien ; to him
the horrors of war should be unLi^ n, whatever
might be his Ipcculative opinion's, p-uvided T cfe
were not accompanied with open alts of persecution
and violence agamft thole who differed in sentiments
with him. This, I mull confefs, is howeve- an idea
singular among those who are Jersey refugees,—they
breath nothing but fire and sword, and deflation —
and thole who an ungovernable and rapacious foldiiry
have already plundered, they are for utterly dellroy
ing. 'I hey put me in mind of the representation given
of the Porpoises, who, it is said, when one of their
number is wounded, the others fall upon him imme
diately and devour him, —in this manner they have
ailed iince they have been embodied and beaded by
their chief —every tiring that comes in their way is
plunder, and its owner a damned rebel. Poor
John Powlcffon, the companion of my fullerings,
and who for his invincible firmhefs and refufal to
take the oaths, was a prisoner at Morris-Town eleven
months, has been plundered for a rebel by these
wretches, his horses have been publickly fold, and I
yesterday met a fellow in the street with his negro,
who, I understand from him, he was going to fell.
I hope I shall be able to put a flop to it, if at the fifk
of grave looks from the Go&erhor.
Twelve o'clock, Wednesday.
her daughter were in town, and had a note for me,
I therefore went in search of them, but could net find
them out, although I heard of their having been in
several places, so that your's by them is not come to
band. —They came in by Paulus-Hook, and there
they got a pass to come in and return, folhat they
have no occasion to call upon us, and therefore gave
themselves no trouble about delivering your billet. —
I hope Chertnut got fafe, as he will spare you a little
sugar in case Confident should not have forwarded you
any.—l have laying ready a few pounds of powder
sugar, which shall fend you as focn as I can get a
From Gaine's New-York Gazette, of May 24.
By the Cutter Dublin, that arrived here laji Firday
evening in fifty-free days from Waterford, we have
the following Advices, viz.
From the London Gazette Extraordinary.
St, fames's, March 17.
Copy of a letter from Major-General Munro to the
Lord Vifcbunt Wey mouth, his Majefly's principal'
Secretary of State.
Pondicherry, October 27, 1778.
My Lord,
III AVE the honour to inform your Lordship of
the success of the Eart-li'dia Company's troops
agaiuft Pondicherry, after a fitge of tw 0 months arid
ten days from the firlt investing of the place. The town
f&rrendered by capitulation on the 17th of October,
and I have sent herewith the term, of capitulation.
J have to request your Lordship will be plcafed to lay
I have nothing to add —but that I aril very well,
and with to hear you may be so too.
* Meaning Mr. Franklin.
T II E
them before his M jvßy; aid as I have been so for
tunate as to have nad the honour of commanding
troops that have reduced a place of such cohfequence
to the British fcrtlements in India, my utmost ifh
now is, to have his Majelly's approbation of my
conduct. As your Lordihip may with to be imoimed
of the operations ot the troops during the liege, I have
the honour to lend you the following account.
On the Bth of Augurt, part of the troops intended
for the fuge encamped on the Red Hill,.within four
miles of Pondicherry ; but it was the ill before a
luftcient number ot troops were ahembieu io th<tt we
could attempt to advance. Cn this day v, c took pos
session of the Bound Hedge, within cannon shot cf
Pondicherry, which prevented all communication
with the town by land On the 6th ano 7th of Sep
tember we broke ground, both 011 the north and south
fide of the town, it having been determined to carry
on two attacks; and on the 18th we opened our bat
teries with 28 pieces of heavy artillery, and 27 mor
tars. Though our fire on th* town was very great,
yet :hc enemy's was equally so on us from day-break
'till towards the evening, uhen our batteries had ap
pare tly the advantage, and the-fire from the fortrels
dtcreated greatly. The approaches were continued
with the utmost expedition poflible ; but the obrtinate
defence of the garrison made it neceflary to aft with
caution, and the violent rains that fell retarded the
work. A gallery being carried into the ditch to the
Southward, a breach made in the ballon called L'llof
pital, and the faces of the adjacent baltiuns being also
destroyed, it was refolvcd to pass the ditch by means
of a bridge of boats made for the purpose, and to
assault the place; while, on the North attack, cur
batteries had ruined the Eag face of the North Welt
bartion, and a float was prepared to pass the troops
over the ditch at the fame time ; another attack was
to have been made on the sea fide to the Northward,
where they had rtockacies running into the water.
This was intended to have been put in execution the
15th of October before day-light ; but in the forenoon
of the 14th the water in the ditch to the Souths ard
was so railed by the rains for two or three cays before,
that it forced itfelf into the gallery, broken conn,
and damaged the boats intended for the bridge." ft
required two days to repair the dan age < one; and
every thing being ready for the al i.u;t, 1 would have
taken place on the 17th ; but on the 16th B'. Belle
combe sent me a letter by IL Aid-de-Camp M. de
Villette, relative to a capitulation, which was limned
by both parties next day. Tin gallant attrite made
by M. Bericcombe will ever do him honour; and I
beg leave in justice to tec troops I had the honour to
ci remand, to allure your Lor ship, that they a&cd
with the most determined rclolution on every occasion.
lamin a moll | articular manner obliged to Sir Edward
Vernon, and his Majesty's Iquadron, vh< molt chear
fully gave every assistance during the whole fuge ; and
when the allault was refolvcd cn, 'Si iEduard landed
his marines, and 20c teamen, to afiift n the attack.
I have the honour of lending your Loidllrip here
with a return of the k lied and wounded on both tides,
together with a lift of the cannon and dores taken in
Pondicherry.
These dispatches will be delivered to your Loi dlhip
by Enlign Rumbold, of the 6th regiment of loot,
who obtained his Majesty's leave to come to India
with his lather, the Governor of this feftlement. He
has acted aS one of my Aid-dc-Camps firice 1 have
been on this coart ; and as 1 have great reaion to be
perfectly fatisfied with his conduct,! beg leave to
recommend him to your Lonllhip as a young man of
merit. He takes with him the colours of Pondicherry,
to have the honour of laying them at his Maj< fly's feet.
] have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) HECTOR MUNRO.
[By the articles of capitulation the garrison of
Pondicherry, after piling their arms, arc permitted to
march out with the honours 0; war, and to proceed
to Madrafs, where, or in its neighbourhood, they
are to be properly accommodated, till flrips can be
provided to carry them to France.]
Return of guns; mortars. Ihot, Imall-arms and pow
der, taken in Pondicherry, 1778.
Serviceable. 3 thirty-fix. pdUrders, 18 twenty-four
ditto, 13 eighteen ditto, 30 twelve ditto, 60 eight
ditto, 44 fix ditto, 11 four ditto, 2 three ditto.
Unserviceable. 1 thirty fix pounder, 18 twenty-four
ditto, 3 eighteen ditto, 1 twelve dittp, 5 eight
ditto, i four ditto.
Total Rrviceablc, 181—unserviceable, 29.
Draft Guns' Serviceable. 6 twelve pounders, 6 eight
ditto, £ fix ditto, 18 four ditto, 4 three ditto, %
two ditto, 18 one ditto.
Unfc rv c^able. 3 one pounders. .
Total Serviceable, 55 —unserviceable, ~
[Numb. 7^]