The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-03-24 00:00:00, page 2

fpiteful tory, and to keep company with none but
men of that class, Ihould pretend to be a whig, would
be daring beyond the prudential line. And further
he is not yet fully convinced which way the beam will
turn, and Should we fail through reverse of fortune,
he thinks it not amifsto have friends of the mammon
of unrighteousness.
I have only once more to declare that I have not
appeared here under a confeioufnefs of any blame
whatever. 1 have fully declared ray motive. lam
well convinced the gratitude and justice of the United
States, in consideration of the essential benefits I
have rendered them, will not fuffer this despicable
changeling to tainilh my reputation and blot out the
memory of my services. These are not unknown.
They are notorious as they are numerous. I appeal
to every person who has had an opportunity of know
ing whether I have spent one day in idleness since the
contest began; whether I have ever withdrawn my
felf from any toils or dangers where the interest of
my country called me; whether I have not uniformly
manifefted as much alacrity and attention to duty,
in council, in camp and in the fields of fight, under
the fevered adversity as in the brightest hours of suc
cess. Whether I have not even more. The Congress
have seen me tried. The brave and patient soldiery
and their worthy General have seen me tried. They
have seen my conduct in the day of peril, and in the
day of triumph. Let them be my witnesses. The
character of Aiy accuser, I have submitted. So far
as it affects me it is below contempt. It is not mine
to prelcribe. The publick will do juflice. Let that
take place and I am fatisfied.
CONTINENTAL CURRENCY.
Mr. Collins,
TTAKING made my defence to tbe Publick, I have a
' word or two to fay to you. Tdo not think you
havy done altogether bandfomely by me. You have
sometimes published to the cvorld that things of low and
pitiful estimation were to be bartered for me, and,
what is worse, in an unworthy proportion. This puts
life into the hopes of my enemies, who daily wifb and
pray for my downfall. And lately when G — L —sent
me round the country to look for ofle of his dogs, a ser
vice which I undertook reluctantly, as you might well
fuppoje, and out of mere respect to the high fation of
him who imposed the command, you were pleased to
give a relation of tbe affair in your paper, which
opened all the wags far and near upon me. Tbe dif
offered too improved the occafon to sneer. and jibe my
aukward fauation ; for as you are a whig they knew
tbe truth of tbe publication would not be que,Honed.
Now though my character is, I fatter myfelj, fufficiently
e[lablifted to Jet at nought all their efforts to Jbake it,
yeftbat is no purification of you, Mr. Collins. lam
far indeed from believing that these things have been
done with dejign ; I attribute them solely to inadver
tence. But as reputation is a tender thing, and an in
advertent wound is n&t much less painful than an in
tended one, I hope you will not take it amiss that I
fugg^ tbe propriety of a little more caution.
Continental Currency.
LONDO N, December 3.
THE court of France has informed the States of
' Holland, that if they (the States).do not protest
their own trade, the King of France will not a'!ow
them a free trade to his ports in Europe and the Weft-
Indies. This is an important fad, and a few days
will shew the Dutchman's determination. Trade is
his object ; and having tasted the sweets of it with
America, there is not much doubt what part he will
take.
The vacancies in the Hessian troops alone, now
at New-York, it is said, require upwards of 4000
to fill them up.
On Friday last Count Welderen, the Dutch Envoy,
bad an audience of his Majesty, relative to dispatches
received by him from Holland the preceding evening,
which are said to contain a formal declaration oftheir
High Mightinesses diffatisfaftion at the answer sent to
them a few weeks since, with regard to the sale of
the cargoes of the ships of their merchants, taken by
Britilh ihips of war, &c. which he had orders to
It is now certain, that 12,000 men are to be sent to
America in the spring; the transports from New-
York being come home for that purpose. No general
officers are to go out with the reinforcements, as go
vernment are resolved to promote those officers in
America, as being well acquainted with the country,
and from their long services are entitled to promotion.
Sir Henry Clinton has desired leave to come home.
Several letters from France, by the last mail, fay,
in the most positive terms, that the King of Spain
has ordered twelve Ihips of the line to join France
instantly.
Letters from the Hague mention, that the French
Court is treating with several Princes of the empire,
for taking part of their troops into the service of
France.
A letter from Brest, by the last mail, mentions, that
on tte 20th ult. two Ihips of the line, and three fri
gates, al 1 with troops on board, failed out of that
port for the East-Indies.
Dec. 9. All the Bilbops but four, to their immortal
honour, declined voting for that diabolical engine of
cruelty, the American proclamation, and avoided
countenancing the vindictive Ihedding of chriftian
blood.
Theßifhops of Peterborough and St. Afaph head
ed the minority in the division, and walked firtt be
low the bar.
lay before his Majesty. In answer to which, a re
monstrance is laid to be under confederation for the
better accommodation of affairs, and to prevent the
commencement of reprisals on the fide of the Dutch,
who are unanimously determined to support the free
dom of their trade, and protest themselves against
the depredations committed on their flipping by the
Britilh privateers, &c.
The Humble Address of the House of Commons
to the King.
MoJl Gracious Sovereign,
1/U£, your Majesty's molt dutiful and loyal fubjeds,
' the Commons of Great-Britain, in Parliament
affemblcd, beg leave to return your Majesty the thanks
of this House, for your mod gracious fpeecli from
the throne.
We acknowledge with the utmost gratitude your
Majesty's paternal regard for the happiness of your
people, in your earnest and uniform endeavours to
preserve the public tranquility, and the good faith
and uprightnefy of your Majesty's conduct to all fo
reign powers : And we allure your Majesty, that we
have seen with concern and indignation, that tranqui
lity dilturbed by the Court of France, without the
lead pretence of provocation, or colour of complaint;
and we have, with the warmest emotions of refent
nient, marked the progrels of their malignant de
signs against this country, firl tby a clandestine aid
and supply of arms to your Majesty's revolted lub
jeds in North-America : Afterwards in violation of
the faith of treaties, and contrary to the right and
common interest of every sovereign state in Europe
possessed of colonies and dependencies, by entering
into, and avowing formal engagements with the
leaders of the rebellion ; and, at length, by commit
ting open hoftil ties and depredations, and by attqaily
invading part of your Majesty's dominions in America
and the Weft-Indies.
We cannot but feel concern and regret, that the
measures taken by your Majesty, for difappointihg
these hostile and malignant designs, have not been
attended with all the success which the juflice of the
cause, and the vigor of the exertions seemed to pro
mise ; yet, we have at the fame time seen with great
fatisfadioii, the extensive commerce of your Ma
jesty's subjects protested in molt of its branches, and
large reprisals made on the injurious agreffors, by
the vigilance of your Majesty's fleets, and the active
spirit of the nation.
It would have given your faithful Commons the
truest happiness, to have received the communication
from your Majesty, that the just and humane purposes
of your Majesty and your Parliament, for quieting
the minds of your revolted fubjeifts, had taken the
desired effect, and had brought the troubles in North-
America to a happy conclude,!).
Your faithful Commons do most heartily concur
with your«Majefly, in the just approbation you have
been pleased to express of the public spirit which has
so conspicuously animated all ranks of your Majesty's
faithful fubjeCts, to Hand forth, at this time of danger,
in the service of the militia, who, by their discipline
and heady perseverance in their duty, have enabled
your Majesty to avail yourfelf of that constitutional
force for the defence of thiscountry.
Your Majesty may rely on the hearty and zealous
concurrence and assistance of your faithful Commons,
in enabling your Majesty to make the most active and
vigorous exertions by sea and laud, for vindicating
and edablifhing the national honour and security ;
and we beg leave to declare our ftedfaft resolution,
and renew our solemn affurance^ to your Majesty,
that this House", Convinced of the importance of the
objects for which we arc contending, and impelled
by every motive of duty and interest, that can ani
mate the hearts of Britons, will effectually aliift your
Majesty in the prosecution of the present just and
necessary war ; and that we will to the utmost of our
power, support your Majesty against all your enemies.
The following is his Maj esty's Answer.
" I return you thanks for this very loyal and affec
tionate address. lam confident that nothing can so
eftedtually promote the public service, as your reso
lution and firmnefs at this time. I should ill deserve
the support of my faithful Commons, and the zeal
of my people for the honour of my Crown, if I did
not make their fafety and happiness the cohftant ob
jects of my care and concern."
CHARLESTOWN, (South-Carolina ) Feb. rB.
Extract of a letter from Cam, at Fazzel's place in
Georgia, January 27, 1779.
" We were yesterday morning about fix o'clock
attacked by a party of 230 of the enemy, commanded
by Col. 'Browne; they attacked us on three tides at
the fame time very sudden and violent, drove our
main and picket guards, wounded and took some of
our centinels; a warm firing soon began on both
fictes, which continued about three quarters of an
hour. We then drove them from the ground, and
I believe killed many of them ; three were found dead
and 7 were taken prisoners ; fix of them are wounded,
most of them slightly. I was induced to march to
this place, in order to drive from Bryar creek a party
of the enemy which had taken up the bridge, and
had posted themselves there to prevent your joining
us, but they have fled from that place."
Extract of a letter, dated Camp at Port-Royal Ferry,
February 12, 1779.
" We are still encamped here, and know not when
or where we shall next move. The Charleftown ar
tillery have had orders to hold themselves in readiness
to proceed to Head-Quarters, and yesterday the de#
tachment of Continental artillery who had been at
Fort Littleton, set off with a brass two-pounder.
Last night Major Flemming, who had been once a
reiident in Carolina, but received his commission from
the Britilh commander, with five privates of the light"
hoi fe, were brought prisoners into our camp by a
party of our people ; they were taken at the Major's,
plantation in Georgia, with 19 of his negroes. About
an hour afterwards, seven seamen belonging to the
Lord George Germain, Capt. Mowbray, of 14 guns,
arrived in our camp. Five of them had been ordered .
in the boat as a guard, and while she was along fide
of their ship the other two concealed themselves un
der the thaughts ; they were ordered to keep at about
half a mile diflance from the ship, but they did not
like the service, and so left it entirely. They willingly
agreed after taking feme refreshment, to accompany
the Major and his guard to Charlellown, and I sup,
pose will be there before this reaches you. What I
myfelf have heard from them, you are welcome to:
They inform, that on the night of the day the en
gagement happened, an officer was sent express in a
whale boat toSavannah, begging that a reinforcement
of troops might be sent, but they received for answer,
that none could be spared, were therefore ordered to
return to Tybec, and had got to the mouth of Scull-
Creek on their way thither : That the Major was still
very bad pt two wounds, as was likewise a Captain.
B O S T O N, February 25.
We learn by a letter from camp at Peek's-Kill,
that since ill of December last to January 31st, there
have come in to them from the enemy, 75 deserters.
A prize to the privateer Pilgrim arrived in a fafe port
since our last. She is loaded with wine, oil, fruit, &c.
A fchobner, prize to the privateer General Gates,
Capt. W aters, from Malaga, arrived in a fafe port
yesterday. She is loaded with raisins, wines, and
lemmons, and was owned by Commodore Gambier,
at New-York.
March 4. The private armed ship Cumberland,.
Captain Manley, which failed from this place about
two months since, was taken soon after she left port,
by the Juno, an English frigate of 38 guns, and car-.
ried into Barbadoes.
By a person who left Rhode-Ifland last Thursday,
we are informed, that there were then but about
four hundred men in that garrifo'n.
" I '.' I AMSBUR G, February 26.
Extract of a letter from one of our Plenipotentiaries at
Paris, dated October 18, 1778.
" The Ambaflador of the King of Naples has de
clared to us in form, that his mafler has directed his
ports to be open to all vetfels belonging to the United
States ; and the Dutch are more than half inclined
to acknowledge our Independence."
PHI L A DELP HI A, March 20J
ExtracTof a letter flora General Williamson's Camp,
. near Adam's Ferry, South-Carolina, February 16.
" It is with the utmost plcafure I take this oppor
tunity to acquaint you, that the enemy precipitately
evacuated Augusta, about one o'clock on Sunday
morning, after having destroyed the flats which they
had conltruftcd in order to cross the river. Colonel
Campbell left his wounded, with a polite letter re
commending them to my care, a proof that the cause
of his retreat was sudden and unexpected. I imme
diately detached about 300 horsemen to pursue the
enemy, and hang upon their skirts and rear; it will
give countenance to defertiop, and keep the enemy
in continual alarm. Cols. M'lntofh and Hammond
commands the detachment. Several are already come
in, and from the belt information, If the enemy are
hard pursued, I have reason to believe it will much
prevail. This important event has prevented the back
part of this country from ruin and devastation, and
of course the feat of war will be transferred into the
lower part of the country. Large bodies of the dif
affeded have got together, and above 600 of them
are now crossed Savannah river, with intention tojoin
the enemy, but they will be opposed by Col. Peckins,
who has marched up Broad river with a ftrpng force
to intercept them ; at any rate, I hope to prevent -
them effecting a junction. Our eyes are now opened,
and notwithstanding the lenity hitherto Shewn them,
they have at this crisis given convincing proofs, that
no faith should or ought to be placed in their most
solemn assurances, and severe examples must certainly
be made for the benefit of the state, and a terror to
others. The enemy have made very free with the
property of both these who have profelled their at
tachment to their imaftires and of others. Numbers
of negroes have gone with them, upwards of 100 of
Mr. Galphmgs (although such an indulgent master)
have followed the example and gone. Col. M'Mur
phey set out with a party yesterday for Mr. Galphings
place at Old-Town, to bring down some Creek Head
men to hold a conference in camp, and establish our
communication with them. Col. Campbell sent to
them, but only one came, they absolutely refufing
to assist in the war. When they are convinced that
the Britilh forces cannot support themselves in the
country, and carry the account of their retreat into
the Nation, I hope it will produce favourable effeds,
and those who were inclined to go to war, may adopt
different sentiments."
March 23. We learn from Baltimore, that three
Britilh men of war, and several privateers, are now
in Cheafepeak Bay.