The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-05-06 00:00:00, page 2

d, and rushing headlong into inextricable perdition ?
But to palliate this ruinous measure, it is fugar'd
©ver with " that the net-proceeds of such duties
shall be always paid and applied to and for the use
of the colony, &c. in which the fame shall be rc
fpe&ively levied ;" that is, in plain English, to main
tain legions of hungry ministerial dependents, who
are to be sent amongst us to accumulate fortunes,
and then to re-cross the Atlantic to diflipate in lux
ury what they amassed by iniquity, and thus make
room for another set equally penurious and rapacious.
For my own part I would rather pay the tax imme
diately into the English exchequer, as 1 think itin
finitely more eligible to support a number of rogues
in London than in America. No wonder therefore,
that this subtle Minilter is willing in appearance to
yield to our independence, if we would but yield to
him the right of regulating-our trade, as by that eery
cession we should make the fulled recognition of our
dependence.
Nor is the draught of the bill to enable the King
of Great-Britain to appoint Commiftoners, &c. lets in
sidious than the other, there being no Security that
Parliament will confirm their negociatious, and the
whole evidently designed to induce us to a cessation
of hostilities, to give them an opportunity to increase
their troops, and spread diffention amongst us: But
the disguise is too thin to delude the sagacity of an
American. Nor does it even revive the drooping
spirits of a single tory. Britain has out-lived her day
of grace refpeding us. And how Lord North could
flatter himfelf that any man of common sense would
put the lead confidence in him, while he makes the
most shameless facrifice of truth whenever it serves
his purpose, is as unaccountable as food's imagin
ing that we should give the more credit to a paper
for the fake of his certificate. To support my charge
against his Lordihip, I Ball enumerate fcveral pas
sages in his speech as destitute of truth as the Par
liament itfelf is of publick virtue.
I. I have great reason to believe from the declarati
ons of the colonies, that they are quilling to contribute
their Jhare to the publick support. Then Governor
Hutchinson must be your informer.
2. I thought it neceffur, tefbew them (the colonics)
that me <were not fighting for taxation, for I never
thought that such taxation would be ver, beneficial to us.
The greater your guilt for endeavouring to enforce
it by war..
3. In man, of the AfrmbHes there was an inclination
to have accepted it (his conciliatory proportion) be
fore the war. Multiply New-York by nought and
the product is one. . ,
4. M, intention was from the beginning at the mo
ment of victor, to have proofed the fame proportion in
terms obviating all the misrepresentations and mifun
derflandings concerning it. —Unconditional fubmimon.
I never thought taxation a feflici^nt object for .be
eontef. Pray what else has the contest been about .
6. But I fought for the dependence of America.—
And did America ever dream of independence, till
the oppressions of Britain compelled her to declare it ?
7. Tice Congress claimed independency. I tuppole by
openly and solemnly disavowing it.
8. The colony of the Massachusetts claimed it. IV hen,
where, and how, my Lord ? Why a great outrage
was committed on our merchants—^ affair of the'
tea, I presume. And if so, did not New-York and
every other colony that destroyed the tea or the
Ramps, claim it as much?
9. The contef was for fapremacy. I dare be bound
no man will ever contest with Lord North bis lupte
macy in the art of falfificatioQ
10. Our cufloms are not diminifbed. To be proved,
I suppose, by the Virginia entries.
11. I never proposed any tax. Lor witnesses to this
fad, call Lord North's speeches of last year.
12. The Commissioners were men trusted by America.
As a traveller trusts a robber with his purse.
13. The farmers of America are ruined —as fureaßhat
wheat at twelve (hillings the bushel is less than at five.
Here is what is called a baker's dozen of luch pal
pable deviations from the truth, as no private gen
tleman, who had the least regard for his character,
would chufe to stoop to; and which, before the
total extinction of all virtue, a Britilh Nobleman
would have deemed peculiarly difgraceful. but tpe
artifice is too visible to deceive any man of common
difeernment. It is plainly intended to lull us into
security. Britain apprehends a war with France, and
wants all her forces for her own domestic defence.
Her present offers are no argument of her relenting
at the bloody measures flic has hitherto pursued.
Her disposition to treat at all, arises from her inabi
lity to prosecute the war. She would listen to no
accommodation while flic thought herfelf able to
subdue us. She rejected our prayers with disdain.
She called us rebels, because we armed in defence
of our liberty. And why treat with us continuing
in arms, and consequently equally rebels ? But how
can we treat with her while flic claims the exercise
of the right of taxing us, since rather than acknow
ledge this right we have revolted from her? And
shall we negociate with her still claiming it, and that
after finding that die despairs of enforcing it by the
sword ? God forbid. HORFENTIUS.
Mr. Collins,
IN the beginning of this controversy, all the pains
in our power were taken to bring about an accom
modation and prevent matters coming to an extremi
ty. We reasoned; remonstrated and petitioned, over
and over again; but whatever we laid or did, was
treated with insult and contempt ; and seemed only
to increase the haughtiness and infolcnce of our op
preftbrs. In return for the mofthumble petitions,
they branded us with the odious name of rebel—•
threatened to force us into absolute and uncondition
al submission, and denounced vengeance against us,
for daring to stand up in the defence of our rights, in
oppolition to the omnipotent claims of parliament, to.
bind us in all cases whatsoever, They talked loudly
of the dignity of the nation, and feorned even to hear
the petitions of that Ahembly, whom neceflity had
compelled us to form for our common fafety, They
boated at home and abroad, that they would quell
the rebellion in one campaign. They palled one ty
rannical act after another, to ruin our trade and cut
off our Supplies. They covered the sea with their
veffels—ranfocked England, Ireland and Scotland for
men—hired petty German Princes to make a traf
fick of their fubjehts—left the nation in such a de
fencelefs state, that it has reason to tremble for its
own fafety—almolt ruined its trade, and spent milli
ons of money. All this they have done, and more, to
conquer America. They have tried the effect of
three campaigns—have had their armies reduced to
the shadow of what they were —one with all its bag
gage, artillery and llores, compelled to surrender to
our victorious arms—the other obliged to quit the
field with disgrace, as they did at Whitemarfh, and
retreat behind strong works for shelter ; and now, all
of a bidden,they talk of terms of peace and accommo
dation. What has produced this furpriling change?
After all they have done to carry their point, it is in
famous to look back. The enemies of the admini
stration at home will triumph over them, and all
Europe will laugh at their impotence and folly.
What could bring them to such humiliating concei
lions : .Nothing but dire neceflity. They fee it is im
polliblc for them to succeed, and therefore they want
to fool 11s into a peace. But we should be fools in
deed if we were to think of one with them, which
will only give them an opportunity of doing that by
craft and cunning, which they could not do by force ;
and when we can have one in a very little time, and
preserve our independence—a fate, latting, and ho
nourable peace.
I fay Great-Britain would never have looped to
talk of any terms, if the had not been convinced it
was impollible to conquer us, and that to continue
the attempt would ruin her. Men and money begin
to grow scarce—She fees a war with France is una
voidable. There is all the reason in the world to be
lieve, that it is at this time declared. Intelligence
from different quarters fays it is so, or if it was not
so before, the Iteps the Parliament arc now taking,
will make it so. France will never look on quietly,
and fee them making peace with us. She knows that
if America Ihould be again joined to Britain, she will
be ruined. And Britain knows that if America Ihould
be allied to France, she will be ruined.
What a miserable and despised people should we
be, if we were to make peace with England ! We
ihould be over-run with placemen and pensioners,
who like locusts, would eat up the land. Corrupti
on and bribery, like a torrent, would sweep down
every thing before it. Our trade would be ham
pered and confined more than ever it was. For fear
we ihould feel our strength, and try again to make
ourselves independent, they would do every thing in
their power to keep us poor, weak, and miserable.
They would' insult and trample us under foot. The
whole world would despise us as a fooliih mean
fpirited race of men.
How happy and flourifhing shall we be, if we con
tinue independent! Peace must soon take place —a.
French war will immediately carry it from our door.
Lord North confeffes that our Itrength is much great
er than he expected---that the expence of conquer
ing us would be more than the value of conquelt
would compensate, even if they were sure of suc
ceeding. On this footing they cannot carry on the
war much longer---After another campaign they
must give it up of themselves, if no foreign power
Ihould interpole. Thet we shall be mailers of our
selves—-we shall make our own laws---we shall have
only our own governments to maintain. We shall
have a free commerce with all the world. We shall
trade with England as much as we find it our own
interest arid 110 further, and on better terms' than
ever we did before. She will be glad to have us
for her cuitomers, if we are willing to be so; and
as she cannot claim our custom as a matter of right,
she mult take care to treat us well to get and keep
it. A free trade, under a government of our own,
will make us rich and flourifhing, will produce plen
ty of every kind, will tempt people from every coun
try in Europe to come and fettle among us ; which
will of course raise the value of land beyond any thing
we can now imagine.
Some people think, as we were happy enough once
in connection with England, we might be so again ;
But they are mistaken. Our towns had not then
been burnt by Englishmen---our lands had not been
desolated---our Houses had not been plundered
our countrymen had not been Slaughtered—our wives
and daughters had not been ravished.—We then had
affection for, and confidence in, one another. Now
we have none ; but irreconcileable enmity and jea
lousy never to be cured, have taken their place. An
union with them would be attested, unnatural, and
deftrudtive to the tranquillity and happiness of A
merica, America's true Friend,
L O N D O N r yanuarv
A. CORRESPONDENT fays, that it continues
be most confidently asserted, that a treaty of
commerce and alliance is signed between France and
Ameiica. But whether the report is founded upon
/two Other falls, or a real knowledge of fab a fall,
not yet clearly afeertained, The other two falls are
thele, viz.
On the 27th of December, Mr. Carmichael, official
Seci etaiy to the American Deputies at Paris, set oub
fi om thence express for America. (The treaty is said
to , have been signed on the 25th.)
I he other fall is, that Lord Stormont has sent to
our court the answer given bv the French Minister to
his last memorial, which is, that the King of France
will protell his flag in all cases and places he thinks
fit, and particularly in the commerce of his fubjelU
with and to North-America.
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, January 1,
" Yesterday arrived at Spithead fcveral fliibs from
the Downs, and four more transports with Hessian
troops on board, destined for America."
BOSTON, April s,
We hear there has been found on board the prize,
}°'°"° n '' ''" °" r ' a t to have been carried into Salem,
(behdes the invoice of 13,0001.) sixty bales of doth:
and a box of gold lace of considerable value.
By a gentleman from Head-Quarters we learn, that
a French 36 gun frigate has lately arrived at Falmouth,
Cafco-Bay, in 36 days from Bre'ft, in which came paf
fengtr Mr. Simeon Dean, brother to Mr. Silas Dean,
charged with defpatches from the court of France to
Congreis, importing that France had formed a defi
nitive treaty with America, to which Spain had ac
ceded, ratifying our independence, and ceding to us
all the territories in America which had been ceded
to England by the last treaty of peace, with no other
condition on our part than an alliance, and not to
make a separate treaty of peace with England; That
all Europe is in a commotion : Tha| parties are very
high in England : That no more troops are tube ex
pelted from thence : That France is marching 50,000
men to two of her seaport towns: And that several
French men of war are coming to America to convoy
a fleet of transports laden with supplies.—Mr, Dean
palled through Eafton on Tuesday fe'nnight.
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman at Camp at the
Calle, Forge, dated April 30, 1778.
"The army grows Wronger every day. It increases
in numbers —and there is a spirit of discipline among
the troops that is better than numbers. Each bri
gade is on the parade almost every day far fcveral
hours. You would be charmed t@ fee the regularity
and exaltnefs with which they march and perform
their manoeuvres.—The troops werefo harrafled with
marches last year that there was little difciplinc among
them: it was almost impossible to advance or retire
in the presence of an enemy without disordering the
line and falling into confufion ; that misfortune, I be
lieve, will seldom happen again—for the troops are
inftrulted in a new and so happy a method of march
ing that they soon will be aole to advance with the
utmost regularity, even without music and over the
roughest grounds."
TRENTO N, May 6.
Mr. Colons,
J DO not remember whether your Gazette has hi
therto given us the production of any female cor
respondent Indeed nothing but the most prefling
call of my country could have induced me to appear
in Print. But rather than fuffer your sex to be caugirt
by the bait of that arch-foe to American Liberty
Lord North, I think ours ought, to a woman, to draw
their pens, and enter our solemn protest against it.
Nay, the fair ones in our neighbourhood have alrea.
dy entered into a resolve for every mother to disown
her son, and refufe the caresses of her husband, and
for every maiden to rejelt the addresses of her gallant,
where luch husband, son or gallant, shews the least
symptoms of being imposed upon by this flinify fob
tcituge, u hich I call the dying speech, and last groans
of Great-Britain, pronounced and grunted out by
her great oracle, and little politician, who now ap
pears ready to hang himfelf, for having brought the
nation to the brink of that ruin from which he can
not deliver her.—You will be kind enough to correct
my spelling, a part of my education in which I have
been much neglelted.
I am yourfmcere friend,
BELINDA.
NEW-LONDON, April t 7.
Yerfterday Caps. Bunce arrived here, in 13 days
from St. Croix, by whom we have the, disagreeable
intelligence, that the Randolph continental frigate of
32 guns and 350 men, commanded by captain Biddle,
'" c ? m P',iy with a 20 gun ship and three armed brigs,
fell in witn the Yarmouth, a British 64 gun ship, to
the windward of Barbadoes, and engaged her for an
Loin, when the Randolph blew up, and every foul
on board perished ; on which the remainder of the
fleet made off, and had arrived in the Weft-Indies,
PROVI DENC E, April xr.
j.°. a s' ' a .^ Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, with
his suite, arrived here from Cambridge, and next dav
embarked at Warwick-Neck for Rhode-Ifland, hav'.
mg obtained permission from Congress to proceed to
England.