The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-12-26 00:00:00, page 1

For ^New-Jersey Gazette.
" Hominem pagina noftra fapit."
IHAVE often heard many of the difaffeded la
ment the declaration of independence before
the arrival of the British commission, in 1776,
upon fappofition that the Commissioners were
therein charged with power to offer reasonable terms
to this country. They are of opinion that the declara
tion had precluded those Commissioners from making
their offers, and unnecessarily referred to the chance
of war, what might have been happily fettled and
secured by negociation. On this ground do many
at this day endeavour to maintain their principle of
neutrality, or active interference with refped to the
American cause : —They do not hesitate to acknow
ledge the validity of the principle on which we peti
tioned and remonstrated to the King and Parliament
of Great-Britain ; they fay the grievances were real,
and that they ought to have been redressed, but insist
that these points were the principal objects of the
commission in question, and had America only held
back her declaration of independence till the arrival
of the commission, the powers of the Commissioners
would have been unfolded to Congress, and the good
intentions of the King made known to us.
In order to countervail these fuppoftions, for they
are nothing more than mere conjectures, you will
be pleased to insert in your Gazette, the following
parts of Major-General Robertson's examination in
the House of Commons of Great-Britain, taken fiom
the Parliamentary Register, No. LXXVI. p. 308, 309.
Q " Do you remember the King's speech in 1775,
promising to fend Commissioners into America to
make peace?
A. I do not remember it particularly; I dare fay I
have seen it.
Q Do you not remember that it was reported in
America, assurances were given from the Throne that
Commissioners would be sent to America for making
peace ?
A. I remember it very well.
Q. Did that commission arrive in America ?
A. Yes.
•0; Was it seven months, or thereabouts, after the
opening of that session?
A. I am perhaps the least able here to tell that.
Q Do you remember when the commission arrived
in America?
A. Pretty well.
Q The time?
A. I believe about the month of August, 1776.
(I Was it not expelled with eagerness by numbers
of the Americans, particularly the well affe&ed?
A. Certainly it was so.
Q Was not independency declared in th interval
between the declaration from the Throne, and the
arrival of that commission?
A. I believe independency was declared before
Lord Howe's arrival.
Was it long before?
A. Not very long; I don't remember the day.
Q^ Was it in the beginning of July?
A. I believe about June or July.
Q Not long before Lord Howe's arrival?
A. No.
Q Did not the postponing a conciliatory com
oniffion till that time produce mifihief?
A. The sooner the King's gracious intentions were
known it would have been better.
Q Was it.not assigned as one reason of the de
claration of independence, that they were put out
of the King's protection, and that no redress of
grievance was held out?
A. I have no way of knowing but by reading the
Congress's papers, which are in every body's hands.
Q Was not that in the Congress's papers?
A. I believe so.
Q Was there not a complaint in America, that
the powers of the Commissioners were so limited that
they had no power to offer any fpecifick redress of
grievances?
A. The people of America did not know what
powers the Commissioners had, nor do I know to this
day.
Was it made known in America that the Com
missioners had a power to give fatisfaCtion relative to
the matter of taxation ?
A. I don't know that it was known; I did not know
it; nor do I know it now.
Qg Would not the knowledge of such a power
have facilitated peace, if such a power had been?
A. Such an offer made to the gross of the people,
would certainly have had a very great effect.
Q Do you think if the Commissioners had had
such a power, they would not have made it known?
[Vol. IV.] 4/^ty' I THE ' [Numb. 209]
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY, December 26, 1781.
A. I did not know what reasons the Cemmiffion
ers might have for concealing-their powers.
1 Were they not charged with not having such
power by Dr. Franklin and others, as well as by the
Congress, and whether that charge was not made
publick?
A. Dr. Franklin said so.
Q Did the Commissioners contradict it ?
A. I really am not averse to answering the question,
but I do not know what the powers of the Commission
ers were ; nor were they known in America ; they were
differently spoke of and guessed at."
In the fourth day's examination of General Ro
bertson, Parliamentry Regiftcr, No. LXXVIII. p. 395,
are the following questions and answers.
Sir William Howe. (Q You have said that the
gross of the people were desirous to treat ; did they
make any offer towards it to the firft Commissioners?
A. I know nothing of that; the gross of the people
cannot make offers; they would be hanged if they
did.
Was there any means for the Commissioners in the
firft commission to treat with the people in general with
out halving frf defeated the American arm,?
A. I apprehend that the great art of the Com
miffioncis was to contrive how to carry on such a
treaty, without its being difeovered.
Q Were the firft Commissioners authorized by
their inftrudions to treat in the mode you have sup
posed they might treat?
A. I know nothing of the Commissioners powers.
In the foregoing examination it appears that Gene
ral Robertson, an officer of high rank in the British
army, a man of observation and intelligence, and
who had resided above twenty years in America,
could never ascertain either from circumstances or in
formation, the powers of the Commissioners in 1776,
or whether they had any power to treat with Ame
rica at all. It is true Lord and General Howe said
they had a commission, but of what nature or import
they never revealed, either to raise the spirits and
confirm the loyalty of the friends of Britain in this
country, or to endeavour to bring over the whigs to
their fide. The only fads we are possessed of, are,
that they came to New-York in 1776, with a naval
and great military force, and that instead of making
conciliatory offers, they employed this force to ruin
our commerce and lay waste our country ; for which
they have had their reward.
CANDIDUS.
From the Pennsylvania Journal.
The following letter, written by that great orna
ment of feience, religion, and human nature,
the late Dr. Fothergill of London, to a gentle
man in Mafachufetts-Bay, we hope will prove
acceptable to all elafcs of our readers.—While
it recommends juflice and toleration to rulers,
it conveys to the timid friends of America, and
the deluded adherents of Great Britain the best
arguments for acquiefeing in the government
and independence of the United States. The
original of this letter in the Dolor's hand writ
ing, may be seen with the Printers of this paper.
Refpeded Friend, Lond. Od, 20, 1780.
TH E difficulty of conveying a letter fafely,
has been che principal cause of my silence,
and not a disregard either to the writer, or the
obliging and informing letters, which at three dif
ferent times I have received from him. I have
endeavoured faithfully to make use of the very
sensible hints they contained, as far as they lay in
my power for the good of both countries, but in
vain. Neither advice, information, nor experience
make any impression. The cause of this infatuation
is not a common one, and its effects may turn to our
humiliation and amendment, when Providence may
fee meet to turn our hearts to wisdom. It will not,
I think, be long in our power to molefl you. It
is not only France and Spain that are in alliance
with you, but mos of the Rates of Europe, they
wi(h to (hare your commerce, and, at the fame time,
they wish to humble the pride of this country,
whose insolence and haughtiness has created us
many, many enemies.
I sometimes flatter myfelf that there may be at
the bottom of this confederacy, a plan highly ufeful
and advantageous to humanity, and yet when 1 re
flea how far Ihort of perfect civilization the foremoft
powers of Europe are, I almost despair of it. Their
union in one point, may produce union in another,
and, if the powers of Europe and .America could
form a college of justice to whom the foveteigns
should appeal in all cases, and be found to obey,
what an honour to chriftianity, and what a saving
of blood and treasure. The temple of Janus might
then probably be (hut, and may it be (hut forever !
I have perused your frame of government with
fatisfa&ion. It approaches nearer perfection than
any I believe yet in being, and may those who fram
ed it be blessed, and their posterity forever happy.
1 he general ignorance that prevails here of your
abilities, intentions, and resources, is inconceivable.
I often tell, a story that my late deceased friend Dr.
Russel used to relate: He was one morning at the
Bafhaw's Divan (at Aleppo) when a countryman
brought an Antelope, which he said he had just
catched, as a prelent; the Bafhaw enquired if it was
male or female, he Looped down to ask one of the
officers which he would have it to be r resolved to
fay what was pleasing, though the falfehood might
have been detected in a moment. Just so are our
superiors too often treated. People tell them what
they wish to bear, and thus become the worst of
enemies to both sides. And after such kinds of
falfehoods have been fuccefsfully praCtifed for a
time, and at length have been found like the " base
less fabrick of a vision," all confidence in any set of
men is given up. Then the passions take the lead,
the effects have been, are, and ever will be felt,
beyond what it was poffib'e for the authors of these
calamities ever to comprehend.
I have endeavoured, as far as it was in my power,
to give the best information 1 could to those within
my reach, but it was talking to the winds; experi
ence itfelf will not convince them. But it will not
be long that we (hall do what we please, we must
Jubmit to laws given us by others. But I trust it
will be for our good, it will make many think.
We are as diflipated, as full of schemes for promot
ing diversions, as regardless of every thing serious,
as if we were in high profferity. War drains off
multitudes, manufacturers especially, those who are
left have consequently more chance of employment,
they are content with their lot, and think every
thing goes on as well as usual, so a general decep
tion prevails from the highest to the lowest, and to
doubt of your subjugation is heresy with many.
I most seriously wish that the calamities which
have befallen you, or may yet be permitted to befal
you, may have the proper effect of humbling your
minds, and preferring you gratefully dependent on
that invisible arm which has delivered those who
honestly trust in it. in all ages. Little did I expeCt
to fee the present disunion, rather disjunction, but
so it has been wifely permitted to happen. We
were growing too great, powerful, proud and wick
ed, the sources are gradually diminishing, and we
are kindly prevented by force to be less abandoned
than we wished to be.
Our new Parliament will meet ere long, and fol,
low the steps exactly of the preceding. The mi
nority in general, are far from being better men. in
the true sense of the word, in my opinion than their
opponents. No two are agreed exactly in the fame
opinion; and I am afraid there are few amongst
them, who would speak theirs even in light matters
to another were it to save a state from ruin. I give
up all hopes of recovery to any human means. We
deserve chastisement and must feel it. The affair
of Charleftown has changed our tone a little, and
we trust to the like good fortune at last. You are
supine, negligent and incautious; most of your los
ses have originated from this quarter, and nothing
will teach you circumfpe&ion. The moment you
lose fight of immediate deftruCtion you are asleep.
I wish you could banish oaths entirely. They
are an indignity to truth. The dissenters objected,
to swearing as well as- we, allowing our affirmation
is a favour we own. But why should it not be ex
tended to all? Let us encreafe the ^on sequence Aki
dignity of simple truth. Guard yourselves from
impositions as much as you can, bpt let it not be at
the expence of the sacred Nam, J wish likcwife