The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1784-07-26 00:00:00, page 2

l^t, to. do. 53% acres and twenty-fix hundredths, but
after deducing three smaller surveys of said
Delaney's included therein, containing 155
acres and seven hundredths, there remains
377 acres and nineteen hundredths in part
nership, situate in Wantage, on the weft
fide of Papecotting, in the possession of John
Tims and others.
31. 58. A tract of land containing 76 acres and eighty
nine hundredths, situate in Hardifton, join
ing lands surveyed for Abraham Ogden, Esq.
late in the possession of Col. Anthony Brod
rick.
32. 59. Atrad of land containing 80 acres and thir
ty hundredths, situate in Wantage, join
ing other lands of said Delaney, also joins
Abraham Weftbreok's plantation.
33. 60. A trad of land containing 69 acres and fifty
fix hundredths, situate in Wantage, near Ste
phen Mead's plantation, joining lands of
Henry Cuyler.
34. 61. A trad of land containing within the bounds
169 acres and thirty-two hundredths, but
after deduding 120 acres of Henry Cuyler,
included therein, there remains in partner
ship 49 acres and thirty-three hundredths,
situate in Wantage, at a place called and
known by the name of Hendrick's fly or
, meadow.
35. 62. A trad of land containing 42 acres and eleven
hundredths, situate in Wantage, joining the
aforefaid 120 acres of Henry Cuyler.
36. 63. A trad of land containing 37 acres and seven
hundredths, situate in Hardifton, joining
Henry Cuyler's land, and includes nearly
all the possession of Benjamin Skinner.
37. 64. A trad of land containing 132 acres and eigh
ty-one hundredths, situate in Hardifton, on
the southeast fide of Pochuck mountain,
including the possession of Joseph Godwin.
38. 65. A trad of land containing 431 acres, ftrid
measure, situate in Hardifton, on both sides
of the Wawayonda creek, including part
of the improvement of the late Colonel De-
A kay, dqcealed.
39. 66. A trad of land containing 186 acres and for
ty-fix hundredths, situate in Newtown, on
the south fide of Papecotting creek, on the
road leading from Colonel Biddle's farm to
'Squire Carey's.
40. 67. A trad of land containing 186 acres and twen
ty hundredths, situate in Newtown, includ
ing the improvement of James Kemble.
41. 68. A trad of land containing 118 acres and nine
ty-three hundredths, situate in Newtown,
about two miles southward of Papecotting,
including the possession of Abraham Mon
tanie.
42. 69. A trad of land conta'aing 47 acres and fe
venty-tliree hundredths, in two surveys, si
tuate in Wantage, near a meadow called
M'Quin's meadow.
43. ,e< A tract of land containing 212 acres and se
venty-two hundredths, situate in Hardifton,
on the road that leads from Elijah Collard's,
deceased, to Pauliiigikill.
44, yr. A trad of land containing 53 acres and eighty
(For the remainder fee the fourth page.)
From the London Magazine.
NATURAL HISTORY.
THE following description of the Bohon Upas
or Poison Tree, which grows in the island
of Java, and renders it unwholesome by its noxious
vapours, has been procured for the London Maga
zine, from Mr. Heydinger, who was employed to
translate it from the original Dutch, by the author,
Mr. Foerfch, who, we are informed, is at present
abroad, in the capacity of surgeon on board an Eng
lish vessel.
This account, we must allow, appears so marvel
lous, that even the credulous might be staggered.—
The readers of this narrative will probably think of
the celebrated Pfalmanazar, and his equally famous
Biftory of the Island of Formosa. But this narrative
certainly merits attention and belief. The degree of
credibility which is due to the several circumitances
rests with Mr. Foerfch. With regard to the princi
pal parts of the relation, there can be no doubt. The
exigence of the tree, and the noxious powers of its
gum and vapours, are certain. For the story of the
thirteen concubines, however, we Ihould not choose
to be responsible.
Travellers and naturalists have mentioned trees of
the fame deftru&ive nature in other places, and par
ticularly, if we are not mistaken, in some parts of
South-America. This very Bohon Upas is menti
oned by the learned Kemptfer, but its situation, its
nature, and its deßrudive qualities, have never been
so clearly, so fully, or so philosophically defcribed,as
by the author of the following description.
It may probably be asked, why no efforts have been
made to destroy so dreadful a tree ?--more dreadful,
indeed, in its effect, than the union of plague, pesti
lence and famine. The reasons are obvious. No
man could' venture w remain near it for so long a
fpacc of time as would be requisite to cut down a tree
of such magnitude; nor could materials to set it on
fire be carried to the place without almost certain de
ftiu&ion. But of all the arguments, the most forci
ble probably is, that the Emperor derives a very con
fiderable revenue from the sale of the gum which is
distilled from the Bohon Upas. The auri sacra fa
mes ! the rage for possessing riches, is too powerful to
be withftsod, even in the most cultivated ages, and
among the most polished nations ! What then can be
expeded from an inhabitant of Java, and that man an
Emperor! Who, like Achilles,
" Jura neget Jibi nata, nihil non arroget armes !''
Description of the Poison Tree in the Island of
Java.
By N. P. Foersch.
Translated from the original Dutch, by Mr. Hey
dinger.
THIS deftrudive tree is called in the Maylayan
language, Bohon Upas, and has been de
scribed by naturalists. But their accounts have been
so tinctured with the marvellous, that the whole nar
ration has been supposed to be an ingenious fidion by
the generality of readers. Nor is this in the least de
gree furprizing, when the circumstances which we
ffiall faithfully relate in this description are considered.
I must acknowledge, that I long doubted the ex
istence of this tree, until a Rri&er enquiry convinced
me of my error. I ihall now only relate simple, un
adorned fads, of which 1 have been an eye witness.
My readers may depend upon the fidelity of this ac
count. In the year 1774, I was Rationed at Bata
via, as a surgeon in the service of the Dutch East-
India Company. During my residence there I re
ceived fevetal different accounts of the Bohon Upas,
and the violent effeds of its poison. They all then
seemed incredible to me, but railed my curiosity in so
high a degree, that I resolved to investigate this fub
jed thoroughly, and to trust only to my own obser
vations. In consequence of this resolution, I applied
to the Governor General, Mr. Petrus Albertus va
der Parra, for a pass to travel through the country.
My request was granted, and having procured every
information, I set out in my expedition. I had pro
cured a recommendation from an old Malayan priest
to another priest, who lives on the nearest inhabitable
spot to the tree, which is about fifteen or sixteen
miles distant. The letter proved of great service to
me in my undertaking, as that priest is appointed by
the Emperor to reside there, in order to prepare for
eternity the fouls of those who for different crimes
are sentenced to approach the tree, and to procure
the poison.
1 he Bohon Upas is situated in the island of Java,
about twenty-seven leagues from Batavia, fourteen
from Soura-Charta, the feat of the Emperor, and be
tween eighteen and twenty leagues from Tiukjoe, the
present residence of the huitan of Java. It is sur
rounded on all sides by a circle of high hills and
mountains, and the country round it, to the distance
of ten or twelve miles from the tree, is entirely bar
ren. Not a tree, not a shrub, nor even the least plant
or grass is to be seen. I have made thetour all around
this dangerous spot, at about eighteen miles distant
from the centre, and 1 found the afped of the coun
try on all sides equally dreary. The easiest ascent of
the hills, is from that part where the old ecclefiaftick
dwells. From his houle the criminals are lent for
the poison, into which the points of all warlike in
struments are dipped. It is of high value, and pro
duces a considerable revenue to the Emperor.
(Ta be continued in our next.)
^•ra. -■^ := — g— 7s^ ■, ■- -- ^.
LOND O N, April 22.
ACCOUNTS from Holland mention some revo
lution or innovation to be in contemplation.—
For near twelve months past, military associations
have been formed in the principal towns, in imitation
of the Volunteers of Ireland; they have "now ac
quired the military exercise, and seem ripe to put
their project in execution, which is believed to be the
abolishment of the office of Stadtholder. The French
Court are fufpeded to be at the bottom of this at
tempt.
A gentleman who came from Holland within these
few days, declares, that every thing bears the ap
pearance of boftilities in that quarter. That they
treat the very name of an Englishman with contempt,
and ridicule the present minißry on every occasion.—
They fay, while we had Men to direct the affairs of
the country, it was good policy, on their part, to be
civil; to use conciliating, though procrastinating lan
guage, and to treat the British cabinet with that re
fped their talents and spirit entitled them to; but that
there is now no need of evasion, and therefore their
High Mightinesses have peremptorily declared, within
these few weeks, that they are not disposed at present
to sign the ratification of the last treaty; when they
are, they will fignify their intentions.
May I. Yesterday morning, at five o'clock, a mes
senger arrived from Dublin at St. James's express;
his defpatches were immediately sent to Buckingham
houfe, from whence an order was issued to convene
all the cabinet ministers, who at eight o'clock were
fitting with the king, and did not break up till half
after eleven o'clock.
May 3. A government is a mere piece of clock
work; and having such springs and wheels, must aft
American Intelligence.
KINGSTON (Jamaica) June 9.
BY the last arrivals from the coast of Africa, we
learn, that two American vessels had been on
that coast, freighted with New-England rum and to
bacco, in order to trade for Haves ; but the governor
of the fort, belonging to the British factory at Ana
maboe, having threatened their commanders to fire at
the vessels if they did not quit the coast, they imme
diately left that place and went to Coromantine, out
of the reach of the guns of the fort, where the inha
bitants received their cargoes, and supplied them with
Haves. The governor had a meeting with the na
tives on the fubjeCt, the result of which was, that they
declared they would ereCt fortifications for the pro
tection of such American vessels as might come to
trade.
BOSTO N, July 5.
This day an oration is to be delivered by Benja
min Hitchborn, Esquire, in commemoration of the de
claration of the independence of the United States.
Saturday morning a Ihip lying at the long wharf,
belonging to Nathaniel Tracy, Esq. was struck with
lightning, which did considerable damage, but provi
dentially no lives were loft.
N E W-P O R T, Ju!y 3 .
The Honourable General Assembly of this state
convened in this city on Monday last.—On Thursday
was taken into consideration the recommendation to
the Rates for invelling Congress with the power of le
vying an impost of five per cent, and on Friday the
question was put, when, in the lower house, it was
negatived by a majority of 52 against 12.
NEW-YOR K, July 5.
In our last we announced the arrival of the sloop
Harriot, capt. Hallet, from the Cape of Good Hope;
which event must fill with sensible pleasure the breast
of every American, and cause their hearts to expand
with gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe,
by whose beneficence our commerce is freed from,
those shackles it used to be cramped with, and bids
fair to extend to every part of the globe, without pafi
sing through the medium of England, that rotteq
island, absorbed in debt, and crumbling faft to anni
hilation. It fills us with indignation when we con^
traft the treatment captain Hallet received at the
Cape, with that at St. Helena (a British fettlemenq
in the Atlantick.) At the Cape every mark of at
teation was shewn captain Hallet; but having touched
in such a manner ; and therefore the art is, to consti
tute it so, that it must move to the publick advantage.
It is certain, that every man will ad for his own in
terest, and all wife governments are founded on that
principle: So that this whole mystery is only to
make the interest of the governors and governed the
lame. In an absolute monarchy, where the whole
power is in one man, his interest will be only re
garded: In an ariftrocracy the interest of a few; and
in a free government, the interest of every one.—
This would be the case of England, if some abuses
that have lately crept into our constitution were re
moved.
DUBLIN, April 24.
A stranger cannot be long in Dublin, before he
must observe the following inconsistencies:
A nation complaining of poverty, giving 50,0001.
to a sham patriot.
A city with 50,000 miserable manufacturers Rarv
ing, with a play-house and opera-house every night
crouded, and the manager paying 1000 guineas to an
English a&refs for a few nights performance.
A noble large exchange with very few merchants
in it.
An amazingly extensive new custom-house, built at
an immense expense, with every ornament of archi
tecture, and the people justly complaining that they
have no trade.
Great sums of money granted to pave, light and
cleanse the Rreets; yet the streets are dark, dirty and
almost impassable.
The constituents demanding one thing, and the re
presentatives doing another.
The times are really hard.—Trade declines, and
tradesmen finking in their property ; but their wives
and daughters dressed a-la-mode, and running to balls,
plays, assemblies, operas, &c.
The House of Commons censuring the city magi
strates, and the city returning them thanks.
The country thin of inhabitants, yet our govern
ment permitting ships to carry them to a foreign
country as slaves.
The legislature protecting foreign manufactures,
and neglecting its own.
Englishmen coming over for places and preferments
in Ireland; and Irilhmen going to reside in England
to spend their lives and fortunes there.
VaR fams of money paid for coals from England,
and Irish collieries not worked—foreign governors,
foreign troops, foreign judges, foreign prelates.