The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-11-29 00:00:00, page 2

BOSTON, November 2.
Tuesday last his Excellency the Governor was
plcafed to make the following SPEECH to both
Houses, viz.
Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the
House of Representatives,
WITH a sincere and warm heart I congratulate
you and my country on the lingular favour of
Heaven in the peaceable and auspicious fettiement of
our government, upon a constitution framed by the
wisdom, and fandified by the solemn choice of the
people who are to live under it. May the Supreme
Ruler of the world be pleased to establish and perpe
tuate these new foundations of Liberty and Glory !
Finding myfelf placed at the head of this common
wealth by the free fuffrages of its citizens, while I
most sensibly feel the distinction they have conferred
upon me in this election, I am at a loss to exprels the
sentiments of gratitude with which it has iinpreffed
me. In addition to my natural affeCtion for them,
and the obligations they have before laid upon me, I
have now a new and irrefutable motive ever to confi
der their happiness as my greatest interest, and their
freedom my highest honor. $
Deeply impressed with a sense of the important du
ties to which my country now calls me, while I obey
the call, I molt ardently with myfelf adequate to these
duties, but can only promise in concurrence with you
Gentlemen, a faithful and unremitting attention to
them, Supported as I am by the advice and assistance
of the Council happily provided by the constitution,
to whose judgment I (hall always pay the greatest re
fpeCt, and on whose wildow and integrity I fliall ever
rely. May unanimity among the fevcral branches of
this new government consolidate its force, and esta
blish such measures as Shall most effectually advance
the interest and reputation of the commonwealth :—
This can never be done but by a Strict adherence in
every point to the principles of our excellent consti
tution, which on my part I engage most facrcdly to
preserve.
Gentlemen,
Of ail the weighty business that lies before you, a
point of the firft importance and molt prefling neces
sity is the establishment of the army in such consisten
cy and force, and with such seasonable and compe
tent supplies as may render it, in conjunction with
the refpeCtable forces lent to our assistance by our pow
erful and generous Ally, an effectual defence to the
free constitutions and independence of the United
States. You cannot give too early or too serious an
attention to that proportion of this business that falls
to the Share of this commonwealth. The mode we
have too long praftifed of reinforcing the army by in
liftments for a Short time has been found to be at once
greatly ineffectual and extremely burthenfome. The
Commander in Chief, in whole abilities and integrity
we justly repose the highest confidence, has repeated
ly hated to us the great disadvantages arising from it,
and the necessity of an army engaged for the whole
war, and well provided, is now universally felt and
acknowledged : Nor should a moment of time be loft
in prosecuting every measure tor establishing an ob
ject so essential to the preservation of our liberties and
all that is dear to us. Care at the fame time ought to
be taken that the necessary supplies be committed to
men on whole principles and affection to our great
cause, as well as capacity for such a service, we may
fafely depend.
The support ofthe public faith stands in close con
nexion with this measure of defence, and indeed is
absolutely necessary to it, and to the whole interest
and honor of the state ; no expedient should be un
explored, no necessary measure unattempted, no nerve
in government or the community unexerted to main
tain our credit and remove all just ground of com
plaint from the army that protests us, or from those
who have in any instance relied on the public engage
ments. What friend to his country would not cheer
fully bear his full proportion of the expence necessary
for this purpose ? And I doubt not you will take all
# possible care that no more than such a proportion be
laid upon any man or any clals of men. This is not
only a clear point of justice from which no govern
ment can in any instance recede without injuring and
dishonoring itfelf, but is of particular importance to
the internal peace and good temper, and consequent
ly the fafety of the commonwealth. Doth not this
fafety also require a Stricter attention than I fear has
been paid to the methods and purposes of an inter
course with Great Britain, and that more effectual
measures may be taken to prevent flags of truce from
conveying intelligence or improper perlons to those
who are profecuting/a war against us with great insi
diousness as well as cruelty, to cut off a correspon
dence between our secret enemies at home and our
declared ones abroad, and to retrain prisoners of war
from being at large among us without prudent checks,
especially in our fta-ports. In all iuch cases your vi
gilance will difeern, and your fidelity provide, where
it may be needed, a proper guard to the public fafe
tv. The present Situation of the Eastern part of this
state, and the protection of our sea-coasts, navigati
on and commerce, in all which not only the interest
of this and the United States, but that of our Allies
is deeply concerned, are important objects that re
quire particular attention. If we look to the West
ward we fee recent incursions and ravages of the ene
my, so that from every quarter we are loudly called
upon to employ the most speedy and strenuous efforts
for providing funds that may be depended on, and
establishing an army fufficient, by the bluffing of Hea
ven, for the complete deliverance of our country:
Its resources improved with judgment and spirit are
adequate to such a purpose. Nor can I forbear to ob
serve that we may enter upon this business immediate
ly with less expence and greater advantages than in
any future time.
You are fully sensible, Gentlemen, that the se
paration which the constitution has made between
the legillative and judicial powers, and that just de
gree of independence it has given to the latter, is
one of the surest guards to the persons, property and
liberties of the fubjeCt of this commonwealth, and
accordingly you are, I am thoroughly persuaded,
heartily disposed to support this independence, and
the honour and vigour of the supreme judicial de
partment in its whole constitutional extent.
Sensible of the importance of chriftian piety and
virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I can
not but earnestly recommend to you, every measure
for their support and encouragement, that shall not
infringe the rights of conscience, which I rejoice to
fee established by the constitution on so broad a basis;
and if any thing can be further done on the fame
basis, for the relief of the publick teachers of reli
gion and morality, an order of men greatly ufeful
to their country, and who have particularly buffered
in the defence of its rights, by the depreciation of
our currency ; as also tor the relief of widows and
orphans, many of whom have been distressed in the
fame way, and who are particularly committed by
Heaven to the protection of civil rulers, I shall most
readily concur with you in every such measure.
A due observance of the Lord's day, is not only
important to internal religion, but greatly conducive
to the order and benefit of civil society—it speaks
to the senses of mankind, and by a solemn cefiation
from their common affairs, reminds them of a Deity,
and their accountableness to the great Lord of all.
Whatever may be necessary to the support of such
an institution, in confidence with a reasonable per
sonal liberty, deserves the attention of civil govern
ment. Manners, by which not only the freedom,
but the very existence of republics are greatly affect
ed, depend much upon the publick institutions of
religion, and the good education of youth ; in both
these instances our fathers laid wile foundations,
for which their posterity have had reason to bless their
memory. —The publick Schools, and our university
at Cambridge, very early founded by them, have
been no small support to the cause of liberty, and
given no dishonourable distinction to our country ;
the advantages they are Still capable of affording to
the present and future generations, are unspeakable ;
I cannot therefore omit warmly to recommend them
to your care and patronage.
The laws will now require to be accurately revised,
and particularly that which regulates the militia, on
which the fafety of a commonwealth naturally rests ;
this revision you cannot fail to attend to as early as
circumstances will allow, which will lead you not
only to adapt the laws in the molt perfect manner
poSlible to the defence of the state, but also for the
fuppreHion of idlcnefs, dissipation, extravagancy,
and all those vices that are peculiarly inimical to free
republics, and for the encouragement of those oppo
site virtues that are particularly friendly to such a
form of government.
In such measures as I have now mentioned, and in
every other tending to promote the publick welfare,
you may always depend on my cheerful concurrence
with you, and giving every dispatch in my power to
the pubhek business : and 1 Shall from time to time
seasonably communicate to you, such informations
and proposals of business as may be proper to lay
before you.
May this new government diffufe a new animation
through the whole political body ! The people expect
much from it, perhaps more in some points than cir
cumstances will allow it to perform ; but Standing as
we do upon their choice and affections, and strenuous
ly exerting ourselves as we ought for their interest,
they may find it happily advanced.
May Heaven assist us to set out well, to brighten the
auspices of our constitution, to render it still more
loved and admired by the citizens of this common
wealth; and to recommend it to the whole world,
by a wife and impartial, a firm and vigorous admini
stration of it.
JOHN HANCOCK.
Boston, October ft, 1780.
LOND O N, August 19.
• It has ever been the fate of Britain to have her ser
vices repaid with ingratitude ; and to fee those who
owed most to her, not only look quietly on, while
others attacked her, but basely join her assailants,
and aid them in their attempts to undo her.—
The sovereignty of Holland was established through
the assistance of England ; and though the Dutch have
been rescued from Spanish Slavery by the valour and
treasure of Englishmen, yet they have refufed to give
us the fuccour Stipulated by a solemn treaty ; nay,
they have sent Plenipotentiaries to Peterfburgh, to
treat upon a confederacy with Russia in the infamous
plan of an armed neutrality.
The Empress ^ueen owes to us the thrones on which
fte fits; attacked in Austria, Bohemia, Silesia, nay,
almost every where by France, Russia, Prussia, and
several Princes of the Empire, She was supported by
George Ild, who united his standard with the Ger
man Eagle, fought all her battles, and did not desist
till he saw her acknowledged the sole heir of her fa
ther the Emperor Charles the Vlth. Her Majedy^
however, Since that closely united herfelf with the
enemies of her house ; She has given her daughter to
France, confederated with Russia, and left her bene
faCtrefs, England, open to every assailant.—
America, that we planted with our fubjeCts, che
rished with our treasure, and defended with our blood
from the depredations of France and Spain, has rail
ed her arm against us, and leaguing herfelf with her
own natural enemies, She has invited them to affilt
her in Sheathing a sword in the bosom of her parent.
Charles King of Spain, when only Prince Don Car
los, felt the force of our friendship ; we sent a Squa
dron of men of war to carry him and 6000 Spanify
troops to Italy, to enable him to take possession ofthe
Grand Dukedom of Tuscany, during the lifetime of
the lalt Grand Duke of the Houle of Medicis. And
now, without provocation, this Self fame Don Carlo;
is making every effort, and Straining every nerve, to
destroy that very navy which procured him a Sove
reignty in Italy, when, being only a second son, he
was not likely to inherit any more from his father than
an establishment for the support of his houlchold.—
K^a, in the /late war She had to sustain against the
Sultan, experienced every mark of the most Sincere at
tachment from Britain. We gave her officers to na
vigate her Ships, and Admirals to command her fleets;
we opened our ports to receive her squadrons, and
afforded every material necessary to their men of war,
while we supplied them with every thing they wanted
for their crews; and this at a time when France and
Spain either had their ports totally Shut against the
kuliian Ships, or received them with a sullen counte
nance in the moment of a Storm. This very Russia
has been the firft to set on foot a plan for an armed
neutrality, calculated entirely for the assistance of
France and Spain, and the destruction of Great-
Britain. —
Sweden too joins in this confederacy ; forgetful of
the Squadron we sent to her assistance in the firft year
ot her Xllth Charles's reign, when She was ready to
fail under the combined power of Denmark, Poland,
and Russia. Our Squadrons loon made the Danes re
nounce all hopes of taking Stockholm; and soon
brought their lovereign to Sue to Charles for peace. —
Such have been the Services of Britain to all these
powers! Such their return! Is England fated to be
tor-cver connected only with ingrates ?
BOSTO N, October 30.
Extract of a letter from an officer of the letter marque.
Snip General Washington, of Sixteen 6 pounders 55
men, belonging to Virginia, and which is arrived
from Amsterdam, in a Safe port, after a passage of
forty-feven days.
October 27, 1780.
" We arrived here this day, on the 17th infant,
in latitude 43, 5, longitude 42, 28 weft, Stretching to
louthwelt, with a small breeze north by east. At fix
A. M. the watch discovered a large fleet in the south
touth-welt, Standing to the east ; we gave chace, but
having Sprung our main-top-mast, were obliged to
tack and Stand to the north-welt, till we loft fight of
the fleet, and having sent him down, and got another
an end ; on the eighth, in lat. 42, 47, lon. 43, 8 weft,
a irnall breeze at the north-east, under an ealy fail and
Imooth water, at eight A. M. the watch almost ahead
called out, two fail to windward, bearing down un
der top-fails: We soon found them to be a Ship and
brigantine, within about two leagues of us, as they
hove too, and as we suppose spoke each other ; then
made tail and Rood to the eastward, —We immediate
ly tack'd Blip and gave chace, they making all the fail
they could from us ; but finding we overhaul'd them,
the Ship fired a gun to leeward and hove too; the
brigantine being the headmoft vessel did the fame; at
halfpaft 11 came up with them within pistol Shot, and
gave the Ship a Shot under Continental colours; She
soon returned it under an English jack, a warm en
gagement enlued, and lasted till half past five P. M.
when the flop bore away on a careen, and appeared
much Shattered, and fired signals of distress: We
poured a broadside into the brig, upon which She
loosed top-gallant-fails and followed the Ship ; we im
mediately gave chace, but having unfortunately re
ceived a 12 pound Shot in the head of our main-mast,
which brought our main-top-matt by the board, our
other malts wounded, and so disabled in our fails as d
rigging we could not come up with them, gave over
the chace, after giving them a severe drubbing. The
Ship mounted eighteen 12 and 6 pounders, the brig
antine mounted 14 fixes. We had fix men killed and
several wounded. The Captain publicly thanks the
officers and men for their spirited behaviour, against
an evident superiority. We took the Ship and brigan
tine to have been purposely detached from the fleet
to attack us."
Nov. 6. By a person who came in the General Wash
ington, we learn, that when She failed, 13 Ruffian
Ships of the line lay at the Texel ; that 5 other Ruffi
an Ships of the line, with a Danish fleet, were expect
ed soon to join them ; and that the Dutch were haul
ing all their Ships out of dock.
Capt. Joseph Cooke of this port, a brig from Bos
ton, and the brig Fox of Virginia, were arrived at
Amsterdam. Capt. Stonehoufe, in a schooner, failed
for Boston three days before Capt. Walker.
Nov. 9. Tuesday last the Hon. James Warren, Esq.
was elected Lieutenant-Governor of this Common
wealth.
Friday last the Hon. Jeremiah Powell, Esq. was e<
lefled one of the Senators of this Commonwealth.