The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-02-18 00:00:00, page 2

* See Lord Cambden's late speech.—Lord Chatham
mentions, in his delivered about the fame time, that the
foreign troops only, actually amounted to 20,000 men.
This check served to make them more cautious ;
nor did they make any farther attempt against the be
sieging army during the remainder of the campaign.—
As the sanguine hopes of those at the helm of af
fairs were not in the least answered, Mr. Gage was re
called, and the command given to Mr. Howe, of
whom the highest expectations were conceived.—But
a fortunate position of the American army soon obliged
him with his troops to evacuate Boston at a very un
comfortable and dangerous season of the year, and fly
to Hallifax as an affylum,
I well remember how prettily this hasty manoeuvre
was glofs'd in England. —?t was a graceful apology for
his abrupt departure —but it did not efface the firft
impression it made on the minds of the people.—
Notwithstanding these unfortunate proofs of the
disposition and spirit of the Colonies, with a degree of
infatuation bordering on madnefr, a new campaign
Was to be tried, with a very numerous army, com
posed of national troops and foreign mercenaries,
which was to bring the Americans on their knees to
supplicate pardon,---
In the debate in the house of commons, relative to
the employing of foreign troops, lord North said, in
Support of the measure, that it was entered into in
order to prevent the effuliqn of b!ccd---it being his
opinion the Americans would submit on the appear
ance of so considerable a force.---
If this should not happen, the thunder was to be
pointed to the devoted city and province of New-
York , and a large mixt army of regulars was likewise
to recover Canada, and penetrate deep by the sides
of Hudson's river. The minister had confidently an
nounced *70,000 land forces and roo (hips of war for
that year.---The land armament did not come up to
the number here Specified ; but the enemy themselves
acknowledge the whole to amount to at least 40,000.--
The commiHioners, as they were termed by the mi
nistry, arrived in New-York bay with the whole
force destined to act in this part of America, having
been joined by Lord Dunmore, with his motley crew
from Virginia, more resembling freebooters and bu
caniers than regular soldiers.---
The malts of their (hips appeared like a sorest of
naked trees ; and Staten-Island was whitened with
their tents.---They were indeed formidable to the
eye; but our minds were armed with resolution to
oppose them.---
A raw, undisciplined army had been collected un
der General Washington for this purpose, of about
20,000 men, including those that were in New-Jer
sey.---The prudence, the firmnefs and courage, and,
above all, the unwearied induftry-tof this great man,
made him superior to the astonishing difficulties he
had to encounter By an influence mere than ma
gical, and a dextrous management, for which he pof
fcfie: the greatest talents, this unwieldy heterogene
ous inafs was kept together, and tolerably well or
ganized.- --Thus the two armies flood ins a vis for
some time.
The battle of Bunker's Hill, which happened prc
fently after, forced the enemy into some acknowledg
ments in favour of our martial prowess : In fadt, there
was pretty ample testimony of it left on the field of
battle ; out of 2000 who attacked the breastwork de
fended by 700 meh, having loft more than a thousand
killed and wounded.
Congress, well informed of the nature of the pretend
ed cammiffion, about this time published the declaration
of the independence of the Colonies; which, though
many did not at firft approve, yet they soon after saw
the absolute necessity of the measure, on the appearance
of a counter one from Lord and General Howe. No
conditions were held out—they were not empowered
To use my Lord Chatham's forcible expression, the
legillature of Great-Britain, taking advantage of it,
"clapped an extinguisher on the port of Boston," de
prived them of their chartered rights, and instituted
a new form of government with slavery on the very
face ofit ; taking away the sacred right of trial by
jury, and trampling under their feet their most inva
luable privileges. —But the measure of their iniquity
was not yet full —they passed prohibitory ads, de
priving the offending Colonies, as they were termed,
of their filhery and trade, proscribing them as outlaws
and pirates, and investing the commanders of their
fllips of war with the power of seizing our property
wheresoever it Should be found.
About this time a formidable army, composed of
the troops in America and veterans from England,
was assembled at Boston, under Mr. Gage.—The
people of Massachusetts having taken the alarm, began
to array their ill-armed raw militia, and to form some
magazines—one of these became the object of an ex
pedition from Boston. In what manner they retired
before a handful of undisciplined farmers,! need not
inform the publick, '•
From that moment the war was kindled between
the two Countries ; and it should be remembfed, that
hostilities were committed by the British nation, with
the advantage of having 10,000 regular troops in
polTeffidn of the capital of New-England. —
On our fide, though we were rich in the affections
of the people, we had no funds, not a soldier railed,
few arms, and little or no ammunition ; in truth, not
a warlike preparation of any kind answerable to such
an event. —This was the date of America at the com
mencement of the war.—
L O ND O N, October 1.
The betts in the city are fix to four that the Howes
will not return from theirff sing part, until the latter
end of next month.
A fleet of observation will very soon be sent to
look out for the brothers.
08. 23. It is said that information is to be given
against a person of note in the city for fending British
artificers to America by the way of France.
Oil. 28. The Jrifh national debt and charge of the
several establishments, which for two years, ending
Lady Day 1775, amounted to 2,598,7741. at the
two years ending Lady Day 1777, amounted to
2,561,0651. and the hereditary revenue, which at the
former period amounted to 853,0561. in the latter
amounts to 926,904!.
Letters from Amsterdam mention, that the affairs
of the Dutch East-India Company were in a very
flourishing condition, and that two companies of
engineers were ordered to embark for the Cape of
Good Hope. The States General last year renewed
the charter of this company upon very liberal terms,
for, finding that the company had of late buffered
greatly, as well by a decline of commerce as other
losses, they accepted the sum of two millions of flo
rins for a new charter of thirty years, instead of
three millions, which they had paid for the former
under the fame conditions, and for a like term.
Extras, of a letter from Capt. Wilson, of the Mar,
Letter of Marque, dated Madeira, Sept. 29.
" In our passage hither we fell in with a sloop
privateer of 10 guns besides Swivels, and we suppose
about 70 or 80 hands ; fire chafed us fix hours, then
came within gunfhbt, hailed, and bid us strike to
the United States ; we answered with as many of our
guns as we could bring to bear : Finding that we
intended to dispute the matter she began peppering
away, but without doing us any hurt. Our men were
all in high spirits, and the finallnefs of the enemy's
vessel, she being only a sloop, and we a ship with as
many guns, did not a little help to add to their
courage. The engagement continued till about Bulk,
when the privateer hauled off to repair her main
brace, and we stood on our course, and thus saw no
more of her. Thank heaven we had not a man
hurt. Mess. Williams and Grant, our two passen
gers, were upon the deck all the time."
A certain officer of the guards, whole taste for in
trigue is renowned, was a few days ago obliged to
let himfelf down into the street by the help of two
fleets, in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor-square,
when the watchmen coming up to his assistance re
ceived him in their arms, and brought him to the
round-house ; when the night constable,, by means
of a few guineas, dismissed him without bringing
him further than his own tribunal.
In consequence of some dispatches received from
the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, orders were on
Tuesday sent to Plymouth for two men of war and
a frigate to fail immediately to cruize on the Irish
coast.
to offer any, nor to treat with us on any other foot
than our making an unconditional fubmifliort.---\n proof
of this assertion, I refer to the debates of the house of
commons, and Lord Howe's letter to Dr. Franklin of
20th June, 1776.
We have received advice from Oregund, that they
had a most dreadful hurricane there the 20th of last
mopth, which lasted about one hour and an half.
The waters violently driven back by a furious N. W.
wind, penetrated with impetuosity into the interior
parts of the country, and made great ravage. We
do not remember any thing like it has ever happened
in these parts.
The 26th of last montli an American (hip arrived
in the port of Morftrand with a cargo of rice, indigo,
tobacco and pepper. This is the third Snip from
America that has arrived there this year.
PROVIDENCE, January to.-
Our neighbours, the British savages on Rhode-
Island, we learn by several persons from thence, have
given frefh proof that they are more savage than their
brethren of the wilderness. It is an undoubted fad,
that the body of Mr. John Magee, late a reputable
inhabitant of Newport, was about a fortnight since
taken from the grave, striped of the funeral vestments,
and left above ground. The body had been interred
The campaign opened by the enemy's landing
22,000 men on Long-Island.---With this, which was
not the whole of their force, they attacked and de
feated a detachment of about 3000 American troops,
and took a considerable number of prisoners.
Our whole strength on Long-Island did not at any
time exceed 9000; and the enemy, having drawn
their army round our lines, extending in semi-circular
form from the East river to the bay, and thrown up
extensive works within 400 yards of our feeble re
doubts, the,General wifely drew off his troops in
the night, and retired over the East river to New-
York, without losing a man.---
[Errata in No. I. 9th line, 3d paragraph, for moni
tor of cruelty, read monger of cruelty. 43d line, 2d
page, for rights of giving, read right of giving.]
tyE have received from Wennefbourg, the melan
choly news that the greatest part of that town
has been reduced to afnes.
STOCKHOL M,
PATKUL.
08. 10.
Wednesday last the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of
this State met at Trenton, agreeable to adjournment.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of character at
Newark, dated February 7, 1778.
" Two persons came out of New-York the sth
instant, who informs us, there was great uneahnefs
in that city among the tories, on account of an
exceeding great mob in London, which with much
difficulty after a number of days was quelled. The
mob arose partly upon account of the hot press in
England, and partly because the manufacturers were.
out of employment and in want of bread. They
were enraged at administration as the cause of the
American war, which was the source of all their
distresses, and their cry was, " No Scotch counsels,
no tyrannick measures." They pulled down the
houses of the arch-fiend Bute, and Lis second North,
and insulted a number of the king's friends and their
tools.—But these things are umy the beginning of
furrow to Britain."
Several counterfeit SIX DOLLAR BTL LS were
lately offered in payment by some of the honourable fans
of Britain, who were pafling through this place with
tfl a g> a "^ ^ great numbers of them have been pro
bably manufactured at Philadelphia, it is nectfar, to
caution the publick against them. The, are a very
careful imitation of the genuine bills, but being done on
copperplate, have a general different appearance : The
paper the, are printed on has abundance of ver, small
dark or blue fibres : whereas the paper of the true bills
has but a few blue threads scattered through it. In the
word Silver the S in the true bill is one third higher
than the other letters ; but in the counterfeit it is nearly
of the fame height : The ink is blacker, the letters /land
less regular, and the commas are much left alike and
beautiful than in the true bills. Of the SI, flanding
over the word THE, in the border of the bottom of the
bill, the S is much I,'s than the I in the counterfeit, but
in the true bills they are nearly ; equal. The counterfeits
are something left, both in breadth and beighth, than
the true bills, and the backs may be eafly known t^
have been done on copperplate. And are dated at Phi
ladelphia May 20, 1777.
A correspondent informs us that " one William
Pace of Schoolie's Mountain, and Thomas Tan Camp
of Somerset county, both bound for Staten-Bland, the
latter with a quantity of flour, and the former with
four quarters of beef which had been hall-fed tyo
years, and was intended for a British General, were
apprehended and brought before the prefidcut and
council of fafety the 28th of January laft.—lt not
fully appearing to the Board that their refpedive
cargoes were to have been carried into the enemy's
lines, which would have been high treason, Van
Camp was adjudged to forfeit his flour, and to pay
the fine prescribed by law for asking more than the re
gulated price, and also the fine for asking a higher
price in continental currency than in" specie ; and
Pace to forfeit his fat beef and pay the fine for asking
for it mere than the regulated price, and both being
bound over, they were dismissed—
two months. It is also said that other instances of a
like nature have lately happened there.
Wednesday fe'nnight a flag of truce arrived from
Newport, and brought upwards of 100 of the inhabi
tants, who chose to avail themselves of Gen Pigot'a
late permifiion for them to depart. They were ver,
critically and repeatedly searched before the vessel
was Suffered to fail, and many of them, as usual,
were robbed of their wearing apparel, &c.
" Evidence b, .ing produced the day after, that one
Jacob Fitz Randolph, who lives at the Blazing Star,
had met them at Spanktown, and engaged to take
their cargoes if they would bring them to his house,
and to coiwey them to Staten-lfland as soon as the
ice would permit; the said Pace and Fitz Randolph
have since been committed to gaol for procuring pro
visions for the enemy, and as dangerous to the prc
fent government; and a warrant is issued to appre
hend the said Van Camp."
We are further informed, that Congress, in a
resolution dated the third of December last, recom
mended to the Legillatures of the United States,
forthwith to ena& laws, " requiring all persons with
in their refpedive States who may be poffefled of
any bills of credit struck under the fandion and au
thority of the king of Great-Britain on or before the
19th day of April 1775, forthwith to deliver in the
fame to a commiflioner or commissioners for that
purpose to be appointed in each county of the re
fpe&ive States, authcrifing such commissioner or
commissioners to give in exchange for any sum so
paid in continental money or bills of credit of their
refpedive States ; and to declare in the laws so en
a^d. that all bills of credit ^-G- Q e description
NORW I C H, January 5.
We learn that an exchange between Generals Lee
and Prefcot is to be effected immediately.
N E W-L ONDO N, January 2.
A few days since 130 tories from the weft end of
Long-Island, commanded by one Capt. Ewlet, came
down to Southold, Oyster Pond, &c. and robbed
the honest inhabitants to a large amount, in money,
cloathing, grain, cattle, &c. from one man they
took 1201. in cash.
BURLINGTON, Feb. 18.
LANCASTER, Jan. 28.