The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-06-21 00:00:00, page 1

Afflicting as the loss of Charleftown may be, yet ifit
universally rouse us from the Dumber of a twelve
months past, and renew in us the spirit of former days,
it will produce an advantage more important than its
loss. America ever is what flic thinks herfclf to be.
Governed by sentiment, and anting her own mind,
ihe becomes as ihe pleases the victor or the victim.
It is not the conquest of towns, nor the accidental
capture of garrisons, that can reduce a country so
extensive as this. The fufferings of one part can ever
be relieved by the exertions of another, and there is
no situation the enemy can be in, that does not afford
to us the fame advantages she seeks herfelf. By di
viding her force, she leaves every post attackable. It
is a mode of war that carries with it a coufeflion of
weakness, and goes on the principle of distress, ra
ther than conquest.
The decline of the enemy is visible not only in their
operations but in their plans; Charleftown originally
made but a secondary object in their system of attack,
end it is now become their principal one, because
they have not been able to succeed elsewhere. It
would have carried a cowardly appearance in Europe,
had they formed their grand expedition in seventy-six
against a part of the Continent where there was no
army, or not a fufficient one to oppose them; but
failing year after year, in their impression here, and
to the eastward and northward, they deserted their
firft capital design, and prudently contenting them
selves with what they can get, gave a flourish of ho
nour to conceal disgrace.
But this peacemeal work is not conquering the Con
tinent. It is discredit in them to attempt it, and in
Ms to buffer it. It is now full time to put an end to a
war of aggravations, which on one fide, has no possi
ble object, and on the other, has every inducement
which honour, interest, fafety and happiness can in
spire. If we fuffer them much longer to remain a
mong us, we shall become as bad as themselves. An
association of vices will reduce us more than the sword.
A nation hardened in the practice of iniquity, knows
better how to profit by it than a young country new
ly corrupted. We are not a match for them in the
line of advantageous guilt, nor they to us, on the
From the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
The CRISIS, No. IX.
HAD America pursued her advantages with
half the spirit fne refitted her misfortunes,
ihe would before now, have been a con
quering and a peaceful people; but lulled
in the lap of foft tranquility fire retted on her hopes,
and adversity only has convulsed her into action.
Whether fubtilty or sincerity at the close of the last
year, induced the enemy to an appearance for peace,
is a point not material to know; it is fufficient that
we fee the effects it has had on our politics, and that
we sternly rife to relent the delusion.
The war on the part of America, has been a war
of natural feelings. Brave in distress ; fcrene in con
quest ; drowsy when at rest ; and in every situation
generously disposed to peace. A dangerous clam,
and the molt heightened zeal, have, as circumstances
varied, succeeded each other. Every passion, but that
of difpair, has been called to a tour of duty ; and so
mistaken has been the enemy of our abilities and dis
position, that when Ihe supposed us conquered, we
rose the conquerors. The extensiveness of the United
States, and the variety of their resources; the uni
versality of their cause, the quick operation of their
feelings, and the similarity of their sentiments, have,
in every trying situation, produced afometbing, which
favoured by Providence, and pursued with ardour,
has accomplished in an instant the business of a cam
paign. We have never deliberately fought victory,
but snatched it; and bravely undone in an hour, the
plotted operations of a season.
The reported fate of Charleftown, like the misfor
tunes of seventy-six, has at last called forth a spirit,
and kindled up a flame, which perhaps no other event
could have produced. If the enemy has circulated a
falfehood, they have unwisely aggravated us into life,
and if they have told us a truth they have unintenti
onally done us a service. We were returning with
folded arms from the fatigues of war, and thinking
and fitting leisurely down to enjoy repose. The de
pendence that has been put upon Charleftown, threw
a drowsiness over America. We looked on the busi
ness done —the conflict over —the matter fettled—or
that all which remained unfinifhed would follow of
itfelf. In this state of dangerous relax, exposed to
the poisonous infufions of the enemy, and having no
common danger to attract our attention, we were ex
tinguishing by Stages the ardour we began with, and
surrendering by peacemeals the virtue that defend
ed us.
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. lII.]
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1780.
The progress of a war is often as ruinous to indivi
duals as the iflue of it is to a nation ; and it is not on
ly necessary that our force be such, that we be con
querors in the end, but that by timely exertions, we
be secure in the interim. The prelent campaign will
afford an opportunity whiclthas never presented itfelf
before, and the preparations for it, are equally ne
cessary, whether CharleftoNTn stand or fall. Suppose
the firft, it is in that case only a failure of the enemy,
not a defeat. All the conquest a besieged town can
hope for, is not to be conquered ; and compelling an
enemy to raise the liege is to the besieged a victory.
But there p&ft be a' probability amounting almost to
certainty, that would justify a garrison marching out
to attack a retreat. "Therefore should Charleftown
not be taken, and the enemy abandon the liege, every
other part of the Continent Ihould prepare to meet
them; and on the contrary, Jbouid it be taken, the
fame preparations are necessary to balance the loss,
and put ourselves in a condition to co-operate with
our allies, immediately on their arrival.
We are not now fighting our battles alone, as we
were in seventy-six. England, from a malicious dis
position to America, has not only not declared war
against France and Spain, but the better to prosecute
her passions here, has afforded those powers ro mili
tary object, and avoids them to distress us. She will
fuffer her Welt-India islands to be over-run by France,
and her southern settlements taken by Spain, rather
than quit the object that gratifies revenge. This con
duct, on the part of Britain, has pointed out the pro
priety of France fending a naval and land force to co
operate with America on the spot. Their arrival
cannot be very distant, nor the ravages of the enemy
long. In the mean time the part necelfary to us needs
no illufcration. The recruiting the army, and pro
curing the supplies, are the two timings needful, and
a capture of either of the enemy's divisions will re
store to America peace and plenty.
At a Crisis, big, like the prefect, with expectation
and events, the whole country is called to unanimity
and exertion. Not an ability ought now to llcep that
can produce but a mite to the general good, nor even
a whisper fuffered to pats that militates agaiift it.
The necessity of the case, and the importance of the
consequences, admit no delay from a friend, no a
pology from an enemy. To spare now, would be
the height of extravagance, and to conlult present
case, would facrifice it, perhaps, for-ever.
America, rich in patriotism and produce, can want
neither men nor supplies, when a lerious necessity
calls them forth. The flow operation oftaxes, owing
to the extensiveness of collection, and their deprecia
ted value before they arrived in the treasury, have, in
many inltances, thrown a burthen upon government,
which has been artfully interpreted by the enemy in
to a general decline throughout the country. Yet
this, inconvenient as it may at firft appear, is not
only remediable, but may be turned to an immediate
advantage ; tor it makes no real difference, whether
a certain number of men, or company of militia,
(and in this country every man is a militia man) are
directed by law to fend a recruit at their own expence,
or whether a tax is laid on them for that purpose and
the man hired by government afterwards. The firft,
if there is any difference, is both cheapest and belt,
because it laves the expence which would attend col
lecting it as a tax, and brings the man focner into the
field, than the modes of recruiting formerly used:
And on this principle a law has been passed in this
state for recruiting two men from each company of
militia, which will add upwards of a thousand to the
force of the country.
But the flame, which has broke forth in this city,
since the report from New-York, of the loss of Charles
town, not only does honour to the place, but like the
blaze of seventy-six, will kindle into action the scat
tered sparks throughout America. The valour of a
country may be learned by the bravery of its soldiery,
and the general cast of its inhabitants, but confidence
of fuccel's is belt discovered by the active measures
pursued by men of property; and when the spirit of
enterprize becomes so universal as to ad at once on
all ranks of men, a war may then, and not till then,
be stiled truly popular.
In leventy-fix the ardour of the enterprizing part
was considerably checked by the real revolt of some,
and the coolness of others But in the present case
there is a firmnefs in the substance and property of the
country to the publick cause. An association has been
principles we bravely set out with. Our firft days
were our days of honour. They have marked the
character of America where-ever the story of her wars
are told ; and convinced of this, we have nothing to
do but wifely and unitedly to tread the well known
track.
THE
entered into by the merchants, tradesmen, and prin.
cipal inhabitants of the city, to receive and support
the new state money at the value of gold and silver;
a measure which, while it does them honour, will
likewise contribute to their interest, bv rendering the
operations of the campaign convenient and effectual.
Neither has the spirit of exertion ftopt here. A
voluntary fubfeription is likewise began to raise a fund
of hard money, to be given as bounties to fill up the
full quota of the Pennfylvarlia line. It has been the
remark of the enemy, that every thing in America has
been done by the force of government ; but when the
fees the individuals throwing in their voluntary aids,
and facilitating the publick measures in concert with
the ehablilhed powers of the country, it will convince
her that the cause of America stands not on the will
of a few, but on the broad foundation of property
and popularity.
Thus aided and thus supported, difaffedion will
decline, and the withered head of tyranny expire in
America. The ravages of the enemy will be short
and limited, and like all their former ones, will pro
duce a victory over themselves.
COMMON SENSE.
Philadelphia, June 9, 1780.
At the time of writing this number of the Crisis,
the loss of Charleftown, though believed by some,
was more confidently disbelieved by others. But
there ought to be no longer a doubt on the matter.
Charleftown is gone, and I believe for the want of a
fufficient suppl, of provisions. The man that does
not now feel for the honour of the best and noblest
cause that ever a country engaged in and exert him
felf accordingly, is no longer worthy a peaceable re
lidence among a people determined to be free.
From the Country Journal, dated Boston, May
29, 1780.
Meffi'rs Printers,
As the darkness which happened on the last Friday
was unutual, and to many people furprizing, it
will no doubt gratify the publick, to have the 'ob
fervations which have been n?ade in various parts
communicated : In this way we may learn the ex
tent, and perhaps ascertain the cause of so re
markable a phenomenon : with these views I fend
you the enclosed.
I™HE observations from the firft coming on of the
k darkness, to four o'clock, P. M. were made by
several gentlemen of liberal education, at the house of
the Rev. Mr. Cutler, of Iplwich-Hamlet. There are
some things worth noticing before and after this time.
The hemisphere for several days had been greatly ob
feured with smoke and vapour, so that the fun and
moon appeared unusually red. On Thursday after
noon and in the evening, a thick cloud lay along at
the south and southwest, the wind small. Friday
morning early the fun appeared as it had done for
several days before, the wind about southwest, a light
breeze, and the clouds from the southwest came over
between eight and nine o'clock, the fun was quite
shut in, and it began to shower, the clouds continu
ing to rife from the southwest, and thicken from the
thickness of the clouds, and the confufion which at
tended their motions, we expected a violent gust of
wind and rain, the wind however, near the earth,
continued small, and it rained but little. About ele
ven o'clock the darkness was such as to demand our
attention, and put us upon making observations. At
half past eleven, in a room with three windows, 24
panes each, all open towards the southeast and south,
large print could not be read by persons of good eyes.
About 12 o'clock the windows being still open, a
candle cast a shade so well defined on the wall, as that
profiles were taken with as much ease as they could
have been in the night. About one o'clock a glimpse
of light which had continued till this time in the east,
shut in, and the darkness was greater than it had been
for any time before. Between one and two o'clock,
the wind at W. freshened a little, and a glimpse of light
appeared in that quarter. We dined about two, the
windows all open, and two candles a burning on the
table. In the time of the greatest darkness some of
the dunghill fowls went to their roost : cocks crowed
in answer to one another as they commonly do in
the night : woodcocks, which are night birds, whit
tled as they do only in the dark: frogs peeped. In
short, there was the appearance of midnight at noon
day. About three o'clock the light in the weft in
creased, the motion of the clouds more quick, their
colour higher and more brafy than at any time
before: there appeared to be quick slashes or corus
cations, not unlike the Aurora Borealis. Between
three and four o'clock we were out and perceived a
[Numb. 130.]