The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1786-11-06 00:00:00, page 3

Mr. COLLINS.
If you think the following very extraordinary events wor
thy a place in your news-paper, you will please to in
sert them:
" A labouring man in the neighbourhood of Tren
ton, who, some years ago left a wife and two children
in very straitened circumstances in Ireland, wrote to
them that if they would come to him he would en
deavour to provide for them—they accordingly failed,
and landed in Maryland, where the poor woman left
her children, after pawning her clothes to support
them, and set out to find her husband in Jersey. About
three weeks ago the arrived in the neighbourhood, and
procured a person to bring him to the house where the
was, without apprizing him in the least of the nature
of the visit. The firtt intimation he had of her arri
val,.was feeing her handing by his fide on the floor—
he was so struck with furprize that he ruihed out of
the door, and with difficulty kept himfelf from falling
by leaning on a fence which was near. The poor wo
man, who, doubtless was anticipating a very different
welcome, ran to his relief, and supporting him in her
arms, allied hi a plaintive accent, if he was going to
leave her a second time. The Ibock from so unex
pected an interview having fublided, they appeared'
happy to meet after so long an absence, and agreed
that the should return for the children —accordingly
he accompanied her to the landing, where the took
boat for Philadelphia—and he returned to his labour ;
but dejefted and opprefled with melancholy —he com
plained, in hiaown words, of a weight,flyout his heart—
he took to his bed —an universal latitude and debility
seized him, and without the appearance of any thing
that could be called sickness, he died on the ninth
day after the interview with his wife. While his ac
quaintances were performing the lalt offices for him,
a letter arrives from her that the was dangerously ill
in Philadelphia, and entreating him, that as the was
among Grangers, he would hasten to her alliltance.
The letter arrived on Sunday morning—the burial was
at a church in the country —the congregation, though
unprepared to bettow charity, were so affected with
the circumstances, that they contributed something
handsome, and lent it to her immediately—four hours
before the messenger arrived she was buried, having
survived her husband only two days, and evidently
difeovering with him that their sensibility was too
strong to support the shock of so unexpected an in
terview, or that their fortitude was too weak to bear
up under the prospect of poverty, or a precarious
subsistence in a strange country. Each died ignorant
of the other's fate, and both ignorant that their chil
dren are left without a parent. It is said, they both
had seen better days —but marrying without the con
sent of their patents, disowned by them, and never
forgiven, they were involved in a train of evils,
which brought on these truly tragical events. As the
reader will naturally ask what is to become of the children
—I must inform him, that his excellency the governor
with several members of the legislature, and the gen
tlemen of the village and neighbourhood of Trenton,
on being made acquainted with the circumstances,
most cheerfully contributed towards railing a sum for
the purpose of redeeming the little property which the
At a joint-meeting of the legislative- council and as
sembly, on Tuesday last, his excellency William
Livingston, Esquire, was re-elected governor—and
James Mott, Esquire, was unanimoufiy re-appoint
ed treasurer, for the ensuing year.
A letter from a gentleman at Fort Wheeling, to his
friend in Frederick-Town, dated October 2, fays,
" A few days ago we arrived fafe here, but. found
great alterations, as the people are removing in from
the back parts to this, and have repaired the Fort
again, and we hope to live in peace and quietness
here. We have lately had notice that a large party
of Indians were about these parts, but they have done
no hurt yet ; but about twelve miles from this, seven
Indians have killed one boy, and taken one prisoner,
but luckily it happened that a party of our people
met the Indians as they wery eroding the river, and
killed three of them, and re-took the boy."
speaker had been too carneft on this fubjeft he re
queued the pardon of the house, as he spoke from
a fear, left palliatives might be adopted where vigour
was required.
The hon. gentleman then read several private let
ters from a gentleman in office, at a foreign court,
to confirm the sentiments which he had advanced.
-<>—<> "«»fey .eQ >te CT <>....<>-
PHILADELPHIA, Ort. 24.
It is reported that Congress have entered into a re
solution to raise 2000 men, in order to reinforce the
troops under colonel Harmar, now on the frontier ser
vice.
Oa. 28. We were this day informed, by the Penn^
fylvania Packet, that Mr. Barclay's reception from his
Moorish majesty, has been a very cordial one; Suc
cess, equal to his willies, attended the negociatioru
To every friend of American commerce, this mult
give the molt heart-felt pleasure. The dangers from
the Barbary corsairs, industriously exaggerated for fcl
fif, purposes, have for some time path been a fore
thorn in Columbia's fide> Should the fame happy is
sue attend the negociation with the detested nett of
Algerine plunderers, a free commerce in the Mediter
ranean, with a reduction of th< ;exorbitant insurance
on American vessels, would be among the many ob
vious good consequences.
Nov. I. The honourable Arthur St. Clair, Charles
Pettit, William Irwin, Samuel Meredith, and Wil
liam Bingham, Esquires, were yesterday elected dele
gates in Congress for this hate, for the ensuing year.
TRENTO N, Novem. 6.
mother pawned in Maryland, and to bring the chil
dren to some distant relations which they have in Jer
sey, or to fend them back to Ireland, as may be
found belt. The blefling of those ready to perilh will
rest upon the head of the charitable."
The Life of John Newton, in a fries of letters
to the Rev. Mr. Haw£ ^---continued.
L E T T E R VIII.
Rev. and dear fir,
AT length our business being finished, we left
the coast of Africa, and failed homewards
about the beginning of January 1748. We flopped
half a day at the bank of Newfoundland to filh for
cod—this was chiefly for diverfion—-for we had pro
visions enough, and little expected those filh, as it
afterwards proved, would be all we had to fublilt
upon. We left the banks March 1, and on the 9th
of March, 1 think it was, I felt a thought pals
through my mind, to which I had long been a Gran
ger. Among the few books we had on board, one
was Stanhope's Thomas a' Kempis. I carelelsly took
it up as I had often done before to pAfs away the time;
but I itill read it with the fame indifference as if it was
entirely a romance. However, while I was reading
this time, an involuntary fuggeltion arose in my mina;
what if these things should be true. 1 could not
bear the force of the inference, as it related to my
felf, and therefore shut the book presently. My con
science witnelfed again!! me once more, and 1 con
cluded, that, true or fallen I mult abide the confe
„ quences of my own choice. I put an abrupt end to
these reflexions, by joining in with fume vain con
verbaion or oth.:r that came in my way. But now,
the conviction 1 was so unwilling to receive was 1111-
piefej upon me by an awful ddpemauon. 1 went to I
bed that night in my usual security and indifference;,
but was awakened from a found lleep, by the force of|
a violent sea which broke on board us. do much ofl
it came down below as filled the cabbin in which i|
lay with water—this alarm was followed by a cryl
from the deck that the Ihip was linking. A 3 loon asl
I recovered mylelf 1 eliayed co go upon deck, but|
was met upon tire ladder by the captain, who desired I
me to bring a knife with me. While 1 retained for|
the 'knife, another perlon went up in my room, who ;
was initantly waliied overboard—we had 110 leifurel
to lament him, nor did we expert to lurvive him !
long;—f° r we loon found the Ihip was filling with
water very faft, and that the sea h<.d made a mere
wreck of us in a few minutes. As 1 shall not de
fcribc this dilalfer in the sea dialect, 1 can give you
buta very inadequate idea of it. Taken in all circum
stances, it was aftomlhing and almost miraculous,
that any of us survived to relate the story. Notwith
standing all our efforts the ship was so nearly filled
with water, that with a common cargo she mult have
funk of courle—but we had a great quantity of bees
wax and wood on board, which were Ipecilically
lighter than the water. ond as it pleated God that
we received this shock towards morning, and in the
very crilis of the gale, we were enabled to employ
some means for our fafety, which succeeded beyond|
hope. We expended molt of our clothes ana bed
ding to stop the leaks, though the weather was ex
tremely cold, especially to us who had lo lately left
a hot climate. Over these we nailed pieces of boards,
and at last perceived the water to abate. At the be-1
ginning of this hurry I endeavoured to animate my
lelf and my companions—but about nine o'clock, be-'
ing almolt Ipent with cold and labour, I Went to
speak upon lome business with the captain, and in
turning from him, 1 laid, " if this will not do, the
Lord have mercy upon us"—this, though spoken with
little reflection, was the firlt desire L had breathed
for mercy during the space of many years. 1 was
instantly struck with my own words, and as Jehu laid
once, what haft thou to do with peace ? So it dirert
ly occured to me, what mercy can there be for me ?
I was obliged to return to the pump, and there I con
tinued till noon, aimoil every palling wave breaking
over my head; but we made ourlelves fall with ropes,
that we might not be washed away—indeed 1 ex
pected that every time the velfei defeended in the sea,
she would rife no more, and though I dreaded
death now, and my heart, from the imprellion that
was made on it the day before, foreboded the worst,
it the scriptures, which I had long since opposed,
were indeed tiue yet still I was but half convinced,
and remained for a space of time in a sullen frame, a
mixture of despair and impatience. I thought if the
chrifia, religion were true, I could not be /orgiven
and was therefore expecting, and almost at times,'
wifhiog to know the worst of it. The 10th of
March, the day which I am now describing, is a day
much to be remembered by me, and 1 have never
fullered it to pals wholly unnoticed since the year
'748 on that day Providence delivered rhe out of
deep waters. I had continued at the pump from
three in the morning till noon, and then I could do
no more. I went and lay down upon my bed un
certain and almost indifferent whether I should rife
again—in an hour's time I was called, and not being
able to pump, 1 went to the helm and fleered the
ffiip till midnight. I had here leisure and convenient
opportunity for reflertion—l began to think of m,
former religious profeffions—the extraordinary turni
in my life—the calls, Warnings and deliverances I
had met with—the licentious course of my conversa
tion, particularly my unparalleled effrontery in making
the gospel history the constant fubjert of profane ri
dicule, which, though I was not yet assured it was
true, I could not now be sure Was falfe. I thought,
allowing the scripture promises, there never was, nor
could be such a Jinncr as myfilf—arid then compar
ing the advantages I had broken through, I conclud
ed that my fins were too great to be forgiven. The
scripture likewise seemed to fay the fame; for I had
formerly been well acquainted With the bible, and
many palfages Upon this occasion returned upon my
memory; particularly those awful passages, Prov. 1.
2 4> 3 1 ' Heb, 6. 4, 6. and 2d Pet. 2. 20. —which
seemed so exartly to luit my case and chararter, as
to bring with them a presumptive proof of a divine
original. Thus, as I have laid, I waited with fear
and impatience to receive my inevitable doom. Yet,
though I had thoughts of this kind, they were ex
ceedingly faint and disproportionate; it was net till
long after—perhaps several years—till I had gained
lome clear views of the gospel salvation, that 1 had
a deep and strong apprehension of my state by na
ture and practice, and perhaps till then, I could not
have born the fight. So wonderfully does the Lord
proportion the difeoveries of fin and mercy—for he
knows our frame, and that if he were to put forth
the greatness of his power, a poof tinner would be
ihftantly overwhelmed and crushed as a moth.
[To be continued.]
tft Ihe proprietors of the Trenton Academy are
requeued to take notice, that their annual meeting for
the choice of trustees, will be to-morrow at 5 o'clock,
at the Academy;
%* The piece signed A Farmer has been received.
The publiflier would be glad to convey a line to the
author.
..<>....<». ^Q®.<@>re>fe..<,„..<;..
l On prohibiting the file of Dr. David Ram say's
HISTORY *of the Revolution of South-Carolina, in
London.
COME bold bully; Daaufon, expert in abusing,
;^ Having pafs'd all his life in the prartice of bruising;
I When at lafthe is drove to reform and repent,
And wishes his life had been soberly spent,
Tho' a course of contrition in earnest begins
He cannot endure to be told of his fins.
So, the British worn out with their wars in the weft
(Where burning and muider their prowess confeft)
When at las tthey agreed 'twas in vain to contend
(For the days of their thieving were come to an end)
They got their hihorians to scribble and flatter,|
And foolilhly thought they could hush up the matters
But Ramsay arose, and with truth on his fide
Has told to the world what they labour'd to hide
With his pen of difleaion, and pointed with steel,
It they ne'er before felt—he has taught them to feel ;
Themselves and their projerts has truly defin'd
And drag'd them to blulh at the bar of mankind.
As the author himfelf, and the world might experts
They have treated the work with a surly neglert;
In reply to his reason they splutter and rail,
And, prompted by Rawd-n, prohibit the sale:
But alas! their chaftifemerit is only begun—
Thirteen are the states—and the tale is of one;
When the twelve yet remaining their stories have told;
The king will run, mad—and the book quill be fold.
Several copies of this History may be bad of the
Printer. <
Mate of New-jerjey.
Council-chamber, Nov. i, 1786.
A PETITION from' Samuel Shober, setting forth;
Y 1 that he lately affighed over all his estate, real and
personal, to his creditors and was admitted to the
benefit of the insolvent a&s in the state of Pennsylva
nia: that since his releafement from his confinement,
he has been prosecuted in this state by Susannah Med
ford, an inhabitant of the said state of Pennsylvania,
for a debt contrarted antecedent to the said assign
ment and releafement, and praying a law to exempt
his person from imprisonment; was read, and there
upon,
Ordered, That the petitioner have leave to bring
in a bill pursuant to his petition, on his advertising the
purport of this order for at least three weeks in the
New-Jersey Gazette, and in one or more of the news
papers printed in the city of Philadelphia.
A true copy from the journals;
BOWES REfeD, Clerk;
Notice is hereby given,
That the fubferiber intends to bring in a bill pur
suant to the leave above granted, either at the pre
sent session of assembly fitting at Trenton, in case the
fame shall continue after the publication of this adver
tisement for three weeks, or if they shall not, at the
next fitting of the legislature where-ever it shall be held;
, SAMUEL SHOBER.
November 2, 1786. gw*
JUSTPUBLIS HED^
And to be fold, wholesale and retail, at the Printing.
Office in Trenton, the New-Jersey
AL M A N A C- K,
For the year 1787;
Containing, $ beside the usual agronomical calcu
lations, a variety of entertaining and inftrurtive mat
ter in prose and verfc.