The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1782-12-11 00:00:00, page 2

plan left to her election, the could easily resolve this
important question, by forthwith acknowledging the
United States of America, what they are in fad, a
power absolutely sovereign and independent, and in
viting, as it was proposed latt year, this new power
to a Congress for a general pacification, under the
mediation of the two Imperial Courts. But the ac
tual British Ministry are not Efficiently confirmed
in the confidence either of the King or the nation,
to hazard upon so glaring a step, which might dis
please the King and alarm the nation; and of which
the old Minidry, with their abettors, would cer
tainly avail themfeives to excite the voice of the
people against them, as having facrificed the honour
and dignity of the crown, together with the essen
tial interests of the nation.
“ Ihat the Board of the admiralty prepare and
report inftrudions for the commanders of armed
vettels commillioned by the United States, agreea
bly to the principles contained in the declaration of
the Empref^ of Russia, respectively, to the rights
of neutral vessels, and that the Ministers Plenipo
tentiary of the United States, when theieto invited,
be, as they by these presents are, refpedively au
thorized to accede to such regulations, agreeably to
the meaning of the said declaration, which fliall be
agreed to in the Congress which are to meet in con
sequence of the invitation of her Imperial Majesty."
This resolution was communicated, by letters dated
the Bth of March 1781, to their High Mightinesses
and to the northern powers, by their Ministers re
siding at the Hague, with offers, “ to pledge the
faith of the United States, for the obfervatton of
the principles of the armed neutrality, agreeably
to that resolution of the Congress,"
It appears then, that the simplest and most natu
ral method for the neutral powers to put a general
end to this war, would be to consent that Congress
accede, by a Minister of their own, to the princi
ples of the treaty of maritime neutrality, after the
fame manner that 1 rance and Spain have acceded
to it.
To this it will be said, that it is acknowledging
the inde^n fence of the United States of America.
Granted': But this dep is desirable for this very
redion,as it will put the grand question out of con
test; and will immediately reconcile the difaffeded
part of the Eritiih nation by this very measure;
that it will pave the way for the two Imperial
Courts to invite the Minihers of the United States
of America, to a Congreis of peace under their me
diation; that it will put the British Ministry in a
condition to bring the King, and the present oppo
sition, to consent to a parliamentary act, declaring
America independent; and that, in all probability,
this is the only remaining expedient to lave c^reat
jEritain from the horrors of a civil, internal war,
for which foe is daily ripening. The pride and va
nity of this nation will always furniih the artful
with a Efficient variety of means to flatter it with
delusive hopes; now of a diversion to be m Me against
the enemy; then of a reconciliation with America,
and of a fe'parate peace, of which they would wil
lingly avail themfeives, in order to have an oppor
tunity of avenging themfeives of their enemies in
Europe: But America never will be unfaithful nei
ther to her allies nor to herfelf.
Phus buoyed up from one chimera to another,
Great-Britairi shall finally fee her misfortunes be
come remedilefs; and the fydem of the armed neu
trality, which, perhaps would never have taken piace
but for the metier Revolution, and which can
but imperfectly subsist, except the United States
Ihare in the advantages, and engage in the obligati
ons thereof, will remain witnout effect, and at lad
give place to the former anarchy.
There is then something wanting in the English
Administration to enable them to perform what is
absolutely necessary to save the nation. I'o find it
out we need only to attend to a refolutiun of Con
gress, October 5, 1780, to the following purport:
" Her Imperial Majesty of all the Ruffias, from a
regard to the liberty of commerce and the rights of
nations, having in her declaration to the belligerent
as well as neutral powers, proposed regulations
grounded on principles of justice, equity and mo
deration, of which their Most Christian and Catho
lick Majesties, as well as most of the neutral pow
ers of Europe, have declared their approbation; the
Congtefs, willing to shew their regard for the rights
of commerce, and to teftify their respect to the Em
press who has proposed, and to the powers who
have approved the said regulations, have resolved;
By the brig l^is, ^bich arrived on the 2„h ult
at New-York, we have the following advices :
HAGU E, October I.
We have just received the following private in
telligence from Paris, the contents of which are Ef
ficient to excite the tears of every humane person:
Paris, September 26.
S I R,
I here fend you the melancholy relation of the
dififters which happened at the siege of Gibraltar.
On the 9th the land batteries began to play on
the place, the fire was well supported and directed,
and every day made some progress; there was no
doubt therefore entertained, that when the floating
batteries began their fire, Gibraltar must soon ca
pitulate.
On the 13th, the eleven floating batteries took
their Rations for attacking the place on the fide next
the lea. Ihe arrangements having been made with
out any obstacle, at nine in the morning the fire be
gan from the floating batteries, which mounted al
together 193 brass cannon, and had betides above
150 other cannon, which served for ballast, and for
change in case of accidents ; these cannon were all
2 } pounders.
The whole firing at once, both from the land and
sea, presented the molt dreadful feene that can be
imagined—success appeared certain on our fide ; but
at 11 o'clock the English began firing red hot balls.
One hundied and ten cannon pouring forth an in
cessant shower of firy balls, loon threw the batte
ries into the utmost disorder; some of the balls en
tered the port-holes, and the lire spread every where.
While the day laded they were able to extinguish
the flames; but at fix o'clock in the evening three
of the floating batteries blew up ; the red cut their
cables with an intention of retreating, but without
effect, their tackle, malts and fails, being all burnt,
it was therefore impoliible for them to draw back
a single step, and the burning hail did not cease.—
Boats were immediately put out to save the crews.
Ihe Prince of Naflau, who had performed pro
digies of valour, and who had loft the greatest part
of his men, threw himlelf into one of these boats
with several officers, and 152 men belonging to his
battery, got into another; at the very indant when
the second boat was getting away, a ball fell into
the middle of tne boat, which immediately funk,
and every foul that was in it perished. The next
day at four in the morning, four more of the float
ing batteries blew up ; and at eight o'clock the ele
venth battery caught fire and blew up in a minue
after. The loss of men in this action is computed
at 1500 or 2000. Genera^ Eliot fared about 300
men, and sent them back the fame day.
I his terrible shock has not, however, in the least
difeouraged the beiiegers—they are now disposing
matters for taking the place by assault, and the sol
diers are not at all dismayed. The fire continues
with unremitting fury on the land fide.
The combined fleet is in the bay of Algefiras, it
will therefore be very difficult to throw any fuc
cours into the place. Ihe English fleet comes
neater every day, and will probably arrive before
the end of the month, and then we. may expert to
fee a fecund daughter.
It is generally agreed that Lord Howe must have
reached Gibraltar before now; we may, therefore,
reasonably exped defpatches from his Lordihip, in
the courie of ten or twelve days at farther!.
A gentleman lately arrived from Lisbon lays, ac
counts had been received there before he came away,
of great preparations being making at Cadiz for the
reception of the English fleet, in case they Ihould
attempt to bombard that town; that 8000 men had
been drawn from different garrilons, and encamped
near the place, and more were daily expected co re
inforce them.
The late proposals offered to Congress by Sir
Guy Carleton, and admiral Digby (which are evi
dently the terms of the Rockingham Administrati
on) have thrown the whole body of loyalists in A
merica, and in England, into the utmost contlerna
tion. Many applications have already been made
to people in Administration by these unfortunate
gentlemen, to know particularly what they and their
frierids in America are in future to expeft.
Nothing can more thoroughly evince the inex
haußibie resources of this country, than to take a
retrolped of the encreafe of its naval Strength for
these few years pad ; we having now a navy that is
fully equal, if not superior, to the combined exer
tions of the Houle of Bourbon, Holland and Ame
rica.
The facility with which the King of Denmark
has equipped and almost compleated for lea, a for
midable Iquadron of ships of war, has caused vari
ous {peculations in Holland for these few weeks past.
If we seriously confider the inferiority of the
French fleet now on the American coast, and the
LONDON, Sept. 29.
* It is ratler a melancholy corfderation,that the
gentleman who is the author of this letter is more
than forty years of age ; was formerly a refera
ble merchant in one of the fir, cities in North-
America, end at the beginning , the rebellion,
could call his fortune from ten to fifteen thousand
pounds.
“ When joy and confidence inspired us by the
arrival of our present Commander in Chief, and
brilliant victories crowned his Majesty s arms in dif
ferent parts of the world ; when the heretofore fo
menters and supporters of rebellion did, and now
absolutely do, publickly declare their inability to pay
the taxes requisite to continue the war, and the bulk
of the people wifning for a reunion of the empire—
How unexpected ! Will thehillorian be believed half
a century hence, that at this very moment, a letter
is written in consequence of diredions from Eng-
When the last packet left New-York, a corref
poudent asserts, all was uproar in that city; pafqui
nade, hand-bills, and every species of abuse, were
openly distributed, and the effigy of a certain
carried about with a halter round its neck, and af
terwards publickly burned.
A very extensive trade, during the spring and
fummer,has been carried on from the French islands,
St. Thomas's, Havanna, &c. into CheEpeake bay;
and the crops of grain, tobacco and fruit, being
greater than had been known for many years, would
afford the most ample returns, as well as the sup
plies to the French fleet then in the bay. Several
ships, under Imperial and Danish colours, have
found their way to Virginia to procure cargoes of
tobacco, which fold remarkably cheap, in exchange
for European goods. The people in general to the
Southward looked upon the war as over; that New-
York and Charleftown would be soon evacuated;
that their independence would be avowed by Eng
land, and that thereftriftions on admission of British
manufactures would soon be taken off.
The dissolution of the present Irish parliament is
to be declared by proclamation in March next ; Earl
Temple having orders from the Minister for that
purpose.
The unfortunate Captain Afgill had been greatly
hurt by being addressed by the commanding officer
over him, with the family title, supposing, from the
publick accounts given in the American papers, that
his father, Sir Charles Afgill, was dead; but an ex
press from New- York gave him cause to hope it was
ill grounded; the unfortunate incidents concurring
in this officer's situation are much to be pitied by
every feeling heart. Ihe provinces of Virginia and
the Jerfies were very sickly when the last accounts
came from thence.
An exchange of the English prisoners was ex
peded when the last accounts came from Virginia,
but it was imagined very few of the privates of the
guards would return, numbers, in the length of time
they have remained prisoners, having formed con
nexions by marriage, and intending to fettle in A
merica, when opportunity admitted of it.
Extract of a letter from New-York, dated ^a
gufl 16.
“ The present diftraded Rate of our publick af
fairs affeX me exceedingly, and I stand in need of
your friendly advice. The Weft-Indies 1 do not
like, and to return to Britain 1 am not prepared—
Not having yet experienced the smallest sample of
wisdom from your fide, or exertion here to encou
rage me to hope for a favourable iflue, or that this
country will ever be in a Rate of tranquility again,
it follows, that I must begin the world again some
where or other.*
had state of many of their ships since the glorious
action of the 12th of April, little is to be appre
nended for the fafety of New-York, as Vaudreuile'i
squadron, instead ofattempting an attack upon that
place, must fly for fafety from the British fleet.
A commiflion under the royal sign manual has
palled the great seal of the court of chancery, ap
pointing Mr. Oswald, of Philpot-lane, commissioner
to treat for peace with the Thirteen United States
of America.
A negociation lies on the cat pet between the courts
of Great-Britain, Russia and Denmark, whereby the
latter are to fell to government 14 ships of the line,
compleatly fitted for sea. The Empress has like
wise iffiied an edid, whereby she gives permission to
the Cossacks to enter qn board the ships as volun
teers.
Lord Howe will stay at Gibraltar no longer than
to debark the troops, and to unload the transports
and flore-fhips ; as, besides the protection of out
homeward bound fleers, and the interception of thole
of the enemy, the squadron has some secret obje^
in view.