The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-10-06 00:00:00, page 3

It would strike the friends of this country with dis
tress and resentment—with dillrefs at the thought
that you should conceive an idea Io injurious to their
principles, and with resentment at the injustice of
the idea.
Have the inhabitants of America shewn a willing
nets to take up arms in the present contest, and have
the Congress found it easy to recruit their armies ?
A very small part of the inhabitants of North-
America (I would rather confine myfelf to the n ; dlle
and southern colonies) have shewn a willingness to
take up arms; more especially since the declaration of
independence. The Congress have not'found it easy
to recruit their armies :. they have made use of every
means that art and force could suggest for that
purpose.
What were the methods made use of by the Con
gress to compel the inhabitants to take up arms ?
When they found they could not recruit their army
in the ordinary way by recruiting, the rebel dates
passed laws for drafting their militia, compelling eve
• ry person drafted to enter into the military service or
to find a fubititute, or to be imprisoned, or to be
pushed into the field by the bayonet (that was not
part of the law). In Virginia they passed a law for
exempting every two persons who should find a re
cruit, from all military fervice —for these fubflitutes
and for the recruits there has been from 40 to icol.
given. In Virginia they passed a law for manumiting
every servant who would enter into the service. By
these means, and their ordinary mode of recruiting,
the Congress raised their armies, and not from the
voluntary enlistment of the people.
Were great exertions made by the Congress and
their adherents to bring a numerous army into the
field for the campaign of 1776?
There certainly was very great, but at that time
they did not make use of the compulsory measures
which they were obliged to do afterwards, when the
people were fatisfied that they meant independence.
[To be continued.]
came disarmed, and the arms were put into the hands
of those on whom Congress could rely. A small part
of the people, if we look into the hiflory of this king
dom so early as the great rebellion in 1640, we shall
find the very fid alluded to in the question, actually
existing in the state ofthis kingdom ; we shall find the
people taking up arms in order, as it is said, to ob
tain a redress of grievances ; we shall find that a few
people at that time, who had arms in their hands,
preventing the rest, numerous as they were, from
taking measures for their relief.
After the declaration of independence, when Lord
Howe and the General arrived at Staten Island, did
the people at large in the country express a desire to
treat with the commissioners ?
I believe in the middle colonies, where I resided,
it was generally the wish of the people to treat with
the King's commissioners, and I have the belt reason
to believe that it was in pursuance of the clamour of
the people about the congress, in Philadelphia, that
they sent three commissioners to meet Lord and Sir
Wm. Howe.
What proportion of the inhabitants ofthe revolted
colonies, do you think, from principle and choice,
supported the present rebellion at any period ?
I don't think that one fifth part have, from princi^
ple and choice, supported the present rebellion; ma
ny of those who have appeared in support of it, have
by a varietv of means been compelled ; I would wish
to give reasons, and not fatigue the committee: The
last delegation to congress made by the province of
Pennsylvania, and the appointment of all the officers
ofthat state was made by less than 200 voters, altho'
they have at least 30,000 men entitled to vote by the
laws of that province. One instance more I beg
leave to give, one of the delegates.from the province
of New-York, (with whom I fat in congress in 1774)
reprefentihg a considerable diftria in that province,
was chosen by himfelf and his clerks, and that clerk
certified to the congress, that he was unanimously
appointed.
Was the person so chosen received by congress ?
Yes, he was received by congress on that return,
I mean the continental congress, in 1774.
From your knowledge of the people of America,
what proportion of the inhabitants do you think at
this time would prefer a reconciliation with Great-
Britain rather than assist in supporting American in
dependence?
From the experience which the people have had of
the superlative and excessive tyranny of their new ru
lers; from the distresses they have felt by the ravages
of war; the loss of their trade, and from an aversion
which they have to an attachment and connection
with France, which they are fearful will terminate in
the loss of their liberties, civil as well as religious;
and from the old attachment, and I believe an earned
desire to be united with this country, I think I may
venture to fay, that many more than four fifths ofthe
people would prefer a union with Great-Britain upon
constitutional dependence. Many ofthe people who
firfl took part in the opposition to government, and
were deluded by the congress and its adherents, have
severely felt every degree of distress. From those feel
ings they now reason, and that reason has prevailed
on them to compare their old happy situation with
their present misery, and to prefer the former.
What effect do you think it would have in Ameri
ca, if the people of that country thought an opinion
prevailed here, that they were generally hostile to
Great-Britain ?
And whereas many of the said bills may be in the
hands of persons residing in the neighbouring dates,
which, unless timely notice be given, < may not be
brought in within the times limited, to the great in
jury of the possessors: To prevent which,
Refolded,
C H ARLESTO W N, August 24.
Captains Inman and Newman have lately made pri
soners of sixteen men, who were driving 400 cattle to
Georgia, and brought off the cattle. —And Colonel
Twigs of the Georgia militia, with Major Jamiefon
of the Georgia lighthorfe, have lately (the 14th imt.)
defeated a party of the enemy below Briar Creek,
commanded by M'Girt; of whom they killed five,
wounded live, and took four prisoners, with twenty
three horks and fifteen stand of arms. Among the
wounded, was a Lieut. Jones, of Col. Moor's loy
alists. M'Girt himlelf was supposed to be wounded;
he with the r< ft of the party got into a creek. Some
dfferters from Savannah, who left it latt Monday,
lay, M'Girt was mortally wounded.
BOST ON, September 13.
A gentleman in this state has received a letter from
an in & ii;ent friend at Bilboa, dated the 12th of Jul),
which is 4 days later than any advices from Europe,
that have yet been published : this letter mentions,
that Holland had made a new treaty with France, in
which she had bound herfclf to the ftriaeft neutrality
in the present war between France and England; that
the latter had demanded ofthe Dutch the 12 Blips of
war they were bound by former treaties to furnifh
England, which were refuted ; that the court of Bri
tain had endeavoured to excite the Emperor of Mo
rocco to continue hoftiiities against Spain, and by
frelh efforts to embroil the affairs of that kingdom ;
but these attempts had proved unfuccefsful; that on
the contrary Spain had made a firm peace with this
Potentate, who had flipulated to furnifh the King of
Spain with a large quantity of wheat, and 2c,ooocx
en ; but at the fame time had refufed to furnifh the
Britilh garrison of Gibraltar with the supplies that
were formerly drawn from the African coast. These
articles of intelligence are important and come from
good authority.
Sept. 20. Tuesday arrived a prize brig from New-
York, with iio hogsheads of Tobacco.
Yesterday arrived the Hannah, Capt. Coffin, in 56
days, from Amsterdam, who brings an account that
the English fleet, under Sir Charles Hardy, were block
ed up in Torbay, by a fleet of 54 fail of Spanish and
French line of battle ships. On board the fleet, we
hear, are 50,000 troops, who are to make a defeent
in the heart of England; whose King has issued a
proclamation for removing the horned cattle into the
interior parts of the kingdom.
That the printers of publick news-papers in this
and the neighbouring dates, be requested to in'fert the
above extracts from the said law, in their papers, and
continue the fame at lead four weeks, for the infor
mation of all persons concerned.
Friday lad 35 young men came to Say-Brook from
Long-Bland. They left their homes on account of
being ordered to work on the fortifications at the
wed end of the island ; apprehending they should be
ordered from thence to garrison some place in the
Wed-Indies.
CHATHA M, September 28.
By authentic intelligence from Long-Island we
learn, that Gen. Ciinton has demanded a number of
men from every county to fortify the island, being
apprehensive ofa visit from our illustrious ally.
STATE of NEW - JERSE Y.
House of Assembly, fune 11, 1779.
WHEREAS the legislature ofthis state bath passed
an a& for calling out of circulation, and tor
linking all bills of credit heretofore emitted in this
state, whild the fame was a colony; in and by which
it is enacted, that all bills of credit emitted by law,
and likewise all these emitted by an ordinance of the
late provincial mongrels of this state, shall be brought
into the treasury to be exchanged on or before the firft
day of January next; and that all those bills which
shall not be so brought in on or before that day, shall
be for ever after irredeemable.
Extract of a letter from Amsterdam, dated July io.
" The dates of Holland will.continue to adhere to
the ftrideft neutrality, this has been the plan from its
beginning, and we may allure you, whatever may be
the reports, that the city of Amsterdam will never
consent to take part with England in the war. This is
the secret in the cabinet, and it is wiflied America
may be independent."
PROVIDENCE, September 23.
We have the pleasure to inform our readers, that
the patriotic state of Connecticut have entered, in the
mod spirited manner, into the glorious plan far the
reduction of the prices of the necessaries of life, and
giving a liability to our currency, notwithstanding
the assertions of some gentry to the contrary.
Sept. 23. By a New-York paper of the 9th inst. we
have News from Britain of the 26th of June, that ad
miral Hardy's squadron was at sea with 34 ships of
the line; and that he had dispatched a cutter inform
ing that he was in light of the French fleet. So that
they hourly expeded to hear of an engagement.
Also, that Lord North declared in the hou<e of Com
mons, that they had no dependence on Russia for
any assistance.
N E W-L ONDO N, September 22.
T RE N T O N, October s.
We are happy in being able to inform the public,
that the Legislature of this State have agreed upon a
Reorefentation to Congress, couched in the ftrbngdt
terms, for appreciating the continental currency by
a regulation of prices throughout the United States ;
and from the zeal of the people of all ranks for adopt
ing this measure, there is the greatest probability of
fucceis.
On Friday lad Capt. Taylor sent into Egg-Harbour
a transport from New-York, said to be bound to Ha
lifax, with a quantity of dry goods, and 214 He Lans,
including a Colonel, who are properly taken care
of. He was chafed into Egg-Harbour river by a Bri
tilh frigate; but on his paflage up, having the trans
port in tow, and while turning to windward, he was
unfortunately overfet by a sudden squall of wind, by
which one man was drowned. His veffpl, it is said,
will be got up again.
We learn that the fleet which failed from New-York
on Friday fe'nnight, with: Lord Cornwallis and about
8000 troops on board, returned on Tuesday follow
ing: Their quick return was owing, it is supposed, to
their getting intelligence of Count d'Eftaing's arrival
at Savannah in Georgia.
No account of operations by the French fleet and
army in Georgia is yet received.
Tuesday next comes on the annual election for the
choice of Representatives to feric 01 the Legislative
Council and General Aflembly of this State —" when
" it is ardently to be wished" fays a correspondent,
'' that men may be .chosen uno are zealous for the
" Liberties and Independence of orr country; men
" who are firmly attached to, arid will support our
" excellent conftitutjon ; and men of liberal minds,
" and oi the greatest wisdom, prudence, and mag
" naniinity, of any among us."
On Friday last His Excellency the Sieur Gerard
passed thro' this town on his way to Head-Quarters,
to take his leave of His Excellency Gen. Washington,
previous to the Count's departure for France.
The Honourable John Jay, Esquire, late Prefider.t
of Congress, is appointed their Minister to the Court
of Spain, and the Honourable Carmichael, Esq.
Secretary to the Com'miffion.—Thefe Gentlemen arc
to embark in the Confederacy for France, with Mon
sieur Gerard, on his return from Head-Quarters.
JUST PUBLISHED, and to be SOLD, BY
ISAAC COLLINS,
At his Printing-Office, in Trenton,
T II E
NEW.JERSEY
A L MA N A C K,
For the YEAR of our LORD 1780.
Containing, beside the usual Agronomical Obferva
ations, a Variety of ufeful and entertaining Matter
in Prose and Verse.
To be Sold on Monday the i ith inst.
At the house of Mrs. Cleayton, in Trenton,
about two o'clock in the afternoon;
A compleat SET of
hatter's IMPLEMENTS,
Together with a quantity of Copperas, Logwood, &c.
W AS "'"" up the * 7th ultte ^the fubicriber;
near Trenton, a flray BLACK lIORSE, with
a star in his forehead, about four years old, fourteen
and an half hands high, and a natural trotter. The
owner is desired to come, prove his property, pay
charges, and take him away.
177( >: 3w|| 'JESSE TITUS.
WANTS EMPLOYMENT,
A Person well qualified to take the care of an En
glish School, either public or private; also per
feUmatter of the French language, who can be well
recommended. For further particulars enquire of
Mr Joakin Griggs, pear Flemington, Amwcll. zw6
'ro be fold at vendue, at Greenwich, in the county
1 of Cumberland, on Monday the 11th of October
iuft. the prize brigantine Sea-Horse, with her cargo,
confining of 1200 bushels of salt, 10 barrels of fuga>,
10 barrels of pork, 6 barrels of loaf sugar, 1 pipe of
wine, a quantity of apples, tar, turpentine, and a
variety of other articles.—Vendue to begin at ten
o'clock. By order of the court of admiralty,
JOS. POTTS, Marshal.
New-Jersey, Oft, r, 1779.
To all whom it may concern.
State of New- XJOTICE is hereby given, that a.
ferfey, fi. court of admiralty will be held at
the courthouse in Burlington, on Wednesday the 4th
day oLNovember next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon
of the fame day, then and there to try the truth of
the fads alledged in the bills of Rufus Gardner, (who
as well, &c.) against the brigantine or vessel called
the Sea-Horse, lately commanded by James Linn ;
and of Uriah Smith, (who as well, &c.) against the
schooner or vessel called the Dispatch, lately com
manded by John Ritche; to the end and intent, that
the owner or owners of the said vessels and cargoes,
or any person or persons concerned therein, may ap
pe<r and shew cause, ifany they have, why the fame
should not be condemned according to the prayer of
the said bills. By order of the Judge,
od. 4 . 4W JOS. BLOOMFIELD, Reg.