The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1780-01-03 00:00:00, page 2

Baltimore, K^cnr 16. %
A letter from Amllerdam mentions, that
" if the Pre ich iltuuiti invace Great 5 itain
or Irel?^ I,.th ( 'Duton will amu brita'n, for
they fiv, thio2, je y with the Britons to
have a drubbings yet it will not Anf^er to let
the French and Spaniards ;beat them too
much."
Extrad of a letter from Frftdericklburgh, vir
g.tiia, Gated Nov.i6, 1779
“ It L undoubted that 7 Ihips of the line of
D'Eftding's fqnadrbn are to winter in the har
boursof this State, to protect the coatt trom
any attempts of the enemy; two of these ibips
me arrived,, and more were in fight when
we heard from the capes."
Ext< act of another letter.
" One of the French 7, gun ihips, com
manded by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, one
of a fquadrom of eight ihips of the line, com
manded by Countce Gras, arrived the Bth of
November, in the bay of Chefapeak—Count
ce Gras is hourly expelled in said Bay with
the said squadron."
NEW-PORT, Nov. 27.
Monday tight last a sloop from Savannah,
b^und to New-York, put'into this harbour,
(fuppofihg the Britons were still in polfeffion
of it) where (he was taken proper care of, to
gether with her crew and passengers, confid
ing of Capt. Campbell, of theyift British re-,
giment, 2 Lieutenants of the navy, a Mr.
Batter, Deputy ComraifTary General of the
, Southern British army, and zS petty officers
and teamen. This vessel left Tybee river the
12th inst. and by letters found on board it ap
pears, that the combined army railed the siege
of Savannah the zzd of last month.
NEW-LONDON, Dec. 15.
In the gale of wind about the firft Infant,
Cap:. Davifon, in a small sloop from Cape
Francois, laden with molasses and coffee, run
on Watch-hill beach ; when by cutting away
her mast, the vessel and cargo was saved.
Capt. Davifon informs, that the sloop
Maccaroni, Capt. Eldredge from Stonington,
is taken and carried into the Well-Indies.
Capt. John Sloan, in a letter of marque
sloop ' belonging to this port, is arrived at
Newport, Rhode-Inland, from the Weft Indies.
In a gale of wind on the passage, loft his mast
and rudder.
BOSTON, December 2.
We hear the State qf New-Hampshire have
most equitably and nvifely Repealed the law that
enabled a man to difeharge a debt in silver,
upon his paying the creditor the fame nominal
sum in paper; and have empowered their
judges not barely to fit in the feat of nominal
jufie, but really to dispense it between man
and man. They were sensible that the law
they have so honourably repealed, was in its
operation, a crying fin: That particularly it
painted the cry of the widow and orphan a
gaintt the government that enabled it, and
that the cry was loud and piercing enough to
make the ears even of a pagan to tingle: They
were fully fnfibte, that it mnft be a flagrant
scandal uponany government to continue a
law which the common feelings of humanity
would never allow to be executed ; and accord
ing to jury with the lead spark of conscience
cr honour could ever give their verdi&.
The latefr accounts from the southward men
tion, that four ffiips of the line and several
transports of Count D'ERaing's fleet, were,
about a fortnight since, in Chefapeak Bay,
taking cn board provisions.
At a Meeting of Commiffionersof the several
States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode-Inland, and Providence Plantations,
Counedicut and New-York, holden at
Hartford, in Connecticut, on the 20th
Day of October, A. D. 1779.
The Hon. STEPHEN HOPKINS, Esquire,
President,
HEZEKIAH WYLLYS, Esq; Secretary.
MEMBERS PRESE N T.
The Hon. Josiah Bartlett, ) For New-
Capt. Josiah Wentworth, , Hampshire.
The Hon. Thomas Cufhing,) For Maffa-
Nathaniel Cubing, Efq;J chufetts.
Theron, Stephen Hopkins, ) For Rhode-
Charles Holden, Esq; J Island.
The H°n. Eliobalet Dyer, ]
Benj. Huntington, Esq; ( For
Oliver Elsworth, Esq; । Connecticut.
James Wadfworfi, Esq; J
"he Non. John Slols Hobart, ) p or
The Hon. William Floyd, , N v'l
The Hon. Ezra L.Hommidieuj ° ° r °
'^HIS Convention taking into confiderati
£ on the late rapid depreciation of our
Currency, and the rife of the articles of Com
merce and Produce necessary for the supply of
the army, even much beyond what could na
toratly strife from the quantity of the circula
ting medium, owing to the avaricious views
clmany iaconfiderate people, who would not
wiih the ceßruction of their country, and to
the artful designs ofour more secret as well as
open enemies, to ruin if possible the credit of
our money, which if effe&d thereby
mult be attended with the molt alarming and
dangerous consequences, have for the preven
tion of the fame came intothe following reso
lutions. And notwithstanding fandry at
tempts hare been heretofore made to prevent
the growing mifchief by regulating and limit
ing the prices of the articles of commerce and
produce, which have hereto proved abortive,
arising as we conceive from the multiplied
emiihons of Continental bills in circulation,
from too great a reduction of the then current
prices of articles, and from the partial extent
ofthe agreement entered into for regulations; 1
theirno: being general gave an unreasonable[
advantage to the inhabitants of such State,l
which had not adopted the fame measures,
not only'to drain those States which had come
into a regulation of prides of such articles as
they needed for their own consumption, but
to supply the army at a much higher price of
which the regulating Stages must pay their pro
portion, yet Congress having lately adopted
measures by recommending frequent taxation
and encouraging loans thereby to supply and .
fopport the annual expences of our army and
having resolved not to use any further emission
after the fam of two hundred million of dol
lars is compleated. The natural depreciation
of the bills in circulation may be nearly as
certained, and thereby a foundation laid in
a reasonable price for the articles of commerce
and produce can be fixed with greater jußice
and precision, it may by some be apprehend
ed that the regulation of prices is now altoge
ther unnecessary; however We find that not
wiihitandihg the wife measures aforemen
tioned which Congress have adopted, yet the
constant demands of the army are such, and
the difpofitiar.s of the people to obtain the
highest prices they can, for the articles they
possess are so great and general, and those
confirmed by long habit and custom, that a
regulation of prices with the other measures
hereafter recommended, appear at present
necessary, especially when it is considered
that the engrosser, monopolizer, the opulent
farmer and trader will be induced, and it
will be in their power unless reftrided to in
crease the price of the articles they have on
hand, in proportion to the increase of the
taxes, which will not only defeat the end and
purpose of taxation, oblige the Congress to
make further emissions, or the army be left
destitute, but too great a burthen of taxes will
be cast on the poor and midling farmer, and
will produce a farther depreciation of our
currency, which, if not prevented, may end
in very unhappy eifeds. Therefore, in aid
of the measures Congress have so wifely adopt
ed, we have come to the following resolutions,
which if faithfully and vigorously executed,
we trust will aufwer many salutary purposes.
RESOLVED, That'jt is the opinion of the
Convention, the circumstances of the States
being duly considered, that a limitation wf the
prices of the principal articles of merchandize'
and produce, will have a tendency to prevent
the further depreciation of our currency.
That to render such limitation permanent
and salutary, it is expedient that all the States,
or all of them as far westward as Virginia in
clusive, should accede thereto.
That a Convention of Commissioners from
the States of New-Hamplhire, Massachusetts,
Rhode-Ifland, Connecticut, New-York, New-
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland
and Virginia, be requested to meet at Phila
delphia, on the firft Wednesday of January
next, for the purpose of considering the expe
diency of limiting the prices of merchandize
and produce, and if they judge such a mea
sure to be expedient, then to proceed to limit
the prices of such of said articles as they think
proper in their several states, in such manner
as flhall b~ belt to their refpeCtive filiations and
circumstances, and to report their proceed
ings to their respective legislatures.
WHEREAS the inhabitants of the States of
New-Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode-
Island, have by their refpeCtive Conventions
limited the prices of the principal articles of
merchandize and produce, which has served
in a considerable degree, to check the depre
ciation of the currency ; but there is great rea
son to apprehend that the good and salutary
purposes of such a measure will soon prove
abortive unless the other States, more especi
ally those who are contiguous to them imme
diately purl'ue similar measures. Therefore,
RESOLVED, That it be and hereby is -re
commended to the States of Connecticut and
New-York, immediately to adopt similar
measures, or such as they may think proper for
limiting the prices of the principal articles of
merchandize and produce.
This Convention also taking into consider
ation as a farther mean of preventing the de
preciation of the money, the mode of furnilh
ing the monthly supplies lately called by Con
gress, and which it is not doubted but every
State in the Union, as they tender their exig
ence as free States, will exert themselves
punctually to carry into execution.
RESOLVED, as the opinion of this Con
vention, that it would contribute to the good
end above proposed, as well as the future con
venience and health of the States they repre
sent, that as much of those supplies be raised
by taxes as the circumstances of people will
admit of without diftrefling them.
That for the railing such port of the sup
plies by loans, if any shall be judged necessary
by the said states reflectively, that it would
not be expedient for either of them to offer
higher inducement than security that the lend
er Ihould receive again at the time fpccified,
such sum as should be equal in current value
to the sum loaned, with interest annually, at
the rate of fix per cent, in like value as the
money loaned.
That it would be expedient for said states to
opera their loan offices to receive the loans
they should judge necessary, if any, for the
purpose aforefaid, as soon as possible, and to
promote fu bferiptions in their refpedive towns
or diftrifts, or such other methods as most fa
cilitate and expedite the loans proposed,
which at the fame time that it would effectu
ally secure seasonable supplies for the conti
nental treasury, would in various other re
fpeCts tend to establish and secure the credit of
ih§ currency. ,1
RESOLVE]), That it be, ^nd hereby is
recemmeuord to thf States of Maffachuferts
and Connecticut to repeal their ,embargo icts
respecting inland trade (and aifo to the states
of Rhode - Ilfand arid New-Hampfhirotodo the
fame if aty,embargo a&s are now fulfilling
there) so faras concern those ftates' who adopt
measures for limiting the prices of meichan
dife and produce.
WHEREAS it appears from the representa
tion of the Agents from the Rate of New-Yerk,
that the public fafety will not admit of the
embargo ad, now fubfifling in Lid Rate upon
the exportation of Hour, meal and grain being
at present repealed, as the continental army
cannot be furnifhed with a fufficient supply of
those articles but from said hate; and as at
fame time it appears,that the inhabitants of
Maflachulets, Rhode Ifiaud and New-Hamp-
Riire mutt be extremely diHrehbd unlcfs some
' (apply of flour is afforded them by the flare of
New-York.'',',
Therefore RESOLVED, that it be, and
hereby is recommended to the date of New-
York (their embargo aft notwithstanding) to
furnifh the Bates of Massachusetts, Rhode-
Island and New-Hampshire with such a quan
tity of flour, if confident with the public fafity,
as will be fufficient for the supply of the troops
raised for the defence of thole Rates, and for
the fuflenance of the inhabitants upon their
sea coasts. Atteff,
HEZEKIAH WYLLYS, SeUrr
^f^^^^
On H OPE.
HOPE, thou belt gift of heaven! whet
the gloom of dftrefs gathers around
me, let me never know the want of thy cheer
ing ray. But can I ever want thy presence?
I am ready to hope my {offerings will have
their change ; when I cenfider the perpetual
change of nature, I fee the rudest Rorm suc
ceeded by the gentled calm; the dulnefs of
night, by the light of day ; and the thick-ga
thered clouds dispersed by a breath ; making
the wide expanse fair to view. All the di
stresses of nature are thus changed to chear
fulnefs. And so with man, the rude blast of
fortune besides into the calm of patience ; our
congregated griefs are eased by a iliower of
tears ; and heart-oppressive sorrow is dispersed
by the ray of hopeful expectation. Thus our
afflictions, like envenomed serpents, bear with
them an antidote for their own poison.
When I confider the changes of man, Hope
is always my companion : Fortune's wheel of
life, being in Continual rotation, is the cause
as some defeend, others afeend ; and if I be
now on the lowest spoke, unless its motion
flop, I may reasonably expert to be higher;
at any rate, there is this comfort. I cannot
be lower than the lowest. As the fan doth
net flop in its meridian glory, but continues
to decline till entirely set, so let not the man,
who hath reached the pinnacle of his ambiti
on, exult, but rather fear his approaching de
cline, which soon may end, and not leave a
trace of his having so gloriously existed.
I have always thought Hope the gale of life,
which fills the fails of our bark, and prevents
its laying as a hulk on this sea of troubles.
Another reason I am never without the com
fort of Hope is, when I reflect that every man
hath his different course, how then can the
gale at one time be propitious to us all?
While it is adverse to me, others are failing to
their desired port ; Ihe then whispers me, des
pair nut, to-morrow the wind may change, so
as to waft you to the port of your desire.
42=====
NE W-YORK, Dec. 30.
The honourable Fraternity of Lodge, No. 210,
Ancient York Masons, celebrated the Anniverftry
of their Patron ST. John the Evangelist, at Brother
Marshal's, Shakefyea'r Tavern, in John-Street,
where they bad an elegant Dinner, after which the
following Toasts were drank, with that Spirit and
Zeal which flowed Loyalty from every Brother pre
sent.
TOASTS.
1. The King and the Craft.
2. The Queeri and Royal Family, with Masons
Wives and Bairn#.
3, General Sir Henry Clinton and AnciemM font.
4. Admiral Arbuthnot, and his Grace the Duke
of Athole, Grand Mnfter of England and Scotland.
5. Generals Knyphaufen, Tryon, and Lawrence
Dermott, Esq; Deputy Grand Matter.
6. Major General Partildn, Commandant, with a
speedy Relief to all diftrdled Brethren.
7. To all British, German and Provincial Corps
in his Majesty's Service.
8. To the prtfent Expedition, and all regular con
ftitnted Lodges.
9. To the brave and undaunted Major-General
Pievoß, and the Officers and Men who to courage
nufly opposed proud d'Eflaing and the combined
Armies against Georgia.
10 His Majeftj's Fleet against the Fleets of France
and Spain.
11. To all true hearted Refugees who endeavour
to crush the Rebellion.
12. The brave undaunted General M'Lean and
Troops at Penobfeot.
13. The brave and intrepid Butler, , and Friend
Joseph, with the Loyalists and Indians under their
Command.
14. To all Officers in Naval, Military and Civil
Departments in his Majesty's Service.
15. To all who are Free.
The whole was conduced and concluded with
that Propriety which will ever do Honour to the
Ancient Craft.
On Sunday last, in the gad Year of his
Age, Jonathan Fifa, Esq: of Newtown, Long-
Island, departed this Life ; possessed of those
fecial Virtues which adorns human Nature,
and invite the Esteem of Mankind, his Friends
lament in his Death the Loss of a generous
sociable Companion—-his Family deprived of
his Countenance, experience the Want of pa
ternal Affeaion and domestic Hilarity.
PROCLAMATIO N.
YA/ EhREAS , many Evils daily arise from
.E e unlimited Number of Taverns
and F'ubhckT-loufcs within this City and its
Precinds. I Lave therefore thouglt fit, in Or
der to prevent the pernicious Effects thereof,
to direQ, that in future the Number of Li
cences for those who come under this Diferip^
rion, be reftri&ed to Two Hundred, and that
they le granted to such House-Keepers only,
whose Characters are {efficiently vouched and
approved by the Magistrates 'of Police.
And that no Inconveniencies may ensue from
this Reftriftion ; Notice is hereby given:
J nat such Persons who propose retailing
Spirituous Liquors, in smaller Quantities than
Five Gallens, may apply to the Police for a
Special Licence for that Purpose, provided the
fame be not drank within their own Houles,
or fold in a lcfs g Quantity than a Quart.
Any Person detected in keeping a Tavern
or Public House, or retailing Spirituous Li
quors, in less Quantities than Five Gallons,
without having obtained such Licence from,
the Police, or aifting in any Manner contrary
to the true Intent and Meaning of this 'Pro^
clamation, after the Tenth laft.will have his
or her Liquors forfeited for the Benefit of the
>Alms House, fuffer Imprisonment, apd be
brought to Trial before a Garrison Court Mar
tial for a Breach of Orders.
Licences will be immediately withdrawn,
from such as shall be known to harbour or to
lerate any riotous or disorderly Companies.
Thomas Bayeaux and Thomas Dolton, are
hereby appointed aftitg Officers under this
Proclamation, and are to follow such Orders
as they may receive from the Magistrates of
Police, towards enforcing and carrying the
fame into Execution.
Given under my Hand in the City of Neiu
l^k, ,b Firs bay of January, in the
Fear of our Lord, One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Eighty, and in the Fmentietb
Hear of bis Majeflfs Reign.
James Pattifon.
ByCommand of the General,
Join L. C, Roomb, Sec'ry.
ly Order of the Commandant.
NO PICE is hereby given, that all Persons
who propose keeping Taverns or Pub
lick-loufes,muß on or before 'I hufday the 6th
inst. eliver in at this Office, a fufficient Cer
tificat of their good Character signed by
three (editable Persons of the Neighbourhood
in whih they refide.'
Licences for Taverns and Public Houses, as
well as:o Retailers, will be issued on Friday
and Saarday next, at the House of John
Smyth Esq; in Pearl-street.
Office of Police, fan. I, 1780.
ANDREW ELLIOTT, Super. Gen.
DA/ID MATHEWS, Mayor,
PETER DUBOIS, Magistrate of Police.
qr^HEManagers of the associated Refugee
A Lotery having begun to prepare the
Numbers,Prizes and Blanks, for the Wheels,
now acquint the Public, that the Drawing
will ccmmnce as soon as that Business can be
compleated which will be in a very few Days,
as they are determined no Delay shall be made ;
in the meat Time such Persons as have Tic
kets purchfed upon the firft Plan, and are en
titled to additional Tickets, are again requeued
to call at IVeffrs. Mills and Hicks's Printing-
Office, whee Attendance will be given for
the Deliver) of them, and where a few Tic
ket may bt purchased by making a ipeedy
Application.
The Drawiig will be at Mr. David Grim's,
in William-frreet, being the usual Place for
drawing Lotteries in this City.
New-York,Dec: inker 30, 1779.
. ~ T ™
A Likely NIGRO WENCH, about 18 y%rs
fl old, born in l^ng-ldand, has Hd tie small
pox, and can be, well recoimrirnckd ; A NEGRO
BOY, 9 years ok, that hes had the Grad-pox also:
They are the property of a gender/^ bound for
Europe. For furher particulars, ^ppiy to John
Stewart, at N.z,. Maider-Ir e.
ONE GUINEA Reward.
LOST, at Brookivn-Ffrry, on WYnOd^y the
22J inti, a laige black and white D 0 G, of
t.te Newfoundland bleed, he aufwers to the name of
Watch, and is a good deal cut about the head.
Any person who can give information where the said
dog may be grit,or will bring him to the printer he :e
---of, or Capt. Waugh, cf the 57th regiment, shall
receive the above tewanl.
December 30, 177,
ft Black SLOOP, about 50 tons burden,
which lately drove on fhere is got off,
and now in Safetv. VLoe^rr proves her his
Right, shall have her ipair, by applying to
Hugh 'Gaine, and pyi: g charges.
N. B. There is a broom at her mast head.
To be fold at private SALE,
By DONALD MACKAY,
No. 141, upper End of Qy^en-Streri,
Ten Puncheons high Proof Jamaica SPD
RITS; likewise, 140 Cases excellent Holland
GENEVA. —
THE Refugees from the county of Mid
dlesex, and Eflex, in New-jersey, are
requeued to leave their names and occupations ,
at Broughton Reynold's, at Whitehall.
To be SCL D,
A Likely Rout, healthy ^gto Buy, about
17 years old, very nandy i n 3 gentle
man's family. Enquire or the Printer.
°W JAMES PATTfS )N,%
Major - Geared oj Lis Mfytfy's Forces,
erf of AluTonP, cfo tfc. &r.