The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1779-03-01 00:00:00, page 1

Extract from the Genuine SPEECH
of Governor JOHNSTONE, in
the House of Commons, at the
Opening of the Session.
MY honourable friend has observed,
that I was very Sanguine in myex
pe&atiohs, of fuceefs from the
commission, and remarks with
an air of triumph, and hie friends
join in a smile of f3tisfa&ion, that
the means which were attempted have failed. For
my part, Fam sorry, sincerely lorry ; and yet I am
glad the attempt was made. All men will now con
fell the Americans have a bad and wicked caule;
that they have no just object to contend for, being
now united with France for the profeffed purpose of
reducing this country. All good men ought to join
molt heartily to eppofe them. If we saw such a union at
home, under proper romirters, I here no doubt the
fuceefs of our cause would becertain. While we are
divided,—-! pronounce with caution --it is the date
of parties at home, which makes me hesitate, not the
want of resources, or the Itrength of the Americans.
One set of men have loft the confidence of the people
by mismanagement; another want to yield up all
that is worth contending for in the contest, without
faying at what point they will make a land, or tra
cing the cbnfequences of the meafuree they would
recommend; but my hopes of the fuceefs of the com
mission were never so sanguine as the Hon. Gentle
man Antes. The House will do me the justice to re
calleft, that I declared in my place, that I believed
tne fjecefs would chiefly depend on the ratification
efthr -roatv w'-h France. I preflfed the departure
ofth C; imilfwi©# again and again before } is a
m^m.rof it. I told you, that I believed. .ley
hsJo«ce r sed their treaty offenfive and deserve
"' ' l ^A.& # ,-< ! ' P .fo, < I'^^K fty:'*
-—.(^urotfr^ m..:•-:,
War, & fomm kafrs wee not An? rs Oram, is
i^& to *atra^l^-^ _..iw
time that 1 accepted, no in was -~n on ^ CT ;
from the moment that 1 accepted, r> * was
on board (hip, there eluded but tt <h s, and cOofe,
negleftmg all private affairs, were employed for pro
moting the purpose of eur mission; and I was at
Poitfmaulh the day before the cemmiffien was
signed.
My view always was that force should accompany
the cpncefiun, and that the Americans fheuld fee
a mealy; determined spirit of perfeterepce in this
country, that they might confider well between the
evils of war, in a dubious contest, and the certain ad
vantages of immediate peace upon theuwft honour
able and Advantageous terms. The Noble Lord, in
my eye, will do me the justice to fay, that I wrote a
letter to him before my departure, expielfoe of thole
featiments, recommending the regimenting the Pro
vinci*ls and Canadians, giving them rank, half-pay,
and emoluments. The orders to Sir Henry Clinton,
which were (hewn me, breathed forth a spirit of ac
tivity and coercion: I thought, with the measures
I recommended, the army was fufficient; 1/think so
Rill ; nay, I am perfectly convinced of it now, and
I am supported by the opinions of the best officers on
the foot. Inff-ad of that we secretly directed an ig
nominious retreat, after all the preparations and ex
pence neceffar, for a vigorous campaign had been in
curred. Can it be said with justice that I have fail
ed in my expeditions when every thing I was made
to believe, and which I deemed necessary for the ef
fea, was difa,quirted and CQnuadtded, nay, con
cealed not only from me, but from the other Com
missioners with whom 1 had the honour to be joined ?
If I had known Philadelphia had been ordered to be
evacuated, I would never have gone. The other
Commissioners have often declared the fame senti
ments on the fubjc&. I remember well the Hon.
Gentleman seconded the Noble Lord's motion for the
Concilia! " c Bills; it was what we had been long
1g A„,asa right and proper measure. Were
we afterwards to frustrate or impede, what we on
ths fide had so long fought for, and approved when
made? My fpi?.? m P^ f Y canne&ioas does not lead
me to this condu& ; for notwithstanding the criticism
of the worthy gentleman on the words unanimity, I
ltill Maintain the unanimity was Angular on the fub
jest of American affairs. In qualiions of such con
tequence, I do not enquire what turnpike bills had
pafrd without a negative.
The Hort. Gentleman, after whom I rose, has &I
-so indulged himfelf in tome other Satirical smiles on
the character of the other Commissioners: I am fare
I am much obliged to him for the tenderntfs with
which he has treated me, by much the most confide
rabie, after his tossing ?nd goring so many minders.
I am sensible 1 am nothing in his nand, but I mult
beg leave to fay a word for those who are absent. I
believe the Hon. Gentleman takes the charade, of
the Noble Lord [the Right Hon. the Etrl of Carlifle]
at the head of the Commiffiou from newspaper re
ports, as I once did. He well knows that nothing
is so fallacious. I have such an opinion of bis libe
rality and good humour, that in case he knew that
Nobleman as well as I do, he would be as ready to
retract his opinions concerning him as I was, and ag
willing publicly to declare it ; for a young nobleman
of more worth, more honour, more dignity, or
greater teal for the public service, and the execution
Monday, March I, 1779. 7B ^%^3;
NE W-Y ORK GA
W E E K L Y V\
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Published January 22, 1779.
A White Loaf of the fimeft FLOUR, to weigh
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Containing the catliefl Juices
^ Printed by HUGH GAINE, &T the ;,E ?nd CROW,', in HANOVER-SRJJARE.
affefled meritorious individuals. The Han. Gentle
man founds his ideas on what he has remarked in
the proceedings fthe Congress refpe&iag me. I
/hall ever think such a proceeding totally unworthy
of fiich a body, tone Gentlemen have prai^d'it as
an excellent refined itioke ci policy to get rid of ih
embarrassing question about General Burgoyne'*
troops. I again repeat, I disdain all that policy
founded on injustice and dishonour, the more artifice
to avoid fair dealing, the more deteltible to me ; it
is contemptible in private life—where the dignity of
a people is concerned, it is abominable meant,efs,and
mult end in the deftruftion of thole who pra^tife it.
The spirit of their enemies is raffed by all such ft )-
ceedings, their own is always depressed. Of all the
mean and notorious breaches of public faith which
has ever been praaifed, of all the low chicane which
has ever been .fed in the depravity of the Eastern
world, to avoid a solemn agreement, the different ex
cuses offered by the American Congress are thereof
disgraceful to society. I know the molt zealous for
the cause of independence disapprove of them ; but
America is governed now as England was, under a
muck parliament, and committees of Mir- Gene
rals. lam not called upur b to fry a word on this
fubjea, but I disdain difingenuity. The accufarun
Hated against me with ref e& to General Jofepu Reed,
as far as the tranfaftion pretends having authority
from me to mike the offer, is filf¥ and injurious;
it ia indeed very cautiously worded, and only implies/
beiqg done by my authority. This I deny,and J have
perfect proof in my poffillion, that Mr. Reed never
understood any mefftge or writing of mint as liable
to that cpnrtrn<%on. While I fay thify I do not mean
.to disavow 1 have had tranfaeVons where other means
besides persuasion have been used. It was necefhry:
in my situation it can be no reproach. This of Mr.
Reed I deny,an? I can prove by indisputable evidence
in my possession, he did not underhand any mefftge
from me in that light, at the time, nor long fobfe
quent. The conversation is fail to have palled on
the twenty-firlt of June. The mutilated letters that
are to help out this lame tranfa&ion were before the
Congrefs—ffie matter had been published in news
papers at the rime, but not signed by Mr. Reed, as
:.Mr. Almon has published, nor signed by William
Henry Drayton. ,The Congress take ronctici of the
bufinefy till the iith of Angult ; then the indignation
cf that virtuous assembly tiles. At the very mo
ment they are about to evade a solemn engagement,
and transmit their names with infamy to future
ages, thev have the assurance to talk of liberty and
virtue. You, Sir, are well acquainted with the forms
cf public proceedings; you know that any declara
tion of Mr, Reel of what a woman unknown had
of the trust committed to him, I never knew, 'r
other Gentleman is so well known to every member
of this House, and his reputation for bufmefs so ved
effablilhed, that it stands above my praise, or the Hon.
gentleman's cerfure.
I will now take notice what fell from another Hon.
gentleman,who (poke most eloquently in this del ue.
He talks of the indignant treatment the Commission
ers met with from the Americans, and pa Menhir,
points] at their behaviour to me. I cannot acquiree
in this opinion; I make no such complaints, because
I dittinguifli widely between the people of Amenta
and the Congress, because I make a jurt dUtin&^a
between what men do in their political capacity a :•
in their natural The Congress seem to conh
themselves with the low canning of an elfflion jv
ber ; their proceedings are often calculated f. i
mere herd of the people, who are as yet tti.m.os<
the impefitions incident to such a con< u&, am av
ing all the newspapers under their dire&io ,
are excellent engines of such ignoble polic mch
may ierve for : time, but never car. last.
The Commissioners were received at Philadelphia
with all the joy which a generous peop'c could ex-'
press. Why were you so long in coming ? was the
general cry. Do not abandon us, retain the army,
and fend them agajnft Washington, and the rffai iis /
ever : 10,000 men will arm for you in this pnvin 5, '
and 10,000 in the lower conntits, the moment y r
take the field, and they can get amms. The deciv
rations were general and notorious, and I am per- :
funded if we had been at liberty to have a&ed in the
field, our mbit sanguine expe&atishs would have ,
been fulfilled. I mixed with all ranks of men, f run
the prifouers in the gaol, to the firft people in he ;
place, nd as far as I could penetrate the hamaa
mind, I be^ • "e fentimen't ^r.bun^ uio
ar?t^^ < .appy" f which pct'f^:
e^TTf^rar^E &? U * ~-' *-° r € *^™-™r^= l ^
reived; f zfr orivizy, Ji hewer in^.^oruh I^ |
y judgment, ^y opinions, may be wrong,i
out .uey arc toe sentiments of my tort, and people I
of receive them with all those plains es deduction
my tempe r , and the weakness of my underttand
ing. After this precaution, I declare that I firmly
believe t,vo thirds of the people of North-America
wish to return to the ancient connexion with Gieat
Britain at this moment, aqd that nothing but a sur
rounding army, and the diffidence they have in our
fupport,prevents that spirit from breaking out in aas
of hostility against the Congress and Committees.
We were more employed to restrain than encourage
overt a&s, because we knew, under the secret orders,
that no assistance could be given to such efforts,
which therefore could only prove ruinous to veil
Monday, ,$ Min. after 9
Tuesday, 3 Min. after 10
Wednesday, 53 Min. aftei 10
Thursday, 33 Mfn' .after 11
HIGH-WATER atNEW-YORK, th
Friday, 14 M.. fr -< :
ISaturday, 1 Min r
Sunday. 45 ho . .y
1 Full Moon ', „
/f 1 > him, could not sffeS me. The Congress in
t> tie, were bound to have obliged Mr. Reed to
} av# name 1 the lady, and next to have brought that
<0; >efore them to have heard her own story, with
At it , place, And circumttance; this Should have been
ferit for my anf<er, and then they might have pro
lot'.: d r 'eir fcdemn judgment; but they knew full
^W, 1 10 lad, whatsoever would avpw any aa
r^ct m me, arid therefore they wifely concealed
I i ole gentlemen who a r e so extremely exulting at
.: fucc fs of this commission, and plume them
i~- f> much on their prapofition for conceding in
': . ': ne v tail yew should toaster, if oae or two
□ ad fitacceded, the proposers of conceding;
.>'vpenuirv coufi not have appeared
rfor„* r.Am before the public. I shall lappof?
"^t/ rd K ^zl hid a&uaby beaten Mnnfieur
;r, , c\)ivh, I mew destroyed half his
• m.#an,s cons, lered, the probabilities
^' uhl have done so were ten to one, from
& ,f.^ ..; A<mum aou so fu,euor a force. I be
-<c•> uohie Admiral himtelf will not lay the pro
-0 ;r ' ^ are not on to one, that he woulddelhoy the
g0.1i% ,f ,he sirs fleet, if be was to meet them
'll'",? " st < ihefime proportion of force. lam per
r, rhe it was owing to the accidents of wind and
^ur , I Jo not mean to throw the flighieft impu
, <6# <! r true an / where. I only fay, it d'Orvilliers
^jb^ ftroyed, and it was ten to one this would
fov^ u^ )ed, how would the promoters of a de
''% '' '' American independence have looked
'r i;there a member of this House who be
r we sh ,u!d then have had any more agitation
it <|lertion ? I ihall suppose again, that Admiral
yarn's ,]uadron had not met with a (form, and had
'' America within the ordinary time, to have
^"^ Luo »ny one doubt that his
% g, " • r,.iabf, < ~an fierier ,: :: .}„,Qf^^
• • ^n pti , Ificj 1.9 ,<. mis IUC
c- m^ 'vtber urato s, were quite within the
, r nJ ,^ % ~•• . a ,dif a py o f them
bal lApfc 1 , < believe tl u favourite topic of Ame
rican ndepe-r! r? «. ms have been dormant in our
lays. Wb, then pumld we immediately despond,
pjve ail up, and th aw ourietves out of the wheel of
ortone ? Let us profit from the example of the Ame
ricans, in the low itn« e s their affairs, before their
fuceefs at Trenton. I am far from thinkii^g the mat
urnlefperate, notwithstanding I admit that our mis
managements will render great exertions 'neceffary.
But you mult refoive, you must risk all, and deter
siine to persevere, before the inhabitants of America
'bill have reliance on you. It is not faying, I will
fry this campaign and recede the next. It must be
known for the encouragement of friends, and the ter
ror of fees, that you will die in the lafl di^cb. Feo
pin who oppose my opinions, alledge, I am (anguine
fad obligate. I admit lam n?t easily discouraged;
nd if I am fare of being in the right, I know too I
amobftinHte, or firm, which ever you please to call it,
and I cannot be easily shaken.
The maxim of dying in the last ditch, after evsry
exertion has been made, is what I avow to be mv p in
cite. Ide not forefee, if you recede here, st what
point you will (land. If you give up the Thirteen
Provinces, will you contend for Canada? If it is
a fwered yes, why. then, I reply, itis better to know
th: gracious refolwion of Congress in this refta
firft, left one may have the troops to fend back, or
revolt, at ten times the expeuce, when they are
di^erfed, or when one half of them are dead. If it
is Gid, we will yield Canada too; then I ask if we
vid field Nova Scotia, and the fisheries, and Florida,
anl the Weft-Indies ? tor thxy all hang together.
B^&c that, the moment yon abandon New York
.n Rhode-Ill,nd, the American teas will (warm with
privateers, and you will not have sport to take (hirer
ra so that New-York and Rhede-IKand seem abfo
luu:y ne< firy for the |>refervarion of pour own cons
n?r ,as wedas annoying the e*emy. The preterit
me ^orteems the only proper and just p:int, where
the land can be made; every other fraction will be
an effort with the loss of reputation, and 'fpirit, and
power. I fee no medium between fending a carte
bar he to France, and yielding the independence of
America. To give up a principal point in dilputs,
to weaken ourselves and (Lengthen our enemy, and
leav him more at liberty to disturb us, seems, to me,
inco hprehenfible policy. If it is alledgedfhis would
not be the consequence, I ask what reason America
can have for not explicitly declaring her intentions
of conditionally renouncing her donn&aions with
France upon our declaring her Independency ? or if
such a tranfa&ion cannot be avowed till they are cer
tain ifour resdinefs to yield it- I wonder fomefponfor
can : be/ound for America on this oecafion, 1 on
ly ft^e this io expose the ?biu,dity of the lyftem pro
po^' cot that I conceive this country can, or ought
ever c entertain such an idea. The Hen. Baronet
beb; me, (Sir John Wrotefly) tells you, that
co a. Ruffians would not new da the business, and
yet he complains of the conciliatory proportions pro
posed 'y the coble Lord. Why, finely, if no force
could do the business, there could be no harm, at
least, in trying the mode cf concertion. But lam
far from being of this opinion, that force, well ap
plied, cannot etfe& it. He fays the army were all
disgusted at the Conciliatory Bills : at the fame mo
ment he fays, their force was infufficient to conquer
the enemy. This was a little unreasonable in the
army, tv give it no hardier term, I cannot contta
Wie?t per Bushel, 265. od.l
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^ru^u Bread, 955. od.l
Wefrlndia Rum, ss. ^d.
N.w-England do. 4%. od.l
PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
/ote@ unu ^weOkfa
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Single refill'd ditto, „, ^l.
Mouses, 2s. 6/1.
Beef per Barrel, 81. cd.
Pork, 81. io&
d I t. 6tt.. Km. Baronet fts; but my obfer-
Vdtions on the army were very different. The army
was indeed disgusted, bet it was because they were
not ted against the enemy, then lying within twenty
miles, waom the, were confident they could canqt er.
" Lead us against theenemy" was the general wish
^F fo!dicr and officer; and. indeed, Sir, to the ho
nour of the. Commander in Chief, who left them at
Philadelphia^ 1 am proud to declare, there never was
so excellent, so beautiful, or so well appointed an
army. The picked men for the French theatre were
nofyequal, in grace and comlinefs, to the worst of
the bfl:t infantry; such a body of chosen troops. I
belkv, never were collc&ed together: and vetwe
have fffn, from virions causes, wnat JitJ* benefit the
nation has derived from them : at the moment they
were confident of vifloy, they wee ordered to %c
---treat, and during all this rummer, and half the, au
tumn, uicuiriag the Hmeexpenceas in the field they
have, literally,,been doing nothing, when eve m^n
must remark, that the time we fhouldhave if & with
the utmost vigour was at this very peric// w ft j e
have been idle. To determine what no v ihould be
done, requires a greater compile of inf. ~,„„„, thzn
lean burnt so judge of the q^ ~ on , should
know the stat. and .hlpufo, of f „fr, ^
Northern Powers, of Portugal,the W L „ CcS Franco
the ddpofitmn and force of Spain , t h e va „ o „ s
fourees of this country, a b well ^ , „, e j,ffi c „,„ cs to
encounter in America; with tIF .fa ft j am „ o . fuf „
ftcienUy acquainted to procure .p^ifo ; but th i,
I do know for certain, that th , g reate , th e Arnons
we make ourfe ves, the more „ % fa b eimpeded by
others; and th. more we Qit aurfeta, thrm.4
ready others will be m give r js , efr affiance.
Ihe nation far ocher a t this period than at &
beginning of the 1„& we, ;^ our warlike operati
ons were then ninth moreen tensive in G^rn^nv
the Eaft-Indirt, Portth^i &rth-A^ ^ ~ .
public funds
n^rfcai raffed;, ut t„ mea ^ o , ,§,
arfo more ample from ^ renemfed wealth .f the
country. But 1 foi r of the pr & t M^iQ
tong ^ff draw toyth & e tefouroes : On the
other hand, as I laid ber) e , fc , ): „, ft m .
succeed them, according to ,„ y conception of rhinal
are dubious to yield up all chat's w o „h contending
for, without any druggy worthy of our anc ^
fame. In such a fixation, it is difficult how to
or for with.l sm so, if so ^
pursue the object with determined firm and
fmtable exemuAs, we he ! better abandon it at on^
and make the belt terms < &e can for the miserable m'
habitants who have acibf red to our cause. Nothing
Jess than 25,000 tic<r, exclusive of those in Can"
da and Halifax, will prove foffirient; 'with that
number we may expire fuecefe, a tefonu^-rfri
rcn.hr the daemon t^aious, dJu ufa! a ru + a~rd
ous. The people of the c^uy, after ' v&fo
hffed, ^ hard ^derive fr ^ § 3
(miller army to induce them tojero us. Those who
patAs the patent returns of the armr, aad 'know
what numbers may (^ve tan ordered away to other
ftrvigs, will kno-v the number wanted- I fuefs
about ? ,000 men.-. -To keep New. Y @r k ~% RQ.
Ilana, as the honourable Bayonet propous, on
defensive plan, dies not a,^- eligible^ in < If
we cannot meet due a-my Of thg army in the neM
it will require many troops, a confiderahU mrJ
force, zd vary expensive f oh incatmns, to hold New
\:sk; I believe by fortifying the gorge at Fert-
ICaypha.ifen ; by funtying the heights of %
lym; by fortifying Paulus Hook, and the heights on
the Nirtows upon St^en-IfL.nd, L mi^ht be de
fended by 8000 men, together with the Inhabitants'
always letuuing in the harbour five frigates ar.4
tl, ee armed vessels, and three galleys: these sot"
fixations would coit at least fire hundred thoufmd
pounds, and the object would dill be precarious^—-
Why the honourable gentleman sh aid recomme^
an offeufive war in Europe, and a defenfive wir'in
America, I cannot conceive: It teems to me more
uecerfary in the last place than the other. At ad
aments, I would form feme certain, Ready plan
iwch as the inhabitants might rely upon; if they
fee they tan defend upon you, they will farm re
turn to their allegiance, and iheir own government.
If they fee you weak and wavering, (they a.-ea
(hrewd cunnings sensible people) they will arc'd
yon like peihlence. Upon me Whole, l ackrow."
ledge cur fixation extremely perilous : the drfawi.
ties we have to contend witn are great; but it is on
such occationt that the noble qualities o f man, per
severance, fortitude, and love of our country,' shine
in their greatest luftre. Let us not imagine, that
those who opppofc us are without difficulties; the
contentions, divisions, and Offerings, among the
Americans, are greater than our imagination c rr
reach, in the date of affluence in which we live.—.-
They would have been greater fhii, if they had r ^
been checked by our bad cpqdda and timidity
Their divisions, Sir, I affine you, are as giw,
those of the H mfe of Commons of England; ; nd
what (Longer pi&uie can I draw of dilution ? Thole
who are Id unmy at the leception which the Con -
missioners received, should recoliea the recepti/n
Mons. the Count d'Ettaing and his sailors met with
at Berton. The firtt was rhe political answer o f a
body whole interests and ambition are undoubtedly
oppbfed to that of the peoplethey govern; the other
was the indignant fpontaneo u s passions of the
[fir to rw^mder turn to fc faf foa~e,l
Fins Salt, %,„ 6d
|Coarfe £ # :'t, ys. 0-
jlndian .in per Bn.ros. od
iCoffee, is e ed
|Clw,,t?tc, 26 per Do