The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1780-01-31 00:00:00, page 2

PFILADIL'rH A, December 23.
The fcliaWing is craqflated from the Maitinico
Gazette.
P A R I S, September id.
His most Chrilban Majefrs letter to the Duke
de Pepthievre, Grand Admiralof France.
Cousin,
rTHE desire that I have always had of lef
-1 fening, as much as in my power, the
calamines of war, has induced me to caR my
eves unon that class ofmy fubjeCb, whole em
ployment is fifirf > and who have no other
fubfi Rence than tie only ref>urces w^ich this
commerce affords: 1 hv.e thou^nt tea. the
evarapiel (ball live mv enemies, and which
aifes from no o?h n r motive, buttle lertimtnts
ofhumahity, wid rrteinfr e tuem to grant to
the fishery the fame liberties writa 1 have con-•
fenced to countenance in cohiequence of
which I have wrote this letter to inform you,
Chat I have given orders to al commanded of
my flips, and to owners and captains of pri
valuers, not to trouble, until a.new order, t^e
English' filbery, and not to hop their v^ls,
notwithftandit g they are loaded wnr.freih fill,
and even though this fob may not have been
caught on bi gd these vessels, provided they
are'not armed with any o^nfive arms, and,
they convinced that they have not given fignaj.
which announce a fufpeCted intelligence wi h
the flips of war of our enemies. You shall
make known my intention to the officers of
the Admiraltv, and to all those who are under
vour command. And the present being to no
other end, I pray God, my Cousin, &c.
(Signed) LOUIS.
POUGHKEEPSIE, January 10.
C A R D, No. I.
/"I" Tuesday laR, the Representatives of
~ this State, \Vere to have met at the City
cf Albany, for the dispatch of btfinefs of the
utmost importance. The weather immediately
preceding that day, and during the whole of
sass week has been so inclement, as to render
it impossible to travel ; but as the drifting of
the snow fe^meth somewhat to abate, we hear
I.:s Excellency the Governor, will set out for
that city to-morrow , where, we hope, he
* ill have the pleasure of a speedy attendance
of the Legislature.- —As our worthy repre
fcctatives, at their laR meeting at Kingston,
were pleated, in concert with other Stales, to
recommend to Congress the framing of a plan
o£general relation, for the inestimable pur
pom of appreciating, or flopping th? depreci
a;i n of our general currency —As Congress
have adopted the meafurc, and fixed the day,
the fofl of February next, for its commence
frut; it remains with the public to carry
then important resolutions on this head, into
t 1 v med effectual execution.—ln order to this,
it is certain, that a general meeting of the
members is necessary, and that no time shall
be Jolt in setting out from their refpeClive
homes to form this meeting in season, for the
accomplishing so glorious a work.—Such
Members of either House, as will choose to be
found at home, or in pursuit of private bufi
neft, whilß a matter of the most public con
cern, and the greatest magnitude, demands
their most punctual and faithful attendance,
may depend on the general censure not only
of their refpedive Counties, butof the whole
Stare, for their reward ; as they mult answer
.to the people at large, for any fatal conse
quence that may attend their neglect.
POPULI.
T R ENT O N, Dec. 22 .
Extras of a letter from Bafanridge, Dec. 18.
" I rode out to-day on purpose to take a
, view ofour encampments. I found it excef
fives c^d ; but was glad to fee most ofour
poor fold era were under good roofs. The en.
carapments are exceedingly neat ; the huts are
aF of a size, and placed in more exaft order
than Philadelphia; you would be furprized
to fee how well they are built without 'nails.
Head Quarters is at Morristown, and the army
extends from thence along the hills nearly to
this place.
TRENTON, December 29.
Sunday morning las the General fffembl, of
this State adjourned to Hednejday tbe \6tb of
February next, then to meet at Trenton. During
fee fitting the, ,affdthe following a& s , cvi^
1 An Aft to divorce Cbriflianna Saunders, late
Lengftreet, from her bufband John Saunders.
z An Aft to dissolve the marriage of William
Gifford, with Elizabeth bis wife.
3. An Act for altering the place of bolding the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas and the Court of
General barter Seflions of the Peace, in and for
the County of Bergen, and for repealing part of
the ^£, entitled, " An Aft to retire and continue
" theproce/} and proceedings of the Courts of Com
mon Pleas and General Quarter Sefions of Peace
for the Ceunty of Bergen, and to alter the place
of holding the Jame."
4. An Act for altering certain parts of the
ma n road leading through the count, of Gloucefler,
f 0 n Salem to Burlington, 1
5° ^" ACfor altering the place of bolding the
&ft, Court of Judicature of ibis State, and to
^/certain the times for bolding the fame : and also
so alter so atcertain the times of holding the Infe
rior Court of Common Pleas and Court If Genoal
Smarter Session of the Peace, far the county of
Hunterdon.
6. An Aft for the relief of Jofoua Stout,
tie ^chafer of a certain trad? of land, in th
owe, es foterdon, of Thomas Leonard, now "a
fTive with the enemy.
7. 1 A& to Deft the Juftitfs of the Supreme
Court, with fewer to grant ferocefsto comphat the
affile of wii&fs^ Govts-Martial.
^ An Aa granting unto Henry Gacf, for a
limitedtime, the file right of making and Jelling
the blubber by him lately invented.
g. An Act to continue an Afl, entitled, '' An
Alt to alter the place of holding the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas and General garter Sevens of the
Peace for the county of MAddfex.
10. An Ad to prevent engroffag, forefaAng
and enhancing the prices of produce, manufa^ut e
and merchandize with:n tbit State.
11. An Aft to raise the sum of Three Millions,
Three Hundred and Seventy five Thousand Pounas,
in the State of New-Jrfy.
12. )n Act for Emitting the prices of various
articles, and to prevent the withholding from fate
the^ffarics ffe.
1 3 ~An Afl to enable the owners and po,ff°"
of meadow King between Mui Creekfaices and
J 1 riff's landing, bounding on Salem Creen, in
the cun, of Salem, to crept and keep in repair the
dams, banks, Jluices, and other water-works, to
open and keep clear the nectfary wafer courfa,
and to make Feb line ditches as are therein de-
Jeribed lawfulfences.
14. An Aft to provide for the payment of the
fcveral officers of the government of the ktaie of
Nw-Jer/ey, to commence the tyb any of October,
1779, and to end the /econd fuefcay in Odder,
1780, incAfive, and to discharge the public debts
and other continent ebarges thereof
15. An Act fir regulating the eleafu of the
Members of the Legylative-Council cored Ajfmbty,
Sherif's and Coroner: of the State of Newferj„:
And afo to dircA the eteßion of Delegates to repre
lent thefaid State, in the Congress of the United-
States.• N
16. An Act so impowtr the Jufices of the
Peace, for the county of Somerset, to commit ef
fertders to goal, in any of the neighbouring counties.
f. An Act for procuring provifons for the use
of the army, and other Jupplies for carrying onjht
^war, and for fettling the public accounts of this
State.
18. An Aft to continue an Aft, intitled, An
Aft topfohibit the exportation of pr&vifons from
the fate of New-Jeriky.
19. A supplementary Aft to an acl, intitled,
" An Aft for granting an annual Jalary to the
secretary of this fate, in.lieu of his fees on the cem
miffions of JuJiices, Coronets and militia Officers.”
20. An Aft to revive and continue an aa, in
titled "An Aft to providefor she better fubJiflence
of the troops of'this fate, in the frvice of the
United States."
21. A Supplement to the afl, intitled, " An
Aft to explain and amend an aft, intitled, An
Aft to prove nt the fabjeds of this ft ate, from going
into or coming out of the enemy's lines, without per
missions or passports, andfor other purposes therein
mentioned."
21. An Aft for augmenting the fees of certain
civil officers and others, andfor raifng the fines
and forfeitures to which they are liable for negleft
or refujal of duty, and for fufpendiug parts of sun
dry a&s therein mentioned.
23. An Aft for defraying fundr, incidental
charges.
Fty&a@t@@^3@%a@CT
Extracts from the Proceedings of Congre/j.
T^H URSDA Y, October 7, 1779.
A letter of the 25th of September from the
Governor of Virginia was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of
war.
A letter of the sth from R. Bache, post
master general, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the com
mittee on the poft-effiee; and that three mem
bers be elected for that committee, in the room
of Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Ellery, and Mr. R. H.
Lee, who are absent r
The members chefen Mr. Griffin, Mr. Hol
ton and Mr. Houston.
A letter of the 25th of September from
Monsieur I'Eclife was read :
Ordered, That it be referred to the board
of war.
On motion of Mr. Gerry, seconded by Mr.
Morris.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the
several dates to direst their treasurers to trams.
mit to Congress, on the firff day of every
month, returns of the fums'which they may
have refpeaively received for Applying the
continental treasury; that the money "men
tioned therein be credited from the reflective
dates of the returns, and that the fame be
entered on the journals of Congrefs'.
The committee appointed to apportion the
quotas of the refpeftive dates brought in a re
port ; whereupon
Resolved, That the quotas of the several
Rates to make up the monthly assessment of
fifteen millions of dollars, to be paid the firft
day of February next, and the firft day of each
succeeding month, to the firft day of Oflober
next, inclusive, be as follows:
New-Hampffiire, - 400000 dollars.
Massachusetts-Bay, - 2300000 do.
Rhode-Ifland, &c. - - 200000 doi
Connecticut, - - 1700000 do.
New-York, - - 750000 do.
New-Jersey, 900000 do.
Pennfylvaaia, - 2300:00 do.
Delaware, - - 170000 do.
Maryland, - - Qcoco do.
Virginia, ^ - 2500000 do.
North-Carolina, - 1000000 do.
South-Carolina, - izouoco do. >
1500000
Georgia being invaded is hereafter to raise
its proportion.
On motion of Mr. Houston, seconded by
Mr. Morris,
Resolved, That neither the present ncr any
former apportionment of quotas of taxes to
the several Rates be considered as a precedent.
Adjourned to ten o'clock to sorrow.
^A TVRDA Y, Oflob°r 9 i„)
The committee of ways and means having,l
agreeable to order, prepared the draught of a
circular letter to accompany the resolutions
relative to finance, reported the fame, and
desired leave to fit again:
The draught b^ing read, was agreed to as
follows:
SIR,
I have the honour to transmit your Excel
lency sundry resolutions of Congress of the
6th and 7th inst for Applying the continental
treasury, and to request the earliest communi
cation of them to the legiilative authority of
vn,tir Rnte. , • ,
The^nonev which Congress are at liberty to
emit will probably beexpendeJ in the begining
of December next, and so Liquet lupplies
mud he furnished by the ft^es. This evinces
the necehity of the pundual payments of their
respective quotas,,on which their public cre
dit, the exigence of thc:r army, and ihe lup
port of th~ir I b^ties so greatly depend.
Congress are deeply concerned co find that,
the sums r eytired are id great; but iince the
emissions are limited, they doubt not that the
operation of taxes and other falyrary roeafur^s
in the course of the year, will reduce the
Irices of articles, and enable them to leffin
teg quotas required, or apply part thereof to
diminish the public debt. To promote so de
sirable an object, Congress on their part will
endeavour to observe the Rri&eß (economy in
the expenditures.
I have only to add; that warrants will be
issued on the treasurers of the refpe&ive Rates
for the quotas to be furnifhqd on the firft of
January next, and that ,1 remain with the
greatest rupee, &c.
PHILADELPHIA, January za.
Extract of a letter from General WaJbingtcn to
bis Excellency the Brefdent of Congress, dated
Morris-Town, January 18, 1,80.
SIR ' !.
" The ft verity of the weather having ren
dered a defeest upon Staten Inland pra&icable
by the ice; and it being also imagined that
the communication between New-York and
the island was interrupted by the fame cause,
a favourable opportunity of Rriking the enemy
Rationed there, (who amounted by report to
1000 or 1200 men) seemed to prelent itfelf.--
A detachment of 2500 men, including the
troops unfcr General livine, was accordingly
made for that purpose, and the command gi
ven t) Major General Lord Stirling. It was
originally intended to have attempted the exe
cution of the matter by furprize; but there
being good veafon to suppose, that the enemy
by their emissaries or by other means had got
notice cf our designs, little hope remained of
effecting the business in that manner. As the
detachment was affimbled near Elizabeth-
Town, it was thought advifeable to proceed at
all events, upon a consideration that no bad
conferences could possibly result, and that
ne might find an opportunity of reaping fume
advantage#. We were however disappointed
in our expectations, as Congress will perceive
by the enclosed report from Lord Stirling"
Lord Stirling's Report.
“ SIR,
'' I have the honour to inform your Excel
lency, that early on yeßerday morning the
corps under my command crossed the Sound at /
De Hart's Po^nt, and proceeded towards the
Watering-Place. The enemy having received
previous intelligence ofour movements, a fur
prize was out of the question, and a, their
works were well situated, and appeared other
wise strong, an assault was deemed unadvife
able, as it would probably have coll us more
than we could have gained by fuccafs? We
found too, contrary to our expectation, that the
communication between the island arid New 4
York was open. Immediately on our arrival
in fronCof the enemy's works, they sent off a
boat to the city, and in the evening several
vessels came down from thence to the island;
As from this circumfiance there was no h^pe
of reducing them for want of provision er fuel,
and a reinforcement might have rendered our ^
continuance dangerous, we deterinined tol
march off this morning. The retreat was cf-|
feded in good order, and with very little'
Jois. A party of the enemy's horse charged I
our rear guard under Mujor Edwards, but. Was
immediately repulsed The Major had three
men kilted, killed one of the lisht-horfcmen,
and took his horse. Some few of the men were
froft bitten, and though we took all tiicpain£
in oui power to have all those unable to march
trahfported in sleighs, yet I imagine a very few
may have been left behind.
Immediately after crossing, a party was de-|
tached under Lieut. Col. Willet, to" Decker'#
house. The' corps there had been alarmed 1
and barely made its escape. The house, as a 1
parrifon ^cc, and '8 or 9 final! vessels were 1
burned. A ccwfiderable quantity of blankets
and other ftofes were found.
While the troops were upon the island, a
number of persons from this fide took ad
vantage of the occasion to pass upon the island,
and plundered the people there in the most
fiameful and merciless manner. Many of
them were flopped on their return, and their
booty taken from them. In addition to which,
I have sent an order for publication, requiring
those who had eluded the search to restore the
aititles in their possession, and exhorting the
K°° d pe ^! e at lar ^ e ' to affiit in detainer
them. All the soldiery on recroffin^ t he ice°
were searched, and the little plunder°they had
taken rrom them, and their names noted, that
they may be brought to punishment Th^
articles recovered are, and will be deposited
, h ,, c e . Re ^ M[. Caldwel, who is exerting
himfelf in the affair, to be returned to the
owners. lam happy to inform your Excellen-
cy, that a very i^confder/ole part indeed, of
the troops dishonoured themselves, by parti
cipating in these enormities.
The officers and men, in general, Shewed a
good disposition, and I only regret there was
no opportunity of 'turning it to advantage.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) STIRLING.
Published by order of Congress,
Elizabeth-Town,
Jan. 16, 1780.
«e===^
NEW -;Y OR K, January 29.
Extract of a Letter from Philadelphia, dated
December 25, 1779.
" The Frenchified Faction amongst us grow
even fearful of the Negroes, who can't beeiti
mated above 6000, including women and child
ren. The Blacks, supported by a Party, who
can't help thinking, that the Leaders should
pradife what they profefs, have forced them to
bring forward a Bill to abolish. Slavery. It is
diverting enough to hear the Debates and Spe
culations on this Subjects, as they are influen
ced by Religion and Avarice. The Politicians
are however determined to out-wit both the
good Folks and the Africans. If the A& is
like the Bill, you shall have it. It is the Con
summation of Hypocrisy; you know the
Children of this World, are wiser in this Ge
neration than the Children of Light, and
you'll accordingly find, that while it amuses
its white and black Advocates, it is intended
to gratify neither : It enads,
1. That no Negro or Mulatto born after it
is passed, be deemed a Slave or Servant for
Life; but,
z. They are to be Servants to the Age of
28, and treated as if indented.
3. The present Set of Slaves are to be re
gißered, and only those that are not, are co
be considered as free.
4. To encourage a Registry that all may be
Slaves/ such as do not register their Blacks,
are to indemnify the Parish from being charge
able with their unregistered Slaves, unless they
are under 16, or the Owner has put an Inftru
mentupon Record, securing such Slaves their/
Freedom at 28.
§. All Negroes or Mulattoes, Slaves or not
Slaves, are to be proceeded against criminally
as Freemen, but they are not to be Witneffe#
against Frecm@.
6, The Owners of Slaves loft by capital
Convictions, to be paid the value as afeertain
ed by the Jury, with the Colts of Frofecution,
out of the Public Treasury.
7. The Rewards for apprehending fugitive
Slaves or Servant?, and the Penalty for entice
ing them away, &c. the fame as in the Case
of Servants bound for four Years.
8. No Man or Woman of any Colour, to be
considered as a Slave, except such as axe re
gißered; the domestic Slaves of Delegates
from other Colonies, or of foreign Miaifters,
Confuia, Travellers, and Seamen, of Vessel
not owned in Pennsylvania, nor can these be
bought here, or continue longer than fix
Months, uslefa the Master is a Delegate of
another State, a foreign Minister or a Conful'.
9. The Aft not to prote& Runaway Slaves,
owned i& other States, nor such as have ab
sented themselves, or been clandcßineiy car
ried away, or employed abroad as Mariners,
and are ye; abfeat; and 5 Years after their
Return are given to their Mailers to register
such as Slaves.
10. All Covenants with Negroes fora longer
Service than 7 1 ears to be void, unless the
Negro is under 16; and then to Rand only till
he is 28.
Thus you perceive the Chain rivetted, about
the Necks of the poor Devils that ate already
b"rn, and their Offspring too till 28 Years
old -And pray what is their Security for
Liberty then, but a Promise, which it may long
before that Period arrives, be as convenient
to break by repealing the Ad, as it is now to
pass it ? All the World will remember the Sa
ratoga Convention.
But, I shall deprive you of much Pleasure, if
I withhold the Preamble. I intended to have
saved mvfelf this Trouble, and only submit to
the Drudgery, for- one of the molt charaaer
iftic A£ tof the Times. Thick of an Angel's
Face and a Scorpeon's Tail. I dare fay you
would have imagined, that a Law with fyen ^n
Introduction, could not conclude without an
universal Emancipation of the Slaves, and a
genetai Fax for an equal Contribution to pay
iheL rMailer). Butjudge far yonrfelf. I give
it you upon Honour, Word for Word, from
the Bill, as published by the Assembly.
,P H IL A I) E LPHI A, Dec. 23.
An Act for the gradual abolition of Slavery.
(Priofal for confederation)
I^/™''" " e c °' rte mpl ate our abhorrence
of that c^dlticA, to which the arms
and tyranny of Great-Brima were exerted to
reduce ur. When w ^ look h,cfc on the va
nety of dang r rs to which we have been expo
sed, and how niraculorfl, enr wants in many
inhances have iter supplied imd oor deliver
ances wrought, when even here 2nd human
fortitude have bee, roe unequal to the conflict,
we are unavoidably led to a ferim and grate
fid sense cf the inanifoid bleffiags, which we
have undeservedly received from the hand of
that Ecu g, from whom every good and per
fta gift co&h.
lmpiefird with these ideas, wecoucelye that
it is our duty, and ,v@ rejoice that it isin our
power to extend a portion of that freedom to
others, which hath been extended to us- and
a release from that State of thraldom, to
which weo^felves werf tyrafoJlv doomed ;
-ano from which we have now every profped
of being delivered. It is not for us to en
guirc, why, w the creation of mankind, the
inhabitants of the several parts of the Earth,
were diftmguifhed by a difference, in feature