New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-25

RACE ACROSS THE OCEAN.

should he the bearer of the first news received in
America,
RACE ACROSS THE OCEAN.
Lafayette and Count DEstaing determined to
have war vessel started at the earliest possible
moment II would not do to send a ship by way of
the Channel, or the North Sea, az the treaty did
not affect vessels there until twelve days after Feb
ruary 3, and their ship might be intercepted. But
DEstaing had an immense new fleet
of sixty war ships at Cadiz that had
recently been fitted ont for attacking the
British in case hOstilitieS continued, and it was
determined 10 send one of this feet by the time
the dispatches were prepared sent overland across
half of France and through Spain 10 its furthcst ex-
trcmity where the fleet lay. and the ship fitted for
the voyage, over two weeks had elapsed. The name
Of the French ship selected was the sloOp of war
Triomphe perhaps D'Estaing selected her because
Of her name 10 carry the triumphant news. On
February 10 she set sail Her captain was the
Chevalier Du Qncsne, and he and his officers and
crew seemed to share the anxiety of Lafayette and
D'Estaing that French ship should get the news
to the patriots in Philadelphia before British ship
could carry il to the enemy in New-York. During
that voyage the utmost skill of experienced French
scamen was employed to hasten the ship with her
joyful intelligence. After a passage of thirty-two
days the Tnomphc reached the Capes of the Della
ware. Captain Du Quesue was too anxious
to get the up to Philadelphia To
wait tho comparatively slow progress OF his
ship so he went on shore at the first available
place aud started express to ride night and day
with the dispatches. This express reached Phila-
delphia at o a. H., March %. The grest desire of
the French TO be the bearers of the first news was
gratifed. for the British vessel did not arrive Oft
Sandy Hook until April 4, twelve days later. In
FL, III, haI ri
rImors through their lines of the news brought by
the TnOmphe.
The philadelphia Packet was probably the first
American paper to publish the news The next
paper probably was The Ner-Jrsey Gazette of Tren-
ton, which published it March 20. The post
rider between Philadelphia and Trenton then was
James Martin, of Frankford, Penn, who probably
carried the news to Trenton. The Ner-jeSey Gazette
published it with the heading: Peace. Liberty
and Independence - and is doubtful if our newspa-
pers in 1863 announcing Lees surrender spread so
much JOY did The Gazette by It's news In ITS issue OF
March 20, 1893. Ii had circulation quite extensive
for that time, among the principal patriots IN New
Jersey and the vicinity Of New-York. 1t was car
ricd 10 subscribers by post riders, among whom
were John Van Kirk, an eX-shorif of Middlesc1
County, who carried it in Middlesex and Monmouth
Counties and John Hedden and Alexander Ander-
SON who carried it to Newark and other parts of
old Essex and adjacent places. AS the post riders
made no delay in carrying the paper 1t il reason
ably certain that the patriots i'll the vicinity OF
New-York had the news of peace within two or
three days after it was published.
The Americans saw the British ship entering the
harbor of New-York on April 4, but il seems that
the dispatches she carried not delivered to
the British commander until the next day He
knew their purport 80 disastrous to the Royaists
in the city, and was III no great haste to receive
them.
A GRIEVoUS BLOW TO THE ROYATIsIS.
On April $ the treaty of peace was read from the
City Hall steps. 1t was indeed sad news to the
thousands Of Loyalists from the surrounding coun-
try who had sought refuge in the city. Says one
account:
when the news OF peace was known the city OF New
York presented scene Of distress not easily described
adhrrents to the Crown who In the army tore the
anpcIs from their coats and stamped them under their
feet and exclaimed that they were ruined others ceu
oyaliy and left 10 shift for themselves Without
the friendship OF King or country.
General Washington united with the great ma
iority of other patriots in having the news OF peace
COMMUNICATED on April 10, the anniversary OF the
first battle of the Revolution. On April Is he is
sued an order that the proclama OF peace should
be ad On r mSAt t ny &S With b be cheans With
the scN eral brgadcs would render thanks 10 Al
mighty God for all His mcrcies particularly Tor
causing the rage of war To cease among men,
THE CELEBRATION IN NEw-JERsEY.
In most of the towns of New-JcrSey the suspcn-
sion of hostilitics was commemorated as before
stated Oh April 10. An exception was the one at
Trenton which occurred a few days before, on
April -. In almost every town the celebration
was begun with divine service in some church
about noon; in the afternoon entertainments were
given, Mt which suitable tOasts were read, and in
the evening dwellings were Illuminated, transpa-
rences exhibited, and everywhere were b0nfircs
and fireworks. The most notable celebration de-
scribed in the old Nercrscy Gazette was the one Mt
Bordentown, n. j., where number of appropriate
transparences were exhibited AT the house and the
academy of the Rev. Burgess Allison. The prevail
ing sentiment was expressed in the toast given at
Princeton: " May the recollection of the 10Th of
April 1915, the 4th of July, 1870, and the Sd of
February, 1888, prove a terror to tyrantS ana OPP
pressors throughout the world"
In September previous to the final evacuation OF
New-York, 1000 men, women and children en-
barked at the city and at Long Island and Staten
Island, for New Brunswick Nova Scotia and the
Bahamas
A LOYALIST CENTENNIAL"
The city of st. John. n. b., was founded by some
of these Loyasts and the citizens of that place on
October held a Centennial Harvest Festival"
to commemorate the event The Lieutcnant-Gov-
ernor, IL. ID. WilmOt, III the chair. and the