USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the Colonial History of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XXVIII > Part 25
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The Pennsylvania Journal, and the Weekly Advertiser; No. 1564, November 25, 1772.
TO BE SOLD, At J. HOLT'S PRINTING-OFFICE, Near the Coffee-House.
A complete Assortment of Stationery, of all Kinds, viz : Most of the above Articles especially Paper and Account.
Books, will be sold cheap for Cash, in the wholesale Way. ALSO to be SOLD at the same Place
Horn-Books, Battledores, Primers, Testaments, Bibles, Children Books of all sorts, and a Variety of other Books and Pamphlets, particularly
Mr. Leaming, on the first Day Sabbath, and on the Evid- encies of Christianity.
Mr. Gwatkin's Letter to the Clergy of New York, and New Jersey.1
Mr. Doty's primitive Doctrine of Infant Baptism, found- ed upon and proved by the Word of God .- The New- York Journal, or The General Advertiser, No. 1560, November 26, 1772.
PHILADELPHIA, November 25. We hear the sloop Bent- ham, capt. Thomas Albertson, from New-York for this port, is drove ashore near Sandy-Hook. It is hoped the vessel and cargo will be saved .- The New-York Gazette, or The Weekly Post-Boy, No. 1546, November 30, 1772.
1 A Letter | to the | Clergy | of | New York and New Jersey, | occasioned by [ An Address | to the | Episcopalians in Virginia. | By the Reverend Thomas Gwatkin, Professor of | Mathematicks, and Natural Philosophy, in William | and Mary College. | -I' the Progress of this Business, [ Ere a determinate Resolution, He | (I mean the Bishop) did require a Respite. Shakespeare. | -but now the Bishop | Turns Insurrection to Religion. Ibid. | Who art Thou that judgest another Man's Servant? To his own Master he standeth or | falleth. St. Paul. | Williamsburg: | Printed by Alex. Purdie, and John Dixon. 1772. | sm 4to. pp. 26, (2).
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FIVE DOLLARS REWARD.
R UN-away from Samuel Ogden, of Boontown, in the County of Morris, and Province of New-Jer- sey, on Sunday the 18th of October last: A Negro Man named Mingo or Tim, he is about 30 Years of Age, has a Scar either on his Nose or on one of his Cheeks; is about 5 Feet 7 or 8 Inches high, plays on the Violin, speaks good Dutch and English, and is much addicted to Strong drink: Had on when he went away a dark brown broad cloth Coat, with brass Philadelphia Buttons, a brown broad cloth waist-coat, with basket mohair Buttons, a Pair of red coating Trowsers, an ozenbrig Shirt and wool Hat. He was formerly the property of Isaac Wilkins, Esq; of West-Chester, about which Place it is not unlikely he may be lurking. Whoever apprehends said Negro and returns him to his Master, or secures him in any of his Majesty's Goals, shall be paid the above Reward, and all reasonable Charges by SAMUEL OGDEN.
P URSUANT to an Order of the Supreme Court of New-Jersey, NOTICE is hereby given to the Creditors of Joshua Marsh, an insolvent Debtor, confined in the Goal of the Borough of Elizabeth, to show Cause (if any they have) on the 17 Day of December next at the Common-Hall in Elizabeth-Town, before the Worship- ful Daniel Pierson, and Jonathan Hampton, Esqrs, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Essex; why an Assignment of the said Debtor's Estate should not be made for the Use of his Creditors, and he there upon be discharged from his Imprisonment, agreeable to a late Act of Assembly, passed in the 12th Year of his present Majesty's Reign, for the Relief of insolvent Debtors.
Elizabeth-Town
Nov. 16, 1772
JOSHUA MARSH.
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S TRAYED or stolen out of the pasture of the subscri- ber, living in Newark, on the night of the 21st instant November, a dark bay horse, about seven years old, without mark or brand, about 13 hands and a half high, trots and gallops, has been much used to the saddle, the hind part of which has hurt his back, and the mark is still to be seen; he is shod before. Any person that will bring said horse to the owner, shall have Four Dollars reward and all reasonable charges paid. If stolen, the person that secures the thief or thieves, so that they may be brought to justice, shall have FIVE POUNDS, and all charges paid by
SAMUEL HAYES.
To be LETT or SOLD,
A Small farm lying at Second River, in New-Jersey, nearly opposite Col. John Schuyler's, and which formerly belonged to Whitemore: It contains about 12 or 14 Acres, has a good House with four good Rooms in it. Any person inclining to hire or purchase, may apply to Whitehead Hicks, Esq; in New-York, or to Gar- ret Thibou, Store-keeper near the Church at Newark .-- The New-York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury, No. IIOI, November 30, 1772.
On the 17th of November was taken up, at the Widow Davis's Tavern, between Hacket's-Town and Greenwich Forge, in Sussex County, New Jersey, a certain Person, on Suspicion of having stolen a Stallion in York County; but in taking him to a Magistrate, although his Hands were tied, he jumped off the Horse he rode, and made his Escape in the Woods, leaving behind him a small Bay Horse, and a Quantity of Dry Goods, which were taken back to the aforesaid Tavern. As they are sup- posed to have been stole, any Person proving Property to the Horse or Goods, may have them again on paying
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Charges, by applying to the Subscriber, living near Dur- ham, in Berks County,
ROBERT WILSON.
In the New-York Papers we find, that by the Vigilance of the Magistrates, 40 in the County of Albany, no less than twelve Persons were lately taken up and committed to Goal, for counterfeiting and passing counterfeit Money of that Province. There were found in the Posession of the different Offenders, several Plates for striking Three Pounds and Five Shillings, New-York Bills, and Jersey Bills of different Denominations; also two Presses and a Quantity of Types; a Stamp for Dollars, and other Im- plements, with a Quantity of Bills, some finished, and some unfinished.
THE PROPRIETORS of the BORDEN-TOWN and BUR- LINGTON STAGE WAGGONS, do hereby inform the Public, that the high Price of Grain, lays them under a Neces- sity of raising the Fare of Passengers, going to and from South-Amboy, and that from the First Day of this instant December, a Passenger must pay Five Shillings, to or from Borden-Town, and Six Shillings, to or from Bur- lington.
JOSEPH BORDEN, JOSEPH FOLWELL.
To be SOLD, by the SUBSCRIBER, at the Head of Allo- way's Creek, in the county of Salem, and province of New Jersey.
A VALUABLE PLANTATION and TRACT of LAND, con- taining 250 ACRES, about 100 cleared, 40 whereof are good meadow; there is on said place, a good brick house, with barn, stabling and other out-houses; likewise a good stream of water, and a saw-mill, lately rebuilt, the stream and conveniences very suitable to erect a grist or mer-
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chant mill. Any person inclining to purchase. may apply to the subscriber, on the premises.
ISAAC OAKFORD.
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2293, December 2, 1772.
December 12, 1772.
WHEREAS Alexander Graham, of the city of Philadel- phia, Shopkeeper, hath assigned over to Jacob Winey, Andrew Bunner, Clement Biddle, and John Field, all his estate, books, and effects, in trust for the use of his present Creditors; and whereas John Graham, or Grimes, late of Salem, New Jersey, brother to the said Alexander Gra- ham, as well to discharge a debt to the said Alexander, as to obtain the releasement of his person from imprison- ment and to induce the Creditors to grant him a letter of License for three years, has by two instruments of writ- ing, assigned and released his effects in trust for the use of the present Creditors of the said Alexander Graham, as by said Assignments and Release at large appears- therefore, all persons who have any demands against the said Alexander Graham, or against the said John Gra- ham, are desired to bring them in to Clement Biddle, be- fore the 16th day of January, that a dividend of said effects may be made agreeable to the Trust reposed in the Assignees .- The Pennsylvania Chronicle, and Universal Advertiser, No. 309, December 5 to 12, 1772.
To the Printer of the New-York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury.
MR. PRINTER,
W HEN a Writer submits any literary Production to the Inspection of the Public, every Man has a Right to examine it; provided he does this with Decency and Candour. I shall not knowingly violate either in the following Strictures on some Parts of
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a Performance, contained in two of your late Papers, and which had been printed before, in the Form of a Pamph- let.
You have given us Dr. WITHERSPOONS Address to the Inhabitants of Jamaica, and other West-India Islands, in behalf of the College of New-Jersey. The Republication of this Address in your Gazette, that it might circulate thro' North-America, tho' designed originally for the West-Indies, has occasioned various Speculations, and many of your Readers have been at a Loss for some Clue to direct them to the Motives and Reasons of it. For my Part, I am inclined to think this Step was taken upon a Presumption that it would operate in Favour of the College at Princeton; tho' in a Method different from what was first intended by the Address. I have been in- formed that the Trustees of that College prepared making a Collection in the West-India Islands for the Seminary under their Care; and that this Address was drawn up to facilitate that Measure: So far was very well. The Zeal of those Gentlemen to promote the Interest of their College was commendable. But what have the North- Americans to do with this? Why was the Address, origi- nally designed for, and directed to, the Inhabitants of the West-Indies, obtruded on them?
Upon reading that part of the Address you first gave us, I was considering whether a display of the Doctor's Ability and Skill in Composition might not be the motive for this Republication-or to inform the Public, of the Place of his Birth, near Edinburgh, and of his Con- nection with the Members of the University of Glasgow. The Contents naturally led me to think so; this was also very harmless. It might proceed from the Advice of Friends; imagining that a Person thus distinguished, and placed at the Head of their College, if generally known, would add to its Reputation. As I mean not to detract
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from the Doctor's real Merit-from his Talents for writing or his literary Attainments; so neither shall I take upon me to determine how far this Composition may have contributed to establish his Character as an Author. I am perfectly willing that he and his College should re- main in the full and quiet Possession of all the Advan- tages, honours and emoluments arising to them, in this Respect, from the present Address.
But the Part of this Address, which you published in a succeeding Paper, clearly pointed out the Method by which the College of New-Jersey was to have Service done to it, viz. By representing it as superior to all the neighbouring Colleges. Thus whilst Contributions were to be levied in the West-Indies, the Youth of North- America were to be lured by the Charmer's Voice into the Bosom of Nassau-Hall.
Had this Gentleman been content with recommending an Education in America, as preferable to one in Great- Britain, where, it seems, Boys are apt to be idle and very naughty-had he only amused us with telling that Am- erica is nearer the West-Indies than Great-Britain-that Princeton is extremely healthy, and so happily situated between New-York and Philadelphia, that it could not be moved a Yard either way, without manifest Disadvan- tage-nay, had he been satisfied with giving a minute Detail of Premiums conferred in the several Classes of his- School and College, or of the Government and Mode of Teaching practiced in each : I know no Person that would be offended at such Speculations; and besides, they might serve to take off some of that Blame which he tells us the Friends of that College have incurred by their Neglect of giving prompous Descriptions, or repeated Recommendations of it in the public Papers-a Charge, which in my humble Opinion, is utterly Groundless. But when Insinuations are flung out, which are justly deemed'
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injurious to other Seminaries, when advantages are held up as peculiar to the College of Princeton, the Reader being led to imagine that other Colleges are destitute of them: The learned President must not be surprised if Notice be taken of such Things. And I am persuaded he will be the less inclined to take amiss the few Animad- versions I am about to make, as I attribute the exception- able Passages, which gave Rise to them, principally to Misinformation. When he is better acquainted with the State of Things in America, he will often be very apt to suspect that several Articles of Intelligence which he re- ceives from a certain Quarter, are dictated by Party Spirit.
The Doctor recommends his College to the Attention and Esteem of Men of Penetration and Candour, chiefly from such Circumstances-as are essential to its Situa- tion and Constitution, and therefore must be supposed to have not only the most powerful but the most lasting Effect. These Circumstances he reduces under five dif- ferent Heads; and to these we ought to attend, as the supposed Superiority of Princeton College depends on them.
He begins with affirming-the College of New-Jersey is altogether independent. This Expression is very strong. Does he mean Independent with respect to its Funds, or to the Principles which are therein circulated ? The former Sense is excluded by what he soon after adds-we are so far, says he, from having our Fund so complete, as of itself to support the necessary Expence, that the greater Part of our annual Income, arises from the Payment of the Scholars,-and the very Design of this Address, which is to solict Benefactions, plainly evinces that their Funds are not in a State of Indepen- dency.
It remains that this College is altogether independent,
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with Respect to the Principles that are there inculcated. Does this Gentleman then imagine that this Circumstance will recommend his College to Men of Penetration and Candour under a British Government, and where the Church of England is established? The Principles of Independents are justly deemed by the judicious and dis- cerning, not only unfriendly, but dangerous in the highest Degree, to our happy Constitution, which has often bled under their seditious Machinations. Turbulence and Faction ever have, and probably ever will mark their Pro- ceedings. Would this Gentleman see the genuine Effects of Principles altogether Independent? I need not send him so far back as to the Reign of CHARLES I, for this, when they laid our Constitution in Ruins. Let him only turn his Eyes to BOSTON, where he may see Men acting on those Principles, and in such a Manner as to be a Dis- grace to all Order and Government. The giddy Caprice, Insolence and Disorders, which are there daily exhibited, are sufficient to give every reasonable Man and loyal Sub- ject a Disgust to Principles altogether Independent .- Peace to Connecticut and its Constitution,-that political Paradox where local adventitious Circumstances prevent the same Spirit from becoming so conspicuous.
The learned President goes on .- It, i. e. the College of N. Jersey hath received no Favour from Government, but the Charter, by the particular Friendship of a Person now deceased. It owes nothing but to the Benefactions of a public so diffusive, that it cannot produce particular Dependence, or operate by partial Influence. From this Circumstance it must be free from two great Evils, and derive the like Number of solid Advantages. There is no Fear of being obliged to choose Teachers upon ministerial" Recommendations, or in Compliance with the over-bear- ing Weight of Family Interest.
Those two Evils, from which the College of Princeton
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is exempt, are, I confess, of a very extraordinary Nature Doubtless this Gentleman must have in View some Amer- ican Colleges, which are exposed to those Evils. This is manifestly implied; for he is here enumerating those Circumstances which are essential to the Situation and Constitution of his College, and must therefore be sup- posed to have not only the most powerful, but the most lasting Effects; and from these, endeavours to recom- mend it to the Attention and Esteem of Men of Penetra- tion and Candour. Would it not be absurd therefore to rank among these Circumstances, such as are common to other Colleges; and not essential or peculiar to that of New-Jersey ?
Well! What Colleges are those which have received Favours from Government that must choose Teachers upon ministerial Recommendation, or in Compliance with the over-bearing Weight of Family Interest? I cannot conceive that any other Colleges can be pointed at, than those of Williamsburgh, Philadelphia and New-York. That of Williamsburgh is so distant, and thro' a Succes- sion of unlucky Circumstances, is in such a depress'd State that it cannot be supposed to rival any College in the more northern Colonies, or engage this Gentleman's At- tention. The College of Philadelphia received a Charter, and some other Favours from the Proprietor of Pennsyl- vania; but it does not appear in Fact that the proprietory Family ever interfered with the Government or internal Regulations of that College. The Trustees, many of whom are in an opposite Interest to the Proprietor, are vested with such Powers by their Charter, that the Pro- prietor, were he even willing, could not control their Reso- lutions; especially in such Matters as this Gentleman re- fers to. His present Majesty graciously bestowed his Royal Bounty on that College in a late Collection; but the Person would be only laughed at, who would infer from
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thence, that the King's Ministers would found a Claim thereon to influence or direct the Measures of that Cor- poration. So that it is not likely that he had even this College, at least principally, in view.
The College of New-York stands the fairest for being the Mark at which the President's Observation was lev- elled. It has a Royal Charter, and ample Privileges by Virtue of that Charter,-it equally shared in the same royal Munificence with the College of Philadelphia .- Our gracious Sovereign has been pleased very lately to remit for ever the Quit-Rents of some valuable Tracts of Land granted for its Use .- There is a Family of Distinction in New-York, which has numerous and respectable Con- nexions, and they have patronized that College, to their immortal Honour, and opposed the Torrent of Party Rage that would have crushed it as soon as formed. But that College has not yet felt, and there is not the most distant Prospect that it ever will feel, the Evils suggested by the learned President.
Does this Gentleman really believe, that his Majesty's Ministers of State, at the Distance of 3000 Miles, will interfere in choosing Teachers for the College of Newe- York? That those Teachers will be chosen in Conse- quence of Ministerial Recommendation? Is it not equally ridiculous to suppose this, as to suppose the King's Min- isters would interest themselves in choosing Constables for the City of New-York, because its Charter and some Grants of Lands have been received from the Crown? Why then throw out this Insinuation, so absurd, so im- probable, to prejudice Mankind against a respectable Sem- inary? Surely this Gentleman must have been sadly at a Loss for Arguments, to shew the superior Advantages of his own College, when he pitched upon this .- An Argument which is likely to have an Effect, contrary to what he intended, with all Men of Sense.
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Equally groundless and injurious is the Insinuation, that Teachers must be chosen in Compliance with the over-bearing Weight of Family Interest. The Family above-mentioned, is, no Doubt, here aimed at: To one of its Members, who was an Honour to America,1 the College of New-York owes its Charter. He, and other Friends of Literature, snatched the Infant Sciences from their Cradle, when ready to perish,-cherished them with parental Tenderness, and exerted their zealous Endea- vours to bring them to Maturity and Perfection. But that Family never did, by its over-bearing Weight in- fluence the Choice of Teachers; or recommend any meas- ure inconsistent with the most liberal Sentiments. In chusing Professors for that College, the Circumstances principally attended to, were Abilities, Prudence and a fair Character. Their Profession, in Point of Religion, was never any Impediment. One of the Professors, who has acquitted himself with universal Approbation for several Years in his Department, is a Presbyterian. The Doctor boasts that his College is founded, and hath been conducted upon the most Catholic Principles. But can he produce such an Instance as this of it's being conducted on Catholic Principles? Was any Member of the Church of England ever admitted to be a Professor in the College of Princeton? I believe not. And altho' I will not af- firm that the above Professor, or any other Professor in the College of New-York, has more Wisdom and self- denial than usually falls to the Lot of Humanity: Yet no Inconveniency has ever arisen from their Diversity of religious Sentiments, as the learned President apprehends. The Society has not been divided into Parties, nor mar- shalled under Names, on that Account.
As a Consequence that naturally may be expected from
1 James de Lancey doubtless is meant. who as Lieutenant-Governor allowed the act to pass the seals.
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the State of Princeton College-its being altogether in- dependent-its Governors and Teachers being removed as far as the State of Human Nature will admit, from any Tempation to a fawning, cringing Spirit, and mean Servility in Hope of Court Favour or Promotion; the learned President informs us, that in Fact they have found by Experience hitherto the Spirit of Liberty hath breathed high and strong in all its Members. This In- formation was needless to those who are acquainted with the State of Princeton College. The Students in their public Exhibitions have very often entered deeply into the Party Politics and Contentions of England, both in for- mer and latter Times, and in such Manner as to give the greatest Offence to many who were present. This hath become so flagrant, especially of late, that a Person, who appears to be a warm Friend to Princeton College, gave a very sensible and just Rebuke for it in the Pennsyl- vania Chronicle of the 3Ist of October last.1 In Truth I condole with the Doctor on the Aukwardness of his Situation; being obliged to avow in Public a Fact, which he has been under a Necessity of apologizing for often in private, and perhaps really disapproves. However this may exculpate the learned President himself, it is certain- ly no Recommendation of his College, of its Constitution or Government.
But this is called the Spirit of Liberty, which breathes high and strong. Others will probably think it deserves and will give it a worse Name. I know no Business that Students have with such Matters. The general Princi- ples and different Forms of Government, they ought in- deed to be made acquainted with, and the Subject is treated of in most Books of Natural Law. But for Stu- dents to be trained up in the peculiar Tenets, and taught to pace in the political Trammels, of any Sect or Party,-
1 See pages 314-317, ante.
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to waste their Time in canvassing the Proceedings and Principles of different Factions,-to have their Judgment early biassed, and Impressions, perhaps injurious to our happy Constitution, made on their Minds, before they are able to distinguish what is Right, from what is Wrong, in such Matters; is improper in the highest Degree, and ut- terly inconsistent with the Business of a College. Stu- dents would spend their Time full as well, (I am sure with less Detriment to the State,) were they to employ it in "extracting Sunbeams out of Cucumbers," to be laid up for the Benefit of his Majesty's liege Subjects, in "raw, inclement Summers," like some Academicans in LAGADO; or divertise themselves with the several Plays and Amuse- ments of the renowned GARAGANTUA, when he went to College.
The Governors and Teachers however of Princeton College, are removed as far as East is from West, from any Temptation to a fawning, cringing Spirit and mean Servility in hope of Court Favour and Promotion. But there is such a Thing as a cringing Spirit and mean Ser- vility towards the Populace, as. well as towards our Super- iors. Popularity may be equally advantageous to some, by gaining a Number of Students to support their neces- sary Expence, as Court Favour can be to others, for the Purpose of Promotion. There may be as much Servility in the one Case as the other: And notwithstanding the Caution given by the learned President to the contrary, every Reader must see that his whole Address is chiefly ad populum; and this Part in particular, is evidently cal- culated to lay Hold on the Prejudices of the People, and turn them to the Advantage of his College.
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