USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 32
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with great parade was about to do in another case, that is, put on spectacles, and try whether he cannot discover suffering innocence, and thereby recover bowels of pity, if ever he had the feelings of it; then I am sure he would not endeavour to add unjust taxation to the oppres- sive load of unjust depreciation of their property and its income.
If I have erred in what I have here offered to the consideration of others, I do declare it has not been intentional ; my pursuit is after equity, justice and truth: And 'till I be otherwise convinced by better reasons than I have hitherto seen, I shall remain satisfied that I have argued on the right side of the question.
I am, Sir,
Your and the publick's humble servant,
A TRUE PATRIOT.
From the BURLINGTON' ALMANACK.
To the Author of the Burlington Almanack.
AT a time when sweetening has become so very scarce and dear as not to become at by many, it may be agree- able to some of thy readers to know that a very good syrup, nearly equal to West-India melasses, may be made of Indian corn stalks, in the following manner :1
As soon as the grain is hard enough to save with care, and before the leaves lose their verdure, husk the corn, clear the stalks of leaves, and cut them close to the ground : the tassel, with three or four joints of the top, may then be taken off, and the rest of the stalk run through a good apple mill well wedged up, unless a mill with round rollers, made for the purpose, can be had, which is the best, as the stalks may be run through that a second time; keep a large tub under the nuts or rollers, with a coarse linen cloth tied over it to separate the pure juice from the broken stalks: the liquour thus strained should immediately be put over a good fire in a brass kettle, some say iron is good, skim it clean as long as any skum arises: after which, and the liquor boils, it should be stirred frequently, and when boiled away to near one third, strain it through a flannel, or if that cannot become at, a coarseish strong linen cloth will do, then immediately hang it over the fire again, and boil it until of a proper
1 See page 420 post.
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thickness, which may be known by cooling a little in a bowl. It is observable, when near done, a rich yellowish froth appears on the top, resembling that which sometimes is seen in warm weather on good melasses; and in this last boiling it should be almost constantly stirred with a wooden stick, to prevent its burning. The time it re- quires to evaporate to a perfect melasses depends a little upon the ripeness of the juice when the stalk is cut, and the briskness of the fire; if the juice is in maturity, and the liquor is kept. in a constant good boil, about seven or eight hours actual boiling has been found sufficient, otherwise a longer time is necessary. The process may be expedited and much helped by having several kettles on at once: and when partly boiled and strained as above directed, put the whole into one that will contain, and finish it off; this makes room for more fresh juice, and prevents burning the kettle or the melasses.
A very good melasses may also be made of pumpions,1 by baking them until soft, then expressing the juice and boiling it as above; and also of cider made of sweet apples: In both cases the second straining is necessary to make it of the best quality.
If these hints, from one who has had some little ex- perience, may put others upon making the trial, and fur- nishing thy next year's Almanack with a more clear and practical method in one or all of these branches of manu- facturing this useful commodity, and in the meantime encourage my countrymen to supply themselves with a substitute for the foreign melasses, that may atone in some measure for the present scarcity, and perhaps save the importation of so much made by the iron hand of slavery, in future the aim of thy correspondent will be answered.2
DULCIS.
1 Obsolete or archaic form of pumpkin.
2 See, as related hereto, "An act to encourage the manufacture of beet sugar in this State" (P. L. 1872, p. 91), and "An act to encourage the manufacture of sugar in the State of New Jersey" (P. L. 1881, p. 30). The latter act expired five years after its passage, but under its stimulus sugar cane was grown in the southern part of New Jersey and a large sorghum mill was erected at Rio Grande, Cape May county.
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TRENTON, SEPT. 9.
On Saturday last His Excellency Governor Livingston passed thro' this town, on his way to Philadelphia, and yesterday he returned; having paid a visit to Monsieur Gerard, the French Ambassador. In a short time after the Governor's arrival here from the city he set out for Princeton, in order to meet the Legislature of this State, who are to meet there this day for the dispatch of public business.
Yesterday arrived here from Philadelphia, the Provost Troop of Light Dragoons, under the command of Captain Hair, being on their way to camp at White Plains.
Last Monday evening five villains, two of whom, we hear, acknowledge themselves to be of the gang that robbed the Widow Boelsfelt near the Great Swamp, as mentioned in our last, were brought to town, and com- mitted to close gaol.
This is to give Notice to the PUBLICK in GENERAL,
THAT DANIEL MANNING still continues to carry on the DISTILLERY at William Savage's, within four miles of Princeton, where he intends to use the utmost of his en- deavours to give final satisfaction to all who please to fa- vour him with their custom, which he flatters himself he is capable so to do, as he has already provided a number of hogsheads, in order to relieve those that are sent with the commodities that are to be distilled, and as casks at present become a scarce article.
N. B. Said Manning proposes to distill at the moderate rate of one gallon of the spirit each barrel will produce when distilled.
September 2, 1778.
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Thirty Dollars Reward.
STRAYED or stolen, on the 5th inst. from the subscriber at the Scotch Plains in Essex county, New-Jersey, a dark bay MARE and COLT, both have a small star in their fore- heads; the mare is about 14 hands high, trots and paces ; as does the colt. Whoever takes up said mare and colt, and secures them, so that the owner may get them again, shall have the above reward and reasonable charges.
JOHN WEBSTER, the 3d. Sept. 7, 1778.
TAKEN from a British Doctor at Crosswicks, about the first of July last, a bay MARE, supposed to belong to a sub- ject of the United States, about thirteen hands high, six or seven years old. She has been advertised before. The owner is desired to come prove his property, pay charges, and take her away.
JOHN MOORE.
Crosswicks, September 4, 1778.
WILLIAM RICHARDS,
HAS removed his medicines, &c. from Reading to his store in Philadelphia, on the North side of Market-street, next door to the corner of Second-street, at the sign of the Spread Eagle, where he manufactures and sells the best velvet corks, and mustard; he gives seven pounds ten shillings per bushel for mustard seed, and twenty shill- ings per half peck. A good cork-cutter is wanted, and a man that understands making the G R Holland stone ware.
Said RICHARDS has at Lamberton, (one mile below Trenton) put his stores, wharf, and his schooner called the Lamberton Packet, in proper order for the reception of goods to and from Philadelphia, and for the accomoda- tion of passengers.
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BROKE into the pasture of the subscriber, innkeeper, in Morristown, on the 24th day of June last, a bay MARE, with an old saddle and part of a bridle on her, is about 14 hand and a half high, trots and paces, but mostly inclin- ing to a pace; a large white streak in her face, branded with an H on her near thigh, but not easily perceived ; shod before; supposed to be about six or seven years old. The owner is desired to prove his property, pay the charges, and take her away, otherwise she will be sold, as she has been advertised for a stray.
Aug. 24, 1778.
ENOCH CONGER.
Twenty Dollars Reward.
WAS STOLEN out of the team of the subscriber at Bor- dentown, New-Jersey, a roan HORSE, about 4 years old ; he is very much galled on his neck and right shoulder, a little hipshotten, natural pacer, and about 15 hands high. Whoever secures said horse, so that the owner may get him again, shall have the above reward and reasonable charges, paid by the subscriber at Col. Hoagland's.
ANTHONY WHITEMAN.
Wants employ, as a CLERK,
A Young man, who can come well recommended for his honesty, sobriety and attention to business .- Any Gentle- men inclined to employ such a person by sending proposals to the Printer hereof, shall be duly answered.
Sept. 1, 1778.
Thirty Dollars Reward.
STOLEN on Monday night last, from the subscriber, liv- ing near Kingston, a black MARE about 15 hands high, well made, has a good carriage, a lump on the top of her head,
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occasioned by the pole-evil, long dock, and shod before. Whoever apprehends the thief, so that he may be brought to justice, and secures the mare for the owner, shall have the above reward, or Twenty Dollars for the mare only, paid by
FARNANT GULICK.
September 4, 1778.
TO BE SOLD,
A Plantation in Upper Freehold, Monmouth county, about four miles from Allentown and twelve miles from Bordentown, containing about 400 acres of land, with a very good house, barn and out-houses, with fine orchards, 30 acres of meadow, and near 200 acres of wood-land; a great part of said farm is in cedar fence, well watered, in a healthy part of the country, three miles from the pines, ten or twelve miles to the cedar swamps; the land is good for corn, wheat, and grass. For further particulars enquire of the subscriber on the premises.
PETER IMLAY.
Sept. 2, 1778.
SIR,
To the PRINTER of the NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
SEVERAL essays have been published in your Gazette, and in other News-papers, calculated to prove the superior excellence of our inde- pendence to that of our subordination to Great-Britain. But as the lion told the man, who showed him the statute of a human figure with that of a lion at his feet, "that men were the only statuaries ; and that if "lions understood the art of carving images, they would represent the "man prostrate before the lion" -- - So I may venture to say that all those essays are the compositions of warm whigs, who are intoxicated with the imaginary charms of democracy ; and that were the friends of government to handle the subject, they could easily shew its superiority to all our republican and levelling systems. This talk I have under- taken in a firm reliance of being allowed that freedom of sentiment to which, according to our professed ideas of liberty, every man seems to be clearly entitled - - - I shall, therefore, without any apprehensions of exposing myself to a legal prosecution, and with the greatest de- corum and impartiality, proceed to particularize some eminent advan- tages peculiar to the old government, of which we are most lamentably deprived by our independency and republicanism.
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The most violent whig will not presume to deny that we have con- tracted an enormous debt by the present war ; and though we are very able to pay it, (which our short-sighted politicians urge as an argu- mont to alleviate the affliction) it is that very ability of ours which, in my opinion, enhances the misfortune ; for as we are able to pay the debt, I am under great apprehensions we really shall pay it. But in this respect Great-Britain has evidently the advantage, because being utterly incapable of discharging her national arrears, it is certain she never will discharge them ; and indeed her incapacity annihilates her obligation, it being an indisputed maxim in law, that no one is obliged to impossibilities. What renders her situation still more fortunate, and in which she differs from all other debtors in the world is, that she continues to have credit after being universally known to be insolvent. But who will trust America after she becomes bankrupt? Not even his most Christain Majesty himself. Would it not, therefore, have been infinitely better for us to have remained in subjection to a nation that can equip the most formidable fleets and armies on credit, and prose- cute endless wars in every quarter of the globe, not only without any cash of her own, but without the least intention of repaying what she borrows from others for that purpose? The argument is conclusive.
Again, the Congress, notwithstanding our present exalted opinion of that respectable body, may in process of time, betray their trust, and sacrifice our liberties. - - - But in this perfidious manner the House of commons cannot serve their constituents, because the people selling their voices to the members on election, the latter undoubtedly may, without the imputation of corruption, dispose of theirs to the ministry, to re-imburse themselves the expenditure ; and the matter being thus understood by both parties, bribery in the representative cannot be considered as a violation of his duty. And as to their sacrificing the liberties of the people, it is manifest from the electors repeatedly chusing the most obsequious instruments of administration, that they really intend them to be thus obsequious; and that, saving to them- selves the precious privilege of calling their king a fool, and his mother a w - - re, (a privilege peculiar to Englishmen) the parliament may justly dispose of the remainder of their rights and liberties as they please. And indeed I cannot see how any people can have greater liberty than that of freely resigning all liberty whatsoever. It is therefore evident that the people of England can never be betrayed by parliament, nor wrongfully abridged of their liberty, except only by an express statute against libelling his majesty and his mother, (which, in consideration of the resignation aforesaid) is not likely to be ever passed. We, on the contrary, shall have reason to complain of a breach of trust, whenever our delegates in congress act in deroga- tion of our rights, or deviate how minutely soever from the path of rectitude and integrity ; which, from the imperfections incident to human nature, are undoubtedly possible events.
That the vulgar should be flattered by our muggletonian, tatter- demalion governments, is not to be wondered at, considering into what importance those whimsical raggamuffin constitutions have elevated the
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heretofore dispicable and insignificant mobility. But I am astonished that men of fashion and spirit should prefer our hotchpotch, oliverian, oligargical anarchies, to the beautiful, the constitutional, the jure divino, and the heaven-descended monarchy of Britain. For pray how are the better sort amidst our universal levelism, to get into offices? During the halcyon days of royalty and loyalty, if a gentleman was only blessed with a handsome wife or daughter, or would take the trouble of informing the ministry of the disaffection of the colonies,- suggesting at. the same time the most proper measures for reducing them to parliamentary submission, (the inexhaustible source of all peace and felicity ) he was instantly rewarded with some lucrative appointment, his own disqualifications and the maledictions of the rabble notwithstanding. But how is a gentleman of family, who is always entitled to a fortune, to be promoted to a post of profit, or station of eminence in these times of unsubordination and fifth mon- archynism? Why, he must deport himself like a man of virtue and honor, (which abridges him of a thousand innocent liberties) and would in almost any other employment yield him ten times the amount of his emoluments. He must moreover pretend to be a patriot, and to love his country, and he must consequently be a hypocrite, and act under perpetual restraint, or he is detected and discarded with infamy. Besides, it is not only the smallness of our salaries, and the necessity of having an adequate degree of merit to get into office, (a condition never exacted by the generosity of monarchs) but the com- parative scarity of offices themselves, that must make every man of laudable ambition eternally regret our revolt from the mother country: For the present governments being manufactured by the populace, who have worked themselves into a pursuasion of I know not what, of public weal and public virtue, and the interest of one's country, it has been ridiculously imagined that there ought to be no more offices in a state than are absolutely requisite for what these deluded creatures call the benefit of the commonwealth. Under the old constitution, on the contrary, whenever the crown was graciously disposed to oblige a gentleman, (and the royal coffers at the happy juncture of princely munificence happened to shew rather too much of their bottoms) an office was instantly invented for the purpose ; and both land and water, earth and sea should be ransacked, but his Majesty would create a Surveyor of Woods and a Sounder of Coasts. Thus every humble suitor who had a proper introduction was always sure of being genteely provided for, without either consulting a mob, or losing any time about the wild chimera of public utility.
The article of religion is another thing in which the British consti- tution has manifestly the advantage of ours. For notwithstanding our boasted generosity on that momentous subject, and all our pompous declarations of leaving every one at his option to chuse his own re- ligion, our gentlemen of distinction are now obliged, in order to co-incide with the popular prejudice, to give some presumptive evidence of their being neither atheists nor deists. Whereas, in England, and indeed in America, before our unhappy defection, the belief in christianity as a
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qualification for any office was entirely out of the question ; nor did any public personage, or gentleman of fashion, think himself under the least obligation to give any proof, even of his faith in the existence of a Deity, except only that of profanely swearing by his name. Nay, amidst all our parade of catholicism, it is well known that not a lady in the land, let her be as whiggish as the Congress itself, can now enjoy the liberty of conscience of wearing an innocent head-dress of three feet in altitude, without falling under the suspicion of being dis- affected to independency, and perhaps exciting surmises still more indelicate and uncharitable. Nor can it be denied, that many truly conscientious persons have been roughly handled for only conveying intelligence to the British troops, and others for supplying them with a trifle of provisions, (according to scriptural precept of feeding our enemies ) tho' they made the most solemn professions of their peaceable neutrality, and even of their friendly disposition to the United States, which is beyond all question downright persecution for conscience sake.
. We have irretrievably lost, by our fatal revolt, another important advantage, I mean the late useful and uninterrupted influx of the British gallantry, and all the politeness of the Court of London. While we received our governors and other principal officers imme- diately from the fountain-head of high life and polish'd manners, it was impossible for us to degenerate into our primitive clownishness and rusticity. But these being now unfortunately excluded, we shall gradually reimmerse into plain hospitality, and downright honest sin- cerity ; than which nothing can be more insipid to a man of breeding and politesse. Alas, how often shall we recall to mind those jovial and delicious hours, when our bucks experienced the inimitable conviviality, and our belles the not-to-be-told-of endearments of a Dunmore1 and a Sparks !? And with respect to that unnecessary and rebellious inno- vation in the ancient and constitutional colour of the British military uniform, which Congress have wantonly transformed into all the multi- farious discolorations of Joseph's coat; I pertest, were I a woman, I should instantly turn tory in revenge of the dismal prospect of our not having, by next Christmas, a single red-coat on the continent.
Our printers, I am confident, will universally join me in my lamenta- tion over our unfortunate secession. These gentlemen, in conformity to the principles of our civil establishments, (probably indeed coinci- . dent with their own, but that renders foreign restraints not the less arbitrary or irksome) are cruelly restricted to plain truth and decency ; while their brother-craftsmen in the enemy's lines, with the whole typographical fraternity on the constitutional island, are generously
1 Last royal Governor of Virginia.
2 A most accomplished royal governor in the West-Indies, who, by his peculiar tenderness for everything in petticoats, whether feme sole or feme covert, occasioned a most unnatural conspiracy of a number of husbands and fathers, who rushed into his room and traiterously slew him upon the spot .- An indignity to the regal appointment, which Great-Britain from her parental affection for the colonies, plantations and provinces, was too indulgent to punish as a rebellion against the supremacy of parliament.
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permitted to range uncontrolled thro' the boundless fields of imagina- tion, and to exert all the powers of inventive genius in embellishing their publications with the marvellous; which has ever been deemed a capital beauty in composition, and affects the mind in the most agree- able manner, by its unexpected surprize and novelty.
Thus have I endeavoured to point out the most essential defects of our republican government, and have, in my humble opinion, offered sufficient reasons to induce every dispassionate American to wish for a speedy reconciliation with the parent state, consistent with that union of force, on which the safety of our common religion and liberty depends.
I ought, however, candidly to acknowledge that many gentlemen are of opinion that we have gained one very material advantage over Great-Britain by our separation from her, I mean that no persons employed by the States are mistrusted for imitating her example in peculation, and defrauding their country in any the departments com- mitted to their management, and that all continental property is hus- · banded with the greatest œconomy ; but this, without any predilection for Old England, I shrewdly suspect wants confirmation.
HORTENTIUS.1
-New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 40, September 9, 1778.
From the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
An ESSAY upon the manufacture of INDIAN CORN STALKS, for the purpose of making Molasses, Sugar, and Spirits.2
As the habit of using saccharine or sweetening sub- stances, such as sugar, molasses and syrup, has become so common as to constitute a considerable part of our com- merce, as well as of our sustenance, particularly for the female and more delicate part of the community, and from which the men in general would not willingly be exempt, if to be procured at a reasonable expence; this essay is intended to point out a method to such as may not before have been acquainted with it whereby we may serve our- selves with a substitute for those articles, equal, and in some respects superior in quality to what has been im- ported from the West-Indies, with this additional advan- tage, that a very considerable sum may be saved to the
1 One of Governor Livingston's delightful satires.
2 See page 411 ante.
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Continent, even from an article which has hitherto been considered as fit for nothing but the barnyard or sterco- rary ;1 and what is still more interesting to the real friends of freedom and mankind is, that it may be procured in considerable quantities without the service or assistance of slaves, which to a generous mind must render it abundantly more valuable. The subject from which it is to be pro- cured is no other than the common Indian Corn Stalk.
Having accidentally heard that trials has been made with them in different ways, which seemed to afford en- couragement for profitable success, I was induced the last fall to attempt the experiment myself; and as the price of foreign sweets continue extravagantly high, the season in which they may be procured at home now approaches, and às I have not yet seen any essay or directions on the sub- ject, whereby many (who would probably enter into the matter whether from motives of patriotism or interest) are deprived of the opportunity of exerting themselves on the occasion; I am therefore induced, from my own inclina- tions, as well as the persuasion of divers others, to lay be- fore the public the observations I have made, together with such instructions as I am at present able to furnish, and shall first begin with the mill for grinding the stalks.
When I made my experiments the last fall, I had not heard that any other machine had been used for the busi- ness except the common cyder mill; but considering the form and nature of the stalk, and the inconvenience that would attend grinding in the common mill, by their being so imperfectly crushed, as well as their absorbing or suck- ing up again a considerable part of the juice as they passed through the mill, and the disadvantage and loss that would attend pressing the stalks, considering the hardness of their texture, induced me to believe that a different plan must be preferable; I therefore employed a turner to make two smooth cylinders or rollers of good white oak, of the same diameter as my cyder mill, and which might fit my old cyder mill frame; this was all the additional
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