USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 5
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I will always be a faithful guardian of the honour of the crown of Great-Britain.
A very proper keeper of what has been lost ever since the 25th of October, 1760, the very day that your Majesty ascended the throne!
The various services I have mentioned to you will un- avoidably require large supplies.
As true a word as ever was spoken; and larger supplies than your parliament can furnish. Have you heard, Sir, that your troops have already been obliged to take Penn- sylvania currency; and that when they cannot rob, you cannot pay ?
I will steadily pursue the measures in which we are engaged for the re-establishment of that subordina- tion, &c.
How long your Majesty intends to pursue, is best known to yourself-But I am confident you must run much faster than you have ever yet done, or you will not overtake it. By your constitutional subordination we understand a most tyrannical domination, which we have long since bequeathed to your loyal subjects of Great- Britain, whom you had previously prepared to relish that kind of a legacy.
But I shall ever be watchful for an opportunity of put- ting a stop to the effusion of the blood of my subjects, and the calamities which are inseparable from a state of war.
Ring the bells! Ring the bells backward! To church, all hands to church; for Nero is to give us a sermon against murder, and Jonathan Wilde an exhortation to abstain from robbery !
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And I still hope that the deluded and unhappy multi- tude will return to their allegiance-
And when the sky falls we shall catch larks .- And so the late insignificant faction is now multiplied to a multitude. Indeed, did you but know, Sir, what a multi- tude it is, you would as soon think of levelling Mount AEtua, as of conquering America. But they are not de- luded, Sir. They knew that you had projected their slavery; and they will not be enslaved. If there be any delusion in the case, it is the British nation that is de- luded, and it is deluded by you, and yourself are deluded by a set of villains, who expected to have divided our estates upon the success of your arms. Allegiance we owe you none. Then, Sir, did we show our allegiance when we lay prostrate at your throne, supplicating for the continuation of those liberties, which God and nature and the law had given us; and when you spurned us from it. .
That the remembrance of what they once enjoyed, the regret of what they have lost, and the feelings of what they now suffer under the tyranny of their leaders, will rekindle in their hearts a spirit of loyalty to their sovereign, and of their attachment to their mother country.
If you will be pleased, Sir, to allow yourself a moment's reflection, you will find they will have lost nothing that was worth keeping. They have lost nothing but the pleasure of being oppressed under colour of law; and of enriching myriads of harpies of your appointment, and appointed for the express purpose of fleecing them, and of lavishing the fruits of their toil and labour in British luxury and riot .- Is this a loss to be regretted? If it is, I know who will regret it. Their feelings indeed are very great, and for them you must answer at that awful bar, where your royalty will but aggravate your condemnation. As to the tyranny of their leaders, it is
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indeed so gross and thread-bare an absurdity, that I would advise your Majesty to drop it for the future for the sake of its vulgarity. In this contest, the people in reality had no leaders. They fled, spontaneously and self-led, to extinguish the common fire; and for con- ducting with greater regularity, the measures which you compel them to adopt, they afterwards appointed the proper officers. Those officers, (which to serve your pur- pose, you call leaders) cannot tyrannize over them, be- cause they are constituted by the people, and by them removeable. Nor will any consideration rekindle in their hearts a spirit of loyalty to their former sovereign. That flame, Sir, and an ardent one it was, and more ardent than that of your subjects in Britain, you have ex- tinguished, totally extinguished, with torrents of blood, not leaving a single spark to light up the antient blaze. And as for their mother country-America, Sir, is our mother country, and Great-Britain, making the most of the figure, could never claim to be more than our grand · mother, and that she has been a most unnatural one is written in such characters of blood as none of your flimsy coaxings will ever obliterate.
And that they will enable me with the concurrence and support of my parliament to accomplish, &c.
And so we are to assist the parliament, it seems, in effecting our own bondage. Pray, Sir, do not flatter yourself with so vain an imagination. We have too great a reverence for the instructions of our mother, to follow the insidious advice of our grand-mother, so evi- dently calculated for our destruction.
HORTENTIUS. -New-Jersey Gazette, No. 11, Feb. 11, 1778.
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BURLINGTON, Feb. 18.
Wednesday last the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of this State met at Trenton, agreeable to adjournment.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of character at Newark, dated February 7, 1778.
"Two persons came out of New-York the 5th instant, who informs us, there was great uneasiness in that city among the tories, on account of an exceeding great mob in London, which with much difficulty after a number of days was quelled. The mob arose partly on account of the hot press in England, and partly because the manu- facturers were out of employment and in want of bread. They were enraged at administration as the cause of the American war, which was the source of all their distresses, and their cry was "No Scotch counsels, no tyrannick measures." They pulled down the houses of the arch- fiend Bute, and his second North, and insulted a number of the king's friends and their tools .- But these things are only the beginning of sorrow to Britain."
A correspondent informs us that "one William Pace of Schoolie's Mountain, and Thomas Van Camp of Somerset county, both bound for Staten-Island, the latter with a quantity of flour, and the former with four quarters of beef which had been stall-fed two years, and . was intended for a British General, were apprehended and brought before the president and council of safety the 28th of January last .- It not fully appearing to the Board that their respective cargoes were to have been carried into the enemy's lines, which would have been high treason, Van Camp was adjudged to forfeit his flour, and to pay the fine prescribed by law for asking more than the regulated price, and also the fine for asking a
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higher price in continental currency than in specie; and Pace to forfeit his fat beef and to pay the fine for asking for it more than the regulated price, and both being bound over, they were dismissed-
"Evidence being produced the day after, that one Jacob Fitz Randolph, who lives at the Blazing Star, had met them at Spanktown,1 and engaged to take their cargoes if they would bring them to his house, and to convey them to Staten-Island as soon as the ice would permit; the said Pace and Fitz Randolph have since been committed to gaol for procuring provisions for the enemy, and as dangerous to the present government; and a warrant is issued to apprehend the said Van Camp."
We are further informed, that Congress, in a resolution dated the third of December last, recommended to the Legislatures of the United States. forthwith to enact laws, "requiring all persons within their respective States who may be possessed of any bills of credit struck under the sanction and authority of the King of Great- Britain on or before the 19th day of April 1775, forth- with to deliver in the same to a commissioner or com- missioners for that purpose to be appointed in each county of the respective States, authorising each com- missioner or commissioners to give in exchange for any sum so paid in continental money or bills of credit of their respective States; and to declare in the laws so enacted, that all bills of credit under the description above-mentioned, which shall not be so delivered in within such reasonable time as the respective States shall for such purpose limit, shall thenceforth become utterly irredeemable."
WHEREAS sundry persons, upon various pretences, have made a practice of going from this city and county into the city of Philadelphia, whereby much injury has and still may accrue to the State of New-Jersey contrary to
1 Now Rahway.
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the tenor of an act of assembly of said state strictly pro- hibiting any intercourse with the city whilst in the possession of the enemy: This is therefore to give notice that the magistrates of said county are determined to put in execution the aforesaid law with the utmost rigour ; and if any person or persons, be their pretences what they may, shall be detected in an attempt to go into the city of Philadelphia, or shall go into and return again from said city, they may depend upon incurring the penalties in said law specified, unless such person or persons can produce a pass or license from His Excellency General Washington, or some other person authorised by law for so doing.
By order of the court,
City of Burlington, - FRANKLIN DAVENPORT, Clerk.
Feb. Term, 1778.
Burlington, February 16, 1778.
TO BE SOLD,
A TRACT of 418 acres of unimproved land, situate in the township of Roxborough, and county of Morris, ad- joining on the west side of the line run by John Law- rence for the division between East and West Jersey,1 and adjoining land of Daniel Smith, and land surveyed by John Reading, Esq.
The tract is well watered and timbered, with several pieces of natural meadow thereon. For further par- ticulars inquire of
WILLIAM HEULINGS.
1 This line was run during the middle of the 18th Century.
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Feb. 17, 1778.
TEN DOLLARS REWARD.
TAKEN out of the house of the subscriber at the New- Mills1 near Mountholly, the 13th inst. at night, a SILVER WATCH, with a silver face, maker's name C. Rigdel, London. As a certain John Kelly, alias John Wheeler, who said he was a light horseman and had lately deserted from the British army, lodged at the subscriber's house that night, he is suspected of the theft: He is about five feet eight or nine inches high, and had on a blue great coat, light coloured ditto under it, green jacket, and linen trowsers. Whoever takes up the real thief so that he may be brought to justice, and secures the Watch for the owner, shall have for the Watch only SIX DOLLARS, and for the thief FOUR DOLLARS, with reasonable charges paid by THOMAS PLATT.
THIRTY DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN AWAY in June 1776, from the subscriber, living in Amwell township, a Negro man named LUN, but it is probable he may change his name: He is about 30 years of age, about five feet eight or nine inches high, a thick well set fellow, has a remarkable scar on his upper lip of a cut, and is thought to have a pass with him. He is the Negro that formerly belonged to John Severns. Whoever takes up and secures him so that his master may get him again, shall have the above reward, and reason- able charges, paid by
ISAAC JOHNSON.
All persons are forbid to counsel or harbour this Negro at their peril.
1 Pemberton.
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February 14, 1778.
TO BE SOLD,
THE sloop BETSY, at the Forks of Little-Egg-Harbour : She is a fast sailing vessel, well found. Apply to JOHN BURROWS on board. If not sold by the 25th instant, she will be sold on that day by publick sale at Mountholly, about twelve o'clock.
Mountholly, Feb. 18.
GOOD old FRENCH BRANDY, JAMAICA SPIRIT and WEST- INDIA RUM, to be sold by PETER SHIRAS, by the hogshead, barrel or gallon, very reasonable.
DILLON and SHINN,
Have for sale in Mountholly, the following Articles:
SUPERFINE buff, scarlet, blue and light coloured broad- cloths; light and brown homespun do. green and red baiz; cotton and linen checks; Irish sheeting, and a few pieces of Britannias; cambricks, muslins and lawns ; cotton calicoes and chintz; plain silk gauze; pins and needles ; cotton and linen handkerchiefs; threads ... with a variety of grocery, consisting of Muscovado and loaf sugar, by the barrel or smaller quantity; excellent fresh Bohea tea; allum and copperas; molasses; West India rum, and some choice old Jamaica spirit by the gallon or barrel; a small quantity of china, some of which are odd ; pepper, &c. &c.
-
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FISHER and ROBERTS,
Have for sale at their STORE in Trenton at the house that Harrison formerly kept store at,
SPIRIT of the best Quality by the hogshead, barrel or gallon ; Maderia Wine by the quarter cask or gallon; Gin by the gallon; Loaf and Muscovado Sugars; Tea, Chocolate, Allum, Copperas, Striped Linen, Womens Shoes, Mens Mittens, Silk Mohair, &c. &c.
JOHN DENNIS
INTENDS to prosecute the HAT MAKING business, as he formerly did at New-Brunswick, where proper en- couragement will be given to good journeymen, and the highest price for all sorts of FURS. He is also in want of a quantity of BEESWAX, for which the greatest price will be given. --- He thanks his former customers in par- ticular, and the publick in general, for past favours : Those that are pleased to continue their custom, shall be served with good hats, and in a punctual manner.
Neu-Brunswick, Feb. 3, 1778.
TO BE SOLD,
By Publick Vendue, at the house of Mary Middleton, at Crosswicks, on Thursday, the 19th instant,
AN assortment of HARDWARE, such as handsaws, large and small hammers, hatchets, augurs, pitch and small ladles, brass and iron rimmed locks, with brass knobs; 12, 9 and 6 inch H-L and H hinges, dovetail and chest ditto, japanned pistol hooks with screws, fire steels, spike and nail gimblets, japanned handles for doors or chests, large gouges, inch and a half sprigs, scupper nails, sail needles and palms, fish-hooks, best rope traces, a large scale beam, and sundry other articles not inserted.
Feb. 10.
WILLIAM DREWRY.
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N. B. A parcel of cordage, such as shrouds and stays, and one ten inch cable, almost new, sails, blocks, &c. A young handsome black HORSE, four years old, fourteen hands and three quarters high, fit for saddle or carriage.
February 10, 1778.
TO BE SOLD,
By Public Vendue, at the house of Alexander Mills, in Mountholly, on the 25th of the present February, viz.
SUNDRY SHOP GOODS, among which are a neat assort- ment of silk, mohair buttons; some ready made shirts ; some pieces of linen and checks; coarse homespun threads; a quantity of salt, if not sold before; a parcel of desk furniture, and many other articles in the shop way.
At the same time and place will be sold, a quantity of HOUSEHOLD GOODS and KITCHEN FURNITURE, among which are, walnut chairs, tables, desk and drawers ; large looking-glasses; brass and-irons, ditto shovels and tongs, polished steel ditto, with brass heads, polished iron ditto, with ditto; a few handsome pictures; also a neat eight- day clock.
On the day following will be sold, a two-story BRICK HOUSE, about 39 or 40 feet front, with the lot on which it stands. Also a LOT of MEADOW, containing four acres, about one mile and a half from town. The house is where the said Mills now lives, and is a good stand for any kind of public business. Also one half of a decked SHALLOP, as she now lies in the creek, with all her sails and rigging.
Any gentleman inclining to purchase any of the above articles at private sale, may apply before the day of vendue, and know the terms.
The vendue to begin precisely at ten o'clock, and con- tinue 'till the whole is sold. The goods to be paid for before they leave the vendue.
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Burlington, Feb. 11, 1778.
Notice is hereby given to the officers of militia of Piles- grove, Salem county, that the certificates given by me to Jacob Van Culer and Elijah Keen, do not exempt them from serving in the militia, as the substitute delivered by them to me, was illegally enlisted.
· JOHN N. CUMMING,1 Capt. 2d Jersey Regt.
For the NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
THOUGHTS on bringing to a speedy and happy end the present war.
AMONG the numerous and pleasing advantages arising from a republican government, the people not only enjoy the perfect and unrestrained powers of legislation and taxation by representatives freely chosen among them- selves, but each individual ever retains the unalienable right of instructing his representatives, and suggesting to them at all times every expedient he may judge most for the public good .- The sentiments published under the signature of Adolphus in the New-Jersey Gazette (Numb. 8)2 gave pleasure to thousands-and these alone immediately executed are likely to bring to a speedy and happy conclusions the present war. His were the private thoughts of multitudes respecting our publick affairs, wherefore I was highly delighted with the publication of them .- And as his plan respects the United States in general, I take the liberty of seconding his motions and supporting his proposals with a particular application of the same to the State of New-Jersey.
If the Continental regiments are instantly filled up, and our wise, our enterprizing and glorious General
1 For sketch of John N. Cumming, see New Jersey Archives, 2d Series, Vol. I., 346.
2 Printed January 21st, 1778. The article was dated "Pennsylvania," and was mainly a plea for filling up the Continental Regiments.
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enabled early in the season to take the field with an army of fifty or sixty thousand men, depend upon it the British army, with all the reinforcement they can obtain, will not venture from their garrisons and strong-holds. Britain will say, her officers will say, and her venal ad- ministration will say, "It is in vain to contend with "these Americans, for instead of becoming weaker, they "grow stronger and more powerful: We may ruin our- "selves, but we shall never be able to subjugate them."- But, if we idle away this winter, this infinitely im- portant winter, in a lethargic security,1 and have only a small army in the field next summer, they will apprehend from our supineness that we are weakened indeed, and we shall have a laborious and bloody campaign like the last, and perhaps less successful. Thus at the end of another year we shall be as far in prospect from peace as we are now .- Whereas in the spring if we parade before them our army having its requirements completely filled with effective men, which will then be but a small ex- ertion of the real strength of these states, it will strike such a terror into England and her troops, pour such confusion into their counsels, will so baffle their projects, and turn to vanity their boasted promises, that they will in all probability immediately enter upon measures for negotiating a peace.
As militia substitution has indeed greatly injured the recruiting our army, there is no way remains for com- pleting our regiments but by drafting men. It will not take more than a tenth man of the militia of New-Jersey to furnish out our compliment. And what is it for every company of fifty men to turn out five for the service ? Nothing of equal importance can be so easily accom- plished .- Let a law be passed for drafting the men for nine months; their service commencing the first of April, and ending the last of December, when the campaign will surely be over. Let these drafts have the same quantity of cloathing, which is allowed a soldier for a whole year.
1 The American army was then in winter quarters at Valley Forge.
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Let them have a reasonable and handsome bounty granted. Let each militia company meet together, and consider as every tenth man of them is to be drafted, it is best to collect a sum of money for those in the company who will offer their service. And upon such encouragements as these, there will be a sufficient number of hearty young men, who can be well spared, that will present them- selves. The time of service will be short, the induce- ments great, and the cause is glorious .- But if there are any companies that do not choose this method, but will take their chance of a lot, then those on whom the lot falls, and are averse to the military employment, will easily procure substitutes in their places .- Thus our regiments will be filled, and filled with volunteers, and these volunteers such as are already well acquainted with military duty ; so that as soon as they take the field they will not be regiments of raw recruits, but really veteran soldiers. For there are very few of this class of people among us, who have not been in the service a great part of their time these two years past, and have not been in numerous skirmishes and actions.
Some such plan as this being immediately adopted, and vigorously executed, will soon put an end to the war, and it will probably be ended without the further effusion of blood; and the blessings, the important blessings of peace and liberty secured unto us as the reward of our exertions. Had these measures been entered upon last winter, we have every reason to believe, under the smiles of Heaven, the war would have been over. But through our negligence we must now prepare for another cam- paign. Wherefore let us do it, as people who are awake and in earnest .- Remember the emissaries of Britain, and the tories of America, will not be idle this winter, and while they are with the utmost vigilance collecting their strength to make their last effort next season, they will not relax in their endeavours to intimidate some, and lull to security others, by every misrepresentation and falsehood, in devising which, if they have not the most
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happy, they have the most fruitful inventions, so that nothing vigorously may be done either by Congress or the respective Legislatures. As there are baits for every fish, so lies will be variegated to delude persons of every make .- One while you will hear of hosts of Russians; another of the occult manœuvres of Prussia; then we shall be entertained with rebellions in Ireland; recon- ciliation, if we renounce independency; proposals for cessation of arms by Howe; peace in the spring, &c .- But if we really desire peace, and really wish to prevent the shedding more blood, let us hearken to none of these delusive tales; for be assured, under all these pretences, the enemy will be straining every nerve to crush us the ensuing year. Wherefore, let us not be fascinated by tory inchantments, but rouse like men, like men of wisdom, like men of valour, who abhor an ignominious slavery, and who fight for the richest blessings for our- selves and for millions unborn .-
Let the worthy and honourable Legislature of this State imitate the generous example set by the noble and spirited Virginians, and thus the zeal of exertion being propa- gated from state to state, the mighty strength of America, when displaying itself but a little, will cause to vanish the machinations of tyranny, rescue us at one from the terror of our enemies, secure our property, and establish a glorious peace, and the indefeisible rights of human kind upon a firm and lasting foundation.
PERSIUS.
-New-Jersey Gazette, No. 12, Feb. 18, 1778.
Philadelphia, February 4. Yesterday a number of the virtuous inhabitants of New-Jersey, tired of the op- pression of their new government, gave a proof of their loyalty and attachment to his Majesty, by seizing the person of one WILSON, Collector of the substitute fines in that province, and bringing him in to the British Head Quarters :- This example, it is hoped, will be followed
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by the injured and distressed people of Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, as they cannot doubt but their loyalty will meet with every reasonable encouragement.
New-York, February 23. We hear that the general Opinion of the Rebels in many Parts of New-Jersey is, that Peace is not far distant between Great-Britain and her Colonies .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, February 23, 1778.
To the PRINTER of the NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
SIR
The reasons advanced in the enclosed letter, having fully convinced me of the absurdity of a certain measure, much talked of in some places of late; and as they might perhaps if handed to the public, have the like good effect upon others, I cannot but wish you to give the letter at large a place in your paper. Its not having been designed for the public eye, will, I presume, sufficiently apologize for any little inaccuracies that may be observed by the curious.
T. w.1
1 This interesting letter, the authorship of which is unknown, but was unquestionably written by a man of wealth, gives an admirable exposition of the attitude taken by the governing classes toward taxation-legislation. Many of the arguments advanced bear a striking similarity to those of the present.
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