USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. III > Part 15
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N. B. He is supposed to have gone the York road, and endeavoring to get to the enemy.
TO BE SOLD, Or rented for a term of years.
SPEEDWELL saw-mill and lands, formerly known by the name of Randle's mill, lying on the east branch of Wading River in Burlington County, West New-Jersey, with a good log waggon and four horses, about thirty head of horned cattle, chiefly milch cows and heiffers, a plough, harrow, hoes, axes, and other farming utensils, &c., &c. There is on the premises a good new two story house, framed and covered with cedar, good cellars walled up with stone, good brick hearths and oven, a good log house for the sawyer, a large commodious barn and stabling for sixteen or eighteen horses, a good bearing peach orchard, and a young apple orchard. The mill goes with two saws, newly repaired, and the dam raised the last fall. The mill, pine lands and cedar swamps, will be sold with or without near two hundred acres of iron ore, as good as the State affords, with about seven hundred acres of West-Jersey rights not laid out. The horned cattle and team as best
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suits the purchaser .- If rented, security is required .- There likewise may be made with very little cost a great quantity of good meadow.
The above may be entered on as soon 'as suits the pur- chaser. Any person may view the above described lands, &c., by applying to John Jacobs, overseer on the premises, and for further particulars to the owner in Philadelphia.
BENJAMIN RANDOLPH.
N. B. The above is sold because the local situation of the owner renders it impossible for him to attend it properly.
-The New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. II., No. 68, March 24, 1779.
Egg-Harbour March 20.
Notice is hereby given to all the Seamen and Landsmen that were on board the armed sloop Chance when she captured the ship Venus and made a prize of her, that they meet the subscriber at Colonel Richard Wescott's at the Forks of Little Egg-harbour, then and there to receive their respective dividends of the prize money; And like- wise all those that purchased shares from said sailors are requested to meet at the same place, on Thursday the second day of April next.
DAVID STEVENS, Capt. -The Pennsylvania Packet, March 27, 1779.
From a Rebel Paper.
CHATHAM, March 25.
Last week, at Sussex, a Mr. Gardiner, and one Mr. Tharp, brothers-in-law, having a dispute about two dogs that were fighting, blows ensued, when the latter stabbed the former in his breast with a penknife, of which wound he expired in a short time. Tharp is confined in Sussex gaol, and, 'tis expected, will receive the punishment due to his demerit.
-The New-York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury, March 29, 1779. No. 1432.
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For the NEW-JERSEY JOURNAL.
A FABLE.
TN the days of Æsop, brutes, by their supposed conversation, instructed the world; but if ever the follies of mankind could produce such effects on inarticulating animals, the vices of this age will make brutes eloquent .- The Lion, with the repacious beasts of the desert, when pinched with poverty by the barrenness of their own dominions, waged war against the horse and other domestic animals. The generous horse, with crouded ranks, under the intrepid bull, to sustain him, advanced a full front to the enemy; while the asses, long renowned for penetration, were chosen as a council to direct the monkey tribe, well accustomed to attract the admiration of every gaping fool, by their tricks of agility, were esteemed by the council proper persons to take charge of the public magazines; for- getting their alertness at every kind of villainy; but their grand accomplishment was, that with their fingers, heretofore employed in numerous petty thefts, they could astonishingly count ten .- After many hard encounters, with various success, the horse saw, with honest indignation, that the cringing monkies, by their bickering adulation, entirely gained the ear of the council, and could wrest their easy integrity to their own purposes ; while the gallant services of the line were either forgotten or thought a common tribute due to the public, for which they were bound to make no return .- At length, by the parsimonious and partial distribution of the stores, the army were reduced to skeletons ; while the self-sufficient group of monkies lived in splendid luxury by their pilfering villainies ; and, under cover of the council, grinned secretly, a monkey-like content. Roused, with generous resentment, the horse, in behalf of his companions of the war, thus addressed the dull, the stupid council ; "To you, who ought to be the guardians of our rights, and chearfully extend to us a reward for our services, we are forced to apply for a redress of injuries. We ask you to remember, that before the approach of this common calamity, you were but mercly known in our society; but by the fortuitous concurrence of events, were chosen the civil representatives of the community .- When misfortune pressed close upon you, we covered you from destruction ; and, in despight of your sluggish in- activity, you even hastened from before the lion .- Where then were your monkey friends? Far, very far, in our rear ; screaming cowardly dismay ; almost wishing to be encircled in their chains again, and obscenely prancing before a gigling crowd to gain an apple .- Sweep then those miscreated drones from posts of trust; supply us as we have deserved, and bid the castigated crew view, at humble distance, that worth they never dare aspire to."-The council, to this address, with bestial elocution, made this legislative great reply : "We, Sir, asses as we are, will do as we pleases. The monkies is very clever people, and knows a great deal, so they do; and when such smart folks spends their time in our work, they shall have what they wants,
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[1779
for they are right saving. As for you, see, don't we feed you? that's enough, and you shall fight, for you can't live any other ways." One of the council then rose, the first of asses, and the last of brutes, and pricking his long ears, observed, "That he did not know why the officers should have more pay than the privates, for they did less; and, look you brother asses, the privates are contented." At which collective Folly brayed applause. The martial horse, with scorn and mingled pity, left the brutish throng, and the monkies, elate with his defeat, followed to indulge their spleen with a view of the miseries of the army ; but were soon spurned into awful distance, notwithstanding the harsh clamors of the council in their favour; and 'twas said the indignant horse and his associates would soon reduce that house of complicated ignorance to their original, though now forgotten, panniers, and elect a new council in their place.
BROWSE,
A Beautiful bay HORSE, four years old, and fifteen hands high, the property of the subscriber, will cover at TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS the season, or TWELVE DOLLARS the single leap, at Horseneck, in the county of Essex, and state of New-Jersey. He was bred by the proprietor, out of a handsome Britain mare, and got by General Heard's young figure. He is allowed by good judges to be equal to any horse of equal blood in the state for size, shapes, and activity, if not superior. Good at- tendance will be given, and good pasture for mares by
CALEB HETFIELD.
To be LET, for the term of one year, by way of public vendue, on the 6th of April next,
THE place where George Armstrong lately lived; it contains sixty-five acres and a half, pleasantly situated on the road from New-Brunswick to Black- River, within three miles and a half of Pluck'emin, about half a mile from Mr. Joseph Crane's mill. There is on said place a good dwelling house, with four rooms on a floor, and two fire places, a good kitchen, a barn, and a large horse shed, with convenient stabling for six or seven horses, a proportionable quantity of meadow, a good bear-
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ing orchard sufficient to make one hundred barrels of cyder, with other fruit trees, a good garden, all in good repair, and well watered. The premises may be seen at any time by applying to John Armstrong, near the place, who will give attendance at the day of sale.
Somerset county, Bedminster township, March 28, 1779.
STRAYED or stolen from New-Ark the 11th instant, a black MARE, with a star in her forehead, trots,
four years old this spring, branded A on the near shoulder, and H K on the off thigh. FIVE DOLLARS reward, and all reasonable expence will be paid for taking up the said mare per HENRY JACOBUSE.
Peckeman River, Essex - county, March 23, 1779.
Thirty Dollars Reward.
YTOLEN out of the stable of the subscriber, living
S near Springfield, on the night of the 18th instant, a large black HORSE, stout made, in good order, eight years old, about fifteen hands high, with one white hind foot, and a natural pacer .- Whoever takes up said horse, and brings him to the owner, shall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges paid by JAMES CLARK.
THE NOTED IMPORTED HORSE
PASTIME,
Six years old this grass, is now in excellent order, and will cover this season at the plantation of the subscriber, at the Scotch Plains, at Forty Dollars the season, and Twenty Dollars a single leap, the money to be paid at the stable door.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
PASTIME is a beautiful bay, with black legs, main, and tail, two white feet, a star and a snip. He is of full size, fifteen hands high, and well set for his height, and is allowed by the best judges to be the best moving, gayest, and handsomest horse in the state.1
This colt was bred by Col. Horatio Sharpe, was got by Othello, who was got by Crab, and is brother in blood to the following eminent racers, viz. Bastard, Oronoeko, Black-and-all-Black, Shepard's Crab and many other horses of high fame. Othello's dam was got by Hampton Court Childers, his granddam by Hobgoblin, his great grandam by Old Snake .- The dam of this colt was Mariamne, got by Old Figure, allowed to be the best blooded horse ever in America. Pastime's grandam was Col. Tasker's Selima ; she was got by Godolphin Arabian, her dam by Flying Childers; her great grandam by the Bolton Sloven; her great, great grandam by the Duke of Bolton's Bay Bolton ; her great, great, great grandam by Brimmer; her great, great, great, great grandam by Dodsworth, out of the Leater Barb mare. J. RIDOUBT.
All persons who choose to have their mares covered by Pastime, shall have good pasture at a reasonable rate, and proper attendance given by a good groom.
AMOS SWAN.
,
A FEW pair of men's SHOES may be had of the Printer hereof for country produce.
CHATHAM, MARCH 30.
Came ashore in the snow storm, on the 22d instant, at Egg-Harbour, a sloop from the West Indies, belonging to Boston, but lately captured by the enemy.
The same day a ship belonging to the enemy drove ashore at the above place, and out of one hundred and seventy people that were on board, only twenty were saved.
1 See page 167, ante.
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
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THE Trustees of New-Jersey College are required to attend a meeting of the board at their hall in Prince- ton the 21st of April next, at 9 o'clock. The busi- ness is of such importance to the institution, that it is hoped no member will be absent.
JAMES CALDWELL, Clerk.
Mr. Collins and Mr. Loudon are requested to insert the above.
MATTHIAS HALSTED,
In Elizabeth Town, has for SALE,
1
E XCEEDING fine flavoured West India rum by the hogshead or barrel, Scotch snuff by the hogshead or bladder, plugg and pigtail tobacco by the barrel, and a few dozen of black Barcelona handkerchiefs-Like- wise one fire in a forge on an excellent stream, about three miles from Morris Town; and a good horse for the chair or draught.
N. B. The dead emissions of Continental bills of credit will be taken in payment until the middle of April, and perhaps longer.1
TO COVER,
The ensuing season, at Morris Town, the horse
HERMIT.
H E is of full size, a good bay, rising five years old, is a colt of Old Liberty from a half blooded mare. He is allowed, by the best judges, to be as neat a moving horse as any in the state. Will cover at twenty . dollars the season, and eight dollars the single leap.
JOHN DUNHAM.
1 Matthias Halsted was Ensign and Quartermaster of the First Battalion, First Establishment, Continental Line. Also Brigade Major on the staff of General William Winds, and Aid-de-camp on the staff of Major-General Philemon Dickinson, of the New Jersey Militia .- W. S. S.
-
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
TO BE SOLD,
At public vendue, at the house of Jacob Hallett, in Chatham,
A WAGGON and horses, one milch cow, cyder, cyder royal, a large quantity of cyder hogsheads, a quan- tity of carpenters and joyners tools, a good plough, a corn harrow with iron teeth, onions, a large spinning weel, crosscut saw, beetle and wedges, a sulky, a quantity of empty bottles, and sundry other articles too tedious to mention. The vendue to begin on Tuesday the 6th of April, at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Thirty Dollars Reward. .
S TOLEN from the subscriber, living on the First Moun- tain, near the Falls mill, in Essex county, a pale red cow, with a crop out of her left ear, short legs, whitish belly, and part of her tail white-Whoever will give information of said cow, so that the owner may get her again, shall receive the above reward.
WILLIAM TANER.
NOTICE is hereby given to all whom it may concern, that application will be made unto the legislature, at their next sitting, for a law to enable the owners of meadows at Maple-Island, in New-Ark, to erect and maintain a dam over Maple-Island creek, to prevent the meadow from being overflowed.
E UNICE the wife of JOHN SCOTT, having eloped from his bed and board, and three different times since broke open his house and robbed and carried off to her sister's, the widow Morris's and elsewhere, house- hold goods to the amount of six hundred pounds, although
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there was an article, under our hands and seals, before married, that neither party should have no right to each other's estate, which article was acknowledged before Ben- jamin Halsey, Esq; nevertheless the said Eunice, by the assistance of her brethren and sister, has endeavoured to run me in debt: This is therefore to give notice to all persons, that I will not pay any debts of her contracting, being wholly clear by said agreement, and she the said Eunice being administratrix to her former husband's estate, is liable in law for all her contracts; therefore, in justice to myself and the public, I give notice, that I will not only prosecute the said Eunice for the burglary and robbery committed, but also all those who purchase any of the said goods, or harbours her or them, to the extent of the law.
JOHN SCOTT.
' N. B. Said Eunice, by having a key, which she prom- ised, before Benjamin Halsey, Esq; to deliver up, with all the goods stolen, and that on oath, if I would leave matters to said Halsey, Joseph Young, and Richard John- ston, to settle, between the estate of Moore and me; the same being done, and by them settled, yet, contrary to all faith and truth, she, by said key, has opened my escrutore, and carried of leases of yearly rent to the amount of at least two hundred pounds, and other bonds and papers to the amount of two thousand pounds.
THE INJURED HUSBAND.
What friendly ray, in pity drest, O say, can hope bestow, To give distraction sight or rest, Or soothi eternal woe? Life's little lamp, one tender beam To grief no more can spare, But faintly turns a dying gleam On anguish and despair. Look down unending source of fate, From your obedient skies,
!
13
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
And, Oh! instruct a wretch to hate The fair he must despise.
Whatever tortures rend his breast, Whatever conflicts roll, Teach him to tear her from his breast, And root her from his soul.
Once, pure as winter's whitest snow, She gave her sacred vow ! Once, pure as innocence, but Oh, Just heaven what is she now ?
Then grant a wife, indulgent fate, On which my heart is set,
Or if I must not think to hate, O let me but forget.
TO COVER
THIE NOTED HORSES
BOHEMIA and INDEPENDENCE,
At the stable of the subscriber, living in Mendem town- ship, about five miles west of Morris Town, at the rate of twenty-five dollars for Bohemia, and twelve for Independence.
R OHEMIA is full sixteen hands high, and is as hand- some a horse as any in the state, as allowed by the best judges ; and his pedigree of the first rate, being got by Old Authella, who was the sire of True Briton, and out of an imported Barbara mare; his stock like himself are large and handsome, much resembling those got by said Briton, except being more fine and delicate.
INDEPENDENCE is full fifteen hands high, and is elegant and fine, was got by Young Sterling, and like his sire, is famous for running, having received forfeiture from the most noted horse in the state, on account of failure on a late race. Good pasture for mares at the rate of one dollar per week, and due attendance will be given by a proper groom.
WILLIAM LEDDEL.
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N. B. If any person's mare should have a white colt, or miss having a fole, shall be entitled to the benefit of another season for half price.
-The New-Jersey Journal, Vol. I., Numb. VII., March 30, 1779.
[No. II.]
Mr. COLLINS,
I Concluded my last essay with declaring my intention to point out on a future opportunity, the causes of our national evils, and the remedies for their cure .- I confess it is much easier to discover the symptoms of a disorder than their causes. However an attempt to cure diseases by only attempting to check or remove symptoms, with- out knowing or endeavoring to remove the causes, is the business of empiricks and quacks, not physicians .- If I should be so happy as to discover the true ones of our national evils, I expect to meet with opposition and enemies ; for such diseases are seldom or never cured, without causing pain and distress in the affected members, which will always exert themselves to avoid it, and render such attempts abortive. However, as my sincere intention is to serve my country, I shall at all times gratefully receive instruction, and the discovery of any of errors tendered to me with candor, and totally disregard and despise the rancour and abuse of any who may appear to be actuated from principles of irreligion and love to private and self interest .- I thus beg the impartial attention of my fellow-citizens to what I shall endeavour to offer with candor on this subject.
1. It appears to me highly probable that the ungrateful conduct of this nation towards God, our kind benefactor and just arbiter of the universe, is to be ranked among the causes of our present distress.
That God, in the course of his providence, is wont to chastise and punish nations he has particularly favoured, for their profane and abominable ingratitude, is evident from the whole of divine revelation. After the leader of Israel had prophetically denounced a mixture of national calamities on that people, he declares, All these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed, because thou hearkenedst not to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes, which he commanded thee .* Compare with this what happened to this nation not long ago after their possession of that land of liberty and liberty .; If government by misrule from ignorance, imprudence or villainy, become the immediate causes of a nation's distress, yet a holy God permits it, and in justice directs it, for a punishment to the guilty nation. Thus the Sovereign of the world threatens, and I will give children to their princes, and babes shall rule over them, and the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour.$ Ancient and modern history, both profane and divine, bear testimony to this truth .- It has been frequently asserted in our public prints, that it was evident God gave the government of Great Britain up
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to foolish counsels, in order to punish the nation for their sins. The events have hitherto proved it. Before I proceed to show that our sins are such as require national chastisement and punishment. I beg leave to observe, that in the best of nations there are always some abandonedly wicked ; and in the worst of nations some moral good .- That in the most abandonedly wicked nations, all the individuals are not guilty of the same vices, nor in the same degree ; but some of one sort and some of another, and so in conjunction make out and ag- gravate the whole .- That a nation is denominated vicious or virtuous, according as the one or the other of those opposite characters be- come public and honourable in the opinion of the prevailing party. I fear the vicious will overbalance the morally virtuous in our com- munity, and that our sins are of such an aggravated nature, being committed against light and mercies, as require severer calamities than we have as yet experienced. My reasons for this fearful apprehen- sion I shall attempt to give with candor and without exaggeration and agreeable to truth, as far as my knowledge of men and manners in our community extends.
1. The leading principle of vice is libertinism, i. e. a maintaining by words or actions, that the laws of religion ought to have no re-' straint upon men. Principles as destructive to civil society as dis- honourable to the Supreme Being. These are the principles so much in vogue and practice among those who assume the character, air and deportment of gentlemen among us .- To our shame it must be con- fessed that there are men among the honourable members of the august council of this empire, which are too well known to make ridicule of all religion and everything sacred, and yet are entrusted with the management of the important affairs of the contest, which is committed to God for a decision. It however affords satisfaction to the virtuous among us, to see by several resolves of Congress, that men of such an abondoned character have as yet, not the majority in that house. In one of these resolves it was warmly recommended to the different Legislatures to pass laws for the effectual curbing of vice. The good people of this State have long complained that the laws under the former government were insufficient for that purpose, and I hoped that our new Legislators would have amended them, especially when I saw it so warmly recommended by Congress ; but when I reviewed the titles of the laws they passed, I found, to my surprise this was neglected. If this neglect has proceeded from a disregard and indifference respecting these matters, it is too evident a proof that some of the leading members are too much tainted with these principles .- I have a true regard for the gentlemen of our army, as far as their bravery in the defence of our country demands it. But I am sorry to have so much reason to believe that a great part of them are intirely swayed by such Epicurean principles. I am induced to believe this from their public conduct. The last thanks- giving day, proclaimed by Congress (under whose immediate authority they act) was almost wholly disregarded by that part which is quartered in Somerset. His Excellency the Commander in Chief
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was then at Philadelphia. Add to this their frequent balls, at a time when so many of our fellow-citizens groan under the frowns of heaven. Their drinking to excess, their heaven provoking custom of profane cursing and swearing, their shocking profanation of God's holy day, and an intire disregard of all public worship due to our Creator; their neglect of the laws of Congress for restraining vice in the army. All which affords too much ground for such suspicion. Chaplains in our army, who eat their country's bread and draw their pay for doing no other duty than reading service to their brigades less than a dozen of times in a twelve month, are probably actuated by no better principle. If we view the gentlemen and ladies engaged in the affairs of private life, they will exhibit to us a still more deplorable sense of vanity and debauchery, shown in their balls, assemblies, extravagant dress and unaccountable fashions, their unrestrained profanation of the sab- bath, by pursuing their vanities or secular affairs. The whole of their luxury and dissipation, joined with that intire disregard of the in- stituted worship of God and all sacred things, strongly evinces that the maximi of Epicurus, cat, drink and divert yourselves, for after death there is no pleasure, has much greater influence on such dissipated minds than those of the holy religion of Jesus Christ .- What adds to the awful guilt of those of superior rank in a nation, is the powerful influence the conduct of such have upon the morals of the rest of the community.
2. Though it must be supposed that the generality of inferior rank in our different States, of whatever christian denomination they be, still believe that the laws of religion ought to influence our actions, yet the destructive examples before recited, the many temptations of the present day, and the prevailing corruptions of human nature, have carried like a mighty torrent, the multitude down the stream of vice, even against the dictates and checks of their own consciences. This is at least evident, that the general neglect of divine truths and the public ordinances of God, the profanation of the Lord's Day, even by members who profess to believe the divine command for the sanc- tification of it; the horrible practice of profane cursing and swear- ing, drunkenness, and all excess of riot, have made such advances of late, as threaten the destruction of the rising generation, by thus bursting asunder the laws of religion and society.
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