USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. III > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
3. The culpable neglect of civil Magistrates in the execution of our laus against open profanity and rice, though I mention. in the last place, is by no means one of the least of our national sins. The civil sword is entrusted to them to check vice and punish wickedness. For he is the minister of God to thee for good, but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; for he beareth not the sword in vain. This is the lan- guage of a writer whose authority and veracity our magistrates will not presume to dispute .- Though I confess with pleasure that the At- torney General and Grand Juries of our courts have in a late in- stance exerted themselves for punishing gamesters at horse-racing, I must, however, acknowledge I know of no other instance of any
198
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
civil magistrates fining or any ways punishing for profane swearing, cursing, sabbath-breaking, gaming, or any public vice punishable by the laws of the land, ever since our glorious revolution has happened. Though these vices have never been more public and daring among us than since that time. What many of such officers do with their consciences I know not. I suppose they generally excuse themselves because no complaints are lodged with them. But who in the whole community are under such obligations to inform as these gentlemen are? Why do they want to be informed of what their eyes behold and their ears hear? If they want information why do they not send for evidence and examine them respecting credible reports of vices punishable by law, having been perpetrated in their respective dis- tricts? Such conduct would soon put a stop to public vice. Why then is it not done? Because many Magistrates dread more the frowns of men, of abandoned men, than of a holy and a just God, to whom they are held responsible for the neglect of duty, and the in- jury therefrom accruing to society. It is descriptive of the distracted state of Israel, where a sacred historian says-In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. There is no sin more provoking to God and destructive to society than that those to whom Providence has committed the civil sword, refuse to use it for the end it was given, and by their sinful neglect rather encourage the vices intended to be thereby pre- vented than check them.
The foregoing hints exhibit to us, my fellow-citizens, an awful but a true portrait of the moral character of this distressed country. Can the honest person, when he seriously reflects upon it, wonder that our empire labours under a complication of disorders? How can those who really believe the existence of a God and the government of the world by his providence, expect that he will pass by those destructive and God-provoking vices, in a people which make pro- fessions of christianity, which he has constantly punished, even in Pagan nations? We are certainly a people laid under many obliga- tions of gratitude to God, to them I may say in the language of Moses, Do ye thus requite the Lord. O! foolish people and unwise! What will be the issue of a perseverance in such conduct? If God be against us who shall be for us? Shall there be an evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it? Ought not every true friend to his country, to exert himself in order to remove this chief cause of our national calamity? I know addresses of a serious nature generally afford matter for ridicule to libertines and atheists. My proper business here is not to attempt a confutation of their principles; I only call their attention to what they must acknowledge to be a truth attested by the history of all ages, namely, that luxury and all manner of public vice have at all times proved the procuring causes, or at least the forerunners of national calamities; and therefore I would conjure them, for the welfare of themselves and fellow-citizens, to reform, at least in their moral conduct, in order to remedy our
199
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1779]
present calamities and avoid greater. Those who are as yet not proof against the precepts of the gospel, I would address in the words of a prophet, to his wicked and luxurious sovereign. Wherefore, O! king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility. Let such as are led captive by their corruptions and the power of their vices, seriously reflect upon their past conduct, compare it with the precepts of the holy gospel, and maturely judge for themselves. Does your pro- fanity and vice afford you any real profit, advantage or true and lasting pleasure? Is there a God? Is there a final judgment and a future state of punishments and rewards to be expected? Are you responsible to the supreme Judge for all your moral actions? I appeal to your consciences for answers to such important queries. Consider yourselves as members of civil society, and I venture to assert, if you are tories you have Balaam's disposition, you would readily have cursed our Israel, you have done your endeavour to in- jure it, is it wonder that such should do their utmost to lay offences in our way, and bring the indignation of God upon us? knowing that would be worse than all the power and force of our enemies. Such will sooner or later get a Balaam's reward. But you who esteem yourselves friends to your country, can you persevere in a conduct so evidently calculated for its destruction? You have reasons to be convinced that our sins have done us more hurt than our in- veterate enemies. And will you go on to ruin your country, and bring yourselves and fellow-citizens in still greater distress? Have you a spark of love left for your bleeding country, forsake the evil of your ways, and turn to that God who has justly smitten us, and in wrath has often remembered mercy, and still shows, by his providence, that he waits not for our destruction, but for our repentance, in order that he might save and deliver us in a way honourable to himself. Let me beseech our civil Magistrates to reflect upon the trust committed to them, fear not men, but him who is able to destroy soul and body in hell. Exert your power to save your bleeding country. I am confi- dent you can do more for the preservation and advantage of it, by exercising the powers in your hands for the curbing of vice, than numerous armies in the field. I hope the Legislature will give you all the assistance in their power, by enacting or amending laws suf- ficient for the purpose .- Were we once a reformed people, I am con- fident we would soon be a happy people, enjoying peace, liberty and plenty.
In my next, Mr. Collins, I purpose, if life and health permits, to show the more immediate causes of our calamities to be discovered in the civil misconduct of our citizens and rulers.
I subscribe myself, Sir, your friend, and the Publick's well-wisher,
A TRUE PATRIOT.
200
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1779
For the NEW JERSEY GAZETTE.
Mr. COLLINS,
WHEN the measure with which we mete is measured to us again, we cannot call the treatment either unkind or unfair. In several instances the Monthly Reviewers make themselves merry with con- victing people who come within their jurisdiction, of Hibernianism, as they call them, but which are more currently called bulls .- These Gentlemen-criticks will permit me to mention a case in which they themselves seem to have fallen into the same infirmity they so pleas- antly expose in others, and I leave them to determine how far it may be considered a deserved punishment for bearing hard on persons whose meaning is good, though they may not always be the most happy at expressing it. In their review for January, 1778, article 10, remarking upon, Mr. Anderson's "Essay relating to agriculture. and rural affairs," they tell us that "in his 20th disquisition he enu- merates several criteria by which a man may judge with some degree of certainty, whether plants, or animals, will prosper in one country if transplanted to another?" This they have not given as a quo- tation from the book which is the subject of animadversion, and there- fore have the credit or burden of it as it may happen to stand or fall on examination. I candidly endeavoured by analysing the sentence several ways, to reduce it from the imputation of Hibernianism, but if I am not greatly mistaken the quality is inseperable from it. I disclaim the least intention of derogating from the merit and utility of that laudable institution, and more especially as the members are Whigs, but take liberty of interesting myself as far as [to] suggest the propriety of tenderness and forbearance, as we have had occasion, more than once, to observe that they themselves are fallible men, and liable to the lapses of others their fellow-laborers in the harvest of literature.
SILENTIO.
)
TRENTON, MARCH 31.
JOHN MAYHEW, Esq. was lately elected a Representa- tive in General Assembly for the county of Salem ; Colonel BODO OTTO and Mr. SAMUEL HUGG, Representa- tives for the county of Gloucester, in the room of Col. Joseph Ellis 1 and Mr. Joseph Cooper declined.
Monday se'nnight the scow Molly, belonging to Boston, came ashore near Barnegat, in this state. She was bound
1 For a note on Col. Joseph Ellis, see N. J. Archives, 2d Series. 1 : 557.
201
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1779]
from Baltimore to Amsterdam-but was taken about 25 leagues to the northward of Cape Charles by the Delaware, a British frigate, when Mr. Douglass, the midshipman, was sent prize master, with six seamen, who, when the vessel struck took to their boats and saved themselves. They were sent to Philadelphia. The mate of the scow who was the only person on board belonging to the former crew, remains with her in order to take care of her and save the cargo ; his name is said to be Coop.
Wednesday following the sloop Success, bound from Martinico to Boston, came ashore in the snow storm at Barnegat. She had been taken by the Diligence, a British armed brig, and was on her way to New York. She had a very valuable cargo of rum, molasses, coffee and cocoa on board. The prize master and three hands are made prisoners, who arrived at Princeton on Saturday last.
In the late snow storm the transport ship Mermaid, belonging to Whitehaven, in England, with troops, bound from Halifax to New York, was driven on shore at Egg- Harbour. Upwards of 100 of the people on board per- ished, the remainder by the exertions of the inhabitants on shore, were saved. We expect further particulars.
It is reported that one or two other vessels were driven on shore at the same time.
Yesterday evening arrived here from Philadelphia, Generals De Kalb and Woodford, and this morning they set out for Head-Quarters at Middle-Brook.
We are desired by the Commissioners of Somer- set county, to inform the Publick that the plantation of . Joseph Stockton, near Princeton, will be sold on the 6th of April ensuing; that of Daniel Coxe at Rocky-Hill, on the 7th ; the estate of John Honeman at Grigg's-Town, on the 8th, and the plantation of John Vandike in Sourland, near the Meeting-house, on the 9th following.
202
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
Just published, and to be sold by the Printer hereof, The Mighty Destroyer displayed.
In some account of the dreadful havock made by the mistaken use as well as abuse of DISTILLED SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS. By a lover of mankind.1
Ecclesiastics vii 29. Lo this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
To be sold at vendue, on Friday the 9th April next, at Tom's-River :
THE sloop SUCCESS, as she lays on Island Beach ; Also her cargo consisting of rum, molasses, coffee and cocoa.
By order of the Court of Admiralty,
Jos. POTTS, Marshal.
TO BE SOLD.
At PUBLICK VENDUE, on Thursday the 8th day of April next, at the house of the subscriber in Princeton.
A cow and heifer; a neat book case; large and small tables ; looking-glasses ; knives and forks ; chairs ; a variety of men's wearing apparel; bedding; queen's and delf ware; kitchen furniture, and sundry other articles. The vendue to begin at ten o'clock on said day.
ENOS KELSEY.
To all whom it may concern :
New Jersey, NOTICE is hereby given, that a Court of SS. Admiralty will be held at the house of Gilbert Barton, in Allen-Town, on Tuesday the thirteenth day of April next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to try the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of
1 Anthony Benezet.
203
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1779]
John Burrows (who as well, &c.) against the schooner or vessel called the Betsy, with her tackle, apparel, furniture and cargo; To the end and intent that the owner or owners, or any person or persons concerned therein, may appear and shew cause, (if any they have) why the said vessel, with her tackle, apparel, furniture and cargo, should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said bill.
By order of the Judge,
JOSEPH BLOOMFIELD, Register.
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons who have any or shall buy any land of Mr. John Scott, of Morris county, that I Eunice Scott, his wife, shall come in for my part of said lands, as soon as the law shall allow of, as I expect he is going to the enemy.
EUNICE SCOTT.
Morris County, March 14, 1779.
I Do hereby forewarn all persons not to purchase the house and lot in the city of Burlington, advertised as the property of John Carty, as the said house and lot never did belong to him, but to the subscriber, as heir at law to her late uncle, Ralph Peart.
JANE PEART.
Philadelphia, March 19, 1779.
Came to the plantation of the subscriber in Hopewell, near Pennington, a dark brown HORSE, both his hind feet white, and his near fore foot also white, about 14 hands high, 9 or 10 years old. The owner is desired to come, prove property, pay charges and take him away.
BENJAMIN MOORE.
THREE DOLLARS per bushel will be given for good clean FLAXSEED, delivered at Richard Well's oil-mill in Bur- lington, by JAMES SMITH, jun. who hath for sale linseed-
204
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1779
. oil of the first quality, for burning in lamps or other uses. --- Also flaxseed meal, which is an excellent feed for horses, cows or hogs, and will be sold in cakes or by the bushel, at the mill, or exchanged for flaxseed.
TO BE SOLD, By the subscriber,
A PLANTATION containing 194 acres of land, in the county of Morris, in Hanover township, three miles from Whatnon to Chatham, a house two stories high, with four rooms and an entry on the lower floor, and three rooms may be made above, two good orchards and a cyder-mill, a good barn, fruit trees of all sorts, forty acres of good English meadow, and more may be made; woodland, plough-land and pasture-land. The whole well watered, the situation very pleasant and advantageous, but one mile from a grist-mill, and a mile and a half from a saw-mill. Whoever inclines to purchase the said farm may apply to John or William Wick, who lives on the premises.
March 22, 1779.
Dr. RYAN'S
INCOMPARABLE WORM-DESTROYING
SUGAR PLUMBS,
Necessary to be kept in all FAMILIES ;
So exceedingly valued by all people who have had of them in Great Britain and Ireland, for their transcendent excellency in the destroying worms of all kinds, both in the bodies of men, women and children, by not only breaking the knots in the duodenum, or gut next the stomach, but they pass through the smallest passages of the body, and purge away those ropy and slimy humours, which are the cause of those pernicious vermin, and the source of many other disorders; they are one of the best purges in the world for gross-bodied children that are apt to breed worms, and have large bellies ; their operation is mild, safe and pleasant ; they wonderfully cleance the bowels of all stiff and clammy humours which stop up the parts, and prevent the juce of food from being conveyed to the liver and made blood, which is often the case with children, and is attended with a hard belly, stinking breath, frequent fevers, rickets, and decay of strength in the lower I parts : Likewise settled aches and
205
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1779]
pains in the head, swellings, old sores, scabs, tetters, or breakingsout, will be perfectly cured, and the blood and skin restored to its original purity and smoothness ; they purge by urine, and bring away the gravel, and effectually cure all obstructions of the urine, or ulcers in the kidneys. They at once strike at the true cause of the scurvy, and entirely destroy it, and all scorbutic humours and effects, root and branch, so as never to return again ; and what makes them more commendable is, they are full as agreeable to both taste and sight, as loaf sugar; and in their operation as innocent as new milk.
I have by these plumbs cured a great many children of whooping or chin-coughs, and agues, which distempers are very common and trouble- some to families, and the want of these plumbs are the ruin of many childrens constitutions.
These plumbs enrich and sweeten the whole mass of blood, carry off all gross, corrupt and putrid humours, and create a fresh and healthy com- plexion in such as are affected by any putrid matter.
The plumb is a great diuretic, cleansing the reins of slime : It expels wind, and is a sovereign medicine in the cholic and griping of the guts. It allays and carries off sour vapours, which occasion many disorders in the head. It opens all obstructions in the stomach, lungs, liver, reins and bladder, causes a good appetite, and helps digestion. It hath been found wonderfully successful to such persons as are going into chronical distempers, as asthmas, phthisics, or shortness of breath, dropsies and yellow jaundice. Now I hope all impartial persons are satisfied, that the medicine which works upon such humours, will almost reach any dis- temper, if not too far gone, since corruption and putrefaction are the fore-runners of all diseases : therefore no better physic can be taken for all ages, sexes and constitutions, from infancy to an old age. These plumbs are highly serviceable to the female sex from the age of 14 to 20 years, and from 40 to 50. Each box contains one dozen of these plumbs, price Eight Dollars with directions. Sold by JAMES EMERSON, at his store in Trenton.
SIGNS of WORMS.
PALENESS in the face, itching of the nose, hollowness of the eyes, grating of the teeth when asleep, dulness, pains and heaviness in the head, a dry cough, and itching in the fundament, white and thick urine, unquiet sleep, often starting, lost appetite, swelled belly, gnawing and biting about the stomach, frightful dreams, extreme thirsts, the body decay'd and lean, fits, often vomiting, stinking breath, &c. Also imported SALT.
To all whom it may concern :
New Jersey, NOTICE is hereby given, that a Court of
SS. Admiralty will be held at the house of Gil- bert Barton, in Allen-Town, on Wednesday the fourteenth day of April next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the same day, then and there to try the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of John Price, (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Success, lately com-
206
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
manded by Edward Finlay, with her tackle, apparel, furniture and cargo; To the end and intent that the owner or owners of the said vessel, or any person or persons concerned therein, may appear and shew cause (if any they have) why the said vessel and cargo should not be con- demned according to the prayer of the said bill.
By order of the Judge,
JOSEPH BLOOMFIELD,
Register.
-The New Jersey Gazette, Vol. II., No. 68, March 31, 1779.
Two Hundred Dollars Reward.
STOLEN from the subscriber, living in Somerset County, State of New-Jersey, about the 21st of Feb-
ruary last, by a certain Henry Rush, the following articles .---
A woman's gold watch and key, the watch has a gold face, chased case, representing Pompey's head shewn to Caesar, maker's name supposed to be Wilsman, London ; on the key is represented a hautboy, fiddle, flute, trumpet, &c. lying across each other; also a blue regimental coat, turned up with red, silver epaulet, (made out of knee garters) the coat is lined throughout with white durant, except the skirts which turn up, and about four inches the fore part, which is red shaloon, the buttons are white- flowered, (two or three lost) hooks and eyes, in the fore part, are some of black wire, twisted, some single white wire; also a white twilled vest and breeches, the vest lined with white fustian, the breeches not lined, buttons white flowered ; all which clothes he went off in ;--- likewise a full welted hunting saddle, not half worn, the tree has been broke, and is mended by a piece of iron clinched on the inside; the saddle cloth, blue long ells, with a stripe of white cloth, three quarters of an inch wide, sewed round near the edge, and lined with tow linen; a bridle, the
207
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1779]
reins tied to the bit .-- The said fellow was born in Phila- delphia, has straight hair, a scar on one side of his face, is very talkative, and speaks both the English and German very well; it is expected he will endeavour to pass for an officer, as he has procured himself a sword, and an old commission. He is now deserted from Capt. Van Heer's troop of light horse, and it is supposed he is gone to Goshen, in the State of New-York, as he has said his mother lived there) or to Albany, where he 'is well acquainted .--- Whoever will secure the said thief, in any of the State's gaols, shall receive one hundred dollars reward, and all reasonable charges, and for the watch, one hundred dollars more, paid by
JOHN J. SCHENK.
Somerset County, State of New- Jersey, March 1, 1779.
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 the Mermaid of Whitehaven 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 .- The Royal Gazette, No. 262, April 3, 1779.
NEW-YORK, April 5.
A Party of 12 Continental Troops with an Officer, were taken last Friday Night on Bergen Neck, by a Detach- ment from the 64th Regiment that lay at Powlis Hook: They were brought to Town Saturday Morning last .- The New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury, No. 1433, April 5, 1779.
208
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1779
[No. III.]
Mr. COLLINS,
IN my last essay I endeavoured to show the chief meritorious cause of our present calamities, I now purpose an attempt to investigate the immediate efficient causes of them. Here I beg to be indulged with that liberty and freedom of disquisition which every free born American has a right to enjoy.
2. The second or efficient cause then of our present distresses, I do not believe so much to be the war carried on against us by a relentless and savage enemy, which we have fought with unparalleled success, and broke their main force; but humbly conceive it to be bad principles and practice in many of our citizens, and misrule in our civil su- periors. In order to make this assertion evident, I must premise one or two observations. I observe then,
1. That a circulating medium for commerce and trade, is necessary for the ease and convenience of our civil society. This medium is called money. Mankind almost generally has fixed upon gold and silver as such, because it is scarce and rare, and has something brilliant in its appearance. Because there is not a sufficiency of this to answer every purpose in commerce and trade (and if there was it would lose its value, and the end intended thereby) to make up this inconvenience, bonds, bills, notes, &c. have been invented and used. Now all these are not real property, nor absolutely necessary to our subsistence, individually, nor in society ; for none of that can either feed or clothe us. And as every individual in society can not raise what is necessary, the bartering of the produce of one's labour for that of another, is become expedient; but as society and this kind of commerce encreased, bartering became in- convenient, and so was the medium of money introduced, in order to remedy that inconvenience. Hence is evident that money is by com- mon consent, a kind of bill or note. For example, one person has more of one commodity than he needs, he gets money for it, which intitles him to get other property which suits him, to an equal amount of what he sold. Hence also is evident, that it makes no material difference whether money is of gold, silver, iron or paper, provided it will answer the purpose of trade and commerce. That of the Spartans was iron. Among us it has mostly been paper for a long time past, and has answered all the necessary purposes which gold and silver does in other nations.
2. I .observe also, that it is absolutely necessary for the security of the community, that this circulating medium should have a cer- tain determinate value stamped upon it, and that secured to the pos- sessor by some sanction, in order to answer the purposes thereby in- tended. For if the nominal value of money is the half less to-day than it was a few weeks or months ago, and probably will sink one- half more in a few to come, it is as evidently destructive to trade and commerce, and so to civil society, as the other is beneficial. This nominal value must be estimated, not by its bulk, for the same bulk or weight of gold will purchase much more real property than
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.