USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. III > Part 27
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The articles first filled up for you as a private vessel of war, and signed, are to be your articles; those given you by the State are of no use and ought to be destroyed, as you neither share or divide by them. Direct your prize masters to deliver no letters or papers until they see us, nor should they answer any questions respecting your vessel, nor situation, or place you were last at.
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You may deceive very generally the merchantmen bound to New York, few of them expect to meet an American cruizer on this coast, by pretending to be a New York privateer or man of war's tender, you may amuse them until you find a convenient opportunity to board or attack them, but your judgment and prudence will direct you the conduct necessary to pursue on this and every other occasion.
If our Bay should at any time be so guarded as to pre- vent your getting your prizes in here, you will next en- deavour to get them into Egg Harbour, if too large for that harbour you must send them for Chesepeak Bay or for Boston or some port in New England, if valuable, accompanying them; many things may occur that we cannot particularly direct you in, and in such cases you must act as you judge best and most conducive to our interest; harmony with your officers, strict discipline as possible and good usage of your crew we would recom- mend, your gaining their good opinion and esteem will be of singular use, a general benefit to the cruize, and an ease to yourself, and wishing you an agreeable and suc- cessful cruize, we are, Sir,
Your obedient Servants,
J. M. NESBITT and Co. ANDREW and HUGH HODGE. -The Royal Gazette, No. 271, May 5, 1779.
To Mr. LIVINGSTON, titular Governor of New-Jersey.
I
SIR, have just dissected your prolix reply to Sir Henry's laconic letter. Indeed the sentiments it contains are so ill connected, that it scarce cost me a moment's trouble. Your essay seems to be the dernier resort of a distracted mind, for while you affect the greatest fortitude,
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the infernal spectres you speak of, will not allow you a single moment's repose. It is impossible that the Com- mander in Chief could descend to altercation with you. Your suspicions of assassination are plain and expressive, not withstanding the smooth and inoffensive terms in which you have so decently couched them. Enamoured of the argumentum cornutum, most of your periods admit two meanings, yet you are so shallow a logician, that you have not yet discovered its full extent. Charges positive and direct in the first instance, cannot be palliated by novel insinuations in the second, nor can those nice distinctions, sometimes allowable at the bar, be admitted in attempts to degrade characters of eminence, which can only be fairly judged by the dictates of truth and humanity.
Besides perfect logic according to the received opinion of men of sense, springs from the true, and not the per- verted powers of reason. This you must be sensible of, as you are about selecting the best laws of the realm for .your assumed government, otherwise you must be a great stranger to the equitable principles on which they were founded. America's loyal sons I shall ever admire, and honour their rising genius, while from the reciprocal affection I wish to see preserved between them and Britons, I will not draw the merits of composition into question : yet I can scarcely imagine that any foreigner of distinc- tion, in high repute for wit and knowledge, would have hazarded the assertion that this country already possesses superior learning and military prowess to Great Britain. Were the curious reader to refer to the rise of this mo- mentous contest, however artfully the final intentions of the Congress were so long concealed, however mild in his disposition, he must at least discover much duplicity and design in the whole tenor of their conduct, and in no part more, than in the reasons they assigned for declaring in- dependence.
You have rarely preserved your own temper, tho' bred
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to the law, and never in any of those performances sub- mitted to the inspection of the world, or in your judicial advice to the people at large as a Governor. You will not deny your opprobrious expressions concerning the banish- ment of tories to desolate islands, or punishing such as have the misfortune to be in your power, or even that virulent hyperbole before me, of being unable to ascer- tain the precise limits of British cruelty. If what I ad- vance Sir, is matter of fact, and that it is I appeal to the whole world, where pray have you furnished an instance in support of your pretended honourable remark of for- eigners, that America had shewn her superiority to Great- Britain, no less in the decency of her writings, than in the success of her arms.
I am much surprised that a man so intent on masterly productions, should be so little acquainted with the con- cise elegance of a fine writer. Recollect yourself a little Mr. Livingston, and you will be more reconciled to the British General's determination to take no notice of you. His titles are the just reward of faithful and distinguished services, and I really think you may venture to retract your former unguarded assertion that America and France would soon chastize British insolence. Without disturbing your amiable connexions with those unhappy slaves who flutter about your person, there can be no indelicacy or impropriety in wishing that they may at last evince a. poignant sensibility of the true character of their oppressor.
I am your most obedient Servant, DETECTOR.
To WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, Esq; &c. &c. &c.
Renowned Sir,
TF it will not be deemed too great presumption in one of my humble station to address your Excellency ; and if a person who boasts of no considerable refine- ment in the epistolary way, may be permitted to write to
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him who (from superior abilities) is above receiving any edification, I will take the liberty to pay my compliments to you in this public and must respectful manner.
You must be sensible that consistency is one of those qualities which you possess in so eminent a degree, that you might with propriety adopt "servetur ad imum" for your favourite motto. The same unquestionable modesty, and (to use one of your own expressions ) the same decency of writing as well as speaking, the same rectitude of con- duct and urbanity of manners which you thought proper to display in the earliest period of your memorable life have been inflexibly adhered to in every circumstance of it.
I call to witness upon this occasion your numerous, decent and impartial lucubrations, with which (almost, at the beginning of its existence in this city) the press is known to have teemed, resembling the earth in that respect, which, if we credit the Poets, brought forth at its first formation all manner of monsters .- I call to witness also, that continuation of your labours and your life by which you have acquired the admiration of all-except those whom you have always disregarded-the virtuous and the wise .- But more especially I call to witness that convinc- ing example of bright perseverance which you have so recently afforded.
You will be at no loss to conjecture that upon this occa- sion I allude to your letter of the 15th instant, addressed to the British General. It was indeed mortifying beyond expression, that when a gentleman of your character had began a correspondence with the General in so very affable a manner, and in such inoffensive terms, that it should be so abruptly concluded by an intimation that it was looked upon as a trouble, and not as an honour: And vet mortify- ing as this circumstance undoubtedly was, perhaps it might have been more prudent to have said less upon the subject. Mankind are ready to suspect that we are not indifferent to matters which we take so much pains to mention; this
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is an opinion that a man of your reading cannot be ignorant has prevailed in all ages, even as early as the days of Æsop, who has introduced the disappointed fox, declaring that he had not the least passion for the grapes which were ·placed beyond his reach; you will pardon me for mention- ing this observation to you; I am convinced, for my own part, (since you say it, whose veracity is unquestionable) that you was not ambitious of a correspondence, from which however, you determined not to be precluded; but the world perhaps may entertain no such adequate ideas of your truth, dignity and importance, and therefore I was afraid might judge otherwise.
But if I presume with diffidence to hint a censure of your failing as to that particular, in what you have always been so remarkable for (I mean the little arts of craft or cunning) ; I shall with pleasure acknowledge that you have manifested your usual modesty in charging the Gen- eral with unprovoked want of politeness, and your usual abilities in asserting that your former letter was couched in the most "inoffensive terms."
Undoubtedly it was no provocation to ask Sir Henry Clinton whether he was an accomplice with assassins, and to call upon him to deny it if he could; this is the very measure which, what you call American decency, would dictate, and especially to a man who thought it highly im- probable and almost impossible that the General should countenance, connive at, or be privy to a design so san- guinary and disgraceful. You will observe that I make use of your own striking and emphatical term[s] upon this occasion, leaving out indeed the little word "either," which occurs in both your letters, and is such a breach of gram- matical propriety, that I wonder it could escape from a gentleman of your refinement in the epistolary way.
I am sensible that the vulgar, and perhaps even a few persons of rank and breeding may differ both from you and me in their sentiments of this matter. There are some
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people whom no rank can elevate, no breeding can polish ; they perhaps will declare that the very asking such a ques- tion was the grossest of all affronts, an [d] that it was im- possible it could be couched in terms of an inoffensive nature: Nay, so far might the wayward disposition of such people extend, that your Excellency, upon making similar enquiries from them, might only receive the re- sponsum bacculinum in return for your trouble .- If you should alledge to them that you did not think it probable they would countenance, connive at, or be privy to a design so sanguinary and disgraceful, they would be ready to tell you, that you had then the less reason to trouble them upon the subject; either you was insincere in this pro- fession, or it would have prevented you from asking so disgraceful and so affrontive a question.
But let us leave in repose these extraordinary men and their unaccountable notions. I take it for granted that the terms of your letter were inoffensive, and the question it contained such as might be asked with the greatest delicacy .- I must therefore lament that the General should have treated you with so unmerited a want of politeness.
It will no doubt appear extraordinary in the annals of history, (in which you, Mr. Livingston, must make so conspicuous and amiable a figure) that Sir Henry Clinton should so far regard the duties of his station, and be so- attentive to the interests of his King and country, as not. to think himself at leisure to correspond with a Gentleman of your dignity and merit .- The pleasure he must have reaped from such a correspondence would have been in- finite, and I am sure that he will be very much blamed if he was supposed to decline it from resentment-I will not say, from contempt.
Whilst I lament the ill treatment which you have re- ceived, and of which I confess that you seem too sensible, give me leave to admire your extraordinary address in availing yourself of the lucky wording of a former letter.
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-It is indeed true. that you did not in express terms say any thing about his life, or about the murder of him; and altho' it is impossible to understand in any other sense that delicate threat with which your former letter con- cluded, yet it seems you had artfully prepared such an evasion as is truly honourable and worthy of yourself. I can hardly think that any man who reads your first letter will be at a loss to comprehend your real meaning; and I am sure, any one who afterwards peruses your second, must admire your transcendent abilities .- But what is most admirable, and ought by no means to be omitted in silence, is that air of surprise which you so naturally affect at the General's understanding you in the same sense which would strike every impartial reader. It is obvious enough that he comprehended thoroughly the idea you intended to convey ; tho' it cannot be denied that he treated it with the greatest contempt, and not with that attention which so friendly a caution deserved.
Your former letter was truly in the tragic style, and meant to excite the passions of terror and pity in the mind of the person to whom it was addressed .- You judiciously supposed that the General would compassionate so worthy, so meek, and so inoffensive a man as your Excellency, whose valuable life was exposed to such apparent danger ; and you thought he would certainly be struck with terror at finding his person so entirely in your power .- Tho' your letter failed of producing the latter of these effects, for which it was so evidently calculated, you should com- fort yourself with considering that the attempt was glori- ous .- "Magnis tamen excidit ausis," you know, has before afforded consolation to the greatest minds.
If the General however, did not in reality "startle at the shocking spectre," which you had taken so much pains to conjure up; if, on the contrary, he treated the phantom with an air of careless indifference and disregard, it was nevertheless easy for you, Sir, to assert the reverse, and
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endeavour with matchless eloquence to convince the world of it .- Have you not made the same efforts in many other instances, and tho' often detected, have you ever been known to recede from your assertions ?
But pardon me if I mention that there is some reason to suppose, even from the tenor of your shortlived corres- pondence, that your Excellency has been not only startled, but even haunted, by the horrid spectre you allude to .- It is difficult to escape from the terrors of conscience; and tho' I am inclined to believe that you possess as much fortitude as any man, yet I cannot wonder if you should sometimes behold a bloody poniard in the air, or fancy an avenging knife raised against your bosom.
It is time, however, to dismiss so disagreeable a subject. -It may awaken reflections which your Excellency would wish should sleep .- Such reflections as might even stop a man of less resolution in that full career which you have determined so gloriously to run.
I had much more to have said in your commendation for many other passages of your letter; but I fear that I have already trespassed upon your patience. However I cannot take my leave of your Excellency without paying the tribute of praise for the polite manner in which your letter is concluded .- You have now demonstrated that your enemies have charged you without reason with an unforgiving temper. Notwithstanding Sir Henry Clin- ton's unparalleled want of politeness to you, you have with the utmost good manners wished him a safe voyage across the Atlantic .- It is true that he has no intentions of taking that voyage at present, which some people maliciously sup- pose that you really wish he would, and therefore under- stand you merely in that sense .- But for my part, I so totally differ from them, that I can attribute your Excel- lency's kind and sincere wish to nothing but the well known refinement of your breeding and benignity of your heart .;- being persuaded that if Sir Henry, with all his followers
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were to abandon this country, you would not be so much a gainer as to sleep in peace.
I remain, Sir, Your humble Servant, HUMPHREY CLINKER. New-York, April 24, 1779.
I'll budge for no man's pleasure I?
We are informed from Acquakenung, in Jersey, that the death of Mr. Hopper, who had bought and took possession of the confiscated house of a friend to government in that vicinity had intimidated the purchaser of Major Drum- mond's 1 house, lately confiscated, and publicly sold, from taking possession of it, declaring that in the night he dreaded his throat also would be cut, which happened to be the ghastly fate of that poor Devil Hopper.
We are informed that yesterday arrived at Sandy-Hook, a privateer of six carriage guns, taken by the Diligent, brig, Capt. Walbeof; she is said to be of the Egg-Harbour family .- The Royal Gazette, No. 272, May 8, 1779.
TRENTON, May 5.
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, April 30, 1779.
W HEREAS several of the collectors and other officers of the government have in their hands bills of credit of the emissions of the 20th May, 1777, and the 11th April, 1778, lately called out of circulation by Congress, which they have received for debts or taxes due to this state, and the same may be refused at the treasury.
1 For a sketch of Major Robert Drummond (Loyalist), see New Jersey Archives, 2d Series, 1 : 251.
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Resolved, That the treasurer be authorized and directed to receive from the collectors and other officers of govern- ment, all bills of the said emissions which said officers may pay into the treasury on or before the 20th day of May next, provided each person paying the same shall upon his oath or affirmation, declare that such bills of credit were by him received in payment for the debts or taxes due to the state, and that no part thereof was by him received in exchange for bills of credit now in circulation, which oath or affirmation the said treasurer is authorized to admin- ister. And that all bills of credit of the said two emis- sions called out of circulation, which may remain in the hands of collectors or other public officers, after the said 20th day of May ensuing, shall be either exchanged, or the loss occasioned by neglect thereof, sustained by the said persons who received the same.
Extract from the Journals, Jos. PHILLIPS, Clk. pro tem.
Council-Chamber, April 30, 1779.
Concurred in by Council, BOWES REED, Clk.
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, May 1, 1779.
Resolved, That for the present, till a law be enacted to make further provision for the militia, each officer, non- commission officer, and private, when the whole or any part of the militia are called into service, receive as an equivalent to the additional allowance lately agreed to be made to the continental troops, the sum of five shillings by the day, over and above their pay, bounty, rations and mileage, during the time they shall continue in actual service; and that the paymasters of the militia be in- structed to make payment accordingly.
Extract from the Journals,
Jos. PHILLIPS, Clk. pro tem.
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CHATHAM, MAY 11.
A particular account of the robbery committed at Hi- bernia iron-works, mentioned in our last .- On Tuesday night, the 27th ult. a party of robbers and well-armed villains surrounded the dwelling-house at Hibernia fur- nace; three of whom entered while the family were at supper, about 9 o'clock in the evening, and stayed near two hours. They entered before the family discovered them, clapped a pistol to each of their breasts, ordered them to give up their arms, and surrender themselves prisoners in the King's name, or they were dead men: They were obliged to submit, having only three workmen about the house, and they in bed. The villains fixed a sentry at each door, and then proceeded to plunder the house of every- thing valuable, to a very considerable amount; with which articles they loaded five horses, which they took off also .- They went from that to Doctor Jonothan Chuver's, near Charlotburg iron-works, with an intent to murder him, having discovered on them sometime before, having met them in a wood between there and Long-Pond. While they were surrounding his house he made his escape out of a window; they fired at him, but missed him; he ran six or seven miles with no other clothes on than his shirt, and alarmed the country as he went. They plundered his house, threatened to murder his wife, made her go down on her knees twice and beg her life .- There are parties of the militia in quest of them, and it is to be hoped the spirited true sons of liberty, will turn out and scour the woods 'till they are detected, that they may get their just deserts.
The Honourable Congress have appointed Col. Azariah Horton 1 D. Commissary General of Musters, and the
1 For notices of the Horton family of Morris County, see New Jersey Archives, 27: 267, and 2d Series, 1:195 ; 2: 380.
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Commander in Chief has ordered accordingly that he be obeyed and respected as such.
Was married on Sunday morning last, before Church, Mr. Foster Horton, of this place, brother to Col. Horton, to Miss Sally Low, formerly of New-York.
On Thursday last near forty sail of transports, with troops on board, put to sea from Sandy-Hook.
TO BE SOLD,
At vendue, at Morrell's store in Chatham, on Saturday the 15th inst. to begin precisely at 1 o'clock,
IX or eight barrels of racked cyder, gammons and pork, wood axes, stone jugs and bottles filled with vinegar, ground ginger, chalk, hammers and gimb- lets, books and pamphlets, bayonets, cartouch-boxes, steel ramrods, powder, bullets, lead, and gun-flints, earthenware, knot bowls, pewter-platters and spoons, tea kettles, seven or eight feet of a new tin funnel, seal thimbles, draw-locks and thumb latches, boys leather breeches, large and small looking-glasses, one case of bottles, trace chains, chisels and gouges, black bottles, beaver, castor, and felt hats, indigo, teatable ketches, shoemakers pincers, one saddle, a few pounds of black beads, hard soap five or six years old, watch christals, three or four iron shovels, a few pounds of candles, and some tallow, with a variety of other articles, by
JACOB MORRELL.
N. B. If the subscriber meets with encouragement he proposes to take in goods of all sorts to sell at vendue.
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TO BE SOLD,
A N elegant repeating GOLD WATCH, London made. For further particulars enquire of the printer.
SHOES.
T HE subscriber is authorized to contract for good strong shoes fit for the army. He will pay part in hides, where that is most agreeable, and give cash for the remainder. Those who have shoes on hand will serve their country by bringing them immediately.
JAMES CALDWELL.
Springfield, May 8, 1779.
W HEREAS Mary Decamp, wife of the subscriber, did, on the 16th of June, 1776 elope from her bed and board, and as there is no hopes of her return- ing again, this is therefore to give notice to all merchants, mechanicks, and other inhabitants, not to harbour, trade with, nor trust her on my account, as I am determined not to pay any debts of her contracting.
LAMBARD DECAMP.
W HEREAS many people of late have been very assidi- ous in propogating reports to the prejudice of my character: This is therefore to request the public to suspend judgments until next week, when the whole matter will be laid before them.
THOMAS WELLS. -The New-Jersey Journal, Vol. I., Numb. XIII., May 11, 1779.
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To be SOLD by public Vendue,
On Wednesday the 19th inst. at the Coffee-house, in the City of Philadelphia, at seven o'clock in the evening, A Very valuable Tract of 418 Acres of Land, situate in Roxborough township, in the county of Morris, in the State of New Jersey; it is very well timbered with large oak and hickory, and lies within one mile of Andover iron works, and but about five miles from Hacket's Town, being very convenient to either of those places. On this tract are low ground, swamps and cripples, which produce plenty of grass in its season, and there has been good hay made on the same, though wild and uncultivated. Any person inclining to purchase may be further informed, by applying to WILLIAM SHAW living in Water-street, near the Old Ferry, Philadelphia .- The Pennsylvania Journal, May 12, 1779.
[No. VII.]
Mr. COLLINS,
As civil government is like a great machine, composed of several mechanical powers, great skill, judgment and prudence is requisite, both in forming and putting together so many different parts, in order to make it move regular, and in regulating and guiding the whole, so as to obtain the end intended by it. The machine of state is its fundamental constitution, and the working of it is the exercise of civil government.
This is generally distinguished into three different kinds; Mon- archy, in which the supreme power is lodged in one person ; Aristocracy, when the government is lodged in a Council or Senate composed of persons of noble birth, riches and wealth; Democracy, when it is in the hands of the people. The two last are comprehended under the term Republick or Commonwealth. I shall not enter upon a discussion of the question, which of these three is to be preferred? Caprice, interest and prejudices have, in all ages, influenced men in their determinations on this subject. The monarchy we once lived under without murmuring, we have, for sufficient reasons, discarded, and adopted a republican government. I only observe, that this is undoubtedly the best calculated, if well conducted, to, promote the happiness of our civil society. I apprehend, however, that there are
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