USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. IV > Part 45
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Where destined we cannot learn.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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TRENTON, AUGUST 30.
Extract of a letter from Boston, dated August 7.
"The fleet bound from England to Quebec has met with some interruption on their passage off the Western Islands. A French 74 fell in with it, and took twelve; which were ordered to the West Indies: The privateers belonging to Salem, Newbury, Boston and Cape Ann have eighteen more; and the remaining seven were proceeding up the river St. Lawrence, where were Capt. Hinman in a large ship well mann'd and two others, which will undoubtedly take the whole. Amongst the seven is a large ship full of ordnance stores. In London they were told, that all the rebel privateers were lost at Penobscot ; that the risque was nothing; the underwriters received but ten per cent pre- mium. Chief of the eighteen are got into port; four of them provision ships, the rest sorted cargoes. The richest and most capital stroke made on the British trade this war."
Captain Dillon, of the Mercury Packet, lately captured and arrived at Philadelphia, with the crew, passed through this place on Monday last on their way to Elizabethtown, to be exchanged.
Hendrick Smock, Esquire,1 and Lieutenant-Colonel John Smock,2 of Monmouth county, were lately made prisoners by a party of the enemy from Sandy-Hook and carried to New-York.
1 "At a meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Lower Freehold," June 6th, 1774, Hendrick Smock and others were appointed a committee for the township "to join with those who may be elected for the neigh- bouring townships or counties, to constitute a General Committee" to en- force the non-importation of British goods until the Boston Port Bill and similar acts should be repealed .- Minutes Provincial Congress, etc., 5. Stryker says he was Captain of the "Minute Men," October 12th, 1775; Captain, First Regiment, Monmouth, 1777; Captain, Company of Artil- lery, Monmouth, and prisoner of war, September, 1780.
2 Stryker gives John Smock's military record as follows : Captain, First Regiment, Monmouth, 1777; Major, ditto; Lieutenant Colonel, ditto, March 27th, 1778; prisoner of war, September, 1780; Colonel, same Regiment. John Smock was appointed a Justice of the Peace of Mon- mouth county, March 17th, 1786; again, November 23d, 1795, and again, November 13th, 1800.
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A few Days ago one of Goodrich's fast sailing ships was captured by one of our cruisers, and brought into the Dela- ware.
On the 14th instant Mr. MICHAEL SCHAMP was unfortu- nately drowned as he was fishing in the Delaware, near Sherrerd's ferry. He has left a wife and ten children to deplore his loss.
EPHRAIM HARRIS, Esq. is elected a Representative in General Assembly, for the County of Cumberland, in the Room of Timothy Elmer, Esquire, deceased.
§ # § The Piece promised in our last in the Address, signed SPERANDO, is come to Hand, but is necessarily post- poned to next Week's Gazette.
STRAYED or STOLEN,
From the Subscriber in Pennington, Hunterdon county, state of New-Jersey,
A CHESTNUT SORREL HORSE, publick property, 15 and a half hands high, about 7 years old, a star and snip, a natural pacer, pleasant under the saddle and good spirits; if any brand it is not remembered. If stolen, any person securing the thief and delivering me the horse, shall have Five Hundred Dollars reward, and for the Horse half the above sum, with reasonable charges.
August 28, 1780. Jos. INSLEE, Con. Hun.
Wanted immediately,
A PERSON that can come well recommended, to keep the GAOL. in Burlington. For further particulars ap- ply to JACOB PHILLIP, Sher. Aug. 18.
39
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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To BE SOLD,
At PUBLICK VENDUE, at the late dwellinghouse of AMos Smith, deceased near Trenton, on Tuesday the fifth day of September next,
A WAGGON and gears, horses, cattle, and hogs, a smith's anvil, vice, bellows, and sundry other smith's and cooper's tools; farming utensils and lumber. The vendue to begin at two o'clock when the conditions of sale will be made known and attendance given by
August 24, 1780. ELIZABETH SMITH, Admtrx. -New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. III., No. 140, Aug. 30, 1780.
New-York, August 30
COW CHACE,
CANTO II.
N EAR his meridian pomp the Sun Had journey'd from the hor'zon, When fierce the dusky Tribe mov'd on Of Heroes drunk as poison.
The sounds confus'd the boasting Oaths, Re echoed thro' the Wood, Some vow'd to sleep in the dead Men's Cloaths, And some to swim in blood.
At Irvine's Nod 'twas fine to see, The left prepare to fight, The while the Drovers, Wayne and Lee, Drew off upon the Right.
Which Irvine 'twas, Fame don't relate, Nor can the Muse assist her, Whether 'twas he that cocks a Hat, Or he that gives a Glister.
For greatly one was signaliz'd, That fought at Chestnut-Hill, And Canada immortaliz'd, The Vender of the Pill.
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Yet the attendance upon Proctor, They both might have to boast of ; For there was Business for the Doctor, And hatts to be disposed of.
Let none uncandidly infer, That Stirling wanted Spunk, The self-made Peer had sure been there, But that the Peer was drunk.
But turn we to the Hudson's Banks, Where stood the modest Train, With Purpose firm, tho' slender Ranks, Nor car'd a Pin for Wayne.
For them the unrelenting Hand Of rebel Fury drove, And tore from ev'ry genial Band, Of Friendship and of Love.
And some within a Dungeon's Gloom, By mock Tribunals laid, Had waited long a cruel Doom, Impending o'er their Heads.
Here one bewails a Brother's Fate, There one a Sire demands, Cut off alas ! before their Date By ignominious Hand.
And silver'd Grandsires here appear'd, In deep Distress serene, Of reverend Manners that declared, The better Days they'd seen.
Oh curs'd Rebellion these are thine, Thine are these Tales of Woe, Shall at thy dire insatiate Shrine Blood never cease to flow?
And now the Foe began to lead, His Forces to th' Attack ; Balls whistling unto Balls succeed, And make the Block-House crack.
No shot could pass, if you will take The Gen'ral's Word for true ; But 'tis a d-ble Mistake, For ev'ry Shot went thro'.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
The firmer as the Rebels press'd, The loyal Heroes stand ; Virtue had nerv'd each honest Breast, And Industry each Hand.
"In 1Valour's Phrenzy, Hamilton "Rode like a Soldier big, "And Secretary Harrison, "With Pen stuck in his Wig."
"But least their Chieftain Washington, "Should mourn them in the Mumps,2
"The Fate of Withrington to shun, "They fought behind the Stumps."
But ah, Thadaeus Posset, why Should thy Poor Soul elope, And why should Titus Hooper3 die, Ah die-without a Rope.
Apostate Murphy, thou to whom Fair Shela ne'er was cruel, In Death, shal't hear her mourn thy Doom, Auch wou'd you die my Jewel?
Thee Nathan Pumpkin I lament, Of melancholly Fate, The Grey Goose stolen as he went. In his Heart's Blood was wet.
Now as the Fight was further fought, And Balls began to thicken, The Fray assum'd the Gen'ral's thought, The Colour of a licking.
Yet undismay'd the Chiefs Command, And to redeem the Day, Cry, SOLDIERS CHARGE! they hear, they stand, They turn and run away.
(The End of Canto the 2d.)
1 Vide Lee's Trial.
. 2 A Disorder prevalent in the Rebel Lines. "The Merit of these Lines, "which is doubtless very great, can only be felt by true Connoisseurs con- "versant in antient Song."
3 Jonathan Hopper, murdered by refugees in his bed at Wagaraw.
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Last Friday and Saturday the rebels held a fete cham- petre, with an harvest home, in the vicinity of Bergen, New-Jersey ;- they drove off some cattle, brought a num- ber of teams, which bore away some salt hay, and after pilfering (in their old petit larceny way) all the honest and trusty inhabitants, the week was closed very trag- ically indeed to (one of the greatest sufferers in America) Col. William Bayard, for on Saturday they visited his estate at Weehawk, destroyed the houses and burned his farms. They then repaired to Hoobuck, set fire to Col. Bayard's elegant house there, and one of the finest barns ever constructed; these, with several other improvements were burned to the ground; they proceeded still further, and set fire to the grass, parched by the late uncommon scorching weather, which continued two days in raging flames, when one of the most valuable orchards existing, was utterly destroyed.
-The Royal Gazette, No. 409, August 30, 1780.
PHILA. On Friday last the Camp which had been formed at Trenton by the Militia of this state, by orders of His Excellency General Washington, broke up in con- sequence of a countermand from him, or advices received from Europe. It consisted of 1500 Infantry, two com- panies of artillery, with 4 pieces of cannon, and a troop of Light Horse. During their encampment they daily practised the manœuvres and discipline introduced into the Continental army by Baron Steuben, and made a very great progress. The greatest harmony and good order prevailed. A market was established, which the inhabitants of the neighbourhood regularly attended, and the respect paid to private property was such, that all the damage done in three weeks, did not amount to more than fifty pounds specie, agreeable to an appraisement made by two Freeholders of New-Jersey. They were well provided with tents, and all other necessaries for actual field service. In a few days more, the whole, with the addition of Lancaster, York and Cumberland, would have
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
made a corps of 3400 men. All under the command of His Excellenncy the President of the State, ready to Co- operate with the Continental army, if their services had been immediately necessary.
-The Pennsylvania Packet, September 5, 1780.
CHATHAM, August 30.
Last week our army moved down to Bergen invited the cooped up Britons out to a trial of their skill, which in- vitation they prudently declined accepting. We are told they drove off some hundred head of cattle and sheep; likewise brought off a considerable quantity of wheat and forage.
-The Pennsylvania Journal, September 6, 1780.
CHATHAM, SEPTEMBER 6.
By intelligence from the Southward we learn, that our army in South Carolina, under the command of General Gates, has lately been repulsed with the loss of upwards of one thousand men killed and taken prisoners, and that General Gates, with difficulty, escaped sharing the fate of the latter ;- that Baron De Kalb, who commanded the Maryland line of Continental troops, was wounded and taken ;- that the two armies met one another in the night, both endeavouring to gain a certain piece of ground ;- that to the pusillanimous behaviour of the militia the disaster may be attributed.
Mr. William Livingston (son of Mr. Peter Van B. Livingston) and Lieut. Paton of the Dragoons, were both lately killed at camp in two different duels. What pity, such promising youths, who might be of service to their country, should be so untimely slain, in mistakingly sup- porting their honour.
Died, at Newark, on Monday last, Mr. Samuel Morrel, late an inhabitant of Long-Island.
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
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FOR SALE,
A FARM, containing about 130 acres, off of which may be cut upwards of 20 tons of hay in good sea- sons; has three orchards, consisting of 360 apple trees ; plenty of wood; under good fence; and is capable of much improvement: On the premises, is a good barn, and framed house, with five rooms and a kitchen; a small house with two fire places.
Likewise for sale,-An elegant time piece, an 8 day clock, a large looking glass, a side board, a large pair of brass and-irons. For terms apply to Walter Buchanan, at Hanover, within 2 miles of Morris-Town.
To exchange for any kind of country produce, rum, tea, white and brown sugar, indigo, cotton, pepper and sundry other things.
Hanover, September 5, 1780.
To be Sold at public VENDUE, On Monday the 18th instant, at the house of the subscriber at the Scotch Plains ;
THE house and lot where the subscriber now lives; a loom, a quantity of reed and geers, and other utensils
for weaving; household goods, a cow or two, hogs, and many other articles too tedious to mention. The ven- due to begin at nine o'clock in the morning, when the con- ditions will be made known by
September 5, 1780.
JOHN HAMTON.
FOR THE NEW-JERSEY JOURNAL,
GRIEVANCES proposed, and published, to be by the only proper authority of the state of New-Jersey considered and redressed.
A TTENTION ! all attention ! candid reader, to the feelings of mankind, and to the dictates of common sense and reason.
When the Americans first engaged in the present war. liberty and property were the great and important objects held up to view ;
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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objects worth contesting; worth ten thousand struggles. What a pity then, these objects should disappear, be lost, and suffered to go out of sight; better let a preacher forget his text, ramble from his subject, and never return to it more; the consequence would be safety, and the blunder compleat accuracy, in the comparison .- The cause for which we contend is a common one .- Therefore one as well as another are equally interested. From whence then has originated the most glaring inequality ; there is rotteness or mistake somewhere, otherwise the burden would not be so laid upon the shoulders of some, the least able to bear it, and others almost ex- empted, and scarcely obliged to touch it, with so much as with one of their fingers. Horrendum dictu! It must be acknowledged, that the New-Jersey militia, and especially those of Essex county, have done even wonders; their labours, toils, expences, and dangers are abundant. Witness (among a number of other things not now men- tioned) their ready compliance with the requisitions of Assembly, in hiring six months men, at a time when the raising of the money to pay them, on account of its scarcity, was next door to impossible, to serve in other places and counties, and then turn out themselves, to guard and defend their own, amidst hay and harvest, leaving all to rack and ruin at-home, or run the venture of a fine not exceeding one thousand pounds. In the mean while, the exempts, and such who some time ago, had given a few dollars for substitute men (per- haps now fighting against us) rest easy and quiet in their own houses, and on their own plantations, clear of these troubles, dangers and expences adding day by day to their wealth at home; or by huck- stering or labouring abroad, receiving for one day nearly double the amount of a poor militia man's wages for a whole month; when, perhaps, he has a numerous family of children to support, or suffer by the means .- Now then, that such evils, in part, at least may be removed, and justice take place, and all do something like their proportion under our present difficulties and distresses, 'tis hoped, and warmly urged, that petitions be forthwith drawn up, and sent into the General Assembly of this state, at their next meeting, praying, that a law be immediately passed to raise the wages of each and every militia man who turns out in his country's service, when prop- erly called, equal to a common day's labour. This can be no more than what is justly called doing right, between man and man; this would give satisfaction to thousands, supply the state with a sufficient number of militia soldiers, whenever wanted; leave us all nearly upon one floor, in point of duty or burden, since we must either turn out in person, or pay something that resembles an equivalent to them who do .- In consequence of which, peace among ourselves would bid fair to take place, court martials and finings, on account of delin- quents, almost, if not altogether, cease .- Justice and judgment, would then begin to run down our streets as a stream, and righteousness as an overflowing flood. AN EXEMPT.
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
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A GOOD draught HORSE to be sold, or exchanged for one fit for the saddle. Enquire of the Printer.
To be sold at public VENDUE, On Wednesday the 13th instant.
ITHE FARM the subscriber now lives on, containing 130 acres, lying on the main road leading from Pequa- nack to Morris Town: There is on said farm a good frame house, a story and a half high, with 3 rooms on a floor, almost new; a barn, and orchard containing 150 bearing apple-trees, about 20 acres of meadow, and as much more may be easily made; about 50 acres of wood- land, the residue good pasture and plough land. Also farming utensils and household goods, two colts, some cows, young cattle, sheep and hogs .- The farm will be sold whole or divided, as best may suit the purchasers. Vendue will begin at 10 o'clock, on said day, when condi- tions of sale will be made known, and attendance given by September 5, 1780. CHARLES BYLE.
A FEW thousand dollars still remain in the hands of the subscriber to pay arrears due to the militia of the counties of Morris, Sussex, and Bergen, for services performed before the 1st of May 1779; should it not be applied for before the 1st of November, it will be lodged in the hands of his successor in office, or returned into the treasury. JOSEPH LEWIS, Late Paymaster. Morris Town, August 29, 1780.
A LL persons, in this county, who have hired substitutes during the war, are desired to meet at Herd's tavern, at Connecticut Farms, on the 7th of September next, at one o'clock in the afternoon.
SAMUEL WOODRUFF.
Elizabeth Town, August 29, 1780.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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To be SOLD,
A SMALL FARM, containing 120 acres, 10 of which is good meadow, and 10 more may be easily made; 20 acres of good timber and wood, the rest suitable for the plough: There is on said place a comfortable house, with a well of excellent water close to the door, a good barn, and an orchard of 130 bearing apple trees, with other fruit. Any person being disposed to view the prem- ises, and know the conditions, may apply to the subscriber, in the township of Morris, three miles from Chatham.
August 29, 1780. JOHN ROBARTS.
TAKEN up by the subscriber, in Hanover, Morris county, the 1st instant, a sorrel horse, 5 or 6 years old, 14 hands and a-half high, low in flesh, trots and canters well, has a star in the forehead, some white on the end of the nose, and the near fore and the off hind leg almost white up to the knee; branded on the near thigh, but not legible. The owner is desired to prove property, pay charges, and take him away.
August 29, 1780. SAMUEL SQUIER.
THIS is to give notice that I shall attend on Tuesday and Friday of next week and the week after, at the Quartermaster's office in Rahway, in order to take in all such accounts as may be brought against the Quarter- master-General's or forage departments, that has been con- tracted between the 2d of March 1778, and August 1st, 1780. This is the last time of asking.
DANIEL MARSH, Q. M.
N. B. All persons that have any property belonging to either of the above-mentioned departments, are desired to make it known to me or some other Quartermaster immedi-
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ately; but if any, after this public notice, should be so base as to endeavour to conceal any of said property, and are discovered, they will be punished as the law directs.
Rahway, August 29, 1780. D. M.
To be Sold at public VENDUE,
At the late dwelling-house of John Hutchinson, at Troy, now a fugitive with the enemy, on Thursday the 7th of September next, to begin at 10 o'clock in the morn- ing;
A
LL the perishable estate that did belong to said Hutch- inson, viz. A negro wench and two children, about twenty horse kind, such as breeding mares and likely young blooded horses; cows, young cattle, hogs, geese, &c. The money to be paid before the goods are taken away. The above articles will be sold for Conti- nental currency, by
DAVID THOMPSON, Alex. Carmichael, Commissioners Aaron Kitchel. Morris Town, August 29, 1780.
ROBERT EASTBURN, Of NEW-BRUNSWICK,
Has for SALE on as low conditions as the times will admit of, the following articles, viz.
G
OOD West-India rum by the hogshead, barrel, or gallon; cherry rum, French Brandy, wine, molas- ses, good indigo by the hundred, dozen, pound or ounce; green and bohea tea; sugar, coffee, chocolate, alspice, ginger, nutmegs, cinnamon, and cloves; rozin, brimstone, copperas, woolcards, shoe heels by the dozen or pair, hard soap and candles, good cotton, knives and forks, check linen, book muslin, choice alamode, pelon,
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
sewing silk, chintz and calico, kenting handkerchiefs, pen- knives, scissors, brass and glass sleeve buttons; shoe, stock, and knee buckles; mohair coat and vest buttons ; earthen ware of various kinds, such as dishes, mugs, bowls, tea-cups and saucers, tea-pots, &c. writing paper, spelling books and primers.
August 29, 1780. -The New-Jersey Journal, Vol. II., Numb. LXXXI., September 6, 1780.
To THE WORTHY CITIZENS OF NEW-JERSEY.
Friends and Countrymen:
N the exertions necessary to prosecute a war, or to carry into prac- tice any national measure, it is hardly to be expected, though highly just and reasonable, that each individual will contribute proportionately to his abilities of mind, body and estate. So different are the degrees of virtue and publick spirit in different men, that one will do more from the motive of love to his country, than another can be brought to do even by the controul of the laws.
None of us are unacquainted with the rise and progress of the present revolution. The good and brave, the liberal and well prin- cipled, voluntary and without prospect of other reward than that of sharing in the happiness to be derived from the establishment of civil and religious liberty, have undertaken and carried it on, resisted by the opposition of some, and retarded by the lanquor and neutrality of others. Such is human nature, and we cannot alter it; such will ever be the case in contests of this kind. To wait for the propor- tionate exertions of all, is disappointment, disgrace and ruin. Under the experience we have had can it be supposed that this country will lose, or even injure so good a cause rather than risque or expend a little property ? Will the meretorious citizen relax his activity because his neighbour does not shew equal zeal or make a proportioned sacri- fice? How mean, how hopeless, how contemptible in the eyes of all flesh would our condition have been, had we held such language and . acted upon such maxims at any time since the commencement of the war! There are conjunctures in every government for which legal forms cannot fully provide, and happy is that country where the patriotick dispositions of the people, guided by temper and wisdom, supply the unavoidable defects of the law.
These remarks are stated to shew that should the propositions mentioned in the course of this paper be thought to involve some un- certainty, they ought not, on that account, to be rejected, if anything they suggest may lead to the advancement of the publick good.
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It has often been said, that if the interest of the bills of credit, about to be issued in pursuance of the resolutions of Congress of the 18th of March last, were. assured to be paid annually in silver and gold instead of bills of exchange, this would provide against all danger of instability. That bills of exchange are not understood by all, nor are they, in many other respects so convenient. I do not doubt the truth of these observations, yet they may not be essential ; and neither justice nor policy would have admitted such a stipulation under the least risque of a disappointment. If however such assur- ance should be deemed indispensible, and the general confidence would be thereby fixed, the following hints, improved upon by those who are more capable, may not be without their use.
The first year's interest of the quota of New-Jersey is eleven thousand two hundred and fifty pounds, or thirty thousand dollars. For the purpose of collecting a sum in specie adequate to the dis- charge of this, let it be proposed that men of good heart and ability throughout the state institute a subscription on terms of the following purport :
1. The payments to be made in silver or gold to the Commis- sioner, for the time being, of the continental loan-office of the state, to the sole use of answering the said interest.
2. The payments to be made in such proportion as may be requisite at the expiration of eleven months from the time the bills begin to be issued, and continued, as necessary, until the subscriptions are paid off.
The reason of making the subscriptions payable to the loan-officer for the state, is obvious from the Act of the Legislature under which the bills are emitted; and the period of eleven months is mentioned that the money may come in seasonably, and that no delay or disap- pointment may be suffered.
Should the bills be some months in issuing, the whole of each sub- scription need not be paid in at once. This will be an accomodation to the subscribers, and be productive of no inconvenience, as the remainder can be called for as the issues of the bills shall require. On the practicability of accumulating the fund proposed to be sub- scribed, it may not be amiss to observe, that the sum appears large no longer than till we come to parcel and distribute it. Suppose that the thirteen counties of the state produces, one with another, fifty subscriptions for each, the average of these will be about six and forty dollars ; double the number of subscribers, and it is reduced to a little more than three and twenty. An inconsiderable sum when compared with the importance of establishing a currency so essential at this time, and of avoiding the suspicion and therefore the danger of a fluctuation similar to that which, in a recent instance, has spread abroad so many mischiefs! But we may go farther, and note, that as a sixth part of the whole quota is to be sunk in the course of the next year, the sum calculated as necessary to satisfy the inter- est may be lessened in that proportion ; and an average subscription, taking the number last abovementioned, would be about nineteen dollars. Here, however, no notice is taken of the probability that
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