USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. IV > Part 7
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In short, no man, who is not an arrant blockhead, will part with his property at half its value. Barter, or the use of some other medium, will be substituted in the room of paper money ; which, not- withstanding all the laws that can be made, will depreciate in pro- portion as it ceases to circulate.
But why regulate now? Have not Congress stopped the sluices of depreciation, by declaring they will emit no more money. The quan- tity of money can be no farther increased ; nothing then can cause it to depreciate, but a decrease of trade, or, in other words, contracting the circulation of it. "But at the present enormous prices, sufficient supplies cannot be raised ; therefore a reduction of prices becomes necessary ; and there is no other way to effect this but by regulation." This argument is really too ridiculous to deserve a serious answer ; and yet it is the only one I have heard in favour of regulation. In the name of common sense, let us learn to reason on this subject independent of paper money. It is a sufficient supply of provisions, cloathing, ammunition, &c. we want. Whether the quantity of paste- board, which serves to represent this provision, cloathing, ammunition, &c. be increased or diminished, it matters not one jot. Let us appre- ciate, or depreciate it, to what degree we please, it signifies nothing. The aggregate sum of the one will still be the same, whatever changes the other may be made to undergo .- The pasteboard in itself is indeed of no value. Let us put what figures we please upon the face of it, it will still be of no more value than pasteboard, unless we have power to make it represent something that is of value. Will the farmers proportion of the expence of the war cost him one bushel of wheat more or less, whether we estimate it at 20 or 40 dollars per bushel? Regulation may impose on the unwary, but can neither increase the quantity, nor diminish the consumption of commodities.
HONESTUS.
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
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TRENTON, DECEMBER 1.
Congress, we learn, have recommended it to the several Legislatures of the United States to pass regulating Acts, to take place on the first day of February next-and that they have negociated a loan with the Court of France and the States of Holland to a very considerable amount. The good effects of these important strokes of policy, will we flatter ourselves, soon be felt, as they will doubtless put our finances and our army upon a very respectable footing.
Since our last Colonel Washington, with about 160 Light Dragoons, passed through this place on their way to Bristol, where they will wait for further orders.
The Legislature of this State have agreed to raise a Tax of Nine Millions of Dollars, to be collected in two pay- ments, one by the first day of May, and the other by the first day of September next.
One Hundred Dollars Reward.
S TOLEN from the subscriber near Trenton, on the 18th inst. a small white Horse, 13 hands high, about five or six years old, trots and paces. Who- ever takes up said horse, so that the owner may get him again, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges paid by
Nov. 29.
DANIEL SMITH.
WAS taken up on the 18th of November, by the sub- scriber in Maidenhead, a small grey Horse, about 14 hands high, trots and paces. The owner is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges, and take him away.
Nov. 30.
JOHN STEVENS.
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To be sold, a number of Cedar Posts and Rails. En- quire of JOSEPH MILNOR in Trenton.
W AS taken up by the subscriber near Trenton, on the 20th of November, a BAY HORSE rising four years old, fourteen and an half hands high, a natural trotter, without mark or shoes. The owner is desired to prove his property, pay charges, and take him away.
ROBERT PEARSON.
ROBERT SINGER has for Sale.
At his Store in Trenton, the following Articles, which he will sell as low as the times will admit of.
B EST bohea tea, coffee and sugar, broad cloths of dif- ferent colours, shaloons of different colours, black and light coloured calimancoes, blue and green moreens, 7-8 and yard wide linens, black mode, white sarsnet, broad and narrow ribbons, thread and silk gauzes, fine and coarse sewing thread, coloured thread and buttons, wool cards, snuff and tobacco, dark and light chintzes, dark and light calicoes, black silk handkerchiefs;, cotton ditto, mens worsted hose, silk and cotton ditto, black cotton velvet, blue cut ditto, blue serge, skeleton wire and bonnet pins, nutmegs, indigo, broad and narrow worsted bindings, pint, half pint, gill and half gill tumblers, country salt, window glass 8 by 10 and 7 by 9, and a variety of other articles.
I s now in the possession of the subscriber a red roan Horse, supposed to be about ten or twelve years old, about fourteen hands high, a small star in his forehead, and shod all round. The owner is desired to come, prove his property, and take him away.
ELIAS PHILLIPS.
Maidenhead, Nov. 25.
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State of New-Jersey, P UBLICK notice is hereby given Bergen County. to all persons, that have any demands either on bond, note, mortgage, book, or otherwise, against the persons whose names are hereunto annexed, to bring them to two of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county, within ten months from the date hereof, in order to have them settled; and likewise notice is hereby given to all persons, that have any goods, wares, merchandize of any kind, or owe on bond, note, mortgage, or otherwise, any sum or sums of money, to any of the offenders whose names are herein underwritten, and shall neglect to make discovery thereof to one of us the subscribers, within one month from the date hereof, may expect to be dealt with as the law in that case directs. The names are as follows, viz. John F. Ryerson, John J. Ackerman, Harmanus Van Blerkum, Peter I. Van Blerkum, Jacobus Fox, Peter T. Harring, John C. Harring, Abraham C. Harring, Peter Lent, Jacob S. Van Winkelen, Timothy Lewis, Abraham Lent, Richard Yeats, Thomas Outwater, Charles Beekman, Jacobus Peck, Samuel Peck, John Merselse, John P. Derye, Gabriel Van Norden, Daniel S. Demerest, James Van Buren, Arie Demerest, Abraham A. Quackenbos, David Van Boskerk, John C. Bogart, Peter Tise, Hen- drick Deremus, Andrew Van Boskerk, Christian A. Za- briske, and Derrick Ackerman.
HENDERICUS KUYPER,
Nov. 15. JAMES BOARD, GARRET LYDECKER,
Commis- sioners.
Three Hundred Dollars Reward.
S TOLEN from the stable of the subscriber, about ten o'clock on Monday night, the 22d of this inst. No- vember, a bright Bay Horse, supposed to be about ten years old, hollow backed, a small star in his forehead, about fourteen and an half hands high, without either ear
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mark or brand to be perceived; when taken he had no shoes on, and appeared to be a little lame; he is hurt in his wind. Whoever takes up the said Horse and delivers him to the subscriber, at his house, in Nottingham town- ship, Burlington county, and state of New-Jersey, shall have One Hundred Dollars reward, and Two Hundred for securing the Thief, so that he may be brought to justice, paid by
WILLIAM TRENT.
N. B. The said horse was lately the property of Col. Davis, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and is one of a pair which said Davis bought of James Wilson, Es- quire, of Philadelphia.
-New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. II., No. 101, Dec. 1, 1779.
New-York, December 1.
Copy of a letter from a Gentleman in Jersey to his friend in this City.
Dear Sir,
H AVING determined at all events, to risque the con- veying a letter to you with the particulars of a very
diverting scene, which happened yesterday at Gov- ernor Livingston's house, I hope this may come safe to your hands.
It may, perhaps, be necessary to inform you in the first place, although I imagine you must have seen it in our papers, that the Congress have recommended it to the sev- eral States, to set apart the ninth day of December, as a day of thanksgiving to the Lord, for that he hath pros- pered the arms of the Americans, and of their good and great Ally the French King. In consequence of which recommendation, our Governor had by proclamation, or- dered it to be observed in this State; and vast quantities of turkies, ducks, geese, &c. were cooped for the purpose :
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But on the arrival of Major Clarkson* with the doleful news of the total defeat of the Americans and their Allies, in an attempt to storm the British lines at Savannah, the Governor must, from what followed, have thought that the recommendation from Congress, and his own Proclamation not only premature, but too palpable to impose even on the most ignorant; for the very next day after Mr. Clark- son passed here on his way to Gen. Washington, the Gov- ernor summoned all the neighbouring clergy to meet in consultation at his house, on the twenty-fourth inst. On their coming together he informed them that he had thought of revoking his proclamation relative to celebrat- ing a day of thanksgiving; and instead thereof, to appoint a day for fasting and prayer; for that the prospect was now greatly changed, and that he would be glad to have their opinions. A long silence ensued, and each of these Reverend Divines seemed greatly distressed at the Gover- nor's proposal, as it tended to deprive them of a good dinner, (which they seldom meet with) and which on these occasions they levy on their parishoners. By the method these self denying gentry pursue in sending notes to all the Deacons in their respectable parishes, fixing different hours for their dining, they never fail of refreshing them- selves with a good meal four or five times on the same day, and of embracing those opportunities of administering comfort to such of their female parishoners, who from their peculiar zeal and affection for the Clergy, prefer these private visitations, to an attendance on public de- votion.
At length one of these reverend teachers, (named Rich- ards) whether from principle, or the love of good eating, I can't say, put an end to their silence, by declaring to the Governor, that he was determined his congregation should celebrate the day, with great joy and thanksgiving; for he was of opinion that the Lord had wonderfully delivered
* Son to Mr. David Clarkson, of Flatbush, who has another Son also employed in murdering his Majesty's Liege Subjects.
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their country from the French King; who he said it evi- dently appeared, from the demand made by the Count d'Estaing at Georgia, intended to have held it as a part of his dominions, in case he had defeated the British troops ; and that he was now convinced that whatever part of the United States the French should get possession of, would be lost forever to the Americans.
This bold declaration of Mr. Richards seemed to have great effect upon his brethren, and although they did not declare their sentiments in the decisive manner he had done, yet they said it was a strange demand; that the peo- ple were alarmed; that it was very necessary matters should be explained; that if the country was to be taken from them, the alliance appeared to be dangerous rather than beneficial; that if the King of France was to rule them, they would be obliged to take their religion from him; that the prospect was very melancholy; taxes intol- erable, their paper money not worth counting; that mil- lions of their dollars were counterfeit; the necessaries of life not to be had; that great numbers of the inhabitants and chief part of the army subsisted by rapine and plun- der, to effect which they often committed murder; and that these were likely to be the only fruits of all their struggles for liberty-For they now plainly saw, if their country was wrested from one King, it would be immedi- ately seized by another; that they could wish the terms offered by the British Commissioners had been accepted, for that they would have made them as independent and happy as could possibly be desired, and have secured their religion and liberties against the attacks of every power.
His Excellency (which you will hardly believe), re- mained silent, and his thoughts seemed to have taken a flight to some other region, and it is said there appeared strong symptoms in his countenance, either that he was affected with these important truths, or that he was in deep law-cogitation how to evade the force of them.
The Reverend Doctors having waited some time, for a
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reply from the Governor, and observing that he was so lost in thought, as not to pay the least attention to them, were about to depart without further ceremony; and accord- ingly ordered their horses .- The Governor's son, who acts as his private Secretary, thought it advisable, in order to prevent an affront to the Clergy, to rouse his father from this state of absence, and giving him a jog, said, Sir, the gentlemen's horses are coming .- The sudden sound in his ear occasioned as sudden a'start from his chair, and the cry of my horse-my horse .- Upon this outcry, some of the clergy immediately took to their heels, supposing he had meant his horse whip, and that they were to undergo the discipline of it, for having delivered their thoughts so freely; whilst others of them, concluding that the poor Governor had either lost his senses, or was under strong political conviction, caught hold of him, in order to pre- vent his doing himself an injury.
The family who were in the adjoining room, observing the precipitate flight of some of the clergy; and being alarmed with the noise in the Governor's apartment, im- mediately rushed in, to discover what was the matter. The increase of numbers tended greatly to increase the Gover- nor's phrenzy, and nothing but the utmost exertion of force, kept him from leaping out of one of the windows. His Lady's voice at length prevailed; for being assured by her, that there were none about him but his friends, he was more composed, and reproached his son as being the means of throwing him into so disagreeable a situation .- The young man conscious that what he had done was purely from a motive of politeness, and unwilling to re- main under the displeasure of his father, assured him that he must have misapprehended his words .- The Governor, not satisfied with his son's declaration, insisted upon his repeating the words that had given rise to his uneasiness, upon which he told his father, that observing that the gen- tlemen were about to depart, and perceiving that he did not appear to be sensible of it, he thought the most decent
6
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
way to give him a hint of it was, by saying their horses were coming .- Is it possible replied his Excellency, that I could have been so mistaken ? I really thought said he, that you called out Simcoe's horse were coming; and you all know, said his Excellency, what a direful dilemma I was reduced to on their late appearance in this neighbour- hood .- He then explained largely, on the very ridiculous manner of carrying on the war in sudden excursions, and informed the company that the greatest heroes had their hours of diffidence, and that unfortunately for him, he had often been surprised in those unlucky moments, and there- fore he hoped it would be an excuse for the present per- turbation of his mind; for that he always found upon recollection on these occasions, that he wanted not that resolution, which was necessary for the defense of his country, and the support of the glorious cause of liberty and independence .- Being thus recovered from his dread- ful apprehensions of Simcoe's horse, he proceeded to make some reply to the clergymen who remained: and after many apologies for what had happened, he told them that although he must confess, the demand made by d'Estaing of a surrender of Georgia to the arm of France, tended to alarm the fears of the ignorant he was of opinion that he had acted agreeable to law .- For that a case in point had struck him, the consideration of which had taken up his whole attention, and thrown him into a state of absence, at the very time when his son had imprudently, by an un- guarded expression alarmed his fears.
He then informed them that it was a parallel case with that of a mortgage entering upon the mortgager without foreclosing the equity of redemption: And that as the United States owed an immense debt to France, it was but reasonable that whatever part of the United States France should enter upon ought to be held by them until their debt was paid, when he hoped they would surrender it again to the States. The Governor's law point it seemed rather increased the fears of these gospel teachers; for Mr.
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Richards, who was one of those that remained, appeared apprehensive that the Comte might on his arrival here enter the coops of his parishoners and hold the poultry that were fattening for the day of thanksgiving to his own use and behoof: For he declared to the Governor, that if he intended to support the Comte with such points of law, he should pray most devoutly that the Comte might not enter his parish, until the thanksgiving day was past, on which day he intended to make his entries in such a manner, as not to leave the Comte even a tythe. The Governor it is said, appeared rather displeased at this declaration, and in a sullen tone told them, that he had discharged his duty, and that he left them to follow the dictates of their con- sciences, upon which they parted.
It would surprize you to hear the people in general here deliver their sentiments since Clarkson's arrival from Georgia. They make not the least scruple of declaring publickly that the Congress have sold them to France, and that d'Estaing should be the first man whom they would put to death, if he was to make his appearance among them.
You may rest assured that Congress are heartily sick of their bargain, and that the perfidy of the French nation, always practised with every other power is constantly star- ing them in the face; and I am confident they fervently wish that their constituents would afford them a plausible pretence of dissolving themselves; for they are now con- vinced that all their schemes of power and independance are vanished, and that Great Britain is the only power to whom their religion and liberties can be intrusted; may Heaven grant that she may again take us under her pro- tection.
I am with great regard, Yours, &c. New-Jersey, 25th November 1779.
We are told that General Washington is to canton his army this winter in the county of Morris, in New-Jersey, between the town of Morris, and that of Mendem .- The Royal Gazette, No. 331, December 1, 1779.
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Mr. Washington, Chief Commander of the rebel forces, some days ago, on his passage over Hudson's River, under- went a very painful and memorable emersion, from the oversetting of his boat: and continued three quarters of an hour in agonizing struggle for the preservation of his life.
Mr. Washington finding the North River element too austere for his constitution, has, with his suite, adjourned to Morris .- The Royal Gazette, No. 332, December 4, 1779.
CHATHAM, Nov. 30.
Several of the inhabitants of Morris county were last week apprehended and secured in goal, for counterfeiting and passing the continental bills of credit.
NEW-YORK, Decem. 6.
Advices from the Country since our last are, That Gen- eral Washington and Mr. Mead,1 his Aid de Camp, and his Adjutant General,2 were near being drowned last Sat- urday Week, by the overseting of a Whale Boat at a Place called Sandy-Point, on Hudson's River ; that all the Army, but a Garrison of 1200 left at West Point, are marching down the Country in Division [s] under their proper Gen- erals, supposed for Morris County; and 'tis conjectured they will hut this Winter either in Morris Town the Notch below Passaick Falls,3 or the Mountain in the Rear of Mr. Kemble's; the Army has been short of Flour for some Time past on Account of the Dryness of the Season; Mr. Jacob Arnold's House, in Morris-Town, is taken for Gen- eral Sullivan's Head Quarters for the Winter, as General Washington is to reside at Philadelphia until Spring;
1 Richard Kidder Meade, Captain 2d Virginia, Oct. 24, 1775; Lieuten- ant Colonel Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Washington, March 12, 1777, to close of war; died 1805 .- Heitman's Register.
2 General Joseph Reed.
3 The Great Notch, below the Little Falls and above the Great Falls of the Passaic-about three or four miles above Paterson.
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Lord Stirling has declined going to the Southward, and 'tis imagined General Wayne will be appointed to that Command, and the Troops destined for South Carolina are, the Virginia and North Carolina Men, with Baller's Light-Horse; Col. Dayton will relieve Col. Seely at Eliza- beth-Town in a few Days; and Col. Spencer takes Post at Woodbridge; and General Washington's best Train of Artillery is at Sucesunney, above Morris Town; a Num- ber of the Eastern Men are to be hutted on the East Side of the North River under the Command of General Gates. -The New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury, No. 1468, December 6, 1779.
LOST
On the night of the 30th ult. on the road leading from Samuel Cooper's to Egg-Harbour.
A Single worked POCKET BOOK bound with yellow ferreting, and tied with a string of the same fastened to it : Had in it about 2500 dollars and an ivory small tooth comb. Whoever finds the said picket-book, and brings it to Samuel Cooper, or to the Coffee-house, in Philadelphia, with the money and writings lost in it, shall have Five Hundred Dollars Reward, paid by
JOHN SHAW.
-The Pennsylvania Journal, December 8, 1779.
Mr. COLLINS,
HE freedom with which I expose the futility of regulation in your last paper will, no doubt, draw upon me the resentment of some of its redoubtable champions. I wish it may-as I am fully persuaded, nothing is wanting to convince my countrymen of its inefficacy, but a full and candid discussion.
Regulation is indeed a solecism in politics ;- in three words I prove it : let A stand for the quantity of trade, that is, the quantity of goods bought and sold ; let B stand for the quantity of money, or circulating medium, necessary to carry on that trade; then consequently A=B : but regulation would make A=2B=3B, &c. &c. than which what can be a greater absurdity?
But a gentleman, who stiles himself a True Patriot, has hit upon a most notable expedient to extricate us from our difficulties. Let us,
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says he, call in all the money, and give in return one dollar for twenty : but I would ask, what is to be done then? Is the same scene of iniquity to be again repeated-are thousands again to be ruined by a second inundation of paper money ?- surely not. Indeed, could we suppose Congress wicked enough to make this experiment, happily they would find it impracticable, and if impracticable I would repeat the question, what is to be done then? Indeed it is not easy to conceive, how the mere alteration of certain characters, impressed on the face of a piece of pasteboard, could relieve us of any part of the burden, which the support of the war necessarily brings upon us. The figures on the pasteboard are mere types. It is the realities, which these figures are made to represent, that support our army. The proportion of this burden, to a moderate farmer, we will say, is ten bushels of wheat annually, or as many pieces of pasteboard, as will represent ten bushels of wheat. Now, in the name of common sense, of what consequence is it to the farmer, what sort of figures we choose to put on these pieces of pasteboard : but, says the True Patriot, we shall get rid of an immense load of debt by it.
Now, should we even admit, that the paper emitted by Congress is really a debt on the publick, which is by no means admissable, this certainly would not be the most honourable way of discharging it: but, for my part, I am perfectly at a loss to divine, in what this great debt consists. Whatever has been borrowed in France, or in any other foreign country, I readily grant, is really a debt upon the United States : but, in order to prove we have incurred no debt by the enor- mous quantity of paper issued by Congress, I would only ask this simple question ; if, instead of issuing paper, Congress had levied the supplies in kine, would we, as United States, have been made either richer or poorer by the war, than we are at present ?- certainly not. In short a small degree of attention to this subject will suffice to con- vince us, that it is not possible, by any kind of artifice or contrivance whatsoever, to anticipate the future recourses of a State, by foreign loans : and however an internal debt may be contracted, whether by limitation of prices, depreciation of the medium, or by actual loans from individuals, it is not the debt of the whole community, but merely of one part thereof to another. However singular this doctrine may appear, I am persuaded, on due consideration, it will be found to be just.
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