USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. V > Part 5
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5. An Act to enable the owners and possessors of the tide, marsh, and meadows lying on Absecon creek, in the
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county of Gloucester, to erect and maintain a bank, dam, and other water-works across the said creek, to prevent the tide from overflowing the said meadows and marsh.
6. An Act to repeal sundry Acts for augmenting the fines and fees of civil officers and others.
7. An Act to amend the Act, intitled, An Act to provide: for the payment of the several officers of the government of the State of New-Jersey, to commence the thirteenth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and to end the second Tuesday in October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, inclusive, and to discharge the publick debts and other contingent charges thereof, and to augment and alter the salaries allowed by law to the Super- intendant of Purchases, to the Auditor of Accounts, and to the Secretary of this State.
8. An Act to continue an Act, intitled, An Act to sus- pend the Act declaring the value of the continental cur- rency, and also the Act making the same a legal tender, and the supplement thereto.
9. An Act for defraying sundry incidental charges.
Last Tuesday came on the general election in this State, for the choice of persons to represent the several counties in Council and General Assembly, during the ensuing year, when the following gentlemen were chosen :
Hunterdon County. Council. John Stevens, Esq.
Assembly.
Benjamin Van Cleve, - - Jared Sexton, John Lambert, - Thomas Fenimore, 1
Esquires.
Burlington. Council. Peter Tallman, Esq.
Assembly. 1 William Trent, William Hongh, 1 Esquires.
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Gloucester. Council. John Cooper, Esq.
- John Sparks,
Assembly. Thomas Rennard, Isaac Kay,
1 Esquires.
Salem. Council. Whitten Cripps, Esq.
John Mayhew,
Assembly. Allen Congleton, William Smith,
1 1 Esquires ..
Middlesex. Council. Benjamin Manning, Esq.
Jacob Schenck,
Assembly. Jacob Suydam, Melanethon Freeman,
Esquires.
Monmouth. Council. Elisha Lawrence, Esq. Thomas Seabrook,
Assembly. Nathaniel Scudder, Thomas Henderson, 1 Esquires ..
Somerset. Council. John Witherspoon, Esq.
- Edward Bunn,
Assembly. David Kirkpatrick, Christopher Hogeland, - 1 Esquires.
The returns for the other counties have not yet come to hand.
Tuesday next the Honourable the Legislature elect are to meet at this place, agreeably to the constitution.
The Saratoga sloop of war, belonging to Philadelphia, last week captured five British vessels, all of which are said to be arrived in the Delaware.
Monday last the American army moved from Tapan to Totaway, near Passaick Falls in Bergen county, previous to which Major-General Greene marched four brigades to reinforce West-Point.
A New-York paper of the 11th instant, says, that "On
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Saturday morning last the Refugee Post at Bergen Point, under the command of Captain Thomas Ward, was at- tacked by a party of rebel infantry and horse, consisting of about 200 men. After receiving a smart fire from the artillery and musquetry of the Refugees, assisted by a can- nonade from the gallies, they were forced to retreat." Mr. Rivington neglected to add to the above, that the assail- ants took off about 30 of the loyal Refugees.
We hear that an Exchange of prisoners has lately been negotiated, in which all the American troops, now with the enemy, are to be included.
WILLIAM THOMAS, GOLD and SILVER-SMITH,
T AKES this method to acquaint his Friends and the Publick, that he has removed from Elizabeth-Town to Trenton, where he carries on his business in its various branches. He also carries on the
PLATING BUSINESS
extensively ; and engage's that all his work shall be equal in goodness and neatness to any ever imported from Eng- land.
Gentlemen who may oblige him with their custom, by giving timely notice, shall be furnished with any quantity of work in either of those branches, and particularly with bridle-bits, stirrup-irons, spurs, buckles, &c., &c.
Trenton, October 17, 1780.
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C AME to the house of Joseph Herbert, at the sign of the white horse, a BLACK MARE, about four- teen hands high, four years old, a natural trotter, and has a blaze in her face. The owner is desired to come and prove his property, pay charges and take her away.
October 12, 1780.
To be sold at publick vendue,
On Tuesday the 31st day of this instant, October, A Valuable plantation, situate in Amwell township, Hunterdon county, 12 miles from Trenton, whereon Augustine Stevenson now dwells, containing 200 acres, with a sufficient quantity of meadow and wood-land, orchards, &c. Any person or persons inclining to purchase, may view the premises before, or at the time of sale, which will begin at 12 o'clock on said day, when attendance will be given, and the conditions made known by
ROBERT STEVENSON, THOMAS STEVENSON, Executors. -New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. III., No. 147, October 18, 1780.
The following paragraph is copied from the New Jersey Journal, dated October 11.
"We are happy to inform our readers, that an exchange "of prisoners is at last settled, and is to take place im- "mediately."
-The Royal Gazette, No. 423, October 18, 1780.
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CHATHAM, October 11.
Last Saturday the light infantry of our army, made an incursion to Bergen Point, where they captured several prisoners, and killed some, the particulars of which we . hope to give our readers in our next .- The New York Packet, and the American Advertiser, No. 188, October 19, 1780.
New-Jersey, October 13, 1780.
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,
On Thursday the 26th instant, at Ten o'clock in the forenoon, at Chestnut neck, The Schooner FLYING- FISH and her cargo of Tobacco, consisting of 30 hogs- heads of the best Maryland, captured on her voyage to St. Eustatia retaken and brought into this port and now ready for sea.
Also, A SCHOONER of about 35 tons burthen, and her cargo of 20 hogsheads of Tobacco, being taken at sea without any person or papers on board,. supposed to be cut out of Chesapeake-bay and deserted by the enemy on the approach of the schooner Rattlesnake.
By order of the Hon. Judge of the Admiralty. ZACHARIAH ROSSELL, Marshal. -The Pennsylvania Packet, October 21, 1780.
Ancocus, October 9, 1780.
The Creditors of JOIIN HEATON, deceased, late of Willonborough Township, Burlington County, are re- quested to meet on Wednesday the first of November next, at the house of Richard Fynnimore, in the Township and County aforesaid, upon business respecting the said John ITeaton's estate.
The Pennsylvania Packet, October 24, 1780. -
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CHATHAM, OCTOBER 25.
The following is a copy of a letter from Major Andre, previous to his execution, to his Excellency General Wash- ington :
"SIR
"Buoyed above the fear of death, by the consciousness of a life spent in the pursuit of honour, and fully sensible that it has at no time been stained by any action which, at this serious moment, could give me remorse-I have to solicit your Excellency, if there is any thing in my character which excites your esteem; if aught in my circumstances can impress you with compassion ; that I may be permitted to die the death of a soldier :- It is my last request and I hope it will be granted. I have the honour to be, &c."
Last week Lieut. Raymond, of the State Regiment, with twenty men, went down to Hoebuck, captured six of the enemy, and killed one.
Last Friday five prisoners, among whom was one Cap- tain, who had made their escape from Reading, in Penn- sylvania, was taken at Halstead's Point, near Elizabeth Town, on their way to Staten-Island.
At the late election the undermentioned gentlemen were chosen for the following counties, viz.
For the county of ESSEX.
Counsellor-Rev. James Caldwell.
Assemblymen-Caleb Camp, Josiah Hornblower, and Daniel Marsh, Esquires.
Sheriff-Noah Marsh, Esquire.
For the county of MORRIS.
Counsellor-Silas Condict, Esquire.
Assemblymen-John Carle, William Wyns, and Eleazer Linley, Esquires. .
Sheriff -- Jacob Arnold, Esquire.
For the county of BERGEN.
Counsellor- -
Assemblymen-Gabriel Ogden, Isaac Blanch, and Peter Wilson, Esquires.
Sheriff-Adam Boyd, Esquire.
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TO BE SOLD,
A
GOOD SADDLE HORSE: Inquire of the Printer hereof.
F ORTY CAST HORSES, will be sold for cash, at- Springfield, on Thursday the 26th instant, by AARON FORMAN, A. Q. M. Morristown, October, 24, 1780. 1
O N the 30th of September, 1780, I gave a note of hand, payable on demand, to Mr. Mark Garret for five thousand one hundred dollars, which was given in consequence of the depreciation of two hundred and thirty- six dollars, for near one year's standing; the arbitrators ac- knowledge the mistake they made in making up the de- preciation, and as Mr. Garret has denied giving up the note, the subscriber takes this method to inform the publick that he is determined not to pay the same, and forewarns all persons from purchasing it.
JOHN POOL.
October 24, 1780.
The subscriber will sell at private sale, for cash, either continental or specie, the following articles, viz.
A NEW riding chair with harness compleat, milch cows, fat cattle, fat hogs, a two horse wagon and gears, two sleds, and other farming utensils; feather beds, curtains and bedding, tables, chairs, &c., &c.
Ile will also sell or rent, for money as above,'a house and a three acre lot of land, on which the carthenware works now stand, in Elizabeth Town, together with the works now going, and in good order, with all the apparatus to them belonging; the house is small but well finished, almost new, with convenient out-houses, stables, &c. The land is all meadow, except enough for a garden.
ITe will also rent, for one year or a longer time, that
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large, elegant, and pleasant situated house and improve- ments, the seat of the late Thomas Pollock, Esq.
All the above-mentioned articles that shall remain un- sold at private sale, with many others that cannot now be recollected, will be sold and struck off to the highest bid- der, at a vendue to be held for that purpose at the house of the subscriber on Friday, the 10th of November next, to begin at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and to continue from day to day until the whole are sold; and the first mentioned house and works (should they not be disposed of before) will either be sold or rented; and the last-men- tioned house and improvements will be rented.
ROBERT HUNT.
Elizabeth Town, October, 24, 1780.
W THEREAS Hannah, the wife of the subscriber, has, sundry times, without my knowledge, carried off my effects : These are therefore to forewarn all persons from trusting her on my account, as I am deter- mined not to pay any debts of her contracting from the date hereof. And all persons having any of the goods she may have so embezzled, are requested to return them to me, or they may expect trouble.
ZEBEDEE BROWN.
Hanover, October 17, 1780.
W THEREAS an advertisement appeared in the last Chatham paper, forewarning all persons not to trust the subscriber on her husband's account : This is therefore to acquaint the publick, that I will not pay any debts of his contracting from the date hereof. As to his interest, which he says I have destroyed, I know of none he has, without it is what he claims of my estate, in which he has no right, there being a contract between us previous to our marriage which cuts him off any claim. RUTH SEARLS. October 17, 1780. -The New-Jersey Journal, Vol. II. Numb. LXXXVIII, October 25, 1780.
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The CRISIS
EXTRAORDINARY
I T is impossible to sit down and think seriously on the affairs in America, but the original principles on which she resisted, and - the glow and ardor they inspired, will occur like the undefaced remembrance of a lovely scene. To trace over in imagination the purity of the cause, the voluntary sacrifices made to support it, and all the various turnings of the war in its defence, is at once both paying and receiving respect. The principles deserve to be rememi- bered, and to remember them rightly is repossessing them. In this indulgence of generous recollection we become gainers by what we seem to give, and the more we give the richer we become.
So extensively right was the ground on which America proceeded, that it not only took in every just and liberal sentiment which could impress the heart, but made it the direct interest of every class and order of men to defend the country. The war, on the part of Britain, was originally a war of covetousness. The sordid and not the splendid passions gave it being. The fertile fields and prosperous infancy of America appeared to her as mines for tributary wealth. She viewed the hive, and disregarding the industry that had enriched it, thirsted for the honey. But in the present stage of her affairs, the violence of temper is added to the rage of avarice; and there- fore, that which, at our first setting out, proceeded from purity of principle and public interest, is now heightened by all the obliga- tions of necessity ; for it requires but little knowledge of human nature to discern what would be the consequence were America again reduced to the subjection of Britain. Uncontrouled power, in the hands of 'an incensed, imperious and rapacious conqueror, is an engine of dreadful execution ; and woe be to that country over which it can be exercised. The names of Whig and Tory would then be sunk in the general term of Rebel, and the oppression, whatever it might be, would, with very few instances of exception, light equally on all.
Britain did not go to war with America for the sake of dominion, because she was then in possession ; neither was it for the extension of trade and commerce, because she had monopolized the whole and the country had yielded to it; neither was it to extinguish what she might call rebellion, because before she began no resistance existed. It could then be from no other motive than avarice, or a design of establishing, in the first instance, the same taxes in America as are paid in England (which, as I shall presently show, are above eleven times heavier than the taxes we now pay for the present year 1780) or, in the second instance, to confiscate the whole property of , America, in case of resistance and conquest, of the latter of which she had then no doubt.
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I shall now proceed to show what the taxes in England are, and what the yearly expence of the present war is to her-What the taxes of this country amount to, and what the annual expence of defending it effectually will be to us; and shall endeavour concisely to point out the cause of our difficulties, and the advantages on one side, or the consequences on the other, in case we do, or do not, put ourselves in an effectual state of defence. I mean to be open, candid and sincere. I see a universal wish to expel the enemy from the country, a murmuring because the war is not carried on with more vigour, and my intention is to show as shortly as possibly both the reason and the remedy.
The number of souls in England (exclusive of Scotland and Ire- land) is seven millions,* and the number of souls in America is three millions.
The amount of taxes in England (exclusive of Scotland and Ire- land) was, before the present war commenced, eleven millions six hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred and fifty-three pounds sterling, which on an average is no less a sum than one pound thirteen shillings and three-pence stirling per head per annum, men, women, and children; besides county taxes, taxes for the support of the poor, and a tenth of all the produce of the earth for the sup- port of the bishops and clergy. ;
* This is taking the highest number that the people of England have been or can be rated at.
t The following is taken from Dr. Price's state of the taxes of England, pages 96, 97, 98.
"An account of the money drawn from the publick by taxes annually, being the medium of three years before the year 1776.
Amount of customs in England. 4,649,892
£2,528,275
Amount of the excise in England.
1,300,000 Land tax at 3s.
Land tax at 1s. in the pound. 450,000
Salt duties 218,739
Duties on stamps, cards, dice, advertisements, bonds, leases, in- dentures, news-papers, almanacks, &c. 280,788
Duties of houses and windows. 385,369
Post-office, seizures, wine licences, hackney coaches, &c. 250,000
Annual profit from lotteries. 150,000
Expence of collecting the excises in England.
297,887
Expence of collecting the customs in England.
468,703
Interest of loans on the land tax at 4s. expences of collection, militia, &c.
250,000
Perquisites, &c., to custom-house officers, &c., supposed.
250,000
Expence of collecting the salt duties in England, 10d. 1-2 per cent.
27,000
Bounties on fish exported.
18,000
Expence of collecting the duties on stamps, cards, advertise- ments, &c., 5 and 1-4 per cent. 18,000
Total
£11,642,653
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Nearly five millions of this sum went annually to pay the interest of the national debt contracted by former wars, and the remaining sum of six millions six hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred pounds was applied to defray the yearly expence of government, the peace establishment of the army and navy, placemen, pensioners, &c. Consequently the whole of her enormous taxes being thus appro- priated, she had nothing to spare 'out of them towards defraying the expences of the present war or any other. Yet had she not been in debt at the beginning of the war, as we were not, and like us had - only a land and not a naval war to carry on, her then revenue of eleven millions and a half pounds sterling would defray all her annual expence of war and government within each year.
But this not being the case with her, she is obliged to borrow about ten million pounds sterling, yearly, to prosecute the war she is now engaged in (this year she borrowed twelve) and lay on new taxes to discharge the interest; and allowing that the present war has cost her only fifty millions sterling, the interest thereon at five per cent. will be two millions and a half, therefore the amount of her taxes now must be fourteen millions, which on an average is no less than forty shillings per head, men, women and children throughout the nation. Now as this expence of fifty millions was borrowed on the hopes of conquering America, and as it was avarice which first induced her to commence the war, how truly wretched and deplorable would the condition of this country be, were she, by her own remissness, to suffer an enemy of such a disposition, and so circumstanced, to reduce her to subjection.
I now proceed to the revenues of America. I have already stated the number of souls in America to be three millions, and by a cal- culation I have made, which I have every reason to believe is suffi- ciently right, the whole expence of the war, and the support of the several governments, may be defrayed for two million pounds sterling, annually ; which, on an average, is thirteen shillings and four pence per head, men, women and children, and the peace establishment at the end of the war, will be but three quarters of a million, or five shillings sterling per head. Now throwing out of the question every thing of honor, principle, happiness, freedom, and reputation in the world, and taking it up on the simple ground of interest, I put the following case.
Suppose Britain was to conquer America, and as conquerors was to lay her under no other conditions than to pay the same proportion toward her annual revenue which the people of England pay; our share, in that case, would be six million pounds sterling, yearly ; can it then be a question, whether it is best to raise two millions to defend the country, and govern it ourselves, and only three quarters of a million afterwards, or pay six millions to have it conquered, and let the enemy govern it.
Can it be supposed that conquerors would chuse to put themselves in a worse condition than what they granted to the conquered. In England, the tax on rum is five shillings and one penny sterling per gallon, which is one silver dollar and fourteen coppers. Now would it not be laughable to imagine, that after the expence they have been at,
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they would let either Whig or Tory in America drink it cheaper than themselves. Coffee which is so considerable an article of consump- tion and support here, is there loaded with a duty, which makes the price between five and six shillings sterling a pound, and a penalty of fifty pounds sterling on any person detected in roasting it in his own house. There is scarce an article of life you can eat, drink, wear, or enjoy, that is not there loaded with a tax; even the light from heaven is only permitted to shine into their dwellings by paying eighteen pence sterling per window annually ; and the humblest drink of life, small beer, cannot there be purchased without a tax of nearly two coppers a gallon, besides a heavy tax upon the mait, and another on the hops before it is brewed, exclusive of a land tax on the earth which produces them. In short, the condition of that country in point of taxation is so oppressive, the number of her poor so great, and the extravagance and rapaciousness of the court so enormous, that were they to effect a conquest of America, it is then only that the distress of America would begin. Neither would it signify anything to a man whether he be what we call a Whig or a Tory. The people of England and the ministry of that country know us by no such distinctions .- What they want is clear solid revenue, and the modes they would take to procure it, would operate alike on all. Their manner of reasoning would be short, because they would naturally infer that if we were able to carry on a war of five or six years against them, we are able to pay the same taxes which they do.
I have already stated that the expence of conducting the present war, and the government of the several states, may be done for two millions sterling, and the establishment in time of peace, for three quarters of a million .*
As to navy matters, they flourish so well, and are so well attended to, in the hands of individuals, that I think it consistent on every principle of real use and economy, to turn the navy into hard money (keeping only three of four packets) and apply it to promote the service of the army. We shall not have a ship the less; the use of them, and the benefit from them, will be greatly increased, and their expences saved. We are now allied with a formidable naval power, from whom we derive the assistance of a navy. And the line in which we can prosecute the war, so as to reduce the common enemy and benefit the alliance most effectually, will be by attending closely to the land service.
I estimate the charge of keeping up and maintaining an army, officering them, and all expences included, sufficient for the defence of the country, to be equal to the expence of forty thousand men at thirty pounds sterling per head, which is one million two hundred thousand pounds.
I likewise allow four hundred thousand pounds for Continental expences at home and abroad.
* I have made the calculations in sterling, because it is a rate generally known in all the states, and because likewise it admits of an easy com- parison between our expenses to support the war and those of the enemy. Four silver dollars and one half is one pound sterling and three pence over.
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And four hundred thousand pounds for the support of the several state governments, the amount then will be, For the army, 1,200,000 Continental expences at home and abroad, 400,000 Government of the several states, 400,000
Total, 2,000,000
I take the proportion of this state, Pennsylvania, to be an eighth part of the Thirteen United States, the quota then for us to raise will be two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling; two hun- - dred thousand of which will be our share for the support and pay of the army and Continental expences at home and abroad, and fifty thousand pounds for the support of state government.
In order to gain an idea of the proportion in which the raising such a sum will fall, I make the following caluclations :
Pennsylvania contains three hundred and seventy-five thousand inhabitants, men, women and children, which is likewise an eighth part of the whole inhabitants of the United States: therefore two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling to be raised among three hundred and seventy-five thousand persons, is, on an average, thirteen shillings and four-pence sterling per head per annum, or something more than one shilling sterling per month. And our proportion of three quarters of a million for the government of the country, in time of peace, will be ninety-three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds sterling, fifty thousand of which will be for the government expences of the state, and forty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds for Continental expences at home and abroad.
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