USA > New Jersey > Tenth volume of extracts from American newspapers relating to New Jersey > Part 24
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her Mizen Mast and one of her Anchors, which were lost in a Gale of Wind the 2nd Instant, when her Main- Top Mast was sprung and thrown on her Beam Ends. Letters being delivered to him by the Pilot from sundry Gentlemen of this City, informing him of the determined Resolution of the Citizens not to suffer the Tea on board of his Ship to be landed, he requested the Pilot to bring him up to procure Necessaries and make a Protest, but he would not do it until Leave was obtained. Early the next Morning this was communicated to the Committee, and it appearing to them to be the Sense of the City that such Leave should be granted to him, the Ship to remain at the Hook, the Pilot was immediately dis- patched to bring him up. This Intelligence was im- mediately communicated to the Public by an Hand Bill. At 6 P. M. the Pilot Boat returned with Capt. Lockyer on board, and although the People had but a very short Notice of it the Wharff was crowded with the Citizens, to see the Man whose Arrival they long and impatiently wished to give them an opportunity to co-operate with the other Colonies. The Committee conducted him to the House of the Hon. Henry White, Esq; one of the Consignees, and there informed Capt. Lockyer, that it was the Sense of the Citizens that he should not presume to go near the Customs House, and to make the utmost Dispatch in procuring the necessary Articles he wanted for his Voyage. To this he answered, "That as the Consignees would not receive his Cargo, he would not go to the Custom-House, and would make all the Dis- patch he could to Leave the City." A Committee of Observation was appointed to go down in a Sloop to the Hook, to remain near the Tea Ship till she departs for London. And four committees were appointed to watch the ship London, on her arrival, day and night. till she should be discharged.
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Wednesday Night arrived Captain Lawrence, from London, who confirmed the Account received from Philadelphia of Captain Chambers having on board eighteen Boxes of Fine Tea, but could not tell who was the Shipper, or to whom it was addressed. Thurs- day the Committee interrogated Capt. Lawrence relative to what he knew of the Teas being on board of Capt. Chambers, when he shewed them a Memorandum in his Pocket Book, which he took from the Cocket in the Middle of Capt. Chamber's File of Papers in the Searcher's Office at Gravesend, corresponding with the Advice transmitted from Philadelphia, except some Variation in the Mark. This Morning the following Hand Bill was distributed.
To THE PUBLIC.
"The Sense of the City relative to the Landing the East-India "Company's Tea being signified to Captain Lockyer, by the Com- "mittee, nevertheless, it is the Desire of a Number of the Citizens, "that at his Departure from hence he should see, with his own "Eyes, their Detestation of the Measures pursued by the Ministry "and the India Company to enslave this Country. This will be "declared by the Convention of the People at his Departure from "this City; which will be on next Saturday Morning, at 9 o'clock, "when, no Doubt, every Friend to this Country will attend. The "Bells will give the Notice about an Hour before he embarks from "Murray's Wharf."
New York, April 21, 1774.
By Order of the Committee.
Friday at Noon Captain Chambers came into the Hook; the Pilot asked him if he had any Tea on board ? He declared he had none. Two of the Committee of Observation went on board of Captain Chambers, and informed him of the Advices received of his having Tea on board, and demanded a Sight of all his Cockets, which was accordingly given them, but the Cocket for the Tea was not found among them, nor was the Mark or Numbers on his Manifest.
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About 4 P. M. the Ship came to the Wharff, when she was boarded by a Number of the Citizens. Captain Chambers was interrogated relative to his having the Tea on board, but he still denied it. He was then told it was in vain to deny it, for as there was good Proof of its being on board, it would be found, as there were Committees appointed to open every Package, and that he had better be open and candid about it, and demanded the Cocket for the Tea, upon which he confessed it was on board, and delivered the Cocket. The Owners and the Committee immediately met at Mr. Francis's, where Captain Chambers was ordered to attend. Upon exam- ining him who was the Shipper and Owner of the Tea, he declared that he was sole owner of it. - After the most mature Deliberation, it was determined to com- municate the whole State of the Matter to the People, who were convened near the Ship; which was accord- ingly done. The Mohawks were prepared to do their Duty at a proper Hour, but the Body of the People were so impatient that, before it arrived a Number of them entered the Ship, about 8 P. M. took out the Tea, which was at hand, broke the Cases, and started their Contents into the River, without doing any Damage to the Ship or Cargoe. Several Persons of Reputation were placed below, to keep Tally, and about the Companion, to pre- vent ill-disposed Persons from going below the Deck. At 10 the People all dispersed in good Order, but in great Wrath against the Captain; and it was not without some Risque of his Life that he escaped. Saturday in the morning the shipping in the harbour displayed their colours, and a large flag was hoisted on the Liberty Pole, and at 8 A. M. all the Bells of the City rang, pursuant to the Notice published on Thursday. At 8 a. m. the greatest Number of People were collected at and near
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the Coffee-House, that was ever known in this City. At a Quarter past 9, the Committee came out of the Coffee- House with Captain Lockyer, upon which the Band of Music attending, played God save the King. Immedi- ately there was a call for Capt. Chambers, where is he? where is he? Capt. Lockyer must not go till we find Capt. Chambers, to send him with the Tea Ship. This produced Marks of Fear in Captain Lockyer, who imagined some Mischief was intended him; but upon Assurances being given him to the contrary, he ap- peared composed. The Committee, with the Music, con- ducted him through the Multitude to the End of Murray's Wharff, where he was put on board the Pilot Boat, and wished a safe Passage; upon which the Multi- tude gave loud Huzza's and many Guns were fired, ex- pressive of their joy at his Departure. The Committee of Observation at the Hook have Cognizance of him, till a fair wind offers for his Departure from thence. Thus to the great Mortification of the secret and open Enemies of America, and the Joy of all the Friends of Liberty and Human Nature, the Union of these Colonies is maintained in a Contest of the utmost Importance to their Safety and Felicity .- Rivington's New-York Gasetteer, No. 54, April 28, 1774.1
With Capt. Lockyer, in the ship Nancy, went pas- senger, Capt. James Chambers.
Many persons still suspecting that Captain James
1The same account, with a few verbal changes, appears in The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2366, April 27, 1774. The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1638, April 27, 1774. The Pennsylvania Packet, No. 132, May 2 1774. The New York Journal, No. 1634, April 28, 1774. The New-York Mercury, No. 1174, April 25, 1774. The New-York Journal furthermore has this additional paragraph:
"When the People assembled on Saturday Morning, to see the de- parture of Captain Lockyer, their Resentment was risen so high against Capt. Chambers, whom they had considered as a Friend to their Rights, and deserving their Confidence, that if he could have been found, it is thought his Life would have been in Danger: Hap- pily, however, he was concealed till his Departure, early on Sunday Morning, and we are assured he got on Board the Nancy, Capt. Lock- yer, and is sailed with him for England."
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Chambers continues privately in this city, they may be assured that he sailed out of the Hook, for London, on Sunday last, on board the Nancy, Captain Lockyer, who afforded him a very hospitable and gentlemanly recep- tion. And whose whole behaviour, during his stay in this city proved him to be a sensible, discreet, and a very well-bred man.
PHILADELPHIA. Extract of a letter from New-York. April 25, 1774. 1
"On Friday last, about four o'clock in the afternoon, the ship London, Capt. Chambers, came up into the harbour : As soon as she arrived at Sandy Hook two of the Committee (who went down to watch the tea ship) went on board of her, & informed Chambers of the in- telligence we had received, respecting the Tea on board his ship, which he positively denied, and produced to them his file of cockets, on which there was no cocket for Tea: When the ship came to the wharf, the Com- mittee, and some of his owners, went on board, and in- terrogated him on the subject, but he still persisted in denying it, till Capt. S. (a Member of Committee, and who is likewise a proprietor in the ship) told him it was in vain to deny it, and that he had better acknowledge it, if he knew any thing of the matter, as he might be assured, that every suspicious package would be opened. Upon which, he took the cocket out of his pocket, and presented it to Capt. S. who immediately withdrew, with the rest of the Committee, and the owners of the ship to the Queen's Head Tavern, where, upon opening the cocket, they discovered to their astonishment that Chambers was the proprietor of the Tea: This dis- covery greatly embarrassed the owners of the ship, as they were at a loss to know what steps would be most
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proper to take in the matter, as they had reason to ap- prehend (from the temper of the inhabitants) that the ship and cargo, were in the most imminent danger : They remained at the Queen's Head upwards of two hours, deliberating what course to take, and at length concluded there was no trifling with the people, and that it was best to inform them of the true state of the mat- ter, which they did between six and seven o'clock. As soon as it was known, the people began to assemble, and by evening a large body were collected, a number of whom went on board the ship, broke open the boxes, and emptied every ounce of it into the river. About eight o'clock a number of men, disguised, came along side the ship for the same purpose, not suspecting that the business had been already effected. Chambers some- how or other escaped in the bustle: A number of us were in search for him immediately after, both on board the ship, and at his lodgings, determined to have banished him at least, and to have sent him by the Tea ship to England: he has however saved us the trouble, as we are credibly informed, that he went down early yesterday morning and embarked on board the Tea Ship. "The Committee returned from Sandy Hook last night, having left the Tea Ship about nine o'clock, yes- terday morning, three leagues from the Hook."
FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD.
RAN AWAY from the subscriber, on Sunday the 17th inst. an indented Irish SERVANT MAN named FRANCIS HAYES, by trade a Skinner, and came on re- demption in the ship America last Fall from Cork; he is about 20 years of age, five feet seven inches high, stout built, lightish coloured hair, smooth faced, and hobbles in his walk by reason of a rupture: Had on
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light coloured cloth coat and jacket much worn and sullied, leather breeches, white shirt and stock, a half worn castor hat, blue worsted stockings, and plain silver buckles. It is supposed he went up the Jerseys, as he has a relation near Bordenton. Whoever secures said servant, so that his master may have him again, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges by
ALLEN M'LEAN.
N. B. All masters of vessels and others, are forbid to carry him off, at their peril .- The Pennsylvania Journal. No. 1638. April 27, 1774.
To JOSEPH BORDEN, Esq; STAGE MASTER.
SIR,
YOUR letter publickly addressed to me the 13th of April was very acceptable and entertaining. The delicacy, sprightliness, and urbanity which sparkled in every line, characterize you a perfect master of epistolary diction : and your compositions in that stile will undoubtedly be introduced by the Professors of our American seminaries as models for the imitation of the young gentlemen under their tuition. These considera- tions almost induced me to lay down my pen, and to bury in oblivion the facts respecting your conduct as to the letters in question. But reflecting I had pledged my word, if called upon, to lay them before the Public, I cannot be diverted from my purpose by the music of your periods, or the poignancy of your wit. I accept therefore, your challenge, and meet you in the field with weapons, which will wound you to the quick, though managed with the greatest caution and tenderness. Un- daunted as you appear to be, I am so confident of the ground I stand upon, that I am convinced you must
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be foiled in the conflict. But remember, Sir, whatever may be the consequences you must charge them to the account of your own folly and rashness.
Letters are often times the only mode in which friends can convey their sentiments to each other, or merchants transact business of the utmost consequnce. The safe delivery of them, therefore, is an object of great im- portance, and when they are discovered to be broke open, it certainly cannot be deemed criminal to give public notion thereof by way of caution to people of your occupation, and carriers in general. This was the only motive which induced me to publish my first ad- vertisement. I believe most people who read it, con- sidered it in that light, and could not discover the least reflection therein against any individual, or body of men. But it seems you were endowed with an extra- ordinary degree of penetration, and discovered .an at- tack upon your integrity. In consequence of which you immediately set up your wit against me, and in the most courtly language have called upon me to make good a charge never exhibited against you, or any in your employment. But in complaisance to you, I will grant, you are more sagacious than your neighbours, and a charge against you was really intended. Permit me therefore to consider how far the subsequent state of facts will support it!
At Borden Town the fifth of January last I wrote two letters, one to Mr. John Imlay of New-York, the other to Mr. John Van Emburgh of New Brunswick, and delivered them at your house the evening of the same day to be conveyed by your stage. The first account I heard of them was from the gentlemen to whom they were directed. Mr. Van Emburgh informing me that he received his broke open, and Mr. Imlay acquainting
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me that a copy of his, instead of the original, had been sent to him. Upon this information I considered my- self so villainously treated, and thought it a duty I owed to the public, for the reasons above urged, to publish the advertisement of the 7th of March, which made its appearance in Messrs. Bradford's paper of the 16th; the day before the publication of that paper you were in this city and read my advertisement in manuscript. - You returned home the day following, and twenty-four hours had scarce elapsed before it was made known you were in possession of Mr. Imlay's letter broke open; Of this I soon received intelligence, and expected as you had seen the advertisement, you would have im- mediately dispatched the letter to him or me, with an account of the manner in which you obtained it; my ex- pectations, however, were not answered, and I wrote you the following letter of March 22d, by your own stage, which having the usual passage, must have got to hand some time the next day.
Philadelphia, March 22, 1774.
SIR,
You would not have been troubled with a line from me, had I not been well informed that you are possessed of a letter written by me the fifth of January last, to Mr. John Imlay, of New-York, and the copy of another letter of the same date from me to Mr. John Van Emburgh, of New-Brunswick. Your virtue and honour are so well established, that without strong circumstantial evidence, it might be considered as a breach of charity in me to suppose that you obtained them in any other, than a fair and honourable way. Be this as it may, no pains shall be wanting on my part to drag the infamous scoundrel, who intercepted them. from his lurk- ing place, and shew him to the world in his proper colours, in terror to other scoundrels of the like base principles.
"All I have at present to say to you is, that you will transmit these letters, and every other letter belonging to me, now in your hands, by the first opportunity : - -- And as this is a reasonable and legal requisition, I dare say, as an honest man you cannot hesitate to comply :- And further, as it is notorious you are
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a gentleman of nice honour, and must be struck with the turpitude of such a conduct as that of opening private letters - - - I am confident you will approve my design in endeavoring to discover the villain who could be guilty of so infamous a practice : - - - And in order to this cheerfully furnish me with the paper, which con- tained those letters, acquainting me at the same time in what manner you became possessed of them. I am,
your humble servant,
NATHANIEL LEWIS." To JOSEPH BORDEN, Esq; in BORDEN-TOWN, per Stage.
To this letter you favoured me with the following answer, which was left at my store the 2d of April, by a person in your employ; and being elegantly and cor- rectly composed, I shall give it to the public in the same dress you sent it, as it will serve to convince them, you were really the author of those lately addressed to me in print.
SIR,
Borden-Town, March 26, 1774.
"I received your letter of the 22 have only to inform you, you are imposed upon again, I have not, nor never had any letter or letters of yours to any other than myself, but your letter of January the 5th last, to John Imlay; this letter came under cover to me broken open from whomc I know not; as soon as an oppertunity offered I forwarded it to him.
JOSEPH BORDEN."
To Mr. NATHANIEL LEWIS. in PHILADELPHIA.
It is necessary to observe here, that the day before the above answer was written, you wrote the following let- ter to Mr. Imlay, enclosing the one broke open, which he informs me did not get to hand until the 5th of April.
Borden-Town, March 25, 1774.
SIR,
"The enclosed letter came under cover to me a few days agoe, broke open in the maner you se it. I conceive it to be your prop- erty, therefore inclose it to you.
JOSEPH BORDEN."
To Mr. JOHN IMLAY, NEW-YORK.
From this state of facts these questions naturally arise.
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First. Suppose you obtained my letter to Mr. Imlay of the 5th of January in an honourable way, why did you not immediately upon the receipt of it dispatch it to him, instead of detaining it seven or eight days? You have said you did so, "as soon as an opportunity offered."*
Second. It appears that the answer written by you the 26th of March to my letter of the 22d, did not come to hand till the 2d of April; and the letter written by you the 25th of March to Mr. Imlay, enclosing the one broke open did not reach him till the 5th of April, what was the reason of such delays? Did you ante-date those letters, or did you keep them in your pocket several days after they were written before you sent them to us?
Third. Why did you not, in compliance with my re- quest, transmit to one the letter written by me to Mr. Imlay and in your possession broke open, with the cover which enclosed it, as soon as you received my letter, in order to furnish me with a clew to discover the culprit ?
Fourth. The letter in question was left at your house to be conveyed by your stage to Mr. Imlay, was it ever forwarded by you to him in the state it was delivered at your house? If it was, how came you afterwards by it broke open?
Having stated the facts, according to promise, I must take the liberty before I bid you adieu, to crave your opinion on the following observations. You have had the honour for some years past of holding the commis- sion of Justice of the Peace for the county of Burlington. From your long experience and deep crudition in the law, you must be convinced of the difficulty of convict-
*This must certainly be a mistake, for if you will consider the time which intervened between the day it was known you were possessed of the letter in dispute, and the date of that you wrote to Mr. Imlay, you will find a day on which your own stage went for Amboy, when you might have sent it.
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ing a culprit of such offences, which, from the very nature of the thing, are done in secret, and can only be discovered by circumstantial evidence.
Suppose, for instance, Jerry Switch should be sus- pected of stealing a piece of cassimer, the property of James Seekright your Worship issues a warrant to ap- prehend Jerry, who is brought before you for trial. The culprit pleads not guilty; but it appears that the said piece of cassimer, the property of Seekright, is lost by him, and found in the possession of Jerry, who gives no account in what manner he came by it: Would not your Worship direct the Jury to find Jerry guilty of the theft? And if they did, would not your Worship sentence the unfortunate rogue to the whipping post to be severely switched? But I will put a stronger case. The miller of Mansfield writes a letter to his friend, seals it up, and delivers it at the house of a certain stage-master in Lilli- put-Town, to be conveyed by his stage; some time after- ward the miller is informed that his letter did not get to hand, but is in the possession of the stage-master broke open. The miller publishes an advertisement (which was shown in manuscript to the stage-master) complaining of the treatment he had met with, not re- flecting on the Lilliput stage-master or any other per- son; in consequence of this, he is in hopes soon to hear from him, but is disappointed. He then writes a civil letter to him, requesting that he would transmit the letter broke open immediately with the cover which en- closed it, and give an account in what manner he bc- came possessed of it. To this the miller receives no answer for eleven days, though the stage-master could have conveyed it to him in three; but when the answer came, it contained no more than that he (the stage- master) had forwarded the letter which was broke open
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to the miller's friend "as soon as an opportunity offered ' viz. on the day before he wrote his answer to the miller, which was certainly not true, because he detained it seven or eight days, and could have dispatched it by his oron stage sooner.
Suppose now your Worship was Chief-Justice in the Court of Honour, and the said stage-master should be brought to your bar to be tried upon the charge of break- ing open the said letter? Would not your Worship ex- pect he should give a fair and honest account - - first, that he had faithfully sent the said letter by his stage without delay; secondly, that it was afterward returned to him under cover broke open; thirdly, that upon the receipt of it he immediately dispatched it to the miller or his friend with a satisfactory account when and how it came to his hand? - And if he did not satisfy your Worship as to these particulars, would you not be of opinion he ought to be convicted? If he was, would you not impose such punishment on him as the laws of honour may inflict ?
I have nothing to say at present to the little favourite of the Naiades of Billingsgate, except it to be observe, that he has wickedly and wantonly attacked a friend of mine who is in no way concerned in the dispute between you and me. I am confident the lawyer he has pointed at, deems him too insignificant a reptile for his notice, and when I mentioned to him my concern at his being traduced on my account, he calmly replied, "no matter. "my friend, I shall not return reproach for reproach. "my whole life, I hope, will give my enemies the lie."
It is time to finish this dispute. The public, no doubt, are of the same opinion. - - I shall, therefore leave you at their respectable bar, where I sincerely hope it will appear that your rash conduct hath proceeded not
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so much from the depravity and malice of your heart, as from the weakness of your head. - - For al- though I consider you but an impotent Antagonist, yet as you are an old man, and the father of a family, I could wish to find you in the paths of honour, and disdain to obtain a victory on the ruins of your reputation.
NATHANIEL LEWIS. Philadelphia, April 21st, 1774. -The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1638, April 27, 1774. Supplement.
The following are the rates at which Jersey Bills are ap- pointed, by an act of our Legislature, to pass in this province after the first of May, viz.
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