country, it is not only loft to you, but returns fo strongly to the intereft of congrefs, that all the perfons known to have been attached to you are obliged to fly with terror and confufion. But there is another ftrong circumstance, the univerfal attachment of the people to the French alliIn vain have your partifans endeavored to alarm the people with the fears of popery and arbitrary power. It makes not the leaft impreffion even upon the common people.

ance.

Please to attend to the circumftance I am going to mention; because it surprised myself when I obferved it. There are always, you know, little feuds and contentions, jealoufy and emulation, în every fociety and in every affociation. Both in congrefs and in the country, I have obferved that when one fet or faction wants to make the other odious, they charge them with being cold to the French alliance, and ungrateful to them for their services. This to my knowledge has been the fubject of mutual reproaches, when I do not believe there was any truth in it on either fide. Would you think it-fome have seriously attempted to perfuade me that the New-England delegates were cold to the French, and inclined to the Englifh; to which I answered, that I well knew the contrary, but that they were of an independent fpirit, and would not easily fubmit to unwarrantable influence, either from the French or the English. I mention all this fingly with this view, to fhew you the bent and inclination of the public mind.

I have been lately reading over governor Johnston's fpeech after his return, in which to my amazement he pofitively and publicly denies his having fent any message by a lady to Mr. Reed. The thing is now publicly known and confeffed. He fays they would have named the lady if there had been any fuch thing. Mr. Reed forbore naming the lady out of tenderness to her; but it has now come out. It was Mrs. F, daughter of the late Dr. G- married to Mr. F- fon of R. F

of

What should people think of persons of his character fo boldly and folemnly to deny a certain fact.

I will mention another circumftance to you. The diftrefs of this country by the depreciation of the money, has been very great. Many have fuffered great loffes; not a few have been utterly ruined. Yet I never could perceive that this altered the inclination of the people as to the public cause, in the least. Nay, notwithstanding the dreadful complaints made against particular claffes of men, such as foreftallers and engroffers, commiffaries and quartermafters, yet I am perfuaded that any body who should but propose to return to fubmiffion to England for relief from their depredations, would be torn in pieces.

Inhabitants of Jamaica, and other West-India Islands in behalf of the College of New-Jersey.

GENTLEMEN,

T is unneceffary to begin this addrefs by a labored encomium on learning in general, or the importance of public feminaries for the inftruction of youth. Their use in every country; their neceffity in a new or rising country; and, particularly the influence of Science, in giving a proper direction and full force to induftry or enterprize, are indeed fo manifeft, that they are either admitted by all, or the exceptions are fo few as to be wholly unworthy of regard.

In a more private view, the importance of education is little lefs evident. It promotes virtue and happiness, as well as arts and industry. On this, as on the former, it is unneceffary to enlarge; only fuffer me to make a remark, not quite fo common, that, if there is any just comparison on this fubject, the children of perfons in the higher ranks of life, and, especially, of those who by their own activity and diligence, rife to opulence, have of all others the greatest need of an early, prudent, and well-conducted education. The wealth to which they are born becomes often a dangerous temptation, and the ftation in which they enter upon life, requires fuch duties, as thofe of the

finest talents can scarcely be fuppofed capable of, unless they have been improved and cultivated with the utmost care. Experience fhews the ufe of a liberal education in both these views. It is generally a prefervative from vices of a certain clafs, by giving eafy access to more refined pleasures, and infpiring the mind with an abhorrence of low riot and contempt for brutal converfation. It is alfo of acknowledged neceffity to those who do not wish to live for themselves alone, but would apply their talents to the service of the public and the good of mankind. Education is therefore of equal importance in order either to enjoy life with dignity and elegance, or employ it to the benefit of fociety, in offices of power or truft.

But leaving these general topics, or rather, taking it for granted that every thing of this kind is by intelligent perfons, especially parents, both believed and felt; I proceed to inform the public that it is intended to folicit benefactions from the wealthy and generous, in behalf of a College of considerable standing, founded at NASSAU-HALL, in Princeton, New-Jersey. In order to this it is neceffary for me-1. To fhew the great advantage it will be to the inhabitants of the Weft-Indies, to have it in their power to fend their children to approved places of education on the continent of America, instead of being obliged to fend them over, for the very elements of fcience, to South or North Britain. 2. To point out the fituation and advantages of the College of New-Jersey in particular. And as I was never a lover either of florid discourse, or oftentatious promises, I fhall endeavor to handle these two points with all poffible fimplicity, and with that reserve and decency which are fo neceffary, where comparison in fome refpects cannot be avoided.

On the first of these points, let it be observed,

That places of education on the continent of America are much nearer to the Weft-Indies than thofe in GreatBritain; and yet fufficiently diftant to remove the temptation of running home and lurking in idleness. This is a circumstance, which, other things being fuppofed equal, is by no means inconfiderable. Parents may hear much oftener from and of their children, and may even visit

them, as is known to have been the cafe here, with no great lofs of time for bufinefs, and to the advantage of their own health. They may alfo much more speedily and certainly be informed, whether they are profiting and have justice done them, or not, and remove or continue them at pleasure. The diftance indeed is, if I miftake not, well proportioned in all refpects. It is fuch as to allow of the advantages just now mentioned, and yet fo great as to favor the behavior and inftruction of the youth. I have obferved in the courfe of four years experience, that thofe who came from the greateft diftance have, in general, behaved with moft regularity. Being removed from their relations, it becomes neceffary for them to fupport a character, as they find themselves treated by their companions, teachers, and indeed all other persons, according to their behavior. This is fo true, that if parents are obliged to place their children out of their own families, an hundred miles diftance is better than twenty, and fo of every other proportion till we come to the hurtful ex

treme.

Let it be further obferved, that the climate of the continent of North-America is certainly much more healthy in itself, and probably also more fuited to the conftitutions of those who have been born in the Weft-Indies, than that of GreatBritain. Health is the foundation of every earthly bleffing, and absolutely necessary both to the receiving inftruction in youth, and being able in riper years to apply it to its proper ufe. ufe. Parental tenderness will make every one feel the importance of this to his own children. And whether the obfervation itself is juft or not, I leave to be decided by the judgment of all who have been in both countries, and the information they will readily give to those who have not.

Having touched on thefe circumstances, let us try to make the comparison as to the fubftance of the education itself. Here, I am fenfible, it behoves me to write with the utmost circumfpection to avoid giving offence, and that to fome this will appear, at firft fight, altogether impoffible. I am however not without the greatest hopes, that I fhall be able fully to prove the propofition I