The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-09 00:00:00, page 1

The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Dear Sir, Rofegill, April 4, 1776.
WHEN you and Mr. Neilfon returned from Norfolk,
you informed me that Lord Dunmore either wished or
expe&ed, or thought it my duty, that I should immediately,
in person, repair to his Lordlhip; that some such ostensible
marks of my attachment to government, and loyalty to my
King, were looked for from me ; and that, notwithstanding
my unequivocal, Ready, and invariable conduct, if I still
continue at home, I may be exposed to the indiscriminating
ravages of war, without any chance of reparation. Whe
ther this opinion is founded on the last proclamation of the
King's, on the late advices from the Minister, or from his
Lordship's conjectures, Ido not know. As to the proclama
tion, and the late advices from the Minister, I have an easy
answer. First, I have never seen the proclamation, never
heard it either read or repeated ; it cannot then be expected
of me to pay refped to any instrument of that fort whole con
tents I can have no cognizance of before they are submitted
to my senses. Second, As to the advices of the Minister
which may lead his Lordship to conclude it to be the duty of
every man now, when the friends of government are in such
a Rate of impotency, or rather are under such complete domi
nion, to repair to his Lordship, without probability of ad
vancing any practical scheme of utility, of concerting any
effectual plan of operations, and without regard to circum
flances, 1 fay, Sir, such advices are repugnant to the words
and meaning of the King. In the true knowledge of our
present situation, his Majesty thus expresses himfelf: " And
" although many of these unhappy people may still retain
" their loyalty, and may be too wife not to fee the fatal con
•' sequences of this usurpation, and with to resist it, yet the
" torrent of violence has been strong enough to compel
" their acquiescence, until a fufficient force shall appear to
<' support them." A few observations on the above quoted
passage will prove the repugnancy. " Unhappy people," in
what? In being overpowered by these usurpers, so overpow
ered that they cannot even hope, they can only wish, to re
fft it. This being the case, what are these unhappy people
to do ? What does his Majesty expert ? Not their fruitlefs
vain endeavors, which prejudice every cause ; he knows,
that the torrent of violence is strong enough to retain them
in their competitive acquiescence, “ till a fufficient force shall
appear to support them." He expects, then, they will wait
the event. They will have, they have a write to protection.
Every effort and endeavor now, on their part, would only issue
in ruin to themselves, and in ruin to their cause. No man
bears the accursed tyranny that is erected with more impatient
mortification than I do ; and, if there were a corner cn the
face of the earth„that I could support royfelf in, and enjoy
In C O.M MITTEE of SAFET Y, at Williamffiurg,
April 24, 1776.
ORDERED that the letter from Ralph Wormeley jun.
Esq; to John Grymes, Esq; lately intercepted, to
gether with the resolution of this board thereupon,
be published in the Virginia Gazette. (A Copy)
JOHN BECKLEY, Assistant Clerk.
Vol. lI.J
Price only Two Coppers. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Evenings.
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1776.
233
I have made no reply as to his Lordship's conjectures. As
he must be furnifhed with intelligence that I am ignorant of,
it must be supposed that he can form a betted judgment than
I can. In a matter of such weight, I wish he had extracted
the paragraph, if he drew his opinion from his late advices,
or had given the reasons on which he formed it. To convey
myfelf, together with the absolute necessaries of life, without
my intention being difeovered, is almost impossible. Besides,
I am only an inferior member of the family, have not the
command of furniture, bedding, &c. nor provisions; and
exportation being prohibited, if I could afford, I could not
command money for my support. Add to this the probabi
lity of all resources being cut off, whereby wheat, flour, or
corn, are now furnifhed]; as the army of the Provincials in
creases, unless one of equal or superior force should soon
arrive from Britain. Numbers, in such a case, will add to
the difficulties that the fleet, army, and people at Norfolk,
labor under. Hundreds will only multiply these inconveni
encies ; thousands alone can remove them. These reasons
weigh with me at present, and restrain me from taking the
step Mr. Neilfon advices with so much urgency. But, after
all, what beneficial consequence could my perfonai attend
ance operate in favor of that cause whose success I have at
heart. My example is not efficacious enough to influence
others to follow it. What exertions of mine could now avail ?
And are not ineffectual exertions capitally erroneous in policy?
Would not, or might not, the departure of a person of my
infignificance quicken the jealousy of the present rulers, give
frefh vigour to the persecution, and make them lash our few
party friends, not with that rod cf iron which we have ex
perienced, severe enough for the molt criminal atrocity, but
with a red-hot one frefh from the infernal forge of tyranny.
If, though the Governor should think my presence neces
sary, and that f can, in any degree, be assistant to his Lord
ship, government, or my country, he will give me an official
summons, and afford me proper facilities to reach him, I
will, at the hazard of that precarious negative quiet that is
now indulged to me, I will, to the prejudice of my health,
which is, as you know, at present interrupted by a most in
veterate disorder, and which disorder would certainly be ag
gravated by a diet exclusive of vegetables, at the rilk of my
life, of every thing, obey it. Will you be so obliging as to
communicate this where you think it necessary ? And, under
all vicissitudes of fortune, believe me to be, with the most
unalterable sincerity, your most affectionate friend,
RALPH WORMELEY, jun.
To John Grymes, Esq;
In COMMITTEE of SAFETY, at Williamsburg,
April 22, 1776.
RALPH WORMELEY, jun. Esq; appearing before this
Committee in custody, and being examined touching
his letter to Mr. John Grymes of the 4th cf April, 1776,
lately intercepted from the Laid Grymes, on his way to Lord
that freedom which I am now violently deprived of, I would,
for the gratification of my own happiness, fly to it. I have
too much feeling not to be exquisitely sensible of my slavish
condition.
[Num. 203.