The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1776-08-24 00:00:00, page 1

THE_VIRGIN'IAss GAZETTE.
[AUGUST 24, 1776.] NVLL'LIAMSBURG: Printed by Dxxou 65" HUNTER. (No. 1307.]
The followin is the copy of a letter sent the other side the Atlantic in
January la . Although it appears to contain & number of observa- ct
tions for the use of an Ambrican, we believe it was written with the
only intent of giving :: true account of the situation us things on this
continent, to some people in power, who might be induced to interfere,
and form their deliberatiom accordingly; and we have thought pro
per w publish it, in order that our culiomerl may have an opportunity
to see the scntimeuu of every member of the comnmnity, not onky in
respect to the present doings, but even to what may probably be ex
pected. I -si
O!:scmatiam qfw titizm qftlu work! in answer to an AM ulcnu . _
using- OU are very much mistaken when 'ou say that France
F X and Spain will not interfere in tlhs contest, because
v.g.; they have not as yet done it. Upon the same princi
? Y 5 ple you may suppose, that a prudent gardener will
5 9 suffer his fruits to rot upon the trees because he did not
* '"0' =K Father them green. If those powers had made the
LMN-ct east movement, the British Minisiry, as soon as they
" had received the second lnd last petition from the
General Congrese, would have become advocate: for the effinies; they
would immediately have called the Parliament, would lllV eclared that
things had'been strongely misrepresented, and badly understood by both
parties; and that modest Senate, at the first hint from their master, and
without any further examination, would undoubtedly have declared thzt
this was even the case; terms of reconciliation would have been proposed,
and you would eagerly have embraced them, because the wound: were
not as yet so deep a: to have eradicated from your hearte that sympathetic
affection which arose from : blind veneration for the land that gnve birth
' to younmcefton, and was nourished b the fimilarity of customs, lan
uage, and religion, and by acontinua and almost exclusive correspon
gence. But now, when repeated, heavy, and cruel injuries, have em
hittered your heatts to such a degree, that the very remembrance of con
.Wity, and lhessfriendship lately subsisiing between you, serve as a
sednent to anger; now; when the obffinate blind of the leitih
Minlsh' , to revenge themselve for the disgrace of their ruitless attempt
on [an , hat induced them to denounce fire and destruction to' every.
thing that th _ can reach from the water; now, when you are all unani
mous to sacri ee every thing to" the'enjoyment of libqty and a free tude ss
with all nations; now, [say, when all these things unite to exelude every
idea of a reconciLiation between Gssgt Britain _and the eoloniee,_ it is not
probable that FrInce and Spain will let [lip so favourable an cyportunity
(so much ater than they could have expected, and which probably
will never nppen again) by delaying so [on to interfere, that thetwo
nations, weaned With heavy blows and exc ive expencee, may perhaps
put an end to the contest; just as two combatants would do, who, sur
veying one another equally. bloody and tired, and having lost their spirit
with their budily strength, and consequently their anger, look arone
another with compassion, and even embrace, and often become eater
friends than ever. I hope that not only the French cabinet, but t at all
those Sovereigns likewise whose Rates may receive cons rable advantages
from their connections with these cobnies, ma hy 't! time, be well
acquainted with the situation of affairt' on this tinent, and that our
chief: may have thouwht of this essential point, and not have suffered, the
world to remain deiudsied py the false and unexampled impndent relations
which the present British policy cause: to be spread abroad. 1" hope that
they ma have made known the number and courage of your forces, and
thatnot 'ng will be wanting here but ammunition and warlike Rose: to
make your enemies feel the weight of your blown, sseven upon theit fa.
vourite element; and, finally, that they may have made known to those
who aim at your sriendshi that here they will find provisione and as
sistance of all kind; and t at, in case of misfortunee, your pilote will
steer their ship! into innumerable places, where the enemy can never
penetrate; that, besides the most sincerc hospitality which await: them,
the will find thousand: of sailors, and others, who will man their ships,
an fightlike lions; and that you have already began to set on foot a naval'
lrmament. [( these things have been communicated on the other side
the Atlantic ou may expect to see here shottly as much powder and am
" A ' want, and such diversion in your savour as to make
si ' well in Europe as in any part of the world.
The reason." sidfyoui _ , lative to the apparent pacisie disposition of
France, are as ill founded : your't. Reflect only to the conduct of
England in ! 73 3, when the Frencllsi-Ambafihdor it that court wao made to
believe that every thing would he amicably settled, while their ships of war
were making prizes of all the French merchant ships they could find (for
which so many familin were ruined, who undcrthe him of nations had
trullctl their effects upon the water) and then )ou will conceive what
policy France must use not to be charged with llupidity b-si; all Europe.
They have too many wise men to suffer so desu'ahlc an Oillhfsfllnlly of re
uliation to escape. As ridiculous is the supposition thsizt France will
aspire to the sovereignty ofthis con sinent. Xu the full pi'ice, you have
already shcwn that you would soo be destroyed thnn give up your li
berty; secontlly, the sovereigffsty would he less advantage us to that king
dom than a free tisiade onlv. lo the first cnse France would be at a great
ex nce to maintain it, and in continual fear, least you should be in
veigled to retum to the ancient dependency; and in the second case she
would have the greatest and best part of your u-ade with a good grace,
and a strong ally, w" whom she would be able at any time to curb her
rival. Be assured, she will never wish for any thing but your alli
ance, and that you .will not again give up the monopoly of your trade to
England: For this only will be advantageous to her, and the other
would be : burthen. it would even be had policy in her to all: the mo
nopoly to herself, because if you were to agree to it now, you cosiuld not
be pleased with it hereafter; then she would, in endesiwourmg to revent
the importntion of eontraband goods, t-x end large sum: to litt e pur
pose; and, in ease ofa war, she would lo e the affistance of : poweitul
"ally. She knows'very well that the nature of your trode is such that she
must have the first part, Italy the second Spain the third, and that a smell
remnant only would heleft forEnglan . She must, therefore, without
si-silosin'gi moment, go to war. ' All the objects she had in view in her
former wars wereinsignisiclnt in comparison to thit. For even the acqui
sisttiem which Spain and Italy, and any other nationa, will make in this
use ire to be considered as her own, and her own as doubly so, because
somuch-will be token from her rival; from that rival who will never be
able td make head against her after losing three mllliom flerling at least of
meat annual profit, which she teapcd from the monopoly of .trade with
thin contincm. and the support of about 4o,ooo sailon. Spain he: other
maim-hefidn those et : oliticnl nature. siShe has received several in
sults on several occasions, ut above all that shameful imyuvdomble one
inthe person of her Monzrch, when King of the Two Sielliee, who will
never be easy until he obtains satisfaction. You will pardon me, if
I dost answer all your'a and your friend'o propositione: !! would take
too much time, and rellly they do not all deserve an answer. .! will till
you sincerely what I think is the reason why several learned in") here in
mihken in their speeulatiom on these particulars. I haveobserved,
1th embmon sense and philosophical knowledge'abound in this country
in more than'in any other of the known world. Au-equll number
of peqfle omiscuoufly taken here, and there, siat nsiventurc, would prove
lily proPo tion without much serutiny. But instance] knowledge, wish
one wheel] it it Wle to know mankind, is not so much sought for];
I'eo-ld wish. si sieasy lit? which one enjo 's in thin country, end eke
dilhndeof the habitation, are other obstac et to the toqulsition of such
; and the innocent simplicity of the customt_here in genenlct
induce" great many; nen of the mak senfible and knowng among you.
vito'take mankind for what they ought to be, rather than whnt they redlly
are. ,! am sorry to hell you that this deficiency in nspect to the know
ledge "of mankind had been of the greatest preju-hce to you, and he: put
ss blck one year at least in your military operatiom. The tnl 11 to be
remedied, but with more pounds ofblood now than dmhm would have
'sufied.
?. s. I have just received your lust, and entirely agrcc with you in
every point therein mentioned. I cannot suppose that Frlnce hat qugdt
chlt Knglmd deprived her of more than zo,ooo sailors before unware!
war, and still continued to'treat the French Ambafl'zdour wifl'fiwery
mark of an amiable disposition, but that she will now renliate in (He like
manner. There is the greatest probability that France in:! Spain will
begin at the same time, and that, coming upon the coast; where dy
could sweep the whole of them so easily, they will not neglefl rub '
some spare ships, a: they must know that there are here, ac : mZ-siffl
com umeion, alleasi 4o,ooo sailors, wishing for an opp'ortunityio'fight
for t air country. An to the other motivc, why France and Spin siohght
not in good poli lny longer to delay gqng to war with Great Britain,
th "regret: In indisputable. Here agnculture now begin- to be neg
ed, lndsmoe any thing is attended to but mnkin powder, musketa,
filed, &c. &c. and setting on foot manufactories of every kind. !: is
thetefow the inmfi of those nations, who Expect to reap : bmsit from