The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1776-04-20 00:00:00, page 1

APRIL 20, 1776. si _ NUMBER 1289.
93}? T T E
,, BOTH FORElGN AND DOMESTICKH;
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iN ClVIHsAsE LlBl RA LlNGUAM MENTEMCsiUE \ LlBERAS ESSE DEBEKE_---_Suet_ mssTm_ s. 28.3
'i _ss
PRINTED by __J0HN DIXON Anctd WILLlAM HUsiNTERJct
n- An. Bersom may be supplied with tzxis PA'PpZ', alsijct'fsizgel-vt Sbillinctgq and Sixpenu a Year, and have ADVERTlSEM ENTs (of :: modersitsie Length) i Tc.:terd for 'Isi/sszsizszzzling: the first Week, an' 'ct
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1 ssctssss 1
WlLLIAMSBURG, Apasi'sigx: 3__3',','_!.7*}__6si%s.__siss
S GENERAL LEE must, marezsiztl
Mectgshre, regulate the Matter}:- ;ss'o ' the
siCautim-uta] Trooju under his Co'rzmsian , ac
cording to the internal Force' qf the Colony,
the Commz'ttee: qf the dgffE'r'entjgsiCozmties are
requej/Zed to find into [lead Master: .sia Re
turn of their M'nute—Men, With the State
and Condz'tz'on ostheir Arms. . ' '
From the LON DON Ev E N IN__G Po.s_'r_.—
q/ss Nocwmher 23. ct . _ ct '
Jin .mbmic copy qsthe address and petition: to his Majcsbsictsi wailed
jbr by the Ear! of Aomcoou, feandectl ly- th' Lgrcti'p'km v'FssN,
actd/igntd ly' a ctvujy great mnjerig- of the Gentlemen, CIZ'rg-y, and
frtthalder: of the count} of leuzs, at the meeting he!] in the
town hall!!! All] NGDON, puvj/issmt to [7]! actiz-(t'ti/p/(lctmtjruu the
bighshmff, " for taking t/Ysslfr'nt'W/fihfi' aj'sithe' co'uny on the
" present unhappy difference: lvefsiwr-n Ga EAss'rsi BMTMN and
her tolouies," on TuesDAY the 71h :ffNo-zlember, 1775.
To the Kl N G *: psqfl Excellent KlAIESTY.
The humbk ADDRESS and PETITlON of ,the free olders
. of the county ofBERKS. ;ss 'ctij;_
Ma} i! pleastyour Majesty, ct '
OUR Majcsty's most loyal and dmisnl sub
A
{ *) (sk- jects, freeholders of the count) of Berks,
VW K' though deeply affected with the melancholy
M-nfi _ civil dissemions which prevail in your em—
I Y pure; havsie acqnicsced, with boundlcss con
.. =: ,ss. sidencsissn your Majefiy': goodness, and
In hfl in the vsslsdom yf your Parliasiient, for the
;) (; restorutlon of mtemnl tranqmllityssgo your
- dominions and sntiafaction lnd ne bse tb
. ffi ah- mindo'osiu yoursisubjects. ?
We conceive that the interferencc of your Majesty's pen le,
otherwise than by their representatives in Parliament (althon Ihit
be their undoubted right) ought to be extremely rare! a ' re
fined for occasions of the greatest necessity: Weihave th'ereshn
beheld, with astonishment, persons who profess uncommon zeal
for your M ,:fiy's government discovering : maniselt distrust in
his discretion, msiginiyour Minitten to a continuance of the vio
lent menshcen which ttherto have produced none but calamitons
effects, and to which the Minisiers have shewn, lnd still do shew,
: dis ht' which it does not seem at all necessm ctv to stimulate.
T set flammatory addresses, we humbly apprehend, hAve ::
tendency to distress your Maietty's patcmnl feelings, and by mg.
ing mrcive mEasfires, ns alone effectual and proper in the present
disorders, to render such conccflions as your Majesty's and the
public wisdom may think necessaryfo make, dishonourabie md
unsafe to your Majesty and this nanon.
Finding the dangerous and seditious attempts tq embarrass your ss
Majefly's couneitg and prevent the rcltoration of tmnquillity,
nrsued with an eameltness which fills the minds of your Ma
]efly's peaceable subjects with honsigur, we are cunsimined, very
. rehtctantly, with all posiihlesihumlhty anddtserence, to lay pe
fore your Majefiy our faithful scntxrpcnts on the origin of the
present troubles; on the measures which have been, and still are
pursued, in consequence of those trotlhles; and on the dismal ef
fects which we conceive must result from them.
As she inhahumts of that part of your dominions, which is
the seat of the imperial ]cgiflature, we have a due sense of the ne
cessity of preseuving the supreme authority of Parliament over all
the British empitsie; but, as English srcL-hohlcss, who value our
selve: on our inettimsiihle right of granting our own ropeity,
either by ourselves or repret'entutiiies of our own choo ing only,
we cannot, without divesting purselves of every principle of
equity, justice, and even ofcommun decencey, consider the c0m<
plastss'tt's of millions of our fellow subjects, separated from us by
an immense ocean, on being tnxed without any voice, directly or
indireffly in the grant, to be entirely ground'iess, and the result
ot' nothing but a fsiifliuus spirit uiming at the dismcmbcrment of
the cmpire. The tsinhttuvn'il, and not nominnl, assent of the
suhjs-R in the grant of their own money we can never hold to be'
a frivolous concu'n to English frcclmlders: lt camyever he ex_
terminated in one part ofthe empirc without being ehdnngered in
a'il; and weiook with jusitt indignation at the servile and unmunly
tspitit in which the very'principh- of that sacred right is treated
with scorn :mti ridicule, by several puhlicafions industrinufly cir
culatetl; and which, We trust, receive no countenance from your
Majesiy's Miniflerz; because, is so countenanted, they can have
no other effect than to raise :! suspicion that the government of
this country is fliding from its only firm, ogtyml, an_d consiitu- ss
tions] sound iuns. '
We hwe it, with much concern, the disorders which have
arisen in Am ica on this serious ground. We lament, we blame
them; but at cannot think them unnatural in those in whom the
'love of freedom ie united with the ordinary weakness and imper
fection oshumun nature.
it i< fnr that principle. joined with that insii'mity, that we pre
sume to i'uppiicate your Maietty's clemency.
The disorder'k have arisen from a complaint, plausihle at leafl,
of one right violated; and we can never be brought to imagine
that the remedy for such disorders conlilts in an attnck on all
other rigssi and an attempt to drive the people either to uncon
liitutinnni submiffion sir ahsnlute despair.
Sire, the nffuira 0s)\' r cmpirc arc distracted, because they are
miscomlnktcd. The consequences of the measures pursued Are as
flidx'nt as they are dcplmbfle.
_' =sifYour Mxijcsty's IVIinisters, sir' ng the forces of your mtuml
.--ctpbm subjects not sufficiently pov Qui for, or not sufficiently dis—
pTed to, the present coercive servi have liltcned to the offers as
{off}? nations, who have though is:, it seems, volummiiy, am!
theft ore in a manner the more L'iisimm all true Ezl'glimmen',
to interfcre in our domestic differenccs.
Prostrated before your throne, with faces siiffsiul'ed with shame
for this apparent nakednelt of our country, and with hearts op
pressed with anxiety for its future destiny, we deprecatc, whiist
yet it is in suspense, this most perilous and delpcmtcyroceediug.
English dignity and English government, whilst neshng on their
sstsii'ue bottom, can never stand m need osRul'sian affisiance furtheir
?:preservation. They who are necessary to the suppen of govern
siment are the government; and if we cannot ])scsel've Amcrica
'without soreign aid, America belongs to scisieigncrs, and not to
England.
si" lt has been the usual course of :: rebellious people to call in the
inrms of sh'angers to dishsiact their country. This worst part as sc—
ibellion has not yet appeared in America. Let this one thing
si ri ht in their conduct atone for many wrong ones; nnd let your
ajesty's clemency permit itself to operate in favour of :! people
whose petitions have not yet appeared before any throne hut
your's. Let not England set an example, which is but too easily
copied, by drawing into a free country the insidious and merce
nury aid of soreign forces, trained to the support of a barbarous
despotism. The moment that a great army of such, or as any
foreigners, shall enter your territories, the liberties of your
people are at an end; and your Majcsty's authority will be the
more endangered by their assiltancc than it cut be by any rebel
lion which can arise among ynurown subjects.
When we have such terrible ohjeEts in prospect, we forget the
millions we are spending, and the millions more we are like to
spend, in this unhappy and unssuitlt-ss contest. .
Deign, therefore, most gracious Sorereign, to attend to mann
fest reason delivered by the affectionate voiceos duty and fidelity. iss
Strenuous t'iwe are for the honour of our country, we cannot be ss
forgetsul of its peace and eoneord. It is therefore we absihor the
idea of encouraging foreigners to make aIny of this nation andss
ill dependencies, under the miserable an uncovered pretext ot
discountenarieing faction end sedition among ourselves.
Sigtml hue,,
To the people of PENNSYVANKA. '
L E T T E R IV.
. HE authors, or if I must say author, of what is called
Common Scuse has certain] had fair lay. Full time has
been allowed him, by the sale o his pamph et, to reap the fruits
of his labours, andliratify that avidity with which many are apt
to devout doctrine: at are out of the common way—hoid, mar
v'eiious, siand flatterin . What was intended as a compli-nent to
the ublio-to give em time to gaze with their own eyes, and
sirea on with their own faculties, upon this extraordinary appear- i
itice—t'he author's vanity has consh-ued wholly in hit own savour. '
He has called repeatedly for answers, and announced his second
edition to the world in the following strain of t'elt'qdulatshn,
" That as no answer hath yet appeared, it is now presnmcd that
none wtll," and therefore, as may be fairly implied, that he is
unanswerabie. Why then, when his challenge is accepted, will
not he and his second: sight ctupon fair terms? Why will they
leelctt to draw the attention of the ubiic from thing: to rm'n, icf'u
fing'shat,qnarter to Orbits which the author of Common Sm (Cl'aves
for himself? " Who the author of this publication is (says he)
is wholly unnecessary to the public, as the object nt attention is
the doctrine itself, not the man!" Can this sentence be reconciled
to all the pothet' madsi about Cato, who and what he is; or does
it not rather betray some symptoms of fear and cowardice to bt-sct
him at the threshold, and seek to ttop him in his march to tluss:
field? . What, although he attempts to walk forth humbly with
his_siaff in his hand, and has been somewhat late in filling his
scrip with stones to meet this GOLtAH; should he therefore be
tauntingly defied? If what is called Common Slllst' be really (."a;;:-'
man Stnse, it is invuinerable, and every attack upon it will but
add to the author's triumph. If it should be proved, in any in
stances, to be uonstuse, milliona will be interested in the disco
very; and to them I a peal. - ss
Once more lrepeat t e dcsign of these letters, in which l'con
ceive a question to be involved of the greatest importancethat ever
came before us—a question not yet decided, and which ought
thelefore to be fully discussed. ()pprobrious names can prove
nothing here, ex'cept that they who use them have nothing better
to say, and are.afraid of their caule. It is probable um sonsste
may see their interest upon one side of the question, and some upon
the other; but that the great body of the people can have anssv
interest separate from their cauntty, or (when iairly understood)
pursue any other, is not to heimagined. lfCato may he beiicvss
ed, he can conscientioufly class himself with this great body, and
run assure his readers that the gueises hitherto made concerning
him are rather unlucky.
Great pains have been taken to engage him in a contest with
our Committee, but as nothing has been quoted from him which
concerns that body in general, he leave: his letters to answer for
themselves; and if his comments on the circular letter to the
connty committces should appear to the pubiic not to be well vi'nr
ranted, he will submit to their judgment. But he kinds it wouid
beendless to answer all the silly queriu, and daily scribpie, os
hie opponents; and has learned better than to be drawn from his
main object lssy induiging them in this way. it would be too
great : trespass upon the rcader's patience. He has viewed the
ground on which he stands, and is not afraid tn tread it in the
sight ofthe most vigilant son of ]ihcrt) ; making; that ti'cc use of
the Prc which is promised to him, without the iealt violation off
any re olvc of this contincnt hitheno made. -- .
One side o a great question has been held up to iii. :Wess are
told that it can never be our interest to have an smui-e-rnnnexion
with Great Britain, and are psc ed immediately to zlr'ctflmsit'dur;
total feparaticn, for now is th': time—anssltlsse lime l-asfilmesi
- ' si-V
,
- I ]
Cov'ld it be expect ! that all Americn would inshntly take a lea _
in the dark, or th any who had not :: predileflion for the doc- .
trine, or were at he of ;easoning upon it, would swellow it in
tlt}? gr-ct-ss, wirhuu' sictqssiP-ctji to hear the.:rgum-M- onss t olhflass
tide? ] am sure this " wish ot' multitude: of 3 . me:};
particularly of those who may be principally concerned m dccn- ss
ding tlu' question; and whose caniest desire it is not only- to know '
the sense of indivicluais, but the clear sense of their country uppn
it; Without which they could not think themselves at libertyssto
give their decilion. - ' * 1
Upon this ground, then, I proceed, and shall rest the clvse
with my :ulvesszn'ies on the present general defence, Wlljctl (Isi i
though ] tun sorry it was necessary) ] lime reason to thmksi, wtll -
be more acceptable to the public, than the mispending time_m ..
private altercation. Thosewho oppose me may enjoy, sora wlnle '
(perhaps unnoticed) all the triumph of the answers they may _
give; mul if it istctnussiu at last, as has been already hinted, thatl
lum.- liiiil nothing tu the purpose, their side of the question Will
ss only be l'n'engrliened. .
in my remarks upon the pnmphlet before me, ] shall sir} cop
lidcr those :n-gmm-nts on which the author appears to lay his chief"
ih'ess; and these :uc colltflessl undtr four heads, in hisconclusion. ]
" It is tWom nt' mitium, whun any two ate at wnr, for Fl
" some ot was not engaged in the quarrel, to Rep in as
linni'isixlw'ct', ' hiing about the pi'cliimnaries of PEACE. But ';
ss ((
while America szills lmsclf :] subject of Great Britain, do "
((
power, however well disposed she may he, can offer her mefi
{6
ss " an'mz." " '
Is this Common Say}, or common noustnse? Surely, peace
: with Great Britaiu cannot he the object of this writer, after the
'nm'sihh- character he has given us of the people of that country,
and telling us that reconciliation with them would be our mid.
Thc latter part of the paragmph seems to cast some light upon tlme '
former, although it contradictc it; for these mediuton are not to
intertsicrc for making up the quarrd, but to widen it, by shpport
ing us in a detlaration, that we are not subject: of GreagBrinin;
.1 new son of business, truly, for mediation! .
But this leads us directly to the main inquiry: What soreign
power: are able to give us this su pint? Whether they can be
persuaded to engage with us? W M will be their tenus? ]: du
alliance with them safe -,_ or it it to be pssidpsrcil to aghonomjublctt;
and firm ttnewat ot m. t' metent conncxum under which we have
so long flomished? ;
These questions cannot but employ the most serious thought:
of men whose all is at lhke in the resolution of them; and (
ought to be answered to the general satisfaction, before we are
launched out into a tempestuous oqnn, of which we ]: .ow not
the other shure. Thnt A continuance of mutual violence . nd hlt'e
may at last force us upon such an ocean is not aitogetherimprolw
ble; and it is possible that we may gain some port of safety, al
though in :! lhstttescd condition. Not a word shall be dtnun from
me to cliscrcdit our own th-cngth or t'clburces, although the ac.
counts given as them, by the author of Commbn Sense, appal
incisicdible to some. ! will even go beyond him in expressmg m
good opinion of our situution. He thinks foreign assisiauce ncee .
sau'y to us. ] think we should but hesiinjured by it. We sitteth]:
to defend our own rights, and to srtrsh'ntesithe attempt of iny p"...
tion upon earth to govern us by force. ct-Forsimy part ] would
risk my all in retitting every attempt of this kind :: every la;
znrd. . . 4 .
But let us see what assisiance h'e offer; .tts;' ahd we find Frmi
)
and Spaia held out for that purpose, _al'though not as mediatoci, I,:
to' '" strengthen the connexionhelweett Gi'catBritain and An'iG-i .ljss
rica," but wholly tossdisiblveit. ss ss ' ,
As to Spain, it is well knownctthat-the government of her own' _
unwieldy colopies'is already :: weight which shecan hardlybear;
'nml somejn'ofdund politicians have, thought, that. from th! first;
she has mthersibegn wakened thnn' ltrcngthened .h); them; finds
that all hcr'retqms of'.gold and silver from Amcctri'qbsam but} '
poor compensatjvn for the lives actml cottsi with which they use pur_-_']
chased. - It may'ctwcll he queshsiohgd; dien," uppolipg Spai'n ssm ;
able to :tsstst us-in erecting an independeut'e'gupirzm. Atheriba}
whether her, jealouly would permit_her_ tosil'siifkctthqx'poflibility'ofif
our scducing her own Antesiesiatsit subjmfjts intpffut "ignce'with nisi; .'
for the purpose of afu-ture sevuit from hesctfflfi—ss} .si'ssd!" autlwrct
mentinns-Fran'ce as— well as S akin, indcttpukprctqpfee' :
branches of the Bourbonfmg; so lengthe !!"piictss
.and frumm,' shouhl now .ig'psiin as their rdtctftorss
me:;ps; or atsi what price, ' :! this marve lous' rcicd _
tzyief'thefse tpwo powesfgtzdivsiide tibigsg coloni'a bethen them 11" ss
s tlemuf olitiu; t'! ' ' ;, ;, {i , tobeaccom lishglsizlll.Hd'j '
their guardigmshi to be jointor separate? ' Under whd'essi'v'n jg.
?:sihsisylvama ton athhatssof .lhe'most Catholic Orvmffllfflsi' ss' si. .ss
"ing? si . ; si ' ct ctctsiasiss
) " ] siconfess thacttthese'qpeflibns-Ragger me; md._-till_ensv.jesi_j si
satisfaction, -cnnW-bttt 'gi—ve evsi-ry ' mast; thsshufl-pgf _ ct '
iipprehensio'ns concerningcttcthe. future- me of hiysiicoumc'yss- TY-bk
told bythesi authqxctctot' sitcmm-SiujZ, sith'ai'alx things mere pnsu-ct
dice, that-we muKY-si'divesl qaslpjvgs ot 'esivcry 6 'itiidn'ifwhsi'ich we:
have been cclpcntctl; in order to thgsiest hizctptssc Lctr-imsi ahsid-fl'irmsiv
drawn whzt; qin' fathertaptlyje-htwe been buildan'Qp fbr'a ;, "
to make room t'ot'jhis Qijipuaisisijfabric; :; ] sa'y'; w bcct'toldsfsith-(g it
unly insult inilciidsiqs a) ' ttsi'l'ent, ct-aml (}:m he tolerated by;}mnebut
those who are so shr'wznnedotsiinterctested .that sepaflpioh'fsiromss
Great Britzin at atiy risksi ct-sssheir' .choic'e,'=rather thm'rcconcilfi. -,
tion, upon whatevetjtctmu- - ' '_ ct . . ;" . si , _ ct -
This, [much fear, is she temper of thosssivhcto-mgonfiqtly'
dinning in our can;: the necessity of 'an immediatessdecfixctmio'd of
independence, for the sake ofyroturing fssdsirei' ;fsisishnce, especj'. ' '
all that of Fictjance. Their real desire ll on "me dmr againss,
al stssstultesi-ctrecqnciliation by this precipimi fleptssf The fumes of .
sdreign-hffist'sitmce is a mere deceit. Can upima'gine that tffrmtrs"j
thought it' heriuterest w qum're withGsskepct-Briyain 'fbr gny betide - *
fits to be derived from us, her delicacyM stand in her my?
VVas she ever reth-ictcd by such deticacy in my & the former eivil
wan} of his neighbours, especially those of GreatB-siitain! But