The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg, Va., 1776-04-05 00:00:00, page 1

APRIL 5, 1776. . T ]! ssE '* . .' . ,- upemnnsiz.
; m- :", sun:
VIRGINI
.]ZT
ct sssi AND mz PUBLICK Gosio'nsi.
I N 0 0 N G R 15) 5 S.
SATuno/nr, March 16, 1776.
N times of impending calamity and dis
tress, when the liberties of America are
imminently endangered, by the secret
machinations and open aiiss-sitults of an
inssdions and vindictive adminit'tt'at'ton, it
becomes the indispensctblc duty of these
hitherto free and happy colonies, with true
penitence ofssheart, and the most reverent
devotion, ptsilbhckly to acknowledge the
over-ruhng providence ofGOl), to consesit
and deplure our osseuccs against him, and
to supplicatc his interposition for nverting
the threatened danger, and prospering
our strenuuus efforts in the cause of FREE
non, vmrua, and POSTERlTY.
The Gunpss-reif—s THEREFORE, consider
ing the warlike preparations us the British
minilhsiy to subvert our invalunble rights
'and privilegcs, and to reduce us, by fire
and sword, by the (wages of the wilder
[less, and our own domelhcks, to the most
abjccit and ignominiouss' bundngsie :, desirous,
at the same time, to have people of all
ranks and degrees duly ienplessed with a
solemn sense of G () D's superinteud'mg
providencc, and ostheir duty devoutly to
sely in all that lawful cmcrpsllcs on ms
aid and direction, do earnestly recommend
tlut Friday the 17th day of'Muy next be
observed, by the said culmnies, as a day of"
llUMtLMTLON, FASTlNG, 'Jnd PRAYER,
that we may, with united hearts, confess
and bewail our mactnis-Jld sins and transgres—
sions, and by :: sincere repentance, and
amendmcnt of lise, appease his righteous
displeasare, and, through the merits and
mediation of jESUS CHRIS'F, obtain his
pardon and shrgiveness: Humbly implor
ing his afflstance to srnstrate the cruel
purposes osour unnatural enemies, and, by
inclining their hearts to jullice and benevo
lence, prevent the farther effusion askin
drcd blood; but is, ccmtinuinctgr dcus to the
VQicc of reaion and humamty, and ill
flexihiy bent on desolation and war, they
construin us to repel their hostile invasions
by open resistance, that it may please the
Lord asHosts, the Godn] Armies, to animate
our officers and soidiers uith invincible
fortitude, to guard und protect them in
the day of battle, and to crown the con
tinental arms by sea and ]:md with victory
and success: Eumestiy beseeching him to
bless our civil ruicrs, and the reprelmtu
tives of the people in their several Assem
hlies and Conventizms, to prescrve and
ltrengthcn their union, to inspire them
with an urdent disintc-restcd love as their
country, to give wisdom and fl'ahiiity to
their cunnciis, und direct them to the most
c-fficaciuus measures sur cst-i'niiihing the
rights of Americzt on the moit honourable
and permzment bsitfis: That he wouid he
raciunsiy piectsxl to hicfis all the people
in these cnI-mies with health and plenty,
and grant that a spirit osincormpzihle pa
triotism, and of pure undciilcd religion,
wi1Vlllti\'L*l'sitiiY prevail; and this contincnt
be speedily restored to the hiciiings us
PF. \(1F. nnd LlBLR'l'Y, :md entthleql m
transmit them invioiate to the lutest pus—
terity. And it is rcc<m1mcnded w Chris
tians as all denominatiuns w ass: mi-ie for
publick worship, and abstain from (Ervile
labour on the said day .
By order ofCongrcfi.
jOHN H.-\NCOCK, presidentsi
CHALLES 'sHnMsoN, sccremry.
From the Pel'i'd'ylvuilix Evcning Posi'.
On finding COMlh'lSSlONERS to treat
with the CO NGRESS.
HE man who wuuid penetrate all the
designs, and thoroughly acquaint
himself With the several maumuvres, uslhc
British government, ought.;carcfuiiy to
attend to two olvjects, \iz. 'l'he prime
minister is always considered as the central
wheel of all government movements,
And the eyes of every one are fixed upon
him, and his motions alone attended to;
but in the present case, where he is con
scssedly ustcusibie, the affuir is quite other—
wise, and he who wishes to distinguish
between the measures which proceed from
the real minister, and will be prusecuted,
and those which the ostensible is directed
to hold out, as harrels to a whole, may
perhaps find the true clue to guide through
the labyrinth in the following observations .
ureat nruam nas lteacmy and mvariabsslly
pursued one course ofof'conduct, towar s
these colonics, for the last 12 years; and
yet politieians have constantly charged her
With ficklencss, and a want of a regular
lan. He who discerns the true cause of
this inconsistcnt consistency can point out
its nature, end, and use, and show that
this ficklenesk dcmonstrntes the sirmesi.
steadfastness., sees into the bottom of the
rescnc British policy, and comprehends
all her measures. This knowledge ] wish
every member of' the Hon. Cosiitinentzvl
Congrcsi possessed as, with virtue and spirit
sufficient to withstand all their efforts to
dellrov our liberties.
As soon as the parliamentis called, the
king givescertain intimations ofhis desi us,
and applies for the approbation and up
port of the commons. Here we have a
small opening of the designs ok'thc cabinct ,
no more being communicated than is ab
solutely necessary for obtaining a general
concurrencc and vote of uids from parlia
ment. This being once obtained, by way
of address, a new )];m opens, and that,
spirit which was rousied, by this discovery,
of the real designs us the government, is
laid asleep as quickly as poflihle; and the
real minister, now retiring behind the cur
tain, the osteniihlc (me succeeds to his
place. You may therefore observe, that
as soon as the hands oF the secret cahinet
arc let loose, by loyal addresscs, things
take a new turn in parsnmcnt immediate
! '; and the prime minister, as is totally
ssshl'suksimg the high ground he had lately
taken posseffion of, begins to open new
phns of a very different nature from that
held out in the speech from the throne,
and rcommended in (he :uidresses oshoth
houses of parliament. The king and ];is
cuhal go to work with all the secrcsv and
vigour they are masters of, and lord North
asiumcs his new character, which is Me *
of' the deceiver osdmerica. and mqsefl-qfi
the nation; and he has hitherto played his a
part lo we", that all has gone on to their
mind . Helast year rendered theminvisibk,
even to their own party, and had like to
lose all by it; so that he was sorCed to
take off the mask, and partly discover
himself, before he could carry matters in ss
the house. Any one, who rememberlhis
motion, will see] the force of what is here
related; and he who recollccts that Did
motion arrived but afew weeks before the
order sor seizingmess. Hancock and Adams,
which opened the present scene of war,
must perceive that he acted in the capacity ]
have assigned him. Even they who enter
tain the most indifferent opinion of the
adminiiiration were by this motion indu
ced to believe, for a time, that they
meant to give tip the matter. '
He is now playing the same game over
again. Proposuls for a reconciliationss,
cdmmisiioners, and what not, are now
held out as the motion was last year, and
for the same purposes.
The two parties now divide, each oin'
to their own proper businesi: Theffling,
and his secret cabinet, to arraying'thc
eatcst military force they can master, and
£fiiatcliiitg them to butcher us with the
utmost expedixion; lord North, and the
parliament, to amuse the natitm, and
(lisiract and divide the colonies by every
hypocriticai art in their power . 'l'hus the
two plans go hand in hand; the one
divide, the other to conquer., Was
it. not precisely so last year? [& is not so
now? All ye timid, irresolute, terrified,
and douhlc-sacedctW'higs, who have, by
one means or other, crept into authoril
open your mouths wide, and baul stout
against every vigorous measure until the
commisswners arrive. They will bring
pockets well lined with English guineai'si
patents sur places, pensions, and titles in
abundance, uillattcndthem. Yom palm:
will be first-greased. You are the only
men who can" complete the parliamentary
plans for raising an American revenue!
COMMON SENSE says, this-wintc-r is worth
an age,- rejoice that it is now past; do all
in your power to pass the spring iu inacti—
vity, and matters may yet go to you!"
minds. Lord Norlh's motion, last winter,
did much for you; the commisiionm,
equally improved, will probably crown
your wishes. I shall thank God, and
heartily rc—juice, if your influence reach
not the councils and pruccedings of the
Congress.
Dcpend on it, my countryfhcn, divide
(y- impera, is the instruction of every com
miHiuncr, and his orders will be deluyed,
that he may diticlc :md d'lsh'r-ct as much as
])osiihlc, until the forces are all arrived,
and thcv he in a condition to enforce their
plan; then they will inform you they
have received orders, by which they are
cnmmzmdcd to break offthe treaty.
'l'ou many ]mvc already lust sight oFthc
king and our real enemies, and are so fasti—
1...'.':d with the prulpccsst of cutumillioucrs