The Virginia gazette (Williamsburg [Va.]), 1772-02-13 00:00:00

VIRGINIA
GAZETTE.
With the freshest ADVICES,
FOREIGN and DOMESTICK.
IN CIVITATE LIBERA LINGUAM MENTEMQUE
LIBERAS ESSE DEBERE.
Suet. in Tib. S. 28.
Printed by ALEX. PURDIE, and JOHN DIXON, at the POST OFFICE.
To Messieurs PURDIE & DIXON, GENTLEMEN,
Your Publication of the following, which is written in Consequence of my two former Letters, will again very much oblige your humble Servant, PHOCION.
I WOULD very willingly have gratified your Scribblers with my Silence, if an imperious Gentleman, who signs himself Honestus, had not attempted to intimidate me. His Language is most offensively scurrilous, despicable as the Hand is which conveys an Insult; and no Man, who has the least Honour or Spirit, will submit to be treated with Indignity. What I have written I dare avow to be true, and defy any One to disprove it; I have not personally been concerned in any Circumstance which I related, but am as certain of the Truth of each as I can be of any to which I am not a positive Witness. A Desire of stating truly some Facts very much misrepresented, and made the Subject of malicious Censure, first drew my Pen into this Debate. In my Animadversions upon Aristides I passed by many exceptionable Passages, in Order to avoid being engaged in the general Controversy: I never intended it, and now find the Avidity of Information, and Partiality to one Side of it, so great as to be incapable of Satisfaction. A Man who writes with such assassinating Baseness as Honestus hardly deserves Notice. Upon the Subject of Captain Thomas Person, I will, however, say Something: His private Virtues have little Concern in the present Question, and I do not wish to cast a Shade upon the Honour he may receive from the favourable mention of Honestus; though, were I to attempt it, he would have no Reason to thank his Panegyrists for giving me the Occasion. With what Propriety his publick Conduct has been censured I cannot say, it not having been authoritatively impeached. I have the Charity to suppose every Man to be innocent until he is proved otherwise. As, therefore, Nothing has appeared against Captain Person but publick Rumour, perhaps ill founded, and Circumstances of Probability which amount not to legal Proof, I presume him to be irreproachable; and now, too, I declare that I think the Governor's Conduct towards this Gentleman is not defensible. It must be imputed to the Strength of his Conviction, that Captain Person was guilty of the Crimes charged against him, that hurried the Governor, I acknowledge improperly, into such a Severity of Proceeding. Those Persons very much mistake my Character who suppose that I am a Friend to arbitrary Power, either in Principle or Practice. That Man who is voluntarily a Slave himself, or wishes to enslave others, is a Disgrace to human Nature, and unworthy of Existence. The very Controversy upon this Subject affords Instances of Jealousy, not in themselves, but in the Manner, exceptionable. A Freedom of Disquisition upon a Point of great and universal Importance to this Continent cannot be discommended; I condemn only the Excesses of Heat, and the Inveteracy of Prejudice which has so much appeared.
It is an Unhappiness, in a Country like this, that we have not full Intelligence of any Circumstance of publick Concern immediately as it happens; Chance only furnishes us with the Opportunities which bring Information. No Persons from this Part of the Country having been on the Expedition, it was a long Time before we faithfully knew all the Particulars of it. As no Man is exempt from a Liableness to Error, I candidly confess, that, had I, at the Time of my writing my first Letter, known the very great Severity used to Captain Person, I would have been more reserved in my Mention of the Governor's Conduct. That Part should have given an Exception to my general Approbation of it; and however I might have wished to extenuate the Motive, and supposed that to be good, I would reprehensibly have condemned the Rigour with which he was treated, as well in its Excess as in its Principle. I cannot think (God forbid it should be) that the Laws of our Constitution permit such extra-judicial Violence: The Person of a Subject, and his Property, ought to be secured, and not violated, by the presiding Magistrate, till the Laws shall take it out of his Protection. And yet may I be permitted to mention that the Governor's Conduct towards Captain Person has been censured only as an illegal Exercise of Power, and not out of Tenderness or Pity to a Man whom few People respect in the warm Manner Honestus does. He adds to the Consequence of this Affair by introducing the Names of Lord Halifax and Mr. Wilkes, and desires to know whether I
am an Advocate for the Court Proceedings against the latter. The grand Question between Lord Halifax and Mr. Wilkes was decided agreeably to the Wishes of the whole Nation, and to the evident Principles of the Constitution. The great and upright Lord Camden gained deserved Honour by his spirited Support of the Laws against the supposed Exertion of ministerial Influence. All the other Judges, who had an Opportunity of delivering their Opinion upon this important Point, declared that general Warrants were illegal; and yet, notwithstanding this Unanimity of Sentiment with Respect to its Illegality, Lord Chief Justice Wilmot, who is equally respected for his Knowledge and Integrity, thought a long Course of Custom mitigated the Censure incurred by Lord Halifax's Conduct; and in his Charge to the Jury, upon the Trial of Mr. Wilkes's Suit against his Lordship, directed them to avoid giving excessive Damages, for that Lord Halifax had followed a constant Train of Precedents since the Revolution; he had acted in the Course of his Office, though contrary to Law; and therefore, though Mr. Wilkes was entitled to Indemnity, perhaps liberal Satisfaction for the Injuries he had received, yet the apparent Innocence of Lord Halifax's Intention ought to exempt him from malicious Rigour. I draw no Parallel between the Instances; I will only intimate that the Crimes suspected of the one were much more heinous than those the other was accused of. I have delivered my Sentiments now very fully upon a Point desired even by Honestus. I wish, though, to have it understood that it is done with an Intention of doing myself Justice, not of giving him Satisfaction. The Manner in which he writes entitles him to no Indulgence, and I cannot have any Opinion of a Man who dares to be abusive where he can be so with Impunity. Having never been acquainted with the late Robert Jones, Esquire, I cannot repel his insinuating Attack upon his Character: I am very much misinformed if it in any Manner deserved such severe Reflection, and hope to see it vindicated by some Person who knew him and can efface the Infamy of those Charges.
General Reflections are mean, and unworthy; they are always the Effect of Petulance, and ill Nature. The Lawyers, being a Body of Men with whom almost every Person in this Country is obliged to have some Concern, have been very much exposed to Obloquy; and because some, I believe a very few, Individuals, have charged extortionate Fees, it becomes a captious Ground for Censure of the Whole! This Kind of Treatment is unfair, and disingenuous. Are all the Members of any Profession unexceptionable in their Conduct? And I ask, notwithstanding any Sneer at my Presumption, are the Lawyers more deserving of Reproach than any other Set of Men, taken in general? I know many of that Profession, in this Country, who are the Objects of Esteem and Respect among all whose good Opinion is worth cultivating; not merely to those who are connected with them in their Way of Life, or any particular Ties of Attachment, but to Men in the most independent Situations. There are many who hold, and who deserve, this Influence; and those Persons are very much mistaken who suppose that the Lawyers are professionally in Disesteem with the industrious Planter, or respectable Merchant. It is not the Profession, but the particular Conduct of the Man, which these hold in Contempt; and I believe it will be found that in this Country, despicable as it seems fashionable, in Virginia, to consider it, the Number of worthy Farmers and Merchants are by no Means inconsiderable. Among these, the illiberal Abuse which the Lawyers are loaded with is considered with Indignation; and, in their Opinion, indiscriminate Reflections upon them denote a sordid and unworthy Mind. I am well assured the Charges against the Lawyers ought to be by no Means general; and for the Exculpation of those who are innocent, in future let them be confined to particular Instances. A Defence against any Charge, which may be clouded in obscure Insinuations, is attended with much Difficulty. A Defence against popular Accusation appears to particular Disadvantage. Under these Discouragements, however, I have ventured to condemn a Kind of Censure, which is not the less reprehensible for being so common. I have not been interestedly affected by any general Aspersions, but cannot bear to see so much Disingenuity triumphantly exulting. Let those who take upon them to censure well weigh the Reasons which induced them to it. I would desire them to consider that there is a Kind of Pro-
perty as sacred with some Persons as any which they so vehemently condemn the Violation of. This Kind of Property they make very free with; but, in the Eyes of Men who have those Sentiments of Honour which peculiarly characterise the Gentleman, the Theft of Reputation is not less infamous than the Theft of Chattel Property, and infinitely more vexatious.
Who steals my Purse steals Trash; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been Slave to Thousands! But he that filches from me my good Name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.
It is impossible for a Man, not universally acquainted in this Province, to speak with Certainty upon general Accusations. I cannot, however, believe the Instances of Extortion are so numerous as they have been represented. Popular Prejudice has magnified the Evil, and what perhaps might have afforded real Matter of Complaint is now mentioned to justify Rebellion. No Government upon Earth is entirely free from Malversation. Perfection is not in human Nature, and can no more be found in an aggregate Body than in a single Individual. The Happiness of Society requires, from all its Members, the strictest Attachment to the ruling Powers; and as these are the Guardians of our civil Rights, no Resistance is justifiable until they become the actual Instruments of Oppression. A good Subject will suffer many private Injuries before he renounces his Allegiance, and will not seek to excite the last Remedy, the ultimam rationem Regum , until all other Methods have failed: Then, indeed, the Laws of Nature, Reason, and Justice, authorise Resistance; but this is such a latent Right, so immediately to be justified by the Necessity, rather than dictated to by the Cause, that all Laws, even our Magna Charta, are silent upon this Subject. The Mention of it would, perhaps, have destroyed a Confidence which ought ever to subsist between the Governour and the Governed. The Kingdoms of Arragon and Castile had indeed once this Right expressly reserved in their Oath of Homage, together with a Power of dethroning their Sovereign; and yet it was found an insufficient Barrier against the Attempts of Artifice and Force. It is a Happiness, which ought to be our Boast, that this Principle of Resistance can be publickly maintained. God grant no Occasion may arise for its being publickly exerted.
Upon these Principles, then, which I have stated, and I think no Man, who is not a Favourite of Anarchy, can have any more friendly to Liberty, let the Conduct of the Regulators be examined. Admitting their Injuries to be ever so great, why were not legal Methods taken to obtain Redress? If it be said they have, let the Instances be mentioned; let it be shown that they had no Possibility of procuring Satisfaction; that the Oppressions used towards them were intolerant, and that every Kind of Redress has been solicited and refused. If these Things can be maintained, the Purposes of the Regulators, and their Friends, will be fully answered; but, until then, their Conduct must appear in a most criminal Light. To say that those from whom they could only receive Redress were predetermined against them, will be shamefully begging the Question. This, if it was so, might, and ought, only, to have been proved by the Fact; but I am well assured every Grievance, properly represented, would have been satisfactorily redressed. They had a fair Hearing before the Assembly, in December 1770; and their Grievances appeared so shadowy that some Persons, whom they had severely accused, were, by an express Vote, honourably exculpated. On the other Hand, what was the Assembly's Opinion, after a most deliberate Inquiry, of that great Mover of Sedition, Hermon Husband? The Votes at the Time of his Expulsion are still fresh in every Man's Memory, and do equal Honour to that Assembly and Dishonour to the Man they immediately expelled. It will be (for it has been) said, that the Members of this Assembly were chiefly Men who had been active in promoting Oppression, and therefore, we may well suppose, determined Enemies to a fair Inquiry. I positively deny the Fact, for it is well known that a very large Majority, at the Opening of the Session, was inclined to think favourably of the Regulators, whom they believed to be very much oppressed; and though they could not approve the Outrages which had been committed, they were willing to act as leniently as possible towards Men who might have been misguided with a good Intention. The Riot Act, which has given such Occasion for pathetic Declamation, was introduced early in the Session, and was then so disagreeable to the Sentiments of the Majority that it was ordered

to lie upon the Table, which is generally considered as a silent Way of rejecting; but when a full Hearing had been given to every Complaint, the House began to consider the proper Remedies to be applied. Other Bills having been proposed and rejected, the Riot Act was ordered to be read a second Time, and passed. It then soon met with the Approbation of both Houses. The Issue of their Inquiry convinced them of its Necessity, and it was accordingly adopted. Before I dismiss it, I will ask whether there was more Occasion for such an Act in England, at the Time it was there passed, when it ever had no temporary Clause, and is in Force at this Day, or in Pennsylvania, where such a One passed in the very same Month with ours, than in North Carolina, when a Spirit of Sedition had appeared in a great Part of the Province that threatened Confusion to the Whole, and could not be equalled by the Laws in Being. In England, the Fears of an Attempt from the Pretender were thought a sufficient Motive for such an Act, among a People rich, populous, haughty, and jealous of Liberty to an Extreme. In Pennsylvania, I suppose such Causes as we had urged them to pass it; and I presume it will not be pretended that the People in general, or the Assembly in Particular, in that Province, are less attached to Liberty than in any Part of America. The only Difference I can find between their Act and ours is in the Time of their Existence, that for Pennsylvania only being enacted for one Month, ours for twelve; but the Difference between the two Countries accounts for this, one being compact and well settled, the other very desultory in Extent, and its Inhabitants very scattered.
I have been drawn into greater Length than I intended. I was carried away by an Impetus, which I could not resist. No other Motive than a Love of Truth has influenced me, for no Man can speak more disinterestedly upon this Subject than myself. I think I have as much publick Spirit as HONESTUS, or any such fiery Declaimers; and though he may have Reasons to wish that my Informations may be suppressed, I cannot believe they will be generally disagreeable to the People of your Province. I presume they have not taken a Side, and are ready to hear every Thing on the Subject with unprejudiced Attention. I honour a candid Spirit of Inquiry, as much as I detest abusive Language and Insinuations.
EDENTON, North Carolina, } PHOCION. January 13, 1772.
From the LONDON CHRONICLE.
SIR, To the PRINTER. Letters written merely for publick Inspection have much the Air of Party, however moderate. I send you one to a Foreigner of Distinction, occasioned by his desiring from me an Account of the present Disturbances, my Opinion on the Merits of Junius, and the Character of the King. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, A NORTH BRITON.
A Monsieur ***** My Dear SIR,
IF I thought you had any other Correspondent here, I should decline answering your Queries, for I hate Controversy, which has ever the Consequence of jarring Opinions on political Subjects; but as I am possessed that I am single in that Honour, or, if not, that you would not betray the Sentiments of a Friend, I shall write with Freedom.
To understand the Politicks of this Nation requires some Knowledge of the Characteristicks of its Inhabitants. Though you are an universal Historian, you must be deficient in this Point. This Country has, within a few Years, put on a new Face. The Metropolis is become now the annual Residence of the whole Island; that old English Hospitality and Simplicity, which emulated Arcadia, is gone. God and Mammon cannot be served. The reigning Passions are Equipage, Dress, and Dissipation; and their Concomitants, Lust, Vanity, and Extravagance. In a Word, though a Sea roars between, they have caught the Itch from you, not from my Countrymen.
This Attempt to be witty has, I am sure, no Sting for you, or I should have suppressed it.
The Consequence of this Luxury and Flux to the Metropolis is every Kind of Vice and Madness which the Ambition or Weakness of Mankind is capable of producing, a Revolt against both publick and private Decency, as Party or Wantonness provokes. The first has much Latitude from the Nature of British Government, the second from the Stile our Females in particular have imported from France. As you need not be informed of the last, give me Leave to dwell upon the first.
Our Jealousy of Liberty has naturally led us to curtail the Prerogatives of our Princes; even the great Offices of State, which formerly existed in Individuals, are now subdivided into Commissioners, such as the Lords of Treasury, Admiralty, &c. Nothing is left to the Sovereign but the Choice of these great Officers, the Disposal of his Revenue, and the other inferior Departments of Government. These, and the hereditary Honours, are the Magnets of contending Parties; and as Parliament is with us the primum, nay the unicun Mobile of the State, it is the Scene of War: A Majority there determines who is to rule; and those who prevail have, in Consequence, the Loaves and Fishes, by distributing which they endeavour to preserve it. The disappointed Party snarl on, till in Time they retrieve the Sop. But the King and the Multitude always play the losing Game:
The first innocently, as that Majority, by which alone the Supplies can be raised, must determine him in the Choice of his Ministers; the last deservedly, for their corrupt Election of those Men that form that Majority. The English affect to be fond of Liberty, but they would make Bricks without Straw.
When a Party survives beyond the usual Epocha, the Rage redoubles: The discontented, like losing Gamblers, swear the Dice are loaded; the Cards are false, and there is a murderous Outcry against them in all our Newspapers. The present Administration have a formidable Enemy, of this Sort, in that Junius you inquire of. He is a Master of Composition, where he is not cramped with Logick, Facts, or Argument, which he scrupulously avoids, either as considering them destructive of the Beauties of Rhetorick, or as perfectly unnecessary in Compositions addressed to the Multitude, where Nothing is wanting but such bold Attacks upon Authority as to cause Prosecution, if publick, Inquisition, if behind the Curtain. These being the Nectar of our Politicians, he bears away the Bell, not only from his great literary Merit, but from a nearer Approach to Treason than any of his Competitors.
You must excuse my entering into a Detail of State Affairs, such as Infringements, Grievances, Remonstrances, and Apprehensions; for, in brief, they are the Result of private Ambition, and publick Wantonness, more than national Danger. We are perfectly apoplectick; the Capital gorged with what should be diffused through the whole Island, all Kinds of People forgetting their proper Stations in the natural Order of Society, running into Luxuries which corrupt Virtue, and causes that Dependence which paves the Way for every Species of Corruption, and which seems to forbode a speedy Approach of that Decline which all human Societies have in the Course of Nature felt, from similar Causes. Death is a Debt which Nations, as well as Men, must pay to the great Destroyer, Time.
As to the King, his Situation is not so irksome as from the Writings of Junius you may have conceived it. He finds Happiness wherein it is alone to be enjoyed, in domestick Life. His Queen and Children are dear to him; his Amusements are ingenious and innocent; and he seems, I think, to have a very lucky Contempt and Indifference for those Aspersions which his own Feelings acquit him of deserving, and which Reason convinces him is not the Voice of his People, but the Breath of Faction. He is represented at the same Time as despotick and inactive, as strange a Combination as Junius and the Bible.
The last, if it is his (which I know not) is a safe Fault in a King of England, both for himself and us. I have no great Favour for Royal Activity, which is ever attended with selfish and ambitious Projects, incompatible with the Interests of the Subject.
As to his Abilities, I must confess I hold them to be very considerable: He speak the modern foreign Languages well; his own, on publick Occasions, with peculiar Dignity and Propriet. The interior Economy of his Army he is not only attentive to, but thoroughly understands. He has a Taste for the Arts, particularly Mathematicks and Mechanicks; and, by his Encouragement of Genius in general, shows a Mind formed for the Pleasure of Science. I am ignorant as to what People expect from Kings, but surely these would gain a private Gentleman the Character of being sensible and accomplished.
Private Virtues even Junius does not deny him; he brands him only with delighting in the Vices of others: A singular Charge, when not supported with alleging the same Delight or Practice in himself. But, as I told you before, English Mobs are not Logicians; and, to Admirers of Language, it is an irresistible Period.
This is not Panegyrick, but what is due to injured Majesty, and slandered Worth. You know I have no Favour from Government; and Nobody here, when I sign myself a North Briton which I am proud of doing) will think I deserve any, or believe I write from any other Motive; but you now me to be above Falsehood, however gilt with Iretic.
You might wonder how a young Man of two and twenty, and an Officer, should pick up so much Politicks, if I did not inform you that, without being deaf, it is impossible not to know ten Times more than I have communicated; but you might frequent Coffee-houses a long Time without hearing so much moderate Truth, for I am of no Part, and write only the Dictates of, you know, very superficial, but honest Thinking. Time, I hope, will mend the first, and never destroy the latter; but whatever it does, it shall never alter my Affection for you.
London, August 20. I am, &c.
A N E C D O T E.
A FRENCH Bishop, wb, being a Man of Quality (as most Bishops are in France) thought it beneath his Dignity to address his flock in the usual Style, but began his Sermon thus: "Canaille Chretiens, ecoutes la parole de Dieu." "Ye Christian Scoundrels, listen to the Word of God." But what was the Consequence? The whole Congregation went immediately out of Church, and left the prod Bishop to preach by himself.
The Merchants and Traders of England have lately been used in just the same complaisant Style by some of their Lay Primates; but let them call them Scoundrels and Beggars as much as they please, it is in their own Power not to be Slaves.
WARSAW, October 19.
ACCORDING to the Letter which Field Marshal Count de Romanow lately wrote to M. Saldern, the Russian Ambassador at this Court, a certain Prince Emanuel, whom the Turks have elected Prince of Walachia, was present in the Action of the first of September, when Lieutenant Colonel Fabricius defeated at Rymnick, near Olt, a Body of three Thousand Turks. This Prince commanded in Person the Corps of which six Hundred Men were killed on the Spot; and forty, among whom were two Agas, were made Prisoners. The Russians took two Staffs, two Standards, the Prince's Turban, with the Ensigns of his Dignity, his Equipages, and all the Baggage of the principal Officers and Bajards of Walachia. The Russians have also burnt a large Magazine which the Turks had at Rymnick. This Action cost the Russians only twenty three killed, and sixty six wounded.
LECHORN, October 23. A Vessel arrived here from Port Mahon brings an Account that four Danish Men of War were seen off Algiers, which City was threatened with a fresh Bombardment; in Consequence of which the Bey had fortified all the Coast, and erected several new Batteries, mounted with six Hundred and seventy Pieces of Cannon and fifty Mortars. At Algiers there are ten Thousand Men ready to take up Arms; the Viceroy of Constantia has Orders to raise twenty Thousand more, and the Viceroy of Titteria was likewise ordered to keep ten Thousand Men in Readiness, besides a large Body of Moors who were posted along the Coast to prevent the Enemy's landing. The Emperor of Morocco has sent three Ambassadors to Algiers, whose Business is a Secret. From all these Circumstances, it appears that the present Ruler of Algiers is preparing every Thing, with the greatest Prudence, to put his City in a State of making the most obstinate Defence, and seems determined not to agree to any Conditions of Peace whatever.
DANTZICK, October 28. The Tumult among the Populace at Moscow (lately mentioned) was not suppressed till the eight Thousand Men sent against the Mob made use of their Artillery, and killed about four Hundred of them. Notwithstanding this Loss, the Rioters demanded that their Associates who were taken Prisoners should be set at liberty, but the Commander of the Troops told them they should all be hanged. Marshal Selikow left Moscow two Days after the above Event, when every Thing was very quiet.
HAGUE, November 5. Some Letters have been received here which assert that a very considerable Body of Prussian Troops has entered Polish Prussia; and as the King of Prussia has been some Time buying up great Quantities of Corn secretly, it is to be feared that the Troubles in Poland will rather increase than diminish, and that his Prussian Majesty has a mind to seize upon the above mentioned Province.
VENICE, October 19. Five Saiques, laden with Provisions for Constantinople, have been taken by two Russian Men of War off the Island of Cyprus.
GENOA, October 19. They write from Lisbon that a large Portuguese Man of War lately arrived in the Tagus with an Algerine Corsair of sixteen Guns, which she took after an Engagement of six Hours.
LONDON, November 11.
LAST Thursday a very great Personage, in Council, after expressing the most tender Concern for the Duke of Gloucester, thought proper to take Notice that the late Act of the Duke of Cumberland would cause an eternal Separation between himself and the Duke; and Tears being seen to gush, a Motion was immediately made to adjourn the Council, but the great Personage, resuming his wonted Firmness, told the Council that no private Concerns respecting himself should ever retard the publick Business of the Kingdom, and ordered them to proceed.
No less than four Duchesses, ten Countesses, and thirteen Baronesses, besides innumerable Lady Beggars and Lady Babs, &c. now keep their Beds on Account of a late matrimonial Preterment in Hertford Street.
Certain Advice is received that the French King has raised, within these few Months past, twenty Millions of Livres, at ten per Centum.
They advise from the Hague that a Stop is put to the Loan of two Millions of Pounds, lately negotiating there for the Use of the Empress of Russia.
Extract of a Letter from Portsmouth, November 10. "We are very busy in our Dockyard getting our Fleet here on a very respectable Footing against the Spring, but with what Views Time only can discover."
"The Works round the Lockyard go on with Vigour, several of the Invalids in this Garrison being employed with the thirty third Regiment thereon. We are, we hear, to have several Regiments on this Work next Summer."
An Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman at Port Royal, in Jamaica, says: "Since the Arrival of the English Squadron under Admiral Rodney, our Uneasiness, from the Spaniards hovering about us, is partly removed, yet our Situation is extremely critical. We expect to have four more Men of War from some of your Ports to reinforce our Squadron very soon, the Spanish Navy in their Part of the World greatly exceeding ours. The French at Martinico, we hear, have given their Freedom to, and baptized, upwards of five Hundred Slaves, whom they are reaching the Use of Arms with the greatest Minutenees, and are forming them, with the white People, into a Kind of Militia, for the better Defence of the Island against any Assaults. The Dominicans have established very valuable Connections with the English American Colonies, with whom they carry on a very great Trade for Sugar, Rum, Cocoa, &c. for which they receive Iron, Salt-petre, Tobacco, and Coopers Stores in Lieu, very little Cash circulating. I have no other News to tell you than that we have a Report here that the Spaniards intend having a Squadron of thirty Men of War at the Havannah and Hispaniola early in the Spring."
A Correspondent observes, that we should have had no new Dispute with Spain if the old One had been properly adjusted.
November 12. A Report prevails that the King of Denmark has given Orders for the Island of St. Croix, in the West Indies, to be made a free Port.
Extract of a Letter from Acra, in Syria, dated July 16.
"The Cairo Army, commanded by Abu Dahil, having defeated the four Turkish Basnas, entered the City of Damascus; but, to the Astonishment of every Body, abandoned the Place in three Days, and returned towards Egypt. It appears, since that Time, that three Officers of Distinction, who had been returning from a Pilgrimage to Mecca, and had private Instructions from the Grand Signior, prevailed on Abu Dahil to betray the Interest of his Master, Ali Bey, upon a Promise of the Government of Egypt as soon as Peace should be concluded with the Russians. Ali Bey, when he was informed of his General's Treachery, raised another Army of eighty Thousand Men, which he has divided in two Parts, one of which is sent to oppose the Rebel General and recover Damascus, and the other is now on its March towards Aleppo, to reduce that City and the northern Parts of Syria."
Advices are said to be received from the Hague which mention the Discovery of a Conspiracy to cut off six very eminent Burghers, for voting the Reversion of certain Duties in the Senate in Favour of a neighbouring Prince.
By a Gentleman just arrived in Town from the Hague, we are informed that the States General had just issued out an Edict directing the Precautions that are to be taken to prevent the Plague from being communicated into any Parts of the United Provinces.
Extract of a Letter from Cambridge, November 9.
"Last Night we had a new Exhibition: One Braslau, who shows Sight of Hand, came here, and in his Performances, he gave a Piece of Paper to three Ladies to read, the only three in the Room. As soon as they had looked at it, they rose; and, without speaking, left the Place. The Gentlemen of the University, immediately guessing that there must be something very gross in what was giving for them to read, in Revenge of the Insult tossed the Conjuror in a Blanket."
Sunday, in the Evening, as a Gentleman and Lady were riding through Hyde Park, in a single Horse Chaise, they were stopped by an elderly Man on Horseback, who demanded two Guineas, which being given him he politely thanked them and bid them good Night, and rode very slowly towards Piccadilly.
Yesterday three Jews, who were lately taken at Birmingham, and brought to Town on Friday last, and confined in New Prison, Clerkenwell, were re-examined before Sir John Fielding; when Mrs. Hutchins, of Chelsea, and her two Maid Servants, swore positively to their Persons, and likewise to three others of the same Gang; and it is to be hoped they will be brought to condign Punishment, as Schemes of a desperate Nature were forming among them.
November 13. A Morning Paper says, in a Letter from Amsterdam, dated November 5th, is the following Paragraph: "We have just now a Courier with the News of the Death of the King of Prussia."
A Person that came over in the Vessel with the Servant that brought the agreeable News of his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester's Recovery gives the following Account: His Royal Highness, the Night before he left Genoa, was at a Ball, and after dancing several Hours he went into an open Boat to go on Board the Venus Friar at that lay three Leagues out at Sea, in Order to proceed to Leghorn, by which he got Cold, and was seized with a bloody Flux, which continued with great Violence for nine Days; two Italian Physicians, who were called to assist, prescribed a Pill, or Bolus, which had the desired Effect, and, as is supposed, broke a Boil

that had been contracted in his Royal Highness's Stomach, and had been the sole Cause of his late Indisposition.
A great Personage, in Conversation with one of his Attendants upon the Illness of his Brother, observed, that he was in some Respect rejoiced at it, as it showed how much he was beloved by the Nation in general.
The Duke of Cumberland was not married in England; but a strict Search is now making into all the Circumstances, by Authority, so that the Publick are desired to suspend their Belief of this Event till Something more certain than these childish Fictions makes its Appearance.
Proposals of a very beneficial Nature are said to have been made to a certain great Personage, on Condition he never returns without Leave to England.
It is an old Proverb that a Man cannot expect to live and thrive in one Year: The Duke of Cumberland has however proved an Exception to this, as he won at Newmarket above five Thousand Pounds in the Course of last Races.
On the Information of one of the Jews taken up on the Affair of Mrs. Hutchins, a Gang of no less than four Men and five Women were taken on Monday Morning, about six o'Clock, out of a House near Shoreditch Church, and committed for further Examination, on various Charges of House-breaking, &c.
One of the Jews who was on Monday committed to Newgate for the Robbery and Murder at Mrs. Hutchins's, at Chelsea, transacted Business on the Royal Exchange, and keeps his Chariot.
A Correspondent informs us there is at this Time a Law, which is still kept in Force in Holland, that if any one of the Subjects of the Republick are robbed or defrauded by a Jew, the Person aggrieved applies to a Magistrate, and makes Oath of the Loss; upon which the Magistrate applies to the Elders of the Synagogue, and if the Value the Party has been robbed or defrauded of is not paid, or the Defaulted delivered up to Justice, before the Sun sets, the Synagogue is shut up.
Yesterday died in St. George's Hospital the Person who fell from his Horse on Thursday last, as he was going Express to Lady Waldegrave with the Account of the Duke of Gloucester's being better, and fractured his Skull.
Yesterday an over-driven Ox turned upon the Drovers in Islington new Road, one of whom he tossed and killed on the Spot.
November 14. Yesterday there was a great Levee at St. James's, and afterwards a Privy Council. The new Resident from the Republick of Venice was presented to his Majesty, and delivered his Credentials; and the late Resident, M. O. Imbertini, took Leave.
Yesterday Sir Ralph Payne, appointed Governor of the Leeward Caribbee Islands, took Leave of his Majesty; and this Day he will set out for Portsmouth, to embark for his Government on Board his Majesty's Ship Portland.
Yesterday Lord George Germain gave a grand Entertainment to several of the Nobility, at his House in Pall Mall.
It is asserted, at the west End of the Town, that some Advices were lately received at St. James's from the King of Prussia, importing that his warlike Preparations are not intended to disturb, but to maintain and preserve, the Peace of Europe, by quelling the Insolence of certain restless Powers.
There are Advices in Town which mention, that the Spanish Governor of Cartago, on the Musquito Shore, had been found tampering lately with the Indians against the English; Advice of which had been sent to the Governor of Jamaica, and that in Consequence thereof a Man of War of sixty Guns is ordered to be stationed on that Coast.
The Merchants trading to Portugal are to have a Meeting very shortly, to consider upon some Measures, recommended to be adopted, to relieve themselves from the Oppressions of the Revenue Officers at Lisbon, and other Grievances, which tend greatly to interrupt the Commerce between the two Nations.
Letters from France inform us that by an Estimate of the Number of Officers, and Members of Parliament, exiled from the different Parliaments of that Kingdom, they do not amount to less than seven Hundred.
The Lord Mayor hath issued his Orders to the Marshals to apprehend and bring before his Lordship all Vagrants and Beggars who shall be found in the Streets, as they have become a capital Nuisance to the Inhabitants of this City. His Lordship hath likewise resolved to prevent, as far as possible, tipping in publick Houses during divine Service on a Sunday.
An officious Messenger belonging to the Commissioners of Lieutenancy took upon him, without Leave, to place two Grenadiers on each Side the State Coach on Saturday last, which caused the Lord Mayor to be hissed. Mr. Gates, the City Marshal, perceiving the Reason, immediately ordered them away, which caused a general Huzza.
All the Jews now in Prison respecting the Robbery at Mrs. Hutchins's, at Chelsea, were shaved before they were sworn to by Mrs. Hutchins; notwithstanding which, the Fright had stamped such an Impression in her Mind that she knew them immediately, though they were much altered, from the material Circumstance above related.
It is said that the Jew who discovered the above desperate Gang, as soon as he had revealed the Secret, and eased his Conscience, was entirely divested of the Pains he before complained of, and is now in perfect Health.
It is now a known Fact that fifty Jews were invited, and were actually on their Passage, from Holland, to enter into Partnership with the desperate Ruffians who robbed Mrs. Hutchins; but, since a Stop has been put to their Designs, we hear that they have prudently chose to continue where they are.
Yesterday a Person was taken up, at a Publickhouse near Temple Bar, on a Charge of being concerned in the Robbery and Murder committed at the House of Mrs. Hutchins at Chelsea; but, on his Examination before Sir John Fielding, it appeared that the Charge was wrong, and he was honourably acquitted.
LIVERPOOL, November 8. We have much Pleasure in communicating the following Extract of a Letter from the Right Honourable the Earl of Rochford, to Bamber Gascoyne, Esquire, in Answer to an Application in Favour of the People of the Lark, of this Port, shipwrecked on the Coast of Barbary, and now Captives in that Country, dated October 30th, 1771, as it is a farther Confirmation of that Benevolence and Goodness of Heart which the King is so ready to show on all Occasions.
"Your last Letter makes me particularly happy, as it gives me an Opportunity of being of Service to some of my poor unfortunate Countrymen. You may inform their Relations that the King's Consul, Mr. Sampson, is doing all he can to intercede for them, and that by the very next Post I intend writing to him on that Subject; and you may depend on my conveying to him, in the strongest Manner, the King's Commands to make the most effectual Application for their Relief. The King has the Happiness of the lowest of his Subjects too near at Heart not to feel, with the greatest Concern, their Sufferings; and I flatter myself you will do me the Justice to believe that I have a sincere Pleasure in obeying his Royal Commands, which Humanity will always lead him to dictate."
WILLIAMSBURG, February 13.
The SPEECH of his Excellency the Right Honourable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, his Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice Admiral of the same, to the General Assembly convened at the Capitol on Monday the 10th Instant.
Gentlemen of the COUNCIL, Mr. SPEAKER, and Gentlemen of the House of BURGESSES,
I AM happy that the Circumstances of the Colony, corresponding with my own Desires, give me an Opportunity, so soon after my Entrance upon this Government, of procuring your Advice and Assistance to enable me to execute the high and arduous Trust which is reposed in me, in a Manner that may prove satisfactory to our gracious Sovereign, by being beneficial to his faithful Subjects of this ancient Dominion.
It is my ardent Wish, and shall be my constant Endeavour, that my Administration may be marked by useful Services to the Colony. To this End, if any Improvements can be introduced, upon wise and practicable Principles, you may depend on my zealous Co-operation; if proper Means can be fallen upon to direct the Skill, and invigorate the Industry of the People, in making the best Use of the natural Advantages of this Country, to which Providence has been so eminently bountiful; to regulate and encourage Agriculture, the Object of greatest Concern to every Country, which cannot fail to extend your Commerce, open new Sources of Wealth, and add fresh Motives, of mutual Benefit, still to increase the Dependence of this important Colony and the Parent Country on each other, it will be extremely agreeable to me to labour towards accomplishing such desirable Purposes.
Mr. SPEAKER, and Gentlemen of the House of BURGESSES, I have Nothing in particular to ask of you at this Time. The Zeal for the publick Good which I am persuaded will actuate all the Proceedings of the House of Burgess renders superfluous any Exortations of mine to excite you to avoid unnecessary Delays, and thereby an Increase of Expenses to your Constituents.
Gentlemen of the COUNCIL, Mr. SPEAKER, and Gentlemen of the House of BURGESSES,
I have only to add, that you shall find me ready to concur with you in whatever is for the Interest and Advantage of your Country, fully confiding in the known Wisdom and Loyalty of this distinguished Assembly
that Nothing will be offered me incompatible with my Duty to assent to; and, on all Occasions, I shall be forward to promote the Welfare of the People of Virginia.
The ADDRESS of his Majesty's COUNCIL to the GOVERNOUR.
MY LORD, WE his Majesty's faithful and loyal Subjects, the Council of Virginia, now met in General Assembly, beg Leave to return your Excellency our sincere Thanks for your kind Speech at the Opening of this Session, and to congratulate you on your safe Arrival to the Government of this ancient Dominion.
The early Attention your Excellency has shown to the Welfare of this Colony, and the earnest Inclination you have expressed to promote its Prosperity, give us a sure Presage of the Happiness we may expect to enjoy under your Excellency's prudent Administration.
The great Object of our warmest Wisheshath ever been to enrich our Country, by giving Encouragement to new Improvements, and quickening thereby the Industry of the People to make Use of those Advantages which Providence hath so bountifully bestowed on us, and to enable us to preserve that mutual Relation which ought always to subsist between the Parent Country and its Colonies.
We have only to assure your Excellency our Readiness to concur with the other Branch of the Legislature, in forming such Laws as we shall judge to be for the Interest and Benefit of our Country, and the Honour of the Crown, and not incompatible with your Excellency's Duty to assent to.
His EXCELLENCY's Answer:
GENTLEMEN, I AM extremely obliged to you for your Address. I conceive the fairest Hopes of my Administration from the Assistance of a Council whose Zeal for the Honour of the Crown can only be equalled by, what is altogether as agreeable to our most just Sovereign, your warm Attachment to the Interest of your Country.
The ADDRESS of the Honourable HOUSE of BURGESSES to the GOVERNOUR.
MY LORD, WE his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Burgesses of Virginia, now met in General Assembly, beg Leave to return your Excellency our sincere Thanks for your very kind and obliging Speech at the Opening of this Session.
The Appointment of a Ruler of your Lordship's eminent and exalted Station to preside over this his Majesty's ancient Dominion we cannot but esteem a repeated Instance of the favourable Attention of our most gracious Sovereign to his faithful Subjects of Virginia; and therefore take the earliest Opportunity of congratulating your Excellency on an Event from which, we flatter ourselves, much Honour, and many signal Advantages, will be derived to this Colony.
We receive, my Lord, with the utmost Satisfaction, those earnest Declarations you are pleased to make of your warm Attachment to the true Interest and Prosperity of our Country, and beg your Lordship will be assured that we shall be ready, on all Occasions, most cheerfully to do every Thing in our Power, consistent with the Duty we owe our Constituents, to make your Administration easy and agreeable to you.
We will, my Lord, immediately proceed to the important Business of the Country, on which we are now assembled, and give it all the Despatch which the Variety of Affairs that may come under our Consideration will admit of.
His EXCELLENCY's Answer:
GENTLEMEN, I AM obliged to you for this Address, and for your Congratulations on the high Honour which his Majesty has conferred upon me. I have ever considered the true Interest of Government, and of the People, to be inseparable. I make this Principle the Rule of my Conduct; therefore, I flatter myself that you will never have Cause to refuse me the Support which you are now pleased to promise me.
By the Ruby, Rusden, in eleven Weeks from London, there is Advice that the Latham, Waterman (mentioned some Time ago to have been ashore on the Swin) is entirely lost, with her Cargo; the Crew saved.— Captain Woodford, it was expected, would sail in about ten Days after Captain Rusden.—The Liberty, Outram, and Pitt, Chishman, were arrived.
A Friend of Mr. Isaac Read finding a Report is now circulating in Williamsburg to the Disadvantage of that Gentleman's Character, unknown to him, arising from what was said, in his Absence, in the last General Court, in a Suit between the Executors of Clement Read, deceased, and William Taylor, begs Leave to assure the Publick that Mr. Read is possessed of such Documents as, in the Opinion of impartial Judges, will fully justify his Reputation at the next Court, when he will face his Accuser. In the mean Time, it is hoped the candid Publick will suspend their Judgments until the Event of that Trial, and not receive Impressions to his Prejudice till he is heard, on a Point the most interesting to every honest Mind.
To J. H.
THE two last Letters I had the Honour of writing to you contained a few Strictures upon some of your scriptural Observations. In them I endeavoured to do Justice to your Talents for Criticism. You will now give me Leave to attend you into another Field. What wise Remarks have you made upon the Union of Religion and civil Government! "All civil Government was instituted for the Punishment of evil Doers." Really! how, by what good Fortune, did you fall upon this wonderful Discovery? Mr. Henley boast of his Abilities? After such a Display of inventive Genius, he will be very cautious how he enters into a Dispute with you. "Our Saviour (you inform us) made no Alteration in civil Affairs, but left them as he found them." I suppose you mean (for otherwise I cannot discover the Intend of this Remark) that he had no Design to make any such Alteration. You will pardon me if I tell you it was once my Misfortune to be of a different Opinion. I will give you my Reasons. The Worship of Idols, Sacrifices, Auguries, certainly entered into, and was considered as a Part of, the civil Policy of ancient Rome. Temples dedicated to Victory, the Genius of the City, and even to Fear, were under the peculiar Care of the Senate. The Office of Pontifex Maximus was always annexed to the Title of Emperor. The co-terms, Clergy and Laity, were then unknown. The Priesthood was a mere State Office. Surely Christianity had a Tendency to produce some Kind of Change in these Matters. I am, however, it seems, mistaken. "Our Saviour made no Alteration in civil Affairs, but left them as he found them." A Part of civil Policy of Mahometan Countries is a Plurality of Wives. Was Christianity ever to prevail there, I suppose this Custom would be abolished; but that would be very contrary to the Intention of our Saviour, who left every Thing of this Sort as he found it. What shall we say of the civil Policy of the Hottentots, who expose their Parents, when past Labour, to the Mercy of wild Beasts; or of that of the Chinese, who expose their Children? These Fashions are to be left as they are found. I return you thanks for your new Method of propagating our Religion. Had the Apostles been acquainted with this Secret! But such an amazing Discovery was reserved for you alone.
I have perused the Verses you refer to, from the 12th of the 1st of Corinthians, but do not find a single Word about Government. In another Man, an Attempt to impose would be ranked among the blackest Crimes; but Churchmen are too wise to suffer themselves to be shackled by the Ties of a vulgar Morality: The Means are sanctified by the End. Besides, you have, to keep you in Countenance, the Example of three Parts of the Bishops of the fourth and fifth Centuries.
The Original of the Passage of the 1st of Thessalonians, Chapter 5th, signifies Nothing more than standing before, or at, the Head, and consequently being exposed to more Danger; and is therefore, with great Propriety, united to the Idea of Labour. But this is a Secret with which the Laity have no Occasion to be made acquainted.
You say "the miraculous Powers, Gifts, and Graces, afforded to the Church, in the Time of the Apostles, superceded the Use of many Things which their being withdrawn makes necessary now-a-Days." To avail yourself of this Observation, you should prove that the Apostles constantly applied these Powers, Gifts, and Graces, to the Purpose of procuring a Maintenance. When you have done, I may trouble you to be informed of the Nature of their miraculous Provision. St. Paul says, "they who preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel." Well; but what is meant by preaching the Gospel? Going from Place to Place to propagate Christianity; and certainly no Body can find Time, in such Circumstances, to labour for his Support. But yet this very St. Paul, as soon as he was settled, though for a short Period, worked with his own Hands. You will greatly oblige me by acquainting me with the extraordinary Superiority of our modern Clergy over that Apostle. They are, doubtless, under many Obligations to you. Still, however, I think it will be no easy Task, even for a Man of your Penetration, to prove their Claim to a legal Establishment from the New Testament. They must, I fear, content themselves with showing their Gratitude to those civil Powers, from whom alone they derive all their Emoluments. But then the House of Burgess may take
it into their Heads to make some new Tobacco Laws . This is certainly a terrible Consequence, although I cannot discover any Way to avoid it. Oh! curse your LOCKERS, HOADLIES, BLACKBURNES, MONTESQUIEUS, and D'ATILBERTES. It was you who taught the Laity to break out of the Road wherein they had, with such Labour, been broken to pace, with an Ease that seemed quite natural. Oh! profane Reason, what Mischiefs has thou done! Not content with hindering the sacred Order from offering the acceptable Sacrifice of a Convict Heretick, thou has taught the very Populace to despise their Vengeance, to contemn their Threatening, and laugh at their Anathemas. Where will all this End? Oh! happy, thrice happy Days of the 12th and 13th Centuries! when, when shall we see them repeated? I am, your obedient Servant,
CRITICUS.
•• I have some Thoughts of troubling you once more.
Advertisements.
NORTHUMBERLAND, February 7, 1772.
SOME of the Creditors of Mr. John Smith, late of Northumberland, being of Opinion that sufficient Notice was not given of the Sale of his mortgaged Slaves, on the 20th of last Month, and in Order to obviate this Objection, and satisfy every Person concerned, the aforesaid Sale is set aside, but the same Slaves will be exposed at publick Auction again, and proper Notice given of the Time and Place in this Gazette. JOHN SMITH.
NORFOLK, February 13, 1772.
AS I intend for England in a short Time, for the Recovery of my Health, and being desirous, before my Departure, to have my Affairs settled, I hereby desire all Persons to whom I am indebted to apply for Payment, and those who have Accounts on my Books to settle them, by Bond or otherwise, between this and the first of April next. GEORGE JACKSON.
•• In my Absence, Matthew Jackson, and William Jaques, will carry on the Business; who, I make no Doubt, will study to give Satisfaction to the Customers, as well as to all who may please to favour me with their Commands.
PETERSBURG, February 12, 1772.
I INTEND to leave the COLONY soon. THOMAS HOGG.
For SALE,
AN exceeding valuable Tract of old patented LAND, containing twelve Hundred and eighty Acres (though we are of Opinion there are two Thousand Acres within the Bounds) agreeably situated on Cuffy River, where the Bridge crosses, in Bertie County, North Carolina, with a Plantation cleared on the said Land, whereon stands the Courthouse, Prison, and a commodious large new Ordinary, with other convenient Houses belonging thereto; also, at a convenient Distance from the Ordinary and Courthouse, stands a new private Dwellinghouse, with necessary Outhouses, and a new Apple and Peach Orchard on the Premises. The above is, without Exception, as pleasantly situated as any in the County, and the best adapted for Trade, being at the Head of Cuffy River, and in the Centre of the County, two Miles above the Town of Windsor, and about twenty three Miles from Edenton. Exclusive of the high Land, which is very good, lie large Quantities of fine Land for Rice, on the River. On the said Land is erected, within sixty Yards of the Courthouse and Ordinary, and in View of the Dwellinghouse, a Saw Mill, which goes with two Saws, and a Grindmill. The Stream is exceeding good, and would admit of any Number of Stores, with an inexhaustible Fund of Timber on the Land, Oak, Pine, Cypress, &c. We doubt not but the Purchasers will be satisfied, in a short Time, of the many Advantages the Place commands: Good Land for Cropping, Mills, publick and private Houses, &c. and is a very good Range for Hogs and Cattle. The Premises may be entered on immediately. 4 LILLINGTON & JAMES LOCKHART.
For SALE,
TWO Thousand two Hundred Acres of LAND, on Mattaponi River, seven Miles from Aylett's Warehouse, on which is a large new Dwellinghouse, with convenient Outhouses, a good Garden, Orchards, &c. For Terms apply to NATHANIEL BURWELL.
STRAYED, on the 1st of October last, from
Thomas Parker's, in Northampton County, North Carolina, a light sorrel HORSE four Years old, four Feet eight Inches high, with a hanging Mane and Switch Tail, a Star on his Forehead, not branded. Whoever conveys the said Horse to Mr. Richard Kello, in Southampton, shall have FORTY SHILLINGS; to Mr. Benjamin Crooker, in Suffolk, FIFTY SHILLINGS; or to me, in Norfolk, THREE POUNDS Reward. WILLIAM CURLE.
STOLEN from the Falls Plantation, on the
17th of January, a sorrel HORSE about four Feet ten Inches high, with a Switch Tail and hanging Mane, paces slow, but no Brand that can be remembered. He has been used to Work, and is rubbed with the Harness. Whoever will give such Intelligence that I may get him again shall have TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward. DAVID PATTESON.
STOLEN out of my Pasture, on the 15th
of January, a dark roan HORSE about four Feet seven Inches high, ten Years old, with a hanging Mane and Switch Tail, his Face and hind Legs white, is a natural Pacer, and goes very well; not branded that I remember. Whoever conveys the said Horse to me, at Stewart's Shop, shall have TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward. JOHN ATKINSON.
COMMITTED to Lunenburg Jail, a
Negro Man named BILLY, whom the Owner may have on paying Charges. JOSEPH SMITH.
TAKEN up, in Charlotte, a bright bay
MARE about four Years old, four Feet six Inches high, branded on the near Shoulder with a large Blotch, and on the Buttock, with a small Star in her Forehead, both Shoulders have been rubbed with Geers, and had on a Bell, tied with a small Leather Strap. Posted, and appraised to seven Pounds. EDMUND BREWER.
TAKEN up, in Charlotte, a small black HORSE with a small Snip
in his Nose, and branded on the near Shoulder and Buttock. Posted, and appraised to thirty Shillings. THOMAS CARTER.
WILLIAMSBURG, February 6, 1772.
I BEG Leave to acquaint my former Customers, and the Publick in general, that I have just opened Tavern opposite to the Raleigh, at the Sign of The King's Arms, being the House lately occupied by Mr. John Carter, and shall be much obliged to the Gentlemen who favour me with their Company. JANE VOBE.
•• I am in Want of a good COOK, and would be glad to hire or purchase one.
NANSEMOND, January 25, 1772.
WANTED, on Charter for Port Glasgow, a VESSEL of about three Hundred and fifty Hogheads Burthen. For Terms, apply to the Subscribers. JOHN HAMILTON, and Company.
THE Subscriber takes this Method of in-
forming the Publick that he has for Sale the following Tracts of LAND: A Tract of thirteen Hundred Acres within a Mile and a Half of Petersburg and Blandford, and a Tenement adjoining the Town of Petersburg, containing about twenty five Acres, very convenient for Dwellinghouses and Storehouses; three Tracts in Brunswick County, one of which contains four Hundred Acres, and lies on Ruff's Creek, another of two Thousand Acres, on the south Side of Albermarie River, and a third upon Tenis Creek, containing four Hundred Acres. The Payments will be made easy, and Proposals may be transmitted to me, in Petersburg. JOHN RAVENSCROFT.

POETS CORNER.
L O V E.
WHAT's Love? Why 'tis a fond Desire The Height of human Bliss t'aspire; A soft Disorder of the Mind, A pleasing Pain, for Youth design'd. Love, like an Arrow, wings its Flight, And doth the generous Soul delight. Fain would I sing thy Charms, O Love! Alas! my Lays unequal prove. The Prince, with Glory compass'd round, Doth feel thy Shaft and own thy Wound; The Peasant, in his calm Retreat, Lacks thee to make his Bliss complete; The Hermit too, in humble Cell, Of Love's angelick Joys can tell; The Poor, the Rich, the Weak, the Brave, The vaunting Youth, and pining Slave, With Rapture own thy sovereign Sway, And ALL thy Dictates do obey.
WHEREAS I purchased a Tract of Land, lying in Lunenburg County, of Elijah Eftes , for which I executed Bonds to him for the Sum of two Hundred Pounds, bearing Date the 22d of July last, with Elijah Eftes Security, this is to forewarn all Persons from taking Assignments, as I will not pay any of them until a Suit, which is now commenced against him for Performance of his Contract, is determined. 2|| WILLIAM HATCHETT.
ABOUT eight Years ago ROBERT SMELT bought two Negroes (a Boy and Girl) of Andrew Mackie , of Isle of Wight , which Girl the said Smelt has since sold; and as there is a Dispute about the Title of her, all Persons who have any Claim to the said Negroes are hereby desired to make their Demands known to the Subscriber. 2|| ROBERT SMELT.
For SALE, A TRACT of LAND on Pamlico River, North Carolina , about ten Miles below Bath Town , containing five Hundred and fifty Acres, and adjoining the Lands of Mr. Abraham Belet . It is pleasantly situated on the Bay, is a good Place for Stock, affords Plenty of Fowl, Fish, and Oysters, and the Soil is tolerable for Cropping. For Terms inquire of the Subscriber, in Pasquotank County . 2|| THOMAS HUMPHRIES.
For SALE, or CHARTER to any Port in Europe or the West Indies, THE Brigantine JOLLY BACHUS, now lying at Norfolk , which will carry between seven and eight Thousand Bushels of Grain, is exceedingly well calculated for that Trade, being a very light, strong, well built Vessel, and has made but two Voyages. For Terms apply to the Subscriber, in Norfolk . 2|| JOHN MACLEAN.
TAKEN up, in Hanover , six white sheep, marked (as near as can be made out) with two Slits in the right Ear, and a Crop and Underkeel in the left. Posted, and appraised to forty eight Shillings. 2|| JAMES SHACKELFORD.
RUN away from my Plantation, called Newport News , on the 17th of January , a very likely Negro Fellow named Sherubury , about thirty Years of Age, has lost one of his fore Teeth, and had on a Cotton Waistcoat and Breeches, Plaid Stockings, and Negro Shoes. The Negroes upon the Plantation saw him go away with two Sailors; he can read, and I imagine will attempt to go out of the Country on Board a Vessel. I do hereby forewarn all Masters of Vessels from carrying him away, as they shall answer it at their Peril. Whoever brings the said Negro to me, in York County , shall have TEN POUNDS Reward if he be taken in this Colony, and TWENTY POUNDS if out thereof. WILLIAM DIGGES, Junior.
WILLIAMSBURG, January 29, 1772. WHEREAS my Apprentice ( Thomas Hansford ) has eloped from me since Christmas Eve , and is not yet returned, I do hereby offer a Reward of TEN SHILLINGS, besides what the Law allows, to any Person that will bring him to me. I have great Reason to suspect his being with his Father, and forewarn all Persons from harbouring or employing him, as I am determined to prosecute them to the utmost Rigour of the Law. JONATHAN PROSSER.
Six Thousand three Hundred Acres of LAND to be sold at Frederick Town , on Thursday the 28th of May next.
By Virtue of an Act of Assembly of the Province of Maryland , empowering the Executors of Colonel Thomas Colvill to grant Deeds to Mr. John Semple , his Heirs or Assigns, for a certain Tract of LAND called Merryland , in Frederick County , and Province aforesaid, containing six Thousand three Hundred Acres, we the Subscribers, being Assigns of the said Semple , and having received from the Executors of Colonel Colvill sufficient Deeds for the Land aforesaid, do hereby undertake to dispose of the same, at the Time and Place above mentioned.
It is laid off in Lots, in the most advantageous Manner, so that only one of them will make one, two, or three good Settlements, as will appear by the Plat, a Copy of which may be seen at the Coffeehouses of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Annapolis , in the Hands of Cumberland Wilson at Dumfries , Adam Stewart at George Town , and Charles Beatty at Frederick Town , who will direct those desirous of seeing the Land to a Person acquainted with the Boundaries, or on near the Premises, who will show them the same; but as we intend to meet on the Spot ourselves, a few Days before the Sale, in Order to run the Lines, &c. those inclined to purchase will have an Opportunity of viewing it with us, by attending from Monday the 25th of May till the 28th, being the Day of Sale.
This Land is very suitable for Planting or Farming, being well watered and timbered, no Settlement having ever been made on it, and is a very good Soil. It lies along the Banks of Potomack River , adjoining it for a considerable Way, near to Harper's Ferry , the main Road from which to Frederick Town (a very flourishing, populous Place) runs through it, from which Place it is only distant about nine Miles, from George Town , the Seaport of the County, forty five Miles, and from Baltimore about sixty five, at each of which Places a constant and ready Market may be found for all Kinds of Produce.
Its Situation on Potomack River must be of considerable Advantage to it, and in Time may add immensely to its Value, when the Navigation is opened, which may be done, without any great Difficulty, for a considerable Distance, there being at present a tolerable Navigation both below and above. It lying near the Schenandoah Falls , from whence, up to Fort Cumberland , a Hundred and ten Miles, Battoes now frequently pass, and downwards, to the Seneca Falls , twenty five Miles, which is within twenty Miles of George Town .
It will be sold in separate Lots, or altogether, for Sterling or current Money, as may best suit the Purchasers; one Third to be paid down at the Sale, another Third payable in twelve Months, and the other in two Years, on giving Bond and Security, with Interest till paid. A most undoubted Title will be made the Purchasers.
17 ADAM STEWART. THOMAS MONTGOMERIE. CUMBERLAND WILSON.
HAVING received from London , on Commission, a Parcel of neat GOODS, and as disposing of them in my Store will interfere with both my Time and Business, I purpose selling them every Evening, during the Sittings of the Assembly, till all are sold. They consist chiefly of the newest fashioned flowered, spotted, and plain Cloaks, Hats, and Bonnets, of different Sizes and Colours, white and coloured Silk quilted Coats, fine black Calimanco Ditto, fine India Chintz, Pattern Calicoes and Cottons with or without Borders, Book Muslins, Teresas, a large Assortment of handsome new-fashioned Silver, Gold, flowered, and plain Riband, French Bead Necklaces and Earrings, Mens fine Hats, Satin Shoes, Ladies neatest Thonet Riding Hats elegantly trimmed, with Turbans, Feathers, &c. Boys Beaver and Satin Whimsey Caps, quilted Satin Puddings for Children, Ivory, Box, Tortoiseshell, and Horn Combs by the Dozen, Silk Laces, Pins, Powder Bags and Puffs, with new Music for the Harpsichord, Flute, and Violin, Writing Paper, &c. &c.
She continues to sell, at her Store, as usual, a very neat Assortment of MILLINERY, HABERDAHERY, HOSIERY, and JEWELLERY, the Goodness and Fancy of which she hopes will be a sufficient Recommendation to her former Friends and Customers; to whom she returns her most grateful Acknowledgments for the extraordinary Encouragement she has hitherto met with, and still make it her Study to merit a Continuance of their Favours, by importing the newest and best Goods to sell at a reasonable Advance, by their obedient Servant, CATHARINE RATHELL.
WILLIAMSBURG, January 20, 1772. WHEREAS my Wife Anne and myself cannot agree in the Management of our Affairs, these are therefore to forewarn all Persons from giving her Credit on my Account, as I will not pay any of her Contractions after the Date hereof. The Debtors to the Estate of Matthew Alby , deceased, are desired to make speedy Payment, that I may be enabled to pay the Creditors, who are desired to bring in their Accounts against the said Estate. GEORGE JONES.
To be SOLD, on Tuesday the 25th of February, at ROCKY RIDGE, SIXTEEN likely SLAVES, consisting of Men, Women, Boys, and Girls; for which Credit will be allowed the Purchasers until the 10th of June ensuing, on giving Bond, with approved Security, to the Subscriber. At the same Time will be sold four other SLAVES, for ready Money. LITTLEBURY COCKE.
WANTED, A MILLER, who is a white Man, for a common Gristmill within a Mile of Williamsburg , to whom good Wages will be given. SAMUEL COKE.
To be SOLD at Dumfries , on Monday the 2d of March, being Prince William Court Day , THE valuable PLANTATION whereon Mr. William Bennett , deceased, lived, containing between seven and eight Hundred Acres, on which is a good Dwellinghouse pleasantly situated, with Outhouses, and fine Orchards of Apple, Peach, and Cherry Trees; it is fit for Cropping or Farming, and lies about three or four Miles from the said Town of Dumfries . Credit will be given for Part of the Purchase Money, by the Administrator. 5
To be SOLD, or RENTED for a Term of Years, and entered upon the 1st of March, A COMMODIOUS well built STORE in the Town of Petersburg , adjoining the Tobacco Warehouses, three Stories high, with a good Room fronting the Main Street, four good Rooms with Fireplaces, and a Granary, with a Cellar that will hold sixty Hogheads; also a Warehouse forty Feet by twenty, built last Year, Stable, and Kitchen that is also new. The Lot is well enclosed, and the Whole is in good Repair. For Terms apply to Richard Lamb , on the Premises, or to the Subscriber, in Norfolk . 2|| JOHN GREENWOOD.
PORTSMOUTH, January 1, 1772. WENT away from Portsmouth , one Peter Coffeson  Cobogga , with a dark Complexion, pitted a little with the Smallpox, black Hair, about twenty two Years of Age, about five Feet four or five Inches high, has followed the Water ever since he was a Boy, and has taken a Boat twenty Feet Keel, eight Feet wide, three Feet four Inches deep in the Hold, decked with Juniper Plank, a white Bottom, black Gunwales, and two small red Streaks between the black and white, with all her Siles and Rigging, and is supposed to be gone to Beaufort , in North Carolina . Whoever brings the Boat, and the said Cobogga , to me, in Portsmouth , shall have FIVE POUNDS Reward. MAXIMILIAN GRIMES.
PETERSBURG, January 4, 1772. STOLEN out of my Stable, by a Negro, on Friday the 27th of December, a bright sorrel HORSE, five or six Years old, about fourteen Hands and an Inch high, with a blaze Face, a hanging Mane, short Switch Tail, and white Feet. TWENTY SHILLINGS will be paid on the Delivery of the Horse to me, in Petersburg , and on Conviction of the Thief FIVE POUNDS. 2|| DAVID BLACK.
TAKEN up, in Goochland , a small bay MARE about four Feet five or six Inches high, branded on the near Buttock with an S over a W, has a long Tail and Mane, some Saddle Spots, and some gray Hairs on her fore Feet. 2|| RICHARD D. HINES.
CUMBERLAND, January 10, 1772. I HAVE for Sale about fifteen Hundred Acres of LAND on Dan River , and three very fine PLANTATIONS in Cumberland County , one of which is the Plantation whereon I now live, on which is a very good Dwellinghouse and all convenient Outhouses, a well accustomed Grist Mill on a constant Stream, a Peach Orchard of eight or ten Thousand Peach Trees, a fine Apple Orchard, and every other Kind of Fruit. For Terms inquire of 4 JOHN MAYO.
RUN away from one of my Flats, when at the Falls of James River , about the 1st of this Instant ( January ) a Virginia born Negro Man named SCPIO , about thirty Years of Age, six Feet high, stoops very much, is knock-kneed, has remarkable long Feet, and speaks plain, but deceitful. He was once the Property of Mr. Archibald Ritchie , Merchant, at Hobb's Hole , where I suppose he now is, as he was taken up near that Place last Fall. He carried with him a Bearskin Jacket pretty much worn, Osnaburg Shirt and Trousers, a Pair of Yarn Hose, and a Pair of coarse Shoes, such as are usually sold in Stores. Whoever brings him to me, at Warwick , shall have a Reward of FORTY SHILLINGS, besides what the Law allows, or TWENTY SHILLINGS if secured in any Jail in this Colony, so that I may get him again. 6 SIMON FRASER.
GOOCHLAND, January 13, 1772. RUN away from the Subscriber, some Time ago, a likely Negro Man named SUBA , talks but indifferent English, and squints pretty much. He ran away twice before, was once apprehended at Hobb's Hole , and another Time at Effex Courthouse , and is now supposed either to be in that Part of the Country or lurking about Mattox Warehouse , as he once lived there with Mr. Archibald Brice . I will give FIVE POUNDS for taking him up, and SIXPENCE a Mile for conveying him to me from the Place where he may be apprehended; and in Case it should be inconvenient to bring him to me, I will give the above Reward for securing him in the Jail of the County where he is taken. 2|| JOHN BOLLING.
WARRASQUEAK Bay, November 18, 1771. RUN away from the Subscriber, in Isle of Wight , a Negro named JACK , about five and thirty Years of Age, five Feet ten Inches high, a slim, clean made, talkative, artful, and very fatty Fellow. Also a Negro Woman named VENUS , thirty two Years old, five Feet four Inches high, it is made, very smooth tongued, and has been five Years accustomed to the House. They worked in the Dismal Swamp about two Years, under Mr. John Walsbington , and carried with them several different Kinds of Apparel. Whoever delivers the said Negroes to me, or secures them so that I may get them, shall have a Reward of FORTY SHILLINGS for each. 2|| NATHANIEL BURWELL.
THE Subscriber has for Sale about seven Thousand Acres of LAND, four Thousand of which lie in the County of Buckingham , known by the Name of the Buckingham Tract , and is all very valuable high Land; the other Tract, which lies on both Sides of Willis's Creek , in the Counties of Buckingham and Cumberland , contains upwards of four Hundred Acres of exceeding rich low Ground, and very good high Land, with Tobacco Houses, and others, sufficient for twenty Hands. It will be sold in Lots, or altogether, as may be agreed on, and will be shown by Mr. Cary Harrison , at the Fork of Willis's Creek . For Terms apply to 8 ARCHIBALD CARY.
JAMES HALDANE, COPPER SMITH and BRASS FOUNDER from Philadelphia , in Church Street , near the Church, Norfolk , MAKES and sells all Sorts of COPPER and BRASS WORK, namely, Stills, Brewing Coppers, Sugar Boilers, Fullers and Hatters Coppers, Capuchin Plate Warmers, Tea Kitchens, all Sorts of Ship, Fish, and Wash Kettles, Stew Pans, Dutch Ovens, Tea Kettles, Sauce pans, Coffee and Chocolate Pots, Brass Mill Work, Furniture for Coach and Chair Harness, Fenders, Andirons, Candlesticks, Cocks, &c. at the most reasonable Rates. Also tins and mens all Sorts of old Copper and Brass Kitchen Work, and gives the best Prices for old Copper, Brass, Pewter, or Lead. 12 ** All Orders from the Country will be punctually attended to. N. B. He deals for Cash, or Country Produce.
WILLIAMSBURG, December 19, 1771. WHEREAS the Revenues of the College, unless more Care and Exactness be used in the Collection of them, cannot continue equal to the Expenses; and whereas a considerable Amount is due to the College, which arises from small Sums easy to be paid by each individual Debtor, all Persons concerned are therefore desired to take Notice of the following Regulations, passed at a late Meeting of the President and Masters:
If any Person who owes Money to the College on Bond does not either pay off all the Interest, that is or shall be due, on or before the 10th of May next, or in the mean Time give a new Bond, with approved Security, for the whole Debt, both Principal and Interest, his Bond shall be put into a Lawyer's Hand on the said 10th of May , with Orders to bring Suit, and obtain Satisfaction for it as speedily as the Forms of Law will permit. If, after the said 10th of May , the Interest due on any Bond be not regularly paid, at the Expiration of each Year, the Bond shall be put in Suit without farther Notice or Delay. A Salutary Order of the Visitors and Governors, directing every Boarder, on his Admission into the College, to pay for six Months Board in Advance, is evaded and rendered nugatory if the like Sum be not paid per Advance by every Boarder at the End of each Half Year. All, therefore, who are in Arrears for Board, are required to discharge them by the said 10th of May . On Failure, the Boarder shall be dismissed from the College until the Accounts against him be discharged, or recovered by Suit. And after the 10th of May next, if Payment for Board in Advance, as above mentioned, be neglected, the Boarder shall not be suffered to continue in the College for more than one Month after such Neglect, but shall, in that Time, be sent away with his Account, and shall not be received again till it be discharged.
All Surveyors who have not settled with the Burfar of the College, for all their publick and private Surveys since the General Court in April last, are required to settle with him before the 10th of May next, under the Penalty of being superseded, and having their Bonds sued. If among these Surveyors there be any from whom Nothing is due to the College, it is demanded of them, under the same Penalty, to transmit to the Burfar attested Declarations of their being Nothing due from them to the College. And, after the 10th of May next, if any Surveyor shall omit sending attested Accounts or Declarations (as above specified) annually, he shall be superseded, and have his Bond sued.
That this Advertisement may not be treated with that Contempt which several Notices of the like Kind have met with, and that no Body may hereafter plead Want of due Information concerning the Premises, this Advertisement is to be printed weekly in the Gazette until the 10th of May next ensuing. By Order of the President and Masters. ROBERT MILLER, Burfar.
To be LET on LEASE, A VERY large and commodious HOUSE in the Town of Petersburg , built for a Tavern, and well fitted for that Business; it is two Stories high, has a Number of very convenient Lodging Rooms, and large and small Rooms for the Entertainment of Guests. Any Person qualified for the Business of a Tavern Keeper, with a proper Capital, may find this an advantageous a Situation as any on the Continent. Apply to the Subscriber, who lives on the Premises. 2|| THOMAS EGLETON.
To be SOLD, A TRACT of LAND containing five Hundred and forty three Acres, on Butterwood , in Amelia County , formerly belonging to Mr. Samuel Gordon , of Blandford . The Land is good, and there are valuable Improvements on it. Also to be let on Lease, or sold, two LOTS in the Town of Blandford , on Appomattox River , at present in the Occupation of Mr. Patrick Ramsay , with a Storehouse, and every other necessary Building for a Merchant in considerable Business. For Terms apply to PETERSBURG, November 10. 2|| JERMAN BAKER.
To be SOLD, altogether, or in Lots, ABOUT two Thousand seven Hundred Acres of good LOW GROUNDS on both Sides of Roxanne River , and two Hundred Acres of HIGH LAND two Miles distant, lying in the Counties of Halifax and Berrie , twenty five Miles below the Town of Halifax, North Carolina . There are about six Hundred Acres of the Land cleared, with an Apple Orchard, a good Dwellinghouse, Dairy, Smokehouse, Negro Quarters, &c. Any Person inclined to purchase may know the Terms by applying to the Subscriber, in Prince George . 2|| RICHARD KIDDER MEADE. N. B. There is a good FISHERY on the said Land.
For SALE, THE LAND whereon I live, in Middlesex , containing about two Thousand two Hundred Acres, in good Order for Cropping, with Orchards and Buildings equal to any in the Colony; also thirteen Hundred Acres on the River Piankatank , in the County of Gloucester , with a Mill, and good Orchards. The Stocks, which are very large, may be had with the Lands. Any Person inclined to purchase may know the Terms by applying to 2|| AUGUSTINE SMITH.
RUN away from the Subscriber, in Lancaster , on the 24th of December last, a Negro Man named WILL , about five Feet eight or nine Inches high, between thirty and forty Years of Age, but looks older than what he really is. He has been at Work in Norfolk for some Time past, and went by the Name of William Moore , as a Free-man. He is a very good Hostler and Gardener; and what may detect him sooner, he is very fond of Liquor, and when drunk very quarrelsome and saucy. Whoever will secure him in any Jail, and give me Intelligence so that I may get him again, shall have FIVE POUNDS, and if brought to me FIFTEEN POUNDS, paid on the Delivery of the Negro. 2|| JOHN WORMELEY.