The Virginia gazette (Williamsburg [Va.]), 1773-09-30 00:00:00

VIRGINIA
GAZETTE.
With the freest 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 Mess. PURDIE & DIXON.
GENTLEMEN, WILLIAMSBURG, September 22, 1773.
THE very earnest Address of your Correspondent, "A Virginian," on the Subject of Paper Money unquestionably demands our most serious Attention; especially as it comes warmly recommended by so respectable a Number of your Readers in the County of STAFFORD. That we ought to profit from the Experience of others, it must be owned, is a Lesson sanctified by the Voice of Wisdom; the Observation, from its Antiquity, hath, long since, become proverbial; but, give me Leave to remark that, in most political Reformations, it is often observable that the Zeal of the Reformer is too apt to hurry him beyond the Object of his Wishes and may introduce Inconveniences, which he hardly foresees and may live to lament. Of this Sort I must consider the Essay, which is the Subject of my present Contemplation. The Author's extreme Aversion to every Kind of Paper Currency may be, in his own Opinion, well founded; and he has displayed too large a Share of good Sense to admit a Suspicion that he could have wished to depreciate what Paper Money we have now remaining in Circulation, but yet it is to be feared that his Observations may have this Tendency. I will, for a Moment, suppose the original Evil in first admitting it amongst us to have been, even as great as he would represent it; but surely we are now called upon by every Principle of Justice, by every Dictate of political Wisdom, to support its Credit; should this fail, the Confusion the Country may be thrown into and the Losses, which may be sustained by Individuals, the present Possessors of the Money, are more easily to be conceived than described.
Having, on a late Occasion, given the Publick what appeared to me a faithful History of our Paper Currency, from its first Introduction, I should now leave the Author's Observations on our former Emissions unnoticed, were it not to be apprehended that the Want of a thorough Understanding of the Subject may mislead some of your Readers and lay a Foundation of groundless Prejudices. That other Countries, as well as Virginia, have sustained Inconveniences and, perhaps, Losses from a Paper Currency, I am not at all concerned to deny; what I undertake to maintain is that these have not arisen from Paper Money, merely, as such, but that they have been chiefly, if not totally owing, either to these Bills of Credit not being established upon proper Funds, or to a Superabundance of them, or to some Mismanagements. I might, if the Limits of your Paper would permit, go farther and show clearly that other Countries have derived great Advantages from Paper Currencies and that the Business of those Communities would be vastly cramped and could not be transacted to Advantage without them. In doing this I should take into my View the different Banks; some established immediately by, and others, under the Auspices of publick Authority; some upon one and others upon different Kinds of Funds, and might ask, with Propriety, what are the Notes issuing from those Banks more or less than Paper Money? Gentlemen, whose Eyes are captivated and so much allured by the Glitter of the precious Metals, as hastily to pronounce every other Species of Money counterfeit, will do well to consider more distinctly the Nature of Money, and what is its proper Office. The original Commerce of the World we know, was carried on merely by Barter; Work was paid in Work and one Species of Goods exchanged for another. As Nations became more civilized and Commerce more extensive, it was found convenient and necessary to fix a certain Price upon some particular Things, as a Measure and Standard for all others. Gold, Silver, Copper and Brass, being the more scarce and noble Metals, were agreed upon by the common Consent of most Nations; though it is equally well known that Iron, Leather, Paper and many other Things, having a certain Stamp impressed upon them to denote their Value, have been adopted and passed currently in many Countries as Money, and in some of them been preferred even to Gold or Silver. From the most celebrated Authors we learn that Money, in Respect to its proper Office, is to be considered as no more than a "Ticket or Counter, a mere Representation of a Commodity in its Absence, which, if we had it in our Possession, we would readily exchange for another we might have Occasion for." It must, however, be acknowledged that the Species of Money, whose Value is universal, is much to be preferred, though not in Exclusion of all other Kinds, I mean such as may be substituted as its Representative. In some Countries the Quantity of Specie, as it is commonly called, is found inadequate to the Demands of Commerce and the Purposes of Government. Hence the Necessity of some Sorts of Paper Currency, and, when this is established upon competent Funds and properly managed, Experience proves that it fully answers the Purposes of Gold and Silver, especially for transacting the internal Business of a Country, and that, in some Respects, it has superior Advantages. Payments are made with much greater Facility and the Paper is much more portable. It is indeed subject to Forgeries, a Misfortune much to be lamented by us, but to be ascribed, in a great Measure, to our Inexperience; the Want of such proper Paper, as is used with good Success in other Countries, which we could not procure at first, and which we did not afterwards provide, hoping that every Emission would be the last. But, I beseech you, are not the precious Metals almost equally exposed to Counterfeits? And are not these Counterfeits in general more difficult to be detected? For Answer to this Question I beg Leave to refer to the different authentic Accounts we have received from most Parts of the World of the State of their several Coins and the almost numberless Forgeries of it, which have been discovered. Besides this the metallic Coins are frequently depreciated by Clippings, Sweatings, and a Number of other Tricks, which the Ingenuity, or rather Wickedness of Men, have invented. Thus much premised;
I take the Liberty, since the Necessity of the Measures formerly adopted by this Country seem obliquely to that of some late Transactions is directly questioned, once more to remind your Readers of the Circumstances we were in, when our Paper Money was first introduced. Attacked, as we were in all Quarters by a most powerful, in Conjunction with a most savage and barbarous Enemy; when our Country was in the most imminent Danger and we had to contend for all that was dear and valuable, could we possibly have looked supinely on and suffered every Thing to go to Destruction? Had this been our Plan, the County of Stafford, I am persuaded, would speedily have become a Frontier, and with the lower Counties, would, soon afterwards, have fallen a Victim to the Enemy. Under these Circumstances, what was to be done? Money, the acknowledged Sinews of War, was necessary, immediately necessary; Troops could not be levied and supported without it; of Gold and Silver, there was indeed some, what Quantity I do not know, in the Hands of Individuals, but the Publick could not command it. Did there not result from hence a Necessity, an absolute Necessity of our having Recourse to a Paper Currency, as the only Resource, from which we could draw Relief? Perhaps we might have furnished more than our just Quota, but it was not a Time for us to have stood upon nice Calculations with our Sifter Colonies. Let us next consider what was the Nature of this Paper Money and how it was established. Not being able to procure Specie in Time, it was resolved to issue Treasury Notes, which were to pass current according to the Value of their Denominations expressed in each Note; these were to be redeemed in a few Years, and to secure their Redemption a Land and Poll Tax; a Duty on Tobacco; a Tax on Writs and Ordinary Licenses and on Wheel Carriages was imposed; the Notes were issued at different Times, as Exigencies required, and were redeemable at several Periods. The Author of the Address doth not deny, but seems to admit the Sufficiency of the Funds; indeed, I believe, it was never questioned, so that
the Notes became current throughout this, and, I understood, were in exceeding good Credit in the neighbouring Colonies. Had the Business of our Treasury been properly managed (that it was not I am sure I have been far from wishing to conceal) all these Notes would have been long since cancelled and destroyed. But surely an after Misconduct in Office, in a particular Instance cannot operate as a general Objection against Paper Currencies, unless the Author will suppose that the Dispositions of all Men are alike and that Abuses are not to be corrected and guarded against. The Author's Strictures upon this Mismanagement, I own, are too justly founded, and, could it now answer any good Purpose, I would readily join him in repeating my Censures of it. Individuals have felt the fatal Effects and I have no Doubt but the Community sustained a Loss by Exchange being kept up. But, with me, there are proper Times and Seasons for all Things. The Assembly took the earliest Opportunity of fixing a proper Stigma on this Misconduct, which I hope will be a Warning to others; they did Justice to the Country in exacting the utmost Retribution and by endeavouring to guard against the like Mischiefs in future; if any Thing farther can be added or done to give a more general Satisfaction or the least farther Security to the Publick, in the Name of Justice to the Community, let it be done without Loss of Time and without Respect of Persons. But let us not, instead of alleviating and making the best of former Misfortunes, so far as may consist with Justice, suffer them to mar every future Endeavour to retrieve them. It is from this Period I have wished to look forward, having a proper Regard to every Thing that preceded it. The Quantity of Paper Money issued, in the Course of the late War was very considerable, having exceeded Half a Million, which perhaps was more than this Country could have conveniently borne, if it could have been avoided; it may point out one of the Inconveniences I have mentioned, arising from a Superabundance of such Sort of Money, but cannot, as I conceive, militate against a Paper Currency altogether. That so large a Quantity of Paper Money contributed to raise Exchange, I will freely own as my Opinion; though, at the same Time, I am thoroughly persuaded that the Balance of Trade being so much against us was the chief governing Cause of it. That, as a necessary Consequence of a high Exchange, the Prices of foreign Goods were enhanced, I will not deny, though I must take the Liberty to differ in Opinion with the Author in his Estimate of the Losses the Country sustained, which he makes amount to 200,000 l. One material Circumstance he seems to have overlooked. A very just Position of his own (which he confiders in Theory, and Experience shows that it generally holds also in Practice) is "that the Price of Provisions and Labour must increase in Proportion to the Increase of Money;" if he had added Tobacco, Bills of Exchange, and every other vendible Commodity, I would have agreed with him that the Prices of all these Things are very considerably increased by the Increase of Money, though he must allow that other Circumstances frequently combine to effect this Increase of Price. How did the Cafe stand then between the Merchant and Vendor of these Commodities and the Planter and Purchaser? The Quantity of Money raised Exchange and of Course the Price of foreign Goods, so that the Planter paid more for them; than he would have done; but, on the other Hand, the Planter, because of the great Quantity of Money, received more for his Commodities, than he otherwise would have done, whether he was allowed for them in Discount on the Books of the Merchant with whom he dealt, or sold them for ready Money. Another Thing probably happened, which Men are not always aware of, in the Course of these Transactions, namely that the very Debts contracted with the Merchants sometimes, under peculiar Circumstances, might have operated as an Addition to the Quantity of Money, by increasing the Competition amongst Buyers for the Planter's Commodities; in other Instances, where People were distressed, the contrary Effect might take Place. I am not able to state an exact Account of Profit and Loss between the Merchant and Planter in these Transactions; I have had my Fears that the Planters, upon the Whole, were Losers, but nothing in Comparison of what the Author supposes. The plain and simple Matter of Fact the different Inhabitants of this Country are able to judge of, whether greater Prices were not given for Tobacco and the other Produce of their Estates during the War and for several Years after, than they had been accustomed to; from every Account I have heard I believe this was the Case; I know it was so, in my own private Concerns. But let the Expenses and Losses sustained by the Emission of our Paper Notes have been as great as the Author would represent, I must consider them altogether as the Price of that Security and Happiness we now enjoy; and whoever recollects the Dangers and Distresses, to which the Country, particularly our Frontiers were exposed, I am persuaded that he must, upon the Whole, acknowledge it to have been an advantageous Purchase. Perhaps some Men of very frugal, parsimonious Dispositions, impressed by the galling Ideas of Expense, may view this Part of the Subject in the same Light that some Patients, recovered from long and dangerous Illness, may do their Physician's and Apothecary's Bills; in the Extremity of their Danger they would have given the whole World, had it been at their Command, for the Assistance of some healing Hand; but, now the Danger is all over, the Doctor is almost forgotten, his Charges complained of and perhaps his Account disputed, however reasonable in other Men's Opinions. Who were the few Individuals alluded to, as alone reaping "temporary Advantages" from this Paper Money, I do not know; the Printer and others concerned in preparing the Notes had a moderate Allowance and the late Treasurer received a Commission; but the whole Expense, did not, if my Information is right, amount to one fifth Part of what it would have done in a neighbouring Colony; after the Money was issued for publick Services, and Expenses, I suppose particular Men, in the Course of its Circulation, might have made the same Advantages with it, as they would have done with any other Sort of Money. What "great Disorder in the State" could have happened to reduce this Money to nothing I cannot divine, unless it would equally have stripped every Owner of his Gold and Silver; if the Currency, as every one must be satisfied, who is acquainted with this Country, must have stood or fallen with it, I should suppose, in this Respect, at least, that it was as valuable and had as great a Degree of Permanency as could have been wished.
I have not been able to procure a Sight of Mr. Pittman's Account of Louisiana, or any other Author, who treats upon the same Subject, so that I cannot judge to what Cause it was owing that "Paper Money had almost effected the Ruin of that Province;" but I must suppose it was owing either to the Want of a proper Establishment of their Notes, or to some Redundancy of them; it should have been shown that they were established upon Funds equally good and sure as ours, or else the Example is not applicable. Your Correspondent, from the Disparity of the Cases, is surely rather unfortunate in the other two Instances held forth, as Beacons, to warn us of our Danger. Can the "Paper Credit, which lately produced such extensive Injuries in Great Britain," with any Sort of Propriety, be compared to our Paper Money? Some private Bankers, it seems, upon mere Speculation, had for a Number of Years circulated their own Notes for immense Sums of Money, some Hundred Thousand Pounds, we are told, more than their real Capitals; this succeeded for a Time, but, as it must have happened in the Nature of Things, the Bubble burst at last and the Secret was betrayed. What happened in the Massachusetts's Government might indeed serve as a Caution to us, if there was the most distant Probability of our falling into their political Errors; but I am sure nothing of this Sort is to be apprehended from any Measures hitherto pursued. This Opinion I may venture to say is justified by the Reluctance and Disinclination shown by our Assembly to the issuing very moderate Sums in the three last Instances, though Caves of Necessity, as well as by their rejecting every Proposal, which has been made for establishing a Loan Office; though a Scheme of this Sort had, with Suc-
cess, been adopted by another Colony. It is, with much Unwillingness, that I intermeddle with the Concerns of others, but your Author has made it necessary. From Dr. Douglass's Summary of the Proceedings of the New England Colonies we learn that there had been emitted in Paper Money to the enormous Amount of about three Million seven Hundred and forty eight Thousand Pounds, of which Sum the Proportion of the Massachusetts's Bay alone was 2,466,712 l. These Sums he tells us were partly intended to defray the Expenses of some Expeditions they were engaged in, partly to defray the Expense of Government and that a considerable Proportion was lent out to the Inhabitants upon Mortgages to Government at a long Period. Whether proper and adequate Funds were established for the Redemption of this Money, I will not determine, though I should suppose the contrary, because, from the Author's Account, after deducting 2,342,390 l. reimbursed by Parliament to those Colonies for their Expenses in the Reduction of Louisbourg, there remained a Debt of about 1,405,000 l. New England Currency. The Doctor farther tells us that, in the Year 1745, their Exchange had risen ten for one, that is 1100 l. of their Currency would purchase no more than 100 l. Sterling. The vast Unlikeness of their Situation to ours I shall leave to the Candour of your Readers, without any farther Comment. Whether the British Parliament did right in interposing in an Instance even of this extraordinary Nature, is a political Question that would require a different Discussion. It is asserted that our Emissions of Paper Money have banished Gold and Silver, by which, I suppose, the Author means, if we had no Paper, the Place of it would have been supplied by the precious Metals; if so, the Quantity of Money in the Country would have been nearly equal, and I would fain know whether Gold and Silver are not as likely to contribute to the Extravagance of our Inhabitants, as Paper. But perhaps his Observation alludes to the Superabundance, of Paper we once had, which I have acknowledged might have been a necessary Evil; but this will also prove that our Commodities rose in Price, as few could be passed off the Paper Money without giving Value for it.
I have said thus much, in Hopes of removing any Prejudices that may have been imbibed from general Principles. I am not and never was an Advocate for Paper Money, except in Cases of absolute Necessity, and it is my earnest Wish that no unhappy Incident may ever revive an Occasion of our engaging in it hereafter. The present Object of my Concern is to support the Credit of what we have left and I must own it gives me Pain to see any Thing done, however undesignedly, that has a Tendency to depreciate it. If a Doubt remains with any one as to the Sufficiency of the Security, which the Holders of our Paper have for its Redemption, I flatter myself that I can, with great Ease, give the utmost Satisfaction upon this Head.
As to the Confusion of the Funds complained of, in this the Author is much mistaken. The Funds are entirely distinct and the Balance due on each may be seen to a Shilling. It hath, in the Letter to my Correspondent in London, been acknowledged, that, from there being in Circulation Notes of different Emissions, which was occasioned by former Mismanagements, and because the Payments made into the Treasury were indiscriminately in such Notes, as the Collectors could receive, that one Fund has become indebted to another; but this makes no Difference as to the Quantity of Money in Circulation. If, for Example and to speak in round, easy Numbers, there were in Circulation one Hundred Pounds, one Half of the Notes issued in 1762, and the other of those issued in 1769; a Collector ought in Strickness to pay into the Treasury fifty Pounds for the Taxes of 1769 in those Notes; but instead of this, he receives of the People and pays fifty Pounds in the Notes of 1762; so much is sunk and there remains only fifty Pounds out. If a Person is satisfied with the Security given by the Publick for both Sorts of Money, what Difference can it make to him whether he is possessed of a genuine Note of 1762 or 1769? And this is all the mighty Confusion. That it doth not consist with strict Propriety to suffer Paper Money to continue in Circulation after the Period of its Redemption is past, must be acknowledged; but how could this have been avoided, after what happened, without obliging the People to pay new Taxes? This indeed ought and I am persuaded would have been done, if there had been any apparent Necessity for it; but the former Funds, after the strictest Examination, were judged amply sufficient to redeem all the Notes outstanding, and the Money was in such good Credit, that it was generally preferred either to Gold or Silver. I have acknowledged that so large a Quantity of Paper Money, as we had formerly in Circulation, might have contributed to raise Exchange, and it is supposed by some that what still remains produces the same bad Effect, and moreover banishes Gold and Silver, to the great Prejudice of the Country; as a Proof of this the late Exports of Specie, I suppose will be appealed to. Whether the Exporters, in general will find their Account in sending the Money to England, rather than give thirty per Cent. for Bills, I will not say, but I have seen a Calculation made by a Gentleman of some Gold exported last May, of which he has just received an Account, by which it appears he has lost nearly two and a Half per Cent. I will readily grant that, in a Country possessed of no other Money than Gold and Silver, Exchange cannot rise above a certain Point, but then, there ought to be enough of this Money to answer both the Purposes of Remittances to other Countries, and to serve as a Medium of Traffick at home. Whoever supposes that we might have had Gold and Silver enough for each Occasion must be a Stranger to the many Complaints, which prevail of the great Scarcity of them in most Countries, with which we are connected. Some I know are sanguine enough to think that our Commodities would have brought in Gold and Silver; but this, I am persuaded, would have been in such small Quantities, that, if the Produce of our Estates could have been sold for no other Sort of Money, they would either have remained, as Drugs upon our Hands, or we must have parted with them at such miserable low Prices, as no Man could live by, and such, as hardly any Variation of Exchange, considering the complicated internal Affairs of this Country, could have compensated for. I am apt to think that some have not fully considered how very necessary a sufficient Quantity of Money is in every Community to transact their internal Affairs, to promote Industry and employ the Inhabitants of every Class to Advantage; let them consult the Police of the best regulated and most thrifty Countries in the World and they may be thoroughly informed; but, if they should not be satisfied from thence, let them exercise a little Patience, till our Paper Money is quite gone, and then, without pretending to the Gift of Prophecy, I will venture to believe that they will feel the Loss of it.
As to Exchange, if we take a View of it with the principal combined Causes, by which it is influenced, how strangely shall we find some Gentlemen mistaken in ascribing its Rise chiefly, if not solely to Paper Money? Having, for many Years, been pretty attentive to the Fluctuations of this merchantable Commodity, for so I must take the Liberty of calling it on this Occasion, I am not quite unprepared to form a tolerable Judgment of it. From April 1751 to April 1755 inclusive, Exchange fluctuated from twenty seven and a Half to thirty per Cent. though it was generally at thirty, and in October 1752 it was as high as thirty two per Cent. Paper Money was not known in this Country at either of these Periods; and I would gladly know how it happened that it rose of so much above, what is called Par. I will not attempt to avail myself of the forty five per Cent. Difference, which prevailed in the War before last, because a very high Encouragement might have had great Influence; but the Instances mentioned happened in Times of profound Peace. I will suppose that we have now in Circulation about 80,000 l. though the real Sum I am very confident is less; the Exchange, so much complained of, is at thirty per Cent. In the Year 1766, when there were above 200,000 l. of Notes in Circulation, Exchange was at twenty five per Cent. and some

Years ago, when the Paper in Circulation amounted to 140,000 l. Exchange was down as low as fifteen per Cent; in May 1771 it was at twenty per Cent. and continued at the same Rate in October, though the 30,000 l. was then issued to pay for lost Tobacco. To what could all these Shiftings and Clanges have been owing? To nothing more or less than certain Causes, which are well understood in the commercial World. Bills of Exchange considered as a Merchandise, in Respect to Price, should be viewed in a "compound Proportion, directly as to the Demand, and reciprocally as to the Plenty of them;" or, in other Words, the Value or Price of Bills will be in Proportion to the Number of them brought to Market, compared with the Quantity of Money, which may be there to purchase them; if more Money, than Bills, Exchange will rise; if less Money, than the Drawers have Occasion for, Exchange will fall. A few Years since, Bills were so plenty at Market that the Drawers could hardly procure Money enough at fifteen per Cent. and lately, they have become so scarce, that it is doubted by some whether the monied Men could have made all their Remittances even at an higher Exchange, than prevailed, had they not exported a Quantity of Specie. The former very low Exchange brought in great Part of the Specie, we had in the Country; this, added to what Money was here before, contributed to raise Exchange; but the great governing Cause of this Rise was the extreme Scarcity of Bills, and this, owing chiefly to Misfortunes in Great Britain. At the same Time the Demands for them appeared greatly increased, probably owing to the vast Importations of Goods for several Years, which must have augmented the Balance of Trade greatly against us. From this Source, in my Opinion, are derived the greatest Misfortunes to this Country. Could we but prevail with ourselves to lessen our Imports, and endeavour to make, within ourselves, such Necessaries, as Soil and Climate are well adapted to, the Balance would soon be changed in our Favour and we need not fear any ill Consequences attending Exchange, though the Quantity of Paper Money should be much greater than it is. I would observe farther that, though our Paper Money is by some few so much complained of, I do not recollect one single Instance of a Drawer's receiving a Shilling more in Paper for his Bills, than he did in Gold or Silver. That our Paper Currency hath hitherto supported its Credit so well could not, as is supposed, have been owing barely to what the Virginian is pleased to term the "Countenance of the Legislature," nor to "Want of Thought in the Possessors of it," nor to "the Absence of other Money." I rather presume that those, who have had most to do with it, were Men versed in Business, particularly well acquainted with Money Matters and who were satisfied that this Money was established by the Laws of the Community on proper Principles. It was not owing to "the Absence of other Money," because for many Years and till Exchange lately took a little Start, the Paper Money was generally preferred to Gold or Silver, and I believe, at this Time, it is preferred to all Kinds of Silver, except Dollars, which happen to be in Demand in Great Britain, and this, even under the supposed Disadvantage of its not being a legal Tender, which surely must be considered by every impartial Person as a Proof of its Goodness. Who the Gentleman was of such "Affluence and Credit in England and yet terrified with Apprehensions of a Jail, because his Creditor insisted on receiving Gold or Silver and would not take the Paper he was possessed of," I do not know, though I must suppose his Affluence and Credit would have secured him against these terrible Apprehensions, had he inclined to have made Use of either. He possibly might have applied to the Treasury, though I do not recollect an Instance of a Person's appearing under these Circumstances; if the Sum was large, it is probable it was not in the Treasurer's Power, at the Time, to accommodate him, otherwise he certainly would have done it. The true State of the Treasury, in Respect to Gold and Silver (for there are no Secrets, which I would wish to conceal) has been this. In the Course of Business there had circulated through the Office very considerable Sums of each and the Treasury for several Years was actually possessed of this Kind of Money from fifteen to twenty Thousand Pounds, which remained ready to be exchanged for Paper. The Holders of the Notes, especially such as were tattered or torn, were repeatedly invited to bring them in. The Treasurer frequently made personal Applications, just before the Meetings of the Committee appointed to burn the Notes, to such Persons as he supposed possessed of any Quantity of the Money and desired them to exchange it; that the Burnings might be as large as he could make them. Notwithstanding this, the Holders of the Notes, many at least, declined bringing them in, generally giving for Reasons that they were satisfied with the Paper and that it was most convenient. When Exchange about July 1772 rose to twenty five per Cent. the monied Men having been accustomed to buy Bills under Par, hearing that Exchange was low to the Northward, and, in Hopes of giving a Check to it, there made considerable Draughts on the Treasury and continued to do so until the Stock of Specie was nearly exhausted; so that the Treasurer hath not, of late, been able to furnish any large Sums of Gold and Silver; he hath endeavoured to reserve as much as would accommodate those, who might have Occasion of small Change and to take in the tattered Notes. Under these Circumstances, it must be submitted how friendly it is to this Community, in any Member of it, who happens to be averse to our Currency, to seize an unfortunate Moment, and from a Disappointment of one or two Individuals, to conclude that our Money is of little or no Worth, and this, though a whole Country stands bound as Security for it. I should rather have expected, as is done in other Countries, since every Man is certainly interested in supporting the Credit of the Money, that every Virginian, at least, would have taken Pains and Pleasure in assisting the Treasury by throwing into it all the Specie he could. Your Correspondent declines investigating thoroughly "whether the late Act of Assembly authorising the Emission of 36,841 l. was founded either on Wisdom or Necessity;" he might have had his Reasons for declining this Investigation, and therefore, instead of untangling the Knot, he, Alexander-like, cuts it by giving us his Opinion, as "an Individual," that it rested on neither. I will not venture to rest a Matter of such Consequence upon my private Opinion, but rather choose to rely on the better Judgment of the Legislature, which I know corresponded with the previous Desires and Wishes of the Generality of the Trade, that both the Emissions of 1769 and 1771 should be immediately called in; if a better Expedient, than that made Use of, had been proposed, it doubtless would have been adopted. But I have lived long enough to know how much easier it is to find Fault with Measures, than to amend them. The Necessity, without repeating all the Reasons formerly mentioned, was evident from this single Consideration, that the Circulation of the Notes of both Emissions was stopped through the greatest Part, if not the whole Country. Could "Justice, Policy, or common Humanity" have justified the Legislature in withholding the best Relief from the Owners of these Notes, that it was in their Power to give them? But we are told that "the new Money was not a Whit less liable to Abuse than the Emissions of 1769 and 1771, although it was certain that the new Emission must give Rise to a considerable publick Expence." Publick Expences I know are terrible Bugbears to some People, who, though daily Experience shows that even private Families cannot live free of considerable Expences seem to suppose that the Business of this great Country and every Contingency may be supported almost without them; but, for my Part, I shall never grudge a moderate publick Expence to secure either a great publick Good or to relieve the Community from a great publick Calamity. If any one doubts my Disposition to political Economy, or my Endeavours to save every Thing to the Country, that is in my Power, I shall only say that I have been peculiarly unfortunate, in not being able to convince him of both, and, perhaps, I may not live to see better Opportunities of doing it, than have already offered. That the new Money may be liable to Abuse, I will not deny; but, that it is much more secure against Counterfeits and Forgeries, than any we have ever had, is submitted to the Judgments of all, who have examined it. This was the Opinion of the Assembly, even of those Members I conversed with, who were against the Emission. The Means of discovering the good from the forged Bills of the other Emissions having been made publick, would have rendered them, after a Time, the more dangerous. The Forgers were possessed of exact Copies of the original Arms, Types and all the other Devices; the chief Errors of the Counterfeits consisted in the Difference of Paper and the Water Letters; if these had been corrected, it might have puzzled the most knowing to detect the new Forgeries; tho' we could have been sure that no new Counterfeits would have been attempted, yet how many People in the Country are unable to understand their discriminating Marks, which are now become familiar to Persons of discernment? Can any unprejudiced Person, after a Moment's Reflection, say it is within any Degree of Compassion, near so easy to forge an entire Set of new Bills, impressed on Paper of a new Fabrick, guarded in the Manner these are, as it is to correct the Errors in the Forgeries of the former Notes? "No good Reason, it seems, has yet been furnished for empowering the Emission of so large a Sum as 36,841 l." considering the Sums, that the Taxes had brought in, as the Treasurer informed the Publick. Is it not surprisingly strange that the Author should insist that so large a Sum was ordered to be emitted, when it was clearly proved by the Letter he quotes and the Act of Assembly thereby referred to, that no more than 29,000 l. could be issued? The Sum, however, was not so much relied on, as that the Assembly had not taken upon them to direct other Notes to be issued to call in those of 1769, whose Period of Redemption
was past, and that the Notes to be issued for calling in those of 1771 were only to be substituted in their Stead and made redeemable on the same Day that they were to be redeemed. Whether receiving old Notes for Taxes, instead of new ones, under the Circumstances formerly related, was proper or not, is again submitted; it was unavoidable, and the Country could not have sustained the least possible Inconvenience, had not the new Notes been unhappily forged, which I believe no one for a moment or could have suspected. One Expense indeed will be incurred by it; I mean the Interest to be paid on such Sums, as have been borrowed to redeem the Notes of 1769, but this, and all the Expenses attending the new Money, will be fully reimbursed by the Interest received on the Balance due from the late Treasurer's Estate. What Principles the Author had to go upon in estimating the Losses incurred by the late Forgeries, he best knows; but, from all I have been able to collect, I have my Hopes that they do not amount to one fourth Part of the Sum. Be this however more or less, it is much to be lamented; and the Cautions suggested by it I am hopeful will prove the Means of preventing such Mischiefs hereafter. Could those, who have the greatest Dislike to Paper Money, prevail with themselves to exercise a little Patience, this Business, in a few Years, will probably be all wound up and settled to the Satisfaction of every one. I should do Injustice to the Conclusion of the Address, if I suffered it to pass unnoticed. In Answer to a Quotation from Baron Montesquieu, I beg Leave to refer your Author to Baron Pufendorf (from whom, by the Bye, Montesquieu borrowed his Sentiments) where he will find that this learned Author considers every Kind of Money as variable in its Value. "When therefore, says he, the Price of a Thing happens to be changed, we must carefully distinguish whether that Change be made in the Value of the Thing or in the Value of Money. The former happens, when the Plenty of Money, standing, as it was, the Commodity begins to be more plentiful or scarcer than usual; the latter, when the Commodity, remaining as usual, the Plenty of Money is increased or decreased;" which Observations are illustrated by familiar Examples. Thus you may see, Gentlemen, that a Man possessed to-day of 120 l. in Gold and Silver which would entitle him to 100 l. Sterling, to-morrow, by such an Influx of these precious Metals as seems to be wished and expected, might be obliged to give 130 l. for 100 l. Sterling. Or, if the Number of Bills brought to Market should be considerably lessened, though the Quantity of Gold and Silver continued as formerly, he might feel the same Effects. The Gentleman speaks of an "Irruption of thirty or forty Thousand Pounds from our Printing Office" just as an Historian would describe the Irruption of the Goths and Vandals; but surely he would not insinuate that nothing more hath been thought necessary, than barely sending an Order to the Printer to strike off such a Number of Treasury Notes, as if they were no more than so many simple Advertisements, he must know that there never has been an Emission voted, but upon the maturest Deliberation and then only, on the most pressing Emergency; he must also acknowledge that, in every Instance, the most competent Funds have been established for the Redemption of the Money. Fearing that I may have trespassed too far on your Indulgence, I shall only add that I am, Gentlemen, your obliged humble Servant, RO. C. NICHOLAS.
P E T E R S B U R G, June 21.
THE Russian Fleets are in so good Condition that we may truly say they have never been so respectable as they are at present. At Revel, there are 28 Ships of the Line, four of which are new built, under the Inspection of Sir Charles Knowles, each of 74 Guns. The greatest Part of the new Ships is the Work of some of the most celebrated English Ship Builders, and the greatest Number of the Officers who command them are English, Scotch, or Irish. The Russian maritime Forces in the Archipelago are still more considerable; they consist, in the Whole, of 40 Ships of the Line at least, exclusive of Frigates, and many other Vessels.
VENICE, June 23. We are assured that the Russian Minister here hath received a Letter from Cataro, which confirms what we had before learned from Transylvania, namely, that there had been a bloody Battle near the Danube between the Russians and Turks; in which, it is said, the latter lost 30,000 Men, with the Military Chest, and several Standards. We expect every Moment to receive Letters with a more circumstantial Detail.
BELGRADE, June 27. We learn from Constantinople, that two Tartars arrived there lately from the Camp of the Grand Vizir, confirming the melancholy News that the Russians, having passed the Danube, had advanced as far as Bababdag, and there formed a fortified Camp, from whence they marched out and attacked a Body of 15,000 Turks, the greatest Part of whom perished by the blowing up of a Mine.
L O N D O N, July 15.
IF the last Letters from Spain may be credited, the Reason of the Court of Madrid's enlisting every fifth Man throughout her Dominions, to strengthen the Army which is to take the Field next Spring, and the Orders for the equipping of several Squadrons, is that Power's being on the Point of being engaged in a double War, one in Africa, and the other in America. In Africa, the Emperor of Morocco, at the Head of the Barbarian Princes, seems resolved to drive the Spaniards from those Places which they now possess; in Consequence of which Revolution he is besieging the Fortress of Oran with an Army of 42,000 Men, and it is said the united Forces of those Princes will amount to 100,000 Men. In America, the Spaniards are in Danger of losing their Possessions; for by Advises from Chili, in South America, the Arauquies, who are the most courageous of the Indians, and whom the Spaniards have named Los Bravos, because they have always maintained their Liberty against the united Force of Spain, these Arauquies, after having supported a War for 100 Years past, and always injured to Arms and Poverty, have joined the Inhabitants of the Island of Chiloe; and having driven the Spaniards from thence, passed on to the Continent, where they have defeated the Spaniards in two different Battles. Encouraged by these Advantages, they have taken and burnt the Town of Baldivia, and taken the Towns of Concepcion, Coquimbo, Villarica, and in short all the Coast of Chili. The Viceroy of Peru, as soon as he heard of this Insurrection, equipped a Squadron at Callao, a Port in Lima, to go to the Assistance of the Spaniards in Chili; but the Insurgents having had Time to fortify themselves, these Succours came too late, and the Squadron returned to Callao. One of the Ships came through the Straits of Magellan with this Account to Madrid.
It is certain that Persons who are lately arrived from various Parts of the Kingdom all concur in declaring, that, in the Memory of Man, never were seen finer or more promising Crops of all Sorts of standing Corn, and that, if any, the Barley has rather the Advantage of the rest.
Proclamations have been made at all Parts of the French and Spanish Dominions for all Persons, Subjects of those Powers in the Army and Navy, to join their respective Corps immediately, on Pain of Death.
An Ordinance is issued at Paris, which declares that all English Vessels laden with Cotton Velvet Stuffs, of the Manufacture of that Country, shall be prohibited from Admission into France, under the Penalty of Seizure of the Goods, and a Fine of 3000 Livres.
It is said that Messrs. Wilkes and Bull will be returned by the Livery to the Court of Aldermen, at the ensuing Election for Lord Mayor.
On Friday his Excellency General Paoli embarked on Board the Three Sisters, Captain Hailes, lying off Dover, for Peterburg, having obtained a Post in the Russian Service.
The Smuggling Vessels from the Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, taken by his Majesty's Cutters in the Course of the last ten Months, have been computed to exceed the Value of 40,000 l.
Two armed Cutters are ordered to be stationed in the Frith of Forth, for the more effectual Prevention of Smuggling.
They write from Gibraltar of two French Ships of Force being drove on Shore near there, and both of their Crews perished.
A Correspondent from Boulogne asserts, that more than three-score Carcases of Beef are weekly imported there from England, and that most of the Provision consumed on that Coast is English. If so, there needs no other Account for the enhanced Price thereof in our Markets.
We hear that Colonel Morrison, who lately arrived from Delhi, has brought over a great Number of valuable Persian Manuscripts, which he intends to deposit in the British Museum.
A Report strongly prevails, that the Court of France had lately made Proposals to our Minister to relinquish the Island of Corsica, upon Condition of our taking Measures to stop the too rapid Progress of the Russian Arms.
The Perukemakers are highly elated at a great Personage having his Hair cut off, as it will certainly give a very beneficial Turn to their Business.
The last Letters from Warsaw advise, that the Commissioners appointed to draw up the Articles of the Treaty of Partition have been searching the Records of the Chancery of Poland in Order to find out the original Receipt by which the late King of Prussia, Father of his present Prussian Majesty, renounced for ever, for himself and Descendants, all Pretensions to Prussian Poland; but as they have not been able to find it, it is suf-
pected to have been clandestinely taken away, to deprive the Republic of the Benefit of it.
It is said Administration have procured the late Act for preventing the Diminution of Guineas to be passed in Order to facilitate the Currency of 5 l. Bank Notes, a Circumstance the present ministerial Financiers have had long at Heart.
As the new Act for regulating the Currency of Gold Coin does not express what shall be considered as reasonable Wear, it may be no useless Piece of Information to our Readers to acquaint them that the Bank receives no Guineas which weigh less than five Pennyweights three Grains. This, estimating the real Weight of a Guinea to be five Pennyweights nine Grains and about nine Sixteenths, is an Allowance of about 1 s. taking the Price of Gold at the Coinage Standard, or 3 l. 17 s. 6 d. an Ounce.
The Directors of the Bank of England have given Orders that all their Money wanting more than in Proportion of one Shilling in the Guinea be forthwith cut to Pieces, and Persons are now employed in that Business.
It is with Confidence said that the Bank has already cut to the Amount of 125,000 l. in Guineas and Half Guineas.
The Postmasters General have ordered Money Scales and Weights to be made for the inland and foreign Offices, and one for each Letter Carrier, that they may weigh all Gold before they take it. Upwards of 100 Sets are ordered for this Purpose.
Friday came on a Trial before Lord Mansfield, in the Court of King's Bench, Guildhall, by an Information against the Publisher of the Covent Garden Magazine, which contained indecent Prints and Essays, tending to corrupt the Morals of the Readers; he was found guilty, but his Sentence is referred to next Term, when he is to be brought to the Court to receive it.
Yesterday was tried in the Court of Common Pleas, at Guildhall, before Mr. Justice Gould, by a special Jury, the great Cause in which Mr. Fabricas, an Inhabitant of Minorca, was Plaintiff, and General Mofyn, the Governor of that Island, Defendant, for imprisoning the Plaintiff in a Dungeon, during which Time he was allowed only Bread and Water for his Sustenance, and all his Friends, even his Wife and Children, were denied Access to him; that after six Days close Confinement, and without having been brought to any Trial, he was put on Board a Ship and banished to Carthagena in Spain. To which the Defendant plead in Justification, that the Plaintiff was guilty of a Riot and Disturbance of the Peace; and for Order of the Government of that Island he was obliged to order the Plaintiff to be banished, which he pleaded he, by Virtue of his high Office, had Authority to do, and proved, in Evidence, that General Blakeney had done the like. The Trial began at ten in the Morning, and lasted till between ten and eleven in the Evening, when the Jury, which was special, brought in a Verdict for the Plaintiff, with 3000 l. Damages, and Costs of Suit; and at the same Time declared, that they could not, from any of the Evidence, perceive any seditious Intention in the Plaintiff.
If we should ever be so unhappy as to have a House of Commons constituted chiefly of a Set of profligate and unprincipled Individuals, chosen by a ministerial Mandate, the Offspring of Corruption, such an Assembly will be the Representatives of the Minister, not of the People; and instead of being the Guardian and Advertiser of the People's Rights, and the Palladium of Liberty, it will be an Instrument in the Hands of Power of introducing and perpetuating Slavery and Despotism. It therefore behoves the Electors of Great Britain to be upon their Guard, at the approaching General Election; many ministerial Baits are then intended to be thrown out, which if they have Sense and Honesty enough not to swallow will contribute greatly to the Removal of the many Evils this Nation now labours under, and transmit their Names with Honour to the latest Posterity.
July 17. We hear from Paris, that a fresh Treaty is on the Tapis between the Courts of France and Lisbon; which, if all the Articles are ratified and observed, will turn out greatly to the Advantage of the former. The principal Articles in her Favour are, that the French shall be allowed to sell Negroes in all the Portuguese Settlements in America; that they shall be allowed an open Trade to all the Ports belonging to Portugal in Africa and the East Indies, and that they shall import the Products of France to Rio Janeiro, in the Brasils, Duty free, with many other considerable Advantages. But it is expected that some other Powers of Europe will oppose this Junction.
Extract of a Letter from the Lower Elbe.
"We are just informed, by a Letter from Cronstadt, that the Russian Fleet of twelve Ships of the Line and eight Frigates, which was supposed to be destined as a Fleet of Observation in the Baltick, has received Orders to join the Danish Fleet, of sixteen Ships of the Line and nine Frigates, which the Empress has taken into her Service, and both to proceed to the Mediterranean. Thus is the Empress of Russia sending a Fleet of 45 Sail to the Mediterranean, which no one pretends to assign any Reason for; only it is suggested that some distant Knowledge of this Affair has occasioned the Arrival of so many Couriers at Stockholm from a certain southern Court, whose Monarch perhaps, has the greatest Reason to hinder these northern Guests from coming so near his Dominions in the Mediterranean. However this may be, this Step is very remarkable, and seems to prognosticate Matter of the greatest Importance."
Extract of a Letter from Zittau, in Upper Lusatia.
"A most violent Storm of Hail, accompanied by an excessive high Wind, on the 18th of June, has not only destroyed all the Corn in the Country round us, but almost ruined the neighbouring Villages. The Elements appeared entirely green at the Time of this dreadful Calamity, and the Hailstones were as big as a large Sand Box. In one Village 29 Houses were beaten down, several Trees were split asunder, and the general Damage done to the Farmers is incredible. We had a most promising Prospect of a fine Crop at the ensuing Harvest, before this dreadful Catastrophe; by which our Hopes are at once overturned, and we now see nothing but Distress before us."
They write from the Hague, that all the Garrisons and Barrier Towns in Holland, Flanders, and Dutch Brabant, are completely garrisoned, by Order of the States.
Advices from Stockholm mention the Senate being suddenly called together, by his Swedish Majesty, on Affairs of great Consequence.
By Letters from Riga, we learn that a Fleet of ten Sail of the Line, Frigates, &c. is just ready to sail for the Mediterranean.
It was currently reported yesterday in the City, that the Reason assigned by Parliament for cutting the Coin deficient in Weight is to bring in all the light Gold, as to its Value, into the Exchequer; which it is imagined will be effected before Christmas next, and that then the Law will be repealed. That a sufficient Number of new Guineas and Half Guineas will be issued out to replace the old, and then the Gold will circulate as usual. If this is the Case, it reflects Honour on the Minister.
N E W Y O R K, September 13.
ON Monday Evening was brought to Town a very large and remarkable Sea Tortoise, of a Species before unknown here. It weighed, we hear, upwards of 800 Pounds; from the Head to the Tail measured about seven Feet, Half as much in Width, and in Thickness about fifteen Inches through the Middle of the Back. The fore Fins are about fourteen Inches broad and upwards of three Feet long, and between the Extremities, when extended sideways, measured eight Feet; the two hind Fins were about Half as long as the fore Ones, and proportionably broad. The Shell was marked into six Divisions, exactly resembling a Clinker built Boat, the joining of each Division rising a little above the rest in a sharp Ridge; that on the Middle of the Back being most prominent, and the Shell in the two upper Divisions of it much harder than the rest, but those not very hard; the rest so tender that it seemed not much harder than the Skin of a Porpoise. The Shell, which was of a black Colour, did not overhang the Flesh, but join to it on the same equal Surface, except about nine Inches which projected, and ended in a Point, over the Tail. The Head, which extended about a Foot beyond the Edge of the Shell, had nothing singular in it except that it had Teeth in the Mouth. The Fishermen reported that they had seen this Animal in the Sound at different Times for a Week or two before they took it, which they did the 2d Instant at Rye, by striking a Gig into it through the Back, from whence issued a prodigious Quantity of Blood; notwithstanding which Wound, it lived until Tuesday. The Fish is, probably, as good as any other Sea Tortoise; but as it is an unknown Animal, no Body seems inclined to eat it.
A Gentleman in St. Thomas's writes to his Friend in this City that the Guada Costas have lately taken off the Coast of Port Rico no less than thirty Sail of Vessels, two of which belonged to that Island.
W I L L I A M S B U R G, September 30.
CAPTAIN Somerville, of the Ship Renfrew, from Glasgow, about the last of July spoke Captain Younghusband, from Virginia, a few Leagues from Liverpool; all well.
Deaths. Captain WILLIAM HARWOOD, of King and Queen, in the 39th Year of his Age. As a Husband, he was tender, affectionate, and endearing; as a Parent, ever careful of the Morals of his Children; as a Master, indulgent and humane; as a Companion, lively and entertaining; as a Christian, pious and sincere.

Advertisements.
ON serious Consideration of the present State of our Practice in the General Court...
The Subscriber by no Means disapproves of the above Resolution; but as he has long determined to quit his Practice as an Attorney...
CAROLINE, September 21, 1773. ANY Person wanting an Assistant, in the Management of a COUNTY COURT CLERK's Office...
NOTICE is hereby given that the Commissioners appointed by the Courts of King and Queen and King William Counties, to LET the CLEARING of MATTAPONY RIVER...
WOOLLENS. JUST IMPORTED in the Kingston Packet, Joseph Turner Master, a few Bales of WOOLLENS, consisting of low priced BROAD-CLOTHS...
IN Pursuance of a Decree of the Worshipful Court of York, will be exposed to SALE on the 18th of October, in the Town of York, the HOUSE and LOT that were the Property of George Chaplin...
NORFOLK, September 28, 1773. WE have lately imported a Quantity of EUROPEAN GOODS, in small assorted Packages, which we will sell at a low Advance...
To be SOLD on the Premises, the 15th of December, A VALUABLE Tract of TOBACCO LAND, in Albemarle County, containing about 2300 Acres...
At the same Time and Place will also be sold the Stock of CATTLE, HOGS, HORSES, CORN, FODDER, PLANTATION UTENSILS, &c.
To be SOLD, and entered upon the 1st of January, A TRACT of LAND on Dan River, Halifax County, containing 1758 Acres.
N.B. All Persons indebted to the Estate of Hampton Wade, deceased, need not expect any longer Indulgence.
To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, on Wednesday the 11th of November, at Albemarle Courthouse, 23 likely VIRGINIA born NEGROES.
To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, the 27th of this Instant (October)
FIVE Hundred Acres of choice LOW GROUNDS, on Ware River, in Gloucester County, near 200 of which are in Wood.
FOR SALE, and to be entered on at Christmas, the LANDS that were the Property of the late Mr. Joseph Morton, in James City County...
YORK TOWN, September 23, 1773. MY Wife, Elizabeth Donaldson, having eloped from my Bed and Board...
BUCKINGHAM, September 20, 1773. To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, at two Years Credit, before the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg...
To be SOLD, on Thursday the 11th of November, at Lunenburg Courthouse,
A TRACT of LAND upon Nottoway River, in Lunenburg County, containing 518 Acres, by an old Survey.
To be SOLD by publick Auction, on Thursday the 28th of October, upon the Premises,
A TRACT of LAND in Culpeper, containing 700 Acres, the Property of Captain William Payne.
LAND FOR SALE. THE valuable unimproved Moiety of the Tract on which Mr. John Thompson, Junior, now lives...
WARWICK, September 25, 1773. I HAVE for Sale, at a low Advance, a Quantity of well assorted SHOES, in Casks, from 30 l. to 50 l. Sterling Value.
A Purse of SEVENTY POUNDS, To be run for on Shackle Hill, in the Town of Richmond, the second Thursday in November...
STRAYED or STOLEN from the Subscriber in Wake County, North Carolina, on the 5th of June last, a BAY MARE about 4 Feet 8 Inches high...
YORK, September 27, 1773. STRAYED from this Town, about a Month ago, a large RED or BRINDLED COW, marked with a Slit and Nick in each Ear...
RUN away from the Subscriber in Surry County, near Cabin Point, two Negroes. One is a Wench, named AMY, of a very black Complexion...
RUN away from the Subscriber in Botetourt County, in the Forks of James River, a Servant Man named JOHN MOSS, about five Feet seven or eight Inches high...
RUN away from the Sloop Lark, John Lindsay Master, on the Night of the 28th of August last, an indentured Servant Man named JOHN ROSS...
COMMITTED to York County Prison, a Negro Man named JAMES, belonging to Mr. John Parker, Junior, of Mecklenburg.
COMMITTED to York County Prison, a Negro Man, about five Feet four Inches and a Half high, slim made, and has on a Cotton Jacket and blue Plains Cap.
COMMITTED to York County Prison, an African Negro Man, who says his Name is HARRY, about five Feet four Inches and a Half high...
COMMITTED to the Jail of Chesterfield County, the 31st of August last, a Negro Man who says his Name is STEPNEY...
COMMITTED to James City Prison, on the 28th of September, a Negro Man named JAMES, about five Feet ten Inches high...
WILLIAMSBURG, September 23, 1773. JUST imported, an Assortment of Woollens, namely, Beaver Coating, Plains of various Sorts, Fearnoughts, Friezes, Kendal Cottons...
SUSSEX, September 16, 1773. AS the PARTNERSHIP of Glaister Hunnicutt, and Co. expires the 1st of October, they have appointed Peter Williams to collect and settle all Accounts...
NORFOLK, September 23, 1773. I HAVE lately received, upon Consignment from the Manufacturer, in Bales of about 23 l. Sterling Value, a large Parcel of KENDAL COTTONS...
For SALE, THE three following TENEMENTS in the City of Williamsburg, which formerly belonged to the Honourable Philip Ludwell...
AS Messrs. Glaister Hunnicutt and Company have thought proper to appoint me to collect and settle all Accounts due to them after the 1st of October...
NORFOLK, September 22, 1773. FOR CHARTER to Liverpool, the Ship NANCY, James Dysart Master, Burthen about 300 Hogheads of Tobacco.
FOR SALE, at publick Vendue, all the GOODS in the Store kept by me in BLANDFORD; and as there can be no Credit given, they will be laid off in such Lots as will best suit the Purchasers.
WESTMORELAND, September 10, 1773. THE PARTNERSHIP of James Ballantine and Company, Merchants in Glasgow, is now at an End, and the Books for that Concern closed.
To be SOLD, on Thursday the 14th of October, if fair, otherwise next fair Day, at Westbury, in Charles City, ALL the PERSONAL ESTATE of LILTEBURY COCKE, deceased...
To be SOLD, at Charles City Courthouse, on Wednesday the 6th of October, being Court Day, THREE NEGROES, namely, a very good House Wench and two likely Boys...

POETS CORNER. ON PREACHING. THE specious Sermons of a learned Man Are little else but Flashes in the Pan: The mere haranguing upon (what they call) Morality, is Powder without Ball; But he who preaches with a Christian Grace, Fires at our Vices, and the Shot takes Place.
To be SOLD on THURSDAY the 4th of NOVEMBER next, before the RALEIGH Tavern, to the highest Bidder, THE exceeding fine Plantation and TRACT of LAND in Chesterfield County, at the Falls of James River, belonging to the Subscriber, which contains upwards of 2000 Acres, and, on Account of its Richness and Situation, is deservedly esteemed the most valuable in the Colony, nay equal to any in America. It is in good Order for Cropping; and about 250 Acres will be sowed in Wheat this Fall, from which may be expected to be reaped at least 5000 Bushels. Twelve Months Credit will be allowed, the Purchaser giving Bond and approved Security to (11) WILLIAM BYRD , and his Trustees.
To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, on Thursday the 4th of November, before the Raleigh Tavern, in Williamsburg, A TRACT of LAND on Chickahominy River, in James City County, containing upwards of 650 Acres, just above Barrett's Ferry, and about twelve Miles from Williamsburg. It is good for Grain or Tobacco, a fine Place for Stock, Fishing, and Fowling. Wheat will be taken in Part of Payment; and six Months Credit will be allowed for one Half the Purchase Money, and twelve Months for the Remainder. (6) GOODRICH BOUSH.
RUN away from Frederickburg, a NEGRO MAN, named Cesar , belonging to the Estate of Mr. Philip Souverby , deceased. He is a well made Fellow, about five Feet nine or ten Inches high, pitted with the Smallpox, and of a yellowish Cast, formerly belonged to Mr. Peter Maye , a notorious Runaway, and has often been outlawed. I am informed he lately committed a Robbery in Essex, and was pursued and taken in Middlesex, but made his Escape from the Constable. He has now been about six Months gone, and I fear has been often in Custody, but always contrived to get at Liberty. Whoever apprehends the said Negro, and delivers him to me at Frederickburg, shall receive THREE POUNDS Reward, and reasonable travelling Expenses, according to the Distance he is brought. (4) CHARLES YATES.
RUN away on the 28th of July, from the Subscriber, in Northampton County, North Carolina, James Ralley, an intended Irish Servant, about 24 or 25 Years of Age, five Feet eight or ten Inches high, of a fair Complexion, much pitted with the Smallpox, a lively brick Hand for Business, and had on, when he went away, a Snuff coloured Cloth Coat, Ornabrugs Shirt and Trousers. Whoever takes up said Runaway, and secures him in any Jail so that I get him again, shall have THREE POUNDS Reward. All Masters of Vessels are hereby forewarned from harbouring or carrying the said Servant off, at their Peril. (11) JAMES WOOD.
RUN away from the Subscriber, in Gloucester County, on Tuesday the 16th of August, Robert Wood, a Weaver by Trade, about eighteen Years old, a well looking Lad, and his right Wrist has been broke, which makes it much larger than the other. He had on, and carried with him, a Coat and Breeches of Virginia brown Jeans, a double breasted striped Cotton Waistcoat, a Pair of Stockings of a mixed gray Colour, one Linen and one Cotton Shirt, and Bras Buckles in his Shoes. Whoever takes up said Runaway, and conveys him to me, near Gloucester Town, shall have FORTY SHILLINGS Reward. (11) THOMAS ROBINS.
N. B. I forewarn all Persons from harbouring or carrying him out of the Colony. He is thought to be in Prince George County. TAKEN up, in Isle of Wight, a pale black HORSE about thirteen Hands and a Half high, with a roached Mane and Bob Tail, paces and trots, but is very dull, branded on the near Buttock W. not very plain. Potted, and appraised to seven Pounds. (11) JOHN MURFREY.
WILLIAMSBURG, September 14, 1773. THE publick Hospital established by an Act of the General Assembly for the Reception of Idiots, Lunatics, and other Persons of unsound Minds, being now completed, Notice is hereby given that the Court of Directors will meet at the said Hospital, on Tuesday the 12th of October next, to receive all such Persons as may be sent thither according to the Directions of the said Act, and that the Court, for the same Purpose, and the better ordering the general Business of the Hospital, will meet on the same Day in every succeeding Week, till farther Notice. It is hoped that the Magistrates in the several Counties will in every Instance distinguish between such Persons as have no Estates and those who are able to defray the Whole or Part of the Expense of their Support and Maintenance as the Law requires, and that none but such as are proper Objects of the Act of Assembly will be sent to the said Hospital. By Order of the Court of Directors. (4) JACOB BRUCE , Clerk.
BEING desirous of paying every Shilling that I am indebted, I will sell to the highest Bidder, on Tuesday the 26th of October, on the Premises, my Plantation commonly known by the Name of PURTON, containing from 2500 to 3000 Acres, and lies about six Miles above Queen's Creek, on the north Side of York River. Great Part of the Land is very fine, has Abundance of good Timber on it, consisting of red and white Oak, Pine, and some black Walnut; also some Hundred Acres of fine Marsh, most of which, with little Trouble, may be made arable Land. There is a Mill on the said Land, supplied by a constant Stream. The Times of Payment to be as follows: One Third next December, another Third in April 1774, and the Balance the succeeding October. Bond and good Security will be expected, and an undoubted Title will be made by LEWIS BURWELL. N. B. Those of my Creditors that do not approve of the Credit mentioned in the above Advertisement, it is hoped will be so kind as to acquaint me in Time; for notwithstanding the great Loss I shall sustain, and particularly several Children, whose Dependence is entirely on what may hereafter be raised from my Estate, two Thirds of which are entitled, I will sell on any Credit they shall think proper.
HANOVER TOWN, September 3, 1773. HAVING declined Business in this Place, in Favour of my Brothers, John and Richard Burnley, and intending to leave this Country as soon as my Affairs can be settled, this is to desire all Persons indebted to the Store kept by me to come and settle their Accounts, and give Bonds immediately. Those who fail to do so by the last of October, it will be supposed intend to dispute; and their Accounts, without Respect of Persons, will be put into the Hands of an Attorney to collect. HARDIN BURNLEY.
FREDERICKSBURG, September 7, 1773. NOTICE is hereby given that the CO-PARTNERSHIP of HUNTERS and TALIAFERRO is discontinued. All Persons having Demands against the said Company, or indebted thereto, are to apply to the Subscriber in Frederickburg, who has the Settlement of the said Concern. Those indebted, who fail to come and settle their Accounts, and pay the Balances, or give Bonds for the Payment thereof, will meet with no Indulgence. There are upon Hand, for Sale, about 700 l. Sterling Worth of GOODS, which will be lumped off at a moderate Advance, and reasonable Time of Payment allowed. JOHN TALIAFERRO.
BUCKINGHAM, September 7, 1773. THE Subscriber intends to leave the Colony in February or March next. WILLIAM HAY.
CUMBERLAND, September 3, 1773. WHEREAS I gave my Bond, payable in December 1773, to Mr. Robert Gordon, for 65 l. in Consideration for a Negro I purchased at Colonel Byrd's Sale, in December 1772, and the said Negro never being delivered to me, I therefore forewarn all Persons from taking an Assignment of the said Bond, as I shall not pay without I am compelled. (11) CHARLES CLAY , Senior.
At NORFOLK for CHARTER, A SHIP of about 400 Hogsheads of Tobacco BURTHEN, For any Part of GREAT BRITAIN, or elsewhere. EILBECK, ROSS, & Co.
THIS is to give Notice to all Persons who have any Demands against the Estate of William Rand, deceased, of Isle of Wight, to bring in their Accounts on or before the first Thursday in October next, that they may be discharged. After that Time they will not be answered at any Rate. SOPHIA RAND , Executrix; LEWIS ALMAND , Executor.
NORFOLK, September 5, 1773, FOR CHARTER to any Port in Britain, the Ship NEPTUNE, John Wilson Master, now lying at NORFOLK, Burthen about 350 Hogsheads. For Terms apply to the Master on Board, or NIEL JAMIESON, & Co. N. B. A Quantity of LYMINGTON SALT on Board said Ship.
To be SOLD, FIVE Hundred and twenty Acres of good Land, lying in the Fork of Tappahannock Creek, in James City County, and about ten Miles from Williamsburg, joining the Land of Mr. John Shermer and Mr. John Blair; there are upon it a tolerable good Dwellinghouse, Barn, Kitchen, &c. a fine Marsh, great Plenty of Hay, good Timber, as fine Water as any in the Colony, the Creek affords good Fishing and Fowling, there are few better Places for Stocks of any Kind, and about 50 or 60,000 Corn Hills cut down since April last. The Land will be surveyed to the Purchaser. Any Person inclining to purchase may view the Land, and know the Terms, by applying to the Subscriber near the Premises. WILLIAM RICHARDSON.
To be SOLD to the highest Bidders, on Thursday the 7th of October next, if fair, otherwise next fair Day, on the Premises, THE PLANTATION and Tract of LAND whereon I formerly lived, situated in Dinwiddie, on Namsezen Road, about thirteen Miles from Peterburg, whereon is a good Dwellinghouse 28 Feet square, four Rooms on a Floor, with two Brick Chimnies, several convenient Outhouses, good Orchards both for Peaches and Apples, the Crop of Corn growing, and the Utensils of Husbandry belonging to the said Plantation. Also a Tract of GOOD TOBACCO LAND, containing 200 Acres, adjoining the Glebe Land of Bath Parish in the aforesaid County, with necessary Improvements for Cropping, and good Orchards thereon. Likewise six Negroes, two Waggons, and four Work Steers well broke, with several other Articles too tedious to mention. The Payment of one Half of the Purchase Money for the Lands to be secured, by good Bond, to Richard Booker, David Rofs, and William Beattie, Gentlemen, twelve Months from the Day of Sale; and the Residue to be ready Money, or payable at the ensuing Meeting of the Merchants in October. (11) STEPHEN DANCE.
NORFOLK, September 1, 1773. TO be SOLD to the highest Bidder, the 23d Infant, at Norfolk, three prime young NEGRO FELLOWS, namely, a Bricklayer, a Tailor, and a Field Negro. The Terms of Payment will be made known at the Sale. JOHN LIVINGSTON.
To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, at Amelia Court-house, on October Court Day, FIVE Hundred Acres of very good LAND, lying in the said County, about four Miles below the Courthouse; the Plantation is in good Order for Cropping, and sufficient to work six or eight Hands, with a good Dwellinghouse, all convenient Outhouses, and a good Apple and Peach Orchard. Three Hundred Pounds to be paid next October Court, one Half the Remainder to be paid October twelve Months, and the other Half to be paid October two Years. An incontestible Right will be made to the Purchaser by the Subscriber. WILLIAM MARSHALL.
STRAYED or STOLEN from Newcastle, about three Weeks ago, a bay MARE about four Feet eight or nine Inches high, a Star in her Forehead, a small Blaze down her Nose, hanging Mane and Switch Tail, paces and trots, and branded O. Whoever brings the said Mare to the Subscriber, in Newcastle, shall have TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward. THOMAS ARBUTHNOT.
STOLEN from the Subscriber's Plantation, in York County, about eight Miles below York Town, on Saturday Night the 29th of August last, a large gray Horse about fourteen Hands and a Half high, Bob Tail, the left Side of his Mane roached, has been used to draw in a Chair, which he will show by his Shoulders and Sides, the Brand, if any, forgot. Whoever gives me Information, so that I get him again, shall have TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward. DIANA CHISMAN.
WILLIAMSBURG, September 10, 1773. COMMITTED to the publick Jail, from Cumberland, a Runaway Negro Man called TOM, five Feet ten Inches high, remarkably black, his Face much scarified with his Country Marks, both Ears bored, his right with four Holes and his left five, appears to be upwards of forty Years old, and cannot speak to be understood, had on a Crocus Shirt and Trousers. His Owner is desired to take him away and pay Charges. (12) PETER PELHAM.
TO be SOLD for ready Money, at Amherst Courthouse, on Monday the 4th of October next, being Court Day, twenty choice VIRGINIA BORN SLAVES. The Title will be indisputable.
TO BE SOLD, FIVE Hundred and fifty Acres of LAND in the County of Charles City, with a convenient Dwellinghouse and other Improvements. Two Hundred and twenty Acres, in the same County, pleasantly situated on James River. Two Thousand five Hundred and twenty Acres in the County of Cumberland, commonly known by the Name of Saint James's. And one Thousand four Hundred and twenty one Acres in the Counties of Goochland and Cumberland, on both Sides of James River, opposite to Elk Island. The above TRACTS of LAND were of the Estate of the late John Wayles, deceased, devised to the Subscribers, and are now offered for Sale. Persons disposed to purchase may be informed of the Terms, on Application to any one of the Subscribers; and the Times of Payment will be made easy, on giving Bond and Security to (tf) THOMAS JEFFERSON. FRANCIS EPPES. HENRY SKIPWITH.
To be SOLD or RENTED, on reasonable Terms, and may be entered upon the 1st of November, A LOT in the Town of Peterburg, whereon William Stainback now lives, on which is a good Dwellinghouse with four Rooms below, and two above, a good Brick Cellar, all convenient Outhouses, and a Garden and Yard planked in. This Place has been kept as a Tavern for many Years past, and is well calculated for that Purpose. For Terms inquire of (4) ROBERT NEWSUM. PETERSBURG, September 1, 1773.
To be SOLD at Newcastle, on the 25th of October, TWO FORTY HOGSHEADS FLATS, which have been running about eighteen Months; likewise five NEGRO MEN, who have been used chiefly to the crafting Business. Six Months Credit will be allowed, on giving Bond and Security to (8) FRANCIS IRWIN , and the Executors of Mr. John Smith.
WOOLLENS. THE Subscriber has now upon Hand several Bales of coarse Woolens properly assorted for a Store, from 60 to 80 l. Sterling Value, also a large Quantity of COARSE CLOTHS and TRIMMINGS, in small Bales, from 3 s. 6 d. to 12 s. Sterling a Yard, which he intends selling by the Bale, or retailing by the Piece. He expects more coarse Woolens, of all Sorts, in very soon. He sells at a low Advance, for Cash or short Credit. Any Person applying to him, at Mr. John Woodside's in Norfolk, or at the General Courts, may depend on being served to Satisfaction. (tf) JOHN STONEY.
For SALE, immediately, altogether, or to any Number of Persons that will agree on a Division among themselves, TWELVE HUNDRED ACRES of LAND , in Sussex, one Mile below the Courthouse, and joining Nottoway River for about a Mile, which affords Plenty of Fish, and makes near 100 Acres of low Ground well stocked with Cypress and other Timber; in the Banks are Plenty of Shells very good for Lime. Great Part of the high Land is rich, on which there is a pretty Situation for a House, and sufficient cleared for ten or twelve Hands to cultivate Grain on. Mr. Clements, Mr. Homes, or Mr. Balfour, will show the Lands; and for Terms apply to David Rofs, Esquire, Merchant at Peterburg. (tf) J. SYME.
For SALE, in the Town of Newcastle, THREE LOTS on the main Street, whereon is a large and commodious Dwelling-House, Kitchen, Dairy, and Smokehouse, a Garden newly paled in, and every other Convenience for a Family; the Whole in very good Order. They were lately the Property of William Muir, of the said Town, and will be sold at the next October Hanover Court, by Virtue of a Deed of Trust from him to (tf) SAMUEL PEARSON. WILLIAM JOHNSON. CHARLES TINSLEY.
NEWCASTLE, July 14, 1773. THE Subscribers have on Hand between six and seven Hundred Pounds Sterling Worth of EUROPEAN and EAST INDIA GOODS, which they will dispose of at a low Advance, by Wholesale, and make the Terms of Payment convenient to the Purchaser. We request the Favour of all those indebted to us to come and settle their Accounts immediately, by Bond or Payment, otherwise they may be assured their Accounts will be put into an Attorney's Hands, without Respect to Persons. (tf) JOHNSON & TINSLEY.
TO BE SOLD, And may be entered on immediately, A VALUABLE Tract of LAND in Brunswick, containing about 1000 Acres, of which about 100 Acres are cleared. On the Plantation is an exceeding good Dwellinghouse, underpinned with Brick, with three Brick Chimnies, a Kitchen with a Brick Chimney, and all other Outhouses necessary for a Family and Cropping, all new built; also a very fine Apple and Peach Orchard. The Land lies within twelve Miles of Hicks's Ford, and joins the Road to Eaton's Ferry. A good Title will be made the Purchaser, and the Terms may be known by applying to the Subscriber, at Gadsin Point. (tf) ADAM FLEMING.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 8, 1773. COMMITTED to the publick Jail, from Prince George, a Negro Fellow named TOM, who either knows not or will not tell to whom he belongs. As there is Reason to believe he has not the Clothes on in which he made his Elopement, a Description of them is unnecessary. He is about five Feet eight Inches high, appears to be about twenty five Years of Age, of a pretty dark Complexion, with a Scar deeply impressed in his Forehead resembling a Hook, and, being a new Negro, cannot speak to be understood. The Owner is desired to pay Charges, and take him away. (12) PETER PELHAM.
YORK Town, June 9, 1773. THE Subscribers being very solicitous to comply with the Will of their Testator, the late Honourable William Nelson, desire that all Persons who were indebted to him will endeavour to make as speedy Payments as possible. Those who have Accounts open on his Books, and who cannot immediately discharge the Balances, are desired to give their Bonds. This Request is the more necessary, as most of the Legacies bequeathed by the Testator are to be paid in Sterling Money, and he has directed that his younger Sons Fortunes shall be placed out at Interest upon undoubted Securities, so soon as it can be done. Those who have any Demands are desired to make them immediately known. (tf) THOMAS NELSON. THOMAS NELSON , Junior. HUGH NELSON. RO. C. NICHOLAS.
TO BE SOLD, ABOUT fourteen Thousand Acres of exceeding good LAND in the County of Pittsylvania. For Terms apply to Mr. Hugh Rose of Amherst, who will treat with any Person inclining to purchase, and is empowered to make a legal Title. CAROLINE, May 1, 1773. (tf) THOMAS LOMAX.
ALL Persons may be supplied with this PAPER at 12 s. 6 d. a Year, and have ADVERTISEMENTS (of a moderate Length) inserted in it for 3 s. the first Week, and 2 s. each Week after. All Sorts of PRINTING WORK done at this Office in the neatest Manner, with Care and Expedition.