The Virginia gazette (Williamsburg, Va.), 1774-04-21 00:00:00

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Mrs. R I N D,
I CANNOT see that the public has any thing to do with Moore Bragg. I am sure he is little known any where but in his own county, and I imagine the knowledge of the prosecution against him would have been confined within the circle of his acquaintance (who were greatly concerned at the judge's too great lenity on his examination) had not the man made himself conspicuous among your advertisements. It would seem that this Moore Bragg intends to cast a reflection on the magistrate before whom he was brought, for committing him on so slender a proof, and in the absence of the prosecutor. I imagine it is immaterial whether the prosecutor was present or not. He could only have sworn to his property had he been present, which he had done before, when the warrant was obtained. However, he might have informed the public, that the prosecutor had no notice of the appointment of the day for his examination, and that he was out of the county, in pursuit of Benjamin Bragg, with an hue and cry. But I think the examination of Moore Bragg and his accomplice were very sufficient, considering the suspicious characters of both, to induce a justice to call a court on him; to appear at which court the magistrate bound him in a recognizance. Several days were appointed for his examination; but the clerk being ill, and unable to attend, it could not be had until about twenty four days from the date of the warrant, which is the imprisonment he complains of. This man should have published no untruths. He knows at the examining court he was not acquitted by the unanimous opinion of the justices. He should have told the public that most of the members of the court firmly believed he was guilty of the charge against him, but as there was not positive proof, the majority was for acquitting him. He should have informed the public, that at the time of taking the negro he and his brother Benjamin Bragg knew that Benjamin had no right to her, having before had the opinion of very able counsel to that purpose. He should have confessed that he thought the taking the negro away was felony, and that he declared so at the time of taking her. He should have acknowledged he lent his brother Benjamin an horse and boy to carry away the negro. He should likewise have informed, that this same Jesse Thornton assisted Benjamin Bragg in carrying her fifteen or sixteen miles. He should have informed the public, that all this appeared to the court of Richmond, and that upon the dissolution of the examining court, and on the sitting of the county court, which was the same day, he was bound to his good behaviour for his enormities, himself in the sum of one hundred pounds, and his securities in the sum of fifty pounds each. All this he should have informed the public, and they then would have been able to judge of the injury he had sustained by the prosecution against him. I should not have trespassed upon the public with taking any notice of this Moore Bragg, had I not feared he might pass upon some for an honest injured man. I am, Madam, your humble servant,
A FRIEND TO TRUTH.
Mrs. R I N D,
You will much oblige a constant customer by inserting the following letter.
To the PRINTER of the LONDON EVENING POST.
S I R,
REASONS far different to want of zeal for the public good, respect for an applauded character, or to the fear of ministerial vengeance, have long concurred to silence the pen of Junius. My animadversions on popular subjects generally made their first appearance in another paper; but to give you a proof of my approbation of your firm and patriotic conduct as a printer, I send this to the public through the channel of yours.
Much has been said of late in public, and more in private, about that immaculate class of his majesty's subjects the clergy, and concerning the scanty allowance of tythes, which they possess in lieu of that "daily bread," for which the most devout among them so fervently pray.
I must confess to you, Sir, and to the public, I was not educated in any high opinion of that order of men; nor has my riper reflection produced any change in my sentiments in their favour. I am not conscious, however, of a disposition to misrepresent them. They certainly derive their origin, and the origin of their hire, from a very remote antiquity; but the rectitude of an institution, either civil or religious, is not to be estimated by length of time, the diligent enquirer after truth, in relation to the liberties and happiness of his fellow citizens, is certainly a character worthy of our esteem. Every attempt to trace usurpation and despotism to its source, either in church or state, and to lay before the public the means by which civil or ecclesiastical tyrants have risen to unjust power, demands a plaudit from every friend to the natural rights of mankind. For as in medicine, the knowledge of the cause and progress of any disease is necessary for the physician towards effecting a cure, so in religion and politics, a judicious enquiry into the rise
and progress of any grievance may lead the public, the physician extraordinary, of a disordered kingdom, to prescribe a radical and permanent remedy.
In perusing a pamphlet just published by Messieurs Richardson and Urquhart, entitled "An essay on the nature and immutability of truth, in opposition to sophistry and scepticism, by James Beattie, L. L. D. &c. infidelity, with some remarks on priestcraft, subscriptions, and establishments," I find the following address to the clergy, which, though rather long for a newspaper, cannot fail of giving pleasure to your liberal minded readers, especially to those who have not yet seen that excellent pamphlet.
"Permit us, gentlemen of the sacred gown, to trace your pedigree. Without going back, with Rousseau, to a state of nature, of which we can form no idea, we shall begin with the little kingdom of a village, composed of a few huts, made of branches of trees, and daubed over with earth. The original motives of the first association were a dislike of solitude, a natural fondness of society, with beings of the same species, to protect one another from wild beasts, and to receive mutual assistance, as the necessities of nature required. Let us suppose, that, on the first association, they had no idea of property, and that the earth yielded, spontaneously, more than sufficient fruit for food, while the springs yielded a common simple beverage to allay their thirst. At length, however, that they might not have occasion to wander far from home for sustenance, each family cleared a piece of ground, enclosed it, cultivated it, and called it their own, which first introduced the idea of property. Some of these villagers, more indolent than the rest, living upon the labours of others, exciting the passion of resentment among the industrious, introduced another mode of association, called political society, and they laid the foundation of a republican civil government. Laws were no sooner made for the protection of property than magistrates were appointed to carry them into execution; and these magistrates formed a body called the state. But neighbouring villages at length quarrelled, war was fomented, and some one member of the commonwealth, of distinguished courage, was chosen for their captain, to marshal and lead them on to battle, who, returning victorious, became afterwards appointed chief magistrate, and invested with some peculiar prerogatives, which introduced a new system of government called monarchical. We will suppose that mankind no sooner began to reflect than they had some rude ideas of beings superior to themselves, that presided over the seasons, and were the authors of both good and evil events, according to the humour they were in. This introduced polytheism, which seems to have been the first religion of mankind. Hence a set of men, more crafty and indolent than the rest, who pretended a better knowledge of, a more intimate acquaintance and greater interest with, these deities, first laid the foundation of church governments or establishments, that imperium in imperio , from which the greatest evils have been derived ever since to society. They gave the characters of these deities, appointed the mode of worship, and the sacrifices that were to be made to them, and under what creaturely forms they were to be represented. The self-erected hierarchy did not forget to impress on the minds of their fellow citizens, with peculiar grimace, that they being set apart for divine employments at the altars, and in intercession with the gods, certain provision should be made for their maintenance, which, in the rude state of those times, we will suppose mankind cheerfully and voluntarily did, by offering to them the choicest of their flour, their flax, their wine, their oil, and their virgins. But their priests, effectually to secure their maintenance, and establish their divine claims, made an alliance with the state, which, already corrupted, had formed a separate interest from the people's; agreeing to enforce obedience to the civil laws, if the state would support them in their rights, and punish those who should resist their ecclesiastical authority over the consciences of the laity, in matters of religion, and over their property, in point of clerical demands. From this time the priestly function became an open, lucrative craft, as well as others; and it has ever since been a lucrative one, to say no worse. Whosoever presumed to think and speak freely against the church, by law established, were punished as atheists and heretics; and every conquered village was not only obliged to submit to the civil laws of the conqueror, but also to subscribe to the articles of the church, by law established, and worship according to its prescribed mode. The chief magistrate, who aimed at absolute monarchy in the state, by favouring the exorbitant demands of the priesthood, paved his way to despotism. The clergy maintained his absolute divine right, while the monarch supported theirs; and thus the king and the priests agreed to enslave the subject. But the priests, pretending to be next in authority to God himself, usurped his prerogative, and, working on the passions of the laity by their enchantments, had them so much at command, that they mostly maintained their authority over princes, and seldom failed to accomplish the ruin of those who opposed their man-
dates, and, in some free, mixed states, the king is obliged to swear to maintain the church; that is to say, the priests, or God, by law established, and to maintain the usurped power and privileges of the clergy. And, in some of the present back governments, if a man declares against certain articles of the established faith, declared fundamentals, he may be disfranchised, and punished as a blasphemer and heretic; and if he declares against some others, of less importance, he can enjoy no places of profit or trust under the government, while he is obliged to contribute his quota to the support of that government, and of the national church or clergy. A man who has not been baptised, has not taken the sacrament, and refuses to take an oath, must not be a member of the senate, a magistrate, or even a clerk in the customhouse, any more than a reputed deist or atheist. To secure, therefore, the established church, or the immunities of priests, the clergy have still so much influence, as to determine the state to keep out dissenters from any honorary or lucrative post in the nation. By which means every magistrate, and servant of the crown too, is bound, by the most powerful motive of interest, to support the church's dominion and claims. Hence some of the wisest, honestest, most conscientious, and worthy of his majesty's subjects, are rendered of less service to communicate than they might be; while some people, of pliable consciences, and the most abandoned morals, having no scruple against subscribing to any thing, or to taking of oaths and the sacrament, may fill the highest and most lucrative departments in the state. The clergy, indeed, have acted very craftily, if not wisely, in the present century; for finding that the reverence for the priestly character diminished among the laity, they have successfully attempted to support their influence, by intermarrying with the nobility, and by getting some branches of that class preferred to bishopricks, and the greatest dignities in the church. By which means the interest of the upper house is secured in their favour, while some of their most learned brethren, with abundance of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew scraps and sentences, endeavoured to convince the government, that the safety of the crown, and the good of the state, essentially depend on their alliance with the church. Thus the views of priests, like the vicar of Bray's, have ever been the same in every age. By open threats and curses, or by cringing and coaxing, most states have been induced to support their claims and dominion over the laity.
The clergy, in former times, would not suffer God to dispense any particular favour, or blessing to mankind, without passing it through their hands. If a plague was stopped, a battle won, or a famine ended, it was, under God, to be attributed to the intercession of the church, his prime ministers, and deputies; nor would they allow him to pardon even a single sinner whom they had not absolved, or to teach any doctrine, by any of his servants, which they did not approve. Their wickedness and authority were at their meridian in the time of Pope Leo X. who granted indulgence throughout christendom for crimes the most atrocious. Robertson, in his history of Charles V. tells us, the promulgating of indulgencies in Germany was assigned to Albert, elector of Mentz, and archbishop of Magdebourg, and by his order retailed out in Saxony by Tetzel, a Dominican friar. The form of it was as follows: 'May our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon thee, and absolve thee, by the merit of his most holy passion; and I, by his authority, that of his blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, and of the most holy pope, granted and committed to me in these parts, do absolve thee: First, from all ecclesiastical censures, in whatever manner they have been incurred, and then from all thy sins, transgressions, and excesses, how enormous soever they may be, even from such as are reserved from the cognizance of the holy see, and as far as the keys of the holy church extend. I remit to you all punishments which you deserve in purgatory on their account; and I restore to you the holy sacraments of the church, to the unity of the faithful, and to that innocence and purity which you possess at baptism; so that, when you die, the gate of punishment shall be shut, and the gates of paradise and delight shall be opened; and, if you shall not die at present, this grace shall remain in full force when you are at the point of death. In the name of the father, &c.'
The same author tells us, that "the Roman chancery published a book, containing the precise sum to be exacted for the pardon of every particular sin. A deacon, guilty of murder, was absolved for twenty crowns; a bishop, or abbot, might assassinate for three hundred livres; any ecclesiastical might commit uncleanness, though with the most aggravating circumstances, for the third part of that sum; even such shocking crimes as occur seldom in human life, and perhaps exist only in the impure imagination of a casuist, are taxed at a very moderate rate.
As the light of reason, that enemy to priestcraft, diffused itself over Europe, the veneration for, and power of priests, with superstition and bigotry, diminished; but some of the wisest nations are still, more or less, enthralled and duped by the clergy. In England they manage

matters still so dexterously, that a great majority are persuaded we can neither live well, nor die in peace, without them; and the fees they extort from us are innumerable—baptism, preaching, praying (not to say teaching us to curse our neighbours, once a year) with marrying and burying, &c. &c. are all sacred acts, which the church, by law established, will not do freely of God's grace, nor some of them with any grace at all, excepting that of a drunken one. Methinks I foresee the time, though it may not be near at hand, when some nations will shake off this dead weight, this yoke of priestcraft, which they cannot now easily bear, and emerge from the chicanery, as well as the tyranny, of priests. Their kingdom, erected in opposition to reason and common sense, which yet they say is not of this world, is already shaken; the tables of these money changers, who make merchandise of God's grace and truth in the temple, will one day be overturned, and the retailers of orthodox driven out of the houses of prayer, which in some countries are no better than dens of thieves:
Their square cap bonnets, and gorgeous palaces, Their tythes and offering, their dignity and usurpation, Will be dissolv'd; And, like the baseless fabric of a vision, Leave not a wreck behind. Amen."
Some of my readers may perhaps infer from this quotation that I with the utter extermination of all priests. I confess I am ready to doubt whether the world would be less religious were there no clerical institution in it; but every man was left to the free exercise of his own reflection alone in matters purely between God and himself. But if we in this nation must have a set of men appointed by law to instruct us, let them not be invested with any power over our persons or properties; but let them be paid, as the servants of the state by which they stand so appointed, some fixed and more reasonable hired out of the public treasury; and for the reputation of those who appoint them, let some regard be paid to their moral qualifications for their office. It may not be altogether an unprofitable enquiry, how far the character of our national clergy will agree with the qualifications prescribed by St. Paul for those who should devote themselves to the ministerial office. In point of precedence our bishops (and who more tenacious about it than they?) claim the first place. Let us then hear what they ought to be. "A bishop," says the Apostle, "must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient; not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach, &c." What a catalogue of virtues are here! Virtues which ought to shine conspicuously in those who take upon themselves the care of other men's souls, and receive such enormous sums of money for the charge. But, alas, dear reader, here pause a little; add thou thy tear to mine; or if thou art not serious, indulge the sneer of equally just disdain: For, to what regions of the habitable globe shall we go, to find a set of men so detestable as our clergy, for their pride, haughtiness, covetousness, voluptuousness, idleness, and self conceit. The lower orders (though many of them are less fat) are not a whit behind their superiors in those qualities, which, instead of engaging at least our respect, render them the objects of disgust to every rational mind. Placed as they are, at a humble distance from the pomp of prelacy, they make themselves equally odious with their superiors, by adding all the profligacy of manners which is to be found in the lowest classes of the laity, to that self importance which is the distinguishing characteristic of their fraternity. Such are the men who claim the dignified name of ministers of the gospel of Christ , and take upon them to direct us in our way to heaven, in order to get from us the fruits of our labour on earth; but who, instead of having rendered any real service to mankind, have been a plague to human society from generation to generation. Let us, however, cherish the dear and animating hope, that the power of the highest amongst us is hastening to an end. The eyes of the laity have been long opened to the perception of ecclesiastical fraud and tyranny; and through the noble exertion of freedom and independence, our ancestors procured for us an exemption from a part of that yoke, which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear. The glorious morn of freedom began to dawn in this island in the reign of the 8th Henry, and in a manner which excited the attention of all Europe. Neither the public nor the private conduct of that king were remarkably favourable to that sublime and simple system of religion, which Jesus Christ came to establish in the earth. But with all his frailties and imperfections as a man, he was the principal monarch of that age, who seemed conscious of a power superior to that of monkish superstition and tyranny, and from a principle of royal pride rejected the authority of the church of Rome. He became that lion which prevailed to open to this nation the sacred book of religious liberty, and to loose those seven seals, with which the power of priestcraft had kept it sealed for ages, for the horrid purposes of plunder and of blood. He found himself equal to the task of pulling down some of the strong holds of that destructive engine of the infernal deity; and ten thousand thanks to the ferocity of his disposition he stretched forth his paw.
The turbulence of this prince gave such a shock to popery as all the emissaries of Rome, during the short but bloody reign of his infamous daughter Mary, could not recover. It received a still more formidable one by the long and glorious reign of Elizabeth; and though it began again to rear its head under James the second, the memorable interposition of the illustrious William, gave it a still more permanent crush. Thus by a series of events has the enormous power of priests been abridged in this nation; and, if I divine aright, some yet more glorious future revolution (may it be near at hand!) shall completely sweep away, not only the ambition of tythes, but also every remaining vestige of popish trumpery, from a land too sacred to contain them.
J U N I U S.
MRS. R I N D,
Looking over some late English papers, the other day, I came across the following little piece, addressed to one who is generally deemed the lowest of mankind. It is not without humour, and, in my opinion, contains many judicious remarks. Be pleased, therefore, to give it a place in your entertaining paper. A CORRESPONDENT.
To J A C K K E T C H, Esquire.
IT is become very common to address great personages in the public papers, and as you are the great man who puts the finishing stroke to those happy laws which our most excellent legislators frame, I have chosen to make my address to you. Without flattery, sir, I can aver, you are the only man who holds an office in the state, and does the duty of it, with such justice and perfect impartiality, as to discover no favour or respect to persons. Impartial as death itself, you strike the richest of rogues, when you can get them in your hands, equally with the poorest of the people; and I have long been of opinion, sir, that you who put the justice of the laws into execution, deserve to be ranked with, and receive as much honour as those who make them. In this corrupt and degenerate age, it may be truly said, to your lasting honour, that whilst all other persons in place and power are blinded by bribes, and cannot find out justice, you alone always execute it. Was the ribband placed as justly as you fix the knot, with what grace would it adorn the great! The post you hold, and so worthily fill, may be truly reckoned the most important in the state; for without it all our laws would be of no signification, and every little villain would break them with the same impunity as great ones do. Your office therefore, sir, cannot be too much honoured, nor can you be too richly rewarded by the state. A ribband, sir, would sit as well upon your shoulders as upon many of those who wear them, and a pension of some thousands a year would be more justly bestowed upon you, for serving your country so faithfully, than on those who enjoy it for betraying the rights and interests of it. Indeed, if justice was as impartially executed by others as it is by you, the profits of your place would be equal to that of any in the state; nor would any nobleman in the nation have a richer wardrobe. At present, sir, it is far otherwise; but the time may come (and it is the general wish of the community it may soon come) that rogues of every rank may meet with justice from your impartial hands; and when that happy time shall arrive, you, Squire Ketch, shall be honoured with many glorious titles; amongst which you shall be called the reformer of the nation's representative, the conqueror of court corruption, and the grand restorer of the constitution of your country. T R U T H.
MRS. R I N D,
CAELUM PETIMUS STULITIA.
ACTUATED by a principle of philanthropy, I have long reflected on so considerable a part of Messieurs Purdie and Dixon's weekly gazette, engrossed with the futile arguings and unedifying disputations of two incensed divines of our church (viz. B—n and H—y) with much regret, and indeed dread, of the pernicious consequences presumable therefrom. At a time when a general corruption of manners has diffused itself through the practices of most of our lay-community in the lower parts of the country, whilst little else prevails in the upper counties thereof, than an indissoluble aversion to, and enthusiastic dissention from, the principles of our ecclesiastical establishment; whilst, I say, the laity of our country labour almost universally under errors of so gross a nature, could we conceive two gentlemen, situated at the very fountain head of the former abuse (such to whom the oracles of God are committed, and who are thereby bound by the most solemn obligations, being called to the office and work of the ministry) to take good heed to preaching, to be instant in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and patience, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; or, in other words, endeavouring by every effort of unwearied and unremitting diligence (as a conscientious knowledge of the discharge of their important duty would direct them) to be found always watching over, and feeding the flock of Christ, as becomes faithful stewards of the mysteries of God's word, having first convinced them of sin; instead of this, to give an unbounded loose to all that contention which the apostle forbids even to be named amongst saints, and having swerved from the end of the commandment, which is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned, turn aside to vain jangling! Methinks I see Peter and Paul blushing to have their names mentioned, and phrases mingled with such abusive cavils and incoherent jargon, which have for their grounds nothing more than the moderate good success of one obscure priest, and the disappointment of another, and have therefore deservedly incurred the greatest contempt and utmost ridicule of every judicious reader, since their first appearance in public. Pray, Madam, with what degree of propriety could either of these gentlemen ascend a pulpit, and thence recommend what is so necessary to be received, viz. peace and goodwill among men, when they themselves have, for these several months past, been giving us such repeated demonstrations of a self disposition so diametrically opposite to either? Upon the topic of falsehood, too, one of the first born of evils (if modesty chances to be predominant) they will certainly be silent; for it is obvious, from every paragraph of their invective controversy, that the whole of their aim has been to brand each other with the detestable stigma of avowed enmity to sacred truth, and all its relations, and were urged to surmise that their mutual labours have not been altogether in vain. Lest I should fall under the same censure these parsons unhappily have done, I will conclude with a gentle admonition to them, to cease from such a base mispending of their time and abilities for the future, and, on the contrary, seek to be approved "worthy examples of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and purity; looking to themselves, and to their doctrine, with perseverance, for by so doing they shall save themselves, and them that hear them;" whereas by continuing still in the labyrinth of scandal and defamation, we shall, in all probability, experience not only
the consciences of their weak brethren mortally wounded thereby, but likewise the glorious gospel of Christ greatly hindered (at least, in their quarter) "and the hedges of that lovely vine, which, being planted in heathen possessions, took deep root, and filled the lands, be broken down; so that they which pass by will pluck her grapes, and the wild boar out of the wood devour her."—Till the return of a similar provocation to the present, whereby I have been induced to trouble you herewith, I am, Madam, your obedient humble servant,
AN ENEMY TO CAPTIOUS PARSONS.
FRONTIERS OF TURKEY, January 14. HITHERTO we have no news of the enterprize that Hassan Pacha had projected for molesting the Russians on the left side of the Danube. There is reason to think that the successes of this general, and the favour which they have gained to him at the Porte, gives him a brage to the Grand Vizier, who, sensible that his merit is as solid, though less dazzling than that of his rival, does not with pleasure see him considered restorer of the glory of the Ottoman arms, and gathering alone those laurels rather due to the prudent dispositions of Mosloo Oglou than to the active courage of Hassan. The enemies of this last give out that it was not through any injustice or jealousy, but through his haughtiness or misconduct, that he lost the post of Bey of Constantin.
W I L L I A M S B U R G, April 21. The Bell, Moody, in five weeks from Glasgow, is arrived in York river; the Nelly, M'Larty, from Glasgow, and the Randolph, M'Nabb, from London, in James river.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Philadelphia to his correspondent in this city.
"The vast noise and bustle which has lately appeared in almost all the papers relative to the POSTOFFICE in America, without doubt, has alarmed many people in this continent, who would willingly adopt every prudent measure to redress themselves in so important a matter; and, indeed, I cannot conceive how the mother country can pretend to the profits arising from that department, nor is it obvious to me, that the money produced therefrom can tend to the emolument of the crown, as I have been credibly informed the chief part of it goes to the support of a set of harpies at home, who have, in a most unprecedented manner, pretended a claim thereto, and are upheld therein by every ministerial influence. Doubtless the postoffice, thus established, is an infringement upon the liberties of the Americans; and no man can wish more fervently than myself for a total abolition of it, upon so unjustifiable a footing. But when I reflect upon the consequences that will naturally ensue, in bringing this about, from a pretty thorough knowledge of the principles and character of the gentleman who seems most to interest himself in the affair, I cannot say I have very flattering ideas of its success. I believe, Sir, you are entirely unacquainted with Mr. G—d, who has been lately so much complimented; indeed, you need never with an intimacy with him. Hard is the lot of that man who has not one wellwisher: Mr. G—d may have received his encomiums from two or three intimates, but confident I am he is not regarded even by those who once caressed and supported him. A private post is set up from this city to Baltimore, but the merchants here would not suffer Mr. G—d to have the direction of it, notwithstanding his early application, and profusion of patriotism: They have more prudently preferred Mr. Bradford."
Written by a FRIEND, on hearing of the death of MILLS CARY, son of Wilson Miles Cary, Esquire, who died the 16th instant.
Accept, dear shade, the tribute of a verse, Instead of scutcheons, to adorn thy hearse: These would with greater pomp, and more parade, Have told whose cold remains are here convey'd, But sure the lines are fitter to impart The tender sorrows of a feeling heart; Too much to pain, too long to grief inur'd, Whose wounds not e'en time's lenient hand has cur'd. For now they bleed afresh, dear youth, for you, And in their present pangs the past renew. O couldst thou, gentle spirit, but convey Thy heav'nly knowledge to the sons of clay! Enlighten'd reason, in thy much lov'd name, What now the only whispers would proclaim; Bid all, but most thy parents, hail the day That snatch'd their highly favour'd son away, And, as the immortal poet Young hath said, With songs of joy "congratulate the dead."
ENTERED in the LOWER DISTRICT of JAMES river.
April 7. Brig John, John Duncan, from Hispaniola, with 30 hogheads and 97 tierces of foreign molasses.
14. Sloop Betty, Joan Avery, from Bermuda, with ballast.
15. Sloop Rachel, Joseph Seymour, from Bermuda, with ballast.
C L E A R E D O U T W A R D S.
April 8. Ship Hawke, Jacob Gelseus, for Cadiz, with 8578 bushels of wheat, and 622 barrels of flour.
9. Ship Catharine, James Patrick, for Cadiz, with 9000 bushels of wheat, 590 bushels of corn, and 90 bushels of pease.
11. Ship Nancy, Robert Miller, for the Grenades, with 1500 bushels of corn, 14 barrels of meal, 12 barrels of flour, 2 barrels of hams, 1200 feet of plank, 30,000 staves and heading, 4000 hoops, 10,000 shingles and 1 hoghead of tobacco.
12. Ship Betsey, Samuel Croftwhite, for Liverpool, with 241 barrels of tar, 1546 barrels of turpentine, 2 casks of indigo, and 15,000 barrel staves.
12. Schooner Bumper, Thomas Peaton, for Philadelphia, with 1600 bushels of corn, 400 bushels of pease, and 4 tons of hemp.
13. Sloop Lucy, Edward Drew, for Antigua, with 1 hoghead of tobacco, and 38 barrels of bread.
13. Sloop Desire, Prince Gorham, for South Carolina, with 2400 bushels of corn, and 2000 bushels of oats.