The Virginia gazette (Williamsburg, Va.), 1773-02-25 00:00:00

VIRGINIA
GAZETTE.
Open to ALL PARTIES,
but influenced by NONE.
TO THE ORTHODOX LAYMAN.
SIR,
IT was the chief business of my last letter to prove that the Greek terms aion and aionios , in the scripture acceptance of them, denote only temporal or indefinite duration : I will now consider the texts you have produced in opposition to this doctrine; they are, Gen. 21, 33. Isa. 40, 28, Dan. 4, 34, and 2 Cor. 4, 18.
As the three texts you cite from the old testament relate to the same person, and admit of the same application, I will consider them collectively: In these texts, and in a thousand others, as translated in our English bible, the LORD is called the everlasting God , and his dominion an everlasting dominion ; but in the septuagint, and in Montanus's Latin version (which the very learned Doctor WALTON , in his preface to the polyglot bible, says omnium maxime & textum hebraeum accedit ) the LORD is called the aionion God ( theos aionios ) or God of the ages ( deus seculorum ) and his dominion an aionion dominion .
Now by the term everlasting in these texts, according to our English translation of them, you understand infinite or endless duration ; on the contrary, I understand it in the same sense it is used in other parts of the old testament, where God calls the covenant of circumcision an everlasting covenant , and the Jewish possession of the land of Canaan an everlasting possession ; in which places this term cannot mean infinite or endless duration , but must mean indefinite duration , since God himself hath long ago abrogated the everlasting covenant of circumcision, and cast out the Jews from their everlasting possession of the land of Canaan. And I am led into this limited construction of the word everlasting , not only from the authority of the septuagint, and the best versions now extant, but more particularly from the consideration of the divine Personage spoken of in these texts, concerning whom I will endeavour to enquire.
Our learned expositors, to whom I have been already under particular obligation, and on whose further assistance I must rely, as I pretend not to understand the Hebrew text; I say, Sir, our learned expositors tell us that the Greek term Logos , or word, applied by St. John to our Saviour, before his manifestation in our nature, is intended to answer a term ( mimra ) by which the antient Jews understood that personal presence, who in the old testament is called JEHOVAH ADNI , and which St. Paul calls Prōtotokos , or first begotten , is every where called the Creator of all things.
So that by the terms LOGOS , JEHOVAH ADNI , Prōtotokos , or FIRST BEGOTTEN , is meant one and the same person, expressed only by different titles, namely, the MY LORD of the Jews (called in the texts under consideration, as rendered in our English bible, the Lord, the everlasting God ) the KURIOS or LORD of the christians; that is, CHRIST the Lord, who is Lord of all .
And that the person spoken of in your texts is this divine Logos , and not the omnipresent divinity, the God who fills Heaven and earth, and whom our Saviour distinguishes from himself by the name of MY FATHER , is evident from hence, that God, the Father of the Logos , or only begotten Son of God, is invisible, and cannot be the object of human sight. No one hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him , John, 1, 18. So again, No one (oudeis) hath seen God at any time. He that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? 1 John, 4, 12, 20. And again, Whom no man hath seen, nor can see , 1 Tim. 6, 16. But the divine Personage, whose name Abraham invoked, who is called, in Isaiah , according to the best versions, the aionion God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth , and whose dominion is called, in Daniel , an aionion dominion , appeared visibly, and was frequently the object of human sight. And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abraham, and said, I am the Almighty God, walk before me, and be thou perfect , Gen. 17, 1.
Here was certainly a person seen of Abraham , but Abraham could not see the invisible God, the Father of the Logos , whom no one hath seen, or can see: Whom saw he then? He saw him who is God visible, the pre-incarnate son of God, the Logos , the JEHOVAH ADNI , of the old testament, whose name he invoked, and who, in the texts cited by you, is called
the Lord, the aionion God , and who St. Paul declares is the image of the invisible God, the first begotten of every creature, and in seeing him he in effect saw the Father, as says our Lord, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father also; because I am in the Father, and the Father in me .
Again, we read in Exod. 33, 11, That the Lord spake unto Moses, face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend ; and in Num. 12, 8, The Lord declares he will speak to his servant Moses, mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches, and the similitude of God shall be behold . This Personage Moses first saw at the bush, who there declared himself to be the God of his Fathers , and Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God .
Isaiah also saw this divine Personage, ch. 6, 1, In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple: above it stood the seraphims, and one cried unto another, and said, holy, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory .
That this glorious object, seen of Isaiah , was the Lord, the aionion God , mentioned in the texts cited by you, we are assured, both from St. John, who says of this appearance, These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory, and spake of him , and likewise from the words of Isaiah himself, who says mine eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts .
The same glorious Personage was seen also of Joshua , ch. 5, 13, And when Joshua was by Jericho he lift up his eyes and looked, and behold there stood a man over against him, with his sword drawn in his hand; and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said nay; but as Prince of the Host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, what saith my Lord unto his servant? And the Prince of the Lord's Host said unto Joshua, loose thy shoe from off thy foot, for the place whereon thou standest is holy: and Joshua did so. And the Lord said unto Joshua, see I have given unto thy hand Jericho, &c.
No being can evince his presence more sensibly than the sublime object here seen of Joshua , the real pre-incarnate Personage of our Saviour. As his form was visible, so was his voice audible; and his mien and gesture were altogether human, the mien and carriage of a man. We have, in short, as good reason to doubt whether our fellow creatures, whom we daily see and hear, are real beings, as Joshua had to doubt of the real personal presence of JEHOVAH ADNI , or the Logos now before him.
Some persons, not attending to the proper character of the JEHOVAH ADNI , or Logos Son of God, and the connection between the account given in the foregoing and many other passages in the old testament, of the visible pre-incarnate manifestations of himself while he was carrying on his grand and amazing work of man's restitution, and the account given in the new testament, of the manifestation of himself in the human nature, when he accomplished this great work, in the man JESUS CHRIST ; I say, some persons have entertained an opinion that God, in these places, describing his presence, must have spoken in the person of some Angel, that is, of a creature; but this opinion is certainly erroneous; and contrary to the scriptures, which declare that the Angels obey his commands, and are his messengers, I will , says this glorious Personage to Moses , in Exod. 33, 2, 3, I will send an Angel before thee, and will drive out the Canaanites; for I will not go up in the midst of thee, for thou art a stiff necked people . Besides, when we consider his authority who appeared, who spoke, who was seen, heard, and worshipped, by Abraham , Moses , and Joshua , we cannot be reconciled to this opinion, especially as this divine presence styles himself (what no Angel would dare to style himself) absolutely, directly, and without restriction, JEHOVAH God . Exod. 34, 5, 6, 7, And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin . And he says in Isa. 45, 22, I (that is, I whom thy eyes behold) am God, and there is none else . And again, Isa. 44, 6, I am the first and the last, and besides me there is no God. Is there a God besides me? Yea, there is no God, I know not any . Deut. 4, 35, The Lord he is God, there is none else besides him . I could cite
many other passages to the same purpose, but I think these sufficient to prove that the glorious object seen by Abraham , Moses , Joshua , Isaiah , and the other patriarchs and prophets, was not a creature, or created Angel.
As then the person speaking in the above passages was not the omnipresent divinity, the invisible God, the Father of the Logos , nor a created Angel, he must be the uncreated angelic Personage, or substantial appearance of Jehovah . I will endeavour to explain this sublime, angelic appearance of the divine Logos as well as I am able, by a familiar instance: You are a man composed, as I believe, of a spirit and soul, and of a material body. Now though I cannot behold either your spirit or soul, yet beholding your body, the personal presence of your spirit and soul, I may be said, in strict truth, to behold even them. So the patriarchs, seeing the angelic presence of Jehovah , were said, even by God himself, to see Jehovah ; and even this angelic Personage is declared to be the only God, and no distinction is made between his external and internal existence, between the temple visible, and the inhabitant invisible.
This visible God of glory, before his incarnation, is called the Lord God, the Angel of the covenant, the Angel Jehovah, the Angel of his presence , but most frequently Jehovah , or God . But after the incarnation, our visible God is called Christ, the Son of the living God, the Lord from Heaven, the Lord of all, the God of glory, who being (before his incarnation) (en morphē theou) in the form of God, did, after his incarnation, assume (morphēn douloy) the form of a servant, becoming the likeness of man , and is distinguished from the Father by the term Son .
Of these his two distinct states, to wit, that before his incarnation, and that after it, our Lord often speaks in the gospel. Thus, when he prays, and now, O Father, glorify me with the glory which I had with thee before the world was ; how can this be understood but of his pre-incarnate, uncreated, angelic nature? Can Christ , in his divine nature, suffer any diminution of his glory? Must not the Son of God, in his divine nature, be immutables, without variation, or shadow of changing?
But in his uncreated, angelic nature, as the first born of the creation, or as the begotten before all creatures, all this may be consistent with every revealed account of him. As we read, John 1, 1, In the beginning (that is, before the creation began) was (that is, existed) the word (Logos) but how did he exist by creation? No, he was the (Prōtotokos) first begotten (and so begotten as to be) the image of God (and so completely his image as) that in him should dwell all the plenitude of the Godhead . In him, in his angelic state, dwelt the plenitude of the Godhead, and because all fulness, creaturely, as well as divine, must dwell in him, he also became man; in which capacity, being now the bodily temple of God, we read of him, that in him dwelt all the plenitude of the Godhead bodily .
It is this pre-incarnate Personage, or filial spirit, LOGOS , or CHRIST , who enjoyed a glory with God before the worlds were, who laid aside his glory at his incarnation, and resumed it after his resurrection, and who was the JEHOVAH ADNI of the old testament; I say, it is this divine Personage, in his aionian character, of whom the texts quoted by you speak, and in which he is called (agreeable to the whole scripture doctrine concerning him) the Lord, the aionion God .
This idea of the pre-incarnate Personage of the divine Logos explains clearly the text in St. John, 6, 62, where our Saviour, speaking of himself, says, What if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he, that is, who now inhabits my body, was before; that is, Rom. 6, 4, into the glory of his Father, which, John, 17, 5, he had with the Father before the world was .
So that as there is a personal distinction between God the Father, and the man JESUS CHRIST , and yet the man JESUS CHRIST is the Son of God, so there is also a personal distinction between God the Father, and the filial spirit called JEHOVAH ADNI , or, as in your texts, the Lord, the aionion God , and yet JEHOVAH ADNI was the Son of God. And as the man JESUS CHRIST is not created, but the begotten Son of God, so JEHOVAH ADNI was not created, but the begotten Son of God; only the man JESUS CHRIST was begotten after the creation, whereas JEHOVAH ADNI , or the Logos , was begotten before created nature began.

Again, as JEHOVAH ADNI, being begotten of the Father, becomes (é arché tés ktiseó tou theou) the original of the creation of God, so the man JESUS CHRIST, being begotten of the Holy Ghost, becomes the original of the new creation, which is to be effected by him. Rev. 21, 5.
Again, as after the incarnation the individual person JESUS CHRIST was God and man, so before the incarnation the individual person LOGOS was God, afterwards known by the title JEHOVAH ADNI, or God and Angel the Lord.
Again, as JESUS CHRIST, after the incarnation, was visible as to his manhood, and not as to his divinity, so JEHOVAH ADNI, before his incarnation, was visible as to his angelical Personage, and not as to his divine nature.
Again, as it is the especial privilege of christians to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, so it was propounded to the Jews , as their especial privilege, to know that their gracious ADNI was the true JEHOVAH.
And here I cannot forbear remarking that in this idea of the divine LOGOS the difficult text, in St. John, 1, 14, The word was made flesh , becomes quite intelligible, and without exception. For the words say not that the divine nature was converted into humanity, but that the visible LOGOS, the angelic PRÓTOKOKOS, or first begotten of God, the original or beginning of the creation of God, was made flesh , or man, and became EMMANUEL; that is, with us, God, visible and knowable. For the divine essence is itself ever with us, as being every where present; but then as this presence yields us neither knowledge, nor view of God, because we are utterly incapable of seeing it, the LOGOS, by becoming man, not only becomes himself a natural object of our sight and knowledge, but in him, that is, in his human presence, his holy ones shall be enabled to behold the glory of the divine nature, as did St. Stephen, when he looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; as did Moses also, when he saw the glory of the pre-incarnate, uncreated Personage of JEHOVAH ADNI, or the LOGOS, Exod. 33, 18, 19. And as did Peter, James, and John, at the transfiguration of our blessed Lord, Matt. 17, 2.
To this doctrine, concerning the pre-incarnate manifestations of the angelic Personage of the LOGOS Son of God, may, perhaps, be objected the Apostle's declaration in Heb. 2, 16. I will therefore consider it: His words are, according to the translation of them in our English testament, For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham . Now if these words are a true translation of the original text, we have an Apostle declaring against this doctrine of the angelic Personage of the divine LOGOS. But this translation is manifestly false; not only because it makes the Apostle contradict many plain and express declarations in the scriptures, but also because the Greek word ( epilambanetai ) used in this text, does by no means signify to take upon him the nature of , but it signifies to catch hold on with one's hands , or to grasp fast in one's arms; and in this sense Montanus, in his Latin version, translates this text, nonenim videlicet angelos apprehendit, sed semen, Abrahæ apprehendit . And in the same sense this word ( epilabomenou ) translated even in our English testament, in very many other passages, particularly the following: Heb. 8, 9, Acts, 23, 19, Acts, 16, 19, Luke, 9, 47, Matt. 14, 31. See also Gen. 25, 26, Exod. 4, 4, and Judg. 3, 21, in the septuagint. These several texts, for the sake of brevity, I have not transcribed at large; but you may easily examine them by comparing our English translation with the original texts.
So that this passage in the Hebrews, when rightly understood, means no more than that he suffered the Angels to sink into Perdition; he laid no hold on them as they were falling; it is only the FAITHFUL, called here by a figure, the seed of Abraham, on whom he lays hold. He suffers Angels to fall; he suffers also men to fall, all but the faithful, the seed of Abraham: These he saves from falling, by his preventing grace, into that Perdition which is reserved for wicked men and Angels, and which will be revealed, in proper time, on all abusers of preventing grace.
This passage in the Hebrews, then, has no respect to, no concern with, the angelic Personage of the LOGOS before his incarnation, which is fully proved by many express and plain declarations in scripture, of which take the following: Gen. 25, 26, Exod. 4, 4, Judg. 6, 22, Isa. 63, 9, Zac. 3, 1, Mal. 1, 1, Acts, 7, 38. And indeed the angelic appearances of the LOGOS were so sensible that the Jews even believed the eternal God to have a material Personage, of which Justin Marter reproaches them, in his dialogue with Trypho the Jew: "Your Rabbies, says he, fancy that the Father of all, even the ungenerated God, has hands, and feet, and fingers, and a soul, like a compound animal; and who therefore teach that the Father himself appeared to Abraham and Jacob, &c."
Of this angelic Personage of the LOGOS Justin Marter also speaks, in the same dialogue with Trypho: "Neither Abraham, says he, neither any other man, hath seen the Father and ineffable Lord of all uni-
versally, and even of Christ himself; but they have seen him who is, according to his Father's own counsel, both God, his Son, and also Angel, for administering his purpose, and whom he, the Father, willed also to become a man of a virgin, and who also formerly became a fire for the talking to Moses at the bush. This must be granted, because unless we thus understand holy writ, it will follow, that the Father and Lord of all was not then in the Heavens, when it is said by Moses as followeth: And the Lord rained upon Sodom fire and brimstone from the Lord out of Heaven . And again, when by David it is thus said: Take away your gates, ye Princes, be ye lifted up, ye aionian gates, and the King of glory shall enter in . Moreover, that Christ is also God, the Son of God, who also appeared, of old, as a man and Angel, and was seen in a glory of fire, as at the bush, and at the judgment, which happened at Sodom, is abundantly evident from what has been said."
Theophilus to Autolycus speaks to the same purpose: "But you object to me, says he, you assert that God is not contained in place: How then say you that he walks in Paradise? Hear what I reply: The God and Father of all is incomprehensible, neither is he found in place; for the place of his abode is not. Yet the LOGOS, by whom he made all things, being his power and wisdom, assuming the Personage (in that he became the express image ) of the Father and Lord of all, even he went to Paradise in this Personage, that is, apparent in the express image of God , and conversed with Adam."
I have given you these few quotations from the Fathers, in return for the formidable army of those antient heroes you have drawn up against me, but in whose assistance you may perhaps, by and by, have no great cause to glory.
I think I have sufficiently proved that JESUS CHRIST, in his character of LOGOS, MESSIAH, or Jehovah Adni, was the Lord, the aionian God, spoken of in your three texts, and that in this character he was conducting, in the way his divine wisdom thought fit to appoint, the great work of restitution he had undertaken to perform, according to the terms of the covenant he entered into with his holy Father, and therefore that these texts contribute to strengthen, and not to overthrow, the doctrine I defend.
Your text from St. Paul's 2d Epistle to the Corinthians must be the subject of another letter, as it affords ample matter for one. I am, Sir, your very humble servant, A CHRISTIAN LAYMAN.
From the PUBLIC ADVERTISER
PLEASE to acquaint the public that the address lately presented to the Earl of Hillsborough by a pretended committee of American merchants was a most infamous and clandestine proceeding; that those few who carried it up to his Lordship did it in a secret and shameful manner; that the most considerable and respectable merchants, trading to America, were neither consulted in it, or made acquainted with the measure; and that those who signed and presented the address are very fearful of having their names made known; that they are a set of prostituted tools of despotism and contract hunters; that they may be made to appear as such the moment they are particularly and personally pointed out; that the principal merchants, trading to that country, have the most contemptible opinion of Lord Hillsborough's abilities, and detest his anti-commercial and despotic principles.
I am astonished that the American merchants do not justify themselves, by publicly declaring that they, and their correspondents, hold directly opposite sentiments; for however the merchants in America may be divided in their interests, or modes of proceeding, with respect to laws of revenue, they all agree in execrating and deriding the name of Hillsborough, and the system of his politics.
I hope those insolent and prostituted tools, who have thus daringly insulted the whole body, by filing themselves a committee of the American merchants, may be dragged forth to the bar of the public. Their insignificancy conceals them, or their deeds should long since have been brought into light.
I now conclude with one anecdote, which may tend to delineate the character of their idol, the Earl of Hillsborough. He had deceived and betrayed poor General Lyman, till falsehood and lies could no longer serve to shield him. Pushed into inextricable difficulties, this honest Statesman (after declaring the sense he had of his merit and sufferings, and promising him his unabated patronage and friendship) tells the General that Lord Albemarle, Generals Amherst, Monckton, Keppell, and the whole class of his friends, had, after due consideration, come into the resolution of subscribing one hundred pounds each, towards relieving him from his present difficulties, and getting him over to his family in America; that he, the Earl of Hillsborough, would assuredly provide for him, though at a distance; that he begged to make one of the number, who should have the pleasure of assisting him, and accordingly gave him one hundred pounds.
The poor old man, struck with the generosity of the proposal, and the impropriety of making objections to what all his friends had agreed should be the line of his future conduct, after some hesitation and modest refusal, accepts of the money, being assured
that Lord Albemarle, and eight other Gentlemen, would also assist him with the like sum. Waiting some considerable time, for it was a tender subject for him to mention, he at last had some hint of it made known to Lord Albemarle. His Lordship was much surprized, and declared his total ignorance of the affair.
The General having been repeatedly deceived before, suspects the whole to be a lie, declared it without reserve to all the other parties. They each denied having the least knowledge or idea of such a scheme, and each damned Hillsborough as an infamous scoundrel. Unfortunately the old General had made use of the cash, was now unable to return the purse with the insult; but declared aloud in the presence chamber, and in the hearing of his Majesty, "That hell itself was not so deceitful as the Earl of Hillsborough." The good old man is resolved to transmit the rool, the moment he has it in his power, with language becoming the indignity. The public may easily believe that the rool, might have been brought to account of secret service money, but the shallowness of the expedient may mark the character of the late American secretary of state, and call up our wonder for the day. ATTICUS.
PHILADELPHIA, February 8.
By Captain Henshaw, from St. Vincents, we are informed that General Leybourne was gone to Grenada, and the command of the troops devolved on Col. Dalrymple, who had entirely surrounded the Indians, and it was imagined the greatest part of them would be made prisoners, as they never had testified the least willingness of engaging the soldiers in any other manner than in scouting parties; that Captain Read's boat in going ashore with Captain Stanton and 25 men, overset, by which accident 18 soldiers were drowned; that the Indians from behind a little eminence fired upon and wounded a serjeant, and killed 3 men that were saved from the waves, but that Captain Stanton and the serjeant behaved with so much resolution, notwithstanding the latter was wounded in three places, that the Indians soon gave way and took to the woods, when Captain Stanton immediately hoisted English colours, and kept possession of the ground the enemy abandoned.
WILLIAMSBURG, February 25.
We hear that the plot laid for the making and passing of the counterfeit money of this country has been fully disclosed to his Excellency the Governor, and that Benjamin Cook, Joseph Cook, Benjamin Woodward, and Peter Medley, of the county of Pittsylvania, some of the capital offenders in this detestable scheme, have been brought before the Governor by virtue of his warrant, and stand committed, in order to be examined by the county court of York on Tuesday next. And we can, with great pleasure, assure the public, from the information we have received, that strict enquiries are made, in order to discover these enemies to their country; and we have great reason to hope that all the offenders of this kind will very shortly be brought to justice.
The Virginia, Capt. Robertson, is arrived at the port of London.
Died Mr. JOHN PETERSON, jun. of Dinwiddie, a young man universally lamented.
Mr. RIND,
IT may seem strange that one so little acquainted with law as myself should undertake to write upon that subject, especially when there are so many learned men in this country: But as useful hints may be sometimes taken from the most illiterate person, I have ventured to take up my pen in behalf of my countrymen, whom I conceive to be injured in a very tender part.
By an act of Assembly, now in force in this country, merchants are allowed to prove their accounts by their own oaths, by which law it is in the power of a rogue to make an estate at the expence of honest people. I will endeavour to illustrate this by an example:—A, a rogue, draws up an account against B, an honest man, for goods delivered to the amount of 1000l. although B never had any dealings with him, for which he demands payment. B refuseth; upon which A brings his action upon the case, founded upon this account, and upon swearing to his account, recovers his judgment, and obtains an execution either against his body or estate, in which case A has B's liberty or property at his own disposal. B has no way to get relief, either in law or equity, as it is impossible for him to prove a negative. Now let me ask the impartial reader whether this law is not a grievance? If it is, then it is only in the power of the legislature to remove it.
By the laws of England I have been told that no man has a right to swear in his own cause, neither should he; because self-interest is an incitement to perjury. As the law now stands, we are in perpetual jeopardy, as there ever was, and will be, vicious men. But I hope our legislature will think it their duty, as far as is in their power, to guard against every species of villainy. In this hope I remain, with sincere love to my countrymen, their humble servant, A POOR PLANTER.

By his Excellency the Right Honourable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, his Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice Admiral of the same: A PROCLAMATION.
Virginia, to wit. WHEREAS I have received information upon oath that GIDEON RUCKER and SHEM COOKE, late of the county of Pittsylvania, and JOHN HIGHTOWER and WILLIAM HIGHTOWER, late of the county of Lunenburg, have been concerned in the counterfeiting and passing several treasury notes of this colony, and are fled, so that the process of law cannot be served on them: To the end, therefore, that such atrocious offenders may be brought to justice, I have thought fit to issue this proclamation, hereby in his Majesty's name strictly charging and commanding all sheriffs, constables, and other his Majesty's liege subjects, to make diligent search and pursuit after the said offenders, and them or either of them having found, to apprehend and convey before some one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, to be dealt with according to law. And for the more effectual discovery of the said offenders, I do hereby promise a reward of FIFTY POUNDS for the apprehending of each of them, to be paid on his or their conviction.
GIVEN under my hand, and the seal of the colony, this 25th day of February, 1773, and in the 13th year of his Majesty's reign. DUNMORE. GOD save the KING.
LANEVILLE, February 8, 1773. THE sheriffs who have been so long in arrear to his Majesty's revenue of quitrents are once more called upon, in this public manner, to settle their accounts with the Auditor, and pay their respective balances into the Receiver's office by the 25th of April next. My instructions on this head are positive and peremptory, and I shall be obliged, in consequence of them, strictly to enforce the law against every sheriff who fails in his duty, and neglects to make due payment. RICHARD CORBIN, D. R. G.
DOCTOR GRAHAM, OCULIST and AURIST, at Philadelphia, thus publicly gives notice that he proposes to be at Williamsburg about the middle of April next, where those persons whose circumstances or situation have precluded them from the benefit of applying for assistance at Philadelphia may consult him in all disorders of the eye, and its appendages, and in every species of deafness, hardness of hearing, ulcerations, noise in the ears, &c. Those persons, likewise, who have been born deaf and dumb, or those who labour under any impediment in their speech, by applying personally, will probably be assisted.
THE subscriber intends to leave the colony for a few months. His business, in his absence, will be left to the care of Mr. Robert Lawson, attorney at law, and Mr. George Davinson, of Prince Edward. PASCHAL GREENHILL.
THIS is to give public notice that the business of the customhouse of South Potowmack was discontinued at Lee Hall (where the office has been kept for many years) on Friday the 29th of January, 1773, and the customhouse books and papers are removed to Homony Hall, the seat of the late Col. James Step-toe, which is on the river, and is the second house above Sandy Point; the office is there opened for the dispatch of public business. JOSEPH LANE, Deputy Collector, GILBERT CAMPBELL, Comptroller.
FOR SALE, THE plantation whereon the subscriber lives, in King and Queen, about a mile and a half from Todd's warehouse, containing 657 acres, in good order for cropping, with a large peach and apple orchard thereon beginning to bear, and a quantity of low grounds, which may be made good meadow with very little expence. The dwellinghouse, kitchen, and other outhouses, have been built between four and five years. Any person inclinable to purchase may know the terms by applying to ROBINSON DAINGERFIELD.
FORTY DOLLARS REWARD. RUN away from the subscriber, living in Westmoreland, the 12th of August last, an Irish convict servant man named MATTHEW THARP, by trade a gardener, about 5 feet 5 inches high, well made, much pitted with the smallpox, has short dark hair, but generally wears a dark wig over it clubbed; had on, and took with him, a pair of leather breeches, light coloured cloth coat, old striped jacket, several white and oznabrig shirts, one check ditto, an old brown holland coat, striped holland trowsers much stained, shoes and stockings of many sorts, a hat almost new, with a band and buckle. This fellow was convicted, last June Oyer court was a twelve-month, for horsestealing. Whoever will secure him in any of his Majesty's gaols, so that I get him, shall receive the above reward. I have been credibly informed that some time after the said Tharp eloped, he went down to Williamsburg, and applied to John Randolph, Esquire, for a pass, which he obtained. JOSEPH PEIRCE.
NORFOLK, February 15, 1773. I HEREBY give notice to all persons indebted to the trustees of Mr. John Atkinson that as every indulgence they required, in point of time, has been completed so long ago as Christmas last, I propose to attend at said Atkinson's store on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 2d, 3d, and 4th, of next month, in order to receive all balances due by bond, or open account. All who fail discharging their respective balances at that time need expect no farther indulgence, and must blame themselves for the consequence. BENJAMIN CROOKER, Attorney for the trustees.
At the same time and place will be exposed to sale, some Negro MEN and WOMEN, for cash, or tobacco at cash price. BEN: CROOKER.
FALLS of POTOWMACK, Sept. 10, 1772.
THE subscriber am the manufacturer of SNUFF and TOBACCO, who formerly resided at Bladensburg, in Maryland, and at this time have a quantity of very good old snuff by me, grown better by age, which I would willingly dispose of by wholesale on very reasonable terms; that is, in such a manner as to allow the purchaser a very good profit in retailing it. Those who incline to become customers to me may be furnished with any quantity on notice given, and it shall either be packed in Weston's or Kippen's bottles, or in country made pots, agreeable to orders. From my own observation, patriotism in Virginia and Maryland is not so dormant but it may be awakened by a proper application to a person's real interest; and I am convinced that many Gentlemen, through choice, and taste likewise, would prefer mine to foreign snuff, provided they could be furnished with it in their own neighbourhood; which induces me to think that the Gentlemen merchants can have no objections to procure it for them, when I can assure them that customary commissions will be allowed them, or that they will have a sufficient profit in retailing it. However, such Gentlemen as would take one dozen bottles, or more, at a time, and lodge payment for the same with some merchant convenient to them, shall have it at my wholesale prices; and I will engage to deliver the same to their orders at general landing places, on both sides of the rivers Potowmack and Rappahannock , and at Norfolk for Gentlemen on York and James rivers, they paying package and freight, the charge whereof will be very small, and shall not forget to recommend it to the care of their merchant. The prices will be as follow: For one dozen, or more, of snuff, commonly called plain Scotch , in Kippen's bottles, three dollars per dozen; in Weston's bottles five dollars per dozen; and in proportion for pots. Those who chuse it, may have the snuff packed in bulk, either in large pots of twelve to twenty pounds each, or in tight casks from thirty or forty pounds each, to four or five hundred pounds, at two shillings and eight pence, Maryland currency, per pound, payable in dollars, at seven shillings and six pence each, exclusive of the charge for pot or cask. I likewise make round high toast at two shillings and six pence, rappee at four shillings, and Spanish snuff at five shillings, Virginia currency, per pound, when six pounds, or more, are taken at a time. The two latter kinds, either plain or scented, at choice of the purchaser. I would gladly enforce an encouragement of my manufacture by a reiteration of my good opinion of the taste of the Gentlemen and Ladies of Virginia and Maryland , as well as of the readiness and willingness of the merchants to oblige them, by taking quantities of me for the purpose of retailing; and would recommend it to Gentlemen at a distance to give their orders to their merchant, who will forward them to me; all which orders shall be strictly and punctually complied with, both as to the kinds of snuff they may direct, and in every other respect. Those Gentlemen merchants who may receive snuff from me, to be distributed by them to Gentlemen in their neighbourhood, shall be entitled to 10 per cent. for their trouble; and I only request from them a remittance of the balance, after deducting their commissions. A collection of all orders that may be offered them is therefore desired, and their forwarding them to me immediately by post, or otherwise, will be acknowledged a particular favour. I would likewise furnish cut tobacco of two sorts, viz. shag and saffron; the first for chew, the latter for the pipe; provided orders of consequence enough to induce me to manufacture it are timely received. The price of each will be nine pence, Virginia currency, per pound, by the dozen, and in smaller quantities at ten pence per pound. I have now only to observe that those Ladies and Gentlemen who are not already acquainted with the quality of my snuff and tobacco (which I affirm to be good) may receive information from many Gentlemen concerning it, in most parts of Virginia and Maryland , who have heretofore had trial of both; and I wish for no other recommendation. I humbly conceive that the interest of the public is concerned in the encouragement of country manufactures, and I shall, in future, if properly supported by it, in this very useful branch of its commerce, gratefully acknowledge the favours that may be conferred on the public's very humble servant, RICHARD THOMPSON.
THE inspectors at Page's and Crutchfield's warehouses take this early opportunity of informing the public that no tobacco will be shipped by them from their respective warehouses unless the inspection money accompanies the notes or orders. Their frequent disappointments from shippers of tobacco oblige them to insert this advertisement in the gazette.
TINSLEY & CLARKE, CLARKE & WINGFIELD. N. B. Inspection 6s. 4d. per hogshead.
Customhouse, Boston, December 15, 1772. WHEREAS there has been great neglect on the part of the owners of sundry vessels in the plantations, in not complying with the act of the 7th and 8th of William III. chap. 22d, and more particularly the 21st section, wherein it is enacted, "That no ship's name registered shall be afterwards charged without registering such ship de novo , which is required to be done upon any transfer of property to another port, and delivering up the former certificate to be cancelled; and in case there be any alteration of property in the same port, by the sale of one or more shares in any ship after registering thereof, such sale shall always be acknowledged by endorsement on the certificate of the register, before two witnesses, in order to prove that the entire property in such ship remains to some of the subjects of Great Britain, if any dispute arises concerning the same. And whereas all vessels trading at, or belonging to, any port in America, the owners or masters of which shall omit to comply with the directions given in the said act, will be liable to the same prosecutions and penalties as if such vessels were owned entirely by foreigners, the commissioners of his Majesty's customs therefore give this notice, that all persons concerned may govern themselves accordingly. By order of the commissioners.
SAMUEL MATHER, Principal Secretary. PRINCESS ANNE, February 12, 1773. THIS is to acquaint Charles Conner, son of Lewis Conner, late of Norfolk county, deceased, that he may hear of something to his advantage by applying to WILLIAM WISHART.
ALL persons who have any demands against me are desired to apply to Mr. John Holt for payment, as I intend to remove to my entailed estate in the country. MATTHEW HOLT.
STRAYED, or stolen, out of one of my lots in Williamsburg, a bright bay mare, with a short switch tail, and long black mane, very big with foal, has a small star in her forehead, trots extremely well in a chair, and was, I believe, shod before, her brand, if any, not known, and upon turning her head to the left there appears a swelling under her throat, just at the joining of the neck and head. If she is stolen, I will give any person THREE POUNDS upon conviction of the thief; if not, TWENTY SHILLINGS upon her delivery to the subscriber, in Williamsburg. WILLIAM BLAND.
WHEREAS William Claybrook, of the county of Hanover, and Joseph Claybrook, of Albemarle, passed their bonds unto Obadiah Claybrook, of the county of Charlotte, for his proportion of their father's estate, payable the 29th of December next; since which we find the said Obadiah Claybrook stands considerably indebted to the said estate: This, therefore, is to give notice that we will not pay either of the said bonds until he shall have settled his said account with that estate. WILLIAM CLAYBROOK, JOSEPH CLAYBROOK.
By his EXCELLENCY the Right Honourable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, his Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the colony and dominion of Virginia, and Vice Admiral of the same:
A PROCLAMATION.
VIRGINIA, to wit. WHEREAS the GENERAL ASSEMBLY stands prorogued to the first Thursday in May next, but it is judged expedient that the said Assembly should meet sooner, in order to deliberate on a matter I have to lay before them of great moment to the welfare of this colony; I have therefore thought fit, by and with the consent and advice of his Majesty's Council, by this proclamation, in his Majesty's name, to appoint Thursday the fourth day of March next for that purpose; at which time the attendance of the General Assembly is accordingly required at the capitol in the city of Williamsburg.
GIVEN under my hand and the seal of the colony, at Williamsburg aforesaid, this 6th day of February, 1773, and in the thirteenth year of his Majesty's reign. DUNMORE.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
COMMITTED to Westmoreland county gaol a Negro man who calls himself JOE, and says he belongs to Jesse Pollard, of Amelia; he appears to be about 35 years old, 5 feet 2 or 3 inches high, and has on an oznabrig shirt, cotton breeches and jacket, and a sheepskin cap. The owner is desired to take him away, and pay charges. RICHARD BARNETT, Gaoler.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Matapony, Feb. 10, 1773. THE copartnership of Miller and Hesplop being dissolved, all persons indebted are requested to make immediate payment. Those that cannot, and expect any indulgence, are desired to give their notes or bonds, that no disputes may hereafter arise; those that fail, suits will be commenced against them without respect of persons. The debts due the copartnership are now entirely the property of the subscriber, who has empowered Mr. David Blair , of Fredericksburg , to collect the debts. I intend for Great Britain immediately after the April General Court. All persons indebted to me, on my own private account, are desired to make speedy payment, to prevent trouble; and those who have any demands against me, or Miller and Hesplop , are desired to make them known immediately, that they may be settled.
JOHN MILLER.
KING & QUEEN, January 28, 1773. I INTEND to leave the colony very soon. EDWARD WYATT.
H ARDY COUNCIL, of Isle of Wight county, by deed, dated the 22d day of April , 1730, sold unto Richard Wooton , and Lucy his wife, during their natural lives, and after their decease to William Wooton , five hundred acres of LAND, situate in the county aforesaid, near Kingsale swamp: Two hundred acres of said land, by several conveyances, have been in my possession, and those from whom I claim, ever since the date of the above mentioned deed, which, through some neglect, hath not been recorded, and the witnesses thereto are now dead; and as I am informed that one Joshua Council pretends a claim to the said land, I therefore give the public notice, that he may not impose on any person in the sale of the said two hundred acres, as I am in the quiet possession of the same, and am determined to keep it till some person can produce a better title.
BENJAMIN BAKER.
A T a General Court, held at the Capitol the 15th day of April 1765, I obtained a decree of a bond against Thomas Stokes , senior, for three hundred pounds, which bond the said Stokes refused to deliver up to Mr. Thomas Whiting , Gentleman, at the time of settlement: This is therefore to forewarn all clerks, sheriffs, and others, from issuing out or executing any writ for the recovery of the said bond.
BANISTER ROWE.
R UN away from Eltham , on Sunday the 10th of January , a light Mulatto fellow named OTHO , about 5 feet 9 inches high, freckled in the face, has light grey eyes, and brown hair, which he wears tied behind, his skin under his clothes is very white, and had on, when he went away, a blue cloth waistcoat, and a coat of the same, with a red velvet cape. I expect he will endeavour to pass for a white man. All masters of vessels are forewarned from harbouring or carrying the said slave off at their peril. I will give FIVE POUNDS to any person who will deliver him to me, or secure him in any gaol, and give notice thereof. BURWELL BASSETT.
T AKEN up, in King William , a pied cow, with a crop and two slits in the right ear, and a swallowfork in the left. Posted, and appraised to 11. 15s. THOMAS REDD.
R UN away from Mr. James Hunter's , opposite Fredericksburg , on his way to Frederick , a Negro man named JACK DISMAL , a black slim made fellow, about 5 feet 10 inches high, has thick lips, and is a cunning, artful fellow. It is supposed he went down Rappahannock in some vessel, in order to get to James river . Whoever secures the said Negro, so that I get him again, shall have FORTY SHILLINGS, or FIVE POUNDS if delivered to William Herndon , my overseer, in Frederick county. ROBERT BURWELL.
TREASURY OFFICE, February 8, 1773. W ITHIN these few days I have seen a FIVE POUND BILL dated in 1771, the only one that has fallen into my hands, in which the bars or white lines enclosing the letter T are exactly at the same distance from each other as in the true bill of the same date; but the lines which form the other two columns on each side of the T are much nearer each other in the forged than in the good bills. The T in this bill does not stand square, but inclines pretty much to the left hand. I have also seen several bills of 1771 which seem to be impressed on the same sort of paper as was used for the forged bills dated in 1769; the bars or white lines running from the tops to the bottoms of these bills are nearly at the same distance from each other as in the counterfeits of 1769, all much wider than those of the true bills. As these appear fresh from the press, it is hoped many of them have not yet been thrown into circulation; but I think it necessary to give the public the earliest caution. RO. C. NICHOLAS. Treasurer.
THURSDAY, December 4, 1766.
On a motion made, ORDERED , That the clerks of the several county courts in this colony do transmit to the clerk of this House, in the first part of every meeting of the General Assembly, a list of the titheables in their counties, containing the names of such titheables; and that they transmit also, at the same time, a list of the public charges of their respective counties.
Ordered , That the clerk of this House do cause the same to be published in the Virginia Gazette .
By the House of Burgess.
G. WYTHE, Cl. H. B.
P URSUANT to an order of the Honourable the General Court, we shall attend at the house of Captain George Weedon in Fredericksburg , on Monday the 15th of March next, to state and report any demand that shall be laid before us against John Campbell , Esquire, of Newport , of which all his creditors are to take notice, and attend with proper proofs to ascertain their demands.
FIEL'ING LEWIS, CHARLES DICK, JOSEPH JONES, JOHN LEWIS:
RICHMOND town, February 9, 1773.
W ILLIAM HENDERSON, in his advertisement of the 1st instant, informs the public that the noted William Cuninghame and company, of Glasgow , will not look on any transactions of mine on their account, since the 1st day of November last, as binding on them: In justice to myself, I think it necessary to acquaint the public that, on giving up the charge of the store kept by me at this place on said Cuninghame and company's account to him, it was agreed between Mr. James Robison , of Falmouth , and me, in Henderson's presence, that my intention should not be made public till it was convenient for him to leave Cabin Point ; and from the 1st of November last I have carried on the business according to his directions, and made no contracts with any person on account of said Cuninghame and company but what he is in the knowledge of. I can account for this conduct of Mr. Henderson's in no other way than as a pretence for not paying off some of my engagements, prior to the 1st of November , at the last meeting of the merchants. If in consequence of any instructions he may have received from his employers he has inserted this advertisement, I presume he has taken this uncommon method to ingratiate himself with these worthy Gentlemen, and may, on that account, be excusable. If not, he has betrayed a degree of malice equal to his ignorance.
ANDREW CHALMER.
I NTEND to sell the following tracts of LAND, in Cumberland county, to wit, the land whereon I now live, which contains about 1500 acres, on which is a good dwellinghouse, and all convenient outhouses, in good repair; also a peach orchard, which contains about 8000 fine young trees of the best fruit, an apple orchard which contains about 250 fine young trees, and almost every other kind of fruit trees in a flourishing state. On the said plantation is sowed about 60 acres of land in timothy; there is likewise a well accustomed grist mill on a constant stream. Also a tract about three miles below the former, which lies near the courthouse, and contains about 900 acres, on which is an apple orchard, convenient houses for cropping, and about 100 acres of as good meadow land as any in the colony, which may be overflowed in a few hours by a stream that runs through it; about six acres of said land is sowed in timothy. Likewise about 600 acres, lying on both sides of Willis's , of which there are about 200 acres of low grounds, a good apple orchard, and all convenient houses for cropping. Also 200 acres on Muddy creek , with a plantation thereon. The above lands, except the last mentioned, lie as well, and is as suitable for the culture of corn, tobacco, and wheat, as any in this part of the country. I have also for sale, on Dan river , near Dix's ferry, about 1500 acres. For terms apply to JOHN MAYO.
I WILL sell twelve or fifteen hundred acres of rich LAND on each side of Fish Pond creek, in the lower end of Buckingham , whereon are all necessary houses for cropping; also the CORN, FODDER, and STOCK on the said land, and six valuable Virginia born SLAVES. If my debtors had not unjustly kept me out of considerable sums of money for a long time I should have had no occasion to have sold land or Negroes to have paid my debts. Land that I sold eleven years ago I am not yet paid for, and a cargo of goods I entrusted a notorious villain with several years ago, I have not received forty pounds from him, and he refuses to let me see the books to copy them, or to settle with me. ANTHONY WINSTON.
*** The land shall be laid off in parcels if not sold loca
To be LET, to the lowest bidder, on the first Monday in March next, at Mr. Abraham Cowley's , in Richmond town , Henrico county,
THE building of an addition to the CHURCH in the said town, forty by twenty four feet, with galleries on both sides and one end; a plan of which will be that day produced, and the time of payment made known to the undertaker, who must give bond and security for the performance of the said work. THE CHURCHWARDENS.
On the first day of April next will be exposed to sale, for ready money,
THE well known TAVERN sometimes called Baylis's , sometimes Farrow's , at present Reno's ordinary, situate in the center of Prince William , eight miles from Dumfries ; where all back roads terminate; and I believe more tobacco passeth by this door in one year than is made in the whole county in the same time, which renders it an excellent place either for tavern keeping, or a back store, with all convenient houses for either of those purposes, a well of good water, and about 400 acres of land. Also another tract of land, adjoining the aforesaid, containing about 250 acres, with a large dwellinghouse thereon in good repair, orchards, gardens, &c. and is in tolerable good order either for farming or cropping, the whole surrounded perhaps with as good a range for cattle of all kinds as is on this side the Blue Ridge . The whole will be sold together, or in parts, as may best suit the purchasers; and by application to the subscriber, four miles from the premises, any person may be shewn the land, and plats thereof, according to an accurate survey. CORNELIUS KINCHELOE.
HANOVER town, January 1, 1773.
I HEREBY give notice that against the 1st of March next the business now under my management will be put into the hands of Mr. John Davis , who has full power to settle and collect the debts due to Messrs. Murdoch, Donalds , and company, contracted at the stores kept at Boswell's by Mr. William Donald , and at this place by me. As many people have hitherto put off the settlement of their accounts, they cannot expect longer indulgence, unless their debts are ascertained; for which purpose I will give constant attendance here till the 1st of March , except the time of the merchants meeting in Williamsburg , and some of the adjoining county court days, which can be no inconvenience to those who come to settle, as Mr. Davis , who is thoroughly acquainted with the business, will then attend. The debts due to Messrs. Andrew Cochran, Robert Donald , and company, will be collected by Mr. Richard Morris , as formerly. JOHN JOHNSON.
NORFOLK, January 5, 1773.
W HEREAS the partnership of Bolden, Lawrence , and company, expired on the 1st of this instant, this is therefore to request all persons indebted to them to pay off their accounts immediately, or settle their balances by bond, and those to whom they are indebted are desired to apply, and receive payment. The business of the house will be continued, and carried on to its usual extent, by JOHN LAWRENCE, and company.
C OMMITTED to the gaol of Accomack a runaway slave, about 21 years of age, 5 feet 4 inches high, very likely, and has a scar over his left eye, at his first commitment said he belonged to Mr. Otto Ball on James river , but now says he belongs to Mr. Morgan Sabb in Charles town, South Carolina , and formerly was the property of Mr. Cornelius Divvick of Maryland , and was sold by Capt. Benjamin Hammond to the said Sabb , and that his own name is ABNER ; had with him, when taken up, two oznabrig shirts, and one pair of trowsers. He says he has been from his master two or three years, and has followed the water ever since. The owner, on proving his property, and paying charges, may have him of ISAAC DUNTON, Sheriff.
R UN away from the subscriber, at Petersburg , about the middle of September last, a very likely Negro man named PHIL , about 20 years of age, of a yellowish complexion, about 5 feet 9 inches high, and proportionably made; he is a native of Africa , but speaks broken English , having been some years in the West Indies , and has lost two joints off two of his fingers on his right hand; had on an oznabrig shirt, an old Virginia cloth waistcoat, with a new Negro cotton jacket over it, and a pair of old check trowsers. As he has been used to the sea, he will probably endeavour to get on board some ship, and make his escape out of the colony; all masters of vessels are therefore forewarned from harbouring or carrying him off, at their peril. I will give THREE POUNDS reward to any person who will deliver said slave to me, or to Mr. Hugh McMekin at Portsmouth , and FORTY SHILLINGS to secure him in any gaol, and give notice thereof. THOMAS GORDON.
WILLIAMSBURG: Printed by WILLIAM RIND , at the NEW PRINTING OFFICE , on the Main Street. All Persons may be supplied with this GAZETTE at 12/6 per Year. ADVERTISEMENTS of a moderate Length are inserted for 3/ the first Week, and 2/ each Time after; and long ones in Proportion.