The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-01
EXAMINER.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.

The original manufcript of which the fInall vo-
Iulne now lent to you is copy, traniruitted to
the Preident of the United States by MIR. King our
late minter plenipotentiary the Court of London
in letter of December %, 1903. 1t vas purchafed
By Mr.. King the fale of the hock of one Collins.
bookseller in London and when received by the
Prehdent, was carefully copied by him, with his own
hand. The pages and lines of the Copy correipond
with thofe of the original The photography, abbre
vations, punctuation, and interiiueations are
preierved, 10 that it is fac fle, except as to the
form of the letters. The two frh are evidences of
the age of the writing.
This copy lately fent, as curious and interea
ing htorieal document by the Preiident to his vene
rable friend MIR. Wythe with pern,on to the bear
or, to communicate its contents to the public
The TRANSACTION recorded in this manuicript altho'
o. little extent or consequence, is yet marked in the
ii!tory of Virginia, having been the only rebellion
or Iniurrecion which took place in the Colony during
the l6s years of its exence preceding the American
revolution, and 100 years exactly before that event
The rebellion of Bacon as it is improperly called. has
been little underttood its caufe and coure being i'm
perfectly explained by any authentic document hi
therto poiehed This renders the prein narrative of
real value. 1t appears to have been written thirty
years after the took place. by peron intimately
acquainted with its origin progre and conclnfion 1t
was written too not for the public eye, but in COM
Pliance with the with criolty Of Britii mipiher
Lord Oxford The candour and fmplicity of the mar.
rative cannot fail to command belief
On the outilde of the Of the original MS are
the numbers, 3947 and 57s1.-Very poiTiblv the one
may indicate the place held in Lid Oxfords librar,
and the other It's number in he catalogue of the book
ielier, into whole hands it came, before Mr. X be-
came the purchaler.
The author fays Of hinref that he was planter.
P 2o), that he lived in Northumberland IT, 81, but
was elected member ftle aflemby in 1916 for the
county of Stafford Up. 2O), Col Mafon being his COL
league (2l. 45), of which al1embly Col Warner was
ipeaker CD that it the fir and hould be the la
time Of his meddling with public affairs (4o) and he
lubicrbes the initials of his name r. M Whether the
records of the time, they till EXIT with the aid Of
tneie circumstances will thew what his name was re-
mains for further enquiry.
If this little book peals truth Nathaniel Bacon ,,;ll
be no longer regarded as rebel but patriot. His
name viii be refcted from the infamy which has adj
hered TO 1t for more than century; the higna Of
corruption cruelty and treachey will be fixed on the
administration by which he was condemned; and one
more cafe will be added to thofe which prove that in
iurrections proceed otener from the nifcondut4 of
thoie IN power than from the fa6tous and turbulent
temper Of the people.
TO the right hono'ble Robert Harley efa'e her
Matte Principal Secretary Of State and one of bsr
mott Honoble Privy Council.
ST.
The great honour Of yorr command oblging NV
pen 70 itSP aide from IT'S habtuall element Of Figures
into this ttlc reate OF hitory; which having never
before experienced ] am ike Sutor ultra ereo;dam
and therefore dare pretend than (nakedy) to
recount matters OF faa.
Be'sechingyor honor will vouchsafe 20 allow that
~ 'ye1rs, dvere occurrences are lapsd out of mind
and others iu1perfeGly retained
so as the NOT foernh obedience can be now p,id
q III
20 pursue tne track Of baeed truths, as oloie a.,
my memory can recolsti, to have seen, or bebeved
from credible Friends, with concuryinp cireuns,,ncss
And whatsoever yo'r celebrated wisdom shall 6nde
amiise in the eomPosure my n,ire dependence upor
yor eandour avoUrsbly to accept thefe most
sincere endesvors Of Yor Houo'rs
Mof devoted hui..I,is fer't
]. NJ.