Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-31
LETTERS
From, Arthur Lee, to the Earl Of Shel-
burne.

From Arthur Lee. to the Earl Of Sheg-
burHe.
DECEMBER Esd, i776.
To the, Right Hon. the Earl Of sheIburne.
My LORD,
A very few hours after my last letter
to your Lcrdship brought me the desire OF
my country to serve her in public cha
racter. Your Lortlship. 1 hope, thinks
too well Of me to suppose l could hest
tate a moment. In fact. almost the same
minute saw me bid adieu perhaps forever
to a country where, from choice, | had
fixed nv fortunes, and to people whom
I most respected and could have loved. But
the first object of my life is my country !;
the first wish Of my heart is public liberty.
must see therefore the liberties of my
country established or perish in her last
struggle.
In truth. have long despaired even of
struggle for liberty in England. i will
not insult Scotland with the idea. 1t is
not the subtle Wedderburne poisoning the
fountain Of public security. nor the ruth
less Thurioe deliberately butchering the
liberties Of his country, that makes me
despair, but--and yet. perhaps. the
people are not only yirtaOus, and Amcri-
ca may yet with asort of tilial piety, rean-
thatcher expiring constitution.
Our Pater Patrice, with whom, and
MIR. Deane l am joined in power, is in
good health and spirits. If fate will have
it that America. as she has reared her
temples and affairs to Liberty, must fur
nish her victims too, L know not where
she can find sacrifice more respectable.
Should the event of this measure be
found fatal to England, it is the perfidy
of her ministers, which would never offer
any thing that could be trusted, which
compcls it, and to which the consequences
are justly imputable.
I beg your Lordship to remember me
as one who can never cease to have the
most perfect esteem for you. l have
communicated to the Abbe Raynal all the
facts I could collect in answer to his ques-
tons. He will write to you soon.
May 1 beg to be remembered to our
friends in the College and TO those out
of it who, hope, will always do me the
honor of remembering me, Col. Barre,
Mr.. Duuning. DIR. Priestly, DIR. Price, nc.
have the honor to be, &c.
A. LEE.
To the Right Hon. the Earl Of Shelturne.
DECEMBER 10, 1777.
My LORD,
have the honor ofinclosing to you the
copy of letter, transmitted at the same
time TO the first Lord of the Treasury
The honor of the nation, and the rights
of humanity are too much Interested in
the objects of it not to receive your Lord
shib's adyocation. The enclosed papers
contain the principal transactions between
the northern armies. The burning de-
fencelcss towns and every thing before
him. as Gen Clinton has done, will pro-
bably draw upon him and his the ven
eeance which such cnormities deserve, IN
spite of all the endeayors Of Congress to
preyent any hasty retaliation. The South
Carolina Gazette mentions the arrival OF
an American captain, who had been
taken by captain Jarvis, and who mentions
with the highest praise the generous and
humane treatment he received from that
officer. We have had some other prison
ers, accounts equally 10 his honor, which,
lam sure, will give your Loraship plea
snrc. Capt. Jarvis may be assured that
such conduct will command from us the
nraise and esteem which are always due to
a generous enemy.
The necessity which has made us enc
mics for time, and separated us forever
from the same govern@ent, has not alter
ed the esteem i felt - The good and wise
IA England. Among these ! hope your
IordsRip and your friends will accept an
assurance Of my respect and friendship.
/ condoie most sincerely with the family
!. at Coombwoo,l for the misfortunes at New
York.