The Virginia Gazette

The following is the Copy of a Letter from Mr. John Norton, Merchant in London, to his Correspondent in Virginia, dated London, September 23, 1774.

SIR,

I am very sorry I am under the disagreeable Necessity of being obliged to vindicate my Character with Respect to a Charge laid against me by my Friend (as I once thought him) Mr. John Ballendine.

I never heard of this Gentleman, even by Name, till I received a Letter of Recommendation from you in his Favour. Upon his Arrival here, I invited him to my House, as a Stranger, a Friend of yours, whom I had Reason to wish to oblige, and particularly as he was a Virginian. I made it my Study to introduce him to the Gentlemen that I thought were most likely to be of Service to him here, and in Liverpool. I never had the least Disagreement with him, from the Time I first saw him to his Departure. He professed great Friendship for me, and my Family, when he left London; and from whence his Malevolence against me can proceed I am utterly at a Loss to conceive, unless I was not so liberal as to advance him the Money he wished for, which I could not with Convenience spare, especially to a Person I knew so little of, except by Report, and who had no Letters of Credit to me to advance him any Money. His Estate in Virginia was much involved, I was pretty well informed. However, upon his Application before his Departure, that if I could let him have £100 for six Months, on a Bill he would draw upon Colonel George William Fairfax (which would be accepted by that Gentleman, and should be punctually remitted for as soon as he returned) it would oblige him much, I consented thereto, and paid the Money. And behold! this is the Return of Gratitude: I find I am to be the Subject of his Abuse in publick Places in Virginia, and my good Name endeavoured to be taken from me. However, lest I should be thought to set myself down to be trodden upon, or by Silence to acquiesce in the Charge, in my own Justification, I most solemnly declare, to the best of my Knowledge, that the Whole of the Charge he has laid against me, recited in my Son's Letter, of the 6th of August, is, in every Part, a most egregious Falsity. I think the World will never suppose me so weak as to say, I wish the People by whom I get my Bread were at the Devil, provided my Debts were paid. As a Christian, it would be base; and the Expression is replete with Horror and Want of Charity, not to say good Manners. I never said, or even thought it.

As to the Merchants laughing at the Petition he says he gave them to sign, praying his Majesty would not pass the Boston Bill, with Respect to myself, I declare I never saw it but in Print, and never was asked to sign it. It is true, in private Conversation with a Gentleman, I declared I was ready to join the North American Merchants in any Petition for the common Cause, when in a Body; but I was of Opinion, that unless they united little Success might be expected, and the Northern Merchants should in this Case take the Lead. But, as the Bill had passed the House of Commons and Lords, it was judged by the Merchants in general to be absurd to join in a Petition at that Time. As to his telling me in my Counting House, "that he should publish my Declaration to his Countrymen as soon as he arrived in Virginia," it carries with it its own Conviction, for I never made any such. Could such Words proceed without a Difference between us, which never existed? And can it be supposed Mr. Ballendine would express himself to me in those Words at a Time when he was soliciting the Loan of Money from me, or I so mean as to take such an Insult from a Man I was endeavouring to serve? It may be thought of little Consequence to the World for me to give my political Opinion concerning the Matters in Dispute between Great Britain and her Colonies, with Regard to Taxation. However, I will venture to say, in a few Words, that I am clear the Parliament of England have no Sort of Right to tax America; and that, if at any Time it is judged necessary, on Emergencies, to raise Money, it should be done by their own Assemblies, in a Manner the most easy to themselves. And as to the East India Company's Meanness in forcing their Tea into America, at the Request of the Ministry, it ought to be resented by every Wellwisher to the Colonies. I ask your Pardon, Sir, for taking up so much of your Time in the Perusal of this Letter, which might be appropriated to better Purpose. I am, very respectfully, dear Sir, your very obedient Servant,

JOHN NORTON.

The original Letter is left with the Printer, for the Perusal of such Persons as may be inclinable to see it.