The Virginia Gazette

Lord North openly avowed in the House of Commons the 22d of June last, that "the real intention of the commission now sent out was not so much to agree upon any specific terms as to sound the real disposition of America, in order to learn what the people of that country were ultimately desirous to obtain." And his immortal cousin Lord Germain said, "the commissioners had no power to enter into any treaty whatever with our rebellious subjects in America, farther than to receive submissions of such as were disposed to return to their duty, and acknowledge the authority of the British parliament."

And so we are now fully acquainted with the powers of the king's commissioners, Lord and General Howe, viz. (to use Mr. C. Fox's words) to carry fire, sword, and devastation, wherever they go.