The Virginia Gazette

"To avert the ruin which now hangs over our heads, some steps ought to be taken towards opening the eyes of our deluded Sovereign, and to shew him the miserable condition which his Ministry have brought his crown and kingdom into. The first step necessary for that salutary purpose, seems to be, a joint remonstrance and address of the Gentlemen of the minority in both houses of Parliament to his Majesty; for what ministerial corruption will not permit those Gentlemen to perform in the houses, they should endeavour to do out of them. Such a joint remonstrance and address would certainly have some weight with his Majesty; and should it be followed, as we suppose it would, by similar remonstrances and addresses from most of the counties and great cities in the kingdom, it might dispel the delusive cloud which now hood-winks his Majesty, and conceal from his eyes the ruinous condition of his crown and people.

Machiavel observes, that the secret way to destroy the liberties of any country, is to sap them by degrees. Our Tory Ministry are practising this with a moderate refinement, by encouraging pleasure, idleness, and profligacy as aids to their purpose, by the assistance of which never failing engineers, the people will not be aware of their danger, till the fabrick of the constitution tumbles about their ears."