The Virginia Gazette

From the London Daily Advertiser for September 3, 1770.

Supposed to be written by the Revd. Michael Smith, late of the city of Williamsburg, but now in London.

AMONG the many arguments made use of by the opposition to prove the righteousness of their cause, there is one infallible one which they have borrowed from the church of Rome; and that is their number, taken comparatively with the ministerial party: and indeed I cannot help allowing it to be as good an argument as they have got, especially since three weight of rotten cargo is thrown into the scale, which they never omit to do when an opportunity offers. I have known five Parliamentary opponents to the measures of the court represented as possessed of half a million each. And the bank has been in danger more than once from the resentment of a patriotic Goliath, who could scarce be prevented from laying violent hands upon it; that is, in the common phrase, from making a run upon it; than which no more powerful argument could be made against the government. There is another indeed, peculiar to the inferior sort of anti-courtiers, which is equally prevalent: and that is the argumentum baculinum, carried on with clubs and stones. And if to these are added a plentiful share of scurrilous epithets, which are the stink-pots and hand grenades of the opponent scribes, the difficulty of a defence redoubles upon the court.

But, besides these methods of assault, they entrench themselves up to the chin in misrepresentation and lies, which in a mode of defence they claim an exclusive right to, as champions of their suffering country. To attempt therefore to dislodge them by the battery of truth, is an arduous undertaking, and may be deemed foolhardiness, as it may possibly be fruitless; because the spirit of jealousy, which now is, and I hope ever will be awake in this kingdom, furnishes them with recruits enough to maintain their entrenchments, and justify their insinuations.

However, as I am only a volunteer in this cause, consequently can retreat when I please; and as my public reward must consist in the secret satisfaction of attempting to disabuse my countrymen, by elucidating the partial and aggravated accounts transmitted here from America; I shall give myself no concern whether I am branded as a bankrupt or a blockhead, a hireling or a heathen, (for truth will lose nothing of its value, whether it comes from saint or sinner) nothing shall I fear but the charge of falsehood, and this I shall not put in the power of any man to prove upon me.

Actuated by this principle, Mr. Say, I shall not, whilst on this side the Atlantic, suffer any false or exaggerated accounts from America to pass upon the public with a weight and consequence superior to their deserts; but shall either confront or admit them, in whole or part, as far as the knowledge I have of the country in general, or of the circumstance in particular, will enable me to do.

The account given us of the Virginia association, in this paper of Thursday the 23d of last month, appears at first blush to be very spirited on their side, and alarming here. But when we come to examine it I am persuaded it will appear to be one of the most ridiculous, not to say despicable associations, that has appeared since the folly of associating began.

The number of taxables in Virginia for the year 1770 amount to 143,374. White women and slaves under 16 years not being taxable, are not included; so that we may add to the above numbers one sixth part more, that is 23,895, (for I shall give myself no trouble about fractions) making in the whole 167,269 inhabitants white and black.

Out of this number one fifth part are white, or denizenized by act of Assembly: and that is 33,453. Now from this number, take for women and children, not taxable, two thirds, which will be more than sufficient; the remainder will be 11,151 planters, merchants, lawyers, doctors, and tradesmen, with about an hundred clergymen: And the association list exhibits 166 names, that is, one sixtieth part of the male inhabitants. A very respectable number to be sure.

But what is worthy of remark is this, that out of the 166 associators there are but 44 dealers: and out of these 44 there are but eight that deserve the name of merchants, by which I desire to be understood, men who deal upon their own capital; all the rest being factors only. Nay, the president himself, though a man of considerable property (which with his years are his sole qualifications for the chair) imports nothing, except it be rum, sugar, and other articles from the islands.

Besides it must be an egregious blunder to form a design of imposing upon the public in respect to the consequence of this association; and at the same time to insert, in the same paper, a list of select merchants from each county, who are appointed to regulate the mercantile affairs of the province; which list consists of 125, of whom scarce any are found among the associators: And even this committee of merchants, added to the associators, are not one half of the Virginia traders. In short, they seem to be so hard set to fill up this famous association list, that, though they are not without respectable names, they have got abundance of very insignificant ones among them, not to mention two or three school-boys, and a man who, since January last, was confined in gaol, and would have been arraigned for his life for burning a house, had not the Grand Jury thrown out the bill in consideration of his insanity.

But now we have seen the associators: let us consider the enumerated articles, and we shall find them such as scarce are ever imported in that colony, which every merchant concerned in that trade must very well know. It would swell this letter to an inconvenient bulk to recapitulate every article; let it therefore suffice to say, that the prices affixed to the distinct articles are such as no commission from those parts ever exceeds. Mens saddles at 25s. and womens at 40s, shoes at 5s. and stockings at 3s. hats at 10s. and callicoes and cotton stuffs at 9s. a yard, with Irish linens of all prices. Now these are the very articles that are chiefly in request; and as for coaches, horses, and household furniture, they seem to be put in to lengthen the bill of parcels only: because no horse, except a stallion of high price, whose breed must benefit the colony, would pay his first cost here, and passage over.

And as for coaches there are extremely few; the general vehicle in that country being single horse chairs, which they make convenient enough, though not handsome.

But as for household furniture, except it be in some of the towns, it is incredibly mean, not only through that colony, but through the whole continent; a deal chest or two, with two or three tables, and forms of the same kind, or perhaps a few rush bottom chairs, being the general furniture of the back settlers. Not but there are many of the eminent planters whose houses are pretty well furnished; but as much of that furniture is of an hundred years date, so it would serve an hundred years hence, whether there had been an association or not; the generality of the people there regarding utility more than fashion.

Let this serve to shew that the association in Virginia is a partial combination of a few, whose private interests, rather than public principles, lead them to it; and let it clear me of any design to throw invidious reflections upon the rest of the colonies, when I declare, that the inhabitants of that colony in general, in point of good dispositions, moderate and loyal principles, are excelled by none, if equalled by any on the continent. And was I inclined to be particular, I could mention some Gentlemen in that list, as well as out of it, whose good sense, genteel behaviour, obliging deportment, hospitable and generous disposition, would render them an ornament to this or any other country upon earth.

MERCATOR AMERICANUS.