The Virginia Gazette

Mr. Parks,

I am very little us'd to dream; but had one of late, which left such Impression upon me, that I desire it may be printed the first Time you have a Place in your Gazette.

Methought I was upon One of the highest Mountains to the Westward of this Colony, and was looking down upon a mixt Multitude of Men, Women, and Children, who seem'd intent upon cultivating the Plain below me, which lay towards the Sea-Shore.

When, all of a sudden, I was diverted, from the Thoughts that naturally arise in the Mind on such Occasions, by a sudden Noise above me; it was like the Sound of a Trumpet, mix'd with Thunder. I look'd up, and saw an Angel standing upon a bright Cloud; his Head was surrounded with a Glory; and in it was written, in Capital Letters, THE GENIUS OF VIRGINIA. He commanded the Times past to appear before him; when several Gentlemen, of goodly Aspects, came up according to the Order of their Succession, and stood upon his Right; each of them held the Sword of Justice in his Right Hand; and in the Left, a Bundle of Leaves, which appear'd to me, to be the Staple of this Colony. The Imperial Crown of England was at some Distance above their Heads, from which descended bright Rays in Form of Labels, on which were written, Regis ad Exemplum. One of them, not the very last, had secured his Bundle in a Roll of Parchment; but it was so infested by a kind of Hornet, that I could perceive several Holes in it. The Angel now gave Command to a Youth (who stood by him with Wings at his Feet, and a Rod in his Hand,) to take the several Bundles from the Gentlemen, according to the Order of Time, and shake them over the Plain severally; which he did.

From some fell a Shower of Sand, Dust, old Shoes, old Hats, Moth eaten Woollens, Mildew'd Linens, &c. From others, much the same Shower of old Trumpery; and here and there a Piece of fine Goods, with a small Quantity of Gold and Silver; which last took so strange a Turn in the Air, and fell in the Laps of so few, that I was much surpriz'd at it.

Whilst I was musing upon this unaccountable Partiality in the Shower, I felt something like a Hand pass gently over my Face, which made my Eyes smart, and several Scales fell from them: I turn'd about to see who it was, and saw my own good Genius, who told me he had now clear'd my Sight, that I might understand whatever might seem mysterious to me in the present Shower, and several others which were to fall in my Sight: I turn'd towards the Plain to make Tryal, and Saw several hideous Monsters, called Self-Interest, particularly Covetousness, &c. leading a Swarm of little Imps; some with Battledores in their Hands; others with Sticks with Hooks fasten'd to the End, with which they drove the Gold and Silver, and dragg'd the fine Goods into Netts, which were set for that Purpose, in the Plain: so that scarce one Dust took its natural Course, or fell near any of the poorer Sort, who were obliged to take up with the refus'd Goods that lay by them; and having put them on, look'd like so many Merchants coming from Rag-Fair; I pick'd up a Stone in a Rage, and was going to fling it at one of the Spectres who was hovering pretty near me, in Hopes that if I did not hit him, it would at least knock down some of his Imps, who swarm'd like Bees in the Air; but my good Genius with-held me, saying, 'Tis this People's own Fault that these Spectres are permitted to infest the Air; for every one of the Gentlemen who you see standing near the Angel, have attempted, in their Time, to drive them and their Imps out of the Air; but were oppos'd by none so vigorously, as those who suffer most, and who appear so ragged in the Plain.'

The Youth came next to the Gentleman, who had his Bundle of Leaves wrap'd up in Parchment; and while he was shaking the Bundle over the Plain, the Gentleman presented the Parchment, so full in the Eyes of the Spectres, that they began to retire, with their Imps, taking a Northern Course; but the Parchment was so full of Holes, by the Fangs of the Hornets that had been picking at it, that it did not flash Light sufficient in their Faces, to drive them quite away; however, the first Part of the Shower was very rich, and fell right down upon the Plain, so that every one pick'd up a reasonable Quantity, and seem'd very well satisfied with their Portion; but the Hornets and Spectres still prevailing, the Imps got to their old Work of driving the Showers about, as usual.

At length, after many Showers were wasted, the Angel sounded the Trumpet a second Time, and commanded the present Time to come forth, at which, all the former Gentlemen disappear'd; and one step'd up in their Room, who was a Person of a most agreeable and smiling Countenance. In his Right Hand, he had the Two-Edg'd Sword of Justice; and in his Left, a Roll of Parchment; which was well sealed at both Ends. I consider'd him with great Attention; and could observe, that wherever he turn'd his Eyes upon the Plain, every Countenance appear'd cheerful.

The Angel commanded the Youth to unseal the Parchment and take out the Bundle, and pass it thro' a large Fire, which was made for that Purpose near the Shore, to purify it, and afterwards shake it, as he had done the others. In the mean time, the Gentleman open'd the Parchment, which was without the least Flaw or Crack, and made it shine so full in the Eyes of the Spectres, that they march'd off with their horrid Train of Imps, and took their Flight to the Northward, howling and screaming as they went, and bewailing their hard Fate, that they should lose the Opportunity of disposing of the Golden Shower which they foresaw would soon fall, and mix'd themselves amongst a Crew of the same Kind, which were hovering over a neighbouring Colony, and had always rul'd there without Controul; however, as they went off, they scatter'd the Seeds of Discord and Faction, which falling in the Eyes of some few of the People, blinded them so entirely; that they ran to and fro like Mad-men, beating their Heads against Trees and Posts, and crying out with all their Might for the Parchment, that they might tear it to Pieces.

The Youth had no sooner pass'd the Bundle thro' the Fire, (which came out refin'd,) and shook it over the Plain, but there fell from it a Shower of Gold, Silver, Silk, Muslin, fine Linens, and Woollens, and all manner of rich Goods, insomuch that the Air seem'd all in a Blaze, with the glittering of the rich Things which were falling:
I observed, that the elderly People in the Plain set themselves immediately at Work, in picking up the Gold and Silver, which, by reason of its Weight, fell first to the Ground; and some Gentlemen, who had Spectacles on, and looked very decrepid, had large Heaps by them, while the younger Sort were gazing up to catch at the Silks, fine Hollands, and Ribbons, which were streaming down slowly thro' the Air. Amongst other Things which were fluttering about, and which came down last, were some narrow Slips of Paper; at which the elderly People in the Plain took Sight with their Canes and Crutches; one was So intent in placing himself under one of these that was falling, and made so eager a Stretch after it when it came near the Ground, that he struck his Nose against a Post and beat himself backward, while a young Spark who was near him, (and was laughing at the old Gentleman's awkward Activity,) put out his Hat and catch'd it without further Trouble: Another old Gentleman was hobbling up and down upon his Crutches, to be under another, when making a sudden Turn, a Bale of Oznabrigs struck up his Heels, and he broke his Neck; the Piece of Paper took a Sheer and fell in the Sleeve of a young Fellow who was fixing a Cockade in his Hat. One fluttered pretty near me, in which I read these incoherent Words, at Sight of this my first Exchange, &c. After having satisfied my Curiosity in looking upon the various Passions of the People in the Plain, I turned round to see what was become of the bright Apparition above me, when, to my great Surprize, I saw the Gentleman's Countenance from mild and smiling, that it was before, turned angry, and he shook his Sword twice or thrice, fixing his Eyes steadfastly towards the Sea; I looked to see what it was, and could discover at a great Distance several Things rising out of the Ocean, and making towards the Shore, with large white Fins upon their Backs; upon their near Approach, I observed they were Sea-monsters: Some had the Heads of Lions, some of Griffins, and others of Horses: their Bodies were of a dark Hue, and as they exposed their Bellies out of the Water, they seemed to be full of green Hair like Grass, and Shells; they no sooner had struck the Shore with their filthy Breasts, but their Sides opened, and from between their Ribs, issued Fire and Smoak with stinking Belchings which rattled like Thunder, and smelt very much like Brimstone: At which Noise, the People in the Plain picked up their Gold and Silver, and ran as if they were bewitched towards the Sea. I turned again to look at the Gentleman, whose Right Arm was up ready to give them a deadly Blow, when a gigantick Figure, whose Name was Africanus, and in whose ample Front was writ MONOPOLY, came behind him and seized him by the Wrist: he was turning with great Fury, and would soon have dispatched him with his Sword, but the Angel called out to him and bid him forbear, and with a smiling Countenance, told him, that he could not too much commend his Zeal and Care for the Welfare of the People in the Plain; but, says he, this Wretch's Time is not yet accomplished. I looked again towards the Sea, and behold the Sea-monsters had now discharged their Spawn upon the Shore. Out of their Mouths came innumerable black Creatures, not unlike Monkeys. The People were now got upon the Strand, and great Struggle there was amongst them who should have the first Choice; for some they gave Twenty, for others Sixteen Pieces of Gold; they also bartered away their Silver and Slips of Paper for them: And such was their Rage, that in a short Time there was not one Penny left in any of their Pockets, nor one of these filthy Creatures unsold; all which Treasure was swallowed up by the Sea-monsters, and carried off in an Instant. Alas, said I! in the Bitterness and Anguish of my Soul! why should a golden Shower be bestowed on this simple People who make so ill a Use of it? I followed them till with my Eyes, and could perceive that many of these strange Creatures were infected with Distempers, and had infected their Purchasers, insomuch that several died before they reached their Habitations, and many were sick and underwent the same Fate soon after. Turned again to see the glorious Apparition on the Cloud, but it was gone; my good Genius only stood by me to comfort me. While you, says he, were justly lamenting the Folly and Madness of this People in the Plain, I over-heard and saw what passed between the Angel and the Gentleman. You had no sooner turned your Back to see what was doing upon the Shore, but the Angel commanded the gigantick Apparition to be gone, and called up the Gentleman to him, and placed him near him. You, says he, as Having the chief Command in this Plain, and I, a Guardian Angel to it, we cannot but be under great Concern, to see the Follies and pernicious Courses of this People, who might be as happy as any upon the Face of the Earth, would they hearken unto good Advice. It was with great Difficulty, and many private Inspirations, that I prevailed upon them to sign this Parchment of your drawing up, which has secured their Staple from the Injuries of those vile Fiends, Covetousness, Envy, Partiality, Self-Interest, and the like, and would make it one of the most advantageous Commodities in the World; but like all the rest of Mankind, they are blindly picking at it, and will not see what would prove a real Advantage to them. I am Brother to Abdiel the faithful Seraph, who withstood Satan and his Crew to their Faces, and was first appointed Guardian-Angel to Ephesus; from thence was removed to Corinth, Sicily, Sardinia, the Balearides, and Western-Islands, taking my Progress still West, as the glorious Light of the Gospel was extinguished in the East. All which Places are now sunk under the Horrors of Mahometanism, or more dreadful Idolatry and Superstitions of Popery; this fertile Plain is now fallen to my Care, and is situate most advantageously. To the West is a Chain of Mountains, the Bulwarks of GOD to defend it from the Insults of Enemies from behind; to the North and South are many Colonies, this People's Friends and Neighbours; and to the East is a Bank of Sand, which makes any Attempt from the Sea difficult: But such are the Decrees of Providence, (which neither you nor I are permitted to pry into, any further than human or angelick Reason are allowed, with Submission to suggest.) This gigantick Monster who seized you by the Wrist, comes with great human Authority, and is even permitted by the divine Powers, to introduce his pernicious Spawn, and gorge himself for a while with the Treasure of this simple People, who having no Enemy from without, are madly fond of securing one in their own Bowels, who in Case of Unfaithfulness, Disobedience, or Rebellion, against the Supreme Being, like the Remnant of the Philistines in the Land of Canaan, are at Hand to be Snares and Scourges in their Sides, and Thorns in their Eyes, to execute his righteous Judgments upon them. I was still hearkening, charmed with the instructive Relation, when behold my good Genius vanished and I found myself alone, and awake in my Bed.