The Virginia Gazette

To Mr. PURDIE.

NORFOLK, AUGUST 1, 1766.

SIR,

I hope you will have candour enough to give the following observations a place in your Gazette.

D IKEPHILOS has favoured the publick with a very circumstantial, and I suppose a very true narrative of the unlucky affair which happened between Colonel Chifwell and Mr. Routlidge. I am extremely pleased to see the act of the three Judges so universally condemned, as most unjust and infamous. What has induced me to address you is a passage in his preface to you, where he has these remarkable words: "I apply to you rather than your brother printer, because you have been steady and faithful servants to the publick a long time past; and therefore you merit favour, attention, and preference, by every man of principle."

Philanthropos has thundered his opinion too amongst us, much to the same purpose. You, Sir, have behaved yourself as the director of a press ought to do; and I should be glad to know if Mr. Rind has acted otherwise. I am far from desiring to dispute, but I cannot bear to see one recommended in prejudice to the other, in so publick a manner, without giving a better reason than either of those Gentlemen have presumed to give. If the Gentlemen mean to take into their commendations your predecessor, I believe they will be found to be rather out of the way.

When Mr. Royle directed your press, it was not renowned for its freedom; and, as an instance, give me leave to mention Mr. Camm, who was obliged to go to another province before he could give an answer to a piece wrote here, and printed at Mr. Royle's press, and wherein too Mr. Camm was repeatedly called upon to answer. If a Counsellor or a Burgess was only squinted at in any thing sent to the press before this period, it was either too low or too ---but if a Governour was

O horrible! Has it not been said that Mr. Royle owned a private licence, and that a paper was constantly carried to a certain house in Palace street to be inspected before it could be seen by the publick? If these allegations are true, how long has your house been the faithful servants of the colony? Just as long as you, Sir, have directed the press, and no longer. And has not Mr. Rind too been as steady, and acted in every respect agreeable to his declarations to the publick ever since he has set up a press amongst us?

In short, I wish you both extremely well; and was I a Representative, the choice of either would be agreeable. But this I can say, as a man of property, that I should with much more willingness pay my proportion of one thousand pounds between you than five farthings to the Gentleman that fills the Chair.

Waving my dignity, I am

Your humble servant,

A MAN of PRINCIPLE.