The Virginia Gazette

Extract of letter from London, March 22.

Politicks engage universal attention; and whilst some are contending on one side, and some on the other, the state seem to be like a house unhappily divided against itself. All the counties that have so lately petitioned the Throne, to no purpose, are now for remonstrating, after the spirited example set before them by the Livery of London; so that matters will soon come to a crisis, that must be either favourable to liberty or friendly to monarchy and oppression. And all this, perhaps, can only be determined by means of a civil war. Such then being the true state of the case, you need not be surprised at the superficial attention that has been paid to the petitions from America. Were there less confusion here, no doubt our complaints would have met with a more candid hearing. Your friends, however, hope that you will continue firm in your resolution of not importing the British manufactures. And you cannot think how pleased they were to hear of a vessel's returning, a few weeks since, from Boston to Bristol, laden with goods; for you must know the Ministry had just before plumed themselves, not a little, with the notion of the inhabitants of New England in general breaking through their engagements, with respect to non importation. Consequently they are now proportionably discouraged at the event above mentioned, in so much that it is by some thought the tea act will yet be repealed in the course of this session.