The Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, July 21.

As the Sermon preached by the late Rev. Dr. Mayhew,
on the Repeal of the Stamp-Act may not have fallen into
the Hands of all our Readers, the following
Dedication
of it, we presume will not be unacceptable to them.

To the Right Honourable
WILLIAM PITT, Esq;
One of His MAJESTY's most Honourable Privy
Council, and an illustrious PATRON of
AMERICA.

SIR,

If not a wide Ocean intervene, the Author of
the ensuing Discourse would not presume to prefix
so great a NAME to a little Performance of his,
without first humbly requesting the Indulgence,
and obtaining it. Nor would he trust to the Sufficiency of
that Apology for taking this Liberty, did not some Persons
persuade him to hope, it will be kindly and condescendingly
taken as a Testimony of that sincere Gratitude and high Ve-
neration, which not only he but his Country has for one,
who hath twice at least been a principal Instrument in the
Hand of GOD, of saving GREAT BRITAIN and her
Colonies from impending Ruin: Once, by magnanimously
conducting a just and glorious War against foreign Nations;
and Once, by preserving Peace in his own; ---by exerting
himself to prevent a fatal Rupture between BRITAIN and
her Colonies, and to re-establish such an Harmony as essent-
ially concerns the Welfare of both.

At the late most important Crisis You, SIR, whom
no Rewards could ever tempt, no Frowns of the Great
ever dismay, no Dangers disconcert; and to whom, So
good and great in Yourself, no Titles, however high, could
possibly add any new Dignity or Lustre; You, Great Sir,
was not "ashamed of our Chain," or reluctant at standing
forth to plead the Cause of poor AMERICA; and to stem the
mighty Torrent that was against her, which threatened to
end in a Deluge of Blood: When it was accounted criminal
by many, even to lisp but a broken Word or two in Her Fa-
vour, You Sir, was not ashamed or afraid to pour forth
all Your unrivall'd Eloquence in a strenuous Vindication of
Her infringed Rights. And, indeed, her Cause being
supposed good, the more friendless She was, the more She
needed, and in some sort deserved, so powerful a Patronage.

For, surely, great Talents were given for great Occasions;
to be employed in Defence of the Innocent and Feeble. GOD
made some Men Strong, on purpose to "bear the Infirmi-
ties of the Weak," that they might be able to assist and sup-
port them in their Dangers and Extremities; as you, SIR,
have ever done, since You adorned the BRITISH Senate;
and particularly in a late ever-memorable Instance.

To You, Great Sir, under GOD and the KING,
grateful AMERICA chiefly attributes it, that She is now hap-
pily reinstated in the Enjoyment of her former Liberties and Pri-
vileges; tho' She has, at the Same Time, a very deep Sense
of her Obligations to other great and illustrious Personages.

If, Sir, you could, at this Distance, have an adequate
Conception of the universal Joy of AMERICA, preceded by
the most alarming Apprehensions for Her Liberties: If You
could be fully sensible how much we ascribe it to you, that they
are not lost; how, next to the KING, we bless You as our
common FATHER, and send up ardent Vows to Heaven for
You; this would, it must give You a sublime, and truly
Godlike Pleasure. It might even suspend, for a while, the
severest Pangs of that excruciating Disorder, which has so
often detain'd you from the BRITISH Senate, to the great
Detriment of the Public; particularly when the late dread-
ful STAMP ACT was passed. Nay, it might, perhaps,
without any other Miracle, give you such Spirits and Vigor,
as to "take up your Bed and walk," like those sick and
lame Persons instantly cured by the Word of Him, who
came from Heaven to make us "free indeed."

So universal, so great is our Joy; and so much, SIR,
are we indebted for it to your good Offices! But alas!
what can poor AMERICA do in Return? Nothing but ac-
knowledge the Obligation with as much Sincerity as a grate-
ful Country ever acknowledged one: Nothing but call you,
over and over again, her FATHER, her FATHER; and
endeavour to make good Your generous Engagements for her
prudent, dutiful Behaviour towards her Mother Country:
Nothing but erect a firm Marble, Brass or Copper Statues
in Honor to You; (for AMERICA has but little Silver or
Gold) Statues that will be of no Service to You, since they
will go to decay long before Your Name and Memory will
need any such poor Helps to preserve

Alas! America can do no more!--Yes, SIR, there
is one Thing more: She will pray that you may long
live in Health, Happiness and Honor, that if there should
be any Occasion hereafter, as in Times past, you may step
in and prevent Hers and Britain's Ruin, when no other
Man could; and that, when you must, according to the
common Lot of Men, however great and good (O may it
be late!) cease to plead the Cause of LIBERTY on Earth,
you may in Heaven, as your Reward, enjoy "the glorious
LIBERTY of the Sons of God!"

I am, with the warmest Gratitude, and highest Veneration,
Right Honourable, and Most Worthy
SIR, Your most obedient,
Most dutiful
And most humble Servant,
JONATHAN MAYHEW.