The Virginia Gazette

From the Maryland Journal.

Many and various stratagems have been already practiced by the insidious and wicked Court of Britain, and her artful agents, to deceive and divide the open, generous, unsuspecting Americans. One more attempt is made. A report is industriously circulated, that the commissioners of Britain, Lord and General Howe, through General Lee, have offered Congress honourable terms of negotiation. Be not deceived my Countrymen. Expect nothing but fraud, force, rapine, murder, and desolation from the hands of the tyrant of Britain, and his base and bloody Partisans. Neglect not one moment to collect your forces, to drive the enemies of peace, liberty, and virtue from your country. Shun any connexion with the people of Britain, as with a common prostitute. The sun beholds not a more perfidious, corrupt, and wicked people. My soul detests them as the gates of hell.

I have it not in my power to communicate the letter from General Lee to Congress. I have seen his letters to his friends, to whom he writes, "That by permission of Lord and General Howe, he had wrote to the "Congress, requesting them to depute two or three Gentlemen to New "York, to whom he wishes to communicate something deeply interest- "ing not only to himself, but, he thinks, the public."

"Timo Danaos, et Dona ferentes."

I suspect the commissioners, in their most conciliating offers.