The Virginia Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, May 19.

Extract of a Letter from Dublin, March 1.

'Our new Lord Lieutenant is a deeper Politician than our last, and transacts his Business with much Secrecy. We are told that the Design of the British Ministry, to bring about an Union between Great Britain and Ireland, is for the present laid aside, seeing the Irish so extremely averse to it; and that they have now adopted the Scheme of loading us with Taxes, without giving us any Encouragement in Trade to enable us to pay them, thereby to induce us to accept of an Union. With this View, it is said, we shall, next Sessions of Parliament, be saddled with a Land Tax, and an additional Duty of one Penny a Pound on Tobacco at Importation, and a Stamp Duty on all Paper used in Law Proceedings, Newspapers, &c. But be the Intention of laying new Taxes what it may, it is most certain the Revenues of the Crown were not sufficient, in the Hands of the present Dispeners of it, to support the Establishments they are granted for. Both in England and Ireland Government is greatly in Arrear to every Branch dependent on it; and his Majesty is greatly so, even to his Domesticks. Thus are the Subjects Pockets drained, to support a rapacious Crew; who, in Return, use their utmost Efforts to gratify the Desire of their Master for absolute Dominion. "How long it may be before they throw off the Mask, it is hard to say; however, they have already accomplished their Purpose in Effect, and carry every Measure they adopt. Our principal Hopes of any effectual Opposition is upon your Part of the World, where Corruption has not yet made so great Progress. That you may be able to stem the Torrent of Despotism, and vindicate the Rights of British Subjects under the Constitution, is the sincere Wish of a Friend to America."'