The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Virginia, May 3, 1769.

"The times make every body haul close, and dread to deal with so severe a mother country; therefore we patch and pinch, that she may feel the difference between tenderness and cruelty to her children, that her prudence may teach her slaves can never be so useful as her affectionate descendants. For this reason, if I send for a few goods, they shall be but very few. My family, as yet untaught at once to put on the russet gown, or drink the tea of our gardens, may possibly make a few articles necessary; but not one that bears a duty payable here will I ever send for, until my own representatives shall lay a tax upon them, and tea that I cannot get clear of your duty I will never drink. Some other ship may bring this little invoice.

"Our Assembly is meeting. I am not one of them, but I believe every member is so convinced of the determinations of his constituents that the man who gives up a little of his liberty must do it at the hazard of—and I am certain there is not a Briton in the world but must applaud the resolution; for a people not born to slavery cannot divest themselves of the feelings of those entitled to the same freedom with them, in any manner going to be deprived of it. Ask me for assistance, and give me the reason why: I am ready to grant it to the last shilling; but take it not out of my pocket, for I am ready to die to protect it. And this your supercilious Bute's, truly, call a rebellious disposition! All England then has been constantly rebellious, for her history is full of this resolution. O dreadful measure! formed only to disunite once the most affectionate and most powerful people upon earth!"