The Virginia Gazette

WILLIAMSburg, May 3.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Philadelphia, to his friend in Virginia, dated April 22, 1776.

We have all the debates in parliament, by which it appears that the determination of Court is, first to conquer, and then to grant pardons to those they choose; and for this purpose, only, are the commissioners declared to be sent. This is the ostensible plan, but we are informed they are to bribe through thick and thin to procure the betraying of America; so that it behoves all men to watch with most attentive consideration the conduct of those intrusted with the publick concerns, whether colonial or continental. Their last act of parliament is a curious piece of retrospective injustice. After declaring the 13 colonies in rebellion, and without his majesty's protection, and our property made seizable wherever found on the water, it goes on to give legal sanction to all the violences, robberies, &c. &c. that their people had committed previous to the passing that act. The Congress have, in consequence of this, recommended the fitting out privateers to cruise on British property. It may be depended on, as fact, that the owners of the Scotch factors have been desired by administration to make no noise about their debts in America, for that they (the ministry) would see their debts paid by forfeiting American estates. Thus we may account for the meaning of the intercepted letter lately published in the Virginia Gazette, wherein the factor is desired to make out a list of debts and send them to Scotland; and thus these harpies, after having already pillaged a great part of the property of Virginia, are now making out accounts, under Court auspices, by which all the remaining property of the country is to become theirs.