The Virginia Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, April 25.

Extract of a Letter from London, dated February 2, 1774.

From the general Spirit of all Ranks of People, the Conduct and Imprudence of the Bostonians is much censured; and, if Fame proves true (which God forbid) coercive Measures are intended. Yesterday the Earl of Buckinghamshire made a Motion in the House of Peers, when the Colonies were declared to be in open Rebellion. A Fleet of fourteen Sail of the Line was proposed to be Sent out, to put a Stop to all their Commerce; six of those to be sent to Boston, three to New York, three to your Place, and the other two to be stationed at Halifax, to wait the Admiral's Directions; also 10,000 Land Forces, under the Command of an able General. The Massachusetts Charter to be forfeited; and, as a Stigma on that Province, that all the Ships hereafter must call and discharge their Cargoes in Britain, and reload them before they can proceed to a foreign Market. This Motion was withdrawn till such Time as all Letters and Papers from the different Governours were regularly laid before the House, which it is said is to be done to-morrow. I am sorry to add, that in those coercive Measures not only the Court but the Country Party joins. Such is my Information, which I pray to God may prove false.

Extract of a Letter from London, dated February 18, 1774.

Six Ships of War, and seven Regiments, are ordered for America, with all Expedition; for what Purpose, Time must discover. The Premier is much perplexed, on Account of the Behaviour of the Bostonians; and Great Britain is determined to enforce due Obedience to her Laws, as the Mother Country. The Letters sent to Boston by Dr. Franklin have made much Noise here, and he has been roughly handled by the Ministry for the same; but it is pretty well known, with us, that the said Letters were given by Mr. Whateley to the late Honourable George Grenville, at whose Death they fell into the Hands of Lord Temple, who gave them to the Honourable Mr. Fitzherbert, and they were by that Gentleman given to Dr. Franklin.

Extract of a Letter from London, dated February 18, 1774.

Your American Affairs are so much the Subject of Conversation here, that your Letter by Captain Ayres was doubly acceptable. I showed Part of it to some of our East India Folks, who seem a good Deal mortified at the Spirit of the People on your Side, though they affect to treat the Disappointment they have met with very lightly. If I can believe them, it is a ministerial Piece of Business, yet the Ministry say not. However that may be, it comes at such an unlucky Time that it must embarrass them. No less than three Councils are said to be held in one Week in Consequence, and some of the Trumpeters in the House have attempted to sound an Alarm; yet, after all, there are many here who applaud your Resolution, though, if the Tea from Boston had been sent back as yours was, you would have had more Advocates here. Notwithstanding all the Threats of the Ministry, it is probable the Whole will vanish in Smoke, for it does not seem probable they will risk any very violent Measures.

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in London, dated February 19.

The ministerial People here are outrageously angry with Dr. Franklin. They took Occasion, when he was attending the Committee of Council with the Petition of the Massachusetts Bay, to set the Solicitor General upon him; who, leaving the Business that was before their Lordships in a virulent Invective of an Hour, filled with Scurrility, abused him personally, to the great Entertainment of 35 Lords of the Privy Council, who had been purposely invited as to a Bull-Baiting. Not one of them had the Sense to reflect on the Impropriety and Indecency of treating, in so ignominious a Manner, a publick Messenger, whose Character in all Nations, savage as well as civilized, used to be deemed sacred, and his Person under publick Protection, even when coming from an Enemy; nor did one of them check the Orator's Extravagance, and recall him to the Point under Consideration, but generally appeared much delighted, chuckling, laughing, and sometimes loudly applauding. I did not before think it possible for any Persons, in their Stations, to behave in a Manner so extremely unbecoming, especially when sitting in a judicial Capacity. I never was in America, but I do not believe that any Judges or Justices of any of your Inferior Courts, in the back Counties, would have conducted themselves with so little Dignity, or have disgraced themselves so much, as to suffer a Lawyer to treat even a Criminal at their Bar with such Outrage. Luckily, however, for the Doctor, those Actions of his, which they pitched upon to vilify him for, in the Opinion of all good and sensible Men here, were as truly virtuous and good as any which dignify human Nature; the first being an Endeavour to lessen the Resentment of New England towards Great Britain, by convincing that Country that the sending of Troops, and other Measures they complained of, did not take their Rise from an inimical Disposition towards them here, but were originally planned and recommended by some of their own People. This he effected, by returning thither the Governour's Letters. The other was the Doctor's endeavouring to prevent Bloodshed between two private Persons, by avowing publickly that Transaction. Had Administration been really disposed to a Reconciliation with America, they might have made a good Use of the first Discovery, dismissed the two Mischief-Makers, reversed those Measures, and restored Harmony between the two Countries; but, instead of thanking him for giving them so good an Opening, they seem ready to crucify him. It was formerly said, Blessed are the Peace Makers, and the saving of a Citizen, among the ancient Romans, was thought to merit particular Honours; but the Morals of our Court, it seems, are different, and the very reverse of those taught by Philosophers and the Gospel. Being, however, satisfied within, the Doctor stood the Abuse extremely well, and felt the Advantage of a good Conscience, which wonderfully supports a Man on such Occasions, beyond what could be imagined, without Trial : and he has had the Satisfaction to find that he has lost no Friends by this Attempt to disgrace him, his House having ever since been filled with Visitants, who come purposely to show their Regard for him, and express their Indignation at the unworthy Treatment he received. Some, who could not come, have written him Letters to the same Purpose. Wedderburne's Speech is printed, to spread the Defamation wider; but being a little ashamed of it, they have left out of it much of the Ribaldry, so that, compared with what it was, it is now a very decent Performance. The Doctor intends, however, before his Departure, I hear, to give it a full Answer. It was with great Reluctance, I am told, that the Postmasters General dispatched him from his Office, as they knew his long and faithful Services in that Department; but the Orders they received, from the Ministry, were so positive, that they could not refuse obeying them, without giving great Offence. When People give weak Reasons for strong Resentment, One is apt to suspect they are not the true Reasons; so I fancy, sometimes, that the Doctor's returning those Letters could not be the Foundation of all this Fury, and that possibly the Preface to the Boston Pamphlet, the Prussian Edict, and the Rules for diminishing a great Empire, are suspected to be his, and yet not mentioned, lest the Attention of the Publick should be more turned towards those Pieces, which are thought to expose the late Measures too poignantly. Fleets and Troops are talked of to be sent to America, but what they are to do when they come there I am at a Loss to know, except it be to seize Individuals, and send them here to be punished. God give us all a little more Wisdom! [AMEN.]