The Virginia Gazette

A Vessel is just arrived at Norfolk, from Barbados, by
Whom we have the following Speech:

The SPEECH of His Excellency Sir THOMAS
ROBINSON Bart. Governor of the Island of Bar-
bados, to the Honourable the Members of his Majesty's
Council, and to the Assembly, on Thursday October
the 17th, 1745.

Gentlemen of the Council, and Assembly,

THOUGH the End of civil Government
is one and the same, yet the
Measures by which that End is to be
attained, and the Channels through
which it is pursued, may be different
and various; it is from this Principle
I would choose to reconcile that Diversity of Sentiments which has of late
appear'd among us, and I would as far as I can, in Con-
fidence of future Uniformity, persuade myself that there
is none here to be found, either called by his Majesty's
Authority, or by the Voice of the People, to a Share of
publick Trust, but such as have the true End of Society
in View, and the Interest of his Country at Heart.

This Interest, extensive in it's Relations, is to be con-
ducted to Perfection as near as may be by publick Coun-
cils, and these Councils as from the Form of our Constitu-
tion they consist of distinct Bodies, can only move with
Propriety and Effect where due Subordination is preserv'd,
and no one Branch encroaches on the Department of the
other; for since each has it's proper Function and Office,
that Harmony which would be the Result of regular and
limited Motions in each, becomes Discord and Faction,
when the Bounds are transgress'd and the Partition broken
down.

In the present Situation, it gives me no small Satisfac-
tion that I am not singular in these Measures, which the
Duty I owe to his Majesty, and my Commission, obliges
me to pursue; and since I have the Concurrence of some,
whose
publick Dignity and private Characters, whose
Fortunes and Properties are of the first Estimation, I have
all imaginable Confidence, that their Councils flow from
a Principle of Judgment, not from a Spirit of Opposition,
and that their Views are influenc'd by no other Motive
than the common Weal, wherein their separate Interests
are so essentially involv'd: To this End, how far these
Measures or the contrary Pursuits may most conduce is not
for me to determine; but while the Event is in Suspense,
you have my sincere Wish, that those alone should prevail
which may prove most effectual to the Prosperity and well
being of the Island.

Gentlemen of the Assembly,

As unforeseen Exigencies might require your Attendance,
I order'd Writs to issue, for an Election of Representa-
tives, as early as the Form of Government would
admit.

You will place before you, as a principal Object,
the
publick Credit, an Object of the utmost Importance
to
your well being in Time of Peace, but necessary even to
your Existence, as a Community in Time of War.

In Consequence I trust, that you will cheerfully raise
all the necessary Supplies of the Year, and that with due
Attention to the Circumstances of the Times and your
fellow Subjects,

You will consider, that those who have the least to de-
fend can bear the least Diminution of their Fortunes, and
as their corporal Service is equal to that of others whose
Properties are superiour, it is but just that the publick Levies should fall as easily on the former as possible. If
Taxes were imposed on Superfluities of Life, and exacted
from those Consumptions where the Poor are least con-
cern'd, so much might be spar'd to the Accessaries of
the more indigent as would be collected from the Affluence of the Rich; but as this Levy (regulate it as you
best can) must of Necessity run high, It will make all
Men who contribute to the Charge feel easy under the Bur-
den, when they know that the Stewards of the publick
Treasure have employed it to the most useful and advan-
tageous Purposes; for which End I think, that every Man
of what Rank and Condition soever he be, should have
an Opportunity of being satisfied, how that Fund into
which he paid his Proportion has been exhausted and ac-
counted for.

You will also consider, notwithstanding large Sums
have been expended on the
Fortifications, yet the Cir-
cumstances of the Times require, that nothing should re-
main unfinish'd for the common Safe-guard; and in a
Climate where neither Materials nor Workmanship are
the most durable, but the Influence of the Seasons most
penetrating you will remember, unless future
Expenses
are bestow'd in repairing, your past Labour and Charge.
will prove but vain in building.

The Number of Forts to be defended, compar'd with
the Number of Gunners and Matrosses appointed for their
Defence, will evidently demonstrate the great Disproportion between the Work to be done and the Hands to exe-
cute it:

Whether to add to the Strength of the ordinary
Establishment, by engaging an extraordinary
Number to
attend on every Alarm, at a certain Premium for the Oc-
casion, may not save the Expence
of standing Salaries,
and prove a proper Expedient, against the visible Decay
I shall leave to your Consideration.

The Manner in which these necessary Instruments of
our Defence have hitherto been paid, has oblig'd the Pub-
lick to receive into their Service some Men weak and in-
firm; and this, I fear, not only been a great Discourage-
ment to the regular Attendance of such as have under-
taken, rather than been able to undergo the Duty, but
even prevents Men of Strength and Ability, who can by
any other Labour Support their Families, from both un-
dertaking and discharging it. The Pay of the Army in
our Mother Country, and of all engaged in Military Ser-
vice, is Monthly; and each Man for his Encouragement
receives one Month's Pay in Advance; while 5l. the
Salary of a whole Year has been sold, if I am rightly in-
form'd, for less than one Third, as at a Market Price is
Such is the Recompence which the Matrosses find. for
their annual Service, or such the Difficulties they are con-
strain'd to, from the tardy Payment of the Country.

Other Colonies have experienc'd, that their Military
Laws, however calculated for Times of Peace and Tran-
quility, may be very Short and defective in Time of War
and Danger. I have recommended the Militia Law of
this Island to former Assemblies, but
hitherto
in vain
My Duty, and the publick Service, obliges me to recom-
mend it your Consideration.

These are Grievances which
fall within your Sphere, and consistent with your Pro-
vince: You are at Liberty to take the first Steps towards
redressing them.

The
The State of the War in general calls upon you for this Circumfpection; but how far the Success of the British Arms, at Cape Breton, may engage the Enemy to bend his Force against this Part of his Majesty's Dominions, in a particular Incident that calls for our utmost Precaution and Vigilance.

There are other Concerns which of Necessity must occur to your own Observation; and these, as well as those I have expressly pointed out, will be the most effectually answered without Doors, when your Deliberations within are consulted with Temper, Unanimity, and Dispatch.

Gentlemen of the Council, and Assembly,

Mutual Confidence strengthens the Body Politick, and Peace at home is the surest Bulwark against a foreign War; this Cement, this Safeguard, I most ardently recommend. To support you in your civil Privileges shall ever be my Care; but with an equal Zeal, I must also maintain his Majesty's Prerogative, and the Preeminence of the Crown.

The Protection, which as Subjects in general, you have experienced from the Throne, has been such as should invite you to all grateful Returns of Duty: But when your Apprehensions were alarmed, and your Fortunes exposed to that formidable Squadron of the Enemy that lately visited these Seas; when, I say, your Fears and Dangers were no sooner represented than relieved, by a superior Armament: So eminent and distinguishing a Mark of Royal Patronage demands Marks of Allegiance equally distinguishing and eminent; and what makes the Advantage which this Island has received from the Squadron the more signal and conspicuous, is, that the Admiral who honoured with the supreme Command, has accommodated us, in the Time of our Necessity, with his the Cannon, and a proportionable Compliment of those Military Stores which were destined for the Supplies of another Colony.

The Concerns communicated to me by Admiral Townshend, I deemed of such a Nature, as not immediately to require a legislative Consideration, upon which Account, for my own previous Information I took, at that Juncture, such Measures as seemed more advisable than to call the Council and Assembly together in Form as such. When the Schemes concerted, whatever they may be, are so far ripened as to become the proper Object of your View, they will in due Time be laid before you. In the Interim you will do well to consider; that there can be no surer Evidence of your Gratitude to His Majesty, as there cannot be more effectual Means of advancing his Service, and the Interest of his Island, than by cultivating that Harmony among the People, which I have already recommended to you as a principal Care.