The Virginia Gazette

WILLIAMSBURG, May 25.

Extract of a letter from London, March 17.

From the several letters which I have lately wrote you on the subject of American grievances, you can entertain but little hopes of immediate redress. Government is still pertinacious in maintaining their ground firmly, although no opportunity is neglected of manifesting to Parliament, as far as is admitted, the general discontent which prevails among you.

"The province of New York having transmitted to their agent a representation of the General Assembly, it was put into the hands of Mr. Alderman Trecothick, who is very warm in your interests; but its rejection in the House was resolved upon, by a great majority.

"Though there are very little hopes of obtaining from Administration the least concession at present, yet every expedient for the desired purpose will be made use of, however ineffectual the consequences. Agreeable to this a motion will be made for the repeal of the revenue laws, on the inexpediency of the measure, in which notice is to be taken of the publick declaration of the Ministry, viz. 'That they were sensible of the insignificancy of the tax, as well as the great difficulty and expense of the collection, and that they had resolved themselves to have proposed the repeal of the acts, had not the outrages at Boston laid an absolute embargo on the design; that as six months had passed in perfect tranquillity, and an apparent obedience to the laws, the alleged reason for continuing their existence does not now prevail.' And although there is little expectation of the attempt succeeding, yet the sentiments of Government will be come at, and some hints drawn from them of their future designs.

"The Mutiny Act is now in progress, which came into the House in the same shape as the former, and the committee have got leave to introduce a clause which may not be disagreeable to the people of America; but as they may not allow it to stand on the report, it is hardly worth mentioning it yet. The Secretary at War has also a clause to add, which is suspected to be of the most offensive nature, viz. 'To give the Governours, or Magistrates, power of quartering men in private houses, provided there are not sufficient barracks, or publick houses, for their accommodation.' But this is an evil he is only suspected of, from his strict silence on the subject of his intended clause. Other parts of Administration disavow, and even disapprove of the measure; and I should hope the genius of the British nation will assist in opposing such a design.

"You will observe, by the printed papers I have sent to you, that the Parliament will not listen to the American arguments, yet the publick has had an opportunity to judge of their force."