The Virginia Gazette

B O S T O N, December 14.

To the PRINTERS.

HOWEVER little some may think of common Newspapers, to a wise Man they appear the Ark of God for the Safety of the People. Their fulness of general Entertainment, small Bulk, and Price, recommend them to every one; and the Variety of the Matters, with great Importance of many of them, awaken the Minds of many to a solid Inquiry of Interests they would otherwise perhaps never dream of. Never was a Time when greater Vigilance was necessary to render these Batteries respectable: The Press, and the Maintainers of its Freedom, are become very obnoxious to the Gentlemen of high Fortune; no Measure will be left untried to crush the seditious Disturbers of the public Tranquillity; Rebellion, Treason, Heresy, any Pretence, if there is but Power. There are but two Methods of Government, leading and driving: Nothing will lead the People but a Conviction that their Safety and Interests are the Concern of their Rulers; and when the Arguments used on the Side of Power fail to evince these Points, then may we expect to hear of Racks and Gibbets, and Inquisitions in Plenty, and the most worthy Members of the Community deprived of their Places of Power to guard the Rights of the People. Assemblies, and Right of Trial by Juries, must be undermined by Degrees, but hated as much as possible, lest a new Administration should be forced in by a desperate People, before Things can be thoroughly established. A Man must be slow of Understanding, indeed, to be at any Loss for the Tendency of present Measures. Dominica is taxed by Prerogative alone, without Pretence of Parliament; and what is the Difference in the Condition of the whole Continent, besides the Pretence? Touch not, taste not, handle not, lest Destruction come upon you suddenly, and there be none to deliver!

PROVIDUS.