The Virginia Gazette

TO THE PRINTERS.

Gentlemen,

The Rev. Mr. Alison, of the College of Philadelphia, hath published a volume of excellent sermons. In his second sermon, preached when General Braddock was carrying on his expedition to the Ohio, there is a passage which breathes such a spirit of true patriotism, and is so extremely applicable to the glorious cause in which the North American colonies are now engaged, that I am persuaded it must animate, and give pleasure to every friend of constitutional liberty. I have therefore extracted it, and hope you will give it a place in your next paper.

PHILO AMERICANUS.

IN times past, when LIBERTY, travelling from soil to soil, had deserted almost every corner of the world, and was preparing to bid an everlasting adieu to her last best retreat, the British isles, our great forefathers (whose memories be blest) anticipating her departure, came into these remote regions. They encountered difficulties innumerable. They sat down in places before untrod by the foot of any Christian, fearing less from savage beasts, and savage men, than from slavery, the worst of savages. To preserve at least one corner of the world sacred to liberty and undefiled religion was their glorious purpose. In the mean time the storm blew over, and the sky brightened in the mother-land; LIBERTY raised her drooping head, and trimmed her fading laurels. Halcyon-days succeeded, and their happy influence extended even into this new world. The colonies rose and flourished; our fathers saw it, and rejoiced. They begat sons and daughters, resigned the prosecution of their plan into our hands, and departed into the mansions of rest.

"But lo! the storm gathers again, and its deeper and blacker with boding aspect! And shall we be so degenerate as to desert the sacred trust consigned to us for the happiness of posterity? Shall we tamely suffer the pestilential breath of TYRANTS to approach this garden of our fathers, and blast the fruits of their labours?

"No—ye illustrious shades, who perhaps even now look down with anxiety on our conduct—we pronounce, by all your glorious toils, that it shall not, must not be! If we are not able to make those who mourn in bonds and darkness round us share the blest effects of liberty, and diffuse it through this vast continent, we will at least preserve this spot sacred to its exalted name, and tyranny and injustice shall not enter in, till the body of the last freeman hath filled up the breach.

"Spirit of ancient Britons! where art thou? Into what happier region art thou fled, or flying? Return, Oh! return into our bosom! expel every narrow and grovelling sentiment, and animate us in this GLORIOUS CAUSE! Where the voice of public virtue and public liberty calls, thither may we follow, whether to life or to death! May these inestimable blessings be transmitted safe to our posterity! and may there never be wanting champions to vindicate them against every disturber of human kind, as long as there shall be found remaining, of all those who bear the distinguished name of Britons, either a tongue to speak, or a hand to act!"