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Letter to Editor
November 24, 1738
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A letter to printer Mr. Parks decrying the indecency of publishing House of Burgesses proceedings as unparliamentary, requesting the Burgess Oath be printed, and mocking Mr. Conway's failed arguments against the Tobacco Law. Includes the full text of the Oath.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Mr. Parks,
I Take it to be a very great Indecency, for any Member of the House of Burgesses to publish, in Print, what is said or done in the House, by any other Member, during the Session, it being unparliamentary: I shall not therefore follow such an Example; but content my self, with desiring you to print the Oath of a Burgess; which I gave you. Had Mr. Conway thought fit to publish it, with his extraordinary Arguments against the Tobacco Law, I should have given my self no Trouble; but let the honest Gentleman please himself with the Imagination, that the weighty Reasons he gives for his Opinion, will make many Converts without Doors, tho they fail'd of that Success in another Place.
I am, Your humble Servant,
F. W.
The Oath of a Burgess.
YOU shall Swear, upon the Holy Evangelists, and in the Sight of God, as a Burgess of this Assembly, That to all Things proposed, you shall deliver your Opinion faithfully, justly, and honestly, according to your best Understanding and Conscience, for the general Good and Prosperity of this Colony, and every Member thereof; and to do your Endeavours to prosecute That, without mingling therewith, any particular Interest of any Person or Persons whatsoever.
So help you God.
I Take it to be a very great Indecency, for any Member of the House of Burgesses to publish, in Print, what is said or done in the House, by any other Member, during the Session, it being unparliamentary: I shall not therefore follow such an Example; but content my self, with desiring you to print the Oath of a Burgess; which I gave you. Had Mr. Conway thought fit to publish it, with his extraordinary Arguments against the Tobacco Law, I should have given my self no Trouble; but let the honest Gentleman please himself with the Imagination, that the weighty Reasons he gives for his Opinion, will make many Converts without Doors, tho they fail'd of that Success in another Place.
I am, Your humble Servant,
F. W.
The Oath of a Burgess.
YOU shall Swear, upon the Holy Evangelists, and in the Sight of God, as a Burgess of this Assembly, That to all Things proposed, you shall deliver your Opinion faithfully, justly, and honestly, according to your best Understanding and Conscience, for the general Good and Prosperity of this Colony, and every Member thereof; and to do your Endeavours to prosecute That, without mingling therewith, any particular Interest of any Person or Persons whatsoever.
So help you God.
What sub-type of article is it?
Political
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
House Of Burgesses
Tobacco Law
Oath Of Burgess
Parliamentary Procedure
Mr Conway
What entities or persons were involved?
F. W.
Mr. Parks
Letter to Editor Details
Author
F. W.
Recipient
Mr. Parks
Main Argument
publishing house of burgesses proceedings is unparliamentary indecency; requests printing of the burgess oath instead of mr. conway's arguments against the tobacco law, which failed to persuade.
Notable Details
Criticizes Mr. Conway's Arguments Against Tobacco Law
Includes Full Text Of Oath Of A Burgess