The Virginia Gazette

To the PRINTER.

SIR,

I AM a dear lover of News Papers, for this, among many other reasons, that it is a ready way for a man to convey his thoughts to the publick, whenever he is seized with a fit of vanity to think them worth communicating. I have caught the infection, and am at present under the influence of self-sufficiency; now it is absolutely necessary to give vent to disorders of this nature, otherwise they swell a man, and puff him to such a degree that his most intimate acquaintance can hardly know him. This I propose to do by cursorily observing on some letters which have appeared in your papers, relating to a petition that has been, or is to be, presented to his Honour the Governour, for the speedy dissolving the Assembly. If there is really such a thing, I should for my part be willing to hope that his Honour would do the best for the country in the present circumstances; and if he should doubt what is best, he can call for the assistance of his Council, who, besides their abilities, have a large stake in the hedge, so that their advice cannot be doubted of. All this makes me at ease, let it take what turn it may. The letter-writers seem to be much alarmed, imagining that the specious pretence of the publick good is a garb that conceals a cloven foot underneath; and that some private views, and not the benefit of the community, are the true motives for the petition, notwithstanding the cry that is made of the advantages the publick will receive from it. These suspicions call to my mind an old English proverb, "That the old woman had not looked for her daughter in the oven if she had never been there herself."

I am your constant reader,

TIT FOR TAT.

P. S. Whenever the fit returns, I may possibly hazard some more observations, in which I hope to have this merit, at least, that I shall not tire your readers with my prolixity.