The Virginia Gazette

I have the advantage, as correspondent, of the revolution that has taken place in America. to all the lovers of liberty in Europe, must be immense. It seems to be a dispensation of Heaven, favourable to them as well as to the inhabitants of these states. America is now become an open asylum to all those who are oppressed by the illiberal and corrupt governments in Europe. The subjects of the latter will be disposed to emigrate to us, as they see our institution at home growing uneasy by the encroachments of arbitrary power, and the ill administration of Government. We shall afford an happy relief to those who come over to us, and an inconsiderable one to those who remain behind; inasmuch as those governments, and particularly that of England and Ireland, for fear of losing their people, will relax their reins of power, and invite their remaining at home by indulging them love of liberty, in enabling them in everything enlightening their subjects—We are therefore fighting not for our own cause, but to the advantage in general, and particularly that of our former fellow subjects in Britain and Ireland. Aeons will bless the wisdom, the fortitude, and perseverance that have nobly effected this revolution, who never were in America; at the same time it must give a peculiar relish to the blessings of liberty enjoyed by the subjects in these states, that the purchase of them for ourselves must be of such essential advantage to distant regions. This, in the impartial estimation of mankind, may give a particular bias to the success of our arms, and endear the lot of those men whose wisdom and fortitude have, principally, conducted so happy a change among the most illustrious legate, and the greatest benefactors to mankind.