The Virginia Gazette

VOX POPULI

To GENERAL GAGE.

SIR,

The whole of your proceedings are so replete with folly, that I have more than once thought that I have prostituted my time in exposing you to censure.

You have rescued me from the repetition of the lash.

... answer to the address of the provincial congress of Massachusetts Bay; ... the time that you are a more proper object for ridicule than resentment; you have apologized for ... consultations? ... if enemies ... on the Boston Neck.

A hero ... call submission to go- ... ver ... traicass, and governors, a com- pound of the wise, ... ind them to tra ... lace, by a military name, a work ... , and to exercise your ... cudiers, ... no hostile steps against the province of Massachusetts Bay; you have only raised a creature like yourself, which, "unless annoyed, will annoy nobody."

Can it be deemed ungenerous to hint that the lives, liberties, or properties, of any person, except avowed enemies, are in danger from Britons, after the massacre of the 5th of March, and the execution of the Boston port and Quebec bills?

You say that Britain never formed the black design of wantonly destroying or enslaving any people on earth. It will be sufficient to contradict assertion by only hinting at the depredations which have lately been committed upon human nature in the East Indies, under the sanction of the British name. Her attempt to enslave the colonies hardly deserves the name of "a design," since it has been executed with a folly equal to its iniquity. It would be the blackest ingratitude to suppose that our mother country ever intended to enforce the acts for rapine and murder in Massachusetts Bay, when she appointed general Gage to carry them into execution.

Your illegal proclamations will not suffer us to believe that you even wish "to preserve union and harmony between Great Britain and her colonies."

There was a time when Britain deserved the name of a "spirited" nation; but she has forfeited that character by her late shameful composition with the court of Spain. The armies and fleets of Britain were reserved for more important purposes than to humble the pride of a rival nation. A handful of Caribs, on the island of St. Vincent's, were devoted to destruction; the power and vengeance of Britain were directed against them; her troops were victorious; and lord North added to his other triumphs the sole glory of this successful expedition. Alas! Britain, how art thou fallen! thy victories are now only over humanity, and thy trophies are now nothing but the ensigns of liberty!

You charge the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay with subverting their charter, by assembling in an illegal and unconstitutional manner. In this step, sir, they have been obliged to appeal from the tyranny of laws to the liberty of nature. The violation of the British constitution, in suffering a standing army to come among them, is the only political crime ... to their charge. In this act of submission ... uttered high treason against the liberties ... acquitted them of this crime, as the ... with Great Britain. Should I err ... the sword of justice will not long sleep in ... the ... consider you as vagrants in America ... will then cease to complain of such trifles ... necessary for your preservation;" you will then ... thank ... an of America.

... praised your justice, humanity, and reason, in vain, I shall cease to address you in this public manner. I began these letters by calling upon you, by your regard for the peace and happiness of Britain and the colonies, to renounce your commission; I shall conclude them by conjuring you, by the same motives, to continue to execute it. The liberties of America will be safe, while you are held up as an epitome of the military spirit and generosity of the British nation. Resentment begins to subside in our bosoms; for the whole of your operations scarce entitle you to contempt.

JUNIUS AMERICANUS.