The Virginia Gazette

If the Ministry adopted their present pacifick System of Politicks through a Consciousness of the Inability of the Nation to prosecute a War with Vigour, even Enemies might applaud their Principles, whilst they censured their Measures. Many weighty Reasons might be urged, and that too with great Propriety, in Favour of the Continuance of Peace: An exhausted Treasury, an immense and daily accumulating Load of Debt, a famished Poor, burdensome Taxes, and even the Supplies which might be expected, in Case of national Distress, from the Sinking Fund, by the Ministers unmerciful Hand anticipated, publick Credit at the lowest Ebb, Specie wanting, and Ireland drained of its Resources; the Colonies, owing to a Series of ill Usage, in a Flame; and, as a commercial Country, the Balance of Trade to many Places considerably against us. In such a Situation, what can tempt us to a Declaration of War? With whom are we to declare it? Is it because the Russians undertake Crusades that we are to accompany their Banners to the Dardanelles? Is it because the Grand Seignior happens to be a Mahometan that we are to join in his Overthrow, or support him from falling? What is it to Great Britain whether the Prussian Monarch or the Emperor agree or disagree? Let the northern Powers adjust their Differences amongst themselves; they are best qualified for the Task. Whilst France and Spain continue amicably inclined, even through Interest, we, through Policy and Respect to the deplorable State of the Nation, should avoid a War; for notwithstanding what gloomy News Collectors may announce of the "gloomy Aspect" of the continental Affairs, the Squabbles of a Pack of beggarly German Potentates are Nothing to us. All the Noise and Uproar that Scourge of his Species, the Prussian Despot, can make, all the Explosions from the chaste Czarina's Bombs, will, if suffered to pass unnoticed, like harmless Thunders, break beneath our Feet. Besides, if War commences, who, in the Name of Heaven, is to conduct it? Lord North faints at the Sight of a Musket, and is seized with convulsive Tremours at the Sound of a Cannon. Destitute then as we are of Ministers to conduct, and of Money to carry on a War, let us be content to be ruined in a peaceable Manner. At least, if we do take up Arms, let us first destroy our domestic before we chastise the Insolence of our foreign Foes.