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Story
May 26, 1768
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In 1768, the Governor and Society of Fort St. David's honor John Dickenson with an address and a decorated heart of oak box for his 'Farmer's Letters,' which defended British American colonies' liberties against renewed taxation schemes.
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On Tuesday last, by order of the Governour and Society of Fort St. David's, 14 Gentlemen, members of that Company, waited upon JOHN DICKENSON, Esq; and presented the following address in a box of Heart of Oak.
RESPECTED SIR,
WHEN a man of abilities, prompted by love of his country, exerts them in her cause, and renders her the most eminent services, not to be sensible of the benefits received is STUPIDITY, not to be grateful for them is BASENESS.
Influenced by this sentiment, we the Governour and Company of Fort St. David's, who, among other inhabitants of British America, are indebted to you for your most excellent and generous vindication of liberties dearer to us than our lives, beg leave to return you our heartiest thanks, and to offer you the greatest mark of esteem that, as a body, it is in our power to bestow, by admitting you, as we hereby do, a member of our society.
When that destructive project of taxation, which your integrity and knowledge so signally contributed to baffle about two years ago, was lately renewed under a disguise so artfully contrived as to delude millions, YOU, Sir, watchful for the interests of your country, perfectly acquainted with them, and undaunted in asserting them, ALONE detected the monster concealed from others by an altered appearance, exposed it, stripped of its insidious covering, in its own horrid shape, and, we firmly trust, by the blessing of GOD on your wisdom and virtue, will again extricate the British colonies on this continent from the cruel snares of oppression; for we already perceive these colonies, ROUSED by your strong and seasonable call, pursuing the salutary measures advised by you for obtaining redress.
Nor is this all that you have performed for your native land: Animated by a sacred zeal, guided by truth, and supported by JUSTICE, YOU have PENETRATED TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION, have poured the clearest light on the most important points, hitherto involved in a darkness bewildering even the learned, and have established, with an amazing force, and plainness of argument, the TRUE DISTINCTIONS, and GRAND PRINCIPLES, that will fully instruct ages yet unborn what rights belong to them, and the best methods of defending them.
To merit far less distinguished ancient Greece or Rome would have decreed statues and honours without number, but it is your fortune and your glory, Sir, that you live in such times, and possess such exalted worth, that the ENVY of those whose DUTY it is to applaud you can receive no other consolation than by withholding those praises in publick which all honest men acknowledge in private that you have deserved.
We present to you, Sir, a small gift of a society not dignified by any legal authority ; but when you consider this gift as expressive of the sincere affection of many of your fellow citizens for your person, and of their unlimited approbation of the noble principles maintained in your unequalled labours, we hope this testimony of our sentiments will be acceptable to you.
May that all-gracious Being which, in kindness to these colonies, gave your valuable life existence at the critical period when it would be most wanted, grant it a long continuance, filled with every felicity ; and when your country sustains its dreadful loss, may you enjoy the happiness of Heaven, and on earth may your memory be cherished, as we doubt not it will be, to the latest posterity.
Signed, by order of the Society,
JOHN BAYARD, Secretary.
The box was finely decorated, and the inscriptions neatly done in letters of gold. On the top was represented the CAP OF LIBERTY on a pear, resting on a cipher of the letters J. D. Underneath the cipher, in a semicircular label, PRO PATRIA. Around the whole the following words:
THE GIFT OF THE GOVERNOUR AND SOCIETY OF FORT ST. DAVID'S, TO THE AUTHOR OF THE FARMER'S LETTERS, IN GRATEFUL TESTIMONY OF THE VERY EMINENT SERVICES THEREBY RENDERED TO THIS COUNTRY. 1768.
On the inside of the top:
THE LIBERTIES OF THE BRITISH COLONIES IN AMERICA ASSERTED, WITH ATTICK ELOQUENCE, AND ROMAN SPIRIT, BY JOHN DICKENSON, Esq; Barrister at Law.
On the inside of the bottom :
ITA CUIQUE EVENIAT, UT DE RESPUBLICA MERUIT.
On the outside of the bottom : -A sketch of Fort St. David's.
RESPECTED SIR,
WHEN a man of abilities, prompted by love of his country, exerts them in her cause, and renders her the most eminent services, not to be sensible of the benefits received is STUPIDITY, not to be grateful for them is BASENESS.
Influenced by this sentiment, we the Governour and Company of Fort St. David's, who, among other inhabitants of British America, are indebted to you for your most excellent and generous vindication of liberties dearer to us than our lives, beg leave to return you our heartiest thanks, and to offer you the greatest mark of esteem that, as a body, it is in our power to bestow, by admitting you, as we hereby do, a member of our society.
When that destructive project of taxation, which your integrity and knowledge so signally contributed to baffle about two years ago, was lately renewed under a disguise so artfully contrived as to delude millions, YOU, Sir, watchful for the interests of your country, perfectly acquainted with them, and undaunted in asserting them, ALONE detected the monster concealed from others by an altered appearance, exposed it, stripped of its insidious covering, in its own horrid shape, and, we firmly trust, by the blessing of GOD on your wisdom and virtue, will again extricate the British colonies on this continent from the cruel snares of oppression; for we already perceive these colonies, ROUSED by your strong and seasonable call, pursuing the salutary measures advised by you for obtaining redress.
Nor is this all that you have performed for your native land: Animated by a sacred zeal, guided by truth, and supported by JUSTICE, YOU have PENETRATED TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION, have poured the clearest light on the most important points, hitherto involved in a darkness bewildering even the learned, and have established, with an amazing force, and plainness of argument, the TRUE DISTINCTIONS, and GRAND PRINCIPLES, that will fully instruct ages yet unborn what rights belong to them, and the best methods of defending them.
To merit far less distinguished ancient Greece or Rome would have decreed statues and honours without number, but it is your fortune and your glory, Sir, that you live in such times, and possess such exalted worth, that the ENVY of those whose DUTY it is to applaud you can receive no other consolation than by withholding those praises in publick which all honest men acknowledge in private that you have deserved.
We present to you, Sir, a small gift of a society not dignified by any legal authority ; but when you consider this gift as expressive of the sincere affection of many of your fellow citizens for your person, and of their unlimited approbation of the noble principles maintained in your unequalled labours, we hope this testimony of our sentiments will be acceptable to you.
May that all-gracious Being which, in kindness to these colonies, gave your valuable life existence at the critical period when it would be most wanted, grant it a long continuance, filled with every felicity ; and when your country sustains its dreadful loss, may you enjoy the happiness of Heaven, and on earth may your memory be cherished, as we doubt not it will be, to the latest posterity.
Signed, by order of the Society,
JOHN BAYARD, Secretary.
The box was finely decorated, and the inscriptions neatly done in letters of gold. On the top was represented the CAP OF LIBERTY on a pear, resting on a cipher of the letters J. D. Underneath the cipher, in a semicircular label, PRO PATRIA. Around the whole the following words:
THE GIFT OF THE GOVERNOUR AND SOCIETY OF FORT ST. DAVID'S, TO THE AUTHOR OF THE FARMER'S LETTERS, IN GRATEFUL TESTIMONY OF THE VERY EMINENT SERVICES THEREBY RENDERED TO THIS COUNTRY. 1768.
On the inside of the top:
THE LIBERTIES OF THE BRITISH COLONIES IN AMERICA ASSERTED, WITH ATTICK ELOQUENCE, AND ROMAN SPIRIT, BY JOHN DICKENSON, Esq; Barrister at Law.
On the inside of the bottom :
ITA CUIQUE EVENIAT, UT DE RESPUBLICA MERUIT.
On the outside of the bottom : -A sketch of Fort St. David's.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Biography
Personal Triumph
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Justice
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
John Dickenson
Farmers Letters
American Liberties
Fort St Davids
Taxation Opposition
Colonial Honor
What entities or persons were involved?
John Dickenson, Esq;
John Bayard
Governour And Society Of Fort St. David's
Where did it happen?
Fort St. David's, British America
Story Details
Key Persons
John Dickenson, Esq;
John Bayard
Governour And Society Of Fort St. David's
Location
Fort St. David's, British America
Event Date
1768
Story Details
The Governor and Society of Fort St. David's present John Dickenson with an address and a decorated box of heart of oak, admitting him as a member and thanking him for his 'Farmer's Letters' that exposed and opposed British taxation schemes threatening colonial liberties.