The Virginia Gazette

The following Letter, from Alexander Spotswood,
Efq; was published, on the 30th of September last, in
the Philadelphia Weekly Mercury.

WHEN in a printed Paper, published by the Order
SIR,
of a Body of Men, a Gentleman's Name shall
appear in a disadvantageous Light, for want of setting
forth the Circumstances of the Subject under their Con-
sideration; that Person seeing himself so publickly in-
jured, hopes he may as publickly vindicate his Character,
without incurring the Resentment of an Assembly under
whose Legislation he lives: Especially while he displays
nothing but Facts, which the House of Burgesses were
apprized of at the Time of Passing their following
Resolve and Order.

Votes of the House of Burgesses, in Virginia.
Monday, August 30. 1736.

Motion being made, That Part of the Report from
the Committee for Courts of Justice, which relates
to the providing Arms for the County of Brunswick,
was read, as follows:

"That the House being acquainted, that Col. Spotswood
"had not provided Arms for the County of Brunswick
"according to the Order of the House at the last Ses-
"sion, and his own Engagement: And a Motion being
"made, to consider that Matter; and a Letter from
"Col. Spotswood to Mr. Attorney-General, upon that
"Subject, being read, It was- Order'd, That the Con-
"sideration of the said Motion should be deferred 'til
"the next Session of Assembly.

"And a Letter from Col. Spotswood to Mr. Speaker,
was also read.

"Resolved, That an Action be Commenced and Pro-
"secuted against the said Col. Spotswood, to reco-
"ver the Money in his Hands, appropriated for
"the Buying of Arms for the County of Brunswick;
"unless these Arms be sent in and delivered, be-
"fore the first of June next.

"Ordered, That Mr. Attorney-General do commence
"and carry on the said Prosecution.

Now, the Case was briefly thus: The House of
Burgesses, having, since Col. Spotswood's Return to
Virginia, Resolved, That a Sum of 239l. 17 s. Virginia
Money, remaining in his Hands, should be laid out for
Arms, for the County of Brunswick; he did, pursuant
to their Order, in August 1732, give Directions to Mr.
Robert Cary, his Correspondent at London, to purchase
the same, and send them over: But in the Year 1733,
Sir John Randolph, who was Clerk of the House of
Burgesses, and then sent by them to negotiate some As-
sembly Affairs in London, told Mr. Cary that there was no
Necessity of sending over any Arms as yet: And the As-
sembly, which met in the Year 1734, rested satisfied
with such Reason given for their not being then arrived:
and Order'd the Consideration of that Matter to be de-
ferred 'til the next Session of Assembly, which is this
present one. Col. Spotswood immediately after the Session
of 1734, wrote again to Mr. Cary, pressing him no longer
to delay sending in the Arms; and while he was ex-
pecting them in, for certain this Year, he in May last,
to his great Surprise, received a Letter from Mr. Cary,
containing these very Words, I have really forgot how
many Arms was to be sent, and desire you'll inform me;
have wrote to Mr. Goodwin, 'tis my Fault they are not
sent.

Upon Receipt thereof, Col. Spotswood dispatched a-
way, by the first Ship, new Directions to Mr. Cary,
with most pressing Instances to send the Arms over by
the very first Opportunity: And at the Meeting of the
present Assembly, he wrote to the Speaker of the House,
in the civilest Terms, informing him of the Pains he had
taken to provide the Arms, and of the unexpected Dis-
appointment he had met with; and praying the House's
Patience 'til the Arrival of the next Shipping: And that
the House might not imagine Col. Spotswood had any
Intention to delay the Payment of the Money, he at
the same Time sent his Bills of Exchange upon his Cor-
respondent (according to the Draught hereto annexed,)
which were produced in the House: But they returned
them, and would not be dissuaded thereby from Passing
the above-recited Resolve and Order. Whereupon Col. Spotswood appeals to the general Sense
of Mankind, whether this is decent or reasonable
Treatment of a Gentleman, who had been their
Governor upwards of Twelve Years, and whose Ad-
ministration had been entirely approved of by his
Majesty's Ministry at Home?

Copy of the Bills of Exchange.

Exch. £191 17 s. 8 d.

Virginia, Aug. 6. 1736.

At Sixty Days Sight of this my first Bill of Ex-
change (my Second or Third not paid,) pay to the
Order of the Speaker of the House of Burgesses of Vir-
ginia, the Sum of One Hundred and Ninety One Pounds
Seventeen Shillings and Eight Pence Sterling. (in case
you have not, before this Bill is presented to you, al-
ready provided the Arms, which I have directed to be
sent over for Brunswick County,) and upon Payment
made of the said Sum, place it to the Account of,

SIR,

To Mr. Robert Cary,

Your humble Servant,

Merchant in London.

A. Spotswood.