The Virginia Gazette

CLUB NEWS.

Sir William Meredith, in a certain Club, on Tuesday, observed that what seemed most extraordinary to him in the Speech was that the Governor of Buenos Ayres should be the only Prince mentioned to have committed Hostilities against the King of Great Britain, and wanted to know what mighty Potentate this Governor of Buenos Ayres was, that dared to attack his Majesty's Dominions without Provocation. That he feared there was Something covered under that Deceit; that it seemed to proclaim to all Europe the Subterfuge that the English Ministry wanted to take Advantage of, by disclaiming the Act of their Governor, and thereby evading the Stroke that ought to have been returned, before it was in their Power to repel it. As to the Mention made of our Colonies, he said that he did not like that vindictive Spirit that Seemed to threaten Vengeance against the only Protestant Colony on which this Country can with Confidence rely against the common Enemy, and wished the Ministry would declare openly what was their Intention. That he had, during the Recess, Opportunities of discovering the Satisfaction with which the Accounts were received, by the Manufacturers of this Kingdom, that the Spirit of Opposition was beginning to subside in our Colonies. That our Brethren in America were again sending their Orders to their Correspondents as usual, and Commerce was returning to the old Channel. That what was now threatened against the Massachusetts Bay would again tend to rouze that Spirit of Combination that was now, in a great Measure, at Rest, and which would gradually die away if no fresh Matter of Aggravation was proposed to increase them. That, for his Part, he thought every American had as just a Title to all the Rights of English Freedom as he himself had; and that he would as soon give his Vote for the Deprivation of his own Rights as for that of his Fellow Subjects on the other Side the Atlantic. That he had always opposed the Measures that had brought on the Dispute, and should ever oppose every Measure that was likely to continue it.

It was farther observed, on this Subject, that the Ministry had Nothing to boast of with Regard to the late Resolutions of the Americans to renew their Commerce with the Mother Country, who had done no more than the King of Prussia, and every other wise Prince did, in the Conduct of commercial Affairs. When any of his Neighbours think it Policy to lay a Duty on any Commodity that is imported into his Country, he immediately lays a greater Duty, which amounts to a Prohibition of that Commodity. Just so the Americans: When, upon commercial Principles, a Duty was laid on certain Commodities that were imported into America, they immediately, upon commercial Principles, entered into an Agreement not to receive any of those Commodities; when, upon commercial Principles, you thought proper to repeal those Duties, they again, upon commercial Principles, agreed to receive them. You still continue to retain the Duty upon Tea, to show your Sovereignty; they still continue their Agreement not to receive that Commodity, to show you that they deny it. What, therefore, is there in this but the most consummate Policy, and the most determined Firmness that can animate any People whose Liberty is at Stake?

After all, the grand Question, Peace or War, was by no Means answered on this Occasion. It seemed, however, to be the Opinion that War is at no great distance. Mr. Barré, indeed, thought it to be very near. He is allowed to have an excellent Nose, and he declared that he smelled it.