Rind's Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, April 21.

Extract of a Letter from London, Feb. 17.

THE present Ministry, are the real Friends of America, or rather of the whole Nation, as Interests cannot be separated.--Neither the Petitions of the Congress, nor of those Governments who petitioned separately, have been received, as they contain an Assertion of Rights which the Parliament have resolved that they have not.

The great and good Mr. Pitt, and Barre, and others in the House of Commons, were against these Resolves, as were Mr. Pratt, Lord Shelburne, Torrington, Cornwallis, &c. in the House of Lords. The former supported your Petitions in the House of Commons; however, they have had their full Effect, as by them the Sense and Spirit of the Colonies have been discovered; and the many who had large Debts in America, seeing that their own Ruin would be the Consequence of enforcing the Act; immediately became your warmest Advocates.

The Agreement of your Merchants not to send for any Goods from hence, until a Repeal, was a Clincher.--One Manufacturer who attended the Parliament declared, unless that Act was soon repealed, he should dismiss his Workmen ; and it was hinted, that 100,000 Manufacturers would soon be in London,--

The Wisdom, as well as the Uprightness of Mr. Pitt's Intentions, in founding the Repeal of the Stamp-Act upon the Footing of its being illegal, and insupportable by the Colonies, rather than upon its being for the Interest of our own Merchants and Manufacturers, tho' really the Case, is highly applauded by the Discerning, as it would have reflected Honour on the P--li--ment, and convinced the Colonies of our Justice and Tenderness for them, and thereby gained their Confidence and Affection, which, in the present Way, may be lost for ever; and Frugality and Industry still continue to be the popular Topic among you.

To secure a Repeal of the Act, is the Reason given for the Ministry's falling in with the Party for these previous Resolves; they have really had a difficult Task of it ; and their Hands weakened by Letters and Accounts from the Grenvillian Tools on your Side of the Water, very injurious to the Colonies. It is thought you will not well relish the Resolve, "That those Persons who have been active in endeavouring to support the Act imposing Stamp Duties on the Colonies, be taken into the Royal Favour and Protection," unless it is, that thereby those your Friends will be clearly pointed out to you.

Upon the whole, you are much obliged to your Friends here, and have little to fear from your Enemies: Those among yourselves will expose you to the greatest Dangers and Inconveniences; but all the true Friends of America here are upon the Watch Tower, and will endeavour to counteract every evil Design.