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Letter to Editor
March 22, 1776
The Virginia Gazette
Williamsburg, Virginia
What is this article about?
Inhabitants of New Kent County, Virginia, question the decision to send a commissioner from another county to sell prize cargo captured by Capt. Barron and landed at Cumberland, criticizing the public expense for storage instead of using local tobacco warehouses and the failure to consult local delegates.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
MR. PURDIE,
The inhabitants of New Kent county would be glad to be informed, through the channel of your free press, by what means they were so far disgraced as to have a commissioner sent amongst them, from another county, to dispose of the cargo of the prize taken by capt. Barron, and landed at Cumberland; and why the publick were at the expence of paying storage for these goods, when the tobacco warehouses, which were commodious, and convenient for the reception of them, might have been used without any expence. It appears reasonable to them, that some of the persons who had the trouble of guarding these goods, in a very inclement season, were better entitled to any incidental profit attending the disposal of them than a stranger, and that this profit might equally as well have centred in the county (which was immediately exposed to any ill consequences attending their being landed in it) as any other. They have no doubt but many persons might be found in their county of equal capacity and integrity with the commissioner employed, who could, from their situation, have performed the service cheaper; and they are surprised to be informed, by their delegates who were at Williamsburg when this matter happened, that they were not consulted on the occasion. If they have done any thing to forfeit the confidence of the publick, the freeholders wish to know it before the approaching election.
New Kent, March 14, 1776.
The inhabitants of New Kent county would be glad to be informed, through the channel of your free press, by what means they were so far disgraced as to have a commissioner sent amongst them, from another county, to dispose of the cargo of the prize taken by capt. Barron, and landed at Cumberland; and why the publick were at the expence of paying storage for these goods, when the tobacco warehouses, which were commodious, and convenient for the reception of them, might have been used without any expence. It appears reasonable to them, that some of the persons who had the trouble of guarding these goods, in a very inclement season, were better entitled to any incidental profit attending the disposal of them than a stranger, and that this profit might equally as well have centred in the county (which was immediately exposed to any ill consequences attending their being landed in it) as any other. They have no doubt but many persons might be found in their county of equal capacity and integrity with the commissioner employed, who could, from their situation, have performed the service cheaper; and they are surprised to be informed, by their delegates who were at Williamsburg when this matter happened, that they were not consulted on the occasion. If they have done any thing to forfeit the confidence of the publick, the freeholders wish to know it before the approaching election.
New Kent, March 14, 1776.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Investigative
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Economic Policy
Military War
What keywords are associated?
New Kent County
Prize Cargo
Commissioner Appointment
Public Expense
Storage Costs
Local Delegates
Capt Barron
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Purdie
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Mr. Purdie
Main Argument
the inhabitants of new kent county protest the appointment of an external commissioner to sell prize cargo landed locally, the unnecessary public storage costs, and the lack of consultation with their delegates, arguing locals were better suited and entitled to any profits.
Notable Details
Cargo Of The Prize Taken By Capt. Barron
Landed At Cumberland
Tobacco Warehouses
Delegates At Williamsburg
Approaching Election