mere rant. No such thing was proposed in the Assembly (I am very certain) through the whole session.

He subjoins: “A Letter, carrying with it in effect a Petition, was sent down to the Lower House from the Upper House, addressed to Lord Dartmouth.” A Letter was sent from the Upper Board to the Lower House, for their concurrence and approbation; it was an answer to one received from Lord Dartmouth, and addressed to that Nobleman; in this they declare the loyalty of themselves and the other Colonies to his present Majesty, and their concern at the claims of the British Parliament, which have occasioned so much anxiety among the Colonists; they decently asserted our Constitutional rights, and condoled the unhappy sufferers of Boston as a virtuous and loyal people; in fine, they requested his Lordship’s kind interposition with His Majesty for our relief.

He concludes: “The Wasp immediately seized and clumsily attacked those parts of it which were calculated to restore harmony between Great Britain and America; but he was overruled, and returned home grievously disappointed.” Whoever was designed by the Wasp, the epithet, clumsy, is not so applicable to that insect as to his own dull performance. But here again he errs from the truth. When the Letter was read in the Lower House, sundry clauses were objected to. Though (in my opinion) the fair import of the Letter was unexceptionable, yet, as not only one, but several Members were of opinion that some expressions were too vague, and might be wrested to a noxious sense, they were cautious of making any seeming concessions of their indubitable rights. After some debate, a Committee was appointed from both Houses to make some amendments, which they did, by substituting more cautious and determinate expressions, and varying rather the diction than sense; when it passed the House (as I thought) without a dissent. So that instead of being overruled, as he falsely suggests, there was an amendment to the general acceptance; and no one (I believe) returned home grievously disappointed, except the author or his voucher.

As to what he says in this polite way, “that the Wasp clumsily attacked those parts of the Letter that were calculated to restore harmony between Great Britain and America:” no parts were attacked except such as I just noticed. Doubtless he was offended that any corrections were made, and intended they should be understood in the noxious, sense to which the House feared they might be wrested, else why is he angry with others for attacking those parts which, it was apprehended, might be taken in such a sense? By such as might restore harmony, it is evident he designed such parts as might gratify the Ministry, at the expense of our liberties.

I promised to consider the Report of the Committee, and the vote for a Petition to His Majesty. The House considered at large the alarming situation of America; they professed their allegiance to his present Majesty, and firm resolution to support our Constitutional liberties. They desire to live peaceable and loyal subjects to His Britannick Majesty. But should violence essay to enslave them, they believe they are warranted by the example of Great Britain and the Constitution itself, to defend themselves, and repel any lawless invasion. Though they were well united in the grand principle of Constitutional liberty, yet it is no wonder, in this sad dilemma, if their councils were serious. After considerable debates on affairs the most interesting that ever were agitated in a Senate, the Committee withdrew, and framed a Bill, (as their author informs,) that the minds of the Assembly might be known. Every Article of this Bill was calmly debated; and approving that for appointing General Officers, (such as have been in some of the neighbouring Provinces for a long time,) the rest of the Bill was prudently dismissed. In these debates, a concern for the publick weal so far predominated over private resentment, that the whole was conducted with the greatest friendship and harmony, so that when a great part of the Bill was rejected, yet it seemed to be with a general approbation of the Committee themselves, as every one seemed inclined to pursue the most prudent: advice, whether suggested by himself or another.

I now proceed to consider the Petition to His Majesty: here our author fails of telling the whole truth. Mr. Rivington, the week before he published the extract now under consideration, mentions this Petition as cause of great joy.* One would think from this, that the Colony had been in open rebellion, and was now returning to their duty; else why this transport? Did he never hear that this Colony petitioned their Sovereign before? I can tell him they have repeatedly. Did not the Congress petition? He knows they did. Whence, then, this exultation? Doubtless he had an eye to those parts of the Letter which were calculated to restore harmony between Great Britain and America, which his correspondent informed him were clumsily attacked by the Wasp; but he returned home grievously disappointed. That this is mere fiction, I have shown before. But being deceived by his correspondent, he felt a glow of uncommon joy, which he could not conceal until he might publish the Letter. He thought, perhaps, Connecticut had made a compliment of her liberties to the Ministry; and this he was impatient to publish.

This Colony, ever attached to the present reigning family, did vote to prefer a Petition to His Majesty; but on a little reflection, it was thought inexpedient at this juncture, as the Congress had petitioned in behalf of America in general, and they had not then heard what reception their Petition met with; and by some it was thought, in every such step we ought to advise with the other Colonies. In short, I have the satisfaction to see, that the very same reasons that the worthy Representatives of Pennsylvania offered their Governour as an excuse for not petitioning at present, prevailed on this Assembly to defer it to a future session.

A MEMBER OF THE LOWER HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM LONDON TO A GENTLEMAN IN VIRGINIA, DATED MARCH 10, 1775.

Our political madness is still in its zenith, and we are consequently taking the most effectual measures that the wit or folly of man can devise to render America totally independent of this Country. You must, by this time, have heard of the Bill prohibiting the four New-England Governments from Fishing, &c. Another Bill is also in its motion, to confine New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South-Carolina, to trade no where but with Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West-Indies. By the long silence of the London Merchants, they were considered as men not very serious in the business of America, (which was really the case, a very few excepted,) and have been treated with the utmost contempt; and the Cabinet, owing to this dilatory conduct, have had time to get every one of their plans confirmed by Parliament. Those of Glasgow sent up a very spirited Petition, but at the same time let Lord North, know, by their Member, Lord F. Campbell, that they did not mean any opposition by it, but only to get credit in America. The Ministers seem now convinced if America continues united, and perseveres in her Non-Importation and Non-Exportation scheme, it will, without one blow, distress the Nation so much that they must yield to the most humiliating terms America can demand. Therefore, bribes, pensions, places, contracts, and all other arts, are attempted to divide the Colonies, particularly New-York; and by the most irritating measures they are provoking to blows, in hopes to rouse the resentment of the Nation against America, which is at present strong against themselves, and less than twelve months brings on their long-deserved fate. The way to defeat such diabolical schemes is to bear every thing that human nature can bear, and only, as common prudence directs, be prepared to resent any force or injury that may be offered. I wish this universally known. Your Governour, besides the parts of his letters published, and other parts transcribed to you, has written for five thousand Troops, or else he cannot stir in Virginia; but they cannot

*We hear, from Connecticut, that last Friday, the Assembly of that Colony, after sitting ten days, adjourned to meet at Hartford, on the 13th of April. The Printer has received many particulars of their proceedings, but they must be deferred, as they came too late for this week’s paper; we have only room to inform the publick, that a Letter was sent from the Upper Board for the approbation of the Lower House, addressed to Lord Dartmouth. It contains every mark of loyalty to the King, and carries with it, in effect, a Petition. The House of Assembly, by a great majority, voted a PETITION to His Majesty, and a Committee was appointed to draw it up. The event has afforded unspeakable satisfaction to the friends of our happy Constitution.