RESOLVED, that such Gentlemen as have any matter to recommend to the consideration of the Trade be requested to correspond with Mr. Haldenby Dixon, in Williamsburg, who will lay the same before the committee at their next meeting, the 30th of October next.

TO THE MERCHANTS AND TRADERS IN VIRGINIA.

It has long been matter of surprise, and concern, to many hearty friends to the trading interest of this colony, that a body of men, respectable as well from their number as the nature and extent of their connexions, should never yet (in imitation of Grat Britain, and other trading countries) have formed themselves into a society, upon regular and liberal principles; by which means they would have had frequent opportunities of establishing a confidence with each other, exceedingly to their interest as individuals, and of gaining that dignity in the community to which they are so justly entitled.

The present crisis, though by no means pleasing in other instances, is, however, favourable in this: The invitation from the first Associators to the commercial part of the country has been accepted, with a cheerfulness equal to the judgment and politeness with which it was offered; and the merchants have, on this occasion. shewn an attachment to the true interest of this colony equal to that of any set of men, and exceeded by

none.

They have beheld the trifling conduct of Administration with that honest resentment it deserved, and have adopted such mea

sures as must convince those misguided rulers over an injured people that there is a material difference between forbearance and acquiescence. Whilst there was a probability of obtaining redress they avoided complaints, and would willingly have flattered themselve that some regard would be shewn by the Ministry to their own solemn assurances of doing every thing that was due, in justice, to the people of America.

But how inconsistent with that justice, and how contradictory to those assurances, is the late partial repeal of the revenue act complained of! A measure calculated only to deceive those whom they had before abused; and, by lulling them into a fancied security, make the blow which they have meditated against the dearest interests of the colonies more severe and decisive. Happily, however. their designs have been discovered; and will, I hope, be defeated. The people of this colony (and, I doubt not, the whole people of America) are determined no longer to submit to an injury which is aggravated by an insult.

Fired with this laudable resolution, they have formed, and executed, an association against the importation of a variety of articles from Great Britain; and made some other resolutions for the same purpose, as the reader will see at large in the copy published in the Gazette. Neither the time necessary to be taken up on such an occasion, nor their present situation, would permit so full a reformation as the nature of the case required; but as they are determined to go on in perfecting the work, as speedily and with as much propriety as possible, they have established a committee to take under their consideration the general state of the trade in this colony, with a view to make such farther regulations as may appear necessary. This committee

is understood to include the whole body of merchants and traders in the colony; who have placed at their head a Gentleman justly entitled to that preference, as well from his known abilities as a merchant, as his warm attachment to the prosperity of this country.

The Body of Merchants, have again chosen a select number, who are particularly invited to attend to the business recommended to their consideration, and who will be named hereafter to the publick. It may not be amiss to observe here, that no preference is given to these from disregard to any others; all are requested to take part in so salutary a measure; and any Gentleman desirous of a place for himself, or his friend, among those of the select committee, will be gratified, upon signifying such his inclination to the Deputy Chairman. The duty of this committee being only to prepare, and offer, such matter as may appear necessary for the consideration of the Trade at their next meeting, this general observation, on the design in establishing such committee, is introduced to prevent any jealousy or

suspicion among such as were not present, and to prevent any reflections being cast on the conduct of those who were.

But I beg leave to recommend to the publick the consideration of the advantages which may arise to the community from the continuance of such a committee. The trade of this colony is considerable and extensive, and no doubt many regulations might be made for its advancement; but, dispersed as the merchants are, and remote from each other, their sentiments cannot be known easily, or, when known, carried into execution, for want of a proper channel. That channel is now opened, and a confidence begun between the landed and trading parts of the colony (whose real interest is the same) which, it is hoped, will be productive of advantage and honour to both. Let this confidence be continued; let it increase; and let those illiberal distinctions which have too long prevailed among us be buried in oblivion.

These are the sentiments of a man truly attached to the happiness of this country. He offers them with deference, and hopes that, at least, he may escape censure. Let not its being an anonymous production lessen the attention which it is wished may be given to it. No signature is necessary on such an occasion; its utility will be its best distinction. The author seeks no literary fame, and only hopes to enjoy, in common with his fellow citizens, those advantages which are derived to every individual in a well regulated community.

A SUPPLICATION TO SLEEP.

Care-charming sleep, thou easer of all woes,
Brother to death; sweetly thyself dispose
On this afflicted prince; fall, like a cloud,
In gentle showers; give nothing that is loud.
Or painful to his slumbers; easy, light,
And, as a purling stream, thou son of night,
Pass by his troubled senses; sing his pain,
Like hollow murmuring wind, or silver raine.
Into this prince, gently, oh! gently slide,
And kiss him into slumbers like a bride.

Beaumont and Fletcher's Valentinian.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

COL. GEORGE MASON TO COL. WM. CABELL.

[We copy the following letter from Col. George Mason to Col. William Cabell, from the originalwhich has been obligingly forwarded to us by N. F. Cabell, Esq., of Nelson, who found it, as he informs us, in the parcel along with the Letters from Richard H. Lee, &c., heretofore published in our work.— Vol. 1st, p. 171, and vol. 2nd, p. 19.]

FAIRFAX COUNnty, Gunston-Hall, May 6th, 1783.

Dear Sir,-I congratulate you most sincerely, upon the Establishment of American Liberty and Independence. Happiness and Prosperity are now within our Reach; but to attain and preserve them must depend upon our own Wisdom and Virtue. I hope the Assembly will revise several of our Laws, and abolish all such of them as are con trary to the fundamental principles of Justice. This, and a strict adherence to the Distinctions between Right and Wrong for the future, is absolutely necessary, to restore that Confidence and Reverence in the people for the Legislature; which a contrary Conduct has so greatly impaired; and without which, their Laws must ever remain little better than a dead-Letter. Frequent Interferance with pri vate Property and Contracts, retrospective Laws destructive of all public Faith, as well as Confidence between man and man, and flagrant Violations of the Constitution must disgust the best and wisest part of the Community, occasion a general Depravity of Manners, bring the Legislature into Contempt, and finally produce Anarchy and public Convulsion.

I write to you with the Freedom and Sincerity of a Friend, knowing that you detest such Measures as much.

as I do; they drove me out of the Assembly, with a thorough Conviction that it was not in my power to do any manner of Good: the Love of my Country is not extinguished by it; and if I recover tollerable Health, and have just Cause to think I can do any essential public Service, I shall return again into the Legislature.

We are told here, that the present Assembly intend to dissolve themselves, to make way for a General Convention, to new-model the Constitution. Will such a Measure be proper, without a Requisition from a Majority of the People? If it can be done without such Requisition, may not the Caprice of future Assemblies repeat it, from time to time, until the Constitution shall have totally lost all Stability, and Anarchy introduced in its Stead? Or at any rate, will it not be better to defer it a year or two, until the present Ferment (occasioned by the late sudden Change) has subsided, and men's minds have had time to cool?

We are very much alarmed, in this part of the Country, least the Assembly shou'd pass some Laws infringing the Articles of the Peace, and thereby involve us in a fresh Quarrel with Great Britain; who might make Reprisals upon our Shipping or Coasts, without much Danger of offending the late belligerent Powers in Europe, or even the other American States: but I trust that more prudent and dispassionate councils will prevail.

One of my Sons and one William Allison have lately erected a Snuff Manufactory in this County, and have already made a large Quantity of Snuff; which they intend to send soon into different parts of the Country: fearing the attempts of the British Merchants [to send] such a manufacture here, they have presented a Petition to the Assembly, for laying a Duty upon Snuff imported from foreign Countrys; the Reasons for this are fully stated in their Petition, which I beg the Favour of you to examine; and if you