The Virginia Gazette from Williamsburg, Virginia • Page 1

RlD A Septimbi a6, 1777, 1 Vrintii ly ALEXANDER PUR DIE, at the POST OFFICE iru to yz I. its ft GEORGE A ani PHI I I ALEXANDER. Efyuirts. Gentlemen, your conftituents ot the county of Fairfax, awl town of Alex andria, are greatly alarmed at the High Pake of every Commodity now expofed tn falft. and it the diftant Dro peft of their being cheaper, unlefs fome method can be fallen on to leflen the immenfe quantity of money now in circulation.

This done, we appre lieud will be a great means of railing the value of. money, lowering the price of goods, workmens vases, and enable the foldicr to fupply bunfelf with more neceilaries, and render his ler vice more cafy aad' cheerful to himfelf, and indeed more beneficial to his counrry. Ye are of opinion, that Ov Mony, and' money in general, has a proper circulation through the country, which the planter, the farmer, and every perfon that has had any dealing and molt have in fome wayj mufthave experienced, from the very high prices they have received from the purchaier; for every article they have iold, fome few excepted. That a tax be immediately laid and collected, we think, would be one great means of giving a proper value to our money, It would leifen the quantity, ani confec uently be produdive of good to the community. We think the people are not only able to pay the taxj but that they will cheerfully fubmit to ltj the people in this quarter appear well difpofed for the purpofe.

therefore, We ltrongly recommend it to you, and enjoin you, to uf? your utmoft idea voursp obtap a law to pafs to tax the people of this ftate, iu fucrji fort as your Honourable aoufe fliall judge proper. We are of opinion, that a General Assessment would be the moit equitable, and the only way to raife a fum adequate to the purpofe. Lo experience has taught us, that our mode of taxation hitherto adopted never raifed the money intended, without many additions, or long continuance of the taxes. Let us endeavour to remedy it. We are of opinion, that opening the Court of Justice would operate for the.

pubiick good. The people would then pay their debts, or be legally compelled to it. This would enable the merchant to extend his trade there would be larger importations and it would be a great means of Simulating us to induftry, and prevent our laying out money in fuperfluous things, that we can well do without. Another falutary end would be obtained; licentioufnefs would be retrained, and very thing again return to its proper channel. We defire, that you ufe your utmoft intereft that the legiflature fat any risk; would fall on ways and means to import ALaroeQuantity Salt, for the ufe of the people in this Itate.

The intrbducVion of this neceffary article would eafe their minds, and enable them to fupport their families much fetter than they can without. They are willing to pay almoft any price, if it could bff purchased with money. Som provifionalfo might be made for thofe who cannot, at any rate, purchafe. Should laws for this purpofe which we judge falutary) take place, the immenfe quantity of money in circulation would decreafe, its credit and value jncreafej our loan office would greatly experience the benefit; every kind of goods would fall in price the fhcer and ioldicr ('who claim yourereateft care and attention; that are now, or may be hereafter, in the frrvice of his country, to prelerve and to fecure to us every thir.g that is, dear and valuable, would procure neceilaries cheaper, and be enabled to live on his pay, which at prefent he cannot do. might then experjt to keep up an army, and it would increafe.

In our rrefent fituation, its duration may have a more esiftence. Perhaps this may be the laft Should this be the cafev we may at laft be obliged to fubmit to the unconditional terms of a tyrant king, corrupt miniftry, a venal parliament, and a cruel banditti. Hard terms forbid it, Heaven JWe hope you join us in opinion, that thefe at le ift: ar probaole means to obtain the deiired end. therefore again enjoin you to ufe your greateft efforts that fuch laws do pafs by which means you win fecure to yourfehes thi efteem and confidence (we hope ol the pubiick in general, and of your conftituents in particular. We requeft, that particular inquiry may be made nOW the rUBLICK MONEY AS iKHii' ed if proper perfons are at the head of the feve ral departments in which they are employed, not only thofe that are in the pay of this ftate, but thofe that act in this ftate in the continental fervice, be caufe we muft not only pay out oVn expenfes, but a large proportion of the general expenfe.

Let inquiry be made into thefalary given to each perfon in the feveral departments ot this commonwealth let every man in office be well paid, but let none make fortunes at the expenfe of their countrv. Assize Covets, and Circuit do es would be a great eafe to the lefs expenfi ve to the country, many villanies would appear that are 1 ow conceded confequently, many would fuffer condign punifhment that now efcape, for reafons too obvious to mention. This has long been thought highly ufeful. Why has 10c a law already paiied to procure fo great a good to the puUick If a State Essurance vice was opened Yand furely it may be done at leaft it is worthy the notice of the legiflature, it would be a great means of introducing goods of every kind. In confequence, they would be cheaper 5 the farmer, indeed every body, would experience the great ufe; and th? happinefs it would diffufe through all ranks of' mankind wou'd make them cheertuly pay any tax that the legiflature may think neceflary to impofe for the good of the As we put the greateft confidence in your attachment and attention to the good of your county we exped that you will pay a proper regard to, out' opinion and requefts in the matters to vou recom are, gentlemen, with efteemi your humble ferva.its, YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

Fairfax county, Jttwfi 20, 1777 FISH KILL, Siptmbcr 4. of a Utter from Albany, September 1. fT 1 A a iTlri FortSchuvler hav6takeii from 0 troorjs at the enemv four rova's. their curt carriap.c$, wac gons, aoimumtion, a number of t.nts, camp equipage, The enemy's fi ght has been very precipitate for a number i' jJdlers and Indians were taken intheir camp, and a Jarger number are ft 11 ftrolling in the woods. The grcaccft'part of them will alfo fall ioto our hands, or perifli far want of life.

From all appearance, they muft' have burwd their cannon General St. Ledger, maft have been flufhed with the expectation of an eafy reduction of the fort, for in a letter (which has fallen into our hands) to oe Lieutenant Bird, who commanded the party, thatfirft inveftcd the fort, he tclis Bird, thtcJusintcntbn is to Carry the garrifon by fiege, and that he is only to dif 'pofe of his troops accordingly Poor man he was afraid Lieutenant Bird would drown himfelf with laurels, which he, with his whob force, after twenty one days ficgc, was not able to obtain. Nothing new from the norrhward, but evcty appearance indicates our army's advancing." We are informed that Burgoyne has difcontmiled the reward given for fcalps, and has prohibited the barbarous practice for, tKe futurel under a fevere penalty. What the rcafons of this mtrSifui change are, we are left to guefs. It may be a guilty conlaencc reproves, him for authorifing murderers to tke away the lives 0 innocent women and children, or perhaps lefs nobld principle has been his inducement, viz.

a fcntme to keep the back inhabitants from leaving their h6mes; fit the fear of being fcalped frightened away bcth Whigs and Tories, who took with them their rattle, but were obliged to leave their f.ne crops juft rcadv to gather in A defcrtcr from Kingibridge informs, that the enemy have employed a number of Tories, both by night and day, to guard every road, in order to take up delerters from their camp, for whom they have four pounds a head. They are extremely y'gilant, and have lately taken many, lome ot wnom ae conaemma to aiev or frventeen prifoncri, fifteen vaggons, four Toyals a ouantiry of provilion, ammunition, Sir; John Johnfon wa fo terribly firigbtfened, that, in flrder to have a light pair of hed. he lert hii coat upon the field which Colonel Ganfevowt now hat in pofTcfllon It is fald that Burgoyne begins to gror anxious for the fafcty of hi main body, having retired with it to theeaft fide of the river at Saratoga, and building on the weft fide a picket fort. Pv ILADELPHI Septmter in VI hear that Efqhas ad drelled the militia of the Delaware ilate irt the moft fpirited manner to ftep forth, in defence ofc their invaded country, and that he has fince joined them in the character Of a volunteer. Colonel Gurney, of this was'flightly woun ied and colonel Duff of NewcalUe xountyi had his.horfe Ihor under himj inthie sicirmim that happened lelow Chrifteen on lair Ewhtt of aimer rem a gentleman at teri to his j'rierMn tbii tity dated September 3 o'clock A.

M. Iembracethisoppcritihity byexprefs, ofinA forming you that the movements of the enemy giv the greatell reafon to believe trm they are endea vourin to force a march to Philadelphia, This they will deavour to profecute to day, or give us battle. Yefterday they advanced toward us, our army prepared to give then)' battle; but' whether a diflike to our fituation, ei; a defire tof fteal a march, 1 know not, bu( they hiveVand ard; frill domg their utmoft, to hie ott to tb.e right oi, us. Extrafl of a letter from Chad's Jrotft, dmd.S.pti 5 II, 1 777, 3 quarters pajt 8 0 ct( Ai M. lh3 enemy are now advancing, and their 1 prefent appearance indicates a difpofition to purfue this route.

If they do, 1 truft they will meet witK; a fuitable reception, and fuch as wilt eftablifli our liberties. They are now advanced nek the Bran dy wine, and ha ve fired feveral pieces of artillery. By a gentleman laft night from camp, which left yefterday at noon, we leartr that the enemy about two o'clock in the morning; made as was expected; to try to pafi our army ori right, and to crofs the brandy wine at Chad's Ford On their moving, general Wafliington fufpecled1 their defign, moved T00.1 after', and took pofleifiOrt" of the high grounds on this fide Chad's 4 where the army lay laft night. It is ifaid the enefn halted at a place called JNicholas's Hill; about miles from our army, 'I By a New York paper, of the firft infant; 6 find that Colonel Dungan and Major Barnes, o( the new levies, ard both dead of the wounds, they, received in the affair on Staten lfland. By various accounts, learn that all the erie my fleet, ex ept iz or 11 fliios, have left ElJc river, and gone down Chefapeake baVj and it 3 cohjecluredthey mean to come up Delaware bay We art faiwredwltb the general orders of our greats andilluftrioas commapaer, the prep, andkry qfl this Wiflan Worldy ijfued to his army, on fridap the ybtnflatiti wbicbwpublijb 'onaccotixt'of tbt, virtuous and noble fentimcnts thy contain.

general! Wilmington, Stpt. 5, iffy pROM every informatlbn of the enemy's cjeigti, and from their movements it is manifeff that their aim is, if poliible, to poflefs themfeiv.es PJhiladelphia; 1 his is, with them, a capital obJ jecl: it is what; they lau year ftrovc to but? were happily difappointed; 1 hey made aftfeohd attenlpi at the opening of this campaign but; after' vaft preparation and expenfe for that purpcie abandoned their defig'n, and totally vacuated thev JerjTey hy are now making their laft it they nrft intended to coma up the Dela ware but, from the mcafurej taken asainft thenl in the river, judged the erite'rprife that way to hazardous. At length they have landed pn thd eaftern ftpre in Maryland, and advanced fom6 fittlct way into the couhtryi but the.Gencral thinks thev will be again difappointcd in their views, fiiou! We hear that Colonel Ganfcvoort took about twenty they pufli their delign againft Fhilade.lphia o.i thi7 batteaus in Wood creek, near Fort Schuyler, futcen route. TJfteir all is at flake they will put ihd 1.