Feby. 24th 1775
D. B.
All America has received with astonishment and concern the Speech to Parliament.1 The wicked violence of Ministry is so clearly expressed, as to leave no doubt of their fatal determination to ruin both Countries, unless a powerful and timely check is interposed by the Body of the people. A very small corrupted Junto in New York excepted, all N. America is now most firmly united and as firmly resolved to defend their Liberties ad infinitum against every power on Earth that may attempt to take them away. The most effectual measures are every where taking to secure a sacred observance of the Association. Manufactures go rapidly on, and the means of repelling force by force are universally adopting. The inclosed Address to the Virginia Delegates published a few days since in the Gazette will shew you the spirit of the Frontier Men. This one County of Fincastle can furnish 1000 Rifle Men that for their number make the most formidable light Infantry in the world. The six frontier Counties can produce 6000 of these Men who from their amazing hardihood, their method of living so long in the woods without carrying provisions with them, the exceeding quickness with which they can march to distant parts, and above all, the dexterity to which they have arrived in the use of the Rifle Gun. Their is not one of these Men who wish a distance less than 200 yards on a larger object than an Orange. Every shot is fatal. The Virginia Colony Congress meets the 20th of next month for the appointment of Delegates to the Continental Congress in May next, and for other purposes of public security. The Ministry who are both foolish and wicked, think by depriving us of Assemblies to take away the advantage that results from united and collected counsels. But they are grievously mistaken. In despight of all their machinations, public Councils will be held and public measures adopted for general security. Still we hope that the proceedings of the last Continental Congress when communicated to the people of England will rouse a spirit that proving fatal to an abandoned Ministry may save the whole Empire from Its impending destruction. The honerable Coll. Lee of Stratford was buried this day, he died the 21st ultimo after a months painful illness. He is a public loss, and if the Ministry go on filling up these vacancies in the Council with raw boys and hotheaded senseless people, the affairs of Virginia must be in perpetual confusion, altho the present dispute should be accommodated. It is absolutely necessary that some grave sensible Men should now be placed there in order to temper the present body.
The pamphlet entitled an Appeal &c. is, I think the best I have read on the subject amidst such a variety of finely reasoned ones.2
Farewell.
Receiver’s copy, University of Virginia Archives. In Lee’s hand, though not signed.
1 The king’s speech of November 30, 1774, opening the new Parliament, appeared in a supplement to John Pinkney’s Virginia Gazette, February 3, 1775, and in Dixon and Hunter’s Virginia Gazette, February 4, 1775. The king’s address, which alarmed Lee, began: "It gives me much concern that I am obliged, at the opening of this Parliament, to inform you that a most daring spirit of resistance and disobedience to law still unhappily prevails in the province of Massachusetts Bay, and has, in divers parts of it, broke forth in fresh violences of a very criminal nature. These proceedings have been countenanced and encouraged in other of my colonies, and unwarrantable attempts have been made to obstruct the commerce of this kingdom, by unlawful combinations."
2 Arthur Lee, An Appeal to the Justice and Interests of the People of Great Britain, in the Present Disputes with America (London: J. Almon, 1774).
3 Lee’s information on the disposition of the New York Assembly was inaccurate. On January 26, 1775, the assembly had refused to consider the proceedings of the First Continental Congress, and subsequently a majority in the assembly defeated a series of motions designed to secure New York’s approval of Congress’ recommendations, including motions to thank the New York delegates for their work in Philadelphia and to elect delegates to a Second Congress to meet in May. Am. Archives. 4th ser. 1:1286 - 87, 1289 - 90.