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An Honest Farmer to Mr. Purdie

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AN HONEST FARMER TO MR˙ PURDIE.

I was not surprised to see, in your last week' s Gazette, the resignation of P˙ Henry, Esq˙, late Commander-in-chief of all the Virginia Forces, and Colonel of the First Regiment. From that great man' s amiable disposition, his invariable perseverance in the cause of liberty, we apprehend that envy strove to bury in obscurity his martial talents, fettered and confined, with only an empty title, the mere echo of authority, his superior abilities lay inactive, nor could be exerted for his honour or his country' s good.

Virginia may truly boast, that in him she finds the able statesman, the soldier' s father, the best of citizens, and

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liberty' s dear friend; clad with innocence, as in a coat of mail, he is proof against every serpentile whisper. The officers and soldiers, who know him, are riveted to his bosom: when he speaks, all is silence; when he orders, they cheerfully obey; and in the field, under so sensible, so prudent an officer, though hosts oppose them, with shouts they meet their armed foe, the sure presages of victory and success.

Let us, my countrymen, with grateful hearts, remember that he carried off the standard of liberty, and defeated Grenville in his favourite Stamp Act.
AN HONEST FARMER.

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