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The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Editorial relays rumors from Capt. George McArory of disturbances in England, including Lord North fleeing to France and Parliament pulled down by populace led by Burke and Johnstone. It critiques hasty legislation, urging laws suited to the people, referencing Roman practices and Peter the Great, likening America's unrest to a fever from violent remedies.
Merged-components note: The domestic news report of specific rumors from England is immediately followed by editorial commentary on such recurring rumors, forming a single coherent opinion piece on the topic.
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from St. Eustatia, in 14 Days, which Vessel he left at Sandy
Hook Yesterday Morning, and relates, That 2 Days before they
sailed, a New-England Sloop arrived in that Road, who was in
Company with a Bermuda Vessel that went to Antigua, where
they fell in with a Ship bound from London to Jamaica, 18 Days
out, who informed them that there was a great Disturbance in
England, that Lord North had fled to France.---The Parliament
house pulled down by the Populace and that the Lord Mayor, Mr.
Burke, and Governor Johnstone, headed the Populace, and found
out a great deal of Bribery and Corruption in the last Parliament.
We have had Accounts sundry Times of great Disturbances in
England, the Parliament House pulled down by the Populace.
and Lord North's fleeing to France ;---It would be much more
agreeable to the Americans to hear, that some Gentlemen who had
great Influence in a former Parliament, were convinced. that the top
hasty making of Laws, and forcing them upon a free People, has a
fatal Tendency ; for it is a Rule with judicious Physicians, to use no
such violent Means, as may prove worse than the Disease.
The ancient Romans, before they enacted a Law, hung up the
Scheme for it in a public Place ; where it remained exposed to view
for three Weeks, whereby the Inhabitants of the City and Country had
an Opportunity of reading and examining it---This is to show that
a Lawgiver should carefully examine the Nature and Disposition of
the Country, before he undertakes to give it a Law----"for a good
Law at Athens may be a bad one at Lacedemon." Peter Alexo-
witz, brought the Russians to quit most of their ancient Customs; but
by insisting upon their having their Beards, threw the whole Country
into Confusion. What in one Country may be done with a Nod or a
Wink, cannot be accomplished with Fire and Sword in another.---
"Laws must be suited to the People, and not the People to the Laws."
Constant Experience shews that a state is rather made worse than
better, by all rash and precipitate Reformations ;----as an Ague, by
violent Medicines may be turned to a continued Fever ; which is the
present Case in America ; and a very high Fever it is.
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Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of Hasty Legislation And Political Disturbances In England
Stance / Tone
Cautionary Against Precipitate Reforms And Forceful Laws
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