The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from London, July 14.

"You Americans are so obstinate, I was going to say foolish, there is no such Thing as speaking a Word to you on public Affairs, by Way of Advice, that will not shock either your Pride or Patriotism; I could otherwise expatiate largely upon the Effects your Resolutions are likely to produce to your, much more than our, Prejudice. Our Manufactures are fully employed, and I believe not a single person suffers on Account of the partial Suspension of your Trade, except a very small Number of those particularly connected with you, who had provided such Goods for your Supply, as are in a great Measure calculated for you alone; such cannot be Called a national Inconvenience.

You know my Opinion with respect to the present Contest fully, and that I should be the first to urge the Continuance of your Resolutions, could I perceive the least beneficial Effect like to flow from them; you had at one Time a fair opportunity of receding with Honour, on a repeal of Part of the Duties; you ought gracefully to have met us Half Way at that Time, and confined your Resolutions to TEA alone; I am afraid that is now too late: to confine your Imports to Necessaries, will avail you little here, your Superfluities are too trifling to be felt; besides, while Maryland, Rhode-Island, and Albany import, your Resolutions are fraught with lasting Evils to yourselves too obvious for me to mention. New England too, with all the Patriotism they profess, make a Distinction that at once cancels their Resolutions; for if I am rightly informed, (and I believe I am) any one giving Orders to build a Ship there, is allowed to pay the Amount in Goods; it is a meer Finest, for what is all Trade but Barter; and why shall not I order a Thousand Barrels of Flour, a Quantity of Lumber, &c. and pay for them in Goods? The whole of this Affair will not bear reasoning upon, and can only be considered in one Light, as this Spirit among you may encourage Oeconomy perhaps; on the other Hand, it checks Industry; for I do maintain it, the Credit you take from this Country, is an infinite Benefit to you, it encourages the Settlement of your Lands, &c. for a Man cannot be a Manufacturer, and Husbandman, at the same Time, and there is no Comparison between the two.

You mistake your Interest when you encourage any other Manufactures than such as are carried on at Leisure Times; in Winter, for Instance, when you cannot go into the Field; and when you can prevail on your People to make their Winter Evening Amusements consist in the spinning Linen, Woolen, &c. they deserve a Bounty from this Country, as much as the Irish or Scotch, for what they spin or weave: any other Manufactures are prejudicial to both Countries; and if you will calculate what one Farmer sacrifices by turning Manufacturer, and what America loses, by her Lands remaining without Stock or Cultivation, and carry it forward 50 Years you will find the sum more considerable than you have any Idea of. Leave a Country, well peopled and cultivated without Jealousy, the Advantage of working for you at a Shilling a Day; and do you pursue the Road for acquiring the only true Riches of any Country, the stocking and cultivating your Lands, and the peopling of your Country."