The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From the Public Ledger.

LONDON, July 30.

Genuine Extract of a Letter from Boston, June 9, 1774.

THE Destruction of the Tea might have been prevented with the utmost Ease by the late Governor and Consignees, and would, had they possessed that Affection for the Community that ought to inspire every Part of it; & I must lay it entirely at their Door that the Detestable Commodity is not at this Instant safe in the Castle. The Governor has got a few Addresses, which I suppose will be cried up by the Friends of Administration as undeniable Proofs of the great Affection of the People for him. But they who imagine him to be disliked only by an insignificant Faction are grossly deceived. I aver it as Fact, that among the Boston Signers, the first Merchants and Traders for Business and Fortune are wanting, who were the Body that by a Vote disclaimed the Proceeding. The Addressers intended that the Address should have the Air of one from the General Body; wherefore some of them advertised for the Meeting, which was unexpectedly so full and considerable, and so differently minded, that they themselves were taken in upon their own Scheme. Some signed through over persuasion; some in Hopes that the Governor's Influence would be of Service in removing present Difficulties; some to add to the Number of Names, with whom others would have been ashamed to have had theirs reckoned, had it not been to serve a Turn. However the Governor may plume himself upon his Addressers, they are, upon the whole rather a Disgrace than an Honor to him.

The Cruelty of the Boston Port-Bill has changed the Minds of many, and alienated them from Administration. Tories, strange as it may appear, have been Converted by it to the Side of Liberty, and the regulating Bills will go near to fix them.

Had the Ministry only required Payment for the Tea by such a Day, or the Port to have been shut up till complied with, they would have saved, and Matters have went on tolerably, till full Satisfaction had been given by the Repeal of Acts accounted grievous; and it could not have been supposed the People would have gone on destroying the Tea, and so paying for without using it. But they have very unwisely ventured upon a Measure hazardous in itself, and which should it miscarry, must Disgrace, if not destroy the Government.

At present the Bostonians are not likely to submit to those humiliating Terms that are imposed upon them. Some among them, whose private Virtue was not made for public Difficulties and whose particular Interest is of more Importance than the Commonwealth, would serve any Master, and crouch to any Burden they could possibly bear, that they may be well fed and provided for: but not so the Generality; and should dire Necessity at length oblige the latter to bow down, they will rise again and make the most desperate Efforts to destroy the Power of Oppression whenever the Golden Opportunity offers. Where the present Affair will terminate, or when, Conjecture itself cannot imagine, The Colonies have taken the Alarm.

The Cause will probably be considered as a common one, and a Congress speedily ensue upon it. Connecticut Assembly have, I hear, upon what appears good Authority, concluded upon a Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer recommended to the several Congregations a Collection for the Poor of Boston; and appointed a Committee with unlimited Power to attend a general Congress. Certain Members of our Assembly will in all likelihood, bring on the same Measure, and carry it through before the Governor can hear of, and by Prorogation prevent it. An Attempt will be made to prevail on the Country People to agree upon buying no more English Goods after such a Time; which, should it become general or considerable, as I apprehend it will, must in it's Consequences greatly affect Britain; for it will not only hinder the Sale of English, but encourage the running in of foreign Commodities, and prove a secret Nurse to the Manufactures in America. Expect in two Years to be clothed from Head to Foot in pure American.