The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the PRINTERS.

The following Letter lately wrote by an eminent Merchant in London, to a noble Lord in the present Ministry, relative to the distressing Situation of the Colonies, I doubt not will be highly agreeable to the Publick.

My LORD,

It gave me great Pleasure to see in the publick Papers, you are nominated first Lord of Trade; it put me in mind of a similar Occurrence in the late War, when the whole Continent of America were uneasy at the Spiritless Measures, and fruitless Campaigns in the Back Country, which consumed their Men without annoying the Enemy, the Commanding Officer could not get a Man raised by any of the Colonies.

A new Minister, by an animating Letter to each of the Provinces, gave a turn to their drooping Spirits; Men were immediately raised and supported; under Divine Providence the whole face of Affairs was changed, which issued in the Destruction of the French power in Canada: and that Minister by all the people loved, and esteemed as their great Deliverer.

Your Lordship likewise takes the Helm of Trade when our Commerce in America is in the utmost Confusion, by the mistaken Policy that directed the late Regulations: and I hope by the Blessing and Direction of the same Providence, you will be the means of retrieving the Commerce, the Harmony and Affection that once subsisted, between America, and her Mother Country: to which they have naturally an Affectionate and warm Attachment, and you will become the Object of their Affection, the Joy of their Heart, and the Subject of their Prayers, that the Divine Blessing may ever rest on you, yours, and your Royal Master.

That our Commerce is diminished, I can speak from my own Knowledge; this Year I have sent to America about £.10,000 less than for several Years past, and it is universally the case with all our Merchants which fixing them in London at 30, as I did in my Calculation to Ld Halifax, our London Exports are already diminished £.200,000; who ever may amuse you with Entries at the Custom-House, this is fact; and can you wonder that Thousands of poor are out of Work and ripe for Tumult and Confusion--The Spitalfield Weavers are a recent Instance thereof.

The reason of diminishing their Imports is the Scarcity of their Medium of Commerce, and by their Inability to pay for what they have, they are obliged to send Specie to England; which taking the whole Quantity on the Continent is not near sufficient to pay one 20th part of their Debts.

What Mischief must then arise from their curbing Trade with the Spaniards: who take off the Surplus of American Provisions, and is their only Resource for Dollars.

This inability to pay for their Goods, lays them under a Necessity to set up Manufactures of their own, which by degrees will improve, and in time rival ours.

The setting up Manufactures will take off their Attention from cultivating the Country, which they have no Encouragement to do unless Markets can be found for their Produce, that being already more than sufficient for their own Consumption.

The Burdens on the Fishery are numerous, but to give it a vital Stab, the French in return have had none-- three Pence per Gallon on our Fish brought to their Islands. To see languish under such a Stab, must grieve every Englishman. What Advantages will be gained by all these Measures? why a puny Sum brought into the Treasury, collected at a vast Expence, contrary to the Liberty given them in their several Charters, and being against the genius of the People, and Charters, makes them look on their Mother Country as Oppressors, rather than Cherishers of the Colonies; this creates Animosity and Hatred, and alienates the Hearts of a Million of People
from the Administration: To your Lordship I will allude to a Text of Holy Writ, Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath, lest they be discouraged; and are these trifling Considerations?

There is a depth in Trade Policy, as well as State Politicks, and the Advantages drawn from America are to arise from Commerce, not from Taxes, therefore encouraging and promoting their Commerce is true Trade Policy: When the Duty of three Pence per Gallon was, contrary to all the Remonstrances that could be made, and Arguments brought against it, laid on, the Ministry little thought the French would make Reprisals by laying so large a Duty on our Fish; which should we take off the Duty on their Molasses, it is a Question if they will alter.

The Stamp Duty is a heavy Burthen on those Infant Colonies, and is like hanging a Weight on a little Finger because it is born by a broad Pair of Shoulders.

These Things you will easily admit have thrown the Commerce with America into Confusion. I hope the restoring of it is an Honor reserved for your Lordship, and that is my sincere Wish of,

Your Lordship's Obedient Humble Servant,

The foregoing Letter is worthy to be Printed in LETTERS OF GOLD.