Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Nantucket, March 16

"The island of Nantucket has held two town-meetings on the subject of independence, and has adjourned unto the first week in April next, to prepare a memorial to be presented to the Government and Council at Boston, setting forth their inability of paying their taxes, and the daily depreciation of the island, and likewise to request a separation from their Government to enable them to make a contract with England to carry on the whale fishery free from duty. I doubt not it will be granted: Because they are unable to pay their taxes by reason of the duty on oil, and the rapid depopulation of monied men; because the whale fishery will be carried into Nova-Scotia, and the island left desolate.

The advantages set forth are, that it will employ at least One hundred square rigged vessels from this State, and give every man a chance of adventuring under the cloak of Nantucket property.--It will employ hundreds of men from the United States, and thousands within'--It will bring in an annual profit into this State from their produce, double or treble the amount of their present tax--will make a fund for remittance, and check the growth and interest of Nova Scotia. William Rotch fails for England, in May, who is to be an embassay to lay the matter before the King and Parliament, provided it succeeds at the Court of Boston.'"