Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Mess'rs. Printers;

WHILE we look up to our Political Fathers, in the fullest confidence that they will repeal those acts which remain as violating monuments of our constitutional rights, the basis of which (already too imperfect) let us as fully rely that the same noble spirit of patriotism and sound policy, which distinguished them in the passing of others, will not desert them when any attempts are made to obtain a repeal of such, originate from what quarter they may. In this class the navigation act stands foremost, the salutary effects of which we are already made sensible of. Our papers are no longer filled with accounts of seizures made of our vessels in the British islands, whose hungry officers may be compared to fishermen, who, waiting the arrival of a shoal, draw their net; and so long as we were allowed to make use of two sets of papers, our merchants would risque the deception to the ruin of our navigation. To this it may be objected, that the merchant has an undoubted right to hazard his property in what manner he pleases--granted; and the legislature have also a right to make it an honest one, and to regulate trade in what manner they please. This species of commerce, so mean and dishonourable, cannot be justified in a single instance, and had continued, would have been an eternal disgrace to the State, whose merchants would have been honoured with the appellation of thieves, reaping where they had not sowed. We have been told, that previous to the passing of this act, our harbours were filled with vessels; this, allowing it the force of truth, was against us; as we were generally paid in rum and gauze for our produce, never the cash, nay, very often these superfluities amounted to treble our exports, when a large balance, in cash, for our parts: this evil then is prevented by this act, and this opposite good succeeds it, our vessels now make their voyages to the French islands, and return in general with cash, for their pay, and if it is continued in force, we shall (by the help of a little British politick (which seem to threaten our destruction in refusing to supply us with buttons) solid advantages by exchanging our customers. Notwithstanding the great loss sustained by the county of Stafford, which by the way, if true, is Rockingham's gain; admit this, and another arithmetical question arises, if the county of Rockingham gains 40,000 dollars, what will the whole State; there is equal absurdity in the one as in the other, for the county of Strafford is the only one engaged in the lumber-trade. The facts are these: the scarcity of cash has reduced the prices of lumber and all other property, excepting the articles of cotton, coffee, and sugar (which, if authority will permit us to purchase, this disgraceful commerce may indeed be procured on advantageous terms) and many vessels which loaded at this port in the year 1784, belonging to the Massachusetts, now procure their lumber within themselves, better in quality and properly surveyed, agreeable to an act of that State; but although the policy of Great-Britain has taken from us the root of all evil, this good comes out of it; certificates can now be obtained at a discount of fifty per cent. whereby we are enabled to pay our taxes much easier than in 1784, and when the lumber-act is in force, which makes it our interest to be honest, our neighbours will give us the preference in loading their vessels, where convenience makes it necessary; but what need of arguments to persevere in continuing an act of such publick utility; are not the earnest entreaties of our political friends abroad, who have enforced them with an opinion, that a steady, firm, and strict adherence to it, will have the greatest influence with the British cabinet, in bringing about a commercial treaty, sufficient to encourage us? or shall we sacrifice our national spirit, and suffer ourselves to be insulted in the grossest manner, thereby becoming the scorn and ridicule of the world, and a reproach to the rising generation, to gratify a passion unworthy the character of men. It does not require much sagacity to perceive that by permitting the British to be our carriers, they never will suffer us to become theirs. Our rulers have too much wisdom not to discern things, from which we are led to believe they will abandon an act replete with so much good sense. at a time when the other States are following their laudable example.

A FRIEND to COMMERCE: