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Letter to Editor
September 30, 1763
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In June from London, a letter to the printer contrasts France's financial reforms—reducing taxes, redeeming debts equitably, and taxing freeholds—with Britain's focus on internal quarrels, corruption, and debt accumulation. It urges shifting attention to economic reform and war preparation over power struggles.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
LONDON, June,
To the PRINTER.
HAVE your own Authority in a late Paper of yours, for believing the French King has began to lessen the Taxes paid by his Subjects; and that he has ordered some of the Crown Debts should be redeemable at twenty Years Purchase, without Regard to the Original Capital, and others in Proportion to what the present Possessors paid for them, and that an equitable Tax should be laid on all the Freehold in the Kingdom.
The first Object to be considered in this Relation is, the apparent Hate France is into retrieve her national Circumstances; and by putting her Finances in good Order, to become enabled to support a new offensive or defensive War: a Circumstance that would influence every one of our Neighbours to prepare for the like Emergencies. But what has Great-Britain been doing since the Peace but quarreling? For what? why the Plunder of the Community. In which, Squabbles Patriotism has been the Word, while the Thing has not been so much as thought of. Has She been taxing the Rich to ease the Poor? or taking the Loads off Commerce, which is the Sinew of all Strength, and the Source of all Prosperity, in order to lay them upon Luxury, which is the Bane of Vigour, Virtue, and Security! Has she been lessening or augmenting the Instruments of Harpies? Has she been practising OEconomy? restraining Corruption? or augmenting Profusion? or only talking of Reformation.
If this Intelligence which you have given us from the foreign Gazettes, can be relied on, it highly behoves us to withdraw our Attention or Regard from the Feasting ins and Dining outs, those to obtain Power, and those to preserve it, and bestow it upon those (if to be found) who will regard their own Interests, and those of the Community in general. France, by fair and foul Means, appears to be growing formidable by pursuing such Measures as must soon make her powerful. While here, groaning as we are under our Burden of Debt, we are getting to Loggerheads for the Loaves and the Fishes.
To the PRINTER.
HAVE your own Authority in a late Paper of yours, for believing the French King has began to lessen the Taxes paid by his Subjects; and that he has ordered some of the Crown Debts should be redeemable at twenty Years Purchase, without Regard to the Original Capital, and others in Proportion to what the present Possessors paid for them, and that an equitable Tax should be laid on all the Freehold in the Kingdom.
The first Object to be considered in this Relation is, the apparent Hate France is into retrieve her national Circumstances; and by putting her Finances in good Order, to become enabled to support a new offensive or defensive War: a Circumstance that would influence every one of our Neighbours to prepare for the like Emergencies. But what has Great-Britain been doing since the Peace but quarreling? For what? why the Plunder of the Community. In which, Squabbles Patriotism has been the Word, while the Thing has not been so much as thought of. Has She been taxing the Rich to ease the Poor? or taking the Loads off Commerce, which is the Sinew of all Strength, and the Source of all Prosperity, in order to lay them upon Luxury, which is the Bane of Vigour, Virtue, and Security! Has she been lessening or augmenting the Instruments of Harpies? Has she been practising OEconomy? restraining Corruption? or augmenting Profusion? or only talking of Reformation.
If this Intelligence which you have given us from the foreign Gazettes, can be relied on, it highly behoves us to withdraw our Attention or Regard from the Feasting ins and Dining outs, those to obtain Power, and those to preserve it, and bestow it upon those (if to be found) who will regard their own Interests, and those of the Community in general. France, by fair and foul Means, appears to be growing formidable by pursuing such Measures as must soon make her powerful. While here, groaning as we are under our Burden of Debt, we are getting to Loggerheads for the Loaves and the Fishes.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Economic Policy
Politics
Military War
What keywords are associated?
French Finances
British Debt
Tax Reform
Political Corruption
War Preparation
Economic Reform
What entities or persons were involved?
To The Printer.
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
To The Printer.
Main Argument
britain must emulate france's financial reforms to order its finances, ease burdens on commerce, restrain corruption, and prepare for potential war, rather than wasting energy on internal power struggles and plunder.
Notable Details
French King Lessening Taxes On Subjects
Crown Debts Redeemable At Twenty Years Purchase Or Proportional To Purchase Price
Equitable Tax On All Freehold In France
Britain's Quarrels Over Community Plunder Under Guise Of Patriotism
Critique Of Failing To Tax Rich To Ease Poor, Burden Commerce, Or Practice Economy