The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

L O N D O N, November 13

In the Irish Parliament, notwithstanding the favourable Opinion conceived of Lord Harcourt, on his Arrival in Ireland, the Ministerial Party are as powerful as ever, and carry every Question as they please, so that that devoted Nation seems to have no Chance to avoid Ruin and Slavery.

A most distressing Picture of their Oppression and general Distress was exhibited by several of the Members in the Debates on Motions for laying new Taxes and impositions upon them. when they are already burdened with more than they are able to bear. Mr. Fitzgibbon, in his Speech against new Taxes, among many other Affecting Passages, has these Words,--.." I find at last, that the Ministry of England, jealous of our abridged Privileges, have their Eye on a general Land Tax, for all other Schemes they See are ineffectual; if they tax our Soap, the Poor must rot in Filth, for they would not have wherewith to wash the Rags of wretchedness ;--If a Tax was laid on Leather even the hardened Brogue they wear at present must be laid aside ; if a Tax on Candles, the dreary Night of Winter must be a Night of Darkness to them ;--..-and if on Malt, the cold Cup of Water must allay their Thirst ; upward, Sir, of two Millions of our poor People are unable to pay any Tax at all, whose Distresses are so great, & whose Poverty is so well known, that instead of the Two shillings exacted for their single Hearth, when to them the Tremendous gatherers appear, they have often been obliged to part with the Pot that was to boil their Potatoes.

Besides the Expences of Government, augmented by extravagant Salaries to a great Number of useless Officers, these poor People are burdened with the Payment of a List of Pensions amounting to about 79,000l. per Annum, to Persons with whom they have no Concern, and from whom they never received any benefit.