The New Hampshire Gazette

To the PRINTER.

As the Spaniards have thought proper to force us into a war with them, it behoves us to prosecute it in all points to our greatest advantage. Now the main points that I think we ought to have in view, are the completing and securing our Empire in North America.

This Empire will be completed and entirely secured by our acquisitions of Spanish Florida, and French Louisiana: And there is little more necessary for the getting those two provinces into our possession than the taking of New Orleans, and what other French settlements may be near the mouth of the Mississippi, and of St. Augustine on the promontory of Florida. The possession of the shores of those two provinces must soon make us masters of the interior countries, which are but thinly inhabited: and if once in our possession, I do not think it can be possible for the French and Spaniards together ever to retake them from us; so, by our persisting in retaining them at all events for ever, we shall complete our Empire in North-America, and fix its security on a firm basis.

These conquests being made and possessed, there will remain a large and secure barrier of Indian nations between the complete body of British settlements in North America, and the great Spanish empire of Mexico: and such a distribution of territories with the total exclusion of the French, will be the only means likely to procure a lasting peace on that continent, as well as for the securing the prosperity and power of this kingdom, & for enabling it to discharge its public debt, and thereby secure its great commerce throughout the world.

Whatever views besides may be entertained by our ministry, I cannot help thinking this ought to be their primary object; as what of all pursuits will be the most important to obtain; because it will fix our colony security beyond the reach of rival states in future times to endanger; and add such a strength in numbers of people, in trade, and navigation, as will establish our power uncontrollable on the ocean. The great game of policy I must therefore think is now fairly in our hands, and, if played with true wisdom, it will infallibly become our own. We shall rise up with the whole stake for which we have, with our worst enemy, so long contended.

By this secondary conquest, Canada only can become valuable: and, if it is achieved, the glories of the present administration will exceed those of the past; for they will not only add to our possession a much larger extent of territory, but give security to the whole, and such advantages to their country as it never before received.

IBERICUS