The Newport Gazette

From the New-Hampshire Gazette.

To the PUBLIC.

HAVE lately travelled through the Massachusetts, and some other Colonies. In every Town, e'er I have made any Stop for Refreshment, it lead me to enquire, What the News? Why, aye, the Farmer. Next, says I, sir, What o' that? Says the Farmer, the Merchant is determined to get all that the Farmer possesses by his Extortion. In what? In asking such exorbitant Prices for the Produce he has for Sale. The very next Town I put up at, was a Town of Merchandize. It happened, that I was in Company with some of my Acquaintances, who were Merchants, conversing about the Calamities of the Day. The Merchant mentioned, with other Difficulties, the exorbitant Prices of the Farmer. In what, says I? Says the Merchant, the Farmer sells by Hay for three Pounds or more per Ton, when kind Heaven has given us such a Plenty. To-Day, says another, I was obliged to give Nine-pence a Pound for my Butter, or go without for my Breakfast: and every Article the Farmer sells, shows Extortion.

Says I, Don't you cry out upon the Farmer, at this Rate: I well remember, as I was passing through such a Town, I heard a Number of Farmers speak very hard of the Merchants, and tell how and what exorbitant Prices they took for their Molasses, Rum, and every other Article in Proportion. The Merchant for Answer, says,--Pray, consider the Risk we run, the Insurance we give, with other Charges, is a Reason for such extraordinary Prices, but not the whole Reason, for after all this, we are obliged to add a little more. A little, for what? in the Name of Common Sense, says the Merchant, is in Order to match the Farmer, in his Extortion.

My Countrymen, you must be better Examples, if you expect a common Blessing: What do you think will become of the Tradesman and Labourer, between the Merchant and Farmer? They must starve. O Merchant! O Farmer! Are we not fighting, at this critical Day, for the Liberties of the Thirteen United States, and will those, who have it in their Power, take the Advantage of the Day? Think, if this right. Can you expect a Blessing on your Merchandize? Can you expect the Earth will yield her Increase? Can you expect that God will bless our Arms and cause our Enemies to fly before us? In your Avarice, I am greatly afraid of the Consequence. My Friends, follow the golden Rule, that is, Do as you would be done by; and, for Conscience Sake, take not any extravagant Price for any Article you have for Sale, for Fear of bringing down the Judgments of Heaven upon us; we thereby, perhaps, may lose what we are fighting for, and then, what will become of poor America, God only knows.

AMICUS.