The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From the London CHRONICLE of October 2, 1764.

Extract of a Letter from New-York.

...in this place appear so utterly irreconcileable to sound politics, that one would be apt to think the destruction of our trade, both foreign and domestic, was their ultimate point of view : Every little Master and commander, if but only of a sloop of 14 guns, is appointed by licence to detect smugglers ; and when in this pretended exercise of his authority on our defenceless coasters, he assumes all the importance of a Commissioner of the Customs. After all. I believe it would puzzle any reasonable person to define properly what Smuggling is in North-America. The critical situation of these provinces are such, that without making the most of our whole produce, and having a free vent, it will be impossible to keep up our credit with our mother country. The case is plainly this : Our flour, bread, salt provisions, lumber, fish, live stock, peltry, framed rafters, iron work, cooperage stores, &c. are always welcome to the French and Spanish Islands, which they are not at all times to those of our own : and as the former are not burdened with half the taxes and imports as the latter, even one-fourth part so much, they can afford a better price, and better bargains when we take their rum, sugar and molasses in return, sometimes at 30 per cent. advance in our favour, and very often pay the price of our whole cargoes in ready cash : where we have again another advantage in the currency, which is against us, in that of Jamaica, Barbadoes, and the other islands ; and again We never give any credit to the French and Spaniards. Our Governors would methinks do well to publish in the Gazette, or make known by proclamation, what they mean by smuggling; or what species of goods are comprehended therein ; for if our trading Vessels are to be searched by every arbitrary bashaw, in a king's ship ; if any of the afore articles I have mentioned are to be deemed illicit, and declared seizable, and I know of no other, unless an inconsiderable parcel of French silks, which by-the by are all brought us from England, and which our people of fashion think they have an equal right to wear. as any of your noblemen who have publickly appeared at court in French suits : I say, if such doings go on much longer there is indeed like to be special employment for Notaries Public, if it were only to protest bills : but as for more substantial returns in the course things are, I am afraid we must shortly be your humble servants.