The New Hampshire Gazette

LONDON, April 16.

Yesterday at a Court of Common Council at Guildhall,
Mr. Deputy Hodges opened the Business of the Court
with the following Speech.

History the Key of Knowledge, and Experience the
Touchstone of Truth, have convinced us that this Coun-
try owes the Preservation of its most excellent Consti-
tution to the frequent Jealousies, Fears and Apprehensions of
the People.

Whenever the Face of Public Affairs have borne a disa-
greeable or dangerous Aspect: whenever the People have
been injured by the Conduct of those who have undertaken the
Direction and Management of their Public Affairs, they have
always by a vigorous and timely Opposition impeded the im-
pending Danger; and when they have been prosperous and
flourishing, when those in Power have done or attempted any
material Service to their Country, the People have been al-
ways equally ready to acknowledge and reward.

Instances of this kind are so frequent in our History, that
it is needless to descend to Particulars, and it would be taking
up your Time unnecessarily to enter into a Defence of this Con-
duct: As Applications to punish, when necessary, are intended
to deter, So Thanks and Rewards do conduce to excite and
create Emulation; both absolutely necessary to support the
principal Ends and Design of Government, the Happiness of
Society; and in all Cases of this Sort it has been customary
for this Corporation as the Metropolis, to set the Example.

Not long since, too late to be forgot, this Country was on
the Brink of Ruin, brought to by the Mistakes or Designs of
those who had undertaken the Direction of National Affairs;
on this melancholy Occasion this Court did present an Ad-
dress of Condolence to the King: his Majesty received them
with Candour, and with the Affection of a Parent regarded
their Complaints: a Change of Men soon followed; and
with a Change of Measures, as revived the sinking
Spirit of the People, and raised a sinking Land: Our
Country Britannia, almost expiring, raised her dying Head,
saw Virtue and Integrity (who had long deserted her) offer
their Assistance in the Persons of Mr. Pitt and Mr. Legge,
cheerfully accepted their friendly Aid, at once forgot past
Misfortunes, tho' very great, and suffered them to be buried
in future Hopes; the Consequence of which was, Public
Spirit and Oeconomy ventured once more to appear in our Asem-
blies: Commerce put on a new Garment, Foreign Mercenaries
retired from our Country, and the Sons of Freedom began to
furbish their own Arms; Placemen, Pensioners, Jobbers, and
Agents, the corrupt Sons of bad Administration, hung down
their Heads, snarled and retired into Corners; and every
Aspect foretold better Times; but See the Uncertainty of hu-
man Events! we had no sooner pleased ourselves with this
Ray of Prosperity, but Britannia's Props are taken away,
and every one fears the Danger of a Relapse, by having lost
those who so well administered, and understood her Constitution.

The Appointing and Removal of Ministers, being the Act
of Sacred Power and Sovereign Authority, Duty, as well as
Discretion, requires I should be silent on that Head; but as a
Subject of Britain, I can lament the Loss of such Patriots and
Protectors; as an Englishman I have a Right to acknowledge
and thank. We have all that Right. Wisdom as well as
Policy dictate the Exercise of it on the present Occasion. I
therefore beg leave to propose a Question to present the Free-
dom of this City to the Hon. William Pitt, Esq; and the Hon.
Henry Legge, Esq; in Gold Boxes, Gentlemen who have
so gloriously led the Van, in our late excellent, but short
Administration. It has been customary for this Court to give
the Freedom of this City to those who have eminently served.
and we shall surely do it to these Gentlemen who have served
their Country: If we cannot appoint Men or promote their
Continuance, we can and ought to sanction their Measures,
so evidently tending to the Good of our Country.

The Question proposed, and the Freedom of the City pre-
sented to these Gentlemen in Gold Boxes, were mentioned in
our last.