Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Jamaica, October 8.

The present dissensions among the Americans bid fair for annihilating their states. An immunity from taxes was their darling object, and they entertained the preposterous idea, that this immunity was to be obtained by the independence. They forgot that every regular government must be supported, and consequently the subjects of it be liable to taxation. In the present state of the world, every independent nation must be in a perpetual posture of defence; if it has a large extent of continent, it must keep in constant pay a numerous army; if it has a large extensive coast, and is desirous of commerce, it must maintain a proportionable navy; if the government has contracted debts, the capital, or at least the interest, must be punctually discharged; the several officers of the state must have salaries; and all this must be paid out of the pockets of the people. The Americans ought to have been sensible of Rousseau's maxim, Que tout Gouvernement est un Animal devorant, and have counted the cost before they ventured to erect so stupendous a fabric as Doctor Franklin had projected. That Prometheus indeed brought down fire from heaven, and heaven in retaliation has sent them a Pandora in single shape of independence, but furnished with a box replete with every mischief, and its contents she has so profusely scattered among them that they now regard with horror what was so lately their wishes to attain, and are vainly attempting to escape from the Demon which will haunt them wherever they go.