The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON

A Word to the Opposition.

Whoever looks into the histories of England and Scotland, will find the concurring testimony of all historians both English and Scottish, tending to prove the great source of calamity to this island was the mutual opposition of the southern and northern parts thereof to one another; while they continued separate kingdoms: under different monarchs of jaring and opposite principles, views, inclinations, and interests, or rather mistaken interests, Scotland was a continual check and controul upon England, a weapon artfully used by France at all times and on all occasions, to gall and annoy England in the most sensible, tender part, by pouring the horrors and calamities of war into her very bowels, whereby many laudable schemes and enterprises have been defeated; and, to speak in the emphatical language of an ancient English ambassador at the court of Scotland. "Nothing but Scottish valour could have set bounds to the rapid progress of English conquests in France." How many thousands of brave inhabitants of this island have been butchered and sacrificed to the unrelented fury of another part thereof! These were barbarous, impolitic times indeed! These unhappy divisions kept always open a door of destruction for the French, or any other enemy to come into the heart of this island. to ravage, lay waste and desolate the same: Who then is, at this day; so brutish and inhuman as to wish the return of those dreadful times. or circumstances so alarming? What open and avowed enemy could wish a heavier curse on Great-Britain, than the dissolution of that bond of peace, amity and united interest, safety and. tranquility, that now happily connects these two. (formerly divided).kingdoms into one happy, flourishing, and powerful nation, become by its union formidable to its enemies, respectable a-mong foreign powers, and almost invulnerable in itself?

What then must we think of those men, who under a mask of patriotism, endeavour, by all possible ways and means, to stir up dissensions and heats, and sharp animosities between the inhabitants of the southern and northern parts of the land ; who, after surveying and examining, with the keenest malice, the conduct and cha-racter of a certain nobleman, without discovering one spot or blemish, have at last had the as-surance, or rather meanness, to alledge the place of his birth, as a pretence for the most rancor-ous and bitter opposition against him, and all who concur with him, in the most wholesome and justifiable measures ? Who have attempted to dictate rules to their sovereign in the choice of his servants, as if his Majesty had no right to go beyond a certain latitude in the exercise of that valuable prerogative ? Little do these men con-sider what extremities they are aiming at, L. what anarchy, confusion, and mischief, would accrue to both parts of. the united kingdom, should their furious maxims spread and become general. But it is to be hoped the good sense of the rational part will prevail over the rage and heat of the less discerning, and prevent the per-nicious effects of these mean and sordid princi-ples : True Englishmen will rejoice in the na-tion's welfare by whomsoever it may be promot-ed ; distinctions of countries, as well as sects, are cowardly weapons of knaves, employed to embroil honest men against honest men, and set fools together by the ears : The rational dis-in-terested part despise both distinctions, and en-quire after men's actions and the uniformity of their conduct, disregarding equally the over-grown power of the minister, and the ground-less clamour of the misguided, inflamed multi-