The New Hampshire Gazette

From the London Magazine, for January 1759.

To the M O N I T O R.

Present you with a new year's gift. It contains poesy and a brief account of the memorable year 1758, in which we have seen the British flag restored to its antient dignity. and our enemies obliged to yield up the dominion of the Seas to the superiority of the British navy.

A year, which will forever record the wisdom of our national councils; the conduct of our officers, and the bravery of our men employed in the public service both by sea and land ; and the cheerfulness with which all ranks of people contributed towards their support.

A year, which will be most severely felt by all those that directly or indirectly ventured to disturb the peace, and interrupt the trade of the British dominions, or to carry on a clandestine commerce with the enemies of Great Britain.

A year, which has demonstrated, by the great increase of its commerce, that the Strength and riches of the nation depend upon those measures, which have been taken to protect our navigation, and to beat all opposition out of the seas.

The plan, laid down by the ministry for the operations of that year, was to secure this island from an invasion, and to defeat the schemes for ruining our colonies in America. in preference to any interest of our allies on the continent ; tho' not without paying a due regard to those treaties, and that interest, which require the aid of Britain in defence of the liberties of Europe in general, and the protestant interest in particular.

For this purpose, they did not apply to Hanover, Hesse, nor to Holland. for a military aid. to be transported into Britain at a most extraordinary expence, to guard our coasts against a French invasion : A measure by which former ministers had lavished away the riches of the nation. exposed the British courage to the ridicule and contempt of the enemy, encouraged them to hover over a disarmed people, terrified by every report of their motions towards the coast of the channel, and endangered the common liberty of these kingdoms, by placing our privileges, property and lives, under the protection of a foreign army : But,

They provided for the internal security, by constituting a regular and well disciplin'd militia, whose expence does not amount to a tenth part of the charge of ten thousand foreign troops imported ; and whose strength is ten times more to be relied on. The hireling will flee in time of danger ; he who takes up a weapon for self defence. will die. rather than be made a slave.

Our fleets were not locked up in the ports of England to wait the motions of the French armaments and preparations to waft their armies into this island in flat-bottomed boats; neither was our army augmented to consume the national treasure in idleness at home, and in unprofitable expensive encampments and parade.

The British navy was permitted to carry its power into the ocean, and the army to enter into actual service. The happy fruits of which councils have been gathered in the conquest of Senegal; the acquisitions in North America; and in the damages done to the enemy on the coast of France. exclusive of the destruction of the French navy, and the total stop put to their trade, both in their own and neutral bottoms.

Yet these great and glorious advantages are no more than an earnest of the success expected from the vigorous measures already taken, in pursuance of the same plan of operations.

"Till then the British Lion was not at liberty to make use of his natural weapons, to exert his strength ; nor in a situation to prove his conduct and courage. A long series of pacifick measures had almost worn out the veterans, and the fleet and army were too much under the command of fine gentlemen, whose gaieties, pleasures, self indulgence, and connections with men in power, who preferred any measures to a necessary war, were bad incitements to military glory. Yet that innate courage, which will always discover itself in the English when led to action. was no sooner delivered from the toils which has for many years kept them in a state of inactivity, but we saw them brave all dangers: St. Maloes and Cherburgh have felt the power of their arms : St. Cas is a monument of their intrepidity ; and the undaunted resolution with which the landing was made at Gabarus Bay. in the face of an enemy deeply and strongly entrenched and fortified, shews that our seamen and soldiers only want an opportunity to convince the world, that they are the descendants of those heroes who conquered France, and for many years maintained the dominion of the seas.

How far these measures tended to compose all murmurings at home, and to influence foreign states in our favour, is readily seen in the uniting of parties for the promoting the national interest,and in that weight which our advantages have amongst some persons abroad, who might otherwise be induced by family attachments and Gallic intrigue, to join our enemies.

By these measures our enemies are deprived of those means, without which it will be impossible to continue a war, which they began to ruin their neighbours.

Their navigation is entirely ruined, and their device to avail themselves of the friendship of Dutch carriers has turned out not only to their greater loss, but also