The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, July 8.

To the PRINTER.

From the Changes which are expected to take place in the Administration, it is to be hoped, that a Ministry will be formed. who,by their abilities and weight with the people, will be able effectually to second his Majesty's kind intentions and good endeavours for adding to the weight and power of the State, making our national commerce flourish and his people truly happy.

Arduous must the task prove to restore harmony and order, to perfect our constitutional ballance, to restrain undue power, to check hurtful abuses, to punish vice and idleness, encourage industry. and influence sobriety, and above all things, to restore the fullest vigour to the state, by cautiously and steadily applying all possible means for the needful easement of public burthens, and the requisite lessening of taxations, which, while they grievously affect all property may be said to shackle all commerce.

These are all undertakings that must be deemed highly requisite, and perhaps not extremely dif- ficult to be performed, if assiduity and integrity are exerted for their accomplishment. The sen- sible part of the people, who always establish po- pular opinions, perfectly understand the real interests of their country ; and therefore there can be no doubt entertained of their seeing and seconding every wise and good measure ; for honest policy has nothing in it of mystery in what regards the good of a state ; and indeed wherever affected it naturally creates suspicion, for the people may safe- ly be allowed to judge of what most concerns themselves,and they will always approve of mea- sures whichappear evidently calculated to promote their real interests ; nor do they now want con- viction, that the Crown, State, and People,; have no true divided interests ; so that whoever may act as if they thought they had, are really no other than the common enemies of all.

Every able and honest politician will readily subscribe to the opinions of Machiavel, founded on history and experience, the only warrantable grounds for opinions of such a nature,that the peo- ple of a free country have not naturally in them a desire of encroachment, and they are not refractory or violent, but in resistance or oppression, and that to attempt to bow them to servility and slavery are in their very na- tures injurious to the state ; because, if successful, they make them worthless from debasement ; and if not suc- cessful, by the desperation which they provoke, public safety becomes endangered.

Every Administration owes a high respect to the people ; because they act for the people under the authority of the Crown, and are by the consti- tution made answerable to the people for all acts of government. But though the people have a full right to judge of their conduct, and to require their being punished, if it is evil, yet has an honest Ad- ministration nothing to fear from the body of the people, as no example can be produced from the history of this kingdom, or perhaps any other, of the body of the people ever strongly opposing an Administration but upon warrantable grounds ; for they have not, nor can have, any object of de- sire, but that of being rightly governed, and equitably dealt by. This is a truth which the whole reign of Queen Elizabeth, and at least a great part of many others, most clearly evinces ; and we have seen in our days as striking proofs of entire con- fidence in government, and of the most generous and unanimous support of it, as were perhaps ever experienced in any age or country from the be- ginning of time.

Let the people have but evident cause for re- liance, and they will readily place it with an am- plitude of good will. To deserve their good opinion must therefore beever right policy : and the doing of it is the best proof that any Minister can give of his merit for employment.

There can then be no rational ground for doubting of the peoples approving every wise and good measure, or of their want of wisdom for dis- tinguishing what are really such. They have evidently no wish but to see wise and honest men employed ; and they will think no rewards too great for those who nobly distinguish themselves by merit in public service. There does not appear to be any rational ground for the too prevalent opinion that the people are always against government,because we haveourselves seen the contrary; and therefore it ought to be considered as no other than a mere plea of excuse, urged by men who are ambitious of holding power against the sense of the people.
Because strong attachment to persons whom they thought able and honest, and the fullest approbation of their measures, have been obvious and general; nor are the people of this kingdom distinguished by generosity and great goodness of heart.

It may therefore be relied on, that a popular Administration may accomplish every good work that is necessary to be performed for the welfare of the state and people; for good men are and ever will be ready to place their fullest confidence where they find, from reason and experience, it can with safety be reposed; nor need they fear those who are unpopular, for all their efforts must prove fruitless.

LEONIDAS.