The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Mr. FOWLE,

IN a Publication in your last Paper under the Signature of Mr. Sullivan, we have been favoured with a Copy of an Engagement, entered into by a Number of People, to meet at Durham Falls, (Durham Falls indeed) once a Week for the space of six Months to come, in order to acquire Military Skill under Officers to be appointed by themselves monthly.

As this is a Matter of Public Concern, I shall beg Permission, Mr. Printer, through the Channel of your Paper, to lay some Animadversions before the Public by it, which I think it would be unpardonable to neglect,

In the first Place the Appointment of all Military Officers, whether for a Day, a Week or a Month, is the sole Right of the King, or of those deriving Authority from him, and (to treat the Matter in the most moderate Terms) it is a very improper Step for any Body of Men, to assume that Power to themselves upon any Occasion or Pretence whatsoever.

The Laws of the Province require the Militia to be drawn forth to learn the Military Exercise four Times a Year, and no more; Mr. Sullivan may probably tell us, that this new modelled Company, does not come under this Limitation, yet I presume he will not deny but that the Meeting of any Part of the Militia, and these People declare themselves, to belong to it, any otherwise than the Law directs, is at least an Evasion, if not a direct Violation of the Law, both which ought to be equally avoided.

The Town of Durham by having Eighty two of it's Inhabitants employed, one Day in a Week (for we cannot suppose they will mind any other Business on those Days) for six Months, in military Exercises instead of their Husbandry. will sustain a Damage of 327 L. M. computing the Loss of their Labour only at half a Dollar a Day for each Person. Supposing now that all the Men in the Province fit to bear Arms, which may be reasonably calculated at 14,000, should catch this military Ardor, as most Infections are catching, and according to the Tendency of this Plan, follow the Example of Durham, it would after Durham fashion. occasion a Damage of £54,000 L. M. to the Province. A pretty Tax truly for a new Country! Whatever Reason Mr. Sullivan may have to rejoice in thus leading on the People to their own Damage, I am sure the Province would have abundant Reason, not to rejoice in his Rejoicing. but to regret their own Folly; & it is well known that many are at this Day in the like Predicament on Account of Some past Transactions amongst us. I hope therefore the People will judge for themselves. and avoid incurring a Damage to the Province, which no doubt the Legislature had in Contemplation to prevent by limiting the Times of training the Militia to four Days in a Year.

Moreover this extraordinary Spirit to acquire the Use of Arms, at a juncture when the Noise of civil Discord begins to roar in our Neighbourhood, marks strongly a Disposition to employ our Arms against the Power and Authority we ought to support and defend, every Appearance of which should be avoided with the utmost Caution and Circumpection.

As I wish not. Mr. Printer, to trespass too much on your Indulgence, I shall for the present only take Notice, that though Sullivan plainly discovers the Durham Plan to be a Child of his own, yet I still hope he will upon Reflection, have Candor enough to acknowledge the Deformities of his Baby, and take it in good part in me to advise him to abandon the System he hath for some Time past been engaged in; a System manifestly tending to bring Calamity and Distress upon the good People of this once happy Province.

MONITOR.