Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

The fatal Consequences of LUXURY.

THERE is no greater calamity can befall any people or state than when luxury is introduced among them, especially where it becomes general, and is carried on to so great a length, that every individual is under some necessity of living beyond his fortune, or incurring the censure of being avaricious. A man once engaged in this extravagant course of living, seldom is able to extricate himself in time, but is hurried on to the brink of ruin, reduces a helpless family to want and misery, and must at length sink under a weight of misfortunes; or through necessity be drove to attempt what may sacrifice his honor, country, and conscience, and every other consideration to a present relief, which may, which must at last end his fatal destruction. However amiable virtue and integrity may appear in our eyes, human nature will find it difficult to withstand the threatening misery of immediate want; a prison staring a man in the face, continual duns at his door, or want of his accustomed pleasures will drive him to extremities, which nothing but necessity could occasion; he is no more master of himself, but like a drowning man catches at every thing even at his dearest friend; tho' he should perish with him. To what extremity will not this melancholy situation lead a man; to poverty, shame, villainy, dependence and disgrace, and at length to sell one's country to support an idle extravagancy. Let a man's estate be what it will, if he lives beyond it, this will be the case sooner or later; and if ever a superior power should fall into such necessitous hands, the very thing which should make us happy, the abundance of public treasure, may, if artfully managed by a designing administration, prove the entire destruction of the constitution.