The New Hampshire Gazette

LONDON.

To the PRINTER.

I confess myself to be one of those, not at all convinced by the strong things that, without proofs, have been said against our keeping CANADA: and as I conceive that we have a free liberty to debate that point at present, while the country is in our hands; and as I presume, not likely to be taken from us, unless we are talked into a humour of giving it up; I beg leave to offer some reasons for keeping it, tho' it should not be such a paradise as some have attempted to represent it.

In the first place, methinks the keeping it would shew, that we are consistent with our sentiments; for if it was not worth keeping, why were we at the expence of so much blood and treasure to acquire it? Why such rejoicings? Why such congratulations to the crown upon the acquisition? It may be said, that experience has since convinced us it is not worth keeping: But on whose experience ought we to rely? the inhabitants of our colonies have not told us so; neither have we heard this from the officers or soldiers by whom it was conquered.

It is agreed on all hands, that if we keep Canada, the inhabitants of our plantations will have nothing to do but to cultivate them: they will be free from any apprehensions of being attacked from thence, and nothing but keeping it can free them from those apprehensions; consequently, when they are free from them, their commerce with the mother country will be much greater and more profitable.

The inhabitants of Canada, if we keep it, will become more active and industrious; because they will have much greater encouragement to support themselves, by their own industry, than they formerly had; and the encouragement afforded them by the vicinity of a richer and better cultivated country, to harass and plunder its inhabitants, and to live in a state of war, even in the time of the most profound peace, will be entirely taken away.

The climate and soils are certainly much mended since the French first settled there; the former is become milder, and the latter more fruitful; farther cultivation, and greater population, the destruction of woods, the raising of towns and villages, will contribute to a farther melioration; and whatever our new conquest may be, it will grow better and better, so long as it remains in our hands, and of consequence the inhabitants will grow richer.

We can certainly supply all their wants, as easily, and at as cheap a rate as the French could do; and furnish them much better, for carrying on their trade with the Indians: so that whatever they acquire we shall have; and we shall have the more, the more they acquire. We can easily prevent their having any communication with their old masters, if they should desire it: But if we supply them upon better terms, there is no reason why they should desire it. Upon the whole, therefore, the accession of such a territory, and such a number of people, must be very beneficial to this country, and therefore it seems best to keep it.