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The New York Packet
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
A letter from Halifax, Nova Scotia, dated March 2, 1787, describes the harsh economic conditions and scarcity of goods in the colony, with high living costs and reliance on imports from Boston, New York, and Ireland. The writer prefers life in the United States despite its reported difficulties and notes the requirement of a long oath for public offices.
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"I am but lately arrived in this province, from Europe; and am sensible you would be pleased to hear from me; but as I have but a few moments to write, will in a few words give you an unexaggerated idea of my situation here.—Tho' small the town, yet settled near forty years, it is a miserable country; not able to give the necessaries of life, much less the luxuries; not even an apple does it yield; Boston market is our great, nay only resource, for mutton, poultry and fruit; New-York sends us oysters and flour, Ireland pork and butter: and under Heaven (tho' an army and navy with us) there is not worse wines, &c. than here; this is but the smallest part of its miseries; for the want of cash, strange as it may appear to you, crowns them. I have done some considerable business since my arrival here, and gained but little. My bare fuel, is not considered extravagant at 20l. this currency per year; butter is 1/6. per lb. veal 10d. mutton the same; and in fine, it would require from three to four hundred a year to subsist as comfortable here, as I did at home, when doing considerably less business; but my stay here will be short; very few sensible or sentimental people among them, except the King's Officers.
"I have never been in any part of the States, my friends, but from the idea I entertain of them, confirmed by the information of many gentlemen of respectability from your country, (who casually visit here) I envy your situation; you abound in all the good things of this life; you are independent, the greatest of all earthly blessings to a man of spirit: Though you may not be at the receipts of making large sums, yet I declare to you on honor, notwithstanding the hue and cry that prevails here, of the embarrassments under which the land you are now in labours, I would heartily prefer it to this; tho great ALL their boasted encouragements and grande.
"I will close, by informing you, that to be eligible for a member of the House of Assembly. Justice of the Peace, &c. &c. it is necessary that the long Oath be taken; which I am confident, will not accord with your liberal idea of religion; but ambition and emulation will always influence fainter men; and it does in this place, more than any other I ever was in."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Halifax
Event Date
March 2, 1787
Event Details
The writer, recently arrived from Europe, describes Halifax as a small, long-settled but miserable town unable to provide basic necessities or luxuries, relying on imports from Boston for mutton, poultry, and fruit; New York for oysters and flour; and Ireland for pork and butter. High costs include fuel at 20l. per year, butter at 1/6 per lb., and veal/mutton at 10d. Living comfortably requires 300-400 pounds annually, more than at home despite less business. Lack of cash exacerbates issues. The writer envies the independence in the United States, preferring it over Halifax despite reported embarrassments. Eligibility for public offices like Assembly member or Justice of the Peace requires taking a long oath, which may conflict with liberal religious ideas.