The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From the PUBLIC ADVERTISER

To the PRINTER.

Pax est preferenda bello.

Bellum nimis gilvum sanii-
an unjust war is nefarious, unnatural, etc.

As the Affairs of North-America and Corsica
are at present the Subjects of the public
Attention, and very properly so, the following
Sentiments may, perhaps, not be unacceptable
to your Readers.

America undoubtedly, by our Constitution, is
subject to the British Legislature, though Ex-
perience hath shewn that it may be difficult to
oblige them to submit, and the consequence
may perhaps, be a bloody and expensive Civil
War. The great Objection, it seems, to our
laying any Taxes on them is, that they are not
represented in the British Parliament. If there-
fore, in order to remedy this Difficulty, a Lord
Lieutenant were to be appointed over the Co-
lonies in the same Manner as in Ireland, to be
replaced every two or three Years, & a Parlia-
ment were to be held in one of the principal
Colonies, to which all the Colonies should have
a Right of sending a limited Number of Mem-
bers, which Parliament should have the same
Power as the Irish Parliament, and the Go-
vernors in the several Colonies to be under the
Jurisdiction of the Lord Lieutenant, subject to
certain Restrictions; would it not be more
satisfactory to the Colonists, and more likely
to prevent Disorders and Confusion amongst
them, and contribute as well to the Prosperity
and Welfare of the Colonies and of England
(whose Prosperity & Welfare are certainly re-
ciprocal) than the present Method of Proceeding
with them, by appointing a Secretary of State
for the Business of North-America only.

In Relation to Corsica, if the French are en-
gaged in an unlawful Attempt to make them-
themselves Masters of that Island, what Pretence
can we have to interfere? And would it not
be imprudent so to do, when such Conduct
would inevitably bring on a War with France?
Would it not rather become us to strengthen
ourselves by honourable Alliances, reducing
our National Debt, increasing our natural
Strength and Commerce, restoring Unanimity
in our Councils, and by relying on Almighty
Providence, which governs Nations, and to
which Kings are subject for Protection, whilst
we act on Principles of integrity and Justice,
than to involve our Country in the dreadful
Calamity and Devastation of War? The Dis-
pute seems to be merely between the Genoese
and the Corsicans. The Genoese have delive-
red up their Right to Corsica, conditionally,
or suppose it were absolutely, are we bound by
any Alliances or Treaties, to prevent the Genoese
giving up their Right to Corsica to any foreign
Power, or to enter into any Quarrel between
the Genoese and the Corsicans? The Acquisi-
tion of Corsica to France may increase their
Naval Strength, but what hath England to fear
from France? Can it be imagined that the
French will ever be able to plant in this Island
Slavery for Liberty, and Romish Superstition for
the best established Religion in the World? No,
this is what Englishmen need never fear; Eng-
land can be ruined only by herself.

I am, SIR,

Yours, &c. PHILANTHROPOS.