The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From a late London Print:

To the People of England.

It has always been my opinion that the People of England, however they may at first, under the influence of passion or misapprehension, condemn the generous efforts of the Colonists in the vindication of their liberty, when rightly informed, would encourage and applaud them: The present disposition of the Public, fully justifies these sentiments; a disposition, candidly open to the just complaints of America for the violation of her constitutional rights, and in spite of all the sophistry and falsehood of industriously wicked men, the people now wish to see them redressed.

Many are the lesser grievances which America feels and resents: but the grand one, that on which the rest are grafted, is the violated rights of representation. A former House of Commons voted, That it might be right and expedient to give and grant the money of the Colonies in a representative body, where all the Freeholders of America had not a single Representative. That is, they voted it proper to deprive the Colonies of their right of representation, on which all other rights essentially depend. The present has voted, that the person chosen by a majority of the Freeholders of the County of Middlesex, was not their Representative, and that he whom a majority refused, was duly elected. That is to say, the Freeholders have no right to choose a Representative, though on the free choice of him their liberties are absolutely founded. We complain with earnestness and strict propriety, that we are unjustly and arbitrarily deprived of one Representative: the people of America (surely with equal reason) complain, that they are deprived of all their Representatives. We are justly alarmed at so flagrant a violation of our dearest rights; they are filled with astonishment, and glow with indignation, while they see and feel the total loss of every right as Englishmen, and freemen: Can any avoid discerning at once, how nearly similar the original grievances of America are to those of this country. The difference lies only in degree. The Ministry have adopted, and already executed in one county here, Mr. G---le's, or rather my Lord Bute's plan for enslaving America. It were, indeed, the last degree of folly to suppose, that if arbitrary rule was once suffered to establish itself in America, it would not speedily traverse the ocean, and finally fix itself in England. How short the time which has intervened, between the voting away in the of , the Liberties of America and of Great Britain! So dangerous it is to admit slavish practices into any part of the dominions; or to suffer, in any instance, the vital principles of the constitution to be violated. Grafton and Grenville, are, indeed the apparent contrivers of those schemes; and the difference of the men, may seem to stamp a difference on the measures; but it is certain they were both under the detested influence of the Thane; and that the attempts to abolish the constitutional right of Representation in this country and in America, sprung equally from the arbitrary St-t. He has set upon it his pernicious seal. and the impression is a rod of-iron, for the courage of Freemen. Without this malignant influence, the daring genius of a Gen.-n; the plodding ignorance of a Grfle: and the immoveable dulness of a Hill---gh. would have been equally impotent. The complaints of an injured people would have been graciously received at the foot of the T-e: and those who have deceived their sovereign, and abused his subjects, would, ere this, have been brought to condign punishment. It is of the utmost importance to our mutual welfare, that this circumstance should be duly weighed. The meditated subversion of Liberty in both countries, springing from the same source, should knit America and England firmly in opposition. Our utmost, united efforts are necessary to stem the torrent of arbitrary power, that threatens now to bear down Liberty and all her rights before it.

America, I can pledge myself for her, will unite with this country to the last efforts of determined opposition. No people ever harmonized more in the truest sentiments of loyalty to the Brunswick line, as the elected guardians of our sacred constitution, founded in the noble principles of Magna Charta and the Revolution. Yet it is not to name, but to principles they are attached; principles, which they will never suffer any King to violate with impunity. I am therefore earnest in recommending to the free people of this country to cultivate the friendship of the Americans, who are pursuing the same sacred cause of freedom with the same virtuous determination to succeed, or to perish in the attempt. The cause is common, let us be united in its support; the Liberties of both countries are embarked in the same bottom; the same storm that sinks the one, will overwhelm the other. No matter whether our grievances arise from former Acts of Parliament, or a present---of -, when the united voice of England and America, proclaims them to be unconstitutional and intolerable. A voice, impudently styled by the Tools of despotism, faction here, and treason there. Those writers would endeavour to persuade us, that all opposition to the Butean system of oppression, proceeds from disaffection to an upright Government here, and in America, from disobedience to the just legislative authority of Great Britain. But when the conduct of G--t here shall have been uniformly such, as to alarm the most unthinking, and incense the most moderate: when a House of--shall have violated, towards America, those very principles on which its own existence depends, the principles of Liberty and of the Constitution: disaffection in the people will be virtue; disobedience will be their duty. A higher power than Kg or P- -t may sometimes claim this virtue, and this duty; the God of Heaven, who, when he gave us the rights of humanity, made it impiety to surrender them to an earthly Being. It is not in nature, but that causes must produce their effects: whoever would find the cause of these disturbances through the whole dominion, must look for them in the cabinet of Lord B-e; and to him must the consequences, however great and ruinous, be imputed. Impressed with the just idea of the subject, the public will regard, with equal contempt the labored sophistry of an impudently pretended Review of the America Controversy, and the News paper babble of an Old Mentor. Whether they are the virtuous lucubrations of a coxcomb Deputy to a pedantic S-y; or of an envenomed retailer of German Considerations, from a Blanket- Warehouse-; or of a cankered junto of discarded American Agents. To enter into a formal refutation of them, would be to offer an affront to the common sense of men, who cannot be misled by such despicable sophistry; and might disturb, too much the repose to which oblivion and contempt has consigned their productions.

Let us, in the mean time, never forget this important truth; "that division will endanger our dearest rights, and aid the views of those who meditate the absolute subversion of our sacred constitution; but that the People of England, and of America, united in their efforts, will vindicate their Liberties from every attempt of a despotic St.-- art, and maintain them inviolate to the latest posterity."

JUNIUS AMERICANUS.