The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from London, dated July 25, 1769.

YOU have given me an Herculean labour, when you require my thoughts of men and things. In regard to men here, they consist of Knaves and Fools, the honest part generally comprehended among the latter. Things are so disguised as hardly to deserve the name by which they are call'd; Wine is brew'd with Brandy, Cyder with Turnip-juice, Rape-seed a succedaneum for Mustard, &c. In short, corruption so runs through men & things, that when the father asked his little son what trade he would be apprenticed to? his answer was, any trade Dadda where there is Mixing. In regard to politicks, I am tired of them, it is enough when I tell you the American-revenue laws will certainly be repealed, not from choice but necessity, nor are you indebted (tho' you have many well-wishers) to any body here for it. It is your own firmness, and that alone that has, and ever must support you. It is idle for you to talk of your ministerial friends, there is no such character, nor would I give a farthing for a change of ministers to-morrow. I know the D---e of G---e, S---l---ne L---d R---k---m and their creatures, I know them all, I have heard them all; they are as ministers, no better dispos'd than the present set; they make use of America to bring themselves into power, for which reason I have said, "The laws will certainly be repealed." The present set (than which God knows there cannot be a worse) cannot stand upon their ground without doing it. If the others come in, it is the Americani cause that brings them in, and therefore must do it.

L---d H-----h the other day complain'd that he could not enforce his measures, that he had been denied ships and troops for VIRGI-
NIA; he was told as they were determined to make peace in that quarter, he might choose any other department in the administration he thought proper, 'tis supposed he will consult Lord Bute and Lord Holland: he will have some other appointment or resign; if he resigns, Lord Dartmouth will succeed (as a stop-gap) he is generally supposed to be too honest a man to be long continued. In short, while Lord B-- and Lord H--d retain their influence, it is a matter of moon-shine who are ministers. I am hurt whenever I read a list of your toasts; you seem to idolize some who are no better than mere lick-plates and toad-eaters, while you pass over your great patron and deliver L--d Chatham unnoticed, at whose presence (even at this day) these sons of corruption (both in and out) tremble. He was the other day at court, and each party published a speech for him, which they would have wished him to have made, the truth is, what he said was foreign to both, he reproved both Ins and Outs, told them where they were wrong and how to be right. He enjoined them to repeal all the American Revenue Acts, and recall the troops from thence, so much you may depend he said; there are given out many other things advised by him, such as a d--n of P----t, &c. &c. for the truth of which I cannot answer. The Chancellor is a good man, if there is any defect in his character, it is a want of fortitude.-----Sir George Saville comes the nearest perfection of any man at present in this kingdom.-----Old alderman Beckford deserves to be revered by every body, particularly the Americans; he is remarkable for blunt truths; he every day speaks what others are almost afraid to think; he last winter told the H-- of C---s while they were complimenting themselves on their dignity within the walls, he was afraid the people out of doors considered them as little better than a den of thieves.----I have also some reason to think the Commissioners of the Customs will be recalled.-----Governor B----d is not more esteemed in the city of London than he is in Boston. So much for news of politicks.
* Whether his L--dsh--p was induced to require ships and troops for Virginia, from a Letter of Commodore Hood, the reader will judge. The Commodore in his Letter dated in Boston 22d November 1763, writes that "the Disturbances in VIRGINIA, & other Provinces to the southward of this, are as great as they well can be, without an actual REBELLION."