The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the PRINTERS.

By inserting the following in your next Paper, you may possibly promote a Scheme which will do lasting Honor to this Place, and will oblige a Friend to Humanity.

THE rational, humane Sentiments discovered in a Piece I observed in your last Week's Paper, deserve peculiar Attention; I can conceive of no Exercise adapted to the original Design of the Creation of Man, respecting each other, any ways equivalent to the Relief of their distressed Fellow Creatures: HE or SHE who is devoid of this most noble Passion, deserves not a Rank among the rational Part of Creation, nay, is far beneath the Brute. for in them even in the lowest Part thereof, we have frequent and most striking Instances of their Readiness to afford each other every possible Assistance; and shall we, who claim a Character the most exalted in Life, so far degrade it as to be excelled in some of the most essential Parts thereof, by the insensible Animals? GOD forbid: and of his infinite Mercy endue us all with that benevolent Spirit which has so conspicuously appeared in our Brethren of the neighbouring Governments, whose shining Example, of this last generous Act in particular, must be allowed truly worthy our closest Imitation, and will ever redound to their greatest Honor. I can't but join my most hearty Wish with the Person whose noble Sentiments would enforce, to see that Mark of Joy and Thankfulness which flows from the truly generous Soul, generally appear on this very proper Occasion; 'tis surely the strongest Expression of Gratitude we can offer the wise Over-Ruler of all Things, who has thus mercifully delivered us from the impending Danger which has for some Time past threatened our Liberty or Lives, and at this Time settled us on the happy Establishment we enjoy, and which I trust shall to the latest Posterity.

It has been objected, our Goal is more fully stocked with large Debtors, than our Neighbours: this I doubt; but were it really the Case, would not the agreeable Reflection be proportionate to the Donation? Surely! those who from a proper Principle can enjoy themselves in having afforded small Relief, will in Proportion be it ever so large, especially when Ability enforces the good Inclination, which is well known to center largely in many of this Town. But to remove this Objection which is easy, when the End and Design of our Proposal will be as fully answered, 'twould not be amiss to enquire into the Prisoners Circumstances, as well as that of their Mind, and exclude those who have in Times past so badly improved their Liberty as at this Time to prefer their Confinement, which I've been informed is the State of the most principal Debtor, who has declared, were his Liberty offered him, he would not accept it, esteeming his present Situation much preferable to his former, being the Case, the Sum is at once reduced to a meer Trifle, which I doubt not might be easily raised, would some generous Patron promote a Subscription to that End. to which, from some late Instances among the Fair Sex, I am fully persuaded they would be liberal Contributors.