The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

PORTS MOUTH, May. 9.

A Letter from the Committee of Merchants in London, To the Honorable Mark Hunking Wentworth, Esq; and the rest of the Merchants at Portsmouth, in the Province of New Hampshire, dated February 28, 1766.

A pleasure to acquaint you that Bill is now in the House of Commons, for repealing the Stamp-act: It was read the second time yesterday.

We also look forward to some beneficial regulations and extension of the trade of America; which we hope may be obtain'd in the course of this session of parliament, during which the most serious attention and application shall take place on our part, to every point which tend to the public good.

Permit us now, Gentlemen, to lay before you our sentiments on the present state of affairs, to submit them to your good judgment, and to request, that, so far as they agree with it, you will be pleased to inculcate the propriety of the conduct we recommend.

It has been a constant argument against the repeal; that in case it should take place, the parliamentary Vote of Right, will be waste paper; and that the colonies will understand very well, that what is pretended to be adopted, on more commercial principles of expedience, is really yielded thro' fear: and amounts to a tacit but effectual surrender of its right, or at least to a tacit compact that it will never use it.

In this line of arguments every debate and every question from opposition has run -- How material, how necessary therefore is it that the event should not support, or even seem to support those arguments.

The event will justify those arguments in the strongest manner, if the colonies should triumph on the Repeal, and affect to seize the yielding of Parliament as a point gained over parliamentary authority, -- The opposition (from whom the colonies have suffer'd so much) would throw in the teeth of our friends, See your work -- it is as we said, it is but too well prov'd what use the Colonies make of your weak and timid measures. -- On the contrary, if duty, submission, and gratitude, be the returns made by the colonies, then our friends may exult, they may say, -- We are in the right -- It is as we said? See the Colonies regain'd to this country by our moderation -- regain'd with their loyalty, their affections, and their trade.

It is needless to say how extremely preferable the latter supposition is to the first; how much more desirable for this country and for the colonies.

You must be sensible what friends you have in the present ministry, and are doubtless informed what pains they have taken to serve them: It is
Justice likewise to them, to inform you that they have had great difficulties to encountering the cause, the principal of which was unhappily thrown in by the colonies themselves, we mean the intemperate proceedings of various ranks of people on your side of the water: and the difficulties of the repeal would have been much less, if they had not by their violence in word and action, awakened the honor of parliament, and thereby involved every friend of the repeal into the imputation of betraying the dignity of parliament.

This is so true, that the act could certainly not have been repealed, had not men's minds been in some measure satisfied with the declaration of rights.

---If therefore, you would make the proper returns to your country, if you have a mind to do credit to your friends, and strengthen the hands of your advocates, hasten, we beseech you, to express filial duty and gratitude to your parent country: Then will those, who have been (and while they have the power we doubt not will be) your friends; plume themselves on the restoration of peace to the colonies, union, trade, and reciprocal advantage to them and us;--But if violent measures are continued, and triumphs on the point gain'd: If it is talked of as a victory: If it is said the parliament have yielded up the right: then indeed your enemies here will have a compleat triumph;-- Your tax-masters probably restored; your friends must certainly lose all power to serve you, and such a train of ill consequences follow, as are easier for you to imagine than for us to describe; at least such measures on your side will greatly tend to produce these effects: We have no doubt that you will adopt the contrary conduct, and inculcate it to the utmost of your influence, to which we sincerely wish the most extensive regard may be paid, and that uninterrupted mutual affection may continue between Great Britain & her colonies to the latest ages.

We are, with unfeigned Regard, Gentlemen,

Your affectionate Friends & humble Servants.

[The above Letter was signed by thirty principal Merchants residing in London]