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Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Letter from Halifax, Nova Scotia, dated July 10, 1786, reports total stagnation of business, cash scarcity, and aggressive enforcement of the Navigation Act by Custom House officers, who seize American vessels despite permits, leading to condemnations that benefit the judges and officers themselves. Example: Captain House's schooner from Penobscot seized nine miles from harbor. Some local gentlemen oppose but are feared; liberal loyalists allow safe political discussion.
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Extract of a letter from Halifax, "CAPITAL" of Scotland, July 10th, 1786.
"There is a total Stagnation (almost) of every species of business here, and cash more scarce than with you, in New-York, which I should have questioned, had I not ocular demonstration. The chief business done here, is by the Custom house macaronies; they seize every vessel from United America, tho' she may have their Governor and Council's permit; their crown lawyers insisting that is not valid, as it is in violation of the hobby-horse (which they ride ceaselessly) the Navigation Act." American property, even if brought here in a British bottom, is assuredly condemned: and what is remarkable, the judges who condemn, are the persons who share what arises from their own condemnation. The only people who can afford to live tolerably, are the Custom house myrmidons. They stick at nothing which will effect a prize, even to take vessels nine miles from their harbour--instance Captain House, in a schooner from Penobscot. There are some few gentlemen here, nevertheless, who reprobate their conduct openly, but to little purpose, for the gentry are feared, &c. I cannot conclude without adding, in justice, that I now and then meet with a liberal loyalist, with whom you can discuss (without danger of a fracas, which is not uncommon) political subjects, and be secured from the favourite salutation of "rebel;" which, repeatedly, I have heard proceed from the lips of some officers, particularly when inebriated."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Halifax
Event Date
July 10th, 1786
Key Persons
Outcome
total stagnation of business; cash scarcity; seizures and condemnations of american vessels and property, benefiting custom house officers and judges; example of captain house's schooner seized nine miles from harbor.
Event Details
There is a total Stagnation (almost) of every species of business here, and cash more scarce than with you, in New-York. The chief business done here, is by the Custom house macaronies; they seize every vessel from United America, tho' she may have their Governor and Council's permit; their crown lawyers insisting that is not valid, as it is in violation of the Navigation Act. American property, even if brought here in a British bottom, is assuredly condemned: and what is remarkable, the judges who condemn, are the persons who share what arises from their own condemnation. The only people who can afford to live tolerably, are the Custom house myrmidons. They stick at nothing which will effect a prize, even to take vessels nine miles from their harbour--instance Captain House, in a schooner from Penobscot. There are some few gentlemen here, nevertheless, who reprobate their conduct openly, but to little purpose, for the gentry are feared. Liberal loyalists allow discussion of political subjects without danger of being called 'rebel'.