The New Hampshire Gazette

GUADALOUPE. January 11. 1762.

To His Excellency Campbell Dalrymple, Esq; Brigadier-General of His Majesty's Forces. Governor General of the Islands of Guadeloupe and it's Dependencies, and Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Troops in the said Island. &c. &c.

May it please Your Excellency,

We the British Merchants and Inhabitants of Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe. wait upon you, to express the grateful sense that we entertain of the generous declaration made to us in your late Speech.

We reflect with pleasure on the endeavours that you exerted for the Service of this Colony, even before you saw it : and tho' those endeavours met not with the success you wish'd, they have, at least, afforded your Excellency the greater opportunity. of manifesting your humanity and love of justice.

We justly acknowledge that your Excellency has plann'd your conduct on the rules of equity, and govern'd us,(as near as the circumstances. of the Colony would permit)upon the principles of the British constitution : and tho' national honour, (engaged to keep the Capitulation inviolate)would not allow the English forms of justice, yet we have not been disappointed in our hopes of enjoying the substance of it.

The Ordinance publish'd for the prevention of im-position and fraud in planter's payments ;.... Your endeavours in council to remove the delays of justice,and to supply and amend either the defect or abuse of Law in the French courts, even at the risque of the esteem of the members of the council ;....Your care in forming dockets to prevent all exactions upon trade in the public offices ;.... Your offer to encourage any proper plan that we should lay before you, for the better regulation and promoting of trade ; are all eminent and indubitable Proofs of your Excellency's attention to our commercial interest.

At the same time that we return our thanks for these provisions made and intended for increase and security of our property, permit us, with equal gratitude to declare, that, under your Excellency's mild and gentle administration, we live in the full enjoyments of our liberties ; and tho' unresstrained by Law and by the establishment of a civil jurisdiction, your Excellency remembers that you are a Briton, and that we are men born and educated to freedom.

We cannot help on this occasion to declare our sincerest attachment to your Person and government, & to return you our thanks for the good opinion you have expressed of our prudence and harmony. and hope we shall at all times deserve your Excellency's approbation.

From the experience of your Excellency's past administration, we have the best grounded confidence, that we shall continue to be happy under your government, and therefore cannot but earnestly wish that his Majesty's good pleasure may prolong it to you, 'till your own request shall put a period to it.

His EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER.

Gentlemen,

I return the Merchants and Inhabitants of Basse-Terre my most particular thanks for this very obliging address, and beg they may be assured. : that my authority and attention shall be constantly exerted for the encouragement and support of trade ...that therefore, even in our uncertain state, they may proceed with all possible vigour; observing only to fix their times of payment at the proper times, or at the restitution of the island ; which will secure them a-gainst every event that may happen, and enable me to seek them without any acts that may look like in-justice.

As British subjects, they may depend upon all the liberty and freedom, which the Spirit of our laws, without the establishment of them, can inspire ; be-ing too much a friend to liberty to use the power which our critical situation hath thrown into my hands, otherwie than for the security and protection of his Majesty's faithful subjects entrusted to my care.