The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

TO THE PRINTERS.

THE supreme Disposer of all sublunary Things has so established the Necessities of Mankind, that every Man should be dependant on, or stand in need of another: and as the Industry of Men is set on Work, their Hopes and Views are rais'd, and their Ambition fir'd. the pleasing prospect of Gain inspires them with Vigour, gives them new Life; and as they find Success and Prosperity attend their Labours, they redouble their Diligence, by which they enrich themselves, and become principal Members of Society. To curb or restrain any Man from his natural Right, and Liberty of seeking a Livelihood by laying unequal and insupportable Burdens upon him, to prevent his progress in Business, is the most impolitic Conduct in a wise and free People: for no Community can expect to prosper, but by the Industry of its individuals, and the Riches of any Province consists in the number of People and the increase of Trade: and to discourage the settlement of such, implies too great Partiality:--It is the unhappy Disposition of many, to envy the Success of others, and to think that another can Sell his Merchandizes at a cheaper Rate, is an insupportable Consideration, as it is in effect disputing their Judgment of Purchasing, or exposing their avaricious Thirst for immoderate Gain:-- There is scarce any principal Seaport Town of any Province, where the Inhabitants get less for the Same Money than in this: We have been too long accustomed to pay dear for our Consumptions, by reason of the late-depreciating state. of our Currency, but as that is now established on a firm Basis, and Interest of Money reduced to its proper Bounds, we have a Right to be better used: for when the Cause ceases the Effect will of course, and those that pay only Money for their Consumptions, will assuredly apply to the cheapest Market, for which Reason every Trader should make it his Study to procure his Stock at the first Hand, and thereby put it out of the Power of any to Under-sell him--Fifteen per Cent advance upon the purchase of any saleable Commodity, that does not waste: and 20 per Cent for such as do. is Gain enough for any considerate Man, where the Money is paid; yet very few are content with that, and if there should be some who would be satisfied with less Advance, they immediately become the Objects of much Hatred, and- are unjustly characterized Ingrossers, Monopolizers. and other invidious Epithets, besides recommending them to the Consideration of Assessors, who, having no other Rule than their Judgment, are often blinded by false Appearances or Misrepresentations, and too frequently lay the Burden where it can be least supported: Some recent Instances of this we have had this Year, and unless some Relief is afforded, the whole Country will suffer, as it will be a Discouragement for any one to Sell at a moderate Advance, for fear of incurring the Displeasure of a few, and of being insupportably Taxed, especially where the produce of their Trade centers in the same Place: this must be esteemed very hard Terms, and cannot but be generally Exploded. How absurd is it, for any set of Men, to expect a Gratification of their particular Humours; and how unreasonable is it, that any Man, who, from conscientious Principles is content with light Gains in hopes of a heavy Purse, should not have the Indulgence of selling. his Merchandizes at such low Prices as he can best afford them, and is disposed to Vend them? If some are condemned for extravagant and others for moderate Prices, how is it possible to avoid Offence? and is it not surprising that those who obliges the Public with the least Profit, Should thereby make themselves Obnoxious---If this may be call'd a Grievance not to be dispensed with, That we can nor have the worth of our Money.

appears strange that no legal Remedy is attempted to prevent the country Tradesmen from engrossing the best of Town Jobs, and not be subject to pay Town Taxes; This may properly be esteem'd a Burthen indeed, and common Equity demands some Relief therein, for Reasons obvious to every one. How many industrious Tradesmen are there of this Town, who have large Families to Support, and whose Dependance is intirely on their daily Labours, are often unemploy'd, while Strangers are fully engaged: It can't be denied but that Men from the Country may afford to Work cheaper, which induces the Imployer to hire them, but should they be exempted from contributing to the Expences of that Town wherein they get their Bread? and must those, (who by their means are depriv'd of Imployment) be only subject? It certainly is hard, and not easily digested; widely different is this Treatment from the case of one Trader who can afford to sell cheaper than another, for with the Tradesman he has only his particular Occupation to get his Living by, but with the Trader all Merchandizes is acceptable, yet some Sort may be preferable to others, on account of their Vent, and as it behoves them to be Cautious in securing a good Purchase at the first, so it is their Interest in getting rid of a bad Bargain at the last, and we may reasonably Conclude, that Men who can Sell the Cheapest, will Sell the most, and must he reject Custom because others have not their Proportion of it? And yet by the Conduct of some they would think they had a Right to expect it.

D-. & H--.