The New Hampshire Gazette

From the MONITOR. June 2.

GREAT BRITAIN was never so respectable for her force by sea and land: Never so well provided with men and money to execute grand designs: nor never more united in her political interest, than under the present administration. So that if strength, riches, sound policy and unanimity are the means of safety and victory; this nation has nothing to fear.

Who can look upon the numerous squadrons, which cover the ocean, and exceeding the naval armaments of all the world united, in the goodness of their stores, and in the capacity of their officers and men; and yet tremble at the whisper of any equipment of a naval force by our enemies?

Who shall recollect that our forces for sea and land service, consist of 169,535 effective men; besides the numerous armies with which the king of Prussia finds employment for the common enemy; and imagine that France can meditate the conquest of Britain?

Who can believe that a nation, uncapable of covering their own coasts, and every where fleeing before the British arms, shall be able to invade an Island fortified with floating castles, and to land an army with hopes of success?

Were the nation divided, as hitherto in their affections and sentiments about the Sovereign: Were the people disgusted with the calling in a foreign army: Was the coast left open, and our naval power locked up in those ports, in which they might be detained by the same wind that could waft over a French fleet: Was this island disarmed and exposed to the word of the first invader; then the terror which overspread these kingdoms in the year forty-five might be renewed.

But the plea in favour of the house of Stuarts is not so much as hinted at, in the present quarrel with France. Religion and liberty, commerce and property, are the bones of contention. But the question is not, Who shall reign over us? But, whether the Reformed Religion shall yield to Popery? Whether liberty shall give place to arbitrary power? And, whether our colonies and commercial interest shall be given up to France.

The people's money, and the national strength are much better applied. The ruinous subsidiary treaties with Vienna and Russia, no longer drain off that treasure, which was necessary for our own defence: And these armies and fleets, which did eat the bread of idleness, and served only to maintain the advocates of ministerial power, or at most, to give weight to the extraneous schemes of some foreign Prince or State, are rendered active, and employed in such a manner, as not only to render every attempt upon the British dominions abortive and dangerous to the assailants: but to curb the insolence of our enemies, wherever they can be found.

It is improbable, and in the present state of the sea and land forces as impossible, for the French to invade this island with a number of flat-bottom boats, as that a man can coil himself up in a quart bottle.

We all know, that descents upon a hostile shore are attended with extraordinary difficulties. The land forces cannot be rowed across the sea in wherries: They must be not only embarked on board transport ships able to carry sail and to bear up against the accidents that may happen in the course of their voyage, from winds, storms, and tempests: but they must be convoyed by other ships of force, to cover their landing, with the number and length of their guns: to secure them from surprize, and to carry them off in case of a defeat. And the miscarriage of our powerful armament destined against Rochfort should convince us, that even the sovereignty of the sea cannot promise success to an invasion of an enemy's country.

I would endeavour to undeceive the people, that are misinformed of the strength and capacity of flat-bottom'd boats: They are no bigger than a horse-ferry; they carry no guns; and are neither capable of making resistance, nor of living in a high sea.

And I can scarce forbear suspecting the integrity of those, who have an opportunity to know better, should they spread the report to frighten the publick, and make use of its terrors to operate upon the councils of the Sovereign, and to frustrate the active measures of the ministry: to neglect our interest abroad, and to consume our treasure in useless preparations and parade at home. under the pretence of defending Britain from a formidable fleet of vessels, not half so serviceable as fishing boats.