The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

THOUGH I mean not to altercate the Right of Parliament to tax the Colonies, it having been fully discussed by able Hands; yet as I conceive Governor Hutchinson to be endowed with political Wisdom equal to any Man in the Colonies, his imprudent Challenge offered a late Assembly to enter the Lists with them respecting that Matter, is truly astonishing; especially too, when he knew the Repeal of a certain Duty in America, was accompanied with an absolute Declaration of such a Power in all Cases whatever; and, on which the Colonies were silent. This Challenge appears with a deliberate Design to inflame, or inthrall, while the Destruction of the Tea at Boston (tho' perhaps precipitate) was thought the only Alternative for preventing the Ruin of this Continent: All Endeavours to send it back, being some how or other frustrated.

The Parliament of Britain claims a Right to tax the Americans, who pronounce such Right (the English Constitution considered) to be nugatory; but, be that as it may. If the Parliament puts such a Claim in practice, the Consequence may, and probably will be that the Americans like wild Birds in a Cage, will flutter about till they find a weak Place, and fly out, or worry themselves to death in the Confinement.; either of which is consonant to what the wise Man says of Oppression; and must be very disagreeable to our gracious Sovereign, and all his constitutional Subjects,--take which pleases the Reader. The King by either, must loose a great Part of his best Subjects, (though younger Sons) if what I have never heard be true, viz. an American, the Son of a Protestant, wishing to have another King, or Form of Government. And I verily believe, they still abhor the Thoughts of a Revolt. For the Truth of which, Appeal may be made to Men of every Nation and Denomination in America (those who Riot or Hoard, from what by all but themselves is deemed Oppression, excepted) unless, the Characteristic of a People be drawn from a Mob, sometimes shewing away in a populous Town or City; which frequently happens in England, Ireland and elsewhere. Nor is the similarity of the Occasions difficult to elucidate; only where a Partiality is shewn in favour of an East-India Company, to the Detriment of a West-India World.

Let the destroyed Tea be paid for; nay, let all the Colonies on the Continent (the infant Settlements of Georgia and Nova-Scotia excepted) join in paying for it.---- And to prevent any Time being spent about the Proportion; let it be paid for according to the Estimate of Inhabitants in Ames's Almanack for 1756. Let all Revenue Acts be repealed; and if the Rod does belong to Parliament, may what the Poet says induce them for the present to lay it aside.

"Such is the World's great Harmony that springs
From Order, Union, full Consent of Things.
Where Small and Great, where Weak and Mighty, made
To serve, not suffer. Strengthen, not invade,
More powerful each, as needful to the Rest,
And in Proportion as it blesses, blest."

I am Mr. Printer, your humble Servant Z.
Not a Massachusetts Man, tho' an American.