The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a letter from a Merchant at Boston, dated January 30, 1770.

THE spirit of Liberty, under all our present difficulties, in the loss of trade,&c, runs higher than ever. We have had few days past the largest meeting of Merchants and Traders ever known upon any occasion and the temper of the people is such, that they will never give up the point in dispute. We had lately two ships arrived here from Bristol laden with goods eight nights of which are reshipped, and returned by this opportunity to Bristol; which plainly shews, that the spirit of liberty here is not sinking. and that when necessity calls we can do with very little from Great Britain, and that the chief we want are only luxuries; we can manufacture the principal of the necessary articles we want, though not so cheap as we can import them from Great Britain: but if necessity calls we can. and we will do it. The people are determined to be firm in their agreement of non importation; and ad -- n-- n, in my opinion, cannot render the Americans a greater piece of service than to continue their resolutions not to remove the grievances complained of by them. It is true, the trading and mercantile part of the people (which by the way is but a small part) are suffering, but the country is growing rich, as they are getting into all kinds of manufactures- and the late embarrassments have made the people frugal and very industrious; and should we be favoured with the news by the first vessel from London, that the acts are repealed, and all grievances complained of by the Americans removed, I fear not above one half of the trade from the Colonies will return to Great Britain. The revenue collected from the late acts is not half sufficient to pay the Commissioners and Officers that are appointed to collect the same.