The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the INHABITANTS of the Province of NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

Remember them that are in Bonds as bound with them, and them that suffer Adversity, as being yourselves also in the Body. Let us consider one another to provoke to Love and to good Works.

My DEAR BRETHREN

OUR late House of Deputies, which met at Exeter, having recommended it to the several Towns in this Province, to consider the distressed Situation of our poor oppressed Brethren in Boston, who are suffering the Rigour of a cruel & unjust Act of Parliament which deprives them of the Means of Subsistence for an indefinite Time, and lend them what Help we can afford, to support them in their Sufferings: I beg Leave to lay before you some Considerations, which may serve to shew you not how much they need (for that your own Humanity must inform you) but how much they deserve your Assistance.

The People of that Town and Colony have ever been remarkable for their Humanity and Generosity to the distressed. Their Bounty has been extended to Jamaica, Nevis, Carolina and other Places which have suffered by Fires, Hurricanes, Earthquakes and other Calamities, yea London itself has experienced their Kindness, when by the great Fire in 1666 so great Numbers there were reduced to Poverty. To their tender and benevolent Hand this Province in particular is greatly indebted if not for its Existence, yet certainly for its Protection & Support both in Matters of civil Government & in the furious Indian Wars during those 40 Years we were united to that Colony. The Settlements here must have been broken up had we been left to stand alone, vexed as we were by intestine Divisions and the want of an orderly Government, labouring under Poverty, and attacked by a savage Enemy whose tender Mercies were Cruelty. The Sense of their Kindness was most gratefully expressed in a Letter * wrote by President Cutt and his Council in 1680. to that Colony, upon the Separation which then took Place by the King's Authority. And since that Time, every one that is acquainted with the State of this Province, knows that it owes much of its Importance to the Neighbourhood of the Massachusetts Government.

Though the Town of Boston have themselves suffered greatly by Fires, and by the frequent spreading of the Small-Pox among them- yet they have always been at a prodigious Expence in supporting the Poor, most of whom are not Natives of the Place, but Strangers, who have fell in among them. For several Years past, as I have it from the best Authority. their annual Poor's Bill has amounted to about Two Thousand Pounds Sterling; -Besides which, there is a voluntary quarterly Contribution for the Poor at a public Evening-Lecture in Faneuil-Hall.

Distressed Persons of all Sorts have ever found Boston the best Place to go to for Relief. Prisoners of War have there found the kindest Treatment, and returned Captives have been received with the tenderest Commiseration. Mr. Williams of Deerfield, in the Narrative of his Captivity, bears them this Testimony,

The Charity of the whole Country of Canada, though moved with the Doctrine of Merit, does not come up to the Charity of Boston alone, where Notions of Merit are rejected.

Now, shall such a People as this suffer unpitied, unassisted? He who hath established this Rule "The liberal deviseth liberal Things, & by liberal Things he shall stand," has disposed the Hearts of our Brethren in the Southern Colonies to contribute handsomely already, and when the Crops come in, we expect they will do much more. And shall not we, tho' our Ability is but small in Proportion to theirs, do what we can to enable our Brethren, who are foremost in the Conflict, to maintain the Cause in which they are engaged, by a firm and manly Perseverance?

Will not such Communications of Charity strengthen the Bonds Of Society, and endear us to each other? And when a firm Union is thus cemented, happy in our mutual Affection, in the increased Cultivation of our Lands, in our Frugality and Oeconomy, we shall securely bid Defiance to all the Enemies of our Peace. and leave this Land of LIBERTY a sacred Legacy to Posterity.

"Terra-potens armis, atque ubere glebre."

Amicus Patriæ.

* See Hutchinson's History, Vol. 1st. P. 110, 327