The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

When the Love of the World begins to be advanc'd to an undue Pitch, the Love of God is proportionably abated, and the mystery of godliness is changed into the Mammon of Iniquity; for as Riches increase, so does Men's Affections: their inordinate Desires to amass an over grown Fortune frequently counteracts the Principles of real Honesty and sound Policy: for let us suppose a Man exalted to that Station which he is aiming at, and surrounded with all that State and Grandeur which his Hopes could propound, or his Ambition desire, he cannot then be pronounced happy or even great, for the more he commands, the more he is a Slave: his ill-gotten Wealth is ever uppermost in his Thoughts, and he feels a Pain amidst all his Diversions, and daily wants that Repose that may be found in the obscure Retirement of Poverty: His fears of Futurity dashes his Enjoyment with sharp Alloy-- The instability of Human Affairs, and their hasty and sudden Revolutions, are Lessons he dreads, the very mention of the inconstancy of Fortune puts him into an Agony; and well may it be so; for how can he tell, what Day will put an End to his Government, and blast his Expectations with an inglorious Defeat.

Granting this to be the Situation of Men in high Offices of Government, how preposterous is their Conduct who are daily plunging themselves into this Dilemma: Happy for America would it be, if she was without such aspiring Grandees; but the cries of innocent Thousands are too loud not to be heard, their Necessities too pinching to be easily borne, and their Properties too nearly affected to be quiet and resigned.

This Reflection may be soon understood by any one who takes a Survey of some late Transactions, by some not improperly stiled, THE AMERICAN LAND BUBBLE: which as it will shortly become a Cause worthy of the Royal Ear, it may not be amiss to take a cursory Review of the capital Scenes.

It was never controverted that the Governor of New-Hampshire, had an undoubted Right to Grant Lands to the westward of Connecticut River, till a very unexpected Division was made in favor of New-York, in July 1765, limiting that River as a Boundary between the two Provinces; by what influence this partial Decision was made, we are not yet acquainted with, but Time will discover; certain it is, that neither the Geography of the Country, nor the Course of the said River was attended to, unless another object was in Projection; of which some Observation shall be made in the Course of this Review.

Previous to the Knowledge of this Decision, and by virtue of his Authority, Governor Wentworth granted Sixty or Seventy Townships, to a Number of Settlers applying for them, to the Westward of Connecticut River; many of which are now well settled and rich Towns: and the Labour done on other Towns by the designed Settlers, amounts to very great Sums; and had it not been for this Division, most of the Towns granted would this Winter have been settled, as the Lands were valuable, and the Propensity of the People to go upon them, was beyond all conception, or the most sanguine Expectation; and as it is, many are now settled, but the Settlers thrown into the utmost Confusion, by an unheard of Imposition.

The Towns were granted on Terms of settling in a few Years, or revert to the Crown; and most of the Proprietors have paid from 14l. to 25l. Sterling on each Right, for Services in procuring the Charters, Surveying and Allotting the Lands, and other contingent Expences. A Township consisted of about 22000 Acres, out of which Several Thousand were reserved for public Uses, which paid no Taxes, and the Expence of procuring the Charter of such a Township; amounted to about £20 Sterling, which was thought an extravagant Demand indeed, and was heavily complained of: After these Towns were incorporated, and some fully settled, the News of the Divisional Line between New-York and New-Hampshire being settled, arrived: at first it was imagined it would make only the Difference of Jurisdiction, that the Property should still remain the Fee of the Grantee under New-Hampshire, as it was thought immaterial to his Majesty, who of his Subjects settled his Lands, whether formerly Inhabitants of one part of his Dominions or another; but here they are mistaken.

If we suppose the G-o-r of N-- Y--k, acts by Instructions, for he has absolutely denied the Property, unless they will deliver up their Hampshire Charters, and take new ones from him, at another Expence of 25l. York Money for every thousand Acres he Grants, which is about 33l. Sterling for the same Quantity that was granted by the G-o-r of Hampshire for 20l. Sterling, and a quit Rent of 2s. 6d. for every 100 Acres for ever, besides at least 20l. Sterling more Expended, in waiting and attending at his Leisure: But as exorbitant as this Demand is, many are under such Circumstances as they must concede, yet 45 Towns despise a Compliance, and are sending an Agent to the Board of Trade and Plantations for Redress of such an unexampled Grievance. sooner submitting to the Loss of their ALL, than give Way to or indulge the unbounded Ambition and avaricious Desires of any G-overnor whatever, nobly Resolved! shall thousands of innocent People be thus imposed upon? one G-o-r tells you he has a right to Grant (which has appear'd plain) another denies that Right (after your Lands are settled) but supposing neither of them had any Right, but you took up the Lands, as knowing them to be Crown Lands it would be an impeachment of the Justice and Policy of his Majesty's Government, to suppose he could ever think to eject you, for the Riches of every Potentate consists in the Number of his Subjects, and the Improvement of his Lands--This, and this alone, is a sufficient Basis, whereon to build all your Hopes; can it be thought it was ever represented to the Board, that some of these Towns are 400 Miles from New-York, and not more than 120 from Portsmouth, the respective capital Towns of the two Governments, no, surely no, unless as was said before, their Lordships had a more extensive Plan in sight, viz. That of erecting another Government, between Quebec and the other two, which is strongly suspected from many concurring Circumstances.

Here's a Field opening for new Improvements greatly to the Growth of all the Colonies, and capable upon an Emergency to preserve Great-Britain itself, from a desolating Famine: Conceive within your Minds, an extensive inland Government of some hundreds of Towns, of the best Lands in America, on which are already Settled thousands of Inhabitants, and many more ready to go on, and thousands that may be expected from other Parts, raising in a few Years, more than they can Consume. and supplying the other Governments with their Superfluities, and thereby laying a Foundation for the Advancement and Security of the whole American Empire the Indians being also thereby intimidated. from committing their Savage Cruelties. and becoming civilized Members of the Community.

This will prevent the many Complaints that will be daily arising from the present extensive Bounds of the New-York Government: and as New-Hampshire is circumscribed by Connecticut-River, it's immaterial what Government is annexed to her : but for the Good of the whole, it is wished New-York may be curtail'd. and their Thirst for others Property quenched by a proper Draught: and to Effect this salutary Purpose. if the present Grantees, whose Lands have fallen to the West of Connecticut-River, would join in a Body in a Petition to his Majesty, to be set off into a separate Government ; the Right of such a respectable Petition would reduce the Yorkers to Reason and limit their Demands; but let them not persuade you to relinquish your Resolution of applying for that Purpose, even though they would now give the Lands for nothing, they have shewn you what they design to do, now they suppose you in their Power; but a steady Perseverance will convince them, His Majesty will ever entertain all his faithful Subjects with one continued Act of Grace.