The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

WHETHER there ever was, is, Or will be, an industrious Nation poor, or an idle rich?

Whether, in the Wastes of America, a Man might not possess twenty Miles square of Land, and yet want his Dinner, or a Coat to his Back?

Whether, if human Labour be the true Source of Wealth, it doth not follow, that idleness should, of all Things, be discouraged in a wise State?

Whether small Gain be not the Way to great Profit? And if our Tradesmen are Beggars, whether they may not thank themselves for it?

Whether it be true that the Poor in Holland have no Resource but their own Labour, and yet there are no Beggars in their Streets?

Whether he whose Luxury consumeth foreign Products, and whose Industry produceth nothing domestic to exchange for them, is not so far forth injurious to his Country?

Whether it would not be more prudent to strike out, and exert ourselves in, permitted Branches of Trade, than to fold our Hands, and repine that we are not allowed the Woolen [or French] Trade?

How long will it be before my Countrymen find out, that it is worth while to spend a Penny, in Order to get a Groat?

Whether the People of America are not truly English, by Blood, Language, Religion, Manners, Inclination, and Interest?

Whether it be not our true Interest, not to interfere with Great-Britain? And whether, in every other Case, it be not their true Interest to befriend us?

Whether large Farms under few Hands, or small ones under many, are likely to be made most of?

Whether, as our Exports are lessened, we ought not to lessen our Imports? And whether these will not be lessened as our Demands, and these as our Wants, and these as Our Customs or Fashions? Of how great Consequence, therefore, are Fashions to the Public?

Whether it would not be more reasonable to mend our State than to complain of it, and how far this may be in our Power?

How far the Vanity of our Ladies in dressing, and of our Gentlemen in drinking, contributes to the general Misery of the People?

Whether, as our Trade is limited, we ought not to limit our Expences; and whether this be not the natural and obvious Remedy?

Might we not put a Hand to the Plough or the Spade, altho' we had no foreign Commerce?

Whether the Women may not sew, pin, weave, embroider, sufficiently for the Embellishment of their Persons, and even enough to raise Envy in each other, without being beholden to foreign Countries?

It is not my Intention to censure or praise the Farce, Patriotism: It is not my Design to arraign supreme Authority, or prate of the Duties or Limits of a higher or lower Legislation. Conscious of humbler Talents, I only aim to recommend the Golden Maxims of that great and worthy Prelate, Dr. Berkeley, as above related, which are necessary to be adopted by all Ranks of People within this colony. Without Industry no Country can flourish. Introduce the Virtues of Application and Employment, and any State, Colony, or Family, will thrive. Every Person, however mean, if properly employed, contributes a Quota to the Public Utility. Patriotism, or the Love of one's Country, is not merely a speculative or notional Virtue: it subsists upon Action and Practice. Could I see the Infants of both Sexes, from four Years of Age, trained up in the Manner of Birmingham and Manchester, what a Change might be effected within this Colony in a few Years! An Education of this Sort requires neither Stock nor Credit, and is ever certain of full Employ. I firmly believe the Fair Sex are more capable than ours of introducing this System of Virtue; and I think they only require a small Hint, or perhaps a little Instruction, to embrace it. Many Honours are really due to the Ladies of a neighbouring Province and Town, who have already conspired in renouncing the foreign Toys and Fripperies of Dress, and attiring themselves in the Manufacture of New-England. A late great Writer proposed employing the Beaux of that Time in knotting Fringes for the Ladies; but I more humbly would propose, that the Smarts and Bucks of Newport (for Example's Sake) should have some more useful Employment assigned them by our Fair; and, I trust, our prightly Youth would not be offended at any Task imposed upon them by such amiable Teachers. A Beauty pinning, and a Buck reeling (her) Yarn, are fine Figures for the Pencil, and would please the most judicious Eye, either single or group'd. Every Thing made or manufactured within the Colony, should now be encouraged; and therefore Worsted or Yarn Stockings, Mittens or Gloves, if spun and knit from the Wool of the Colony, should be considered and esteemed as Marks of Patriotism, both in the Maker and Wearer, of either Sex. A compleat Habit of Apparel from the Wool and Fabric of this Colony, by the Rule of Courtesy and good Policy, should entitle the Person to an upper Seat at a Town-meeting, or some Place of Distinction at Church or Meeting on Sunday. I am not a cynical Preacher, no Enemy of Pleasure; I can praise and favour Luxury, especially in that admirable and precious Article, fine Linen, because I know it can be produced from Seed, to great Perfection, within the Colony. I neither condemn nor execrate the Tea Table: I take great Pleasure at it, especially when the Ladies are knitting fine Worsted or Cotton Stockings for themselves: Nay, I wish to reform, improve, and farther embellish it; and I therefore propose and recommend to the Ladies to introduce New-England Balm, which far surpasses the Teas of India, either in Fragrance, Colour or Virtue. I wish some of the youngest and most beautiful of the lovely Sex would take Vows not to marry, until they had spun a great Part of the Linen necessary for that Solemn happy Occasion. I wish it was in my Power to decree, that the first Fair, so prepared, Should be honoured with the Choice of a Husband from the collected Youth of the Colony. Patriotism, at this very nice and critical Juncture, may be manifested in a thousand Instances; and that great Virtue may even be exerted by the Ladies (whose Examples are ever followed) in taking the Snuff of Rhode-Island, or preferring the well turn'd Shoes of Hall and others in Newport, to those of John Hose of London, only made for Lump-ale, or as the Tradesmen phrase it, for the Plantations. Perhaps this very important and extensive Subject may be handled, with a View to this Colony only, at more Leisure, and in a very different Manner.