The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from London, dated October 19, 1773.

"You may depend upon the Truth of what I shall write you on public Affairs, as I have the most certain Information and Knowledge of all the secret and principal Springs of Motion in the Government.

"I am amazed, and mortified beyond Measure, to find the Virtue, Wisdom. Generosity and Greatness, that used to distinguish the British Nation sunk into the opposite Vices. The Public Taste seems to be depraved, and the Powers of Reasoning and just Reflection to be lost in Dissipation. Matters of the highest Importance, on which the Welfare, and even the very Existence of the British Empire depends, are treated as idle Whimsies, scarce deserving a serious Thought; while the most contemptible Trifles, and pernicious Extravagancies, are the principal Objects of general Attention and Pursuit.. Never did Passion run higher for high Titles, Wealth and Power. So passionately are these desired, that to procure them nothing is thought too difficult, too dangerous, too base, too dishonest, or too cruel : But they are not desired for good, but evil Purposes. Riches are not desired to relieve the Distressed, to feed the Hungry, clothe the Naked, and relieve the Prisoners; to encourage Industry, to free worthy Persons from those accidental Embarrassments that too frequently make their Lives unhappy, and deprive their Families and Country of their Usefulness; to promote Schemes for the Aggrandizement of their Country by the noblest of all Charities, the Freedom and Happiness of its Inhabitants-----A Happiness arising from conscious Integrity, and a comfortable Subsistence on the Fruits Of, their Industry. High Titles are not desired as affording Opportunities for public Service, as incentives to noble Actions and giving them Weight and Efficacy ; nor is Power coveted for the Protection of Virtue and Innocence, to punish bold Offenders, to rescue the Weak from Oppression and Wrong, nor for any Purposes of Benevolence, either public or private. Riches are now chiefly desired for the Indulgence of Pride, Luxury and Sensuality; to be spent on stately Houses, costly Furniture, Equipages and Dresses; numerous Servants, extravagant Feasts, and Diversions, Lewdness, Gluttony, Drunkenness, and every Vice to which depraved Appetite can stimulate : Greatness & Power are chiefly now sought after as the Means of pursuing a Course of Vice and Dissipation, without Restraint, or Fear of Punishment, to support a Plan of proceeding agreeable to the prevailing Taste and Principles of the Times, our dearest Rights seem to be the devoted Sacrifice, and continual Incroachments are made upon the English Constitution, which unless prevented by the Virtue and Resolution of the Americans, is in Danger of being entirely broken and destroyed.

"At the same Time that the public Expences have been increased beyond all Bounds, numerous Sources from which the national Wealth used to flow in, have been by most incomprehensible Policy, cut off and destroyed. The Effects begin to be felt severely. The Managers are at their Wits End, for Money to support their numerous Tribe of Dependants, and procure a Majority of fit Members to enslave their Constituents, and Vote away the Liberty and Property of their Country.

"Having drained all the Sources of the Revenue in England, the Scheme was formed to recruit the Funds from America, and the Article of the East-India Company's Tea, was thought extremely proper to begin the Experiment. For this Purpose it was, that the Duty on that Article was reserved, and indeed that it was made lower than at first, whereby it might have the better Chance to escape Opposition : but if by the Reception of it, the Right of Taxation should be admitted. as soon as the Colonies become familiarized to it, I can from the best Authority assure you, that the Design is gradually to raise the Duties, and extend them to every Article of your Commerce, and of the Necessaries of Life, till you shall be taxed as much as the People are in England."