The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON. March 10,

Extract of a Letter from Boston, dated Jan. 2, 1770:

I Embrace this opportunity of writing, and herewith send you the inclosed. I expected you would have continued your favours of writing: Please to present my respects to Mr. Wilkes. and one of these books , published by our Boston Merchants, by which you have a fair state of the case how our trade is embarrassed by your salutary laws and acts You wonder the Americans lack their trade with you :read this. and the wonder ceases. -- We have received goods from England, unsent for, to sell on commission ; but our merchants cannot send for. or receive goods, &c. and therefore have generously paid the freight of them home, to be delivered to those who sent them. You may keep your goods, and we will keep our money. Thank God we have a glorious country ; we can subsist independent of the whole world. We have sufficient to feed our bodies,and clothe them with our own fleeces. A spirit of oeconomy and industry has wonderfully diffused itself thro' this whole province; its scarce credible how many Females of all ranks have in this town engaged to spin, & all the branches both in linen and woollen. I have ten children, one a daughter 14 years old ; the rest are all boys, except an infant. This daughter is constantly employed in spinning; both myself and wife and all my children wear of her industry alone all our stockings and gloves. My girl spins, and my wife assists in knitting. These things are rare in any sea port town in England ; but they are common in Boston. where such a spirit of prudence prevails. A pound of worsted. combed, costs me eighteen pence sterling ; this will make me three pair of stockings the labour I call nothing ; I feed the workers, and I must if they did not work. I cannot buy three pair of English woven stockings here under 6s. sterling a pair ; and I surely declare, that one pair of mine is worth the whole three. I write you nothing but matters of fact.--Now can you, or any reasonable person,think we will trade with a people who put unconstitutional laws on us, and because we justly complain. put the bayonets to our breast: We are injured, and horribly abused ; you have emptied your jails into the American colonies these hundred years past, by transporting your thieves ; yet, for all this, thank God, we have men of virtue left among us, able and willing to defend our rights, both by pen and word. Why don't you answer the American remonstrances like men, and not send a parcel of scoundrels to dragoon us ? Is this to act like men, Christians. Englishmen you who pride yourselves in your equity above all the world. The only reason I find can, be given (if it may be called one) is, that you have helped the colonies in time of war : If that is your reason for it, why don't you tax the Portuguese ? You helped them in war, and in the earthquake; you ought to tax them for it ; and if they don't pay it, send a fleet to the Tagus to demand it. Good God ! what are the English nation coming to you are seeking a speedy destruction, if not soon remedied : you cannot hurt us till you are first ruined yourselves by,internal factions and foreign powers.