The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the PRINTER.

No one I believe, on either side the Atlantic, will deny that Great Britain has reaped, and may still continue to reap, great advantages from her northern colonies: Perhaps it might not be a difficult task to prove, that the balance of her trade, the maintaining of which, is so essential, not only to her happiness and glory, but to her very being, is owing to these colonies, and depends upon their prosperity : It cannot however admit of the least doubt, but many an industrious manufacturer in Great Britain, is indebted to the colonies, for the subsistence of his family: Were there not millions in America, and many of them luxurious enough! to consume the British manufactures, what multitudes of good livers in England, are now, in part the strength of the nation, would be reduced to want and beggary. It is an incontestable truth, and I wish it was better attended to on the other side of the water, that Great Britain depends upon her colonies in some respect, as well as they upon her; and whenever she, by ill judged impositions and burdens, shall obstruct the trade of the colonies in its natural and usual course, she may thereby greatly benefit them, but will unavoidably injure herself. If the British northern colonies should sink, what would become of the mother country, while she has so restless and artful competitors, both for power and trade, continually so near her ? This is a question which might very easily be resolved.

It will be always the interest, and consequently the wisdom of a mother country, to retain the good will of her colonies : It is prudent, rather to be over-indulgent towards them, than severe: If the seeds of diffidence should be once sown, it would be impossible to foresee what fruits would spring up. The bramble or the thistle might make its ugly appearance; to be sure the vine would not flourish.

The British northern American colonies are now and they ever have been, loyal : I will venture also to affirm, that they are brave as well as loyal : of this they have many a time exhibited such proofs, as malice dare not contest : I hope in God, they will ever maintain this character : and that they will always be treated by the mother country, for her own sake as well as theirs, as those ought to be treated who deserve such a character. Their bravery is constitutional : Their loyalty springs, not from the slavish principles of passive obedience, for they have never been taught such doctrines ; but wholly from a sense of that liberty, which they enjoy, under the happy government of the best of Kings.

Ubi libertas, ibi patria, is the sentiment of every man of sense : No people under Heaven, whose natures are not miserably depraved, will long continue, even in their native country, under oppression and slavery : if they can live in any other part of the globe and be freemen lost they will be restless and uneasy under arbitrary power: They may perhaps think it prudent to appear loyal ; but what security can there be, in such a disguise ? What honour, what advantage to a prince ? That the King may live for ever ; and reign in the hearts of free and happy people, in Europe and America, and wherever his dominions are: or may be extended, is the ardent wish of him, Who glories in being his faithful subject.

BRITANNICUS AMERICANUS.