The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-01-30 00:00:00, page 2

To
SIR,
?W?^?<€^^ I last ' aw y ou > I remember you
Wgftf'tftftf acquainted me, that in conversation
'*W WMX ''"h man Y sensible gentlemen in
^tf W §ff Connecticut and elsewhere, (though
'tftftf'tftftf well disposed to promote the real
'tf&ftfgg interests of their country, and there
fore averse to the present measure for enforcing tax
ation,) seemed to be of the opinion that the colonies
ought in some way or other to contribute a pro
portionable fam, towards the support of the Bri
tish government, and defence of the empire.
I presume you have not forgot the reply I made,
.which was, that I ffiould readily subscribe to the
fame opinion, were it not very apparent that the
colonies had euer in proportion to their growing
numbers and ability, directly and indirectly con
tributed thereto: nor can this be elleemed an ideal
hypothesis, founded only upon fi&itiohs merits of
the colonies, without any real emolument arising
to Great-Britain, from the commercial intercourse
between the two countries, as this has been advan
tageously extending itfelf, from the firlt settlement
of the colonies to the present time, For the truth
hereof, we may venture to appeal to every unpre
judiced Britilh Author upon the fubjett : From
these can learn, that from the reign of Queen
Elizabeth; the Er.glifh nation has encreafed in their
husbandry, manufactures, commerce and political
Urength, in proportion to the growth of the Ame
rican colonies. One of the molt noted writers in
forms us, that in the reign of that Qjeen, her bo
dy carriage did not much excel in ease, convc
niency of appearance, many of the waggons now
in use; that the trade of England was compara
tively small; and that none of her ihips of war car
ried more than forty guns. In order to elucidate
the change of circumdances in the city of her reft
dence, and throughout the British realms, we need
only mention what the fame author fays of the fame
city, that the encieafe of the number of her inha
bitants from some time during the said Reign, to
about the year 1760, was from 100,coo, to about
900,000; an amazing growth! and it's reasonably
supposed, that the inhabitants of the city of Lon
don are now near one million. This vast encreafe
is indisputably the effect of commercial causes,
gradually arising in a great measure from the hap
py commencement and progress in colonization,
and this more from a,residential adventuring spirit
which in that and the three following reigns had
taken hold of many worthy individuals in the mer
cantile and maritime departments, than any judi
cious determinations, or encouragements of govern
ment, ; as many persons then fucceflively in govern
irient, for many years viewed the emigarating fpi
iit to North-America, in a despicable light. We
may nevertheless be allowed with great refped to
mention the emigration of many worthy gentlemen
and their families, who with much substance of
their own, and with the most honest, just and ge
nerous intention, firft set their feet on the shores of
the now New-England colonies, and that they, (at
lead many of them) were so far from being assisted
any way by the public, that they were designedly
impeded and difeauraged, and even impolitically
injured in their worthy design of enlarging the
English territories at the rifque of their 'lives and
fortunes. Their descendants well know, that most
of the firfl adventurers, by the vall expences they
have been at, in transporting themselves, their
families, and neceflaty docks of all kinds, and
through the fevers fufferings to which their attempts
of settlement unavoidably exposed them, loft their
lives, and almost totally consumed their interest. ;
But through the over-ruling hand of a kind Provi
dence, (to whose blessing we owe the whole, and
which demands cur highest gratitude, and virtues
improvement) we are from a small people, become ve
ry numerous; and by great application, industry, di
ligence and pariimony, we have turned a very ex
tensive part of a wilderness into fruitful fields; not
indeed planted with J&gar canes, rice or indigo; but
with indian corn, or maize; and sowed with wheat,
and divers other forts of English grain, and grass,
flax, hemp feeds, &c. by which, and an encreaf
ed flock of neat cattle, sheep, &c. we are able with
the biehing of God, to supply our selves and fami
ly with necessary provisions, and much cloathing
of wool, flax and hemp; and which may be indefi
nitely encreafed, as it becomes necessary; and we may
add, that while the lands have been laboriously cul
tivated, we have from the beginning of settlement,
followed the great and small fifhefies, with the furr
and peltry trade, which, together with the great
branch of (hip-building, and circular (though cir
cumscribed commerce) has heretofore enabled these
colonies, chiefly to pay for the unlimited iraporta
tisn of British manufactures, and otter merchan
dize: Silver and gold indeed are and have been ve
ry scarce commodities in the colonies, as is apparent
from the great use of paper currencies in most of
them.----- We are all sensible, that the scarcity a"
rifeth from the necessity which most of the colonies
are under of remitting gold add fiver to Great-Bri
tain, in part pay for the goods they receive from
her in so large quantities, as to impoverish them
selves. However, it feeins they are nevertheless
grossly reflected upon, and severely though unjustly
charged, as contributing nothing to the support of
fle following letter is inserted by desire.
Worceftcr, January 10, 1775.
the British Government! whereas, doubtless it may
be very clearly proved, that the colonies have for
many years, annually contributed to the support
and defence of the British empire, at lead one mil
lion flerling, and in some years more; Mr. Pitt has
said in Parliament, that during the late war, it was
not less than two millions. How the contribution
was made by the colonists, he was not pleased to
observe. But if we consult theßritifh writers, upon
their commerce with the colonies; we fliall be as
sured, by more than one of them, that the fictitious
part of the coftof most of the manufa&uresofßritain,
sent to the colonies, (arising from the aggregate
duties and excises, to which they are immediately
fubjed, as those taxes are immediately laid upon
the necessaries of life,) is so great, as to more than
double the cost of the ruff materials and labour of
the manufacturers; Now these taxes, with which
the goods we consume, are at home burthened, we
have no right to find fault with, though doubled; they
are levied for the support of Government, and the
consumer it is evident, must pay them,or go without
them; and in order to evince the proportion which
is paid to the government, several of the writers re
ferred to, acquaint us, that a quantity of British
woollens, fhipt from Great Britain, and by the
shippers honestly charged at the true cost, suppose
at icol pays toward governmental charges 561.
inafmuch, as upon due calculation, it appears,
that the coll of the materials, and labor in the com
pletion of the manufacture, is no more than 441
Supposing this calculation to be near right, surely
it will not be very difficult to make a proper estimate
of the very large sum, which the British colonies as
principal consumers of British manufactures abroad
must thence annually contribute, (besides what they
do in many other ways) towards the support of the
government, and defence of the empire, and are
therefore free from the foregoing invidious charge.
As the market for British manufactures in Eu
rope and Asia, have been of late years in a great
measure 101 lor diminished, and as these numerous
encreafing colonies are obliged by the aft of trade,
to take their whole supplies from Great-Britain, and
debarred every other market, she mull lose fight of
her belt interest, should she by any means, especially
from an impolitic force, difeourage the luxurious
consumption of her manufactures and other mer
chandize, which the colonies have heretofore so
fondly gone into. Should such difeouragement hap
pen, we fufpe&, it must very soon difclcfe its per
nicious consequences ! !!
And as all the colonies are not annually furnish
ed with wool fufficient for their uses, in case of an
interruption of commerce, farmers would perhaps
be very prudent in procuring each of them some
hemp, and of the fho^eft and fineft fort, for the said
purpose of cloathing, hats, flockings, and other
articles, mixt with wool, &c. as common in France ;
and it is hopedthe southern colonies will also fee their
interest in the encreafe of cotton, for the like pur
pose. A very ufeful kind of cloaths, of various
forts, may be made of an equal mixture of wool
and hemp, (the latter being well foftened) by card
them together, as the French have pradifed for
many years past, and thence have added a profit
able encreafe of materials for cloathing.
N. B. The printed directions may be had in
Boston.— lam, &c.
a^ ^XXX^ ^ !XXX^^&
Watches, Jewelry, &c.
Thomas Hilldrup,t
South of the Court-House HARTFORD. %
U/'™ Gratitude returns his unfeigned^
8 Thanks to all those who have favour'd^
shim with their Cullom or Interest since his com
§?.mericing Business here; their Favours having^
^exceeded his most sanguine Expectations—A^
^Continuance of which he will endeavour to me-M
J%it by executing any future Commands with.,?,
^Fidelity and Dispatch. He also begs Leave tc,M
,9,inform them and the Public in general, That.®,
^he has now complete for Sale, an Affoitment ofg
.^.the following Articles, viz. warranted Silver,®,
^WATCHES, which will perform to aFunCtilio,,®j
^and Others that will go provided they are car-.®.
«ried---Brilliant and Cypher'd Stone Ear Rings')
"Ineatly set in Gold and Silver---Hart and Goldg
<Rings---Gold Wires---Lockets, and a variety so
of Elegant Hair Sprigs--Brilliant Silver, Plated
i&and Pinchbeck Shon, Knee and Stock Buckles^
^of the neatest Patterns---proper Boot Buckles.^
j& Gold, Silver, Brilliant and Marquifite Broaches ^
j&.---Gilt and Mock Garnet Ditto-Plain Silver%©
.0, Cypher and Brilliant Sieve Buttons—Plated,^
sGilt, Mock Moco and Garnet Ditto---Train -°tf
Xing Canes and Rattans—Steel Watch Chains'^
X---Gold Tinsel and Plain Silk Strings, forted^
^Colours, with aVariety of Seals set in Silver^'
.inland Pinchbeck—Gil:, Steel and Common Do.'§
~Key%&c. &c.. The above Goods may be h^d^°
<@at a low Advance for Cash or Produce in Hand.jty
$ Watches repaird as usual, on the fame Terms'®
^as in Newo-fork or Bflon. The usual Price in'®'
<S>Cafh given for old Silver, and 7s. per Oz. in)®'
^Exchange, for three Months. '$
Hartford, December 5, 1774.^
@M R. Hehas a few Watches on Hand upwards^
^fof one Year, which he is willing to exchanges
gwith theOwners forwhat the Repairs amount to.
^w^xXx^rWMXX!wr^l
W E the subscribers, being by the hon. court aj
* V probate, for the diftrift of Simsbury, Appoint
ed commissioners on the estate cf Mr. William Ro
berts, late of Weft-Simfbury, deccafed, reprefentec
insolvent, to examine and adjult the claims of th
creditors to said eft^te—This is to notify the credi
tors to said estate, that we shall attend on that bufi.
nefs at the dwelling house of Capt. Ezekiel Hum
phry, inn-holder in Weft-Simfbury< on the third
Monday of January infant, and the firft and feconc
Mondays ofFebruary next, from one of the clock
in the afternoon, till night, on each of said days.
Oliver Humphry, 7
to--.. pr. ... ( Oft^m^^.
We the Subscribers, being ap
pointed by the Hon. Court of Probate for the diflrifl of
Sharon, commifioners to examine and adjif the claims cf
the creditors of the (fate cf Philip Cool, late f Sahfary,
in Litchfield County, deceased, referfated influent, here
by notify said creditors that we fall attend said busi
ness at the dwelling house of Capt. Samuel Moore, inn
holder in said Salisbury, on the lafl Tuesdays of January
and February next, from one till fix of the clock in the
afternoon on each of said days.
John ' Hutchinson, 7
Luke Camp, f Cefronert
Salisbury, Dec. 28, 1774.,
Weybridge Proprietors, take Notice !
WHEREAS the proprietors of the township of
Abridge, on Otter Creek, at a legal meeting
held at Sheffield, by adjournment, on the°fecond day
of February, A. D. 1774, voted a tax of ^ Shillings
on each right, in said township, (public right?
excepted.)
At another legal meeting es said proprietors, held
at said Sheffield, on the 23d day of Augufi, A. D.
{774, voted one other sum of Six Shillings, on each
rignt as arorefaid- And at another legal meeting,
held at said Sheffield, on the 7th day of November nob
lad past, said proprietors voted one other sum of Six
Shillings, on each right as aforefaid ; amounting in
the whole to the sum of Twenty-two Shillings on each
right, (public rights excepted as aforefaid) which
is assessed, and made payable theist day of December
now last past. This is therefore to give public no
tice to laid proprietors, to pay the sums above men
tioned, to the fubferiber, or to Mr. Daniel Dewey,
said proprietors treasurer, at or before theist mog
day ^February next. And such proprietors as shall
not pay the sums so affefs'd, by the time last above
mentioned, may depend on having their said lands
(cr so much as may be necessary to pay said fams
and intervening calls,) fold at public vendue at the
dwelling-house of laid Daniel Dewey in said Sheffield
on the ifttutfday of February next, at 4 of the clock
in the afternoon of said day—of which file public,
notice is hereby given.
Ebenezer Beement, Proprietors Coteor.
.Great-Barrington, January 2, 1772.
Good Assortment ofBOOKS, confiding cf Divinity,
Law, Hilary, Physic, Surgery, Midwifry, Mifccl
lany, School Books, &c. &c.
PAINTER'S COLOURS of all kinds, Linseed
Cyl, Varniffi, Paint Brushes, &c.
N. B. He assures his friends and customers they
have his most hearty thanks, for all their past fa
vours ; and those who will please to give him their
Cullom Hill shall have his grateful acknowledgements
even for the fmajleft article ; and nothing fliall be
wanting on his part to make his goods and prices
complexly agreeable to the purchafer.—Conft^nt
attendance will be given.
CT Every article in the apothecary way.
V CASHfor BEES-WAX. 21
Apothecary and Book-Seller,
TAKES THIS METHOD TO INFORM THE PUBLIC,
That he has received from London, a frefh Assort
ment ofDRUGS, MEDICINES,GROCERIES,
BOOKS, &c. and many Articles in the Station
er's Way, which are to be fold at a moderate Ad-°
vance for Cash or ihort Credit, at his Store at
the Sign of the Unicorn and Mortar a few
rods South of the Court-House in Hartford.
Among his Assortment arc the following Patent
Medicines :
T°R^°l'°N's original Ba!fam of Life, Bate
man's Pedoraj Drops, British Oil, Godfrey's
Cordial, Balsam of Honey,Fraunce's Female Elixir,
Anderson's and Lockyer's Palis, Hooper's Female
Ditto, Dr.Bateman's purging Elixir,Daffy's Elixir,
Dr. James's Fever Powder, &c. &c. &c.
GROCERIES and STATIONERIES.
Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Raisins, Fi-rs,
Almonds, Brimstone, Rosin, Pepper, Allspice, fa?
marine's, Florence Oil, Madeira, Lisbon, and Ma
laga Wines, bell velvet Corks, Copperas, Allom,
Madder, Arsenic, Paper by the Ream or C^iire,
Marble Paper, Dutch Quills, Patent CakZlnk;
Wafers, bed Dutch Sealing Wax, Copper-Plate
Copies, Money Scales, Gunter's Scales and Divi
ders, Maps, Prints, Gold leaf, Account Books, Re
ceipt and Memorandum Ditto, German Flutes and
Fifes, Twine, best French Brandy, Rum, bed Hol
lands Geneva, Tea, Coffee, Chocolate, Rice, Indi
go, Red W ood, and Log-Wood, Saltpetre, Bottles
by the Groce.
Hezekiab Merrill,