The freeholder's address to the Honourable House of Representatives.

The freeholder's address to the Honourable House of Representatives.

Table of contents

THE Freeholder's ADDRESS To the Honourable House of Representatives▪

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THE Freeholder's ADDRESS To the Honourable House of Representatives▪

Worthy and much Honoured Gentlemen,

THE dark and melancholly [...] this (our once flourishing) Provi [...] [...] have before them, has embold [...] [...] address this Honourable House, [...] Umbrage for my serious Thoughts upon the Di [...] of my Country, from you alone. The Difficultie [...] labour under seem to be almost Intollerable, a [...] same time as easily to be redress'd as to say the W [...] Strange it is how some Men multiply difficulties & [...] up Lions and Bears in places where they never [...] were seen; and make every Nightingale that af [...] us a chanting Lay under these our Melancholly [...] cumstances, an Owl or a Satyr; terrifying themsel [...] and others as far as possibly they can, and seem with all their Heart to desire the Destruction of their Country. But sure I am, no true Lover of the Commonweal of this Province, can forbear complaining of such selfish Monsters, who because their Coffers are full, and they abound in all manner of worldly Good, care not what becomes of their poor distressed Neighbours. Many have been the Projections made▪ [Page] have met with. And [...] they can escape without L [...]poons & [...]atyrs; which [...] poor Encouragement for Me [...] of a bright Genius a [...] deep Thought, [...] make any further Attempt t [...] way.

Gentlemen,

You are the Fathers of your Country, and Guardans to your several Towns; and are no doubt, hig [...] ly sensible of the great Charge laid upon you, and t [...] great Expectations from you. By your Determi [...] ti [...] it is that we stand or fall: You are the M [...] w [...]e Ears should be always open to the Complai [...] o [...] [...] People, their Rights maintain, their Dou [...] [...] [...]d their Difficulties remove. The Distres [...] [...] under for want of a Sufficient Medium [...] exceeding great; and I need not tell y [...] [...] on the Country is in concerning this M [...] [...] [...]ange it is, that in so plain a Case, th [...] [...] many Difficulties raised. The Namel [...] [...] [...]e Second Part of the South Sea Stock [...] [...] [...]ich will I doubt not be very plentifu [...] [...] [...]ur Hands, as was News from Robins [...] [...]d) is so simple as to Insinuate, that unl [...] [...] [...]gainst Paper Money be finally shut, we sh [...] [...]e Silver come in: And upon the wind i [...] [...] [...]he whole, if you do not find it as he sa [...] [...]ows you to call him a blind Man, a mad Ma [...] [...] what you please, which must needs be of gr [...] Service to us, when we are half starv'd. But so me the whole Performance, so shallow, so ignorant, [...] wilful, that time would be ill spent to answer p [...] ticulars at present; but it may be done when ti [...] will bettter allow; I wont promise to the Auth [...] Satisfaction, but to the Satisfaction of every can [...] Reader. But to wave this Matter, my Honou [...] Countrymen, and of [...]er things of greater Importa [...] to your serious Consideration, is my present Inten [...]

And,

[Page] First, To say something in the behalf of our poor condemned Bills. And the first Plea I shall offer is [...]his, that they may have a fair and legal Tryal, and not [...]e condemn'd before they have had a hearing. What! to take them like the greatest of Pirates, and hang them up before the Sun, as the worst of Malefactors, when all their Days they have been labouring to serve their Makers and Masters, and brought some of them from nothing, to the Enjoyment of plentiful Estates! Would not this be sordid Ingratitude?

Secondly. The second thing I would offer in behalf of our Province Bills is this. They have been [...]nder God the Instrument of raising all those noble Buildings, in the room of which, a few Years ago, were Heaps of Rubbish, like so many Phenixes out of their own Ashes, which would never have been, had [...]t not been for these Bills. For these Men will work [...]nd toyl with utmost Pleasure; for these Men will [...]art with the best goods they possess▪ for these Men [...]re ready (some of them) to run mad: The Possession [...]f them is doubtless a very great pleasure, or else they would never be so hoarded: The want of them [...] doubtless a very great Affliction, or there would [...]ever be such an Hue and Cry after them.

Thirdly. These, by the Blessing of God, have paid [...]ur Expences thro' a long and Bloody War; without [...]hich we should never have been able to subsist: [...]or these Men face the fiercest Enemies, defy the roar [...]g of Cannons and Armies of Philstians.

Fourthly. These will feed the Poor, and cloath [...]e Naked; they will purchase good Beef in the [...]epth of Winter for 4 d. or less per Pound, Butter for [...] d. and many other things proportionable; and at [...]is time they will purchase Rye for 3 s. 6 d. Wheat [...] s. Corn 3 s. Pork, 4 d. which, had we Silver Mo [...]y, could not be purchased for much less. Some cry, [...]e more Bills you make, the less will be [...]ir Cre [...]t, and the dearer Provisions, and other things. But say Nay; for they have such a Currency, and so [Page] good Credit, and are built upon so sure a Foundation, that this Objection carries no manner of Weight in it. And as to the second thing, that Provisions will be dearer, is another false Insinuation; for we plainly and daily see, that when Provisions are scarce, they are also dear; but when Heaven blesses the Earth, and the Earth yields her increase in a plentiful manner, Provisions are immediately reduced; and we have from Year to Year been recovering from our heavy Loss by the late Canada Fleet: So vast a number of Mouths more than our own to feed, might well raise Provisions, and did so; and ever since that Fleet have been gone, they have been falling more or less. And I doubt not, but if the Eastern Settlements be secured and protected from the Savage Monsters of the Wilderness, with the Industry of our own Countrymen, Commodities of all Sorts will be as cheap as ever. And I doubt not, but for Eight Shillings in Bills, you shall by as much Provisions, &c. as for One Ounce of Silver Money in former times.

But then, some will say, upon what Footing shall we emit more Bills? We are very ready to do it, if we can find out any way that may not lead us into worse Difficulties than we now labour under for want of them. For answer, first, I would propose, that this General Court do emit Fifty Thousand Pound, more or less, as they think best for a Tryal, and let it out at 5 per Cent, as usual, to such, and such only, as shall give Land Security to double the value received, and oblige themselves to pay the Interest of the Sum taken up in Flax, Hemp, Wheat, Rye, Corn, Pork, Beef, Fish, Oyl, Camblets, Druggets, Serges, &c. spun and wove in the Province; and that a Treasurer be appointed to receive the same as it comes in, and to sell it out as fast as possible for ready Money; and that the said Treasurer be obliged to lay before this Honourable House his Accompts yearly, and give his Oath to the same.

At the same time, that an Act pass for allowing a considerable Bounty upon Flax, and upon every Yard [Page] [...]ge, Drugget, Camblet, and the like, and so upon [...] Cloth, spun and wove in this Province. I would propose, that some well skill'd Gentleman be ap [...]ted, to see that what is brought into the Trea [...] be good and merchantable. And I would further [...]ose, that the Money these things fetch be laid out [...]ly in setting up Spinning-Schools for poor Wo [...] & Children which will be as easy & as pleasant an [...]loyment as to pick Ocum, & much more adva [...]ta [...]s to the Publick. By this means people may be [...]plyed with Druggets, Camblets, and the like, [...]h cheaper than from other Parts. And this would [...]ently lessen our Importation: And when once we [...]e to that, we may begin to project how Silver [...] come in: for it never can stay with us till our [...]port is more than our Import.

And besides these Spinning Schools, I would pro [...]se, that out of this Storehouse, all our Garrisons [...] supplyed with Provision and Cloaths; and all the [...]oney that must otherwise have come out of the [...]easury for this Use, be laid out in Fortifying our [...]stern Parts. Nay this Storehouse would soon be [...]ed, and people would flock thither for what ever [...]mmodity of those Sorts they shall have occasion [...], which would be of great service to particular [...]sons as well as to the Publick. This would keep [...] Money circulating, and lay the Borrowers under [...] Impossibilities, for if 50 thousand Pounds be the [...]n let out for ten Years at 5 per Cent, the Interest [...]ounts to 25000 l. now how can 50 thousand pay [...] thousand; but paying the Interest in the produce [...] the Country takes away this Impossibility, and [...]ves as much Money out as the Borrowers are oblig'd [...] pay in.

Another Use the Interest of the Loan Money may [...] put to is, to bring in Silver to us again, for sup [...]e the Publick with this Interest should build [...]ps and lade them with Fish, and send them to [...]in, Portugal, or other Places where it may fetch [Page] Silver and Gold, and have a Committe to manage tha [...] Affair that it may not cumber them, and as fast as i [...] comes in to lodge it in the Treasury, till they have an equal Quantity to the outstanding Bills; and then by proclamation to call them all in, and give out Silver for them, making it death for any Man that shall carry or send above 20 s. at one time out of the Province hereafter.

But some will say, what if the Vessels and Cargo be lost, where are we then? I answer, just where we are before. The principal is yet good, the Country is no ways brought into debt by it, for if they make no Money, they can have no Interest for it, and if they do make it and lose the Interest, partly in striving so excellently to inrich their Country, in my humble Opinion, it is the very same thing though they lost it all.

Another vast Advantage might be made by the Interest of this Loan Money, would be to erect a Paper Mill; some thousands of Pounds is Imported in a Year in this one Commodity, which would be prevented by the erecting a Mill our Selves, and the cost would be very small. Considerably less then a thousand Pounds will set it to work, and by this means thousands of Pounds would be raised out of the Streets, and out of the Dust: For now the Rag [...] which would then be greedily and Industriously pickt up by the poor People, lay and rot.

Another vast advantage the Interest of this Loa [...] Money may be laid out to, would be in building a [...] Hospital for poor Boys as in London and other places, where instead of being brought up in Ignoranc [...] as too many are in this Country, they are well i [...] structed in reading, writing, and the Mathematick as well as in the Languages; and by that time th [...] arrive to 14 Years of Age, they are fit for any sort [...] Business, and many of them arrive to be famous [...] their Generation. Early Instructions are of gre [...] Use to Children, and well instructed Youths are li [...] [Page] [...] be blessings to their Parents, blessings to their [...]ince, and blessings to their Country.

Thus having in some Measure laid before you the [...]xcellency of our Bills, the good they have done, [...]d the great good they still may do.

I hope this honourable House will thoroughly [...]eigh the Matter, surmount all Difficulties which [...]emingly lay in the Way, and grant us a further Sup [...]ly of this Miracle working Paper Medium, that we [...]s well as others may reap the Benefit of them, and [...]ise to our selves noble Estates as they have done [...]efore us: This will remove our present unhappy [...]rospects, and rejoyce the hearts of the People, and [...]ause them with chearful hearts Honourably to sup [...]ort the Government, the Ministry, and Schools of [...]earning, and add to their now Wonderful Loyalty [...] King George, and submission to his Government.

I shall wind up all with begging leave to subscribe [...]y self as really I am, Honourable Gentlemen,

Your very Humble and Obedient Servant, P. A.

March 15. 1720.

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BOSTON: Printed by J. Franklin, for B. Gray, over against the Brick Church; where all GENTLEMEN, Tradesmen and others, may be supply'd with all the Pamphlets lately publish'd.

Information about this book

Title statement

The freeholder's address to the Honourable House of Representatives.

Wise, John, 1652-1725.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2009-04.

ID [DLPS]

N29905

ID [TCP]

N29905

ID [STC]

Shipton 39759

ID [NOTIS]

APX0523

ID [IMAGE-SET]

39759

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99017135

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Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 39759.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N29905)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 39759)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 39759)

Source

— The freeholder's address to the Honourable House of Representatives., Wise, John, 1652-1725., Massachusetts. General Court. House of Representatives..

Extent

7, [1] p. ; 16 cm.

Printed by J. Franklin, for B. Gray, over against the Brick Church, where all gentlemen, tradesmen and others, may be supply'd with all the pamphlets lately published.,. Boston: :: [1721?]. (Caption title.) (Signed on p. 7: P.A. March 15. 1720 [i.e. 1721, N.S.?] Attributed to Wise by Bristol.) (Imprint from colophon.)

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