Hitherto hath the Lord helped us, is an acknowledgment as honorable as it is ancient, but never more properly adapted to the situation of any people then it is at present to the inhabitants of this Continent, for never where a people more remarkable blessed with signal interpositions of divine favour; how suddenly, have we beheld our most gloomy prospects to brighten? And how conspicuous has the hand of Heaven appeared in disspeling the darkest clouds we have had reason to fear?—

From the begining of our present controversey our affairs have not perhaps had so pleasing an appearance as they have at present; the forces of our enemies may truly be called trifling to what they have been, whilst we have become stronger by means of our sufferings; but still is our situation so criticle as to require all the watchfull sagacity power and spirit that can be employed in our behalf; it is not only all the armed force which Briton and her emissaries can bring against us we have to encounter, but the secret machinations and villainous traffick ^of persons^ who dwell or trade among us that we have to struggle with, what watchfull diligence then is required in this day of our countreys distress, from men into whose hands the power of preserving her is committed!—

A person can hardly turn his eyes about him without discovering some malady or other which wants a remedy. with pleasure I have observed the late restrictions laid upon trade by our council of safty, on the exportation of Flower,1 as there is no doubt but a considerable supply of that article sent from our State has been received by our enemies. The same kind of villainy however that has been hitherto practiced with Flower is now carrying on with some other articles, esspecially Pork, which is constantly passing from the State of New York, to Norwalk and some other sea-port Townes in Connecticut, the most of which articles there is too much reason to apprehend go to supply our enemies; it is true that the people in general who carry there Pork &c. receive pay for them in Salt, an article so essential that the want of it must be accompanied with severe distress—but the trade which is carried on in this way is so infamous, that every thinking persons breast must rise ^with indignation^ against it. 100lb of Pork or twenty two dollars must be paid per bushell for Salt: mind the consequence—one bushel of Salt is worth 22 ^dollars^ and so is 100lb of Pork; consequently the quantity of Pork and Salt necessary to fill a Barrell will amount to about Fifty Dollars, and thus the barrell of Pork becomes worth that sum:—but there is reason, strong reason to believe that this very Pork 100lb of which we give for a Busshell of Salt goes to the enemy—the Salt is said to come from Nantucket, for which place it is said the Pork is designed; (and a dangerous place it is to trust it at we all know,) so that the matter appears to stand thus, we receive from the enemy one bushell of Salt for which we give them 100lb of Pork but the Salt received from the enemy cost them about one quarter of a Dollar per bushell, the consequence then is that the enemy can supply themselves with Pork and pay all the Charges attending at less then three Dollars per Barrell, whilst our Pork must cost us Fifty Dollars per Barrell, surly this is a dissorder that wants a remedy—

I am not unaware of that common argument that trade will regulate itself, nor do I presume to deney its force, it is I believe a general truth, but in some casses liable to exceptions, and may require the interference of the Publick Authority. A virtuous private trader appears to me as rare in this day as the Phoenix, trade is got into the hands of I dont know who: but am sure it is not in the hands of men of public virtue; the instance of the Salt is one out of many of the evils which threaten us with destruction more then all the armed force of Britton, and does undoubtedly require the Publick Attention.—

In short when I reflect on the horrid extortions which have taken place amongst us they appear so big with inevitable destruction, that I am ready to draw the sad conclution, that we bleed in vain.—

But powerfull as these evils may appear; methinks I can look forward—and see ’em all vanish before the determined exertions, of a labourious people into whose hands Providence has amply stored every requisite for that important purpose; it is but for us to look around and what a fund of resorces present themselves to our view; such as have a manifest tendency to make us grow stronger, and stronger, in proportion as our disstresses increase,—so many and great do our internal resorces appear, that I am at times on the point of concluding that if we had no sort of foreign traffick we would be better off then we are at present—necessaty in that case that great Mother of inventions, would instruct us how to make a proper use of the many materials we have among ourselves, and call forth our most vigorous exertions into execution; at any rate I am inclined to believe that with proper encouragment from the Publick; we might make a more respectable internal appearance then we do in many respects.—

Suppose for instance the State of New York, was to appropriate a Township in the County of Cumberland for a Manufacturing Town, and give proper encouragment for carrying on all kinds of Manufactories in it; the security of the situation, and largness of the encouragment, (for that must be great) would induce many to repair to it for employ; and tho: many articles may come much higher then they might be procured otherways, they would not affect us in the same manner the Salt does, because everything would continue among ourselves, but the Busshell of Salt received being by no means eaqual to the 100lb of Venison ^Pork^ expended, forms an unreasonable ballence against us, and looks very much like the “big fish eating up the little ones.” but in this case of encouraging Arts, and Industrey, among ourselves let our articles cost what they will, we must be the gainers in the end, and I am inclined to think that besides the internal increase of our strength, which must grow in proportion as the interiour parts of our Countrey becomes filled with inhabitants, we will be able in a short time to supply ^both^ our armey and the inhabitants, in such a manner as to prevent them from suffering, and surly this must be preferable to the uncertain dependence of any foreign power in our present situation—but with respect to the article of Salt, I think the publick must fall upon some other way to supply the inhabitants with that article, as the want of it is such a disstress that the people will stick at nothing to procure it.—

But I have been too tedious, and must therefore finish, with hopeing soon to see some mode adopted among ourselves to insure the conveniences of life for our inhabitants, and esspecially necessaries for our Armey; I can’t help pleasing myself with the view of sufficient supplys, from Manufactories among ourselves, without looking to Asia, Africa, or Europe, we undoubtedly have sufficient materials for this important purpose—and we must learn to make use of them, but great vigilance and exertions are necessary for this end.—

I have mentioned the County of Cumberland not only because of its internal situation, but on account of its contiguousness to New England, from whence by means of the populacness of that place we may receive some Assistance, as well as its being some security to us—and the County of Cumberland being large and fertile we may ^hope^ that it will increase faster in agriculture, by means of the extensive demands for grain &c. which it will have within itself, all of which will tend to increase our internal power.—

To you Sir, as to a person of large penetration and influence, I have thought proper to address these thoughts, with confidence that if a scheme of this kind is proper and practicable, you are a very likely person to promote it, but if it should appear to you either improper or impracticable, I have but had the trouble of writing them, and dont doubt but your candor will overlook my giving you—the trouble of reading them.2 I am Hond. Sir your Very Humb: Servt