every year during the war, requifitions were made by the crown on the colonies for raising money and men; that accordingly they made more extraordinary efforts, in proportion to their abilities, than Britain did; that they raised, paid and clothed, for five or fix years, near 25,000 men, befides providing for other fervices, (as building forts, equipping guard-fhips, paying transports, &c.) And that this was more than their fair proportion is not merely an opinion of mine, but was the judgment of government here, in full knowledge of all the facts; for the then miniftry, to make the burthen more equal, recommended the cafe to parliament, and obtained a reimbursement to the Americans of about 200,000l. fterling every year; which amounted only to about two fifths of their expence ;-and great part of the reft lies ftill a load of debt upon them; heavy taxes on all their eftates, real and perfonal, being laid by acts of their affemblies, to difcharge it, and yet will not discharge it in many years.-While then thefe burthens continue; while Britain restrains the colonies in every branch of commerce and manufactures, that the thinks interferes with her own; while the drains the colonies by her trade with them, of all the cafh they can procure by every art and industry in any part of the world, and thus keeps them always in her debt: (for they can make no law to difcourage the importation of your to them ruinous fuperfluities, as you do the fuperfluities of France; fince fuch a law would immediately be reported against by your board of

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trade,

trade, and repealed by the crown :) I fay while thefe circumftances continue, and while there fubfifts the established method of royal requifitions, for raifing money on them by their own. affemblies on every proper occafion; Can it be neceffary or prudent to diftrefs and vex them by taxes laid here, in a parliament wherein they have no reprefentative, and in a manner which they look upon to be unconftitutional and fubverfive of their most valuable rights; and are they to be thought unreafonable and ungrateful if they oppose fuch taxes? Wherewith, they fay, fhall we show our loyalty to our gracious king, if our money is to be given by others, without asking our confent? And if the parliament has a right thus to take from us a penny in the pound, where is the line drawn that bounds that right, and what fhall hinder their calling whenever they please for the other nineteen fhillings and eleven pence? Have we then any thing that we can call our own?-It is more than probable that bringing reprefentatives from the colonies to fit and act here as members of parliament, thus uniting and confolidating your dominions; would in a little time remove these objections and difficulties; and make the future government of the colonies eafy: But, till fome fuch thing is done, I apprehend no taxes laid there by parliament here, will ever be collected, but fuch as must be stained with blood: and, I am fure the profit of such taxes will never anfwer the expence of collecting them, and that the respect and affection of the Americans to this Kk country

country will in the ftruggle be totally loft, perhaps never to be recovered; and therewith all the commercial and political advantages that might have attended the continuance of this refpect and this affection.

In my own private judgment I think an immediate Repeal of the ftamp-act would be the best measure for this country; but a Sufpenfion of it. for three years, the beft for that. The repeal would fill them with joy and gratitude, re-establish their refpect and veneration for parliament, restore at once their ancient and natural love for this country, and their regard for every thing that comes from it; hence the trade would be renewed in all its branches; they would again indulge in all the expenfive fuperfluities you fupply them with, and their own new affumed home industry would languish. But the fufpenfion, though it might continue their fears and anxieties, would at the fame time keep up their refolutions of industry and frugality which in two or three years would grow into habits, to their lafting advantage. However, as the repeal will probably be now agreed to from what I think a mistaken opinion, that the honour and dignity of government is better fupported by perfifting in a wrong measure once entered into, than by rectifying an error as foon as it is difcovered; we must allow the next best thing for the advantage of both countries is, the fufpen

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een

* [It was however agreed to in the fame year, viz. in 1766. E.] .in 1

fion. For as to executing the act by force, it is madness, and will be ruin to the whole.

The rest of your friend's reafonings and propofitions appear to me truly juft and judicious; I will therefore only add, that I am as defirous of his acquaintance and intimacy, as he was of my opinion.-I am, with much esteem,

Letter from Governor Pownall to Dr. Franklin, concerning an equal communication of rights, privileges, &c. to America by Great Britain

Dear SIR,

T

HE following objection against communicating to the colonies the rights, privileges, and powers of the realm, as to parts of the realm, has been made. I have been endeavouring to obviate it, and I communicate [it] to you, in hopes of your promised affiftance.

If, fay the objectors, we communicate to the colonies the power of fending representatives, and in confequence expect them to participate in an equal share and proportion of all our taxes; we must grant to them all the powers of trade and manufacturing, which any other parts of the realm within the ifle of Great Britain enjoy:-If fo, perchance the profits of the Atlantic commerce may converge to fome center in America; to Bofton, New York, Philadelphia, or to fome of the isles: -If fo, then the natural and artificial produce of the colonies, and in course of confequences the landed intereft of the colonies, will be promoted; While the natural and artificial produce and landed interest of Great Britain will be depreffed, to its

[This letter bears no ie It was written poffibly about the time that Governor Pownall was engaged in publishing his book on the Adminiftration of the colonies. E.]

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