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Show 312 [A2 D.T.] 91191-543: fivm Mr. S T R A n A N, 7th. ‘ If they are relieved in parsonly, What ‘ do you, as a realonable and dilpafllonate man, ‘ and an equal friend to both tides, ‘ will be the probable ceiilequeiice .P' imagine wit/J Dr. Franklin': A): Swan. 31 , trade between the two countries on account of thefe difputes; or that if there is, it is fmall, and cannot long continue. They are aflured by the crown-officers in America, that manufactures are A. I imagine, that repealing the oficenfive du- impoflible there; that the difeontented are few, ties in part will anfwer no end to this country; and perfons of little confequence ; that almoft all the commerce will remain obflruéted, and the Americans go on with their fchemes of fruga- the people of property and importance are fatisfied, and difpofed to fubmit quietly to the taxing power and manufaétures, to their own of parliament; and that, if the revenue-acts are lity, induilry, great advantage. How much that may tend to the prejudice of Britain, I cannot lay; perhaps not {0 much as fome apprehend, iince {he may in time find new markets '7". But I think, if the union of the two countries continues to fubfif't, it will not hurt the general intereft; for whatever wealth Britain lofes by the failing of its trade with the colonies, America will gain; and the crown will receive equal aids from its fribjeéts upon the whole, if not greater. And now I have anfwered your queitions as to what may be, in my opinion, the confequences of this or that fuppofed meafure; I will go a little further, and tellryou what I fear is more likely to come to pafs in reality. I apprehend that the miniftry, at leaf't the American part of It, being fully perfuaded of the right of parliament; think it ought to be enforced, whatever may be the confequences; and at the fame time do "0t believe, there is even now any abatement of the " [Need I, at this period of the work point out marks of Our author's candor and forefight? 13.] trade continued, and thofe duties only that are called anti-commercial be repealed, and others perhaps laid in their Read; power ere long will be patient, ly fubmitted to, and the agreements not to import be broken, when they are found to produce no change of meafures here. From thefe and limi- ' lar mifinformations, which feem to be credited, I think it likely that no thorough redrefs of grievances will be afliorded to America this Sefiion. This may inflame matters {till more in that country ; farther rafh meafures there, may create more refentment here; that may produce not merely ill-advifed diflblutions of their ailemblies, as laft year, but attempts to diflolve their conflitution '49; more troops may be fent over, which will create more uneafinefs; to juf'tify the meafurcs ofgovern- ment, your writers will revile the Americans in your newfpapers, as they have already begun to do; treating them as mifcreants, rogues, daf- tards, rebels, &c. to alienate the minds of the people here from them, and which will tend *‘ [This was afterwards attempted by the Britilh legiflature. in the cafe of the Mallitchufctt's Bay province. S s IL] farther |