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Show 126 Concerning My Efi'fi: Qf [A: D.T.] ilruc‘tion to bufinefs, commencing unjult and vexatious luits, and liarafling commerce in all its branches, while that the minil'ter kept the people in a confiantl‘tate of irritation by infttuctions which appeared to have no other end than the gratifying his private refentmen-ts *,) occalioned a perfevering adherence to their refolutions in that particular : and the event fhould be a lef- fon to xiiiiiitters, not to rifque through pique, the obftructing any one branch of trade, fince the conrfe and conneftion of general bufinefs may be thereby dillurbed to a degree, impoflible to be forefeen or imagined. For it appears that the colonies, finding their humble petitions to have this duty repealed, were rejected and treated with contempt; and that the produce of the duty was applied to the rewarding, with undeferved. falaries and penfions, every one of their enemies; the duty itfelf became more odious, and their refolution to {bare it more vigorous and obfllnate.-The Dutch, the Danes, and French, t/Je American TEA-DUTY. 327 conflitutional, the {muggling of courle conlitlered as patriotifm. The needy wretclies too, who, with finall falaries, were trulted to watch the ports day and night, in all weathers, found it ealier and more profitable, not only to wink, but to fleep in their beds; the merchants pay being more generous than the King's.--Other India goods alfo, which, by themfelvex, would not have made a fmuggling voyage futliciently profitable, accompanied tea to advantage; and it is feared the cheap French filks, formerly re- jected as not to the tafte of the colonies, may have found their way with the Wares oflndia ;, and now eflablithed themfelves in the popular ufe and opinion. It is lhppofed that at leal'r a million of Americans drink tea twice a day, which, at the firtt colt here, can [carce be reckoned, at lefs thanhalf-a-guinea a head per annum. This market, that in the five years which have run on fince took this opportunity thus offered them by our the act pafl'ed, imprudence, and began to finuggle their into the plantations. At firtl this was‘ {omething diflicult; but at length, as all buhnefs is guineas for tea alone, into the coffers of the company, we have wantonly loft to foreigners.- Meanwhile it is {aid the duties havesfo diminifh- improved by practice, it became ealy. teas would have paid 2,500,000, A coafi ed, that the whole remittance of the hit year fifteen thoufand miles in length could not 111 amounted to no more than the pitiful turn of all parts he guarded, even by the wholenavy of England; elpecially where their rel'rraintng au- 851.* for the expence of fome hundred thoufands, in armed {hips and foldiers, to fupport thority was by all the inhabitants deemed un- " [‘ Eighty-five pounds I am affored, my lords, iS'the whole ‘ equivalent, " Some of his circular letters had been criticized, and exl)°{"d by one or two of the American aflcmblies. we have received for all the hatred and mifchief, ‘ and all the infinite lolfes this kingdom has qucred during that ‘ year, in her, difputes with North America.' See the Bilhop of COH- "St-Afaph'sintended (beech. E.] h t C |