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Show (34') (37) flranccs, which night have convinced our rulers that this was tender ground, on which it became them to tread very gently, with the Colonies was again recovered; and they avoided MJl‘here is, however, no realbn to doubt but in time they youl‘l have tunic into a quiet l‘ubmifiion to this revenue act, In this {late would things have remained, and even tea would perhaps in time have been gradually admitted, had not the evil genius of Britain {topped forth once more to embroil the 33 being: at worf't only the exercile or a power which then they {Cgm not to have thought much of ectztefting ; I mean, the power oi~ taxing them EXTERNALLY.--~~But before they had time to cool, a worfe provocation was given them; and the S'rA;.IP-ACT was pulled. This being an attempt to ta); them IN'I‘LRNALLY ; and a damn- attack on their property, by a power which would not fuller irl'elr‘ to be quellioned ; which exiled [G/L‘yy'by loading lbw/'2, and to which it was im- poffibig to fix any bounds, they were thrown at once, from in: end at the continent to the other, into refinance and rage. ..-_.~Government, dreading Lheeonl'tzquences, gave way; 371d thi: l'aili :rnent (upon a change clminiilry) repealed the Stamp: 31:3, without requiring trom them any i'CCriqziitiorr of its authority, or doing any more to preferve itshdignity, than alluring, by the declaratory law, that it was pofli-fied offull power and authority to make laWs to bind them in all cafes whatever. Upon this, peace was rel'tored; and, had no tarther attempts or the lame kind been made, they would unu doubtcdiy have liilleied us (as the people oflre/imd have done) to enjoy our declaratory law. They would have recovered their tormer habits of {ubjcétion 5 and our connexion with triern might have continued an increalingz l‘ource of our wealth :nro glorys-«fi-But'the {pirit of detpotil‘m and avarice always blindano refllefs, 10011 broke forth again. The {cheme for orawxnzg a revenue from A'izerz'm, by parliamentary taxation was refunded; and in a little more than a year after the repca: or the wasn‘t-.1275, when all was peace, a third act was partied Impofing duties payable in xfivrrira on tea, paper, glafi, pain: ters colours, ricer-"This, as might have been exp-tiled reg Viveu all the lormer beats; and the Empire was a fecond iimc threatened 'wrth the molt dangerous commotions.-- -Governmerit receded again; and the Parliament (under another crux: : ofniinri'try) repealed all the obnoxious duties I XFEP'I‘ that Mon tea, This . . exception ‘ . was made in order , toh mai b ntan: a thew of d lei-t2); In pride 3 lglr‘i‘tltl/eaviiisLiLal;"vl‘ijiiis~:r lid1 'rlf amy, {Mm/Icing rltii‘t :t pung "m u" 1;ent. Q} For n ‘ We loclilc . "rune." Pryor." A, &, torrrela toxati Prof on our commercral intercour‘fe time ‘hOWCLi/ 6" "(3de with nothing but that tea which we had excepted in our repeal. limpirc. The Edfl-Irzdia company having fallen under difficulties, partly in confequence of the lots or the A'mcrz‘rmz market for tea, a {cheme was formed for affil'ting them by an attempt to recover that market. ‘iVith this View an act was pulled to enable them to export their tea to flmerira free of all duties here, and {ubjec't only to 3d. per pound duty, payable in flmrrica. By this expedient they were enabled to offer it at a low price; and it was expected the corrit<1ueiicc Would prove that the Colonies would be tempted by it 5 a precedent gained for taxing them, and at the fame time the company relieved. Ships were, therefore, fitted out; and large cargoes fent. The {hare was too grol‘s to efcape the notice of the Colonies. Thar law it, and {purned at it. They refuted to admit the tea; and at BOSTON fome perlons in dilguile buried it in the {stun-«Had our governors in this cafe l‘atio'tied thcml‘elves with requiring a compenfation from the province for the damage done, there is no doubt but it would have been granted. Or had they proceeded no farther in the infliction of punilh- inent, than {topping up the port and dellroying the trade of Bolton, till coinpcnfation was made, the province might poilibly have fubmitted, and a futIicient Living would have been gained for the honour of the nation. But having:r hi- therto proceeded without wifdom, they obferved now no bounds in their refentment. To the Bolton port bill was added a. bill which deliroyed the chartered government of the province; a bill which withdrew from the jurildie‘tion ot'the province, perlons who in particular cafes {hould commit mur- der ; and the Q'vrt'w bill. At the fame time a llrong body of troops were itatioried at Byt'mz to enforce obedience to theft: hills. "" All who knew any thing of the temper of the Colonies {aw that the elite) of all {udden accumulation of vengeance, vould probably be not intimidating but exufperating them, and driving them into a general revolt. But our ii'iiiiiittrs had difi‘erent apprehenlions. They believed that the malecontents in the Colony ofr'l/frgfl'c/mfczt's were a [mall party, headed by - '3 See the Appendix. a |