17° Essays I
representatives from America; for the petition of
right expressly says, it is to be by common consent
in Parliament; and the people of America have no
representatives in Parliament, to make a part of
that common consent.
Q. If the Stamp Act should be repealed, and an
act should pass, ordering the assemblies of the colonies
 to indemnify the sufferers by the riots, would
they obey 1t?
A. That is a question I cannot answer.
Q. Supposing the King should require the colonies
 to grant a revenue, and the Parliament should be
against their doing it, do they think they can grant
a revenue to the King without the consent of the
Parliament of Great Britain?
A. That is a deep question. As to my own opinion,
 I should think myself at liberty to do it, and
should do it, if I liked the occasion.
QO. When money has been raised in the colonies,
upon requisitions, has it not been granted to the King?
A. Yes, always; but the requisitions have generally
 been for some service expressed, as to raise,
clothe, and pay troops, and not for money only.
Q. If the act should pass requiring the American
assemblies to make compensation to the sufferers, and
they should disobey it, and then the Parliament
should, by another act, lay an internal tax, would
they then obey it?
A. The people will pay no internal tax; and, I
think, an act to oblige the assemblies to make compensation
 is unnecessary; for I am of opinion, that,
as soon as the present heats are abated, they will

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