r Essays 113 
an advantage from persons travelling with the post. 
Q. If the Stamp Act should be repealed, and the 
crown should make a requisition to the colonies for a 
sum of money, would they grant it? 
A. I believe they would. 
Q. Why do you think so? 
A. 1 can speak for the colony I live in; I had it in 
instruction from the assembly to assure the ministry 
that, as they had always done, so they should always 
think it their duty, to grant such aids to the crown 
as were suitable to their circumstances and abilities, 
whenever called upon for that purpose, in the usual 
constitutional manner; and I had the honor of 
communicating this instruction to that homorable 
gentleman then minister.r 
1] take the following to be the history of this transaction. Until 
1763, and the years following, whenever Great Britain wanted sup- 
plies directly from the colonies, the Secretary of State, in his Majesty’s 
name, sent them a letter of requisition, in which the occasion for sup- 
plies was expressed; and the colonies returned a free gift, the mode of 
levying which they wholly prescribed. At this period, a chancellor of 
the exchequer (Mr. George Grenville) steps forth, and says to the 
House of Commons: “We must call for money from the colonies in the 
way of a tax”; and to the colony agents: ‘Write to your several colo- 
nies, and toll them if they dislike a duty upon stamps, and prefer any 
other method of raising the money themselves, I shall be content, provided 
the amount be but raised.” ‘‘That is,” observed the colonies, when 
commenting upon his terms, *“ if we do not tax ourselves, as we may 
be directed, the Parliament will tax us.” Dr. Franklin's instructions, 
spoken of above, related to this gracious option. As the colonies 
could not choose ‘another tax,” while they disclaimed every tax, the 
Parliament passed the Stamp Act. 
It seems that the only part of the offer which bore a show of favor, 
was the grant of the mode of levying; and this was the only circum- 
stance which was not new. 
See Mr. Mauduit’s account of Mr. Grenville’s conference with the 
agents, confirmed by the agents for Georgia and Virginia; and Mr. 
Burke's Speech, in 1774. 
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