re Essays '35 
before, by the news of the act for abolishing the legis- 
lature of New York, and the imposition of these new 
duties, professedly for such disagreeable purposes, 
(accompanied by a new set of revenue officers, with 
large appointments, which gave strong suspicions 
that more business of the same kind was soon to 
be provided for them, that they might earn their 
salaries,) began seriously to consider their situation; 
and to revolve afresh in their minds grievances 
which, from their respect and love for this country, 
they had long borne, and seemed almost willing to 
forget. 
They reflected how lightly the interest of all Amer- 
ica had been estimated here, when the interests of a 
few of the inhabitants of Great Britain happened to 
have the smallest competition with it. That the 
whole American people was forbidden the advantage 
of a direct importation of wine, oil, and fruit, from 
Portugal, but must take them loaded with all the ex- 
pense of a voyage one thousand leagues round about, 
being to be landed first in England, to be re-shipped 
for America; expenses amounting, in war time at 
least, to thirty pounds per cent. more than otherwise 
they would have been charged with; and all this, 
merely that a few Portugal merchants in London 
may gain a commission on those goods passing 
through their hands (Portugal merchants, by the by, 
that can complain loudly of the smallest hardships 
laid on their trade by foreigners, and yet, even in the 
last year, could oppose, with all their influence, the 
giving ease to their fellow subjects laboring under so 
;08] I