Irelanders, who have a much better right to it, be forbidden a share of it, and, instead of enjoying there the plenty and happiness that might reward their industry, be compelled to remain here in poverty and misery? Considerations such as these persuade me, that the proposed law would be both UNJUST and

INHUMAN.

If then it is unnecessary, impracticable, impolitic, and unjust, I hope our Parliament will never receive the bill, but leave landlords to their own remedy, an abatement of rents, and frugality of living; and leave the liberties of Britons and Irishmen at least as extensive as it found them. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

A FRIEND TO THE POOR.

VOL. IV.

59

A

TRUE STATE OF THE PROCEEDINGS

IN THE

PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN,

AND IN THE

PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY,

RELATIVE TO THE GIVING AND GRANTING THE MONEY OF THE PEOPLE OF THAT PROVINCE, AND ALL AMERICA, IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, IN WHICH THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTED.

First published in London anonymously, in the year 1774. It was reprinted in "A Collection of Interesting, Authentic Papers relative to the Dispute between Great Britain and America," otherwise called "Prior Documents," in the year 1777, where Franklin is said to be the author. But it was drawn up by Arthur Lee, from materials furnished mostly by Franklin. - EDITOR.

ON the 12th of November, 1761, Governor Bernard made the following speech to both Houses of Assembly, in the province of Massachusetts Bay.

"At the opening of this General Court, I had the pleasure to observe upon the happy and propitious circumstances, that had attended the commencement of the present reign, and particularly the extinction of parties, and the general coalition of all parties in support of his Majesty's government; and I could not but express my earnest desire, that the same patriotic spirit, which influenced Great Britain, might prevail

throughout his Majesty's American provinces, and especially in this most ancient and most loyal of them. "I was well persuaded, that while I was speaking to you on this subject, your sentiments and mine were the same. I have been fully confirmed in this, as well by your own declarations, as by your conduct consequent thereto; and I have now all the assurance, that I shall be assisted and supported by you.

"FRA. BERNARD.”

On the 24th of April, 1762, his Excellency made the following speech to the two Houses.

"The unanimity and despatch, with which you have complied with the requisitions of his Majesty, require my particular acknowledgment; and it gives me additional pleasure to observe, that you have therein acted under no other influence than a due sense of your duty, both as members of a general empire, and as the body of a particular province.

"It will always be my desire, that freedom and independence should prevail in your councils, and that the whole credit of your proceedings therein should be placed to your own account. It will be a sufficient honor for me to preside over a people whose motives to loyalty and public spirit arise from their own breasts. "FRA. BERNARD."

His Excellency again spoke as follows to the two Houses of Assembly, on the 27th of May, 1762.

"Whatever shall be the event of the war, it must be no small satisfaction to us, that this province hath contributed its full share to the support of it. Every thing that has been required of it hath been most readily complied with; and the execution of the powers committed to me, for raising the provincial troops, hath been as full and complete as the grant of them was.

Never before were regiments so easily levied, so well composed, and so early in the field, as they have been this year; the common people seemed to be animated with the spirit of the General Court, and to vie with them in their readiness to serve the King.

"The ample provision, which has been already made, leaves me nothing to ask for the immediate service of the King.

"FRA. BERNARD."

The following is a true copy of the message, which his Majesty sent down to the House of Commons every year, from 1759, till the conclusion of the war.

"GEORGE REX.

"26° Die Aprilis, 1759o.

"His Majesty, being sensible of the zeal and vigor with which his faithful subjects in North America have exerted themselves in defence of his Majesty's just rights and possessions, recommends it to this House, to take the same into consideration, and to enable his Majesty to give them a proper compensation for the expenses incurred by the respective provinces, in the levying, clothing, and pay of the troops raised by the same, according as the active vigor and strenuous efforts of the respective provinces shall appear to merit. "G. R."

Upon which the House resolved, April 30th, "That a sum not exceeding two hundred thousand pounds be granted to his Majesty upon account, to enable his Majesty to give a proper compensation to the respective provinces in North America, for the expenses incurred by them in the levying, clothing, and pay of the troops raised by the same, according as the active vigor and strenuous efforts of the respective provinces shall be thought by his Majesty to merit."

Similar resolutions followed yearly every message. And, though this compensation did not exceed one fourth part of what they expended, they were satisfied with these most honorable of all testimonies, that they had not been backward in contributing their share towards the general defence of the empire.

His Majesty's Surveyor-General of the Northern District in America transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury, in 1764, a charge of corruption in his office and collusion with smugglers, supported by the oaths of credible witnesses, against Governor Bernard; for which the Surveyor-General received the thanks of the Treasury Board, and Governor Bernard was suffered still to hold that office he had abused, and has been admitted as the principal accuser and witness against the people of the Massachusetts Bay.

On the 10th of March, 1764, the House of Commons resolved, "That it may be proper to charge certain stamp duties in the colonies and plantations"; but did not at that time form any bill for the purpose.

On the 5th of April, 1764, an act passed for imposing duties in America by the British Parliament, for the purpose of raising a revenue.

In consequence of these proceedings, the House of Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay came to resolutions, "That the sole right of giving and granting the money of the people of that province, was vested in them as their legal representatives; and that the imposition of duties and taxes, by the Parliament of Great Britain, upon a people who are not represented in the House of Commons, is absolutely irreconcilable with their rights. That no man can justly take the property of another without his consent; upon which original principle the right of representation in the same body which exercises the power of making laws for

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