1710. TO THE PRINTER OF THE EVENING

SIR,

HERALD1

(L. C.)

The British Newswriters are very assiduous in their enIdeavours to blacken America. Should we not be careful not to afford them any Assistance by Censures of one another, especially by Censures not well founded?

I lately observ'd, in one of your Papers, the Conduct of the State of Massachusetts reflected on as being inconsistent and absurd, as well as wicked, for attempting to raise a Tax by a Stamp Act, and for carrying on the Slave Trade.

The Writer of those Reflections might have considered, that their principal Objection to the Stamp Tax was, its being impos'd by a British Parliament, which had no right to tax them; for otherwise a Tax by Stamps is perhaps to be levied with as little Inconvenience to those who pay it as any other that can be invented. Ireland has a Stamp Act of its own; but, should Britain pretend to impose such a Tax on the Irish People, they would probably give a general Opposition to it, and ought not for that to be charged with Inconsistence.

One or two Merchants in Boston, employing Ships in the abominable African Trade, may deservedly be condemned, tho' they do not bring their Slaves home, but sell them in the West Indies. That State, as such, has never, that I have heard of, given Encouragement to the diabolical Commerce; and there has always been fewer Slaves in the New England Governments than in any other British Colonies. National 1 The date of this piece is uncertain. - ED.

Reflections are seldom just, and a whole People should not be decry'd for the Crimes of a few Individuals.

Your inserting this may make that brave People some Amends, and will oblige one of your Customers, who is A PENNSYLVANIAN.

1

1711. ON SENDING FELONS TO AMERICA 1 (L. C.)

SIR,

FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE

We may all remember the Time when our Mother Country, as a Mark of her parental Tenderness, emptied her Jails into our Habitations, "for the BETTER Peopling," as she express'd it, "of the Colonies." It is certain that no due Returns have yet been made for these valuable Consignments. We are therefore much in her Debt on that Account; and, as she is of late clamorous for the Payment of all we owe her, and some of our Debts are of a kind not so easily discharg'd, I am for doing however what is in our Power. It will show our goodwill as to the rest. The Felons she planted among us have produc'd such an amazing Increase, that we are now enabled to make ample Remittance in the same Commodity. And since the Wheelbarrow Law is not found effectually to reform them, and many of our Vessels are idle through her Restraints on our Trade, why should we not employ those Vessels in transporting the Felons to Britain?

I was led into this Thought by perusing the Copy of a Petition to Parliament, which fell lately by Accident into

1 The allusion to the "new colony of Botany Bay" fixes the date of this article at 1787.- ED.

my Hands. It has no Date, but I conjecture from some Circumstances, that it must have been about the year 1767 or 68. (It seems, if presented, it had no Effect, since the Act passed.) I imagine it may not be unacceptable to your Readers, and therefore transcribe it for your paper; viz.

To the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled,

The PETITION of B. F., Agent for the Province of Pensilvania;

Most humbly sheweth;

That the Transporting of Felons from England to the Plantations in America, is, and hath long been, a great Grievance to the said Plantations in general.

That the said Felons, being landed in America, not only continue their evil Practices to the Annoyance of his Majesty's good Subjects there, but contribute greatly to corrupt the Morals of the Servants and poorer People among whom they are mixed.

That many of the said Felons escape from the Servitude to which they were destined, into other Colonies, where their Condition is not known; and, wandering at large from one populous Town to another, commit many Burglaries, Robberies, and Murders, to the great Terror of the People; and occasioning heavy Charges for apprehending and securing such Felons, and bringing them to Justice.

That your Petitioner humbly conceives the Easing one Part of the British Dominions of their Felons, by burthening another Part with the same Felons, cannot increase the common Happiness of his Majesty's Subjects, and that therefore the Trouble and Expence of transporting them is upon the whole altogether useless.

That your petitioner, nevertheless, observes with extream Concern in the Votes of Friday last, that leave is given to bring in a Bill for extending to Scotland, the Act made in the 4th Year of the Reign of King George the First, whereby the aforesaid Grievances are, as he understands, to be greatly increased by allowing Scotland also to transport its Felons to America.

Your petitioner therefore humbly prays, in behalf of Pensilvania, and the other Plantations in America, that the House would take the Premises into Consideration, and in their great Wisdom and Goodness repeal all Acts, and Clauses of Acts, for transporting of Felons; or, if this may not at present be done, that they would at least reject the propos'd Bill for extending the said Acts to Scotland; or, if it be thought fit to allow of such Extension, that then

the said Extension may be carried further, and the Plantations be also, by an equitable Clause in the same bill, permitted to transport their Felons to Scotland.

And your Petitioner, as in Duty bound, shall pray, &c.

This Petition, as I am informed, was not receiv'd by the House, and the Act passed.

On second Thoughts, I am of Opinion, that besides employing our own Vessels, as above propos'd, every English Ship arriving in our Ports with Goods for sale, should be obliged to give Bond, before she is permitted to Trade, engaging that she will carry back to Britain at least one Felon for every Fifty Tons of her Burthen. Thus we shall not only discharge sooner our Debts, but furnish our old Friends with the means of "better Peopling," and with more Expedition, their promising new Colony of Botany Bay.

You will perceive by the inclosed Letter which I have rec from the Board of Treasury, that I am again called on for the Vouchers to your Acc' with Congress which were produced to Mess. Wharton and Bancroft. Much of this Transaction, which took place as long ago as the Year 1779, has escaped my Memory; and I should be much obliged to you to acquaint me with what you know concerning it; and particularly whether the Vouchers in question remained in my Office, were returned to you, or sent with your Acct.

to this Country. I have made Search for them among the Papers I brought with me from France, but hitherto without Success. With great Regard

Immediately on Receipt of your Letter of the 14th Instant, inclosing Copy of one from Mr. Barclay to you, I ordered a fresh Search to be made for the Papers you require respecting the Vouchers of Mr. Ross's Accounts deposited in my Office when in France; and after the most careful & diligent Examination nothing of the kind is found in my Possession. When I was about to leave that Kingdom I ordered all Papers relating to the Publick Accounts, and every thing deposited with me as Consul, (I having acted in that Capacity before Mr. Barclay's Arrival) to be put into his Hands; which was done. I cannot therefore but be of Opinion, that tho' he may not have taken Notice of those Vouchers, nothing having required his Adverting to them, yet they will be found with the other Papers of his Office when they shall arrive in America. I have however enquired of Mr. Ross whether he cannot supply the Deficiency, who informs me that he has an Authenticated Copy which

1 Commissioners of the Treasury. — ED.