the communication between one settlement and another is by sea only.

2. Can you disperse the stamps by post in Canada?

A. There is only a post between Montreal and Quebec. The inhabitants live so scattered and remote from each other in that vast country, that posts cannot be supported among them, and therefore they cannot get stamps per post. The English colonies too along the frontiers are very thinly settled.

2. From the thinness of the back settlements, would not the stamp act be extremely inconvenient to the inhabitants, if executed?

A. To be sure it would; as many of the inhabitants could not get stamps when they had occasion for them without taking long journeys, and spending perhaps three or four pounds, that the crown might get six-pence.

2. Are not the colonies, from their circumstances, very able to pay the stamp duty?

A. In my opinion there is not gold and silver enough in the colonies to pay the stamp duty for one years.

2. Don't you know that the money arising from the stamps was all to be laid out in America?

A. I know it is appropriated by the act to the American service; but it will be spent in the conquered colonies, where the soldiers are; not in the colonies that pay it.

2. Is there not a balance of trade due from the colonies where the troops are posted, that will bring back the money to the old colonies?

A. I think not. I believe very little would come back. I know of no trade likely to bring it back. I think it would

5

"The stamp act said, that the Americans shall have no commerce, make no exchange of property with each other, neither purchase nor grant, nor recover debts; they shall neither marry nor make their wills, unless they pay such and such sums" in specie for the stamps which must give validity to the proceedings. The operation of such a tax, had it obtained the consent of the peo ple, appeared inevitable; and its annual productiveness, on its introduction, was estimated by its proposer in the house of commons at the committee for

come from the colonies where it was spent, directly to England; for I have always observed, that in every colony the more plenty the means of remittance to England, the more goods are sent for, and the more trade with England carried on.

2. What number of white inhabitants do you think there are in Pennsylvania?

A. I suppose there may be about one hundred and sixty thousand.

2. What number of them are Quakers?

A. Perhaps a third.

2. What number of Germans?

A. Perhaps another third; but I cannot speak with certainty.

2. Have any number of the Germans seen service, as soldiers, in Europe?

A. Yes, many of them, both in Europe and America. 2. Are they as much dissatisfied with the stamp duty as the English?

in

A. Yes, and more; and with reason, as their stamps are, many cases, to be double."

2. How many white men do you suppose there are in

supplies, at 100,000l. sterling. The colonies being already reduced to the necessity of having paper-money, by sending to Britain the specie they collected in foreign trade, in order to make up for the deficiency of their other returns for Britain's manufactures; there were doubts whether there could remain specie sufficient to answer the tax.

6 The stamp act provided that a double duty should be laid "where the instrument, proceedings, &c. shall be engrossed, written or printed within the said colonies and plantations, in any other than the English language.” This measure, it is presumed, appeared to be suggested by motives of convenience, and the policy of assimilating persons of foreign to those of British descent and preventing their interference in the conduct of law business till this change should be effected. It seems however to have been deemed too precipitate, immediately to extend this clause to newly conquered countries. An exemption therefore was granted, in this particular, with respect to Canada and Grenada, for the space of five years, to be reckoned from the commencement of the duty. (See the British Stampt Act.)

A. About three hundred thousand, from sixteen to sixty years of age.

2. What may be the amount of one year's imports into Pennsylvania from Britain?

A. I have been informed that our merchants compute the imports from Britain to be above 500,000l.

2. What may be the amount of the produce of your province exported to Britain?

A. It must be small, as we produce little that is wanted in Britain. I suppose it cannot exceed 40,000%.

2. How then do you pay the balance?

A. The balance is paid by our produce carried to the West Indies (and sold in our own islands, or to the French, Spaniards, Danes, and Dutch)-by the same produce carried to other colonies in North America, (as to New England, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Carolina, and Georgia) by the same, carried to different parts of Europe, (as Spain, Portugal, and Italy.) In all which places we receive either money, bills of exchange, or commodities that suit for remittance to Britain; which, together with all the pro fits on the industry of our merchants and mariners, arising in those circuitous voyages, and the freights made by their ships, centre finally in Britain to discharge the balance, and pay for British manufactures continually used in the provinces, or sold to foreigners by our traders.

2. Have you heard of any difficulties lately laid on the Spanish trade?

A. Yes, I have heard that it has been greatly obstructed by some new regulations, and by the English men of war and cutters stationed all along the coast in America.

2. Do you think it right that America should be protected by this country, and pay no part of the expence?

I Strangers excluded, some parts of the northern colonies doubled their numbers in fifteen or sixteen years; to the southward they were longer; but, taking one with another, they had doubled by natural generation only, once in twenty five years. Pennsylvania, including strangers, had doubled in about sixteen years. The calculation for February 1766, will not then suit 1779; nor for subsequent periods, though as general principles they will approach very near to each other.

ر

A. That is not the case.

The colonies raised, clothed,

and paid, during the last war, near twenty-five thousand men, and spent many millions.

2. Were you not reimbursed by parliament?

A. We were only reimbursed what, in your opinion, we had advanced beyond our proportion, or beyond what might reasonably be expected from us; and it was a very small part of what we spent. Pennsylvania, in particular, disbursed about 500,000l. and the reimbursements, in the whole, did not exceed 60,000/.

2. You have said, that you pay heavy taxes in Pennsylvania, what do they amount to in the pound?

A. The tax on all estates, real and personal, is eighteen pence in the pound, fully rated; and the tax on the profits of trades and professions, with other taxes, do, I suppose, make full half-a-crown in the pound.

2. Do you know any thing of the rate of exchange in Pennsylvania, and whether it has fallen lately?

A. It is commonly from one hundred and seventy, to one hundred and seventy-five. I have heard, that it has fallen lately from one hundred and seventy-five, to one hundred and sixty-two and a half; owing, I suppose, to their lessening their orders for goods; and when their debts to this. country are paid, I think the exchange will probably be at par.

2. Do not you think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty, if it was moderated?

A. No, never, unless compelled by force of arms.

2. Are not the taxes in Pennsylvania laid on unequally, in order to burthen the English trade; particularly the tax on professions and business?

A. It is not more burthensome in proportion, than the tax on lands. It is intended, and supposed to take an equal proportion of profits.

2. How is the assembly composed? Of what kinds of people are the members; landholders or traders ?

A. It is composed of landholders, merchants, and arti ficers,

2. Are not the majority landholders?

A. I believe they are.

2. Do not they, as much as possible, shift the tax off from the land, to ease that, and lay the burthen heavier on trade?

A. I have never understood it so. I never heard such a thing suggested. And indeed an attempt of that kind .could answer no purpose. The merchant or trader is always skilled in figures, and ready with his pen and ink. If unequal burthens are laid on his trade, he puts an additional price on his goods; and the consumers, who are - chiefly landholders, finally pay the greatest part, if not the whole.

2. What was the temper of America towards Great Britain before the year 1763 ?9

A. The best in the world. They submitted willingly to the government of the crown, and paid, in their courts, obedience to acts of parliament. Numerous as the people are in the several old provinces, they cost you nothing in forts,

9 In the year 1733-" for the welfare and prosperity of our sugar colonies in - America," and "for remedying discouragements of planters ;" duties were “given and granted” to George the Second, upon áll rum, spirits, molasses, syrups, sugar, and paneles of foreign growth, produce, and manufacture, imported into the colonies. This régulation of trade, for the benefit of the general empire was acquiesced in, notwithstanding the introduction of the novel terms "give and grant." But the act, which was made only for the term of five years, and had been several times renewed in the reign of George the Second, and once in the reign of George the Third; was renewed again in the year 1763, in the reign of George the Third; and extended to other articles, upon new and altered grounds. It was stated in the preamble to this act, "that it was expedient that new provisions and regulations should be established for improving the revenue of this kingdom," that it was just and necessary that a revenue should be raised in America for defending, protecting, and securing the same;"" and that the commons of Great Britain.. desirous of making some provision

towards raising the said revenue in America, have resolved to give and grant to his majesty, the several rates and duties, &c. Mr. Mauduit, agent for Massachuett's Bay, tells us, that he was instructed in the following terms to oppose Mr. Grenville's taxing system.-"You are to remonstrate against these measures, and, if possible, to obtain a repeal of the sugar act, and prevent the imposition of any further duties or taxes on the colonies. Measures will be taken that you may be joined by all the other agents," Boston June 14, 1764." The question proposed to Dr. Franklin alludes to this sugar act in 1763. Dr. Franklin's answer particularly merits the attention of the historian, and the politician,