Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 271

to the King. That the Distinction taken between Internal
Taxes & Commercial regulations was a distinction without a
Difference. Paying Dutys upon Imports & Exports was Pay-
ing Internal Taxes & where was the Difference whether the
Tobacco paid at the Place of its growth or at 100 miles
distance when it came to be Shipped. That the Legislature
properly Interposed for the purpose of a General Taxation, as
the Colonies would never Agree to Adjust their respective
Proportions amongst themselves, but would be cutting one
anothers throats as formerly between the Massachusets &
New Hampshire & Maryland & Pensylvania. He concluded
that the resolutions in most of the Assemblys had been carried
by Small Majoritys & in some by one or two only. That
however the Legislature having declared their Sense there
was no Appeale but force & Resistance was High High
Treason & If any Law still subsisted in America the Combi-
nations which had been entred into were Punishable.
The Chancellor Spoke very shortly to the Point. He took
the Constitution no higher up than the Revolution as this
Country never had one before. He referred to the Act of
King W^m asserting the Legislative authority of his Country.
That the King could not Suspend the Law as it was contrary
to his Coronation Oath. As a Lawyer he declared it (appeal-
ing to the other 2 Law Lords) that all the Colonies had for-
feited their Charters by sending Deputys to New York. That
he had accounts in his hands to shew this Country Spent 32
Millions upon America the last war besides as much more
spent in Germany. That by Looking into Maps it was easy
to see what a few 22 Gun Ships could do in that extended
Country. Was Great Britain grown old & Impotent to be
Insulted by the Buxom Lass her Colonies. That If she with-
drew her Protection they would soon become a Prey to the
first Invader, the Petty States of Genoa or little Kingdom of
Sweeden would run away w^th them.
Lord Temple was Jocose upon the distinction of an Internal
Taxation: what says he, whilst the Stamp Act operates upon
the Merch^t shall we call it a Commercial Regulation, when
upon the Law a Legal Regulation & so on. Did the Colonies
when they Migrated keep the Purse only & give up their
Libertys. " Who Steals my Purse Steals trash " That taxes
here were not the Sole Gift of the Commons, they had only
the right of Proposition. And he advised the Lords in the
words of Tacitus " Adversus rem novam Provincialem Dignum
fide & Constantia Romana Consilium Capiatur".
The Resolution requiring Satisfaction to be made by the
Assemblys to the Sufferers was supported by what had been
done relative to the Town of Glasgow on the opposition given