PREFACE by the BRITISH EDITOR [Dr. Franklin] to The votes and proceedings of the freeholders, • and other inhabitants of the town of Bofton, in town - meeting affembled according to law (published by order of the town), &c *!'

ALL accounts of the discontent fo general in

our colonies, have of late years been induftriously smothered and concealed here; it seeming to fuit the views of the American minifter to have it understood, that by his great abilities, all faction was fubdued, all oppofition fuppreffed, and the whole country quieted. That the true state of affairs there may be known, and the true causes of that discontent well understood; the following

*

[Boston printed: London reprinted, and fold by J. Wilkie, in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1773.'-I have given the reader only the preface.

It is faid, that this little piece very much irritated the miniftry. It was their determination, that the Americans fhould receive teas only from Great Britain. And accordingly the Eaft India company fent out large cargoes under their protection. The colonists every where refufed, either entrance, or else permiffion of fale; except at Boston; where, the force of government preventing more moderate measures, certain perfons in disguise threw it into the fea.

The preamble of the ftamp act produced the tea act; the tea act produced violence; violence, acts of parliament; acts of parliament, a revolt. A little neglect,' fays poor Richard,• may breed great

mifchief: for want of a nail the fhoe was loft; for want of a fhoe ⚫ the horse was loft; for want of a horse the rider was loft; being ⚫ overtaken and flain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horse-shoe nail.' E.]

[Lord Hilborough. This nobleman, already first Lord of trade, was introduced in 1768 into the new-titled office of Secretary of state for the colonies. These posts have fince gone together. E.]

piece (not the production of a private writer, but the unanimous act of a large American city) lately printed in New England; is republished here. This nation, and the other nations of Europe, may thereby learn, with more certainty, the grounds of a diffenfion, that poffibly may, fooner or later, have confequences interesting to them all.

The colonies had, from their firft fettlement, been governed with more ease, than perhaps can be equalled by any inftance in hiftory of dominions fo diftant. Their affection and refpect for this country, while they were treated with kindness, produced an almoft implicit obedience to the inftructions of the Prince, and even to acts of the British parliament; though the right of binding them by a legislature, in which they were unreprefented, was never clearly underftood. That refpect and affection produced a partiality in favour of every thing that was English; Whence their preference of English modes and manufactures; their fubmiffion to reftraints on the importation of foreign goods, which they had but little defire to ufe; and the monopoly we fo long enjoyed of their commerce, to the great inriching of our merchants and artificers.The mistaken policy of the ftamp act firft difturbed this happy fituation; but the flame thereby raised was foon extinguished by its repeal, and the old harmony restored, with all its concomitant advantage to our commerce. The fubfequent act of another adminiftration, which, not con

tent with an established exclufion of foreign manufactures, began to make our own merchandize dearer to the confumers there, by heavy duties revived it again: and combinations were entered into throughout the continent, to stop trading with Britain till thofe duties fhould be repealed. All were accordingly repealed but one-the duty on tea. This was referved (profeffedly fo) as a standing claim and exercise of the right affumed by parliament of laying fuch duties *.-The colonies, on this repeal, retracted their agreement, fo far as related to all other goods, except that on which the duty was retained. This was trumpeted here by the minister for the colonies as a triumph; There it was confidered only as a decent and equitable measure, fhewing a willingness to meet the mother-country in every advance towards a reconciliation; and a difpofition to a good understanding so prevalent, that poffibly they might foon have relaxed in the article of tea alfo. But the system of commiffioners of cuftoms, officers without end, with fleets and armies for collecting and enforcing those duties, being continued; and these acting with much indiscretion and rashness, (giving great and unneceffary trouble and ob

* [Mr. Burke tells us (in his fpeech in 1774) that this preambulary tax had loft us at once the benefit of the weft and of the eaft; had thrown open folding-doors to contraband; and would be the means of giving the profits of the colony-trade to every nation, but ourselves. He adds in the fame place, It is indeed a tax of fophiftry, a tax of pedantry, a tax of difputation, a tax of war and rebellion, a tax for any thing but benefit to the impofers, or fatisfaction to the fubject.' E.]

ftruction

struction to bufinefs, commencing unjust and vexatious fuits, and haraffing commerce in all its branches, while that the minifter kept the people in a constant state of irritation by instructions which appeared to have no other end than the gratifying his private refentments *,) occafioned a perfevering adherence to their refolutions in that particular: and the event should be a leffon to minifters, not to rifque through pique, the obstructing any one branch of trade; fince the course and connection of general business may be thereby disturbed to a degree, impoffible to be foreseen or imagined. For it appears that the colonies, finding their humble petitions to have this duty repealed, were rejected and treated with contempt; and that the produce of the duty was applied to the rewarding, with undeserved falaries and pensions, every one of their enemies; the duty itself became more odious, and their refolution to share it more vigorous and obftinate.-The Dutch, the Danes, and French, took this opportunity thus offered them by our imprudence; and began to fmuggle their teas into the plantations. At first this was fomething difficult; but at length, as all business is improved by practice, it became easy. A coaft fifteen thousand miles in length could not in all parts be guarded, even by the whole navy of England; efpecially where their restraining authority was by all the inhabitants deemed un

* Some of his circular letters had been criticized, and exposed by one or two of the American affemblies.

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conftitutional, the fmuggling of courfe confidered as patriotifm. The needy wretches too, who, with fmall falaries, were trufted to watch the ports day and night, in all weathers, found it eafier and more profitable, not only to wink, but to fleep in their beds; the merchants pay being more generous than the King's.-Other India goods alfo, which, by themselves, would not have made a fmuggling voyage fufficiently profitable, accompanied tea to advantage; and it is feared the cheap French filks, formerly rejected as not to the tafte of the colonies, may have found their way with the wares of India; and now established themselves in the popular use and opinion.

It is fuppofed that at least a million of Americans drink tea twice a day, which, at the first coft here, can fcarce be reckoned, at less than half-a-guinea a head per annum. This market, that in the five years which have run on fince the act paffed, would have paid 2,500,000 guineas for tea alone, into the coffers of the company, we have wantonly loft to foreigners.Meanwhile it is faid the duties have fo diminished, that the whole remittance of the last year amounted to no more than the pitiful fum of 851.* for the expence of fome hundred thoufands, in armed fhips and foldiers, to fupport

*

[Eighty-five pounds I am affured, my lords, is the whole equivalent, we have received for all the hatred and mischief, and all the infinite loffes this kingdom has fuffered during that year, in her disputes with North America.' See the Bishop of St. Afaph's intended fpeech. E.]

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