occasion of it. Something has been said relative to requisition: I think I gave several instances wherein the same had been complied with in time of war.

Mr. Charles Fox. I am glad to hear from the honorable gentleman who spoke last, that now is not the time to tax America: that the only time for that is, when all these disturbances are quelled, and they are returned to their duty; so, I find, taxes are to be the reward of obedience; and the Americans, who are considered to have been in open rebellion, are to be rewarded by acquiescing to their measures. When will be the time when America ought to have heavy taxes laid upon it? The honorable gentleman (Mr. Rigby) tells you, that that time is when the Americans are returned to peace and quietness. The honorable gentleman tells us also, that we have a right to tax Ireland; however, I may agree with him in regard to the principle, it would not be policy to exercise it; I believe we have no more right to tax the one than the other. I believe America is wrong in resisting against this country with regard to its Legislative authority. It was an old opinion, and I believe a very true one, that there was a dispensing power in the Crown, but whenever that dispensing power was pretended to be exercised, it was always rejected and opposed to the utmost, because it operated to me, as a subject, as a detriment to my property and liberty; but, Sir, there has been a constant conduct practised in this country, consisting of violence and weakness, I wish those measures may not continue; nor can I think that the Stamp Act would have been submitted to without resistance, if the Administration had not been changed: the present Bill before you is not what you want; it irritates the minds of the People, but does not correct the deficiencies of that Government.

Sir Gilbert Elliot said, there was not the least degree of absurdity in taxing your own subjects, over whom you declared you had an absolute right; though that tax should through necessity, be enacted at a time when peace and quietness were the reigning system of the times: you declare you have that right, where is the absurdity in the exercise of it?

Sir Richard Sutton read a copy of a letter relative to the Government of America, from a Governor in America to the Board of Trade, showing, that at the most quiet times, the disposition to oppose the laws of this country were strongly engrafted in them, and that all their actions conveyed a spirit and wish for independence. If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any Governor, but Jesus Christ. I do believe it, and it is my firm opinion, that the opposition to the measures of the Legislature of this country, is a determined prepossession of the idea of total independence.

The Bill was then read a second time.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Bill.

MONDAY, April 25, 1774.

Mr. Gascoigne presented to the House, pursuant to their Address to his Majesty:—

No. 1. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the fourth year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled "An Act for regulating of townships, choice of town officers, and setting forth their power."

No. 2. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Say, in the sixth year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, "An Act to enable towns, villages, and proprietors in common and undivided lands, &c., to sue and be sued."

No. 3. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the fifth year of the reign of Queen Anne, intituled "An Act for a new choice of town officers, on special occasions."

No, 4. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the ninth year of the reign of Queen Anne, intituled "An Act directing the levying and collecting of county and town assessments."

No. 5. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the second year of the reign of King George the Fourth, intituled, "An Act for the better regulating of town and proprietary meetings."

No. 6. Extract of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the first year of the reign of King George the Second, intituled, "An Act in addition to an Act for highways."

No. 7. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the seventh and eighth years of the reign of King George the Second, intituled, "An Act in explanation of, and farther addition to, an Act, intituled, an Act for regulating of townships, choice of town officers, and setting forth their power.'"

No. 8. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the sixteenth year of the reign of King George the Second, intituled, "An Act in further addition to an explanation of an Act, intituled 'an Act for regulating townships, choice of town officers, and setting forth their power.'"

No. 9. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of King George the Second, intituled, "An Act for reviving and continuing sundry laws, that are expired, or near expiring."

No. 10. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the thirtieth year of the reign of King George the Second, intituled, "An Act in further addition to an Act, intituled, 'an Act for regulating of townships, and choice of town officers, and setting forth their power.'"

No. 11. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the first year of his present Majesty's reign, intituled "An Act for the better regulating districts within this Province."

No. 12. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the second year of his present Majesty's reign, intituled, "An Act for reviving and continuing sundry laws, that are expired, or near expiring."

No. 13. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the seventh year of his present Majesty's reign, intituled, "An Act for reviving and continuing sundry laws, that are expired, or near expiring."

No. 14. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the tenth year of his present Majesty's reign, intituled, "An Act for reviving and continuing sundry laws, that are expired, or near expiring."

No. 15. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the twelfth year of his present Majesty's reign, intituled, "An Act for regulating town-meetings in the town of Danvers."

No. 16. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the seventh year of the reign of King William the Third, intituled, "An Act for Grand Jurors serving at the Quarter Session of the Peace, and punishing defaulters of Jurors attendance."

No. 17. Extract of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the seventh year of the reign of King William the Third, intituled, "An Act for holding of Courts of General Session of the Peace, and ascertaining the times and places for the same."

No. 18. Extract of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the eleventh year of the reign of King William the Third, intituled, "An Act for the establishing of Inferior Courts of Common Pleas, in the several counties of this Province,"

No. 19. Extract of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the eleventh year of the reign of King William the Third, intituled "An Act for establishing a Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize, and General Gaol Delivery, within this Province."

No. 20. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the twelfth year of the reign of King William the Third, intituled, "An Act relating to the office and duty of a Coroner."

No. 21. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the third year of the reign of King George the First, intituled, "An Act for the more effectual preventing default in the appearance of Jurors."

No. 22. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the twenty-third year of the reign of King George the Second, intituled, "An Act for the better regulating the choice of Petit Jurors."

No. 23. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in the thirtieth year of the reign of