Page:Letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania - Dickinson - 1768.djvu/40

[&emsp;34&emsp;]  to our iron and lumber, so that we could send these articles to no part of Europe, but to Great-Britain. This was so unreasonable a restriction, and so contrary to the sentiments of the legislature for many years before, that it is surprizing it should not have been taken notice of in the house. However the bill passed into a law. But when the matter was explained, this restriction was taken off by a subsequent act. I cannot positively say how long after the taking off this restriction, as I have not the act, but I think, in less than 18 months, another act of parliament passed, in which the word “Ireland” was left out, just as it had been before. The matter being a second time explained, was a second time regulated.

Now if it be considered, that the omission mentioned struck off with word, it must appear remarkable; and equally so is the method, by which Rice became an enumerated commodity.

“The enumeration was obtained (says Mr. Gee) by one Cole, a Captain of a ship, employed by a company then trading to Carolina; for several ships going from England thither, and purchasing rice for Portugal, prevented the aforesaid Captain of a loading. Upon his coming home, he possessed one Mr. Lowndes, a member of parliament (who was very frequently employed to prepare bills) with an opinion, that carrying rice directly to Portugal, was a prejudice to the trade of England, and got a clause into an act, to make it an enumerated commodity; by which means he secured a freight to himself. ”

I find that this clause, “ got into an act,”, to the “,” is foisted into the 3d and 4th Ann, Chap. 5th, intituled, “An act for granting to her Majesty a further subsidy on wines and merchandizes imported,” with which it has no more connection, than with 34th Edward I. the 34th and 35th of Henry VIII. and the 25th of Charles II. .

Gee on Trade, page 32. told, that there is a wonderful address frequently used in carrying points in the house of commons, by persons experienced in these affairs.That opportunities are watched---and sometimes votes are passed, that if all the members had been present, would have been rejected by a great majority. Certain it is, that when a powerful and artful man has determined on any measure against these colonies, he has always succeeded in his attempt. Perhaps therefore it will be proper for us, whenever any oppressive act affecting us is passed, to attribute it to the inattention of the members of the house of commons, and to the malevolence or ambition of some factious great man, rather than to any other cause.

I do verily believe, that the late act of parliament, imposing duties on paper, &c. was formed by Mr. Greenville, and his party, because it is evidently a part of that plan, by which he endeavoured to render himself at home; and I do also believe, that not one half of the members of the house of commons, even of those who heard it read, did perceive how destructive it was to American freedom. For this reason, as it is usual in Great-Britain, to consider the King’s speech as the speech of the ministry, it may be right here to consider this act as the act of a partyperhaps I should speak more properly, if I was to use another term.