Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

^{33660
[Stamp Act
Crisis]
1000}

The author of a Printed letter, ^{signed Amor Patriae} sent
to your Lordship under Cover on New Years Day
or soon after (that being the Day is was first printed)
now presumes, with a modest Confidence arising
from his Conscious Aim & Intention therein,
Thus to Address your Lordship as y^e Favourite
of his Sovereign, and I hope intentionally the
Friend of the Publick, as every Minister
most certainly ought to be

The Arduous & important Concerns of Govern-
=ment at this very Critical juncture in
deciding the most important affair that has
happend in more than half a Century within
the Kings Dominions, makes it a Duty in y^e
highest point of Light for such whose station
and Abilities has under Providence made
them Arbiters of such important Decision
to exert their Utmost Efforts to contribute
their proper share in the necessary work
of Raising or endeavouring to Raise good out of Evil
respecting the Consequences of the Stamp Act
by making it subservient to the Great & Good
end of Laying a more sure Foundation of
Peace, Concord, & Tranquillity throughout this
extended Empire than has hitherto ever yet
subsisted, and if some further more immediate
Relief than before proposed be thought needfull
by way of Repeal suffer ^me to suggest to
Your Lordship a Scheme already Communi=
=cated to y^e R^t Hon: y^e Marq^s of Rockingham as first Lord of the Treasury whereby the main
end of the Act (so odious to y^e Americans) may be
preserved in respect of their Contributing the means
of Protection and Defence and at same time may
& ought to Pacifie them in respect of their Grand
Objection of being internally Taxed without their
Consent or representation in Parliament, who think
none can be so good judges as the Inhabitants of
Each Colony what species of Tax will Coincide
with the reasonable Interest, abilities, & good will
of the People therein; so tis not the sise of
y^e Tax or Duties proposed by said act that has so
terrified them, but the approbation of the
Mode thereof being wrong, and lyble by being
obey'd of being drawn into a dangerous precedent
" for say the Colonists "If Those who cannot be
" so good judges as ourselves of ye best mode do claim
" a Right in this first attempt to take from
" us so small a sum without ^our previous Consent or
" Concurrence where is the Line that bounds
" that Right , and what prevents or shall hinder
" their calling whenever they please for the
" rest of our Fortunes !, so they should humbly
pray the Government here to Reconsider their
Case , and to grant them such Relief as
in the Wisdom that is from Above , may be
seen meekt and Convenient, by our most
Gracious King and his well disposed Ministry .
The now proposed scheme is to make the said
stamp act stand Repealed in favour of each
particular Colonie or Government in America
on and upon the several assemblies of each such
Government, or Colonies passing an Act of Assembly
there to Raise within themselves in such manner
as they most approve such a Proportional sum
in the Currency of each Colonie as shall be
(by a sutatble Act to be made here) deemed an
Equivalent and be accepted in lieu of said stamp
Duties , and the better to illucidate this matter
I have inclosed (or purpose to inclose) herewith a
Calculation of the supposed Number of Inhabitants
in Each, and [y^e] sutable Proportion for each
Colonie to Raise, so near as even Numbers
and proportion for a Rule will easily admit
but to be submitted to a better Test and further
scrutiny than I can (having no assistance) furnish
herewith; nevertheless I hope my feeble endea-
vours without assistance will not be wholly
ineffectual, and if by furnishing a hint they
should be happily improved into a more perfect
amd salutary measure I shall think myself
happy in having thus attempted to exercise
the faculties which Heaven has bestow'd, in
the Voluntary service of my King & Country
being Amply Rewarded by the satisfaction I
feel in my own Breast arising there from

I am very respectfully &ca Amor Patriae
[2] if it might not be a salutary measure &
Conciliating to Lodge the Duties so to be raised as a fund
with the Governour & Council &ca in each Colonie
subject to y^e [dispossetion] of the Parliament of Great
Brittain in respect of the Local applications thereof
in America as such measure might prevent y^e suspicion
of its being otherwise perverted ~

Stamp Act