enunciating the above views in the debate on the army estimates. His colleagues sat by in indignant silence. Their subsequent remonstrances were vain. Chatham was ill at Bath, and Townshend knew it. But to Chatham, though absent, Shelburne appealed, writing as follows:
In regard to America, the enclosed minute from the House of Commons will show your Lordship Mr. Grenville's question. Mr. Townshend answered him, but agreed as to the principle of the Stamp Act and the duty itself; only the heats which prevailed made it an improper time to press it; and treating the distinction between external and internal taxes as ridiculous in everybody's opinion except the Americans, pledged himself in short to the House to find a revenue, if not adequate (a word Lord George Sackville pressed him with, with a view to pin him down as much as possible), yet nearly sufficient to answer the expense, when properly reduced. What he means, I do not conceive. I have always thought the quit-rents may be so managed, without having too great a retrospect, as to produce a certain sum; and I have likewise had reason to think that such a new method of granting lands might be devised as might give infinite satisfaction to America, contribute to the ascertaining property by preventing future suits at law, in great measure prevent the Indian disturbances, and besides all this incidentally produce a certain revenue, without its being the object; but I do not conceive either of them can possibly take place this year, there not being materials in any office here sufficient to form a final judgment of them. Many of them must come for that purpose from America.
I have heard, indeed, from general conversation, that Mr. Townshend has a plan for establishing a board of customs in America, and by a new regulation of the tea duty here, and some other alterations, to produce a revenue on imports there. I am myself in no respect able to form a judgment how far this may be likely to answer the end or no; but in many views it appears a matter that will require the deepest consideration, at this time especially. Besides I believe your Lordship will think the speech I have just mentioned to you is not the way to make any thing go down well in North America.
I thought it necessary to inform your Lordship thus far of the state of American affairs here, before I came to speak of the actual state of them there. They have universally agreed to the compensation required by Parliament to be made to the sufferers. My letter upon that subject, in Massachusetts Bay has undergone a very free discussion; but they have fully agreed, and the
