To the Editor of Lloyd’s Evening Post.

Having lately seen in your paper a letter of Mr. Pym’s, relating to the Colonies, I beg leave to make a few remarks. I won’t pretend to say the Parliament have no right to lay taxes on the Colonies, because it is not clear to me that they have not; but I shall be glad to know, if the Parliament have a right to disannul Charters granted by the King, whether the people in America would not have been entitled to the rights and privileges of Englishmen, even without a Charter; and if so, can they be now said to enjoy the same freedom with those who reside in England? Have they the same security that their property will not be sported with, as the people in England have? These are secure in their property, because no tax can be laid on them but what is equally borne by those persons who impose it. Every Member of Parliament is affected by the taxes laid on the people here, but they bear no part of what are laid on the Colonies. I can’t suppose it will be answered, that the justice to be expected from the Parliament will be a sufficient security because, however great reason we have at present to depend upon their equity and moderation, no one can tell that this will always continue. And as in this instance the Colonies will not enjoy the same freedom, so, in another, they will be subject to a peculiar hardship; and that is, considering their great distance from home, it is highly probable that many taxes will be laid that are extremely grievous. It is very improbable that the Legislature can have such a knowledge of the different Colonies, but that this must happen. And this is confirmed by what has been talked of relating to another tax, in regard to which I may venture to say, if it should take place in the manner I have heard, it would be the most grievous and oppressive ever imposed by a Legislature; and yet I am far from thinking it would be done with any such intention.

But as Mr. Pym allows that the present dispute is not whether the late tax is a proper one, but whether the Parliament have a right to lay any at all, I am surprized he should mention the ingratitude of the Colonies, when that is out of the question. The Virginians, and I believe all the Colonists, have the most grateful sense of the assistance that has been granted them, and are as loyal subjects as any the King has. And yet, notwithstanding, if they think their rights are invaded, they are to be commended for their opposition, because they do no more than what every good Member in the British Parliament would do in the same circumstances. If they are wrong, they want only to be convinced of it, to make them acquiesce. However, I must agree with the Gentleman, that, if the Parliament here hath a right to tax the people in Ireland, they must, I think, have the same right with regard to America. I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant,