196 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



*' Ninthly. We cannot but observe with sorrow, that Fort Augusta, 

 which has been very expensive to this Province, has afiforded us but little 

 assistance during this, or the last War. The men that were stationed 

 at that place neither helped our distressed Inhabitants to save their 

 Crops, nor did they attack our Enemies in their Towns, or patrole on 

 our Frontiers. We humbly request that proper measures may be taken 

 to make that Garrison more serviceable to us in our Distress, if it can 

 be done. 



"N. B. We are far from intending any Eeflection against the Com- 

 manding Officer stationed at Augusta, as we presume his Conduct was 

 always directed by those from whom he received his Orders. 



"Signed on behalf of ourselves, and by appointment of a great number 



of the Frontier Inhabitants. 



" Matthew Smith, 



"James Gibson." 



"February 13th, 1764." 



" The memorial of Gibson and Smith was sustained by another, having 

 fifteen hundred signatures.^ But the county of Berks, by its grand jury, 

 protested against it. The Assembly sent both memorial and protest to a 

 committee, which recommended a conference with the insurgents, in order 

 to convince them and the people that their complaints were unfounded. 

 The House invited the Governor to participate in this conference, but 

 he declined the measure, as incompatible with the dignity, and subver- 

 sive of the order, of the government. He recommended them to inves- 

 tigate the merits of the petitions, and should any bill grow out of the 

 investigation, he promised to give it due attention. The Assembly took 

 no further steps. The bill directing persons charged with murdering an 

 Indian in Lancaster county, to be tried in Philadelphia, Bucks, or Ches- 

 ter, became a law, but no conviction for that oflense was ever had, the 

 number and power of the guilty protecting them from punishment." 



The friendly relations between England and the colonies would doubt- 

 less have continued, had the former not seen fit to pursue a new policy 

 towards the latter with respect to revenue and taxation. The colonies 

 until then had been permitted to tax themselves. The first act of Par- 

 liament aiming at the drawing of a revenue from the colonies, was passed 

 Sept. 29, 1764, the preamble running thus: 



"Whereas, it is just and necessary that a revenue be raised in America 

 for defraying the expenses of defending, protecting and securing the 

 same, we the Commons," etc. This act imposed a duty on " clayed sugar, 

 indigo, coffee, etc., etc., being the produce of a colony not under the 

 dominion of his Majesty." 



"On the subject of the right of the British parliament to tax the colo- 



1 Gordon. 



