George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

‘ [77] America has supplied itself with tea by smuggling it

Chap XXIX.} 1767. May.

from the Dutch possessions; to remedy this, duties hitherto levied upon it in England are to be given up and a specific duty collected in America itself. A duty on china can be obtained by repealing the drawback. On salt it was at first intended to lay an impost; but this is abandoned¹ from the difficulty of adjusting the drawback to be allowed on exports of cured fish and provisions, and on salt for the fisheries.’

The American revenue, it was further explained, was to be placed at the disposal of the King for the payment of his civil officers. To each of the Governors, an annual salary was to be assigned of two thousand pounds sterling; to each of the Chief Justices, of five hundred pounds.

This speech, pronounced with gravity and an air of moderation by an orator who was the delight of the House, implied a revolution in favor of authority. The Minister was to have the irresponsible power of establishing by sign manual a general civil list in every American province, and at his pleasure to grant salaries and pensions, limited only by the amount of the American revenue; the national exchequer was to receive no more than the crumbs that fell from his table.² The proposition bore on its face the mark of owing its parentage to the holders and patrons of American offices;³ and yet it was received in the House with general favor. Richard Jackson was not regarded, when he spoke⁴ against the duties themselves, and foretold the mischiefs that would ensue.