Volume I Part 15 (1/2)

_A_ They are farmers, husbandmen, or planters

_Q_ Would they suffer the produce of their lands to rot?

_A_ No; but they would not raise so h less

_Q_ Would they live without the administration of justice in civil matters, and suffer all the inconveniences of such a situation for any considerable ti the staht have them?

_A_ I think the supposition impracticable, that the staht have them The act requires sub-distributors to be appointed in every county town, district, and village, and they would be necessary But the _principal_ distributors, ere to have had a considerable profit on the whole, have not thought it worth while to continue in the office; and I think it impossible to find sub-distributors fit to be trusted, who, for the trifling profit that must come to their share, would incur the odium and run the hazard that would attend it; and if they could be found, I think it impracticable to protect the stamps in so many distant and remote places

_Q_ But in places where they could be protected, would not the people use them rather than reht, or recover by law any debt?

_A_ It is hard to say what they would do I can only judge what other people will think and how they will act by what I feel within reat many debts due to me in America, and I had rather they should remain unrecoverable by any law, than submit to the stamp-act

They will be debts of honour It is my opinion, the people will either continue in that situation, or find so to proceed in the courts without stamps

_Q_ What do you think a sufficient military force to protect the distribution of the stareat force, I can't say what, if the disposition of Aeneral resistance

_Q_ What is the number of men in America able to bear arms, or of disciplined militia?

_A_ There are I suppose, at least

[_Question objected to He withdrew Called in again_]

_Q_ Is the American stamp-act an equal tax on the country?

_A_ I think not

_Q_ Why so?

_A_ The greatest part of the money must arise from lawsuits for the recovery of debts, and be paid by the lower sort of people, ere too poor easily to pay their debts It is, therefore, a heavy tax on the poor, and a tax upon the poor

_Q_ But will not this increase of expense be athe number of lawsuits?

_A_ I think not; for as the costs all fall upon the debtor, and are to be paid by hi his action

_Q_ Would it not have the effect of excessive usury?

_A_ Yes; as an oppression of the debtor

_Q_ Are there any _slitting-mills_ in America?

_A_ I think there are three, but I believe only one at present employed I suppose they will all be set to work if the interruption of the trade continues

_Q_ Are there any _fulling-reat reat quantity of _stockings_ were contracted for, for the ar the war, and manufactured in Philadelphia?