The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART I.] PRIVATE LETTERS. 343
I should hardly have taken the liberty, Sir, of introducing myself to your acquaintance in this manner, had
not a letter from Mr. Robert Cary given me reasons to
believe, that such an advance on my part would not be
altogether disagreeable to you. If I could flatter myself, that you would in anywise be entertained with the
few occurrences, that it may be in my power to relate,
I should endeavour to atone for my past remissness, in
this respect, by future punctuality.
At present there are few things among us, that can
be interesting to you. The Stamp Act, imposed on the
colonies by the Parliament of Great Britain, engrosses
the conversation of the speculative part of the colonists,
who look upon this unconstitutional method of taxation,
as a direful attack upon their liberties, and loudly exclaim against the violation. What may be the result of
this, and of some other (I think I may add ill-judged)
measures, I will not undertake to determine; but this I
may venture to affirm, that the advantage accruing to
the mother country will fall greatly short of the expectations of the ministry; for certain it is, that our whole
substance already in a manner flows. to Great Britain,
and that whatsoever contributes to lessen our importations must be hurtful to her manufacturers. The eyes
of our people already begin to be opened; and they will
perceive, that many luxuries, for which we lavish our
substance in Great Britain, can well be dispensed with,
whilst the necessaries of life are mostly to be had within
ourselves. This, consequently, will introduce frugality,
and be a necessary incitement to industry. If Great
Britain, therefore, loads her manufactures with heavy
taxes, will it not facilitate such results? They will not
compel us, I think, to give our money for their exports,
whether we will or not; and I am certain, that none of
their traders will part with them without a valuable