Grenville and Whately's theory, known as "virtual representation" put forth that, just like the vast majority of British citizens who could not vote, the colonists were nonetheless virtually represented in Parliament. This concept was famously expressed as " No taxation without representation".ĭuring the winter of 1764–1765, British MP George Grenville and his lieutenant, Thomas Whately, attempted to explicitly articulate a theory that could justify the lack of representation in colonial taxation. Because the colonists were represented only in their provincial assemblies, they said, only those legislatures could levy taxes in the colonies. According to the British constitution, colonists argued, taxes could be levied on British subjects only with their consent. In the early stages of the American Revolution, colonists in the Thirteen Colonies rejected legislation imposed upon them by the Parliament of Great Britain because the colonies were not represented in Parliament. Parliament claimed that their members had the well being of the colonists in mind. The Second Continental Congress asked for representation in Parliament in the Suffolk Resolves, also known as the first Olive Branch Petition. Virtual representation was the British response to the First Continental Congress in the American colonies. Virtual representation was the idea that the members of Parliament, including the Lords and the Crown-in-Parliament, reserved the right to speak for the interests of all British subjects, rather than for the interests of only the district that elected them or for the regions in which they held peerages and spiritual sway. Catholic Quebec enjoys peace, Protestant Boston burns, and blinded Britannia approaches a pit. Virtual Representative (standing, clad in brown) gives the Government (with blunderbuss) permission to rob a colonist. Similar in manner and intention to BMSat 5287 and probably by the same artist.For the usage in representation theory in mathematics, see representation ring. Tyler, 'Literary History of the American Revolution', i. The words of Bute and the action of the Speaker indicate that America was being taxed for the benefit of England, while the title derides the theory that the colonists, like Englishmen without the franchise, were "virtually represented" in the House of Commons. It is to be noted that the date of the print is before the opening of hostilities at Lexington, 19 Apr. The attack on the Quebec Act as the establishment of Roman Catholicism in Canada is further stressed by the figures of the monk and of France, see BMSat 5228, &c. This contrast is an attack on the Quebec Act and on the punitive measures taken against Massachusetts for the Boston tea-party. 1 April 1775Ĭurator's comments (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935) In the background, on the horizon, are two towns: (8) Quebec (1.) standing on a cliff, its spires and buildings surrounded by a wall, its castle flying the Union flag (9) Boston, on the sea level, is in flames (8) is described as "The French Roman Catholick Town of Quebeck" (9) is "The English Protestant Town of Boston". The words spoken by (2) and (3) are bracketed with the word "Accomplices". Behind him, and on the extreme left., stands (2), a figure representing France, wearing bag-wig, solitaire, and feathered hat he is flourishing his sword and saying, Begar Just so en France. Two figures on the left encourage Bute and the Speaker: A monk (3), kneels on the ground holding out towards Bute a cross and the model of a gibbet saying "Te Deum". The Speaker of the House of Commons in his wig and robes, holding the mace, stands in the centre pointing at America and saying to Bute, "I give you that man's money for my use". Behind Britannia (7) rushes towards the pit saying, "I am blinded". America answers, "I will not be Robbed." Behind him and holding his left hand is (6), an English sailor wearing trousers, who says, "I shall be wounded with you". Bute, who wears his Garter ribbons, tartan breeches, and a tartan plaid, is 'One String Jack', saying, "Deliver your Property" (Rann, 'Sixteen String Jack', was a noted highwayman hanged in 1774). The two principal antagonists are Bute (1), who aims a blunderbuss at (5), America, a plainly dressed and sturdy man holding a club. Each has a number referring to an explanatory note beneath the design giving the words spoken by each character. Seven figures on the sea-shore represent the situation in America: four (l.) take the offensive, two (r.) are prepared to defend themselves, while Britannia on the extreme right., blindfolded, is about to rush into a pit inscribed "The Pit prepared for others".
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