CHAPTER IV
THE PRESIDENCY OF THE BOARD OF TRADE
1763
On the 5th of May, 1763, Egremont wrote to Shelburne and his colleagues at the Board of Trade:
"North America naturally offers itself as the principal object of your Lordships' consideration upon this occasion, with regard to which I shall first obey His Majesty's commands, in proposing to your Lordships some general questions, before I proceed to desire you will furnish that information which His Majesty expects from your Lordships, with regard to the northern or southern parts of this continent considered separately.
"The questions which relate to North America in general are,
"1st. What new Governments should be established there? what form should be adopted for such a Government? and where the capital or residence of each Governor should be fixed?
"2ndly. What military establishment will be sufficient? what new forts should be erected? and which, if any, may it be expedient to demolish?
"3rdly. In what way, least burthensome and most palatable to the Colonies, can they contribute towards the support of the additional expense which must attend their civil and military establishments upon the arrangement which your Lordships shall propose?"
Such were the directions of the Secretary of State, assuming the expediency of taxation, and only leaving the
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