ere not under any obligation to obey
any laws not enacted by their own assembly, and that any one who should
maintain the contrary should be deemed an enemy to the colony. These two
did not pass.

[542:A] Paul Carrington, in after years, distinctly remembered seeing
Thomas Jefferson among the auditors in this debate.

[543:A] Wirt's Henry, 56-61.

[544:A] Martin's Hist. of N. C., ii. 203, 250.

[545:A] This affair formed the subject of some crude verses, entitled
"The Contest." The following is an extract:--

"And Curtius, too, who, from clear Chellowe's height, Secrets deep lying
in the dark recess Of ----'s clouded brain, can well explore, Demands my
thanks sincere; freed from the froth Of Metriotes'[545:C] hyperbolic
style, Or wine burgessian, potent to deceive, And to produce a vote of
huge expense. The tribute due to genius and to sense Is yours, judicious
Burke! without compeer; The reverend priest the bayic crown presents;
Accept it, then; nor Grymes of mighty bone, And fist, sledge-hammer
like; nor grimful face Of Ampthill's rustic chief,[545:D] nor the abuse
By him in senatorian consult used, Eulogies to true merit shall
prevent."

[545:B] Lee Papers in _S. Lit. Messenger_, 1858, p. 119.

[545:C] John Randolph, afterwards attorney-general.

[545:D] Archibald Cary.

[546:A] Fauquier.

[546:B] Hist. of Amer. Colonies, ii. 354.

[547:A] Hening, viii. 349.

[548:A] Old Churches of Virginia, i. 378, in note.

CHAPTER LXX.

1766-1768.

Bland's Inquiry--Duties imposed by Parliament--Death of
Fauquier--Succeeded by Blair--Baptists persecuted--Blair's
Letter.

IN the year 1766 there was published at Williamsburg "An Inquiry into
the Rights of the British Colonies," from the pen of Richard
Bland.[549:A] In discussing the question, "Whether the colonies are
represented in the British Parliament?" he traces the English
constitution to its Saxon origin, when every freeholder was a member of
the Wittenagemote or Parliament. This appears from the statutes 1st
Henry the Fifth, and 8th Henry the Sixth, limiting the elective
franchise, that is, depriving many of the right of representation in
parliament. How could they have been thus deprived, if, as was
contended, all the people of England were still virtually represented?
He acknowledged that a very large portion of the people of Great Britain
were not entitled to representation, and were, nevertheless, bound to
obey the laws of