ice in colonial trade, colonial commerce and industry, popular
opinions and sentiment, and the probabilities of action in supposed
cases. His answers made a great stir; they were universally admitted to
have substantially advanced the day of repeal. They constituted the
abundant armory to which the friends of the colonies resorted for
weapons offensive and defensive, for facts and for ideas. He himself,
with just complacency, remarked: "The then ministry was ready to hug me
for the assistance I afforded them." The "Gentleman's Magazine" said:--

"From this examination of Dr. Franklin the reader may form a
clearer and more comprehensive idea of the state and disposition in
America, of the expediency or inexpediency of the measure in
question, and of the character and conduct of the minister who
proposed it, than from all that has been written upon the subject
in newspapers and pamphlets, under the titles of essays, letters,
speeches, and considerations, from the first moment of its becoming
the subject of public attention until now. The questions in general
are put with great subtlety and judgment, and they are answered
with such deep and familiar knowledge of the subject, such
precision and perspicuity, such temper and yet such spirit, as do
the greatest honor to Dr. Franklin, and justify the general opinion
of his character and abilities."

Like praises descended from every quarter.

One interesting fact clearly appears from this examination: that
Franklin now fully understood the colonial sentiment, and was thoroughly
in accord with it. Being asked whether the colonists "would submit to
the Stamp Act, if it were modified, the obnoxious parts taken out, and
the duty reduced to some particulars of small moment," he replied with
brief decision: "No, they will never submit to it." As to how they would
receive "a future tax imposed on the same principle," he said, with the
same forcible brevity: "Just as they do this: they would not pay it."
_Q._ "Can anything less than a military force carry the Stamp Act into
execution? _A._ I do not see how a military force can be applied to that
purpose. _Q._ Why may it not? _A._ Suppose a military force sent into
America, they will find nobody in arms. What are they then to do? They
cannot force a man to take stamps who chooses to do without them. They
will not find a rebellion; they may indeed make one. _Q._ If the act