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Chatham and the Representation of the Colonies in the
Imperial Parliament.

Chatam, the first statesman to make his countrymen realise the importance of their colonial empire, saw clearly that the troubles of his day with America would never be settled until the relation of responsibility to representation had been determined. In one of his earliest speeches on the subject he pointed out that it was unfair to call upon the American colonies to pay imperial taxes as long as they were unrepresented in parliament. Ultimately his proposal was that taxes should be granted by the colonies for imperial purposes through their congress; but he appears to have carefully considered the possibility of making the house of commons itself a federal assembly. Among his papers preserved at the Record Office are two schemes drawn up with that object. One of them contemplated the inclusion of Irish representatives;¹ the other²

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and more elaborate plan is worth quoting in full, for, though in some obvious respects out of date, it contains suggestions and precautions as well worth attention now as a century and a quarter ago. That the scheme was Chatham’s own in its details is not probable, but in its main outlines at any rate it coincides with his well-known views for making the house of commons more truly representative.

Basil Williams.

Scheme for the better uniting and cementing the mutual interest and peace of Great Britain and her Colonies by representation in the Parliament of Great Britain and Dominions thereto belonging, viz.
(1)	Massachusets Pennsylvania Virginia	Each 4 members to represent them, or a smaller number at their option.
(2)	Connecticut New York Jamaica	Each 3 members, but q. if Jamaica may not expect to be in the 1st class.
(3)	Canada E. and W. Jerseys Maryland S. Carolina	Each 2 members, but q. if Maryland and perhaps S. Carolina may not request to be in the 2nd class.
(4)	Nova Scotia New Hampshire Rhode I. Lower Counties of Penns. N. Carolina Georgia E. Florida W. Florida Bahamas Bermuda Barbadoes Antigua St. Christopher Nevis Montserrat Granados	1 each, but q. if Rhode I., New Hampshire, Barbadoes, Antigua may not request to be included in the 3rd class. N.B.—If any of the assemblies of the smaller islands should think the expense of a sole representation by one member to each too heavy an expense, in such case two or more of such may join so they are near and convenient to each other, and to elect either jointly or by turns in rotation.
	Dominica St. Vincent Tobago	When settled.

1st. These to be elected by each assembly from among themselves.

2nd. It will be needful to exempt them from the same qualifications which are the condition of British members enjoying a seat in parliament respecting the value of their real estates.

3rd. It may be needful to make a clause in the Act that on the dissolving any parliament the same members which represented America in such dissolved parliament should continue to represent them in the next ensuing until others are returned from their respective assemblies in lieu.

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4th. It may be needful that a special distance of time be allowed in the new writts for American members beyond the usual time in Great Brittain, perhaps six (or not exceeding twelve) months.

5th. The residence (in or near London) of every American member may be constantly required to be left in writing with the speaker of the house of commons.

6th. In order to prevent the evil effect of any mistrust of the colonists being liable to be overburthened with taxes beyond their reasonable abilities, it may be enacted that they shàll not be liable to any other internal tax than a pound rate on their estates (unless the assembly of any colony should petition for another mode to them preferable), which pound rate or tax on their estates not to exceed threepence in times of peace nor one shilling in time of war, and on these conditions the mother country to protect and defend the whole, and that without further requisitions.

7th. It’s not unlikely that the Americans may wish for some restrictions on their maritime and inland trade to be taken off in case of an union, and that may be considered afterwards.

8th. The Act of Navigation at all events should be preserved inviolate, and as the sixth article is in favour of the colonies, to secure their interest, it’s but reasonable this should be added to secure the reasonable interest of the mother country.³