Curtin 1

Ally Curtin
Calvert/Farmer
HIS 108
7 October 2015
Thomas Whately, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed
upon Them, Considered
In 1765, Thomas Whately wrote a document that helped explain the Stamp Act called
The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them,
Considered. Whately supported the Stamp Act and wanted to persuade the colonies into
accepting the stamp act by explaining why it was just and fair to both the Colonies and Britain.
Whatelys influence on the opinion of people, whether it was good or bad, made a big impact.
This document was similar to others from the same time, yet Whately really tried to help people
be on the same level and understand the importance of the Stamp Act with The Regulations
lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them, Considered.
Thomas Whately was born in England in 1726. His family was very well off and had
many connections within England. Whately attended Clare College and graduated in 1745. Later
on, he went to Middle Temple and was called to bar in 1751. Although his work and passion
were mostly in financials, he played a huge role in supporting the Stamp Act. In 1762, Whately
became the private secretary of the Prime Minister George Greenville.1 Then Whately became

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1 Brooke, John. "WHATELY, Thomas." History of Parliament. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.

Greenvilles party manager in 1765. Whately abruptly died in 1772 leaving behind many
unfinished works and jobs. 2
The Stamp Act was passed in 1765 and caused the colonies to be taxed on every piece of
paper the colonists used. This tax was put in place to actually benefit the colonies by helping to
pay for the protection services of the colonies. Britain thought that the colonies were very
wealthy and figure they could help pay for their own needs. Because Whately loved the colonies
and wanted them to thrive, he felt the need to write this document to help explain the Stamp Act.
Whately helps explain why Parliament has the justification to tax the colonists. Mostly, this
document was written to get the people of the colonies to understand and accept the Stamp Act. 3
The Stamp Act was formed to create a fairer form of taxation. This means that the colonies
expect tax to be fair for every person; everybody has a different amount of tax they should pay
because of specific circumstances. However this did not work out, thus the reason for the stamp
act. Whately explained, That this Mode of Taxation is the easiest, the most equal and the most
certain that can be chosen: and the Tax thus supported and secured, is collected by few
Officers, without Expense to the Crown or Oppression on the People.4 Whately was trying to
show the people that there is no way around taxation, and that the Stamp Act was the easiest
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2Cornish, Rory T.. Whately, Thomas (17261772). Rory T. CornishOxford Dictionary of National
Biography. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Oxford: OUP, 2004. 9 Oct.

2015.

3 Christie, IR. A vision of empire: Thomas Whately and the regulations lately made concerning the colonies.
English Historical Review. 113, 451, 300, Apr. 1998. ISSN: 00138266.

4 Whately, Thomas, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them,
Considered (1765), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of the U.S. to 1876, ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA:
McGraw-Hill, 2015), 90

most uniform kind of taxation. The stamp act was uniform because it is not based on what you
own or who you are, it is based on what you buy. When colonists bought paper products, the
Stamp Act would be put into place. Whately then talks about Parliament's authority over the
colonies involving the Stamp Act. He said, Britain has a Right at all times, she is under
necessity, upon this occasion, to demand their assistance; but still she requires it in the Manner
most suitable to their Circumstances 5 This statement is forceful but it showed the easiest
way to maintain the fairness of the Stamp Act. Also, this was put in place to maintain the fairness
in England. If tax was regulated within the colonies, than Britain would not be in an uproar.
British people paid taxes no matter how poor or wealthy they were and they called for just treat
in the colonies. Whately then explains why Britain is so in debt; She has also a large Peace
Establishment to maintain; and the national Debt, tho so great a Part, and that the heaviest Part
of it has been incurred by a War undertaken for the Protection of the Colonies.6 Britain was in
such debt because of the wars caused by the colonies. So it was only fair that the colonies pay
taxes, too. Though the idea of paying more taxes, did not go over well with the colonies.
Then, Whately continues to help the colonists see eye to eye; The Post Office has indeed
been called a meer Convenience; which therefore the People always chearfully pay for.7 He was
trying to help compare the tax to something as simple as sending mail. At the time mail was

5 Whately, Thomas, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them,
Considered (1765), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of the U.S. to 1876, ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA:
McGraw-Hill, 2015), 90

6 Whately, Thomas, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them,
Considered (1765), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of the U.S. to 1876, ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA:
McGraw-Hill, 2015), 91

7 Whately, Thomas, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them,
Considered (1765), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of the U.S. to 1876, ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA:
McGraw-Hill, 2015), 92

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almost the only way of communication and was practiced by everybody. Whately was showing
that the new taxes should not be a problem. Parliament expected the colonists to pay taxes just as
easy as it was to pay for mail. Also Whately goes to show that the money made from the mail
helps both Britain and the Colonies; The Revenue arising from the Postage in America is
blended with that of England, is applied in Part to the carrying on of a continental War, and other
public Purpose.8 Again, he was trying to show the colonists that it benefitted everybody, not
just England. The only way the tax system will work was if everyone pays no matter where they
were from and no matter how rich or poor they were. Whately concluded the document by saying
the Stamp Act needs to be in place because the Colonies are equal and under the same
government as Britain. Whately was almost playing devils advocate but for both sides. He
continuously explains both sides in order to show that he was a just and fair man, and why he
wants everyone to see the reason behind taxation.
In correlation the other document this week is the The Olive Branch Petition by John
Dickinson. The colonies started to rebel against Britain for many reasons, one of them was taxes.
Britain started to fight back when the colonies could no longer be kept under control. An
example of the rebellion: calling themselves the Sons of Liberty This mob paraded
through the streets with an effigy of Andrew Oliver, Bostons stamp distributor, which they
hanged from the Liberty Tree and beheaded before ransacking Olivers home.9 Shortly after
this the Stamp Act was ruled out. But this did not keep the colonists from rebelling against
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8 Whately, Thomas, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them,
Considered (1765), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of the U.S. to 1876, ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA:
McGraw-Hill, 2015), 91

9 History.com Staff. "Stamp Act." History.com. A+E Networks, 2009. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.

different things, such as other taxes. Going back to The Olive Branch Petition, the colonies
finally realized they had made a mistake and they needed the help of Britain. Dickinson decided
to write a letter to the King of England. Dickison said, ... Great Britain riseing to power the
most extraordinary the world had ever know. Her rivals observing and apprehending its future
effects resolved to prevent her receiving such continual and formidable accessions of wealth
and strenght...10 Dickison was trying to blame the problems of the colonist back on Britain. He
was trying to say the world had never seen a powerhouse like Britain and was threatened by it.
As if it would not have been fair that Britain was powerful. The colonists went on asking for
forgiveness from the King. The colonist admitted they were in the wrong for rebelling against
Britain. Yet in the letter Dickison still tried to claim the colonies could not take complete blame.
This relates back to The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes
Imposed upon Them, Considered, in the sense that it was a warning to the colonists. Whately was
explaining the Stamp Act, and tried to get the colonists to agree to it. In Whatelys document
there was no evidence of a warning. But with what is known today we can infer that it was
almost like a warning to the colonist.
The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them,
Considered was an important document, but it did not make an impact. The colonists were not
happy but not because of the document. The colonists were not happy because they did not want
to pay taxes. Although as stated earlier the colonists did rebel because of the Stamp
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10 Dickinson, John The Olive Branch Petition (1775), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of the U.S. to 1876,
ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill, 2015), 107

Act, but not because of this specific document. However, this document does show the
conflicting viewpoints when it came to the colonists and Britain. The colonists viewpoint was
pure hatred. They believed that they were being treated unfairly and did not want to have to
taxes. On the other hand, the British people wanted the colonists to be taxed. They thought that it
was only right because everyone in Britain was taxed no matter the circumstance. However,
Parliament along with Whately believed that the Stamp Act was a great thing. Because
Parliament believed that the Stamp Act was the most unifying way to collect taxes. It seemed as
though Whatelys goal was to inform and persuade. He wanted the people of Britain and America
to agree, and support the Stamp Act.
Although it is many years from now, Whatelys document continues to have
significance. Whately focused on his goal of getting people to accept the Stamp Act, and this
document was just another way of achieving this goal. The Regulations lately Made concerning
the Colonies and the Taxes Imposed upon Them, Considered was a very important document at
its time and it is still an important topic to this day. Whately will continue to influence people on
his opinion of the Stamp Act with, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and
the Taxes Imposed upon Them, Considered.

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References

Brooke, John. "WHATELY, Thomas." History of Parliament. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
CHRISTIE, IR. A vision of empire: Thomas Whately and the regulations lately made concerning
the colonies. English Historical Review. 113, 451, 300, Apr. 1998. ISSN: 00138266.

Cornish, Rory T.. Whately, Thomas (17261772). Rory T. CornishOxford Dictionary of

National Biography. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Oxford: OUP, 2004. 9 Oct.
2015 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29177>.
Dickinson, John The Olive Branch Petition (1775), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of
the U.S. to 1876, ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill, 2015), 107

History.com Staff. "Stamp Act." History.com. A+E Networks, 2009. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.

Whately, Thomas, The Regulations lately Made concerning the Colonies and the Taxes
Imposed upon Them, Considered (1765), in Course Reader: HIS 108L History of
the U.S. to 1876, ed Jane E. Calvert (Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill, 2015), 90-94