A letter from a gentleman at a distance to his friend at court : Dear Sir, Since you are pleased to enquire what are my sentiments respecting the right of the British Parliament to lay taxes on the colonies ... the best answer to your question ... is by way of reference to the very excellent and adapted letters, signed A Farmer ... But how can you, Sir, in New-England, join the other colonies in complaining of slavery ... when, at the same time, you are enslaving and persecuting one another, in matters of much greater importance ... to support a ministry in the church.