The following are various entries in a fictional journal of a Bostonian Apprentice who was 13 in 1767. 

August 10, 1767

Parliament has taxed us again! After the STAMP ACT, we thought King George III had learned, but it turns out Parliament has voted for a new tax, called the Revenue Act. That is their official name, but colonists call them the Townshend Acts after their creator, Charles Townshend.

All this time we thought William Pitt was in charge of Parliament. He hated the Stamp Act like we did. He didn’t like the idea of taxing us, but as individuals coming to Boston Harbor told us, William Pit got sick. Townshend became head of Parliament and agreed to the Revenue Act in May.

He thought even though we had hated the Stamp Act, which was an internal tax collected on our newspapers and other written documents, this was an external tax, collected on imports or goods brought into our country. He is stupid to think we will see a difference. It is still "taxation without representation."

The Townshend Acts are two acts. The first is that troops are to live in our houses and the New York Assembly is suspended. The second, a tax must be paid for imports such as glass, lead, paper, paints, and tea. Many are worried Parliament will send more taxes, and I share their belief. Who knows what Parliament will do next?

We are boycotting  the Townshend Tax! Mrs. Johnson and her daughter are spinning cloth to make clothes, and no one drinks tea any more. The Sons of Liberty, of which I am part, are leaving dung (horse droppings) at the homes of Board of Customs Commission members who are responsible for overseeing that we obey the Townshend Acts. Parliament cannot beat us!

Parliament has repealed or canceled  the Townshend Acts - mostly. One thing remains, the tax on tea. It is being kept as a reminder that Parliament can tax us. It is a small tax, only three shillings a pound, but it is still a tax. Parliament has hoped this will get us both what we want. This all happened in April.

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