Colonial congresses were no new thing. 殖民地议会并不是一个新生事物，

　　There had been many meetings of governors and delegates from colonial assemblies. 已经召开过多次由政府官员和来自殖民集会的代表共同参加的会议，

　　The most important of the early congresses was the Albany Congress of 1754. 早期议会中最重要的要数1754年的奥尔巴尼议会。

　　It was important because it proposed a plan of union. 说它重要是因为这次会议提出一个联邦计划，

　　The plan was drawn up by Benjamin Franklin. 此计划由本杰明o 富兰克林提出，

　　But neither the king nor the colonists liked it, and it was not adopted. 但是国王和殖民者都不喜欢这个计划， 它没有被采纳。

　　All these earlier congresses had been summoned by the king's officers to arrange expeditions against the French or to make treaties with the Indians. 早期的议会都是由国王派出的官员召集， 其目的或组织对法国的远征，或为了与印第安人缔结条约。

　　The Stamp Act Congress was summoned by the colonists to protest against the doings of king and Parliament. 《 印花税法案》 议会的召开是殖民者召开用以反抗国王和议会做出的决定。

　　111. Work of the Stamp Act Congress. 111．印花税法案议会的工作

　　Delegates from nine colonies met at New York in October, 1765. They drew up a "Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists." 1765年10月，来自九个殖民地的代表齐聚纽约， 他们起草一份"关于殖民者权力和艰难处境的宣言"。

　　In this paper they declared that the colonists, as subjects of the British king, had the same rights as British subjects living in Britain, and were free from taxes except those to which they had given their consent. 在这份宣言中， 他们宣称作为不列颠国王子民的殖民地居民与居住在不列颠的子民拥有同样的权力。除非得到他们自己的同意， 他们不缴纳任何税赋；

　　They claimed for themselves the right of trial by jury-which might be denied under the Stamp Act. 他们宣告自己通过陪审团做出审判的权力（按照印花税法案， 应该否定这一点）。

　　But the most important thing about the congress was the fact that nine colonies had put aside their local jealousies and had joined in holding it. 但这次议会最重要的是一个事实， 即九个殖民地都先搁置彼此的猜忌，共同参与到议会中来。

　　112. Franklin's Examination. 112．对富兰克林的审查

　　Born in Boston, Benjamin Franklin ran away from home and settled at Philadelphia. 本杰明o富兰克林出生在波士顿，他从家中逃到费城定居，

　　By great exertion and wonderful shrewdness he rose from poverty to be one of the most important men in the city and colony. 并以其努力和惊人的聪明才智由一个穷小子变成这个城市和殖民地最为显赫的人。

　　He was a printer, a newspaper editor, a writer, and a student of science. 他做过印刷工人、报纸编辑和作家， 并热衷于科学研究，

　　With kite and string he drew down the lightning from the clouds and showed that lightning was a discharge of electricity. 他用风筝和导线将电从云层中引导下来以证明打雷就是放电。

　　He was now in London as agent for Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. 现在，本杰明o 富兰克林是马萨诸塞和宾夕法尼亚在伦敦的代理人。

　　His scientific and literary reputation gave him great influence. 在科学和文学方面的名气使得他颇具感召力，

　　He was examined at the bar of the House of Commons. 下议院对他进行了审查。

　　Many questions and answers were arranged beforehand between Franklin and his friends in the House. 人们准备了许多问题和答案， 供议员们向本杰明o富兰克林发问，

　　But many questions were answered on the spur of the moment. 但是，本杰明o 富兰克林随机对许多问题做出回答。

　　Before the passage of the Stamp Act the feeling of the colonists toward Britain had been "the best in the world." So Franklin declared. 他说， 在通过印花税法案之前殖民者对不列颠的感情是"世界上最好的 "，

　　But now, he said, it was greatly altered. 但是，现在这种感情几乎没有了。

　　Still an army sent to America would find no rebellion there. It might, indeed, make one. 将一支军队派到美洲仍然可以保证那里一片太平， 而这么做实质上可能导致一场真正的叛乱。

　　In conclusion, he said the repeal of the act would not make the colonists any more willing to pay taxes. 总之， 他认为即使废除《印花税法案》也不会再让殖民者甘心纳税。