"And that comes from entertaining them in an extravagant way, as our leaders did. A few rich families furnished the silver plate and luxuries that dazzled the eyes of British officers." Here Washington referred to what he never approved, "borrowing silver and begging luxuries" to treat British officers with.
"But suppose Parliament actually imposes a tax upon us, and sends agents to collect it, what can be done?"
"Resist the tax," Washington replied.
"How resist?"
"There is but one way to resist; resort to arms." "And there will be a poor show for us against the king's armies," said Mason.
"And the king's temper," added Washington, alluding to the fact that King George the Third, then ruling England, was an ambitious, unprincipled, and tyrannical ruler.
"The king will not be very merciful towards rebels."
"No, of course not. I suppose that resistance to the tax will be rebellion."
"It cannot be anything else. Nevertheless, we can never submit to taxation without representation," added Washington, referring to the fact that the Colonists had neither voice nor vote in the administration of the British Government.