What was the British Response for the Townshend Acts?

When the
Townshend Acts were passed, the British had strong reasons for passing these laws.  The colonies
were becoming more expensive to operate.  The British firmly believed the colonists should share
in this cost.  Since the negative reaction to direct taxation, as
with the Stamp Act, was so strong, the British tried to devise ways to collect taxes without the
colonists knowing they were paying them. 

The taxes of the Townshend Acts
were indirect taxes.  They were taxes on imports on products such
as glass and tea. The taxes were paid by the importers and passed on to the consumers.  When the
consumers bought these products, the taxes were included in the price they paid for the
products.  Thus, the consumers really didnt know they were paying the tax since the tax wasnt
directly added to the price at the point of sale. 

Additionally, the
Townshend Acts reinforced the idea that writs of assistance were legal.  This allowed the
British to search any colonist who was suspected of being involved in smuggling. The Townshend
Acts stayed in effect until after the Boston Massacre.  They were repealed, except for a tax on
tea, to try to calm down the colonists who were upset by the Boston Massacre.  The British were
prepared to defend the reasons why the Townshend Acts were passed.