What did the British mean by virtual representation?

The concept of virtual representation was meant as a
rebuttal of the American colonists' claim that they were being taxed by Parliament
without being represented in Parliament.  The idea of virtual representation was that
the members of Parliament were representing the colonists even though the colonists
could not vote for them.  Parliament, it was argued, had the colonists' best interests
in mind and was, therefore, representing them.

The
colonists did not like this idea.  They wanted actual representation.  They argued that
no one could truly represent them unless they had the right to vote for or against that
person.

Today, we still have virtual representation in some
ways.  We tax minors who work, for example, before they are able to vote.  We say that
their interests are being protected even though they cannot yet vote.  The problem in
colonial times was that the British wanted to treat all colonists in this
way.