W

HEN the Seven Years' War had closed, the people of the American colonies of Great Britain were full of loyalty and attachment to the mother country. But these dispositions were speedily changed by the ill-judged measures of the British ministry. Plans for taxing the colonies had been successively proposed to Walpole and Pitt; but those wary ministers declined the experiment. Grenville was bolder, and after causing duties to be imposed on several articles of import, succeeded in carrying the famous Stamp Act in March, 1765. This act, which imposed a tax on the paper used for notes of hand, bills of exchange, and other documents used in the ordinary transactions of business, was regarded by the colonies as unreasonable and tyrannical. It was received with a burst of indig nation throughout the country. The colonial Assemblies generally

passed resolutions denouncing the act in strong terms. A congress of deputies, summoned by a resolution of the Massachusetts Assembly, met in New York, October, 1765, to consult on the grievances under which the colonies laboured, in consequence of the late enactments of the British Parliament. All the colonies except New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, were represented. A declaration of rights and grievances, a petition to the king, and a memorial to each house of parliament, firmly remonstrating against the oppressive acts of parliament, and earnestly entreating a redress of grievances, were voted, and the congress dissolved on the 25th of October.

The storm of popular indignation, however, still continued, and serious riots ensued in Boston and in other parts of the country, where the Stamp Act was attempted to be enforced by the officers of government. Resolutions and combinations against the importation and use of British manufactures followed these popular demonstrations.

Meantime Dr. Franklin, and the other American agents in London, aided by the Prime Minister Conway and William Pitt, were earnestly endeavouring to obtain a repeal of the Stamp Act.

To the furtherance of this measure, the ministers first introduced what they called the Declaratory Act. It pronounced that the king and parliament had a right to make laws to bind the colonies and people of America, subjects of the crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever. As soon as this bill was passed, that for the repeal of the stamp act was introduced. After violent and protracted debates, in which Pitt participated, although he was dangerously sick, the bill at length passed the House of Commons, by a vote of 275 to 167; and notwithstanding a still more violent opposition, and the entry of two protests, its friends succeeded in getting it through the House of Lords. After receiving the king's approval, it became a law, March 19, 1766.

The passage of this bill was received with the liveliest demonstrations of joy by the inhabitants of London, where the church-bells were rung and the houses illuminated. In America, where the people could not even hope for such an event, the intelligence produced a transport of surprise, exultation, and gratitude. Thanks were voted by the legislatures to Lord Camden, Pitt, and others, who had befriended the colonial interests.

The burst of good feeling which followed this conciliatory measure was somewhat allayed by the declaratory act, in which the right of taxation was still asserted; and new acts of oppression soon reawakened discontent. Indemnity for damage done by the riots was demanded; troops were ordered to be quartered on the citizens; an act imposing duties on glass, paper, pasteboard, white and red lead, painters' colours, and tea, was passed, (June 29, 1767,) and new regulations for collecting the revenue were rigorously enforced. Altercations between the colonial Assemblies and the royal governors

followed these measures of Townshend, the minister, who died in 1767, and was succeeded by Lord North.

The seizure at Boston of the sloop Liberty, owned by the popular merchant, John Hancock, led to a serious riot; and the quartering of troops, (November 10, 1767,) in the representatives' chamber, the court-house, and that cradle of liberty, Faneuil Hall, was regarded. as the most terrible outrage which the citizens had ever endured.

Non-importation agreements were entered into by nearly all the colonies, on the one hand, and a proposition for trying American offenders in England, was entertained on the other; while the altercations between the royal governors and the colonial Assemblies were vigorously kept up. In Boston, the presence of the British troops was a perpetual source of irritation. On the 5th of March, 1770, a collision took place in King street now called State street, between the soldiers and citizens. The soldiers, being pelted with snowballs and pieces of ice, called for the protection of a guard. Captain Preston's company, then on guard, came to their relief. A charge was ordered without effect. The mob dared the soldiers to fire, and on one of their number being actually felled with a club, they fired. Three men were killed, and several others wounded, of whom one afterwards died.

These martyrs to the cause of liberty were buried with great pomp, and the Boston massacre was annually commemorated long after by a grand assemblage and the delivery of an exciting oration. The officer and soldiers, who had caused the death of the citizens, were defended on their trial by John Adams and Josiah Quincy. The captain and six men were acquitted, and two men were found guilty of manslaughter.

In Rhode Island, the destruction of the British armed schooner Gaspee, in consequence of her firing on a merchantman, was one of the bold acts which mark the spirit of the time. A reward of £500, together with a pardon to the informer, failed to shake the fidelity of any of the numerous party concerned in this affair.

The determination of the colonists to resist the introduction of tea sent out by the East India Company, led to the most serious riots. The permission to the company to export this article free of duty made it cheaper to the American consumer than before it had been