-

Patrick Henry's conduct-Navy officers ordered to

enforce the laws of trade-Mr. Grenville's plan of

taxation-Inter-colonial trade stopped-Sugar Act

passed-Clause authorising suits in Admiralty Courts

-Theories of different parties as to power of Parlia-

ment to tax colonies-Publications in Massachusetts,

Rhode Island, Virginia, Maryland, and other colonies

against taxation-Representation in Parliament aban-

doned Conciliatory act ineffectual - Arguments

against the measure-Speech of Col. Banes and

Patrick Henry-News of Stamp Act having passed is

received-Effect of it at Boston and elsewhere-Riots

in Boston, New York, and other places-Non-impor-

tation Association-General Court recommends a

Congress-Declaration of rights-Congress assembles

at New York, and appoints a Speaker-Change in

the English Ministry-Repeal of the Stamp Act-

Singular form of Act of Indemnity passed by General

Court

124

CHAPTER V.

FROM THE REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT TO THE

BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL AND THE COMMENCE-

MENT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Joy at repeal of Stamp Act-Fresh discontent as to

continuance of the Sugar Act-Townsend's scheme

for raising a revenue, maintaining a standing army,

and giving permanent salaries to Governors and

Judges-Tax on paper, glass, lead, and tea-New

York refuses to provide for quartering the troops-

Its Assembly restrained from legislative functions-

Board of Revenue established in America-Penn-

sylvania instructs her agents to oppose the Tea Act

-Massachusetts addresses a circular letter to the

other colonies on the subject-Office of Secretary of

State for the Colonies created-Lord Hillsborough

calls upon the General Court to rescind the pro-

ceedings relative to its circular letter, but it refuses

-Most of the colonies approve of the conduct of

Massachusetts-Seizure of the sloop Liberty'-The

mob assaults the Commissioners, and attacks their

house-They take refuge on board of a man-of-war,

and afterwards retire to Castle William-Town meet-

ing called to consider the subject of troops being

allowed in Boston-People advised to arm them-

selves-A Convention meets, but the Governor will

not acknowledge it-Arrival of two regiments from

Halifax-Proceedings as to quartering them-One

regiment encamped on the Common, the other

lodged in the Town Hall-Proceedings in Parliament

relative to the state of the colonies-General Court

adjourned to Cambridge - Refuses to provide for

the troops-Conduct of the other colonies-Lord

Hillsborough informs the colonial assemblies that he

will repeal all the duties except that on tea-Mob at

Boston attacks a picket guard of soldiers, who fire

and kill three persons-Trial and acquittal-The

Governor surrenders Castle Island to the Commander

of the Forces-People refuse to observe a day of

thanksgiving-Association not to use tea-Proceed-

ings as to the Governor and Judges receiving their

salaries from England-Destruction of the armed

schooner Gaspé'-People refuse to allow tea to be

landed-A cargo thrown into the harbour-Proceed-

ings in the other colonies relative to the tea ships—

Act of Parliament for closing the port of Boston-

Another for amending the Charter-Legislature of

Massachusetts-Advise a Congress, and name the 1st

of December and Philadelphia as the time and place

of meeting-The last General Court-Meeting of

Congress-Declarations of rights and other proceed-

ings-Non-intercourse agreed upon - The General

Court resolve themselves into a provincial Congress,

and vote to raise twelve thousand men, &c.-King's

stores seized at Rhode Island and New Hampshire-

Proceedings in Parliament-Skirmish at Lexington

-Commencement of revolutionary war

172

CHAPTER VI.

Reasons for confining political sketch solely to Canada

-Proclamation for establishing the Government at

Quebec and inviting emigration-An express promise

given that the laws of England should be introduced

—First great error was ordering a code of laws to be

compiled for the French, restoring the old tenure of

that estate-Quebec Act-Character of Loyalists-

Constitution Act, 31 George III., c. 31, divides

Canada into two provinces-Form of Government—

The above-named Acts of Parliament the cause of all

the Canadian troubles-Mistake in allowing French

to be the recording language, and in giving constitu-

tional government before the people were ready to

receive it-First House of Assembly-Proportion of

English and French members-Gradual change in

character of delegates-Impeachment of judges-

Repeated reference to Parliament - Lord Aylmer

entreats the Assembly to bring forward all their

grievances at once-Commission of Inquiry-Stop-

page of supplies - Distress of public officers -

Rebellion-Thorne's conduct-Arrival of Lord Dur-

ham-Review—Responsible Government-Enumera-

tion of the defects of the system-Remedies sug-

gested.

227

CHAPTER VII.

APPLICATION OF THE FACTS CONTAINED IN THIS

WORK.

Value of the preceding history to Members of Parlia-

ment and the Republican party in Europe-The

question considered whether a Republican Govern-

ment, like that of America, can exist in England or

France: Firstly, With reference to the history of the

first attempt at colonization, and herein of the con-

dition of America at the time-The people who

made the experiment of settling at Massachusetts-

-Their peculiarities-No pre-existing monarchy,

hierarchy, or nobility to contend with-Settlers not a

military people-No mobs-Monarchy the oldest

and most natural form of government in the world—

Laws passed to regulate the price of labour —

Massachusetts was a federative body in miniature.

Secondly, With reference to the period of the

adoption of the federal constitution, and herein of

general predisposition to rebellion-Immediate cause

of revolution-The large republic possesses all the

features of the first: 1st. The same vast territory;

2nd. People of one common origin and language;

3rd. No pre-existing monarchical institutions; 4th.

No powerful neighbours; 5th. No poor; 6th. Im-

portant additions or changes; 7th. Universal tolera-

tion, in consequence of which there is danger of

Romish ascendancy-Growth of sectarianism and

infinite dissent-American Episcopal Church, its

character, conduct, and growth - Republicanism

favourable to spread of Popery-The error of the

Jesuits in judging of it-State of Popery in purely

Roman Catholic countries, and where Protestantism

prevails Permanent provision for President and

Judges-High character of the Supreme Court of

the United States-American mode of selecting judges

recommended for colonies-Difference in power of

English and American judges. Thirdly, Reasons

why a republic cannot be successful in England-

Effects of monarchy on society.-Fourthly, Reasons

why it cannot exist in France-Effect of first revo-