CHAP. II. ing the catalogue of grievances, and expressed 1769. in terms of infinitely greater exasperation, than had heretofore appeared in the official acts of any legislature on the continent.

Not long after the passage of these resolutions, the house explicitly refused to make the provision required by the mutiny act for the troops stationed in Massachussetts; and this being the object for which they were most Is prorogued. especially convened, they were prorogued until the first of January.

The committees appointed to examine the cargoes of vessels arriving from Great Britain, in order to prevent any breach of the association, went on to execute the trust reposed in them.

Votes of censure were passed on such as refused to concur in that agreement, or violated its principles, and the names of the offenders were published in the newspapers, as enemies to their country. In some cases, the goods imported in contravention of it were locked up in warehouses, to prevent their being sold, and in some few instances, they were reshipped to Great Britain.

Not long after the strong resolutions, which have been noticed, were agreed to by parliament, while their effect was unfolding itself in every part of the American continent, a disposition more conciliatory than had heretofore been manifested, found its way into the cabinet at St. James's. The duke of Grafton was

tion resolve

repeal

duties except

that on tea.

placed at the head of the administration, and CHAP. II. supported with great earnestness, a proposition 1769. for the repeal of all the duties imposed for the Administra purpose of raising a revenue in the colonies. on area This moderate and judicious measure he was unable completely to carry. It was thought indispensable to the maintenance of the legislative supremacy of Great Britain, to retain the duty on some one article, and that on tea was reserved while the others were relinquished.

Never perhaps did a great and wise nation. adopt a more ill judged measure than this. The contest with America was plainly a contest of principle, and had been conducted entirely on principle, by both sides. The amount of taxes proposed to be raised, was too inconsiderable to have been deemed, by either people, of sufficient consequence to induce them to hazard, on that account, the consequences already produced. But the principle was, in the opinion of both, of the utmost magnitude. The measure now proposed for conciliation, while it encouraged in the Americans the hope that their cause was gaining strength in Britain had no tendency to remove the ground of conTheir opposition had been founded on the conviction, that the right to tax them was vested exclusively in themselves; and while this measure was thought to evidence the effect already produced by that opposition, it left in

test.

138

CHAP. II. full force all the motives which originally pro1769. duced it.

Circular letter of

the earl of Hillsborough

In pursuance of this resolution of the cabinet, a circular letter was written by the earl of Hillsborough to the different governors, informing them "that it was the intention of his majesty's ministers, to propose in the next session of parliament, taking off the duties on glass, paper, and painters colours, on consideration of such duties having been laid contrary to the true spirit of commerce; and assuring them that, at no time had they entertained the design, to propose to parliament, to lay any further taxes on America for the purpose of raising a revenue."

This measure having been communicated in letters from persons in England to their correspondents in Massachussetts, and apprehensions being entertained that an improper opinion July 27. concerning its operation might be formed, a meeting of the merchants and traders in Boston was held, in which it was resolved, that the partial repeal of the duties did not remove the difficulties under which their trade laboured; was only calculated to relieve the manufacturers of Great Britain; and that they would still rigidly adhere to their non-importation agree

ment.

The communication which had been received by the governors, from the earl of Hillsborough, of the intended application to parliament for

the repeal of the duties on glass, paper, and CHAP. II. painters colours, was made to the several legis. 1769. latures as they convened,* in terms implying an intention to renounce the imposition of any future taxes on America. But this communication seems no where to have restored perfect

content.

The Virginia legislature was in session on its arrival, and governor Botetourt laid it before them. They voted, as a protest, manifesting their dissatisfaction with it, a petition to the king, asserting the rights they had heretofore maintained; and as individuals, immediately signed an association, in which they were joined by several respectable merchants of the country then met at Williamsburg, by which they renewed their non-importation agreement with respect to certain enumerated articles, not of absolute necessity, and engage to continue it until the duty on tea should be repealed.

Lord Botetourt, in communicating the assurances of ministers to the assembly of Virginia, added, "it is my firm opinion that the plan which I have stated will take place, and that it will never be departed from. I shall exert every power with which I am, or ever may be legally invested, in order to obtain and maintain, for the continent of America, that satisfaction, which I have been authorized to promise this day, by the confidential servants of our gracious sovereign, who, to my certain knowledge, rates his honour so high, that he would rather part with his crown, than preserve it with deceit.

CHAP. II. Yet several causes combined to render a 1769. general observance of the non-importation agreement extremely difficult. The sacrifice of interest made by the merchants was too great to be continued, but under the influence of very powerful motives. Suspicions were entertained of each other in the same towns, and committees to superintend the conduct of importers, were charged with gross partiality in permitting some persons to sell goods contrary to their engagement, while others, not more culpable, were held up to the public as enemies to their country. The different commercial towns, too, watched each other with no inconsiderable degree of jealousy, and accusations were reciprocally made of infractions to a great extent, of the association they had so solemnly pledged themselves to observe. Letters purporting to be from England, were published, stating that large orders for goods had been received; and the inconvenience resulting from even the partial interruption of commerce which had taken place, and the want of those British manufactures which the inhabitants had been accustomed to use, began to be severely and extensively felt. In Rhode Island and Albany, it was determined to import as usual, with the restriction only of such articles as should be dutiable. On the remonstrances of other commercial places, especially of Boston, these resolutions were changed, and