1777. Arrival of Lord Petersham Subscriptions for new regiments And for the American prisoners Lord North pressed with questions Opposition efforts - Difference between Rockingham and Chatham Letters to and from Lord Bute Lord North's conciliatory views His speech in the House of Commons His two Bills - Intended retirement of Lord George Germaine Lord North desires to resign - And to be succeeded by Chatham ib. ib. Commissioners to America appointed Message of the Rockingham Party Representations of Lord Barrington Speculations as to the probable event THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND FROM THE PEACE OF UTRECHT. CHAPTER LI. WHILE thus for very different reasons and with very different results both Franklin and Fox were dismissed from office, tidings of no common importance had reached England from North America. Throughout that country the appearance of the tea-ships, as planned by Lord North, and as freighted by the East India Company, had provoked not only resentment but resistance. It was believed, or at least it was asserted, that this was only the first step in a course of intended tyranny; that England desired nothing so much as the oppression of her Colonies; that if the local duty on the Teas should be quietly paid, other more odious imposts,-a window-tax, a hearth-tax, a land-tax, and a poll-tax,-were in contemplation, and were sure to be enacted. Even before any one of the tea-ships came in sight mobs had risen in several places, and violently threatened the consignees of the expected cargo. At Philadelphia handbills were dispersed warning the pilots on the Delaware not to bring any of these vessels into harbour, since they had been sent out on purpose to enslave and to poison the Americans! At New York other printed papers declared that the coming ships were |