quent on the Stamp Act*. The Cider tax, fo odious to the nation, was, in the courfe of the feffion, as to its most obnoxious claufes, and fo far as its operation extended to private individuals, repealed. The oppreffive and juftly unpopular duty on [windows *The Act repealing the Stamp Act, when tranfmitted to America, was accompanied by a circular letter to the Governors of the feveral Provinces by Mr. Secretary Conway, written in that firm and temperate ftyle which was at once calculated to maintain the honor of Government, and to appease the difcontents and apprehenfions of the People. In a very important separate dispatch to Sir Francis Bernard, Governor of the Mafsachusetts, this Minister says: "Nothing will tend more effec• tually to every conciliating purpose, and there is nothing therefore I have in command more earnestly to require of you than that you should exert yourself in recommending it ftrongly to the Affembly, that full and ample compenfation be made to those who, from the madnefs of the people, have fuffered for their deference to the Acts of the British Legislature." Notwithstanding the moderation which now pervaded the English Councils, and which dictated the dispatch received by the Governor, it is very remarkable that the speech by which Sir Francis Bernard opened the next General Court of the Maffachusetts, June 1766, breathes the spirit of haughtiness, irritation, and difcord. "He declares the juftice and humanity of this requifition to be fo forcible that it cannot be controverted. The authority by which it is introduced should preclude all difputations about complying with it." In a tone of reproach he adds-" Both the bufinefs and the time are most critical. Let me entreat you to recollect yourselves, and confider well what you are about—Shall the private interefts, paffions, or refentments of a few men deprive this whole people of the great and manifold advantages which dows was modified and mitigated. General War rants were, by a refolution of the House of Commons, declared illegal ;-various ufeful and important regulations made in the Weft India and American trade, and the many abfurd and pernicious reftraints impofed by the former Ministry removed. Mr. Grenville, by the introduction of the favor and indulgence of their Sovereign and his Parliament are now providing for them? Surely, after his Majefty's coмMANDS are known, the very perfons who have created the prejudices and prepoffeffions I now endeavor to combat, will be the first to remove them."-It did not appear, by their subfequent conduct, that the Affembly were at all difpofed to refift the recommendation enjoined in the letter of the Secretary, which, in their reply to the Governor, they declare their resolution to embrace the first convenient opportunity to confider and act upon. But, highly offended at the general ftrain and tenor of the Governor's speech, they add, " In the mean time we cannot but obferve, that it is conceived in much higher and ftronger terms in the speech than in the letter. Whether in thus exceeding your Excellency fpeaks from your own authority or a HIGHER, is not with us to determine. If this recommendation, which your Excellency terms a requifition, be founded on so much justice and humanity that it cannot be controverted-if the authority with which it is introduced fhould preclude all difputation about complying with it; we fhould be glad to know what freedom we have in the cafe?-With regard to the rest of your Excellency's speech, we are conflrained to obferve, that the general air and ftyle of it favors much more of an act of free grace and pardon, than of a parliamentary addrefs to the two Houfes of Affembly; and we moft fincerely wish your Excellency had been pleased to referve it, if needful, for a proclamation." certain certain new and onerous claufes into the Hovering. A, and rigorously enforcing the execution of them by ftationing a long and formidable line of fhips of war off the American coafts, had, as has been already intimated, in a great degree fucceeded in his project of deftroying the contraband trade from time immemorial carried on between the British Colonies and the Spainish Main, and which was in fact equally conducive to the prosperity, if not ef fential to the exiftence, of both. So oppofite were the commercial politics of this weak and opinionated Minister to thofe of his predeceffor Sir Robert Walpole, who, on being urged to adopt meafures to the fame effect, replied, "that he should think himself ill employed in such an attempt; for he was certain that if America gained 500,000l. by this traffic, 250,000l. of it would find its way to England." A new and beneficial treaty of commerce was alfo concluded with Ruffia; the long-contefted affair of the Canada Bills fettled to the fatisfaction of the holders, and ftrong and effectual remonftrances made to the French Court for the more complete demolition of the harbor and fortifications of Dunkirk. Notwithstanding, however, the happy effects fo vifibly refulting from the general spirit and difpofition, yet more than the acts of this Adminiftration, the tranquillity at home and the reputation abroad which they had already eftablished; L4 established; fcarcely were the Minifters fixed in their offices, than a fecret resolution was taken to remove them. The repeal of the Stamp Act was a measure odious to the Cabinet of Carlton House, and it was inceffantly inveighed against, both in and out of Parliament, by the adherents and partifans of the Favorite-men who prefumed to arrogate to themselves the appellation of the KING'S FRIENDS as a dereliction of the honor and dignity of Government. "During the adminiftration of the Marquis of Rockingham," fays a celebrated writer," an attempt was made to carry on the government without the concurrence of the CABAL, and to restore the principles and policy of the Whigs. But this was only a tranfient cloud. No one will doubt that fuch men were abhorred and violently oppofed by the Court faction, and that fuch a fyftem could have but a fhort duration. This plan of FAVORITISM is the fountain of all those bitter waters of which the nation has been made so deeply to drink. There has not been one Administration which has not fufficiently experienced the utter incompatibility of that faction with the public peace, and with all the ends of good government; fince, if they oppofed it, they foon loft every power of ferving the Crown; if they fubmitted to it, they loft all the esteem of their country* * Thoughts on the Caufes of the prefent Difcontents. Lord Lord BUTE, understanding the perfect concur rence of Lord Temple with his brother Mr. Grenville on the fubject of American politics, and that he had even declared the repeal of the Stamp Act to be a virtual furrender of the authority of the British Legislature over the Colonies, determined upon making advances to his Lordship in order to form a new Administration. Lord Temple, who appears to have been a man upright, difinterested, fincere, poffeffing an high fenfe of honor, gracious in his manners, but stiff in his opinions, and endowed with a capacity not perhaps much more elevated than that of his brother the late Minifter, refused with little ceremony to hearken to any propofitions from a quarter fo obnoxious. During the progrefs of the Bill of Repeal through the House of Peers, it was more than infinuated by the Favorite himself, that the repeal was a measure very difagreeable to the King;-upon which Lord Rockingham afferted, that his Majefty's approbation of the measure was clear and unequivocal. Notwithstanding which, Lord Strange the next day repeated the affertion, that the King highly disapproved the Bill. On this Lord Rockingham, greatly furprised, requested, at the next audience, his Majesty's opinion in writting but this was refused; and the new Ministers were now convinced that they had loft, or rather that they had never poffeffed, his Majesty's confidence. : An |