which they were most especially convened, they were prorogued till the first of January.

The

and the administration arbitrary in every part of the British empire.

Resolved, That this house, after the most careful inquiry, have not found any instance of the course of justice being interrupted by violence, even before a single magistrate, nor of any magistrate refusing to inquire into or redress any complaint properly laid before him, while it is notorious to all the world, that even such acts of parliament as have been declared by the whole continent highly oppressive, have been so far from being opposed with violence, that the duties imposed, and rigorously exacted, have been punctually paid.

Resolved, That the fining in the small sum of ten pounds only, a high-handed offender, viz. one Fellowes, in the county of Essex, who by force and with fire-arms loaded with ball and swan shot, rescued a prisoner lawfully taken by the sheriff of the said county, is a grievance, and tends to the encouragement of such crimes for the future.

Resolved, That the frequently entering noli prosequi by the attorney and advocate general, in cases favourable to the liberty of the subject, and rigorous prosecutions by information and otherwise in those in favour of power, is a daring breach of trust, and an insupportable grievance on the people.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this house, that all trials for treasons, misprison of treason, or for any felony or crime whatso ever committed or done in his Majesty's said colony, by any person or persons residing therein, ought of right to be had and conducted in and before his Majesty's courts, held within the said colony, according to the fixed and known course of proceeding; and that the seizing any person or persons residing in this colony, suspected of any crime whatsoever committed therein, and sending such person or persons to places beyond the sea, to be

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 parlia ent, while their effect was unfolding itself in every part of the American continent, a disposition more conciliatory than had been heretofore manifested found its way into the cabinet of St. James's. The Duke of Grafton was placed at the head of the administration, and supported, with great earnestness. a proposition for the repeal of all the duties imposed for the purpose of raising a revenue in the colonies. This moderate and judicious measure he was unable completely to carry. It was thought indispensable to the maintenance of the legislative supremacy of

tried, is highly derogatory of the rights of British subjects, as thereby the inestimable privilege of being tried by a jury from the vicinage, as well as the liberty of summoning and producing witnesses on such trial, will be taken away from the party accused.—Virgima Gazette for 1769.

Great

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 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 contest. Their 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 full force all the motives which originally produced it.

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, to take off the duties on glass, paper, and painters' colours, on consideration of such duties having

been

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 apprehension being entertained that an improper opinion 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 manufactures 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 painters' colours, was made to the several legislatures as they con vened, in terms implying an intention to renounce

the

* Lord Bottetourt, 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

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 Lord Bottetourt, the governor, 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 engaged to continue it till the duty on tea should be repealed.

Yet several causes combined to render a 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

been authorised 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 by deceit."

contrary