| CHAPTER XI. |
1766—1774.
PROGRESS OF THE CONTEST.
News of the repeal of the Stamp Act received in America with joy—Conway's circular letter—Governor Bernard's offensive course—Change of feeling in America—Grievances not redressed—Feeling on both sides—Eminent statesmen and orators of the day—Pendleton, Bland, Wythe, R. H. Lee, Jefferson, in Virginia—S. Adams, Hancock, Cushing, Bowdoin, Quincy, Paine, in Massachusetts—Rutledge, Gadsden, Laurens, Ramsay, in South Carolina—Change in the English ministry—Townshend urged on by Grenville to tax America—His scheme—M. Guizot's statements—Dickinson's "Letters of a Farmer"—General Court in Massachusetts—Petition to the king—The ministry dread united action among Americans—Bernard's course—Spirit of the Assembly—Similar spirit in the other colonies—Case of the sloop Liberty—Excitement in Boston caused by impressment—Public convention held—Its acts—Arrival of the troops—Indignation of the Bostonians—Offensive action of Parliament resented in America—The General Court refuse to act in the midst of an armed force—Progress of the dispute with Bernard—Course pursued by other colonies—Proposal to take off the duty on certain articles—Right of taxation still maintained—Vacillating course of the English ministry—Reconciliation hardly possible—The "Boston Massacre"—Trial of Preston and the soldiers—Noble course of Quincy and Adams—Action of the Assembly—Lord North's proposal—Pownall's views—Salaries of the Governor and judges of Massachusetts to be paid by the crown—Very offensive to the people—Case of the Gaspé—Hutchinson's letters—Excitement caused by these—Franklin's share in the matter—Action in Virginia—A crisis at hand—Determination that the tea should not be landed—What was done in Boston—The famous "Boston Tea Party"—What was done elsewhere—Progress of settlement in the north-west—Insurrection in North Carolina—Daniel Boone and his adventures—Emigration to America—War with the Ohio Indians—Speech of Logan—Religious sects and influence—Colleges in America.
The news of the repeal of the Stamp Act was received in America with great joy and satisfaction. All the usual demonstrations of popular rejoicing were indulged in; thanksgivings were offered in the churches; the bells were rung; cannon were fired; and the ships were decked out in gala costume. Statues were voted to the king in Virginia and Nev York; portraits of Camden, Barré and Conway, were placed in Faneuil Hall; and Pitt's name was held in universal veneration and esteem. Whatever was obnoxious in his views, as to restrictions on trade and commerce, was forgotten, and he became the popular idol in America.
Mr. Secretary Conway, in June, 1766, addressed a circular letter to the governors of the colonies. In this letter he informed them that the king and Parliament "seemed disposed not only to forgive but to forget those most unjustifiable marks of an undutiful disposition, too frequent in the late transactions of these colonies;" but at the same time required them strongly to recommend to the Assemblies to make full and ample compensation to those who had suffered "for their deference to the act of the British legislature." The transactions referred to in the secretary's letter were those which took place in Boston and New York, in the summer of 1765.
This letter of the secretary was laid
