CHAPTER VII
THE REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT
1765-1766
By the end of 1765 Shelburne had returned to public life. Appearing in the House of Lords, he at once attacked the Stamp Act, though unsupported and alone, recollecting possibly what had followed a similar bold declaration in favour of peace a few years before. The Earl of Suffolk, during the debate on the address on December 17th, in moving an amendment, used language of the most insulting character with reference to the colonists. Shelburne replied. On his way to London he had had an interview with Pitt at Bath, and consequently spoke animated not only with the consciousness of a good cause, but with the knowledge that he was the mouthpiece of a more powerful statesman than himself, though possibly this was one of the occasions when he felt that the Great Commoner had preferred throwing the responsibility of overt action on others, to taking it on his own shoulders.[1] "I was desirous," Shelburne wrote immediately afterwards to his chief," to act with firmness, and without regard to little views, upon those principles which made part of the conversation you honoured me with at Bath. There were other motives likewise, which incited me very strongly to the part I took. I felt attaching the name of rebellion hastily, and traitors, to the Americans, and comparing them to the Scots at Derby, which was the language used, dangerous: and perhaps both imprudent and unjust. I could not
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