George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 5, 13th edition.

[244] and prayed to be heard by counsel. ‘No counsellor

chap. XI.} 1765. Feb.

of this kingdom,’ said Fuller, formerly chief justice of Jamaica, ‘would come to the bar of this house, and question its authority to tax America. Were he to do so, he would not remain there long.’ It was the rule of the house ‘to receive no petition against a money bill;’ and the petition was withdrawn.¹

Next, Sir William Meredith, rising in behalf of Virginia, presented a paper, in which Montague, its agent, interweaving expressions from the votes of the Assembly of the Old Dominion, prayed that its House of Burgesses might be continued in the possession of the rights and privileges they had so long and uninterruptedly enjoyed, and might be heard. Against this, too, the same objection existed. But Virginia found an advocate in the amiable Conway——a man always anxious to do right, of a cold temperament and little vigor of will, yet so warmed to opposition by indignation at his recent dismissal from the army, that as he rose in the House of Commons in opposition to Grenville, his cheeks were flushed, and he was tremulous with anger.²

‘Shall we shut our ears,’ he argued, ‘against the representations which have come from the colonies, and for receiving which we, with an affectation of candor, allotted sufficient time? For my own part, I must declare myself just as much in the dark as I was the last year. My way of life does not engage me in intercourse with commercial gentlemen, or those who have any knowledge of the colonies. I declare, upon my honor, I expected, as a member sitting in this ’