George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

[253] office. ‘Military power,’ repeated the people, ‘is

Chap. XXXIX.} 1769. Jan.

the last resource of ignorant despotism.’ ‘The opposition to government is faction;’ said the friends to Government. ‘As well,’ answered Samuel Adams, ‘might the general uneasiness that introduced the reolution by William the Third, or that settled the succession in the House of Hanover, be called a Faction.’ The patriot was in earnest. Since Great Britain persisted in enforcing her Revenue Act, he knew no remedy but American Independence.

Lord North, though he feared to strike, wished to intimidate. He would not allow a Petition from the Council of Massachusetts¹ for the Repeal of Townshend's Act to be referred with the other American papers; nor would he receive a Petition which denied that the Act of Henry the Eighth extended to the Colonies; and on the twenty-sixth of January after a delay of many weeks, he asked the House of Commons to agree with the Resolves and Address of the House of Lords.² ‘No lawyer,’ said Dowdeswell, ‘will justify them; none but the House of Lords who think only of their dignity, could have originated them.’ ‘Suppose,’ said Edmund Burke, ‘you do call over two or three of these unfortunate men; what will become of the rest? Let me have the heads of the principal leaders, exclaimed the Duke of Alva; these heads proved Hydra's heads. Suppose a man brought over for High Treason; if his witnesses do not appear, he cannot have a fair trial. God and nature oppose you.’ Grenville spoke against the Address,