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

[516] asked the Churchmen. ‘Declare North

Chap. LII.} 1774. March

America independent,’ replied Tucker, ‘and all their fears of ecclesiastical authority will vanish away; a Bishop will be no longer looked upon as a monster but as a man; and an Episcopate may then take place.’ No Minister, he confessed, would dare, as things were then circumstanced, to do so much good to his country; neither would their opponents wish to see it done; and ‘yet,’ he added, ‘measures evidently right will prevail at last.’

An honest love of liberty revealed the same truth to John Cartwright. The young enthusiast was firmly persuaded that the species, as well as individuals of mankind, obtains knowledge, wisdom, and virtue progressively, so that its latter days will be more wise, peaceable, and pious, than the earlier periods of its existence. He was destined to pass his life in efforts to purify the British Constitution, which, as he believed, had within itself the seeds of immortality. With the fervid language of sincerity he now advocated the freedom of his American kindred; and proclaimed American independence to be England's interest and glory.¹

Thus spoke the forerunners of free trade and reform. But the infatuated people turned from them to indulge unsparingly in ridicule and illiberal jests on the Bostonians, whom the iron hand of power was extended to chastise and subdue. At the meeting of the Commons, on the twenty-eighth, Lord North asked leave to bring in a Bill for regulating the government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay