Chapter 24:
The House of Lords give way with protests.— Rockingham's administration continued.February—May, 1766.
The heat of the battle was over. The Stamp Actchap. XXIV.} 1766. Feb. |
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was sure to be repealed; and every one felt that Pitt, would soon be at the head of affairs.
Rockingham still aspired to intercept his promotion, and engage his services.
In its last struggle to hold place by the tenure which the king disliked, the old whig party desired to make of the rising power of the people its handmaid, rather than its oracle.
But Pitt spurned to capitulate with the aristocracy.
‘Rockingham's tone,’ said he, ‘is that of a minister, master of the court and the public, making openings to men who are seekers of office and candidates for ministry.’
‘I will not owe my coming into the closet to any court cabal or ministerial connection.’
On Monday, the twenty-fourth of February, the committee made its report to the house.
‘Both England and America are now governed by the mob,’ said Grenville, continuing to oppose the repeal in every stage.
Dyson hinted that internal taxes might be laid to ascertain the right.
‘To modify the act,’ answered Palmerston, ‘would be giving up the right and ’
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1860.
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