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

[362] affairs of America before the House of Commons

Chap. XLIV.} 1770. May.

in Resolutions, condemning the contradictory measures that had been pursued since his friends had been dismissed, but carefully avoiding any indication of the policy which the party in power should adopt.¹ Burke was supported by Wedderburn, who equally had no measures to propose. ‘Nothing,’ said he, ‘offers itself but despair. Lord Hillsborough is unfit for his office. The nation suffers by his continuance. The people have a right tosay, they will not be under the authority of the sword. If you drive men to desperation, they will act upon the principles of human nature; principles to be supported; principles to be honored. At the close of the last reign, you had the continent of Ame: rica in one compact country. Not quite ten years have passed over, and you have lost those Provinces by domestic mismanagement. All America, the fruit of so many years' settlement, nurtured by this country at the price of so much blood and treasure—is lost to the Crown of Great Britain in the reign of George the Third.’ Lord North, in his reply, declared himself the only man of the Ministry, who was decidedly for the repeal of the Revenue Act of 1767; defended the partial repeal, because he wished to see the American associations defeat themselves; questioned the veracity of Wedderburn; and treated the ill-cemented coalition, as having no plan beyond the removal of the present Ministers. ‘God forgive the noble Lord for the idea of there being a plan to remove him,’ retorted Wedderburn; ‘I know no man ’