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

‘ [434] collected wisdom and fortitude of the whole people

Chap. XLVIII.} 1772. Nov.

might dictate measures for the rescue of their happy and glorious Constitution.’ ‘These worthy New Englanders,’ cried Chatham, as he read the Report, ‘ever feel as old Englanders ought to do.’¹

It may reasonably be asked what England was gaining by the controversy with America. The Commissioners of the Stamp Office were just then settling their accounts for their expenses in America; which were found to have exceeded twelve thousand pounds, while they had received for revenue, almost entirely from Canada and the West India Islands, only about fifteen hundred.² The result of the tax on tea had been more disastrous. Even in Boston, under the very eyes of the Commissioners of the Customs, seven eighths of the teas³ consumed were Dutch teas, and in the Southern Governments, the proportion was much greater; so that the whole remittance of the last year for duties on tea and wines and other articles taxed indirectly, amounted to no more than eighty-five⁴ or eighty⁵ pounds; while ships and soldiers for the support of the collecting officers had cost some hundred thousands, and the East India Company had lost the sale of goods to the amount of two and a half millions of dollars annually.

England was growing weary of the fruitless strife.

Dec.

Lord North wished it at an end; and Dartmouth, instead of thinking to appeal to Parliament for stringent