George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.

[187] against war. British industry made every

Chap. XVII.} 1774. Dec.

able-bodied man of so much value, that considerable enlistments at home were out of the question; rank in the army was bestowed by favor, or sold for money, so that even boys at school sometimes held commissions; and under the corrupt system, not one general officer of that day had gained a great name. Aristocratic selfishness had unfitted England for war, unless under a minister who could inspirit the nation. Barrington, therefore, who had in advance advised, ‘that the seven regiments in Boston should be directed to leave a place where they could do no good, and without intention might do harm,’ and who was persuaded that the navy by itself was able to worry Massachusetts into ‘submission without shedding a drop of blood,’ once more pressed his opinions upon the government. ‘The contest,’ said he, ‘will cost more than we can gain by success. We have not strength to levy internal taxes on America; many amongst ourselves doubt their equity; all the troops in North America are not enough to subdue the Massachusetts; the most successful conquest must produce the horrors of civil war. Till the factious chiefs can be secured, judicial proceedings would confer the palm of martyrdom without the pain;’ and he urged an immediate withdrawal of the troops, the ‘abandonment of all ideas of internal taxation,’ and such ‘concessions’ as could be made ‘with dignity.’

Lord North was disquieted. He rejected the propositions of congress, which included the repeal of the act regulating Massachusetts, but he was ready to negotiate with the Americans for the right to tax