Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 5.djvu/147

A.D.1775.]

much sooner known in the rebel camp than in our own. A long and vehement debate ensued, in which all the leading members took part, and in which lord Mansfield severely criticised the conduct of Grafton, Camden, and others, who, when in the ministry, had supported the arbitrary enactments against the colonies. On the 16th of November, Burke, on presenting a petition against the prosecution of the war, moved for leave to bring in a bill on the principle of Edward I.'s statute de tallagio non concedendo, and on that of his former motion for the repeal of all the obnoxious acts, the renunciation of the claim to tax without representation, and with the addition of