Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/66

 42 SKETCHES OF THE

their committee of correspondence, by the colonial agent: and having been matmxly considered, resulted in the appointment of a special committee to prepare an ad- dress to the king, a memorial to the lords, and a re- monstrance to the house of commons. On the 18th of December, 1 764, these papers were reported, and (after various amendments, which considerably diluted their spirit) received the concurrence of the council. The reader will perceive, on perusing them,* that, while they affirm in clear and strong terms, the constitutional ex- emption of the colony from taxation by the British par- liament, they breathe nevertheless, a tone so suppliant, and exhibit such a picture of anticipated suffering from the pressure of the tax on the exhausted resources of the colony, as to indicate that no opposition beyond remon- strance, was at tliis time, meditated. Remonstrance, however, was vain. In January, 1765, the famous stamp act was passed, to take effect in the colonies on the first of November following. The annunciation of this measure seems at first to have stunned the continent, from one extremity to the other. The presses which spread the intelligence among the people, were them- selves manifestly confounded; and so far from inspiring the energy of resistance, they seemed rather disposed to have looked out for topics of consolation, under sub- mission.! The truth is that all ranks of society were confounded. No one knew what to hope, what more to fear, or what course was best to be taken. Some,


 * See Appendix. Note A.

f Tluis in the Pennsylvania Gazette of the 30th of May, 1765 — " We hear the sum of money arising from the new stamp duties in North America, for the first five years, are chiefly to be applied towards making commodious post-roads from one province to anotlier, erecting bridges where necessary, and other measures equally im.portant to facilitate an extensive trade."

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