DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

country was lamentably great—so great, in fact, that it was said two thirds of the people of England were still of opinion that all Americans were Negroes. Of past neglect, indeed, of their affairs the Americans had a right to complain. On the resignation of a Cabinet Minister it was found that he had left behind him a closet full of American despatches unopened. George III. and his Ministers, backed up by the ignorance and selfishness of the English public, considered that the Americans should contribute to the expenditure England had incurred by wars with European nations, and imposed taxes on the Americans, not for their benefit, but to enrich the English Exchequer. At that time the Americans were prohibited from receiving a large number of articles except from the mother country. They were, consequently, always largely in debt to England, and to pay their way, resorted to an illicit trade with the Spanish colonies, which an English fleet was suddenly dispatched to stop. Simultaneously two Acts were passed by the House of Commons, one laying duties on certain articles in America for the benefit of England, and the other prohibiting the use of paper money in America. The result was disastrous to American commerce, and the indignation aroused among the colonists took the form of what may be termed ‘ boycotting’ English goods. Lambs were not killed,