DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

( 20 ) so that no’ necessity should arise for importing English wool; and even the female portion of the population joined in the protest, by denying them- selves every European luxury, the purchase of which would benefit England. Unrestrained by the dangerous spirit thus mani- fested, Parliament followed up these measures by another—the most hateful of all—putting a stamp duty on paper and vellum used in America. The Colonists immediately petitioned against the new Act without effect; ill-feeling against England spread - and deepened; the officers appointed to collect the tax were forced to throw up their posts; riots occurred ; and Parliament wisely repealed the Act. There was universal rejoicing in America; ad- dresses of thanks were sent to the King, and at a great meeting at Philadelphia it was unanimously resolved that his Majesty’s birthday should be celebrated. But this tranquillity and good feeling was short-lived. At this moment Lord North acceded to power. With an utter want of foresight he determined to enforce a duty on tea, although it would not bring in more than 300/. a-year, merely to assert the right of England to impose taxes on her Colonies. When, shortly after, a large quantity of tea was offered at an unusually cheap price to the Colonists by the East India Company, they resented it as an insidious