What oppressive act soon followed the Sugar Act? p. 151. In what year, was the Stamp Act passed?

How many letters are in the word stamp?

What did this Act ordain? What minister brought into the House of Commons, the bill for the Stamp Act? George Grenville.

Who was the principal agent in

ments and entreaties, and then by arms. This produced the revolution; or rather the two revolutions; for there were really two, very distinct from each other; the first, internal and merely mental, the other external and visible; the one in a great measure finished before the other began, the former, however, the cause of the latter. This is a subject, which deserves much more attention from the youthful student, than it generally receives.

was

The American Revolution," says the venerable Adams, not a common event. Its effects and consequences have already been awful over a great part of the globe And when, and where, are they cease? But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American War? The revolution was effected, before the war commenced. The revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people -a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations." This was certainly a revolution, most stupendous in itself, and glorious in its consequences. But surely no one can doubt, that what is generally denominated our revolution, was really a revolution. Not indeed the American War." That was but the necessary attendant and promoter of the external revolution. But a change of government -an entire separation from Britain, as a governing |

causing it to be passed? George Grenville.

When did the House of Commons resolve, that it was expedient to pass the Stamp Act? In March, 1764, just before passing the Sugar Act.

Why was the passing of the Stamp Act so long delayed? To ascertain, what articles should be taxed,and allow the colonists to substitute some other tax, if they chose.

power, a law-giver and judge-an elevation from the humble, degraded condition of oppressed British colonies to the rank of independent freemen -a transition from being the mere appendage and despised suburbs of monarchy, to becoming a great and flourishing nation, the first and happiest REPUBLIC in the world this surely is a revolution, and of all political revolutions, by far the most glorious. It may be difficult to determine the time, when the first began. The way had been preparing for ages and centuries. Perhaps no point of time has a higher claim to this distinction than the hour, when the thunder of Otis blasted forever the Writs of Assistance. This prepared the Bostonians to make a stand against the Sugar Act. Their opposition kindled at least the fecling of opposition through Ms. and through all the rest of the colonies. Opposition to the Sugar Act prepared the way to oppose the Stamp Act. Thus opposition to British tyranny advanced, continually extending, increas ing and propagating itself, till the affection of the colonists was almost entirely destroyed, and loyalty was no more. That completed the first revolution, and prepared the way for the second. It prepared the way to decide the awful question of our independence, on the field of battle. This political revolution began, when our independence was

What seems to have been the design of Providence in delaying the Stamp Act? To give the colonists opportunity to prepare to oppose it.

In what month, was the Stamp Act passed? In March.

When was it to be in force in the colonies ? In Nov. following. How many months had the colo

declared in 1776, and terminated, when it was acknowledged by Britain in 1783, perhaps more properly, at the commencement of Washington's administration in 1789.

When the American revolution is mentioned, the latter or external, political revolution is chiefly intended, though sometimes the writer or speaker may mean to include both.

Mr. Tudor in his life of Otis, gives us the following anecdote. When President Adams was minister at the court of St. James, he often saw his countryman, Benjamin West, the late president of the royal academy. Mr. West always retained a strong and unyielding affection for his native land. Mr. West one day asked Mr. Adams, if he should like to take a walk with him, and see the cause of the American revolution. The minister, having known something of this matter, smiled at the proposal, but told him, that he should be glad to see the cause of that revolution, and to take a walk with his friend West any where. The next morning he called according to agreement, and took Mr. Adams into Hyde Park, to a spot near the Serpentine River, where he gave him the following narrative. The king came to the throne a young man, surrounded by flattering courtiers; one of whose frequent topics was, to declaim against the meanness of his palace, which was wholly unworthy a monarch of such a country as England. They said, that there was not a

sovereign in Europe, who was lodged so poorly; that his sorry, dingy, old, brick palace of St. James, looked like a stable, and that he ought to build a palace suitable to his kingdom. The king was fond of architecture, and would therefore more readily listen to suggestions, which were in fact all true. This spot that you see here, was selected for the site, between this and this point, which were marked out. The king applied to his ministers on the subject; they inquired what would be wanted by his majesty, who said that he would begin with a million. They stated the expenses of the war, and the poverty of the treasury, but that his majesty's wishes should be taken into full consideration. Some time afterwards the king was informed, that the wants of the treasury were too urgent to admit of a supply from their present means, but that

a

sum

revenue might be raised in America, to supply all the king's wishes. This suggestion was followed up, and the king was in this way first led to consider, and then to consent, to the scheme for taxing the colonies."

It has been a question, from whom proceeded those measures of oppression, which drove us to revolt and produced our revolution. If I do not mistake, it was the opinion of Mr. Adams, whatever he might think of West's account, that they should be ascribed to king George himself, more than to any

From what, did he say, they fled?

Was it so? Principally; but not entirely.

What spirit, did Barre say, would continue with the Americans ?

Where was Franklin at that time?

What did Franklin write to Mr. Thompson?

What did Thompson reply?

represents

other person. He George III. as being in feeling and in principle, from the very beginning, a tyrant of the first magnitude. In one of his letters, he has the following sentence of condemnation upon his majesty. “I have no hesitation or scruple to that the commencement of the say, reign of George III. was the commencement of another Stewart's reign; and if it had not been checked by James Otis and others first, and by the great Chatham and others afterwards, it would have been as arbitrary as any of the four. I do not say it would have extinguished civil and religious liberty upon earth; but it would have gone great lengths towards it, and would have cost mankind even more than the French revolution, to preserve it."

Mr. Adams indeed declared in his old age, that Otis spoke “in a style of oratory, that he never heard equalled in this or any other country," and also said, "that if Mr. Henry was Demosthenes, and Mr. Richard Henry Lee, Cicero, James Otis was Isaiah and Ezekiel united; "" yet Mr. Jefferson said, that Henry "was the greatest orator that ever lived;" and that "Mr. Henry certainly gave the first impulse to the ball of the Revolution." That Mr. Henry did not give the first impulse, appears clear from Mr. Adams's account of the Writs of Assistance. But if Mr. Otis was first and foremost, no doubt, Henry was second, and scarcely inferior to his great rival. In 1763, Mr. Henry "electrified" the Virginians, and prepared them to resist the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, in a manner, somewhat similar to what Mr. Otis had done the Bostonians in 1761. In his most celebrated speech, "when he plead against the parsons," "he insisted on the connection and reciprocal duties between the king and his subjects; maintained that government was a conditional compact, composed of mutual and dependent covenants, of which, a violation by one party discharged the other; and intrepidly contended, that the disregard, which had been shown in this particular, to the pressing wants of the colony, was an instance of royal misrule, which had thus fai

How much older was Mr. Otis, than Mr. Henry?

Who considered Mr. Henry the greatest orator, that ever lived?

In what year, did Henry make his first speech, that greatly astonished his hearers?

How long was that, after Otis plead against the writs?

What British acts did that speech

dissolved the political compact, and left the people at liberty to consult their own safety; that they had consulted it by the act of 1758; which, therefore, notwithstanding the dissent of the king and his council, ought to be considered as the law of the land, and the only legitimate measure of the claims of the clergy." He thus persuaded the court to acknowledge the validity of a colonial law, which the king and his council had declared null and void; and thus taught the colonists to dispute with Britain upon the great principles of freedom and equity, and to vindicate their rights against the encroachments of tyr

anny.

By his political principles, as well as by his amazing powers, he was most happily fitted to take the lead in our revolutionary struggle, *He regarded government, as instituted solely for the good of the people; and not for the benefit of those, who had contrived to make a job of it. He looked upon the body of the people, therefore, as the basis of society, the fountain of all power, and, directly or indirectly, of all offices and honors, which had been instituted, originally for their use. He made it no secret, therefore, nay, he made it his boast, that on every occasion, 'he bowed to the majesty of the people. He suffered no gale of fortune, however high or prosperous, to separate him from the people. Nor did the people, on their part, ever desert him. He was the

| of Henry prepare the Virginians to oppose?

How long was it before the Sugar Act?-before the Stamp Act?

Concerning what principles, did he teach the colonists to dispute with Britain?

In what, did his principles and powers fit him to take the lead?

man, to whom they looked in every crisis of difficulty, and the favorite, on whom they were ever ready to lavish all the honors in their gift.”

But it was in opposition to the Stamp Act, that Mr. Henry came out more fully and more gloriously to public view. "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 themselves manifestly confounded; and so far from inspiring the energy of resistance, they seemed rather disposed to have looked out for topics of consolation, under submission. The truth is, that all ranks of society were confounded. No one knew what to hope, what more to fear, or what course was to be taken. The idea of resistance by force, was no where glanced at, in the most distant manner; no heart seems to have been bold enough at first, to conceive it. Men, on other occasions, marked for intrepidity and decision, now hung back; unwilling to submit, and yet afraid to speak out in the language of bold and open defiance. It was just at this moment of despondency in some quarters, suspense in others, and surly and reluctant submission wherever submission appeared, that Patrick Henry stood forth, to raise the drooping spirit of the people, and to unite all hearts and hands in the cause of his country."

"Mr. Henry was elected into the General Assembly, with ex

For whose good, did he consider Government instituted?

Whom did he consider as the fountain of all civil power? To what majesty, did he bow? To what act, did he make the most noble opposition?

With reference to, what, was Mr. Henry elected into the General Assembly?

How old was he then?

press reference to an opposition to the Stamp Act. It was not, however, expected by his constituents, or meditated by himself, that he should lead the opposition." He was then but 29 years old. "Mr. Henry waited, therefore, to file under the first champion, that should raise the banner of colonial liberty."

In the mean time, an unexpected occurrence called into action his stupendous gifts, and suddenly gave him a prominence and an ascendency, which he could not but improve. At last, finding that the Stamp Act was soon to be in force, and that no one was likely to step forth to take the lead against it, he determined to venture; and alone, unadvised and unassisted, wrote the famous Virginia resolutions." "Upon offering them to the house," said he, in a paper, which was by him left sealed, and according to his directions, was opened after his death, "violent debates ensued. Many threats were uttered, and much abuse cast on me, by the party for submission. After a long and warm contest, the resolutions passed by a very small majority, perhaps of one or two only. The alarm spread through America with astonishing quickness, and the ministerial party were overwhelmed. The great point of resistance

to British taxation was universally established in the colonies. This brought on the war, which

It was in the midst of this mag nificent debate, while he was descanting on the tyranny of the obnoxious act, that he exclaimed, in a voice of thunder, "Cesar had his Brutus Charles the first, his Cromwell- and George the third"

(Treason, cried the speaker, Treason, treason, echoed from every part of the house.) Henry faltered not for an instant; but rising to a loftier attitude, and fixing on the speaker an eye of the most determined fire, he finished his sentence with the firmest emphasis. may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it."

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From this period, Mr. Henry became the idol of the people of Virginia; nor was his name con fined to his native state. His light and heat were seen and felt