Pitt uttered those memorable words which so startled the House of Commons, and thrilled every heart on this continent-"I rejoice that America has resisted!"

The Stamp Act was reaffirmed. It however again came up, on a motion to repeal it, and Franklin was summoned to the bar of the House, to give information respecting the state of the colonies, and of their ability and willingness to pay the stamp-duty. After a long examination on various points, Grenville asked him if he thought the people would pay the stamp duty if modified. "No, never," he replied

When the final vote on the repeal was to be taken, the lobbies were crowded with spectators, waiting with breathless interest to hear the decision. At length when, toward morning, the resolution was carried, loud shouts made the roof of St. Stephen's ring. Around Conway, who had fought nobly for the principles of right from first to last, the multitude gathered with tears of gratitude, while they opened right and left to let the chair of the crippled Pitt pass, and reverently uncovered their heads, many attending him even to his door.

When the news reached America, the country was thrown into a delirium of excitement. All winter long there had been meetings of excited men, and a black and threatening cloud seemed settling on the colonies. The repeal of the Stamp Act was like the sudden bursting forth of the sun in the midst of darkness. The bell nearest Liberty Tree in Boston, was set ringing. From the tall steeple drooped countless gay banners, and from every window and house-top flaunted flags and streamers, making the bright May morning lock still brighter and promise a far more glorious summer than that of fruits and flowers. The prison-doors were thrown open, and every poor debtor was allowed to go forth once more a free man, and mingle in the general joy. In the evening the town was one blaze

of fire. Liberty Tree bent under the weight of lanterns and illuminated figures of the champions of repeal. Bonfires were kindled, fire-works set off, while the town shook to the shouts of the multitude and the roar of cannon. Southward swept the general exultation, till the land echoed with the clamor of bells and the acclamations of men.

This joy, however, was soon damped by the reception of the Military Act quartering soldiers in Boston. Besides, the repeal of the Stamp Act was now understood not to be a concession of principle on the part of Great Britain, or even a permanent act of expediency. The imposition, not long after, of duties on tea, paper, glass, and painters' colors, was the same thing under a different form, and aroused the same spirit of resistance with which the Stamp Act had been met.

The repeal of the Stamp Act was hailed by Washington with delight. He had declared it a "direful attack on the liberties of the colonists." So the imposition of new duties. filled him with "indignation." From Boston to Georgia the people were again thoroughly aroused, and catching the notes of preparation which now began to be seriously sounded, he said, "That no man should scruple or hesitate to take up arms in defense of so valuable a blessing (as freedom) is clearly my opinion," though it should be the last resort. The associations formed every where to persecute English manufacturers and trade, met his approval. Mason drew up an agreement for the House of Burgesses, and Washington presented it, in which every signer promised not to buy or use the interdicted articles. They put their names to it in a body, and Washington ever after when he made out orders for England, forbade his correspondent to send any of those included in the agreement.

Thus the affairs of the colony, with now and then a lull in the excitement, were pushed toward the crisis of open rebellion. England, under the pressure, finally took off all

duties except the one on tea. The colonists then refused to drink tea, and it accumulated in the English warehouses. No man was found bold enough to be its consignee on these shores. The East India Company endeavored to get a cargo into Boston harbor, but the citizens in the garb of Indians threw it overboard. This act of violence was fol lowed by the famous Port Bill, by which Boston was to be shut up, and Salem used as the port of the colony. To carry out this and reduce the rebellious spirit of the colonists, troops were ordered over to be quartered on the people.

When the Assembly of Virginia met, one of their first acts was to pass resolutions of sympathy for Boston, and appoint a day of fasting and prayer. Lord Dunmore, the governor, irritated at this act of disloyalty, dissolved the Assembly. The members immediately reassembled, at a tavern, and, among other acts, recommended the call of a general congress, to deliberate on the course to be pursued. They then dispersed with the exception of twenty-five, of whom Washington was one. These remained to keep the fast which had been appointed, Washington inscribed in his diary, "I went to church, and fasted all day!"

He, with the other twenty-four, having in the meantime received a message from the Bostonians requesting the colonies to join them in a non-importation act, issued a call for another convention of the delegates. During the interval the separate counties held meetings to determine on the instructions that should be given their representatives in this convention. In Fairfax county Washington was elected chairman of the meetings in which the famous Fairfax resolutions were adopted. Those resolves show the firm determination of Washington to resist the encroachments of the mother country. Mr. Bryan Fairfax having withdrawn from the meetings on account of the bold and decided ground taken, Washington addressed him a long letter

of explanation. After showing the conduct of Parliament toward the colonies, and proving clearly its designs, he asks, "What hope have we then from petitioning, when they tell us that now or never is the time to fix the matter? Shall we after this whine and cry for relief, when we have already tried it in vain? Or shall we supinely sit and see one province after another fall a sacrifice to despotism?" These sentences have the ring of the true metal, and seem almost to have been embodied in the Declaration of Independence. He was opposed to addressing the throne further. "There is no relief for us (said he) but in their distress," (referring to the non-importation scheme,) "and I think, at least I hope, there is public virtue enough left among us to deny ourselves every thing but the bare necessaries of life to accomplish this end." Far-seeing and practical, he no longer puts faith in eloquent appeals and addresses. With the same stubborn adherence to facts which had always characterized him, he says, "Starvation is the remedy!"

The convention met on the 1st of August, and adopted, with very little change, the Fairfax resolutions-" No more slaves, British goods, or tea," said they, "shall with our sanction enter the colony."

In answer to the call for a general congress to meet at Philadelphia on the 5th of September, the convention appointed seven delegates, one of whom was Washington.*

The first great united step was now to be taken, and every eye was turned toward that assembly. Lee and Henry stopped on their way for Washington, and the three rode on together to Philadelphia. Washington, with his stately form and calm, self-possessed mind; Henry with his fervid zeal and boiling courage, and Lee with his rich and flowing language, formed an interesting trio, and grand and

* The others were Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Richard Blond, Benjamin Harrison and Edmund Pendleton.

glorious must have been the words spoken as they passed through the thriving settlements on whose doom they were about to pronounce.

Congress met, but as the debates were never published, there is no record left of the part taken in them by Wash-ington. Dickinson drafted a petition to the king and to the people of Quebec; Jay an appeal to the inhabitants of Great Britain; Lee a third to the Colonies; and Congress adjourned to wait the response to all these before taking the final step. The feelings, however, which Washington carried into Congress and brought out with him, may be gathered from his reply to a letter written him by Captain Mackenzie, then in Boston. Speaking of the direful issue to which things were tending, he said, "give me leave to add, as my opinion, that more blood will be spilled on this occasion, if the ministry are determined to push matters to extremity, than history has ever yet furnished instances of in the annals of North America." A prediction worth considering, and which shows that he who uttered it had counted the cost, settled his purpose, and stood prepared to move into that scene of blood and carnage, whether it came sooner or later, a strong defender of the right.

An incident occurred at the opening of this Congress, to which after circumstances gave a peculiar significance. It was proposed to call in a clergyman to invoke the aid of the Divine Being, and Mr. Duchè was sent for. Among other portions of the exercises, he read a part of the 35th Psalm. A rumor had reached Philadelphia the morning previous, that Boston had been cannonaded by the British, and every heart was filled with anxious forebodings. The members stood during prayers, all except Washington. He alone knelt-thus by mere accident separating himself as it were from the rest, by an act indicating that he more than they all needed to bow in the dust and plead for help from Heaven. As he knelt down-the proudest form

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