are tired by venturing to send your Ships away, and that he has no Doubt you will also soon be tired of the Lawless State you are in. retrospect to the Question Lord Strange put to Mr. Trecothick, I attended the House of Commons all day Tuesday the 11th Inst. in the Evening, a Member (who is in the Administration) told me, things were doubtfull, and went vastly hard with them, that the K-was not staunch to his Ministers; that altho' he assur'd them he would support them, yet he had deceived them, that they dayly and hourly experience Lord Bute's dreadfull Influence, that the Khad empower'd Lord Bute and Lord Strange to say, his private wish was not for a Repeal of the Stamp Act; as it wou'd be derogatory to the Honor of his Crown, and Dignity of his Parliament to be compell'd to repeal an Act that had been so disrespectfully treated without first exercising their Authority by enforcing it. he further told me that the K — acted with great Duplicity — it is amazing what Power Lord Bute continues to have over him! my friend further said, he thought notwithstanding all this, they would yet have a Repeal of the Stamp Act. At one time the present Ministry were bent upon resigning, on finding the Duke of York and Duke of Gloster were against them, also all the K's immediate Servants, such as the Lords of the Bed Chamber, and nine Bishops, they were for carrying Fire and Sword to America, with this Argument, that since you snarle and begin to shew your Teeth, they ought to be knocked out before you are able to bite.

inclosed is a Minute or two I made the Days they happen'd. by them you'll see the Sentiments of the Great.

You also have an exact Copy of Mr. Grenville's Motion in the House which I had address enough to get, he little thinking what use was to be made of it; tho' if he knew I don't suppose it wou'd give him any Concern. he was backed upon a Division (after debating till II o'clock at Night) by 134 tho' lost it by a Majority of 140. I saw the List of the Minority in it were Sir Charles Hardy1 and

1 Sir Charles Hardy (1716?–1780) had been governor of New York, and was at the siege of Louisburg. He was elected to Parliament from Rochester, Kent Co.

General Abercrombie.1 Madeira you have given them. O! Curse them! about IO o'clock when the House were almost wearied out, Old General Howard 2 stood up. at his Martial Appearance a profound Silence ensued. he spoke (I don't pretend to give you his Words, only the Substance) to this Effect: that he shudder'd at the unnatural Motion, he hoped in God it wou'd not succeed, for in all likelyhood he might be order'd to execute it, and before he wou'd imbrue his hands in the Blood of his Countrymen who were contending for English Liberty, he wou'd, if order'd, draw his Sword, but wou'd soon after sheathe it in his own Body. Secretary Conway said (tho' not at the same time) that he wou'd sooner cut off his Right Arm, than sign an Order for Soldiers to enforce the Act. the Majority against it in the House of Commons were 274; yet, when you reflect that 134 were for it, it is enough to make you tremble. When I left London the 12th Inst. it was about three to One the Act wou'd be repeal'd; but for three Weeks past there has been no dependance on any thing we hear - neither King nor Parliament knew. today the Ministry wou'd have the best of it, and things wou'd look well; tomorrow Grenville and his Party wou'd gain the Power, and then of course no Repeal. the Vox Populi now begins to gain ground, and I think since the Legality of Taxation is allowed, the Act will be repeal'd upon the Grounds of Expediency.

these are the Thanks for the Old

These Particulars, few and inconclusive as they are, I thought wou'd still be agreable, for the authenticity of them I will answer.

As so much Politic's may confound Business, I will do myself the Honor to write you a few lines on the latter Subject in another Epistle. I remain with all due Respect in Haste my Dear Sir Your Most Dutifull Son etc.

H. C. JR.

1 Ralph Abercromby (1734–1801) is doubtless intended, but he did not enter Parliament until 1774. James Abercromby was a member in this year, from Clackmannanshire.

2 Sir George Howard (1720?-1796), representing Lostwithiel Borough, Cornwall.

P. S. The Parliament have not yet done any thing about the Sugar Act and other destructive restraints on your trade. it will come as soon as ever the Stamp Act is settled. I imagine they will rescind all the restrictive clauses, and grant you everything you ask. their Eyes are at last open'd and they seem convinc'd what vast Benefit will accrue to this Kingdom by giving you almost an unlimitted trade, so farr as doth not interfere with British Manufactures. The West Indians are collecting all their Force to oppose us; I have reason to say they will at length be defeated.

'Tis said French Sugars Coffee, Cotton, etc., the Produce of foreign Islands, will have the Indulgence of being imported in our Colonies duty free, but must be put in King's Warehouses, and the Proprietors constrained to ship them off again (to any part of the World they please) in a stipulated time.

The Duty on Melasses will be reduced to id per Gallon.

GEORGE CHAMPLIN TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Dear Brother,

St. Eustatia, February 17th, 1766.

THIS is the first oppertunity I have had to write you since I arrivd at the Islands. I had 6 weeks passage to Dominica, lost the half of my Stock the remainder was forst to sell to the first purchaser, as I had not 3 Bushells Corn left at my arrivall and none to be had there. I sold my cargo there at the price noted at the bottom, and finding Suggars very high at English Islands, ingaged with a French man to mett me with what Suggars I coud purchase under the Leey of Marygalant,1 and accordingly he met me at the time but with only 22 hhds. thats good, the remainder he got seasd, acomeing out of Guardalupe, and I dare not wait there any longer therefore proceeded her, where I

1 Marie-Galante, one of the French West India Islands, and a dependency of Guadeloupe. It has no good harbor, but offered opportunity for illegal trading with the larger island.

my

arriv'd this day and this moment met your favour of 23 Novm: as to proceeding to Carolina I did not think it prudent as by Accounts from two Vessell from thence theirs. two hundred Sale imbargod there and as for Capt. Wanton's Scheme, it woud doe very well two months hence, but at present theirs no Molosses to be had at Guardalupe nor Martinicoe; besides there's two hundred Sale of Northern Vessells there waiting for Molosses. Sug: at St. Citts 45/ and at Antugua, not much less; add the dutty paying the Cask and takeing the Sug: at Short C[wt?] and very green will make them turn out very high. I shall this night proceed to Sant Cruse to lay out the remainder of Money, as I am informd you may pick your Sugars there for the Cash at 5 ps. 4 cts. if so I hope not to be detaind there long Iaword [in a word]; I think I coud have done nothing more for our Interest, considering every different circumstance which time will not permit me to mention. We shall have about 1400. ps to improve for Cargoe after deducting all Charges, etc., which will purchase about 28 thousand Sug: at the price I am informd it is at St. Cruise. I got mine of the Frenchman at 5 ps. The same quality here is at 6. I have cleard from Dominica in Balast for Rhode Island and therefore if we can tu[r]n it we can enter our Vessell with a good face. as for selling the Vessell I dont expect it as every man that has a Vessell here has one to sell. as to stamps ther's none passes in the Island except at Barbados and Granads. I have proper Certificates from the Collector that theirs no stamps to be had. I am in much haist. Your Brother,

GEO. CHAMPLIN

P. S. I have been much unwell since I left Baltimore but am a little better.

Dear Sir,

HENRY CRUGER, JR. TO AARON LOPEZ

Bristol, 1st March, 1766.

THE Confusion of American Affairs hath affected us equally. I have been very deeply involved in them, and think myself amply rewarded with the bare Aspect, which now abounds with Looks and Promises of Success to America. the Stamp Act is not yet repeal'd, but it is as good as done. a Motion was made in the House of Commons for a Bill to be brought in for a Repeal and was carried by 275 against 167; the latter were only for a Modification of the Act. the Debates pro and con have been very warm and serious. As I have not time now to be particular, will trouble you with a copy of my last Letter to my Father just for your Amusement. there is little doubt but the affairs will be finish'd in a few days and the Act repealed; You'll be informed that the Parliament have settled their Right of taxing you. when that was done they proceeded to the Expediency of repealing the Act, which never wou'd have come to pass had it not been for the Merchants and Manufacturers of England. Trade here was totally stagnated, not one American Merchant gave out a single order for Goods, on purpose to compell all Manufacturers to engage with us in petitioning Parliament for a Repeal of the Stamp Act, by which thousands were out of employ, and in a starving condition. You, Dear Sir, shared in the common calamity I hope and persuade myself you will not murmur at this Momentary Disapointment when so much Good will come out of it. I hugg myself the Parliament will never trouble America again. I cou'd not think of giving out any of your orders untill I saw which way this Momentous Affair wou'd turn, and terminate. I congratulate you on our Success, and with redoubled Joy as the contrary was at one time much dreaded. the Letter I shall inclose you, will give you a great insight into the Actions and Sentiments of our British Senators.

Immediately upon hearing, by Express, that a Bill was