George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 5, 13th edition.

[435] self-love of the warmest friends of the act. He ac-

chap. XXIII.} 1766. Feb.

knowledged his perplexity in making an option between two ineligible alternatives, pronounced, however, for repeal, as due to the liberty of unrepresented subjects, and in gratitude to their having supported England through three wars.

‘The total repeal,’ replied Grenville, ‘will persuade the colonies that Great Britain confesses itself without the right to impose taxes on them, and is reduced to make this confession by their menaces. Do the merchants insist that debts to the amount of three millions will be lost, and all fresh orders be countermanded? Do not injure yourselves from fear of injury; do not die from the fear of dying;¹ the merchants may sustain a temporary loss, but they and all England would suffer much more from the weakness of parliament, and the impunity of the Americans. With a little fairness, it will be easy to compel the colonists to obedience. The last advices announce that a spirit of submission is taking the place of the spirit of revolt. America must learn that prayers are not to be brought to Caesar through riot and sedition.’²

Between one and two o'clock on the morning of the twenty-second of February, the division took place. Only a few days before, Bedford had confidently predicted the defeat of the ministry. The king, the queen, the princess dowager, the Duke of York, Lord Bute desired it. The scanty remains of the old tories; all the followers of Bedford and Grenville; the king's friends; every Scottish member, except Sir Alexander