Many great Englishmen, such as William Pitt and Edmund Burke, opposed the Stamp Tax. Finally, King George and his Parliament repealed the unpopular act. The Americans were happy when they heard of its repeal. [Illustration: ON THE WAY TO THE GREAT CONGRESS AT PHILADELPHIA] [Illustration: ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, RICHMOND] [Sidenote: =The Americans angry over the Tea Tax=] =83. New Taxes.= As if the king and Parliament could learn nothing, they passed a Tea Tax the very next year, placing a tax on all the tea imported into the colonies. Then the Americans everywhere refused to buy the tea and pay the tax. When the tea ships came to America the people of New York and Philadelphia sent them back, and the "Sons of Liberty" at Annapolis burned a ship full of tea. The king's governor at Boston refused to permit the ships to carry the tea back to England, but the people, one night, threw the tea into the sea. King George grew angry at such "tea parties," and had laws passed to punish Boston. More British soldiers were sent there to force the people to obey these detested laws. [Sidenote: =Patrick Henry meets Samuel Adams at the great Congress=] The colonies, more excited than ever, decided to hold a great Congress in Philadelphia (1774). Virginia, like the others, sent her best men. There in Carpenter's Hall, a building still standing, Henry made friends of leading men of other colonies. There he met Samuel Adams, who was doing with his pen what Henry was doing with his tongue, and they became life-long friends. [Illustration: THE STOVE IN THE HOUSE OF THE BURGESSES _This stove is now in the State Library of Virginia_] [Sidenote: =A new sentiment=] One day, when speaking in favor of united action, Patrick Henry declared: "The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American." As Patrick Henry talked with men from other colonies and heard how the king's troops were acting at Boston, he was convinced that war must come. He went home and urged the people of Virginia to arm for the coming struggle. The king's governor refused to permit meetings in the old capitol at Williamsburg, so they were held in St. John's Church, Richmond, a church still standing. [Sidenote: =Patrick Henry's new resolutions=] Here Patrick Henry offered resolutions declaring that Virginia should arm herself for the coming war. It was a serious time, and these were serious resolutions. Should the thirteen colonies go to war with one of the greatest nations in the world? Would it not be wise to send more petitions to the king? Some of the ablest men in Virginia opposed Henry's resolutions. [Illustration: DECLAIMING PATRICK HENRY'S FAMOUS SPEECH _As a favorite declamation this great speech still rouses the spirit of patriotism in America_] [Sidenote: =Patrick Henry's greatest speech=] [Sidenote: =War is inevitable=]