The American Colonies and their Trade--Growing Irritation in America--The Stamp Act--The American Protest--The Stamp Act passed--Its Reception in America--The King's Illness--The Regency Bill--The Princess Dowager omitted--Her Name inserted in the Commons--Negotiations for a Change of Ministry--The old Ministry returns--Fresh Negotiations with Pitt--The first Rockingham Ministry--Riots in America--The Stamped Paper destroyed--Pitt's Speech--The Stamp Act repealed--Weakness of the Government--Pitt and Temple disagree--Pitt forms a Ministry--And becomes Lord Chatham--His Comprehensive Policy--The Embargo on Wheat--Illness of Chatham--Townshend's Financial Schemes--Corruption of Parliament--Wilkes elected for Middlesex--Arrest of Wilkes--Dangerous Riots--Dissolution of the Boston Assembly--Seizure of the _Liberty_ Sloop--Debates in Parliament--Continued Persecution of Wilkes--His Letter to Lord Weymouth--Again expelled the House--His Re-election--The Letters of Junius--Luttrell declared elected for Middlesex--Incapacity of the Ministry--Partial Concessions to the Americans--Bernard leaves Boston--He is made a Baronet--"The Horned Cattle Session"--Lord Chatham attacks the Ministry--Resignations of Granby and Camden--Yorke's Suicide--Dissolution of the Ministry 183 CHAPTER IX. REIGN OF GEORGE III. (_continued_). Lord North--He forms a Ministry--Chatham declaims against Secret Influence--Grenville's Election Committee--Lord North's Conciliatory Measures--Determination of the Bostonians--The Boston Massacre--Trial of the Soldiers--Apparent Success of North's Measures--Affair of the Falkland Islands--Promptitude of the Ministry--The Quarrel composed--Trials of Woodfall and Almon--The Right of Parliamentary Reporting--Strengthening of the Ministry--Quarrels in the City--The Royal Marriage Act--Fate of the Queen of Denmark--Anarchical Condition of Poland--Interference of Russia--Deposition of Poniatowski--Frederick's Scheme of Partition--It is ratified--Inquiry into Indian Affairs--Lord North's Tea Bill--Lord Dartmouth and Hutchinson--The Hutchinson Letters--Dishonourable Conduct of Franklin--Establishment of Corresponding Committees--Burning of the _Gaspee_--Destruction of the Tea--Franklin avows the Publication of the Letters--Wedderburn's Speech--The Boston Port Bill--The Massachusetts Government Bill--The Coils of Coercion--Virginia joins Massachusetts--Gage dissolves the Boston Assembly--He fortifies Boston Neck--The General Congress--A Declaration of Rights--The Assembly at Concord--They enrol Militia--Seizure of Ammunition and Arms--Meeting of Parliament--Chatham's conciliatory Speech--His Bill for the Pacification of the Colonies--Its Fate--Lord North's Proposal--Burke's Resolutions--Prorogation of