"Sad news in the papers--G----d knows who's to blame! The Colonies seem to be all in a flame, This Stamp Act, no doubt, might be good for the Crown, But I fear 'tis a pill that will never go down."[15] [15] Anstey: _The New Bath Guide_. No sooner did the colonists learn of the passing of the Stamp Act than a cry of protest rang out from all over the country. James Otis, the King's Advocate, resigned his official position in order to be at liberty to denounce the action of the home Government, a task in which he was ably seconded by John Adams; while Patrick Henry, whom Byron described as "the forest-born Demosthenes, Whose thunder shook the Philip of the seas," introduced into the Virginian House of Burgesses a set of resolutions, that the first settlers in that province had brought with them, and transmitted to their posterity, all the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the people of England, that they enjoyed the right of being governed by their own assembly in the article of taxes and internal police, and that the Stamp Act was illegal, unconstitutional and unjust.[16] "Cæsar had his Brutus," Henry concluded a violent speech. "Charles the First his Cromwell, George the Third"--here he was interrupted by cries of "Treason" which disconcerted him for a moment when he recovered himself and continued--"may profit by their example. If this be treason make the most of it." It showed the temper of the nation that Virginia, hitherto regarded as the most loyal state, approved the resolutions by a large majority. The Governor immediately dissolved the assembly, but, like all the acts of the English in America at this time, this move was too late to be effective, for the resolutions were regarded by other provinces as a precedent, and were adopted by numerous other legislative bodies. [16] Adolphus: _History of England_.