at it appeared
artificial when set by that of Townshend, which was so abundant in him
that it seemed a loss of time to think. Townshend's utterances had
always the fascinating effervescence of spontaneity, while even Burke's
extempore utterances were so pointed and artfully arranged that they
wore the appearance of study and preparation. This brilliant,
resplendent creature, in every respect the opposite to George
Grenville, showy where Grenville was solid, fluent where he was formal,
glittering and even glowing where he was sober or sombre, fascinating
where he was repellent, gracious where he was sullen, and polished
where he was rude, was nevertheless destined to share Grenville's
hateful task and Grenville's deserved condemnation. Such enthusiasm as
Parliament had permitted itself to show over the repeal of Grenville's
Stamp Act had long flickered out. The colonists were regarded with
more disfavor than ever by a majority that raged against their
ingratitude and bitterly repented the repeal of the Act. Townshend's
passion for popularity forced him into the fatal blunder of his life.
He was indeed, as Burke said, the spoiled child of the House of
Commons, never thinking, acting, or speaking but with a view to its
judgment, and adapting himself daily to its disposition, and adjusting
himself before it as before a looking-glass. The looking-glass showed
him a member of a Ministry that was unpopular because it refused to tax
America. He resolved that the looking-glass should show him a member
of a Ministry popular because {113} it was resolved to tax America.
His hunger and thirst after popularity, his passion for fame, were
leading him into strange ways indeed. He was to leave after him an
enduring name, but enduring for reasons that would have broken his
bright spirit if he could have realized them. The shameful folly of
George Grenville was the shameful folly of Charles Townshend. His name
stands above Grenville's in the roll of those who in that disastrous
time did so much to lower the honor and lessen the empire of England.
It became plain to Townshend that the Parliamentary majority regretted
the repeal of the Stamp Act and resented the theory that America should
not be taxed. Townshend resolved that revenue could and should be
raised out of America. He introduced a Bill imposing a tax on glass,
paper, and tea upon the American colonies. Though the amount to be
raised was not large, no more than forty