rish commons claimed
the right of framing all money-bills, which hitherto had been sent over
to them by the English cabinet. They rejected the one sent over this
year, and although they voted a more liberal supply of their own
freewill, the lord-lieutenant would not recognise the newly-claimed
right. He called it a violation of the law, and an encroachment upon
the king's prerogative. He entered his protest against it, and he then
suddenly prorogued parliament before it had done any business. Thus
his majesty was surrounded by troubles in almost every part of his
dominions. England, Ireland, and America were all arrayed against him,
and insubordination was the order of the day. What made his situation
more critical was, that he had not a minister of sufficient ability to
guide the helm of the state, so as to keep it clear from the rocks and
the shoals by which it was surrounded.

CHAPTER III.

{GEORGE III. 1769--1771}

The Affairs of America..... Meeting of Parliament.....
Dissolution of the Grafton Cabinet..... Debates on the
Middlesex Election, &c...... The Question of Controverted
Elections..... Debates on America..... Release of
Wilkes..... American Affairs..... Riots at Boston..... The
Prorogation of Parliament..... Remonstrance of Beckford to
the King..... Prosecution of Woodfall and Almon.....
Disputes respecting Falkland Islands..... Affairs of
America..... Meeting of Parliament..... Debate concerning
the Falkland Islands..... Parliamentary Proceedings on the
Law of Libel..... Quarrels between the Lords and
Commons..... Convention with Spain...... Changes in the
Ministry.

THE AFFAIRS OF AMERICA.

It has been seen how the Americans were affected by the Declaratory
Bill, which accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act. Had government been
wise, their disaffection would have taught its members to have devised
some conciliatory measures in order to prevent the threatened outbreak.
The conduct of the government, however, was the very reverse from
this. Instead of allaying the discontents of our colonists, ministers
increased them by resolving to enforce what they called the Mutiny
Act. This was carried hurriedly through the house at the close of the
session; and though the consequences of such a course must have been as
clear as daylight, yet ministers resolved to put it into execution. For
the Mutiny Act was, more properly s