French and Spanish shipping trade caused, as its natural result, a serious diminution of the direct carrying trade between England and the North American colonies, and this, again, depriving them of their accustomed market, prevented their being any longer able to consume British manufactures to the same extent as formerly, or even to discharge debts due to creditors in England. Hence an effect not anticipated: in that the Americans, forming associations to dispense with English manufactures, were led to resort to native industry, and thus to lay the foundation of a permanent rivalry, the end of which cannot even now be conjectured. In short, a national American spirit was evoked, highly antagonistic to British interests.
Passing of the Stamp Act.
Trade interrupted.
Public opinion was in this excited state when the
Stamp Act of the Grenville Administration received
the Royal assent on the 22nd of March, 1765, and was
to come into operation on the 1st November following.
A distinction was instantly drawn in the colonies
between that and the preceding measure. The language
of the Act was severely criticised, but the real
grievances were, that Great Britain, by this Act, indiscreetly
interfered with the trade and shipping of
the colonies, cut off one chief source of their prosperity,
and sought by a Stamp Act to collect internal
duties in the colonies under the authority of the
Commissioners of Stamps at home. When the stamps
arrived in New York, they were, with universal consent,
committed to the flames by the people, excepting
one small parcel which the magistrates secured, with
the reservation that they should not be made use of.
From that day the transaction of business between
