BURKE 248 us no very great idea of the political eflicieney of their authors. Their intention was to conciliate the Americans by a repeal of the stamp act; but at the same time to save the honour of the mother country, by pressing an act declaratory of the right of the British parliament to tax the colonies. With reference, however, to subjects domestic policy, this administration acted with greater pradence and better success. The repeal of the cyder act, a law which invested with an unjust and almost arbitrary power, the officers of the excise, gave universal satisfac- tion. Resolutions were passed, declaring the illegality o general warrants and the seizure of papers, cireumstances which had excited so much dissatisfaction in the affair of Wilkes; and many excellent commercial regulations were carried into effect. But the consequences which must result from their measures, with respect to America, were so evi- dent, and perhaps too the secret influence which afterwards removed the Earl of Chatham, was so strong, that they were quickly dismissed from office to make room for a new administration under the auspices of Pitt, created for that purpose Earl of Chatham, and lord privy seal. In this brief sketch of the short-lived Rockingham administration we haye scarcely mentioned Burke, as his public life was identified with the history of the party which he supported. On its dismissal, be published "A short Defence of the late short-lived Administration;" in which he advocated their measures with great plausibility, and in a style essentially different from that of any of his other productions. It bears the semblance of having been composed by a man of consummate plainness and simpli- city, and was therefore more adapted for making converts than the most elaborate and highly-finished production, which would rather bave been regarded with suspicion, as the pleadings of an ingenious and artful advocate. He soon after published an ironical answer to this defence, purporting to be written by a tallow-chandler and common- council man, in which he attacks Lord Chatham and the
