246 BURKE Burke, "is satisfied to repeat gravely, as he has done a hundred times before, that the Americans are able to pay, but does he lay open any part of his plan how they may be compelled to pay it, without plunging ourselves into calamities which outweigh ten times the proposed benefit?" He attacks the Grenville administration with severity and justice, he defends that of Rockingham with ingennity, and ridicules, with the most sarcastic remarks, the conduct of their successors. The effects of the new system of taxation on the imports of North America, which had been introduced at the recommendation of Mr. Charles Townsend, and which had principally occasioned the retirement of Chatham, now became obvious. The disturbances now assumed a more threatening aspect, and afforded Burke a capacious field for the display of those splendid talents with which he was endowed. For the purpose of intihnidating the Americans, it was proposed to revive an obsolete law, by which the king was empowered to appoint a commission in England, for the trial of treason committed beyond seas. A law at once so unjust and so impolitie, met with the most strenuous opposition of Burke. This, however, was una- vailing, and its immediate effects were such as he had predieted;-it exasperated the Americans, without causing the least obstruction to their measures. While these extraordinary measures of colonial poliey were carried into effect, the proceedings in the case Wilkes, had raised so great a ferment throughout the whole of England, as to cause the most insulting, and im- perious remonstrances to be drawn up and presented to the king, particularly one from the livery of London which assumed a tone nearly approximating to that of licentious abuse. On this occasion Burke published " Thoughts on the Causes of the present Discontents;" the principal object of which is, to recommend the forma- tion of an open aristocracy, consisting of men of talents rank, property, and independence. Such an aristocracy,
