Page 1778. Failure of Lord North's Second Plan of Conci- liation 300 Arrival of the French Fleet off the Delawar 307 Deftruction of the Settlement of Wyoming - 311 Indecifive Engagement with the French Fleet off Ufbant 1779. Page K. GEORGE III. TH HE unfortunate difputes with the American Colonies, revived by the impofition of the Port duties in 1767, had fince that fatal period fuffered no interruption or abatement, though very much kept out of fight by those vehement domeftic contests in which the English nation felt itself for the time more nearly interested, though of far lefs real and lafting importance. A general retrospective-view of Colonial politics will be neceffary, to illuftrate and introduce the momentous tranfactions of the fucceeding years. In the act impofing the port duties on paper, glass, colors, teas, &c. paffed A. D. 1767, was a remarkable clause, which gave fcarcely lefs umbrage and alarm than the taxes themselves; empowering the Crown by fign manual to establish a general CIVIL LIST throughout every province in America, to an indefinite extent, with any falaries, places, or appointments, to the very laft fhilling of the American VOL. II. B revenue. |