of the Pennsylvania Journal, which departed this life the 31st of October, 1765, of a stamp in her vitals.  Aged 23 years.”  The Pennsylvania Gazette, on November 7, the day of its first issue after the Stamp Act became law, published a half sheet, printed on one side, without any heading, and in its place the words, “No stamped paper to be had.”  During the next six months, every scrap of stamped paper that was heard of was hunted up and given to the flames.  Thus, when a vessel from Barbados, with a stamped newspaper published on that island, reached Philadelphia, the paper was seized and burned, one evening, at the coffeehouse, in the presence of a great crowd.  A vessel having put in from Halifax, a rumor spread that the captain had brought stamped paper with him, and was going to use it for his Philadelphia clearance.  This so enraged the people that the vessel was searched, and a sheet of paper with three stamps on it was found, and burned at the coffee-house.

%118.  Non-importation Agreements.%—­Meantime, the merchants in the larger towns, and the people all over the country, had been making written agreements not to import any goods from England for some months to come.

The effect of this measure was immense.  Not a merchant nor a manufacturer in Great Britain, engaged in the colonial trade, but found his American orders canceled and his goods left on his hands.  Not a ship returned from this country but carried back English wares which it had brought here to sell, but for which no purchaser could be found.

%119.  Stamp Act repealed.%—­When Parliament met in December, 1765, such a cry of distress came up from the manufacturing cities of England, that Parliament was forced to yield, and in March, 1766, the Stamp Act was repealed.  In the outburst of joy which followed in America, the intent and meaning of another act passed at the same time was little heeded.  In it was the declaration that Parliament did have the right to tax the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”

%120.  The Townshend Acts.%—­If the people thought this declaration had no meaning, they were much mistaken, for next year (1767) Parliament passed what have since been called the Townshend Acts.  There were three of them.  One forbade the legislature of New York to pass any more laws till it had provided the royal troops in the city with beds, candles, fire, vinegar, and salt, as required by what was called the Mutiny Act.  The second established at Boston a Board of Commissioners of the Customs to enforce the laws relating to trade.  The third laid taxes on glass, red and white lead, painter’s colors, paper, and tea.  None of these taxes was heavy.  But again the right of Parliament to tax people not represented in it had been asserted, and again the colonists rose in resistance.  The legislature of Massachusetts sent a letter to each of the other colonial legislatures, urging them to unite and consult for the protection of their rights.  Pennsylvania sent protests to the King and to Parliament.  The merchants all over the country renewed their old agreements not to import British goods, and many a shipload was sent back to England.