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mo-a] Progress of the quarrel. 155 The situation was complicated by the reappearance of Chatham, recovered and in opposition. As was said before, we can hardly credit Chatham with a complete and effective constructive policy, fitted to meet existing difficulties. Even if it had been possible to induce Parliament to grant the full demands of the colonists, Chatham's views would have hardly gone the length of such a concession ; nor, on the other hand, is it likely that his influence would have induced the colonists formally to abate their demands. But it is a matter of mere curiosity to enquire what, in other circumstances, he might have done. As a matter of fact, his influence was now greatly weakened by his inability to co-operate continuously with any political allies an inability due partly to an imperious temper, partly to intermittent outbreaks of illness which incapacitated him, mind and body. The incidents of the next four years (1770-73) may be taken as a crucial test of the real attitude of the popular party at Boston. The repeal of Townshend's taxes was undoubtedly a step, though perhaps a clumsy and incomplete step, towards conciliation. Had there been any strong desire for continued union, every attempt would have been made to build on that basis. Those who directed and controlled popular feeling at Boston would have done their utmost to modify prejudices; they assuredly would not, as they did, have confined themselves to vague and general professions of loyalty, while using every trifling incident of maladministration as a means to keep alive ill-feeling. They may have been justified in such conduct; they may have had good reason to believe that the temper of the King and that of Parlia- ment made lasting union impossible, except on terms which would have been fatal to the liberties of the colonies. But no one who recalls the incidents which followed can speak of the colonists as loyal subjects goaded into rebellion by persistent ill-treatment. After the repeal of the duties imposed by Townshend, two years passed without any marked or definite change in the situation. But a dispute which arose over a question of no great importance in itself showed how far the colonial leaders had travelled beyond the attitude taken up even at the time of the Stamp Act. In 1771 the Governor of Massachusetts received instructions from the Crown that the salaries of the Commissioners of Customs were not to be taxed. Accordingly, when a bill was passed by the Assembly containing such a clause, he refused his consent. The Assembly remonstrated, and in their remon- strance used the words, "We know of no Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs nor of any revenue His Majesty has a right to establish in North America; we know and we feel a tribute levied and extorted from those who, if they have property, have a right to the absolute disposal of it." Five years earlier no responsible person speaking in the name of the colonists would have denied the right of the Crown to levy duties on trade. CH. V.