d one of the first acts of the new
Parliament was founded on the intelligence received from New York, that
the Assembly had refused to comply with all the requirements of the
Billeting Act in providing for his Majesty's troops which had been
quartered upon that province.[291]

A Bill was introduced by Mr. Grenville, the object of which was to
restrain the Assembly and Council of New York from passing any Act until
they had complied with the requisitions of the Billeting Act. Though the
Bill was introduced by the leader of the opposition, it received the
countenance and support of Ministers (Pitt being Premier, though absent
through illness), "who regarded it as a measure at once dignified and
forbearing." The Bill passed with little opposition; the Legislature of
New York was at once frightened into immediate compliance, though the
feeling with which it was done may be easily conceived. The effect,
however, in other colonies, was not only to excite fears and
dissatisfaction, but to call forth public expressions of hostile
sentiment, regarding the Act as an infringement of their chartered
privileges; and they argued that if the legislative powers of so loyal a
colony as New York could be thus suspended, they had little security for
their own privileges guaranteed to them by Charter.[292]

On the 26th of January, while the House of Commons, in Committee of
Supply, was considering the estimate for the garrison and land forces in
the colonies, Mr. Grenville took the opportunity of expressing his
dissatisfaction with the repeal of the Stamp Act, and insisted upon the
necessity of relieving England from the burden, which should be borne by
the colonies, and which, with contingencies, exceeded L400,000. Mr.
Charles Townshend, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, replied that "the
Administration has given its attention to give relief to Great Britain
from bearing the whole expense of securing, defending, and protecting
America and the West India islands. I shall bring into the House some
propositions that I hope may tend, in time, to ease the people of
England upon this head, and yet not be heavy in any manner upon the
people in the colonies. _I know the mode by which a revenue may be drawn
from America without offence._" He was applauded from all sides of the
House, and continued: "I am still a firm advocate for the Stamp Act, for
its principle, and for the duty itself; only the heats which prevailed
made it an improper time to