January 26, 1769

House of Commons Considers Massachusetts Circular Letter and 1768 Virginia Resolutions

Edmund Burke, George Grenville, Lord North, and Isaac Barré are among those who debate what to do about American affairs in light of measures from Massachusetts and Virginia. Burke responds to claim that the problem with Massachusetts lies in the colony having "too much democracy" by pointing out (erroneously) that "Virginia has no democracy in its government." Grenville argues that "Those who have deluded" the Americans "are in this country," while Barré suggests that "it is not a question of one refractory colony: the whole colony is ripe with revolt."