November 30, 1774

George III Opens New Parliament with Speech on Rebellion in Massachusetts

The King opens the newly elected Parliament, in which many people had placed great hopes for reconciliation, with a speech that declares he is obliged "to inform you, that a most daring spirit of resistance, and disobedience of the law still unhappily prevails" in Massachusetts Bay. A London merchant informs a Virginia planter that he will see by the speech "that Government are resolv'd to maintain their superiority over the Colonies."