ABSTRACT
“The Colonel said, that the movement of administration had been too slow; but, added the Colonel, ‘better late than never’; for had the minister longer delayed an inquiry into the East-India Company’s affairs, he would have deserved impeachment. The Lord Rockingham Opposition, too, if not the Chathamite, sought, in alliance with the Company and the City, to resist the proposals that Administration had adopted, for its East India Regulating Bill, from the results of the Secrecy Committee’s investigations. During the first six months of 1773 the City “patriots” had, of course, been busy with much else than East India affairs. “Patriot” co-operation with the rest of the City against the alleged unconstitutionality of the Government’s East India legislation would also do the “patriot” cause no harm. On March 7th Administration was ready to begin on American affairs and caused a Royal message and the American papers to be sent to both Houses.
