The Colonial Agents, English Politics and the American Revolution

T conclusion of Seven Years' War North American colonies had been maintaining agents in London for more than a century. These quasi-representatives, however, rapidly acquired new significance after 1763. Simultaneously their task of lobbying and conciliating became increasingly complex and difficult. The heightened importance of agents as well as new problems they faced were outgrowths of prolonged crisis in British imperial relations which culminated in American independence. When successive ministries in 1760's attempted to tighten a framework of colonial administration that had been lax for decades, they constricted a system unaccustomed to such pressure. In consequence formal and traditional mechanisms of Anglo-American government began to give way. As Governor Francis Bernard remarked, the present disunion has broke thro' many respectable forms.' Under these circumstances an extraconstitutional institution such as colonial agencies might have served as an adhesive element. After accession of George III, in fact, agents found themselves in positions of considerable responsibility, sometimes to such an extent that it unnerved them. During Seven Years' War they had co-operated with Treasury in handling apportionment of parliamentary funds for colonial military expenses. Perhaps on basis of this experience George Grenville indicated a willingness to work through agents in I764-65 as an alternative to more orthodox channels of communication. By same token

Colonialism · Political science · Politics · American Constitutional Law and Politics · History · Law

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