20 CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE The annihilation of the trade with Spanish Ame¬ rica was, however, the most grievous. It was from it that the colonists drew the supplies of gold and silver, that enabled them to make such large remit¬ tances to England , and to provide a circulating spe¬ cie for the internal use of the colonies. The prohi¬ bition of so profitable a commerce shook the vitals of American prosperity, and distressed the manufactu¬ rers and merchants of England . The servile com¬ plaisance of Great Britain to Spain, and the unwise policy of oppressing its own subjects to oblige foreign¬ ers, were complained of by the people of England , as well as by the Americans, but not listened to by ministers. The peace of 1763 terminated a war which was both advantageous and glorious to Great Britain. The treaty of Paris, besides ceding to her several islands in the , and establishing her power in the East, gave her the sovereignty of the vast continent of from the Mississippi to the . The expense of the war, however, was immense, and severely felt in Britain. Resolutions were soon after taken by ministers to tax the colonies, in order to pay, in a direct and explicit manner, a share of the public burdens. Their ability was not doubted, and it was consi¬ dered equitable that they should contribute largely for the advantages they possessed. The colonies were however fully persuaded, whatever might be the ne¬ cessities of the mother country, that, exclusive of the restrictions laid, during late years, on their commerce,