with the design of provoking a riot, for which purpose a captain of the Royal Welsh fusileers standing for some time upon the pulpit stairs, played with a handful of bullets, and at length with a vehement and fierce exclamation endeavoured to alarm the meeting with the cry of fire!--but the town clerk, with a voice which it is said might have rivalled the thunder, appeased the tumult; and the riotous officers being silenced and overawed, the solemnity was concluded without the intended molestation.

The remainder of this discourse comprehends a detail of the various acts of injury and oppression sustained for many years under the administration of Great Britain, in language very honourable to the talents of the orator.

It is in some parts more declamatory than the usual style of the revolution, which was commonly very foreign from the noisy eloquence of faction or the glitter of false magnificence. It derives, however, an interest, independent of the arts of composition, from the occasion upon which it was pronounced; by giving a new lustre to the reputation of Mr. Hancock, which, at this period, was injuriously diminished.

Conscious of the injurious influence of his popularity upon the designs of the British government, the governor of the province had endeavoured, by studied civilities, or by direct overtures, made, it was said, at the instigation of lord North the prime minister, to procure his disaffection to the interests of the provincial party; and at length, by the malice of rivals, or artifice of the enemy, joined to the natural proneness of mankind to credit falsehood, many reports were soon spread detrimental to his fame.

The seductions of the governor, he was said to have resisted with too little asperity; to have violated, on some occasions, the non-importation agreement; and even to have

solicited a contract for supplying the British army with provisions. Those imputations were indeed founded upon no authentic evidence, but were circulated, for a while, with such sedulous malignity, at a time in which parties were loud, clamorous and malevolent, so that many even of those who were secure of his principles, feared, from such arts, a diminution of his zeal for the interests of his party. His manners also and habits of life, though exempt from all insolence or pride, were thought to savour more of the magnificence of the courtier, than of republican simplicity; and his wealth was supposed too great for popular predilections. Connected with these appearances, were also a few political occurrences, which had no tendency to check the progress of such slanders.

The provincial assembly, that it might be more subservient to ministerial authority, when remote from the vigilance or ⚫ commotions of a populous city, had been transferred to Cambridge. This measure produced a violent altercation with the governor, who, after several sessions, yielded to the importunities of the members of returning to Boston, with the provision that "the right of convening elsewhere should be expressly admitted." Upon this question, Hancock voted with the majority and in opposition to his friend and colleague, Adams, who strenuously opposed the proposition. The latter of these patriots being severe and sarcastic in debate, the former petulant and impatient of contradiction, a division of sentiment produced a transient intermission of their intercourse and friendship, with a fierce and defamatory collision amongst their adherents. But to those who reside in a free government it need scarcely be observed how little credit on such occasions is due to the malicious recriminations of party spirit.

Of these two popular leaders, the manners and appearance

were in direct opposition, notwithstanding the conformity of their political principles, and their equal devotion to the liberties of their country. Mr. Adams was poor, and in his dress and manners simple and unadorned. Hancock, on the other hand, was numbered with the richest individuals of his country. His equipage was magnificent, and such as at present is unknown in America. His apparel was sumptuously embroidered with gold, silver and lace, and decked by such other ornaments as were fashionable amongst men of fortune of that day; he rode, especially upon public occasions, with six beautiful bays, and with servants in livery. He was graceful and prepossessing in manners, and very passionately addicted to what are called the elegant pleasures of life, to dancing, music, concerts, routs, assemblies, card parties, rich wines, social dinners and festivities; all which the stern republican virtues of Mr. Adams regarded with indifference, if not with contempt.

He had been appointed, at an earlier period of his political career, speaker of the provincial assembly, and his election, in a written communication from the governor, was disapproved; he had been chosen in 1767 to the executive council, and experienced in that office the same honourable rejection. This disapprobation, which had been continued for many years, and had become, by repetition, essential to his fame, was suddenly suspended, and his nomination to the council was approved; which was regarded as no equivocal evidence of the depravation of his principles. To counteract the effect of this immunity, and such other invidious civilities of the governor, Mr. Hancock refused his seat amongst the counsellors, and pronounced soon afterwards the oration to which we have referred of the fifth of March. A declaration of his sentiments, so explicit, furnished him a victorious and honourable vindication, and produced an entire renovation of his

popularity; whilst, on the other hand, he incurred from such measures the more immediate notice and hostility of the British government.

He had hitherto been captain of the cadet company or guard of the governor, and was now removed from that office by general Gage; for which the company, returning the standard they had received upon his excellency's accession, disbanded themselves in testimony of their resentment. This guard was composed of some of the most respectable inhabitants of the town of Boston. Their uniform was magnificent, and their dexterity in martial exercises had excited the praises of the British army. Hancock, in 1767, had been complimented with a lieutenancy in this same company by governor Bernard; but declaring his determination to hold no office under a man whose vices and principles he considered hostile to the liberties of his country, he tore up the commission in the presence of many citizens; for which bold act he received the severe reprehension and threats of the royal governor. Soon after the departure of Bernard, he had been chosen captain, with the rank of colonel; a station which he continued to fill with great respectability, until the dissolution of the company.

The last instance, during the British administration, of the parade of this guard was at the funeral of the lieutenant governor Oliver, under the chief government of general Gage; on which occasion Mr. Samuel Adams, hearing that Hancock designed, with the company, to perform the usual military honours to the deceased, who had been one of the most obnoxious tories of the whole continent, hastened to dissuade him from his purpose. But Hancock, in observing to his friend that the honours were designed for the office, and not the man, persisted in his resolution. This incident, as it shows the independence of the character of Mr. Hancock, as

well as the propriety of his principles, is not unworthy of being remarked.

The battle of Lexington now announced the commencement of the revolutionary war. To gain possession of the persons of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who lodged together in that village, was one of the motives of the expedition which led to this memorable conflict; but the design, though covered with great secrecy, was anticipated, and the devoted patriots escaped, upon the entrance of their habitation by the British troops. Thus, by the felicitous intervention of a moment, were rescued perhaps from the executioner, those who were to contribute by their virtues to the revolution of empires, and to be handed down to posterity amongst the benefactors of mankind.

The defeat of the English in this battle was followed by the governor's proclamation declaring the province in a state of rebellion; offering, at the same time, pardon to all whose penitence should recommend them to this act of grace, with the exception of Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose guilt was deemed too flagitious for impunity. But so signal a denunciation, less the effect of good policy than of passion, advanced these, popular chiefs upon the lists of fame; they were every where hailed with increased applauses, and not only by their illustrious merits, but by the dangers to which they were exposed, were endeared to the affections of their countrymen.

Hancock, in October 1774, was unanimously elected president of the provincial congress of Massachusetts. In the year 1775, he attained the meridian of his political distinction, and the highest honour that the confidence or the esteem of his compatriots could at that time bestow upon him, being made president of the continental congress. By his long experience in business, as moderator of two meetings, presi