clear out his vessel for her return voyage. Mr. Rotch applied to the governor for a pass for his vessel, and receiv. ed for answer" I cannot give a pass, consistent with the laws, and my duty to the king, unless the vessel is properly qualified from the custom-house." This threw the meeting into an uproar, and at once a war-whoop burst forth from the front gallery, which proved a signal for dis solving the meeting, and the people dispersed; but the Indian who sounded the war-whoop, led his companions, in Indian disguise, directly on board the tea-ships, where they broke up their holds, and threw into the dock more than three hundred chests of tea; a numerous throng of spectators crowded down upon the wharves, and by their silence gave their public sanction to the destruction of the tea, and when the drama was ended, they all retired quietly to their homes, leaving the Indians to withdraw at their leiA few days before this event, Capt. Loring was cast away on Cape Cod, with the last of the tea-ships, and the most of her cargo lost.

sure.

On this solemn, this momentous event, hung the deştinies of America.-Had the tea been landed, the faith of the province was gone, irrecoverably gone, never to be regained; and the union of the colonies dissolved; perhaps forever. The governor screened himself under this declaration in his report to the minister. "It has been

absolutely out of my power to prevent the destruction of the tea, without conceding to the demands of a lawless setof men, and thereby giving up the government and rendering myself obnoxious to my sovereign."

This might serve his purpose on the other side of the water; but comported very illy with the feelings of those, who knew, that his advice prevented the consignees from resigning their trust, which would have saved the tea; but whose refusal, through his advice, destroyed it. Had the governor given his permit for the ships to pass the castle,

he would have had the example of Sir Francis Bernard, in several cases, under the stamp act, wherein no blame was incurred; but by refusing his pass, the tea was destroyed. How then could his excellency say, "that he could not possibly prevent it?"

The act of destroying the tea, was a full declaration, that they had taken a decided stand, and as was thereafter expressed, "were resolved to resist all violent measures, in blood up to their knees."

At New-York and Philadelphia, as has been noticed, the consignees resigned, which saved their tea; but in Charleston, South-Carolina, the tea was landed, and stored in cellars, where it was probably ruined and lost.

At this time, four of the judges of Massachusetts acknowledged their dependence upon the house, for their salaries, and declined taking any more than one half of their usual sum, February, 1774. This was highly acceptable to the house; but Judge Oliver declared "that he had accepted of his majesty's grant from July, 1772, to January, 1774, and that this had been necessary for his support, and that he dare not refuse it." The house, incensed at this declaration, passed a resolve, 96 to 9, that Peter Oliver hath by his conduct, proved himself an enemy to the constitution of this province, and is become justly obnoxious to the good people of it, that he ought to be removed from his office of chief justice, and that a petition to the governor and council, for his immediate removal, be prepared."

The governor attempted to suppress these, and all further proceedings of the house, by declaring them unconstitutional; but they disregarded his opinion, and prepared the following articles against the chief justice, which they exhibited to the governor and council.

"The salary, and hopes of augmentation must have the effect of a continual bribe, and expose him to violate his VOL. III.

9

oath. His accepting hath betrayed the baseness of his heart, and the lust of coveteousness, in breach of his engagements to rely solely on the grants of the assembly, necessarily implied, and involved in the acceptance of his office. By receiving a grant out of the revenue, unjustly extorted from the American colonies, he hath, as far as in his power, put a sanction on, and established the said revenue; counteracted the reasonable petitions of the people to his majesty; and in defiance of the known sense of the body of this people, hath wickedly endeavoured to increase the discontent and jealousies of this people, and the grievances aforementioned."

The house then resolved, "that they had done all that in their capacities, as representatives, could possibly be done, for the removal of Peter Oliver; and that it must be presumed, that the governor's refusal to take measures therein was, because he also received his support from the crown."

Notwithstanding the warmth of feeling so openly expressed by all public bodies, at this eventful day; and notwithstanding the firm, and energetic measures, which had been, and continued to be pursued in resisting the aggressions of Britain; the great body of the people were anxious for a reconciliation with the mother country, and hoping that the repeal of the duty on tea, might yet restore the colonies to that state of rejoicing, which they had enjoyed at the repeal of the stamp act; but the leading few, saw that this had now become almost, or quite impossible; and amongst these, appeared Samuel Adams, in the front rank, who not only felt, but often declared in the circles of his friends, "The country shall be independent, and we will not be content with any thing short of it."

The petition of the house of assembly in Massachusetts, for the removal of Governor Hutchinson, was duly pre

sented by their agent Dr. Franklin, and heard in due form, before the king in council, January 29th, 1774, and in due form dismissed; Dr. Franklin was also dismissed from the office of deputy postmaster-general for the colonies; after having been overwhelmed with a torrent of invective, and abuse from Mr. Secretary Whateley.

In March following, his majesty disclosed the riotous proceedings in Boston, by a message to both houses, which highly inflamed the resentment of the ministry, and they, in their turn, inflamed the public mind by their inflammatory publications, and the passions of both ministers and people breathed nothing but revenge, or such measures as will warrant a satisfactory subjection. The king, and the court, considered their authority as being in danger, the merchants, and manufacturers considered their trade as being in danger, and the people considered that Boston had done violence to the honor of the crown, and the storm was now about to burst upon that devoted town.

On the 24th, a bill was introduced, laying a commercial interdiction upon the town of Boston, which was received with applause; but the minority met this bill with the following objections. "Have we not (say they) given an extent of power to his majesty for preventing the port of Boston from ever being reinstated, if the king should think proper? A fine is laid; the trade is prohibited until it is paid, and when it is paid, the town may be as far from recovering her trade as ever. The act provides that the crown must have satisfaction, and that the laws of trade and revenue must be obeyed. There is a sting in this. The act under pretence of an indemnity to the East-India Company, is meant to enforce the submission to taxes. America will see this, and the cause of Boston will be made the cause of all the colonies. They are all as guilty as Boston. Not one has received the tea; some have destroyed it; others sent it back," &c. But the die

was now cast, and ministers had nothing left but one straight course, and that right forward. The bill was accordingly passed, and on the 31st March, it was, sanctioned by the king. This was the entering wedge to the ministerial plan of war measures. Another bill soon followed,

"for the better regulating and governing MassachusettsBay." This bill contemplated the removal of their charter, and surrendering Massachusetts as a royal government, subject wholly, and entirely to the crown. This bill also surmounted all opposition, and was passed.

On the 21st of April following, Lord North introduced the following, as a third bill, which might serve as a key to the whole. "For the impartial administration of justice in the cases of persons questioned for any acts done by them in the execution of the laws, or for the suppression of riots, and tumults in Massachusetts-Bay." The object of this act was to transport offenders to Great-Britain for trial, or to any other colony, and the whole charge to be paid out of the customs. Colonel Barre rose in opposition, in the majesty of himself, and this was his stile to the ministers.

"You have changed your ground. You are becoming the aggressors, and offering the last of human outrages to the American people, by subjecting them in fact, to military execution. Instead of sending them the olive branch, you have sent the naked sword. By the olive branch, I mean a repeal of all the late laws, fruitless to you, and oppressive to them. Ask their aid in a constitutional manner, and they will give it to the utmost of their ability. They never yet refused it, when properly required. Your journals bear the recorded acknowledgments of zeal with which they have contributed to the necessities of the state. What madness is it that prompts you to attempt to obtain that by force, which you may more certainly procure by requsition. They may be flattered into almost any thing, but they are too much like