his majesty's grant, and considered that, without his majesty's consent, he could not refuse it. Upon this, the House of Assembly resolved, by a majority of 96 against 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 the office of chief justice; and that a remonstrance and petition to the governor and council for his immediate removal be prepared." The House further resolved to impeach the chief justice in their own name and in the name of all the inhabitants of the province. The governor excepted of their proceedings as unconstitutional; but they, nevertheless, drew up articles charging the chief justice with high crimes and misdemeanors, in which they said, "The salary and hopes of augmentation from the crown must have the effect of a continual bribe, and expose him to a violation of his oath. His accepting hath betrayed the baseness of his heart and the lust of covetousness, in breach of his engagements to rely solely on the grants of the assembly, necessarily implied and involved in his accepting said office. By receiving a grant out of the revenue unjustly extorted from the American colonies, he hath, as far as lay 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 grievance aforementioned." And on the

9th of March they resolved, "That the house have done all that in the capacity of representatives can be done for the removal of Peter Oliver; and it must be presumed that the governor's refusing to take any measures therein is, because he also receives his support from the crown." At this moment that is to say before the arrival of any of the coercive bills-the leaders of the movement party were proclaiming that America must be made wholly independent of Great Britain, and separated from her. At the head of these men was Mr. Samuel Adams, whose patriotism had not yet been able quite to efface certain very serious stains on his scutcheon.* He had said long before, in small confidential companies, what he now repeated more publicly-" This country shall be independent, and we will be satisfied with nothing short of it." The name of Franklin was repeated

He had been a defaulter as a collector of taxes. In the mild language of Gordon, whose political sympathies were all with Samuel Adams," At one time his influence was small, owing to defects in pecuniary matters, especially as collector of the taxes for Boston, in which office he served for years.

with more admiration and enthusiasm than ever, and before their dissolution the assembly resolved to continue him their agent in England, while Governor Hutchinson refused to ratify his appointment, or sanction their act for paying Franklin his salary.

On the 13th of May, only a few days after the reception of the Boston Port Bill, General Gage, the new governor, landed on the long wharf, with part of his family and staff, but without any troops. He was not, like Hutchinson, a native of the province, but he was married to an American lady, and from long residence had many friends in the colony. He was complimented on his arrival by the council, the magistrates, and others, and afterwards entertained at a public dinner. That night Hutchinson was burnt in effigy. The next day a numerous town meeting took into consideration the Port bill, and resolved, "That it is the opinion of this town, that, if the other colonies come into a joint resolution to stop all importation from, and exportation to, Great Britain, and every part of the West Indies, till the act be repealed, the same will prove the salvation of North America and her liberties; and that the impolicy, injustice, inhumanity, and cruelty of the act exceed all our powers of expression we therefore leave it to the just censure of others, and appeal to God and the world." The obnoxious act was instantly printed and circulated in innumerable copies throughout the colonies. Other printing-presses besides those of Boston were employed upon it; in some provinces the copy of the act was accompanied with comments, and in many places it was printed with a black border, and cried about under the title of " A barbarous, cruel, bloody, and inhuman murder." other places it was burned with great solemnity. At New York, where parties were pretty equally balanced, or where the Tories, as the government party were called, were for a moment rather the stronger, both threats and fraud were resorted to, to obtain a concurrence with the Bostonians, who, by means of the corresponding committees, had expressed everywhere their hope that they would be considered as suffering in the common cause. At Philadelphia a subscription was set on foot for the support of such poor inhabitants of Boston as should be deprived of the means of subsistence by the operation of the port act and the stoppage of their trade.*

In

for between one and two thousand pounds; but a great part of it had never been gathered. What with not pressing for the payment of the taxes in time, as is too generally the case, not calling when the money happened to be ready, and other casualties, no inconsiderable sum was lost. His necessities probably (for he appears to be addicted to no extravagances) urged him to supply himself, time after time, from the cash in hand, without attending to the accumulation of the balance against him, till called upon to settle. The town had several meetings upon the business; at length, by the exertion of his friends, a majority was obtained for the relinquishment of the demand upon him. Since his first election into the House, in 1765, his influence has been gradually increasing, until he has obtained a great ascendancy in directing the town of Boston and the house of representatives, and consequently the council."

Boston Port Bill and the letters and comments upon it reached Virginia the assembly was in session; but Mr. Jefferson, Patrick Henry, the two Lees, and three or four other young members, no longer willing to submit the direction of affairs to the old members, but determining on a bolder course, assembled in the council-chamber to consult by themselves what ought to be done.

Gordon.-Papers in Almon's Remembrancer.

These

hot spirits hit upon a measure which would better have suited the presbyterian or puritanical Bostonians and New Englanders. Proceeding from the New Englanders it might have carried the character at least of sincerity and devoutness; but

PATRICK HENRY. From a Fortrait by J. S. 1 leming of Virginia

from the Virginians it looked like the merest state trick. The measure, in which there was no originality, was fished out of that voluminous collection which we have so often quoted from in describing the great civil war between the English parliament and Charles I. "With the help of Rushworth," says Jefferson himself, "whom we rummaged for the revolutionary precedents and forms of the puritans of that day, we cooked up a resolution-somewhat modernising their phrasesfor appointing the 1st day of June, on which the port bill was to commence, for a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, to implore heaven to avert from us the evils of civil war, to inspire us with firmness in support of our rights, and to turn the hearts of king and parliament to moderation and justice." As the students of Rushworth and revolutionary precedents were neither venerable nor devout, they waited the next morning on Robert Carter Nicholas, with a request that he would make the motion in the assembly, as his age and religious character were considered in keeping with its sentiments, and likely to give it weight. Nicholas accepted the mission, and proposed the day of fasting and prayer, which passed without opposition. But on the following day, May the 25th,

Lord Dunmore, the governor of the province, dissolved the assembly, assigning as a reason the vote which had been entered. The members then repaired to the Raleigh Tavern, and agreed to articles of association, in which they pronounced the Boston

Life of Thomas Jefferson, by Professor Tucker. 2 vols. 8vo. Lond. 1837.

Port Bill to be the result of a determined system, formed for the purpose of reducing the inhabitants of British America to slavery. They declared that tea ought not to be used by any well-wisher to constitutional liberty; that, from the course pursued by the East India Company in favour of arbitrary taxation, the people ought not to purchase any of their commodities, except saltpetre and spices, until their grievances should be redressed; and that an attack on one of their sister colonies was an attack upon all, threatening ruin to all, unless it was resisted by their united councils. They therefore further recommended to the committee of correspondence to communicate with all the other committees" on the expediency of appointing deputies from the several colonies of British America, to meet in general congress, at such place, annually, as should be thought most convenient, to deliberate on the measures required by their common interests." This was a great step in the revolutionary march, and those who had made it were not likely to halt there. They resolved to proceed forthwith to the formation of a congress, agreeing that the members of assembly who should be elected under the new writs then issuing should meet in convention, at Williamsburgh, on the 1st of August following, for the purpose of appointing delegates to sit in congress. They then separated and went to their several homes, to invite the clergy to meet assemblies of the people on the 1st of June, and make a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, in spite of the governor. It appears that the majority of the Virginian clergy consented to this course, and made fervid appeals from the pulpit, thus co-operating powerfully in the great work. The effect was irresistible, and was likened by Jefferson to a shock of electricity. "And certainly," adds an American writer, who does not seem to consider that there was any religious impropriety in it, "no plan could have been better devised to keep up the zeal of the people, which is always liable to flag when not stimulaled by fresh excitement."* The day was also kept as a day of fasting and humiliation at Philadelphia; and at Boston and other places it was observed as a day of mourning, all the shops being shut up, and all the church-bells tolling dolefully.

In the mean while the assembly of Massachusetts Bay had met for the last time at Boston on the 25th of May. General Gage, as the new governor, laid before them some common business of the province, and then announced the painful necessity he lay under of removing them, the courts, and all public offices to Salem, by the parliament. They petitioned him to set apart a 1st of June, in conformity with the recent acts of day for fasting, but he refused, and, to avoid discussion, adjourned them to the 7th of June, then to meet at Salem. They met on the day and at the place appointed, and named a committee to consider and report the state of the province.

Tucker, Life of Jefferson.

This

Mr. Samuel Adams, seeing that some of the committee were for pursuing mild and conciliatory measures, conferred with Mr. Warren upon the necessity of getting up more spirit. Warren engaged to keep the committee in play, while Adams should and make a caucus-by which, in Bosgo tonian language, was meant a political meeting and consultation carried on in secret. Adams succeeded in the course of three or four days in winning over and concerting measures with more than thirty members; the friends of government knowing nothing of the matter. He then announced to his party that they were sure of carrying their scheme by a sufficient majority. scheme was completed, their resolutions were all drawn up, and on the 17th they resolved to proceed to business, hoping to finish before the governor could interfere with a prorogation or a dissolution. On that day they ordered the doorkeeper to let no one whatsoever in, and to permit no one to go out. Yet, when they opened the business, a member favourable to government contrived to get out and to give information of what was doing within. A messenger was instantly dispatched to General Gage, who sent his secretary to dissolve them. The secretary found the door fastened he knocked for entrance, but was told that the house was engaged upon very important business and could not admit him until it was over. The secretary then read the proclamation of dissolution upon the stairs leading to the chamber, in the hearing of several members and others, all shut out of the house. But by this time those within had done all they wanted to do :-they had appointed Samuel Adams, John Adams, and three others, as their committee to meet other provincial

JOHN ADAMS. From an Anonymous American Portrait. committees to be convened on the 1st of September at Philadelphia; they had voted them 500l.; had chosen a treasurer, and, having no money in hand, had recommended the several towns and districts

to raise the said sum by equitable proportions according to the last provincial tax-a recommendation which is said to have had, all through the province, the force of a law. They then separated, and many of the sons of liberty triumphed to think how the house had out-generaled the governor.* But it does not appear that General Gage intended any manoeuvre, and their own generalship seems to have consisted chiefly in the not very lawful trick of getting possession of the house to the exclusion of all such members as would have voted against them.

In rapid succession most of the colonies agreed to the expediency of the general congress, and pressed on the operations of the corresponding committees. After some difficulties, occasioned by the numerous friends of government and families of old standing and large property in that province, a meeting of the citizens of New York was called for the purpose of consulting on measures proper to be pursued in this emergency. A committee of fifty was appointed to correspond with the sister colonies" on all matters of moment." John Jay, who is esteemed one of the fathers of the American revolution, was a member of this committee, as also of a sub-committee appointed to prepare answers to whatever letters might be received. Both committees were soon earnestly and constantly at work. The friends of Jay challenge for him the honour of being the first to propose the general congress; but it should seem that the idea arose simultaneously in several minds and in several places; and nothing could well be more obvious or effective when the Americans had made up their minds for a revolution. Jay certainly drew up the New York paper, recommending that a congress of deputies from all the colonies should be assembled, and he also urged, as early as the month of June, that it ought to be assembled without delay.t

On the 1st of June, as the clock struck twelve, the custom-house at Boston had been shut up, and all lawful business had ceased in that port and town. But the people of Salem said they disdained to profit by the injury and losses of their Bostonian brethren; and, as early as the 18th of June, before any business could be well begun, the merchants and freeholders of Salem presented an address to Governor Gage, severely censuring the measures which had been adopted, commiserating the people of Boston, and declining to avail themselves of the advantages tendered by the Boston Port Bill. They said-" By shutting up the port of Boston some imagine that the course of trade might be turned hither and to our benefit; but nature, in the formation of our harbour, forbids our becoming rivals with that convenient mart. And, were it otherwise, we must be dead to every idea of justice, and lost to all feelings of humanity, could we indulge one thought to seize on wealth and raise our

fortunes on the ruin of our suffering neighbours." They repeated the old saying, which was now little better than a quibble, that they still ardently wished to continue united with the British empire. But on the following day the men of Salem joined a general association, got up by many of the committees of correspondence, and called, in imitation of the famous Scotch bond of the preceding century, " solemn league and covenant."* At every move the Americans read Rushworth. The present document might have been taken for a transcript out of his big book. It declared that the compact had been adopted as the sole means of avoiding the horrors of slavery, or the carnage and desolation of civil war; and the parties subscribing, in the presence of Gol, solemnly and in good faith covenanted to suspend all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, till the Boston Port bill should be repealed and the charter restored; not to purchase or consume any goods or merchandize from Great Britain after the last day of August; and to have no dealings with persons capable of breaking this sacred agreement, but to publish their names as enemies to their country, and men excommunicated, or cut off from all social intercourse.

Ne

ver did league and covenant spread more rapidly among the fiery and oppressed Presbyterians, Covenanters, or Cameronians of Scotland; and it was all in vain that Governor Gage issued a proclamation forbidding such unlawful and traitorous combinations. Those who were not led by free

The invitations to take this league and covenant were generally expressed in pretty strong terms. In many places the language was "JOIN OR DIR."

will were impelled by their fears; and in most places it seemed more dangerous to oppose the popular will than to risk a struggle in arms with the mother country; or, at the least, that the one danger was far more immediate and more direct in its operation than the other.*

When all was sullen and threatening in Boston General Gage ordered thither some regiments of foot with a detachment of artillery, who were all encamped on the common, and who were soon reinforced by fresh troops from Great Britain and Ireland. The men had not been there many days ere desertion began to prevail to an alarming extent. The raw recruits more particularly were spirited away by gills of ardent spirits in hand, and high promises in the bush. Gage first issued a proclamation offering pardon to such deserters as should return to their duty; and he next placed a strong guard at Boston Neck, a narrow isthmus which connects the town with the country. The instant this indispensable guard was placed a cry was raised that Gage intended to cut off all communications; to

A few moderate persons were, however, courageous enough to offer some resistance to the headlong will of the people, and some slight encouragement to Gage and government. An address was sighed by 120 gentlemen and merchants of Boston, expressive of their regret at the lawless violence of their fellow-townsmen. The justices of the county of Plymouth, assembled in general session, expressed their serious concern at seeing the inhabitants of some towns influenced by certain persons calling themselves Committees of Carrespondence, and encouraged by some whose business was to preach the Gospel of Christ, entering into a league calculated to exasperat : the parent country and interrupt and destroy the harmony of society. Attempts were made by some of the most wealthy people of Boston to raise money to pay the East India Company for the tea which had been destroyed. But all these demonstrations and attempts did far more harm than good, their only effect being to strengthen the cherished conviction of the English Court and Government that the most respectable people in the colonies were wholly averse to revolution.