been attempted and abandoned, did not give the Americans much concern they would not have cared, if the British had kept that assertion of a right to do wrong on their statute-book, as long as the two countries existed, provided they had not attempted to exercise their assumed right. But the advocates of American taxation seemed to be sensible, that the bare assertion of a right, after an unsuccessful attempt to enforce it, would amount to but little, and that conclusions, obviously following the abandonment of the first attempt to tax the Americans, would be left in their full force. Under the circumstances in which the two countries were placed, therefore, the right must be enforced, or it must be considered as virtually abandoned. But this had been once attempted, without success; a more ingenious mode, therefore, must be devised, or one less likely to give alarm to the colonies. The stamp duties were a dirict tax, as the duty constituted the entire value of the sum paid; but a trifling impost would not be perceived, as the duty would scarcely make any sensible difference in the price of the article. The bitter pill, which it was intended to make the colonies swallow, was gilded with sugar. The duty was more artfully disguised, than a simple impost. It was, in fact, no additional burden on the consumers of tea, it being only a different mode of collecting the duty which had before been paid; yet this alteration of the mode involved the right and power of parliament to establish a revenue system in America. According to the former regulations, the teas of the India Company were first brought to England, where a duty was paid before they were sent to the colonies. The scheme was merely to change the place and mode of collecting the duty; it was to be paid in America, instead of England; for which purpose custom regulations were established, and officers appointed. duty of three pence on a pound of tea, would not be felt by the people, and this, or rather a greater duty, had been paid before in England; so that, instead of the burdens of the people being increased, they were rather lightened by this new regulation. So artfully disguised was this scheme. It is a maxim with many politicians, and too generally correct, that the people will not be alarmed or excited by any principle, however it may be. fraught with danger; that they must feel and suffer, before their fears will arouse them into action. But this maxim did not hold true with the Americans; they saw the danger, and resolved to resist, at the hazard of their lives, a principle, calculated to undermine the foundation of their liberties; although its opera tion at the time was not felt, in the slightest degree. The resistance of the Americans to the scheme of collecting a duty on tea in America, instead of England, was the resistance of the principle which that scheme involved, solely; as no additional burden was thereby imposed on the people. It is believed that this is the only instance in history, of an entire people being roused to resistance, from measures which were not burdensome or oppressive in their immediate operations, and dangerous only from the principle on which they were founded. This consideration affords the highest evidence of the intelligence of the Amer

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icans, as well as of their extreme jealousy and vigilance, in guarding their rights. That the experienced politician should foresee the ultimate design and tendency of measures, not immediately oppressive, is natural enough; but that the common people, or rather that the entire population of a country should be aroused to resistance, on account of measures not burdensome or oppressive, but dangerous only from the principle on which they were founded, is unparalleled. It is not, however, to be supposed that the colonists would have been so alarmed and aroused to such a spirit of resistance, by the new regulations as to tea, had it not been for the previous measures of the parent country, evincing, in the clearest manner, a settled design to exercise the power of taxation over them. They considered the new regulations as to tea, as an artful and disguised revenue system, although it imposed no additional duty, and they were determined not to be cheated out of their liberties, as they had be fore resolved not to be frightened out of them.

Measures were immediately adopted to prevent the introduction of the tea into the country, so as to avoid the payment of the duty; and such was the strength and unanimity of public opinion, that without the aid of law, or rather in opposition to law, they were enabled to render their measures efficient, solely by the force of public sentiment, although measures of all others the most difficult to enforce, as interfering both with the interests and the established habits of the people. In most of the towns from New-Hampshire to Georgia, the people assembled and resolved to discontinue the use of tea, which was now regarded as an herb, (however agreeable as a beverage,) noxious to the political constitution. In the large commercial towns, regulations were adopted to prevent the landing of the tea; committees were appointed to inspect merchant's books, propose tests, and to make use of other means to defeat the designs of Brit ain. Where it could be done, the consignees of the teas, were persuaded or compelled to resign, or to bind themselves not to act in that capacity. The cargo sent to South-Carolina, was stored, the consignees being constrained to enter into an engagement not to offer any for sale; and in many of the colonies, the ships were compelled to return without discharging their cargoes. So vigorously were these measures enforced, that during one year, eighty-five pound was the whole amount of duties received. The teas consumed in the colonies, were principally smuggled into the country, by the Dutch and French, who were favored by the inhabitants in evading the revenue laws. During the four or five years that the new system had been in existence, very trifling quantities of teas had been introduced into the colonies, and instead of the restrictive measures being relaxed as was expected in England, they increased in vigor and efficacy, and the quantity of tea introduced had constantly diminished.

As had been the case with other matters, of difference between the two countries, the principle struggle, growing out of the regulations as to tea, occurred at Boston. The other provinces had avoided the alternative which was reserved for this, of

either suffering the teas to be disposed of, or to destroy them, by violent means. Knowing the spirit of the inhabitants of Boston, the India Company had been more cautious as to the cargoes shipped for that port, than those sent to the other provinces; and the zeal of Governor Hutchinson and the other officers of the crown there, greatly surpassed that of the crown-officers in the other colonies, and was calculated to frustrate the measures of the inhabitants. The tea ships destined to Boston, were all consigned to the sons, cousins, and persons who were the merest tools of Governor Hutchinson. When called on to resign, the only answer they would give was, that it was not in their power. As the consignees could not be induced or frightened to resign, the next plan was, to compel the vessels to return without landing their detestable cargoes; but the collector refused to give a clearance without the vessels were discharged of dutiable articles, and the governor refused to give a pass for the vessels, until they were properly qualified from the custom-house and to guard against the vessels being taken possession of, and conducted out of the harbour, the governor ordered Admiral Montague, who commanded the naval force, to keep vigilant look out, and to suffer no vessel, coasters excepted, to pass the fortress from the town without a pass signed by hituself. The rigorous adherence to these measures, afforded great satisfaction to the governor and his minions, and all the British party; they flattered themselves that the "Sons of Liberty," after all their clamor, resolutions and schemes to resist the tea system, were out-managed, and that it would be impossible for them to prevent the landing and sale of the obnoxious cargoes. Their measures had been planned so wisely and their execution was entrusted to agents of such known fidelity to the crown, and who were under the immediate influence and control of the gov ernor, they thought there was not a loop-hole whereby the rebellious Americans could escape paying the hateful tax. They did not even dream that an attempt would be made to destroy or throw overboard the offensive article, which covered a tribute to Britain; for if they had, the vessels would have been guarded. The governor, after all he had witnessed and experienced, judging rather from his feelings than his knowledge, was entirely ignorant of public sentiment, and of the spirit of the people; he had no idea that they had determined to resist the obnoxious measure, at every hazard, even that of life. Nothing short of this bold step, could prevent the deep-laid scheme, against the liberties of the country from succeeding. It had been rendered impossible that the vessels should return with their cargoes; and to suffer the tea to be landed and trust to the spirit and unanimity of the inhabitants not to purchase it, would have been to yield the point; for a small portion of the citizens were in favor of the British, and would of course consume the article, and by fair means or foul, it would have been distributed among others. And it would have been equally impracticable to prevent the tea from being landed; the most unwearied watching day and night, could not prevent this, as it might be conveyed

ashore, by small quantities in boats in the night season, and at such places as to escape the utmost vigilance. Every other measure had been attempted without success; the consignees had been urged to decline the commission, and a numerous public meeting of the citizens had been held, who presented a remonstrance to the governor, and urged him to order back the ships without suffering any part of their cargoes to be landed. But his answer satisfied them that he was the adviser of the measure, and determined to carry it into execution. The parties were at issue on the great question on which the liberties of the country bung suspended; whether Great Britain should exercise the power of taxing the Americans in any way, or not. This question depended on the landing of a few cargoes of tea, which had become contaminated with an unconstitutional tax. The colonists were determined that they would not pay the tax, and the British party were determined to carry into effect the tea regulation, and to fustrate the plans of the Americans. Both parties had taken their measures, and the British party were confident of success; the contest was advancing to a crisis; alarm and dismay prevailed; the deepest anxiety was depictedin every countenance; had an invading army been in the neighborhood, threatening to sack the town, or had the pestilence which walks in darkness, ravaged its pavilions, greater consternation could not have prevailed; greater gloom could not overspread the town, or stronger indications been exhibited, of a pending event big with the fate of three millions of people. During this deep and awful suspense, a report was started, which spread with the rapidity of lightning through the town, that Admiral Montague was about to seize the ships and dispose of their cargoes, at public auction, within twenty-four hours; which was believed to be a cunning device of Hutchinson, as this would as effectually have secured the duties, as if the teas had been sold at the stores of the consignees. This rumor was like an electric shock; leaving their employments, the people rushed into the streets, and with amazed and terrified countenances, every one seemed to say, what shall we do to prevent the consummation in so bold and daring a manner, of this iniquitous scheme. In a few moments, as if from an instinctive impulse, a vast crowd repaired to one of the most spacious churches in Boston, and organised themselves into a public meeting. Previously to taking any other step, a message was sent to the governor and the consignees, who with difficulty could be found, as they were afraid to encounter even the looks of an indignant and injured people. No satisfactory answers were returned; but instead of complying with their wishes, whilst the assembled multitude were quietly, notwithstanding the excitement which prevailed, consulting on their critical situation, and the measures proper to be adopted, the sheriff entered with an order from the governor, styling them an illegal and seditious assembly, and ordering them immediately to disperse. But he did not bring with him the posse comitatus, as the power of the county was already assembled, and it was that, the sheriff was ordered to

disperse this mandate was treated with deserved contempt and the sheriff hissed out of the house, mortified and chagrined, and a confussed murmur followed not only in the house but among the vast multitude without; but soon order was restored, and the meeting adjourned, without adopting any vote or resolution. The leaders probably supposed that such a meeting was not the place to discuss and devise measures to meet the crisis.

The bold measure was now conceived, and immediately proposed for execution, which surprised and agitated the two countries, and hurried on that memorable revolution which made them "enemies in war, and in peace friends." The success of it, as well as the danger attending it, required secrecy and dispatch. It has never been known with certainty, either who contrived or executed this bold expedient; but there is no reason to doubt, but that Mr. Samuel Adams and many of the leaders in the political affairs of the day, were its contrivers, and it is known, that the hall of council was in the back room of Edes & Gill'sprinting office, at the corner of the alley leading from CourtStreet to Brattle-Street Church. It is a singular circumstance, that this daring and desperate measure, for the maintenance of the liberties of the country, should have been counselled and contrived in an editorial closet of a newspaper, which was one of the organs of the public voice, and a vigilant sentinel of the liberties of the people. Since this period many political schemes have originated, in the back rooms" of printing-offices, but in general of a very different character.

In a few hours after the adjournment of the public meeting, the bold measure, on the success of which the great question of taxation hung suspended, was contrived, matured and ripened for execution; and the public were surprised with the sudden appearance in the streets, of a large number of savages, or persons disguised, clad, and every way counterfeiting the aborigines of the country; armed with a tomahawk in one hand, and a club over the shoulder, who, in a silent and solemn manner, not a voice being heard, marched in Indian file, through the streets amidst a crowd of astonished spectators, who knew not what to think of so unexpected and strange an exhibition; and its novelty and the surprise which it occasioned, may have prevented any steps being taken to oppose their design. The Indians, whilst strongly attached to tobacco, in this instance at least appear to have had a mortal antipathy to tea; and as though at tracted by its noxious qualities, they proceeded directly towards the wharves where the tea ships lay; boarded them, demanded the keys, and without the least hesitation or delay, knocked open the chests, and emptied their contents, duties and all, into the ocean, comprising several thousand weight of the finest teas. The deed was done in the face of the world, and although surrounded by the king's ships, no opposition was made or attempted; all was silence and amazement. Thus the teas which were designed as a means of extorting tribute from the Americans, become an offering to the "spirits of the vasty deep," and a sacrifice to the liberties of the country. The "Indians” having