Whatever were the reasons of the Minister, the offer of the East India Company remained unaccepted, until the whole progress of the negotiation became known to the Americans, and until a long series of other grievances had awakened that daring and independent spirit, which we have faintly endeavoured to portray.

When the Act at length passed, allowing the Company to export their teas, free of duty, they seemed determined to make up for previous loss of time, by emptying the whole contents of their overflowing warehouses, upon the American shores. Six hundred chests were shipped to Boston, and a like quantity to NewYork, Philadelphia, Charleston, and the other large cities of the Continent, which the Company flattered themselves the Americans would receive without scruple. But the latter were no sooner apprized of the shipment, than they concerted measures to frustrate, what they regarded as a mere trick of the Ministry. In these measures Philadelphia took the leadthere, at a general meeting of the citizens, it was resolved, that this new Ministerial plan of importation was a violent attack upon the liberties of Americathat it was the duty of every American to oppose it; and that whoever should directly or indirectly countenance it, was an enemy to his country."-New York followed the example of Philadelphia, and in both places the consignees of the Company were made to promise that they would not act. When the ships arrived, therefore, some time afterwards, at those two ports, they were ordered immediately back to England, without being permitted to break their bulk. In many other places, the captains of the ships themselves, afraid to encounter the resistance of the people, returned of their own accord to England, freighted as they

had left it. At Charleston, in South Carolina, the Tea was landed, but not permitted to be used or sold.

A scene of much greater violence was exhibited at Boston. Town meetings, newspaper essays, handbills, and all the usual means had been resorted to for the purpose of rousing the people who, it was feared by many, (from their former large importations in violation of the agreement,) would be inclined to receive the Tea. But before the arrival of the ships, they had unanimously adopted the Resolves of Philadelphia, and were ready to go all lengths to prevent the landing of the cargoes. They had indeed shown so much violence, that Mr. Josiah Quincey thought it necessary, at one of their town meetings, to caution them in strong terms, to look to the issue-" It is not (said he) Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapours within these walls that must stand us in stead. The exertions of this day will call forth events, which will make a very different spirit necessary for our salvation-Whoever supposes, that shouts and hosannas will terminate the trials of the day, entertains a childish fancy. We must be grossly ignorant of the importance and value of the prize for which we contend; we must be equally ignorant of the power of those who have combined against us ; we must be blind to that malice, inveteracy, and insatiable revenge, which actuate our enemies publick and private, abroad and in our bosom, to hope that we shall end this controversy without the sharpest-the sharpest conflicts-to flatter ourselves that popular resolves, popular harangues, popular acclamations, and popular vapour, will vanquish our foes. Let us consider the issue. Let us look to the end. Let us weigh and consider, before we advance

to those measures which must bring on the most trying and terrible struggle this country ever saw."

They determined, however, not to permit the tea to be landed, whatever might be the consequences. But to avoid the necessity of resorting to extremities, the Captain of the Dartmouth East Indiaman, just then arrived, was directed to make a protest, and apply to the Governour for the necessary papers to enable him to return without unloading. The Governour most pointedly refused, and here again evinced his anxiety to bring upon his fellow-citizens the strong arm of the Government. By interposing his authority, he might have prevented the excesses of the Boston populace, and perhaps have averted for years the bloody conflict which soon followed. But he was fearful, as he himself afterwards acknowledged to one of his friends, that by yielding to the "demands of the people, he should have rendered himself obnoxious to his Sovereign"-Thus constantly acting upon the notion, that the interests of the King and the people could not be

one.

The moment the people were informed that the Governour would not grant a pass to the ship, an immense crowd repaired to the quay, some of whom, assuming the disguise of Mohawk Indians, very quietly boarded the ship, took out three hundred and forty two chests of tea, broke them open, and emptied their contents into the water. All this was done without tumult, noise, or molestation, and when their object was completed they returned peaceably to their homes.

It was the general opinion among reflecting politicians, after this event, and of all who had been careful to watch the temper of the British Ministry, that

an open rupture must speedily follow-that measures of vengeance would be adopted by the advisers of the King, which would either lead to unconditional subjection or to independence. Mr. Samuel Adams was among the small number of those who looked forward with confidence to the latter. His influence among his countrymen was deservedly great, and his exertions to inspire his own confidence in others were still greater. Many of those who had been the foremost, and the most zealous, in espousing the cause of the people against the usurpations of the Court and Parliament of Great Britain, were now gloomy and despondent at the prospect before them— they had neither a wish for independence, in its sense of separation, nor the smallest hope of success in the struggle, which they knew was preparing for them. They desired no more than the peaceful enjoyment of the liberties allowed to them by the British Constitution and secured to them by their Colonial Charters. For this they had been at all times ready to speak, to write, and to act; and for this, they were now willing to fight up to their knees in blood, if so doing could restore them to the freedom of their fathers. Further than this the great body of the people had neither expectation nor desire of proceeding. We shall see by what slow degrees a different feeling was made to predominate, and how from step to step, the grand destinies of our nation were unfolded.

CHAPTER VIII.

Events of 1774-Parliamentary proceedings-Boston Port BillSubversion of the charter-Recall of Governour HutchinsonGeneral Gage succeeds him-Proceedings of Virginia on the Boston Port Bill-Governour Dunmore dissolves the House of Burgesses-Proceedings of the other Colonies Massachusetts General Court meet at Salem-1st. of June observed as a day of fasting and prayer-Secret proceedings of the General Court at Salem-Their resolve to call a General Congress Adoption of that measure by the other Colonies, and appointment of Deputies.

We must now look to the effects produced in England by the proceedings of the Colonies, and the conduct of the people of Boston, in regard to the Tea. All anxiously waited for the meeting of Parliament, which was convened at Westminster on the 13th of January. But though the destruction of the Tea, at Boston, had taken place on the 16th of November of the preceding year, and though scarcely a merchant in London was ignorant of the fact, yet it seems the Ministry had not received such full information, or had not yet so satisfactorily made up their minds, as to prompt his Majesty on the subject and the speech from the Throne contained not a word of the transaction. Nor was a hint given of what the Ministry intended to do, until the 7th of March, when Lord North presented a Message from his Majesty to both Houses of Parliament, (accompanied by numerous papers, chiefly letters from the Governour of Massachusetts) in which his Majesty was pleased to inform them that "in consequence of the unwarantable practices carried on in North America, and particularly of the vie