night. I continued this tour, and in a few days explored a considerable part of the country; each day equally pleased as at first; after which I returned to my old camp, which had not been disturbed in my absence. I did not confine my lodging to it, but often reposed in thick canebrakes, to avoid the savages, who, I believe, often visited my camp, but, fortunately for me, in my absence. No populous city, with all the varieties of commerce and stately structures, could afford so much pleasure to my mind, as the beauties of nature I found in this country.

"Until the 27th of July, I spent the time in an uninterrupted scene of sylvan pleasures, when my brother, to my great felicity, met me, according to appointment, at our old camp. Soon after, we left the place, and proceeded to Cumberland river, reconnoitring that part of the country, and giving names to the different rivers. In March, 1771, I returned home to my family, being determined to bring them, as soon as possible, at the risk of my life and fortune, to reside in Kentucke, which I esteemed a second paradise. On my return, I found my family in happy circumstances. I sold my farm at Yadkin, and what goods we could not carry with us, and on the 25th of September, 1773, we bade farewell to our friends, and proceeded on our journey to Kentucke, in company with five more families, and forty men that joined us in Powell's valley.

"On the 10th of October the rear of our company was attacked by a number of Indians, who killed six, and wounded one man; of these, my eldest son was one that fell in the action. Though we repulsed the enemy, yet this unhappy affair scattered our cattle, brought us into extreme difficulty, and so discouraged the whole company, that we retreated forty miles to Clinch river."

In April, 1775, Col. Boon, with a company of enterprising men, after a number of contests with the Indians, erected the fort of Boonsborough, at a salt lick, sixty yards from the river, on the south side. Col. Boon says, on the 14th of June, having finished the fort, I returned to my family on the Clinch. Soon after, I removed my family to this fort; we arrived safe; my wife and daugh

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ter being the first white women that stood on the banks of Kentucke river."

51. Stamp Act.

The British Parliament, in the year 1765, for the pur pose of raising a revenue from the colonies, passed the famous stamp act; which ordained that all instruments of writing, as contracts, deeds, notes, &c., should not be valid, unless executed on stamped paper, on which a duty should be paid. This alarmed the colonies, and awakened their indignation. They determined to resist the execution of the law. The 1st of November, 1765, was the day on which this act was to take effect. In Boston, the bells tolled, the shops were shut, effigies of the royalists were carried about in derision, and torn in pieces. At Portsmouth, the bells tolled, a coffin was made, on the lid was inscribed, "Liberty, aged 145," and with unbraced drums, and minute guns, a procession followed it to the grave. At the close of an oration, the coffin was taken up, signs of life appeared in the corpse, "Liberty revived," was substituted, the bells struck a cheerful key, and joy sparkled in every countenance.

In New York the stamp act was contemptuously cried about the streets, under the title of "The Folly of England and Ruin of America." The stamp papers having arrived, Gov. Colden took them into the fort in order to secure them. Many of the citizens of New York, offended at the conduct, and disliking the political sentiments of the governor, assembled in the evening, broke open his stable, and took out his coach; and after carrying it about the city, marched to the common, when a gallows was erected, on one end of which they suspended his effigy, with a stamped bill of lading in one hand, and a figure of the devil in the other. After this, the populace took the effigy and the gallows entire, and carried it in procession, the coach preceding, to the gate of the fort, whence it was removed to the bowling green, where the whole pageantry, with the coach, was consumed in a bonfire, amidst the acclamations of thousands of spectators,

Similar proceedings occurred in many parts of the country, and the obnoxious act was shortly after repealed.

52. Massacre in Boston.

The inhabitants of Boston had suffered almost every species of insult from the British soldiery; who, countenanced by the royal party, had generally found means to screen themselves from the hands of the civil officers. Thus all authority rested on the point of the sword, and the partizans of the crown triumphed for a time in the plenitude of military power. Yet the measure and the manner of posting troops in the capital of the province, had roused such jealousy and disgust, as could not be subdued by the scourge that hung over their heads. Continual bickerings took place in the streets, between the soldiers and the citizens; the insolence of the first, which had been carried so far as to excite the African slaves to murder their masters, with the promise of impunity, and the indiscretion of the last, was often productive of tumults and disorder, that led the most cool and temperate to be apprehensive of consequences of the most serious nature.

On the second of March, 1770, a fray took place in Boston, near Mr. Gray's ropewalk, between a private soldier of the 29th regiment and an inhabitant. The former was supported by his comrades, the latter by the rope-makers, till several, on both sides, were involved in the consequences. On the fifth a more dreadful scene was presented. The soldiers, when under arms, were pressed upon, insulted, and pelted, by a mob armed with clubs, sticks, and snow-balls covering stones. They were also dared to fire. In this situation, one of the soldiers, who had received a blow, in resentment, fired at the supposed aggressor. This was followed by a single discharge from six others. Three of the inhabitants were killed, and five dangerously wounded. The town was immediately in commotion. Such was the

temper, force, and number of the inhabitants, that nothing but an engagement to remove the troops out of the town, together with the advice of moderate men, prevented the townsmen from falling on the soldiers. The killed were buried in one vault, and in a most respectful manner, in order to express the indignation of the inhabitants at the slaughter of their brethren, by soldiers quartered among them, in violation of their civil liberties. Captain Preston, who commanded the party which fired on the inhabitants, was committed to jail, and afterwards tried. The captain and six of the men were acquitted. Two were brought in guilty of manslaughter. It appeared, on the trial, that the soldiers were abused, insulted, threatened, and pelted, before they fired. It was also proved, that only seven guns were fired by the eight prisoners. These circumstances induced the jury to make a favourable verdict. The result of the trial reflected great honour on John Adams (afterwards President of the United States) and Josiah Quincy, Esqrs. the counsel for the prisoners; and also on the integrity of the jury, who ventured to give an upright verdict, in defiance of popular opinions.

"The people, not dismayed by the blood of their neighbours, thus wantonly shed, determined no longer to submit to the insolence of military power. Colonel Dalrymple, who commanded in Boston, was informed, the day after the riot in King-street, 'that he must withdraw his troops from the town within a limited term, or hazard the consequences.'

"The inhabitants of the town assembled at Faneuil Hall, where the subject was discussed with becoming spirit, and the people unanimously resolved, that no armed force should be suffered longer to reside in the capital; and if the king's troops were not immediately withdrawn by their own officers, the governor should be requested to give orders for their removal, and thereby prevent the necessity of more rigorous steps. A committee from this body was deputed to wait on the governor, and requested him to exert that authority which the exigencies of the times required from the supreme

magistrate. Mr. Samuel Adams, the chairman of the committee, with a pathos and address peculiar to himself, exposed the illegality of quartering troops in the town in the midst of peace: he urged the apprehensions of the people, and the fatal consequences that might ensue if their removal was delayed.

"But no arguments could prevail on Mr. Hutchinson, who, from timidity, or some more censurable cause, evaded acting at all in the business, and grounded his refusal on a pretended want of authority. After which, Col. Dalrymple, wishing to compromise the matter, consented that the twenty-ninth regiment, more culpable than any other in the late tumult, should be sent to Castle Island. This concession was by no means satisfactory; the people, inflexible in their demands, insisted that no British soldier should be left within the town; their requisition was reluctantly complied with, and within four days the whole army decamped."*

53. Destruction of Tea in Boston.

The British ministry still persisting in their right to tax the colonies, had, for this purpose, given permission to the East India Company to ship a large quantity of teas to America, charged with duty. The Americans, fixed in their opposition to the principle of taxation in any shape, opposed the landing of the tea. In New York, and in Philadelphia, the cargoes sent out were returned without being entered at the custom house. In

The circumstances and probable consequences of the tragical affair just related, sunk deep into the minds of the people, and were turned to the advantage of their cause. Its anniversary for many years was observed with great solemnity, and the most eloquent orators were successively employed to deliver an annual oration to preserve the remembrance of it fresh in their minds. On these occasions, the blessings of liberty, the horrors of slavery, the dangers of a standing army, the rights of the colonies, and a variety of such topics, were represented to the public view, under their most pleasing and alarming forms. These annual orations administered fuel to the fire of liberty, and kept it burning with an incessant flame.-Morse's Revolution.