asserted isupremacy in all things. excessive; and it was insecure.

Her joy was In two years

from the first attempt to tax the colonies, an embryo Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced into the British Parliament a more skilful and comprehensive scheme of taxation. With artistic hand he avoided the vext question, and called the imposition of a revenue a regulation of trade. The right to make these trade regulations had been exercised and acceded to. Nor shall we impugn the sincerity of England in ranking among them this new bill. Her statesmen may have thought the question quite beside the asser tion of a parliamentary domination, and they were right in arguing that the burden was light and would be shared evenly.

But, England had now to deal with a strong and enlightened people; they would have borne this load without a murmur, ere their jealousy was aroused and the integrity of their liberty questioned. But, here was the first fruit of the Declaratory Act. Their reasoning coupled the new revenue and that as cause and consequence, and their indignation against the naked assump tion of supreme power by England, was tenfold stronger because it had slumbered so long. They spoke of it as a burden and a curse. "Nothing, said they "is left us but to complain and pay? Another alternative was left, which they did not then consider, but of which afterwards they made noble use.

To Constitutional redress was at first sought through constitutional channels. Memorials, remonstrances, petitions these were tried, and in vain. A harder

1

necessity suggested bolder remedies. The vow to abjure everything English was repeated; and sternly was that vow kept. The assembly of Massachusetts, then in session, entered a resolu tion on their minutes, directing that a circular should be written to the respective speakers of the other different assemblies throughout the colonies, requesting their co-operation and assistance in seeking for "a legal and constitutional redress of grievances." This resolution was violently resisted at first, and the house decided in the negative. The next day it was renewed and passed by a very large majority. The governor descended from reproach to invective in his communication with the assembly, which he immediately prorogued. The Earl of Hillsborough, the first colonial secretary of England, adopted the governor's bitterness of feeling and language, and added menace to blame. He called the resolution and letter of the house, seditious and disloyal; and, as if rescinding the resolution could unwrite the letter, he demanded it erasure from the rel cords of the house. A confirmatory resolution was its answer. But, this resolution was not adopted until after several ineffectual attempts at explanation, which resulted in recrimination and defiance. The spirit of haughtiness for a while triumphed, and the House of Assembly was dise solved.b your fo Milton A While the house was in angry discussion with the governor, the people with more open bolds ness were pursuing a course of resistance after their own fashion. A board of commissioners arrived in Boston, with the trade regulations,

』

They met undisguised resentment. Associating

thea wide scheme of subjugation, the

V

people shunned them as evil things. But, as the preparations for exacting the revenue small duty upon tea, glass, and some other articles proceeded, the gloom of the populace deepened into anger and threatened revenge. Some slight disturbances took place. The vessels of war in the bay shifted from their moorings; and, of land and water, everything wore an alarming aspect. An event occurred, trifling in itself, but connected with the revenue laws, which heightened the public ferment into frenzy. The sloop Liberty-an ominous name-belonging to John Handcock, then, and afterwards, honoured by his land, was seized by the officers of the customs for an alleged violation of some rule of the service.

The impulse of a crowd has not a logical standard, but it often has more than its justice. They did not stop to consider the legality of the Seizure, But proceeded at once to avenge it. The sloop was removed out of their reach, but they seized on a boat belonging to the collector, and it served them for a bonfire. The houses of the Commissioners and collector felt their fury and, such were the tumult and danger, that these officers found it necessary to retire to the Romney man-bf-war, and leave the tax and city to their fate:The House of Assembly, not yet dissolved, recorded its emphatic condemnation of these scenes, and offered a large reward for the prosecution of the principal rioters. None, however, were brought to punishment. It was in these

1

troublesome times the citizens of Boston.de prived of the protecting care of the House of Assembly, and a report being rife that two regi ments were marching on the town called the meeting, with which the first chapter opensma Ninety-six towns, and eight districts, answered the call of that meeting. The delegates from these places met, disclaimed legislative authority, and firmly advised strict adherence to the law and constitution. Their sitting was short, and

without any marked result. But other events

were hastening a crisis: the day the delegates left, the army entered Boston, avowedly to awe its inhabitants.

1769.

The two houses of Parliament, emulous in their loyalty, conjointly denounced the measures of Massachusetts as disloyal and dangerous, and pledged the faith of the kingdom to the most vigorous measures his Majesty could adopt. Some warning voices were heard amid the din, but they were unheeded. The condemnatory resolutions passed, and, with the speed of evil tidings, reached the colonies. The assembly of Virginia, guided by the genius of Patrick Henry, proposed and carried counter-resolutions, which again re-asserted the principles of American liberty. Other colonies adopted similar resoluvtions; public indignation was assuming the place of discretion; and patriotism, in many places, sprang from the questionable source of a dread of popular odium.

-920

To hold town meetings was an old and cherished right of Boston; at these meetings, democratic tribunes held sway. An early resolution of

one of these meetings was to reship English goods. England once more bowed to this blow

her councils wavered. Parliament, with the echo of its own boast yet ringing within its walls, repealed all duties, except that of three-pence per pound on tea. America met the concessions by a relaxation of her resolutions against British import; but the reservation as to tea, only nerved her purpose to resist, more firmly, its access to her ports. Messages of peace, communicated in a frank spirit, and in strong language, to the colonists, restored public tranquillity, and hope, harmony, and good understanding followed, which fatality, rather than design, suddenly interrupted at Boston.

2d March,

Angry words arose between a soldier

1770. and an inhabitant; blows followed; the soldier was backed by his comrades, and the citizen by a number of men engaged on a ropewalk near the scene of the affray. On the fifth of the same month, the spirit thus evoked led to a second quarrel of a serious nature and deadly consequences; three men were shot dead by the military. The riot was quelled, but its spirit lived. The men were buried in one grave, with angry pomp; the soldiers were brought to trial; and, to the honour of the court and jury, in the midst of the public ferment, with popular fury lashed to madness at the sight of blood, the verdict was fayourable to the prisoners. Enlightened rectitude! how well it augured for liberty! But an engagement was given that the troops would be removed of the town, else the efforts of the patriots had beeny vain to save them from popular vengeance.