several gentlemen deliver their sentiments; and Mr. Josiah Quincy, jun. his to the following purpose ;-" It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors 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 public 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 vapor, 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."

About three o'clock in the afternoon the question is put, "Will you abide by your former resolution with respect to not suffering the tea to be landed?" It passes in the affirmative,

nem. con.

Mr. Rotch is ordered to make a protest, and precure a pass for his vessel. He waits upon the governor at Milton, who offers to give him a letter to the admiral for protection, which he declines, fearing in that case the rage of the people, and being in no concern about his ship, as that is not the object of resentment, but the tea. He intimates to the governor, that some of the leaders of the people wish the ship to go down and be stopped at the castle," for then they will be rid of the affair, and may say they have done all in their power." While Mr. Rotch is absent, the speakers in the meeting keep the people together by engaging their attention till he returns, which is before six o'clock, when he informs the body, that upon applying to the governor for a pass, he received for answer, "I cannot give you a pass consistent with the laws and my duty to my king, unless the vessel is properly qualified from the custom-house."Upon this there is a great deal of disputing, when a person disguised like an Indian, gives the war-whoop in the front gallery, where there are few if any besides himself. Upon this signal it is moved and voted that the meeting be immediately dissolved.The people crowd out and run in numbers to Griffin's wharf. At the same instant a number of persons, chiefly masters of vessels and ship-builders from the north end of the town, about se

venteen

venteen, though judged to be many more as they run along, cross Fort Hill, dressed as Indians, and repair to the tea ships; and in about two hours hoist out of them and break open 342 chests of tea, and discharge their contents into the salt water. They are not in the least molested. The multitude of spectators upon and about the wharf, serve as a covering party. The whole business is conducted with very little tumult, and no damage done to the vessels or any other property; when finished, the people return quietly to their own towns and habitations.

Prior to the destruction of the tea, captain Loring in a brig, being the fourth and last vessel on the East-India Company's account, was cast ashore at Cape-Cod; and what tea was saved has been conveyed to the castle.

The arrival of the tea ships first at Boston, the consignees refusing to resign, though they had the example of others to induce them, and the governor's resolution to pay no regard to the voice of the public, brought on the destruction of the tea. The sons of liberty were sensible, that if it was landed and stored, it would some how or other obtain a sale; and that the virtue of the people, to decline buying and using a commodity to which they were so attached from love and habit, was too precarious a ground on which to risk the salvation of their country. They have been obliged, but with the utmost reluctance, to venture upon a desperate remedy. Many of their friends, who are not acquainted with circumstances, or do not attend to them, may be ready to censure them severely. But had the tea been landed, the union of the colonies in opposing the ministerial schemes would have been dissolved; and it would have been extremely difficult ever after to have restored it. The fulfilment of their solemn declaration, that the tea should not be landed, though in a way which would not have been chosen had any other effectual one offered, has secured them the good opinion and confidence of their co-patriots in other parts. The governor has that influence with the consignees, that he could undoubtedly have prevailed on them to resign; but he has encouraged them to the contrary; and therefore what he has written," It has been absolutely out of my power to prevent the destruction of the tea, without conceding to the unreasonable demands of a lawless set of men, and thereby giving government up and rendering myself obnoxious to my sovereign," will scarce be admitted as a sufficient justification. Sovereigns themselves, upon special emergencies, wisely give place to the opinions and wishes of their subjects; but are often disgraced and forced into difficulties, through the want of like wisdom in their representatives. Had the governor given a pass for the ship in the present in VOL. I

Ff

stance,

stance, he would not have been viewed by considerate persons as breaking either the laws or his oath. Cases offer, when statute laws and oaths of office are required to give place to the supreme law of society, the safety of the community. Had he looked back to the time of the stamp act, he would probably have found many precedents of ships having permits from his predecessor in office, Sir Francis Bernard, to pass the castle without being duly qualified for want of stamps; and yet the granting them did not render Sir Francis obnoxious to his sovereign. But the truth was, Mr. Hutchinson had repeatedly urged government at home to be firm and persevering; this was a favorite topic on which he was often insisting; he himself therefore could not think of yielding; and then he would not believe that the people were determined at all adventures to perfect their engagements; but expected that when the critical moment came, they would desist. Whereas when that moment came, and the tea on board the Dartmouth, captain Hall was in danger of being seized and secured by the custom-house officers, who might have been supported by admiral Montague, the sons of liberty projected the destruction of it in the manner above related: and in order to make short work of the whole business, and prevent their repeating the preceding formalities, they did not confine their operations to the tea on board the Dartmouth, but extended them to the teas brought in afterward by captains Bruce and Coffin.

Some expected that the destruction of the tea will issue in the destruction of the charter, which will make the inhabitants of the colony furious beyond expression. One gentleman, apprehensive of the fatal consequences that will follow upon the parliament's meddling with the charter, the great darling of the people, has written freely and fully upon the subject to his cor-respondent, an influential member in the house. Another, be-ing desirous of learning the real sentiments of the more moderate party, and of such as have not plunged themselves into the politics of the day, has conversed with several of them; but has. discovered in them the warmest indignation and the highest resentment at the thought of being deprived of their charter. major in the militia (whom Mr. Hutchinson honored with the commission, for his good conduct as foreman of the jury on the trial of the soldiers for killing the persons on the 5th of March, 1770) told him, "Sir, you know that I am a friend to government, and wish to support it; but if there is an attempt to takeaway our charter, I will fight up to my knees in blood in de-. fence of it." The gentleman has perceived such a spirit to pre-dominate among all the people, that he has judged it right to. communicate

communicate his knowledge to Sir Francis Bernard, and to ac quaint with his apprehensions as to the fatal consequences which will follow upon the adoption of violent measures. He has written also to another friend upon the subject, in hope that the intelligence will get to the ministry, and prove beneficial to the public by preventing harsh proceedings. At Charleston the Carolinians have unloaded the tea, and stored it in cellars, where it cannot be used, and where it will finally perish.

Let me pass from hence to relate the doings of the Massachu setts assembly respecting, the judges, which you will probably pronounce intemperate.

The house being informed, that each of the judges refused to take more than one half of the sum granted them the last year, which they considered as implying on the part of the judges, a determination to accept of their support from the crown, resolv ed, "That it is the incumbent duty of the judges explicitly to declare, whether they are determined to receive the grants of the general assemble, or to accept of their support from the crown; and their delaying any longer to let the public know their de termination, will discover that they have little or no regard for the peace and welfare of the province; and in such case it will be the indispensable duty of the commons of this province, to impeach them before the governor and council.. Four of the judges, in the beginning of February, 1774, acquainted the house they had received their whole salary granted them by the general court, and not any part of the grant made by the crown, and that they were determined still to receive the grants of the general assembly, which was pronounced satisfactory. But the chief justice, Peter Oliver, esq. sent them a letter [Feb. 3.] informing them, That since being upon the bench seventeen years, he had suffered above three thousand pounds sterling; that he had been encouraged not to resign with the hope of a support but never had been relieved; that he had taken his majesty's grant from the 5th of July, 1772, to the 5th of January, 1774, and that without his majesty's leave he dare not refuse it.

[Feb. 11.] The house resolved, "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 inmediate removal be prepared"-yeas 96-

nays 9.

[Feb. 24.] The house prepared to exhibit articles of impeachment, in their own name, and the name of all the inhabitants of the province, against the chief justice. His excellency excep

ted.

ted to the proceedings of the house as unconstitutional; for which reason he could not give them any countenance.

[March 1.] They prepared articles of high crimes and misdemeanors against the chief justice, to present to his excellency and the council, in which they said, "The salary, and hopes of augmentation 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 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."

[March 9.] It was 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 measure therein, is because he also receives his support from the crown."

It is not to be thought, that the leading gentlemen in these proceedings expected to obtain the removal of the chief justice; but by the help of them, they rendered him and the governor more and more obnoxious to the body of the people; added to the dignity and importance of the house in the eyes of the representatives, by placing them upon an apparent level with the house of commons in Britain; and preservd the general animosity against ministerial measures from falling into a decline.

The real, genuine sentiments of the professed patriots may be desired; let me therefore mention, that these are divided in wish and opinion. The great body of them through the several colonies, and even in this, aim at no more than the removal of all the innovations since the expiration of the war. They want to have matters revert back to the state in which they were when the peace commenced, and to be fixed in that state. They wish most ardently to continue in union with Great-Britain; and abhor the thought of a separation. They judge that it would be neither safe not beneficial; that it is infinitely more eligible to have the protection of the mother country, and to remain under her shadow; and that no greater happiness can be enjoyed by them, than a thorough restoration of harmony and affection between them and the parent state, so as to obliterate the remembrance of all past animosity. But there are a few in this colony who hanker

after