XL 1769. The day on which Parliament was prorogued, CHAP. saw the Legislature of Virginia assembled at Wil liamsburgh. Great men were there; some who were May. among the greatest; Washington, Patrick Henry, and for the first time, Jefferson. Botetourt, the only Governor who had appeared in Virginia within memory, proceeded to open the session, drawn in a state coach by six white horses; he was in perfect harmony with the Council; the House of Burgesses voted him a most dutiful address; two and fifty guests were entertained at his table on the first day, and as many more on the second. He took care also to make "a judicious use" of the permission which he had received to negotiate an extended boundary with the Cherokees. 2 The strife in America had begun on a demand by the Custom House officers for Writs of Assistance. Connecticut had refused them; the Governor and Council, who constituted the highest court in Virginia, heard arguments on their legality, and he concurred with the Council that they were il legal.3 Between Botetourt and the Legislature all was courtesy. But the Assembly did not forget its duty; and taking into consideration the Resolutions and Address which Hillsborough and Bedford had proposed, and which both Houses of Parliament had voted by large majorities, on the sixteenth of May, it devised a measure which became the example for the continent. 'Botetourt to Hillsborough, 10 May, 1769. 2 Roger Sherman to Dr. W. S. Johnson, 25 June, 1768. Botetourt to Secretary of State, 16 May, 1769. CHAP. XL. 1769. May. Meeting the declaration of Parliament by a direct negative of its own, it claimed the sole right of imposing taxes on the inhabitants of Virginia. With equal unanimity, it asserted the lawfulness and expediency of procuring a concert of the Colonies in care for the violated rights of America. It laid bare the flagrant tyranny of applying to America the obsolete statute of Henry the Eighth; and it warned the King of "the dangers that would ensue," if any person in any part of America should be seized and carried beyond sea for trial. It consummated its work by communicating its Resolutions and asking the concurrence of every Legislature in America.1 The Resolves were calm in manner, concise, simple, and effective; so perfect in substance and in form, that time finds no omission to regret, no improvement to suggest. The menace of arresting patriots, which was to have been a formidable instrument of vengeful malignity, lost all its terrors; and Virginia's declaration and action consolidated Union. Is it asked who was the adviser of the measure? None can tell. Great things were done, and were done tranquilly and modestly, without a thought of the glory that was their due. Had the Ancient Dominion been silent, I will not say that Massachusetts might have faltered; but mutual trust would have been wanting. American freedom was more prepared by courageous counsel than by successful war. The Assembly had but one mind, and their Resolves were the Act of Virginia. Had they been framed by the leaders in Massachusetts Bay them 'Hutchinson's Hist. of Massachusetts, iii. 494. 2 Jefferson's Autobiography in his Writings, i. 4. XL. selves, "they could not have been better adapted to CHAP. vindicate their past proceedings, and to encourage them to perseverance.' "1 The next morning the Assembly had just time to adopt an Address to the King, when the Governor, having heard of what he called "the abominable measure," 2 summoned them and said: "I have heard of your Resolves, and augur ill of their effects; you have made it my duty to dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly." The Burgesses of Virginia, having finished what they could do in their official capacity, met together as patriots and friends, with their Speaker as Moderator. They adopted the Resolves which Washington had brought with him from Mount Vernon; and which formed a well digested, stringent and practicable scheme of non-importation, until all the "unconstitutional" revenue acts should be repealed. Such too was their zeal against the Slave-trade, they made a special covenant with one another, not to import any slaves, nor purchase any imported. These associations were signed by Peyton Randolph, Richard Bland, Archibald Cary, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard Henry Lee, Washington, Carter Braxton, Henry, Jefferson, Nelson, and all the Burgesses of Virginia there assembled; and were then sent throughout the country for the signature of every man in the Colony." 4 The voice of the Old Dominion roused the "most 1769. May. XL. 1769. May. CHAP. temperate Province" of Pennsylvania, from its slumbers to express through its merchants their approval of what had been done. Delaware did still better. Her Assembly adopted the Virginia Resolves word for word,1 and every Colony South of Virginia in due time followed the example. John Dickinson to Richard Francis Alison to Ezra Stiles, 1 Henry Lee, 22 June, 1769. Life of August, 1769. R. H. Lee, i. 76, 77. CHAPTER XLI. REPUBLICANISM IN THE EAST AND THE WEST.-HILLSBOROUGH'S MAY-August, 1769. XLI. 1769. MASSACHUSETTS had not only like Virginia to CHAP. assert the rights of America, but also to effect the removal of the troops from Boston, into whose "very May. streets and lanes" about two thousand men had been sent, in equal disregard of good policy1 and of an Act of Parliament. For more than ten months, the Colony remained without an Assembly. 8 The servants of the Crown who had placed their Feb. hopes on the plan for transporting to England the principal Sons of Liberty, became irresolute and timid. The secret Councils which Bernard now held with Hutchinson and Oliver and Auchmuty, ended only in "despair." They had furnished "ample information; "they had got ready to apply the statute of Henry the Eighth; and had persuaded themselves that inferior offenders would have consulted 'Mahon's England, v. 406. Bernard to Hillsborough, 25 |