agreement of the teas contrary to the agreement respecting that article. New-York and Philadelphia had kept to the agreement, and had run all the teas that the market demanded; but there had been imported into Boston, from the beginning of 1768 to the end of last year, not less than 2714 chests, by more than a hundred different persons. Mr. Hutchinson and his sons were considerable importers. It was evident that the body of merchants could not be depended upon. Mr. Thomas Mijjiin, of Philadelphia, being at Boston, put it therefore to the sons of li berty, when the teas were expected, "Will you engage that they shall not be landed? If so, I will answer for Philadelphia.". They pledged their honor.

[Oct. 2.] The inhabitants of Philadelphia assembled, and unanimously entered into various resolves, in which they censured the resolution of the East-India Company to send out their tea to America, subject to the payment of duties on its being landed, as an open attempt to enforce the ministerial plan, and a violent attack upon the liberties of America; and declared it to be the duty of every American to oppose this attempt, and that whoever should directly or indirectly countenance it, was an enemy to his country. They then fixed upon a committee to wait on the gentlemen, reported to be appointed to receive and sell the tea, and to request their resigning. Within three days the whole number resigned; Messrs. Whartons and Brown, without making the least difficulty; the other two, not till the treatment they met with (on appearing at the coffee-house) for the shuffling answer they had given, convinced them that it was not safe trifling with the public opinion. Since this meeting, the Boston sons of liberty have assured by letter the sons of liberty at Philadelphia, that no tea shall be landed.

At New-York, when captain Sears and captain M'Dougall heard that the tea was to be sent, they concluded that an opposition to it was necessary, and agreed upon contriving to unite the tea-smugglers, the merchants, and the sons of liberty in that service; and that captain M'Dougall should write against the design of introducing and vending the tea agrecable to the ministerial plan, but should remain concealed as the author. A few of each class were called together, and the mode of opposition settled. Publications, tending to spread and increase the alarm of imminent danger to the liberties of the country, appeared periodically. As the time approached for the arrival of the tea ships, the publications became more spirited and threatening. [Nov. 5.] An hand-bill addressed to the friends of liberty and commerce was circulated through the city, calculated to provoke resentment against all the encouragers of the tea plan. Afterward

written

written papers were stuck up at the coffee-house and other pla ces [Nov. 8.] menacing destruction to any person who should accept a commission for the sale of the East-India Company's teas, or be an accessory. In rather more than a week, there was published [Nov. 18.] a paper signed Legion, addressed to the stated pilots of the port, and all others whom it might concern, directing them how to proceed in reference to any teaship, and requiring them, at their peril, to bring her no farther than the Hook. In another paper, signed the Mohawks, the tea-ship is said to be laden with fetters, forged for them in GreatBritain, and every vengeance is denounced against all persons, who dare in any manner to contribute to the introduction of these chains. In December, the London, captain Chambers, and the tea ship arrived on the same day; the former came up directly to the wharf, the other remained at the Hook, and was watched till she returned, by a vessel stationed there for the purpose. On her arrival a committee waited on the consignees, who, agreeable to a former promise, assured them that they would neither receive nor sell the tea, as it came liable to an American duty. Captain Chambers ventured to bring seventeen chests on a private account, which were taken and thrown overboard into the harbor. Had the company's ship come to the wharf, she would probably have been burnt, for captain Sears and five others had determined upon it, and provided themselves with combustibles for that purpose.

At Philadelphia, printed papers were dispersed, warning the Delaware pilots not to conduct any of the tea ships into harbor, as they were only sent for the purpose of enslaving and poisoning all the Americans; and at the same time plainly intimating, that it was expected they would apply their knowledge of the river, under the colour of their profession, so as effectually to secure their country from such an imminent danger.

In most places the consignees were obliged to relinquish their appointments, and to enter into engagements not to act in that capacity, and no other persons daring to receive the cargoes consigned to them, the captains of the New-York and Philadelphia ships, from these circumstances, and the knowledge of the risk they ran from the determined resolution of the people, concluded upon returning directly to Great-Britain, without entangling themselves by any entry at the custom-houses. But it was otherwise in the Massachusetts.

Methods were taken to spirit up the people at large by fugitive pieces, hand-bills, resolves of town-meetings, the mutual intercourse of committees, and the like. [Nov. 3.] At length some hundreds of the inhabitants of Boston and the neighboring towns,

meet

meet at Liberty-tree, agreeable to a notification issued the day before, "for to hear the consignees resign and swear, that they will re-ship any teas, that may by the East-India Company be assigned to them." The consignees are in general obnoxious to the public by reason of their near and intimate connections with the governor, on whose support they depend. They are not terrified into an appearance at the place proposed; but meet together by agreement at the store of Mr. Clark, who is one of them, in King-street. A committee is appointed by the assembly to wait upon them with a message, to which they pay no regard. The people, who attend the committee as spectators, upon this force open the doors of the ware-house, and enter with great violence; and then attempt getting up stairs into the compting-house but are driven back. [Nov. 5.] The sons of liberty not having succeeded in this procedure, a town-meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants is called. A large number is collected; and it is agreed to adopt the resolves of the citizens of Philadelphia. A committee is chosen to wait upon the consignees, who decline complying with the request of the town by letters, which tho' decent, are the next day voted daringly affronting, when the meeting is immediately dissolved. Some of the sons of liberty are fearful of pushing the matter too far, lest the town, and then the colony, should be drawn into a quarrel with Great-Britain. To such it is said, "It must come to a quarrel with Great-Britain and the colony, sooner or later; and if so, what can be a better time than the present? Hundreds of years may pass away before the parliament will make such a number of acts in violation of the British constitution as it has done of late years, and by which is has excited so formidable an opposition to the measures of ministry. Beside, the longer the contest is delayed, the more administration will be strengthened. Do not you observe, how the government at home are increasing their party here, by sending over young fellows to enjoy appointments, who marry into our first families, and so weaken the opposition? By such like means, and by multiplying posts and places, and giving them to their own friends, or applying them to the corruption of their antagonists, they will increase their own force faster in proportion, than the force of the country party will increase by population. If then we must quarrel before we can have our rights secured, now is the most eligible period. Our credit also is at stake; we must venture; and unless we do, we shall be discarded by the sons of liberty in the other colonies, whose assistance we may expect upon emergencies, in case they find us steady, resolute and faithful." They conclude to venture onward.

[Nov.

[Nov. 18.] A new town-meeting is called, and a new committec appointed to wait upon the consignees, to know whether they will resign their appointment; to which they answer, "It is out of our power to comply with the request of the town." This answer may be built upon solemn engagements not to resign; otherwise it is hard to conceive how it should be more out of their power, than the power of the Philadelphia consignees, who have resigned six weeks ago. It is a managed attair between them and the governor, who calls a council for advice [Nov. 19.] upon measures proper for preserving the peace, and for supporting the authority of government. While the council are debating a petition of the consignees is presented, praying leave to resign themselves and the property committed to them, to his excellency and their honors as the guardians of the people. After debate, the further consideration is postponed to the 23d, then to the 27th, then to the 29th, when the council make a few observations, decline complying with the petition, and advise his excellcncy to renew his orders to the justices and others, to exert themselves for the security of his majesty's subjects, the preservation of peace and good order, and for preventing all offences against the law. About this time the consignees, consisting of the governor's sons, cousins, and particular friends, remove to the castle for personal safety. The day before the last meeting of the council, captain Hall in the Dartmouth, came to an anchor near the castle, having on board one hundred and fourteen chests of tea; and on the day of their meeting comes into the harbour. On the same day a notification is posted up in all parts of the town, inviting every friend to his country to meet at nine o'clock to make united resistance to the most destructive measures of administration. The Meeting of the people at Boston and the neighbouring towns, is continued by adjournment to the next day, [Nov. 30.] when it is determined that the tea shall be returned. Faneuil-hall being too small for the assembly, they adjourn to the Old South Meeting-house, and confirm the former determination by voting, "that the tea shall not be landed, that no duty shall be paid, and that it shall be sent back in the same bottom." They further vote, "that Mr. Rotch, the owner of the vessel, be directed not to enter the tea at his peril, and that captain Hall be informed, and at his peril not to suffer any of the tea to be landed." They also appoint a watch of twenty-five men to be a guard upon the Dartmouth, lying at Griffin's wharf. A letter is received from the consignees, offering to store the teas till they can write and receive further orders; but the proposal is rejected. Mr. Greenleaf, the sheriff, appears and begs leave to read a proclamation from the governor, which requires the people forth

with to disperse and to surcease all further proceedings. He is allowed to do it; and, upon finishing, there is a loud and gene-ral hiss. The people afterward vote, "that captain Bruce, on his arrival do conform to the votes respecting Hall's vessel; that no tea from Great-Britain be landed or sold till the act imposing the duty is repealed; that the captain of the present watch be desired to make out a list for the next night, and so on, until the vessels leave the harbor; that should the watch be molested, that the inhabitants be alarmed by the tolling of the bells at night, and the righing of them in the day; that six persons be appointed to give notice to the country towns, upon any important Occasion; that every vessel arriving with tea have a proper watch, and that their brethen in the country be desired to afford their assistance on the first notice." They determine to carry their votes and resolves into execution at the risk of life and property; thank their brethren in the neighbouring towns, and then dissolve the meeting.

After the dissolution, the committee of correspondence for the town of Boston held their meetings, and invite the like committees of the adjacent towns to join them; several do it; the whole jointly assume the direction of all that relates to the teas of the East-India Company. They keep a constant military watclr of twenty-five men every night, generally with fire arms, to prevent the tea being privately landed. The vessels belonging to captains Bruce and Coffin, are upon their arrival ordered to Griffin's wharf..

[Dec. 14.] The people of Boston and the neighboring towns, that have agreed to act in concert with Boston, meet at the Old South Meeting-house, and conclude upon ordering Mr. Rotch to apply immediately for a clearance for his ship. Meanwhile the governor receiving intimation that she would be sent to sea, and that it might not be through the ordinary channel by the castle, acquaints admiral Montague, and desires him to take the proper precautions, on which the admiral orders the Active and King Fisher to be fitted for sea, and to fall down and guard the passages out of the harbour. The governor likewise renews in writing his orders to colonel Leslie, to suffer no vessel, coasters excepted, to pass the fortress from the town without a permit signed by himself. A sufficient number of guns are loaded· on this special occasion.

The assembly are acquainted, that the collector cannot give Mr. Rotch a clearance, until the vessel is discharged of dutiable articles. [Nov. 16.] Mr. Sumuel Philips Savage, of Weston, is chosen moderator. The number assembled from town and country is thought to be some thousands. Upon the present crisis

several