principle, which if once admitted would have subjected the colonies to unlimited parliamentary taxation, without the privilege of being represented. The right, abstractedly considered, was denied, and the smallest attempt to establish the claim by precedent was uniformily resisted. The colonies, therefore, entered into measures to encourage their own manufactures, and to retrench the uses of foreign superfluities, so long as the free importation of tea was prohibited.

From the royal and ministerial assurances given in favour of America, in the year 1709, and the subsequent repeal in the next year of five-sixths of the duties which had been imposed in 1767, tegether with the consequent renewal of the mercantile intercourse between Great Britain and the colonies, many hoped that the contention between the two countries was finally closed. In all the provinces, except Massachussetts, appearances seemed to favour that opinion. Many incidents operated there to the prejudice of that harmony which had begun elsewhere to return. The sta tioning a military force among them was a fruitful source of uneasiness. The royal army had been brought thither, with the avowed design of enforcing submission to the mother country. Speeches from the throne, and addresses from parliament, had taught the soldiers to look upon the inhabitants as a factious, turbulent people, who aimed at throwing off all subordination to Great Britain. They, on the other hand, were accustomed to look on the army as instruments of tyranny, sent on purpose to dragoon them out of their liberties. Reciprocal insults soured the tempers, and mutual injuries en bittered the passions, of the opposite parties. But the first open

VOL. XXIV.

X

rupture

rupture took place on the 2d of March, between a private soldier of the 29th regiment and an inhabitant. On the 5th a more dreadful scene was presented. The soldiers, when under arms, were pressed upon, insulted, and pelted by a mob, who dared them to fire. In this situation one of the soldiers, who had received a blow, 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, and nothing but the promise of removing the troops out of the town prevented the inhabitants from falling on the soldiers. The killed were buried in one vault, and in a most respectful manner, to express the indignation of the people at the slaughter of their brethren by soldiers quartered among them, in violation of their civil liberties. Preston, the captain who commanded, and the party who fired on the people, were com-. mitted to prison, and afterwards tried. Two were found guilty of manslaughter, and the rest were acquitted.

The events of this tragical night sunk deep in the minds of the people, and were made subservient to important purposes. The anniversary of it was observed with great solemnity. Eloquent orators were successively employed to deliver an annual oration, to preserve the remembrance of it fresh in their minds.

The obstacles to returning harmony were increased by making the governor and judges in Massachussetts independent of the province. Formerly they had been paid by yearly grants from the assembly, but about this time provision was made for paying their salaries by the crown. This they

made

made as the foundation of an impeachment against Mr. Justice Oliver, before the governor; but he excepted to their proceedings as unconstitutional. The assembly, nevertheless, gained two important points they rendered the governor more odious to the inhabitants, and increased the public respect for themselves, as the counterpart of the British house of commons, and as the guardians of the rights of the people.

A personal animosity subsisted between governor Hutchinson and some distinguished patriots in Massachussetts. The flame was increased to a high pitch by letters that had been written by Hutchinson, Oliver, and others, to persons in power and office in England; in which they recommended measures to secure the obedience of the people. These letters fell into the hands of Dr. Franklin, agent of the province, who transmitted them to Boston. The indignation which was excited by this discovery knew no bounds. The house of assembly sent a petition and remonstrance to the king, A. D. charging their governor, &c. with being traitors to their country, and with giving false and partial information: at the same time they prayed for justice against them, and their speedy removal from their places.

1774.

The consequence of this petition and remonstrance was the acquittal of the governor, &c. and the removal of Dr. Franklin from the office which he held under government, as deputy post-master. This was considered as an insult offered to their public agent, who was bound as such to give his constituents every information respecting their chartered rights. But Dr. Franklin's only offence was not the transmission of these letters: he had taken. a decided part in favour of America; had written

some small tracts which were obnoxious to government, particularly one entitled "Rules for reducing a great Empire to a small one," and was, in fact, become the idol of his country.

For ten years there had been but little intermission to the disputes between Great Britain and her colonies, and the ground of the controversy was canvassed in every company. The more the Americans read, reasoned, and conversed on the subject, the more they were convinced of their right to the exclusive disposal of their own property. This 'was followed by a determination to resist all encroachments on that palladium of British liberty. They were as fully satisfied of their right to refuse and resist parliamentary taxation, as the ruling powers of Great Britain were of their right to demand and enforce submission to it.

СНАР.

CHAP. IX.

Opposition to the Revenue System. East-India Company send Tea. Bostonians throw it overboard. Conduct of Parliament towards Boston and Canada. Americans assemble. Appoint & Congress. An Army appointed. Seize the Cannon and Ammunition in Rhode-Island, and at Portsmouth. Battle of Lexington. General Gage's Proclamation. Battle of Bunker's Hill, Its Consequences. Meeting of Congress. Their Arrangements. General Washington appointed Commander in Chief. Attack on Quebec. Defeat and Death of Montgomery. Termination of the Royal Government.

WE

are now entering upon a new era of the American controversy. The duty on tea had been retained when the other duties had been given up, avowedly for the purpose of exhibiting the right of parliament to tax the colonies. The Americans denied that right, and discontinued the importation of the commodity; and white no attempt was made to introduce tea into the colonies against this declared sense of the inhabitants, these opposing claims were in no danger of collision.

As the resolution of the colonies not to import or consume tea had in a great measure deprived the English rovernment of a revenue from this quarter, a scheme was formed for introducing tea into America under cover of the East-India company. For this purpose an act was passed enabling the company to export all sorts of teas, duty free,