disembark, upon occasion, their troops and munitions of war, without obstacles, without discontent on the part of the inhabitants, and, especially, without these eternal complaints of the violation of rights. and of statutes. For such a purpose, no province appeared more suitable than Canada, which, from its situation, was well adapted to overawe the colonies where the late tumults had arisen. But, to facilitate this design, it was requisite to satisfy the Canadians, who, till very lately, having been French, were not yet accustomed to the laws of their new masters, and were even much inclined to detest them. The Canadian nobility, heretofore possessed of great authority in their province, complained that they had no longer so considerable a part in public affairs, as they had enjoyed under the French domination. The people, professing generally the Catholic religion, were dissatisfied because they were not permitted to partake of all the privileges and civil advantages enjoyed by Protestant subjects.

These motives determined the government to extend the authority of the nobility, and establish a perfect equality of rights between the Catholics and Protestants. Accordingly, upon the motion of lord North, the parliament passed an act, establishing, in the province of Canada, a legislative council, invested with all powers, except that of imposing taxes. It was provided, that its members should be appointed by the crown, and continue in authority during its pleasure; that the Canadian subjects professing the Catholic faith, might be called to sit in this council; that the Catholic clergy, with the exception of the regular orders, should be secured in the enjoyment of their possessions, and of their tithes towards all those who professed the same religion; that the French laws, without jury, should be reestablished, preserving, however, the English laws, with trial by jury, in criminal cases. It was also added, in order to furnish the ministers with a larger scope for their designs, that the limits of Canada should be extended so as to embrace the territory situated between the lakes, the river Ohio and the Mississippi. Thus, it was hoped, that, being flanked by a province reduced to a state of absolute dependence on the government, and with this bridle, as it were, in the mouth, the Americans would no longer dare to renew their accustomed sallies.

In the last place, a bill was proposed and passed, which authorised, in case of exigency, the quartering of soldiers in the houses of citizens.

These new laws were received in England with universal applause; as a general and violent indignation had been excited there, by the insolence and enormities of the Americans. The bill of Quebec, however, as that of Canada was called, found a much less cordial reception. It even occasioned much murmuring among the English people. The other laws,' it was said, ' are just and proper, because

they tend to establish English authority over the seditious; but this is an attempt against the national liberty and religion.'

Governor Hutchinson, become odious to the Americans, was succeeded by general Gage, a man much known, and highly respected, in America. He was invested with the most ample authority, to pardon and remit, at discretion, all treason or felony, and even all murders or crimes, of whatever denomination, as also all forfeitures and penalties whatsoever, which the inhabitants of Massachusetts might have incurred.

An universal curiosity prevailed, to know the result of the new measures taken by the English ministers, and what would be the issue of a contest, in which all the authority of a most ancient and powerful kingdom, formidable even from the terror of its name, and the recent glory of its arms, combatted against the obstinacy of a people naturally headstrong, and attached to their privileges almost to infatuation. Nor did the course of events remain long in doubt. For, upon the arrival in Boston of the news of the port bill, a meeting of the inhabitants was immediately called; in which, the act was declared to be unjust and cruel; they made their appeal to God and to the world. A vast number of copies of the act were printed and dispersed throughout the colonies; and, to make the deeper impression on the multitude, the copies were printed on mourning paper, bordered with black lines; and they were cried through the country, as the barbarous, cruel, sanguinary and inhuman murder.' In many places, it was burnt with great solemnity by the assembled multitude.

In the midst of this effervescence, general Gage arrived at Boston; where, notwithstanding the general agitation, he was received with distinction.

The committee of correspondence perceived all the importance of uniting in a common sentiment the committees of the other colonies; but they also felt the constraint of their present position, since the particular interests of Boston were now especially concerned. They wrote, therefore, with a modest reserve, and their letters merely expressed a hope, that the city of Boston would be considered as suffering for the common cause.

The flames of this combustion were soon communicated to all parts of the continent; there was not a place that did not convene its assembly, that did not despatch its letters, animated with the same spirit; the praises, the congratulations, the encouragements, addressed. to the Bostonians, were without end. The province of Virginia was also on this occasion prompt to give the signal and the example; its assembly was in session when the news arrived of the Boston port bill. It was immediately resolved, that the first of June, the time prefixed for the law to take effect, should be observed by all as a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation; that on this day, the divine mercy should be supplicated, that it would deign to avert the

calamities which threatened the Americans with the loss of their rights, and a civil war; that it would inspire all hearts and all minds with the same affections and with the same thoughts, that they might effectually concur in the defence of their liberty. The other cities followed this example. The popular orators in the public halls, and the ministers of religion in the churches, pronounced discourses adapted to inflame the people against the authors of the usurpations, and all the evils of which the Bostonians were the victims. The governor thought it prudent to dissolve the assembly of Virginia. But prior to their separation, they contracted a league, by which they declared, that the attempt by coercion, to induce one of the colonies to consent to an arbitrary tax, was to be considered as an outrage common to all; that in such a case, it was just and necessary that all should unite, with one consent, to oppose such pernicious, such detestable counsels. Not content with this, they adopted a resolution, which was the most important of all; it purported that all the colonies should be invited to choose deputies, to convene every year, in a general congress, to deliberate in common upon the general interests of America.

In Boston, the general assembly of the province having met, the new governor informed the house, that on the first of June, in conformity to the port bill, their sittings must be transferred to Salem. But perceiving, that, to avoid this translation, they hastened to terminate the affairs in deliberation, he adjourned them himself to Salem, for the 7th of June. When reassembled in this place, the house immediately took into consideration the events of the day. The leaders, among whom Samuel Adams was the most active, had prepared the resolutions. The assembly decreed that a general congress should be convoked; they elected the deputies that were to represent the province in the same, and made provision for their expenses. Maryland held its assembly at Annapolis; South Carolina, at Charleston; Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia; Connecticut, at New London; Rhode Island, at Newport; and, in a word, all the provinces, from New Hampshire to South Carolina, pursued one course; all adhered to the measure of holding a general congress, and elected their deputies accordingly. No province sent less than two, or more than seven representatives. The city of Philadelphia being rich, flourishing and populous, and forming a central point between the provinces of the north and those of the south, was chosen for the seat of the general congress.

The associations against British commerce were also resumed with great spirit; the provincial assemblies, the town meetings, and the committees of correspondence, all cooperated, with admirable effect, in promoting the same object. Had it been possible to increase the animosity and indignation already kindled by the Boston port bill, they must have redoubled at the news of the two other acts, con16

VOL. I.

cerning the civil administration of Massachusetts, and that of Quebec. The Boston committtee of correspondence originated a motion, upon this occasion of great moment; it was to form a general combination, which should be called The League and Covenant' in imitation of the leagues and covenants made in the times of civil wars in England. The covenanters were required to obligate themselves, in the presence of God, and promise in the most solemn and religious manner, to cease all commerce with England, dating from the last of the ensuing month of August, until the late detestable acts should be repealed, and the colony reinstated in all its rights, franchises, liberty and privileges; not to purchase or use, after this term, any British goods, wares or merchandise whatsoever; and to abstain from all commerce or traffic whatever with those who should use or introduce them, or refuse to enter into the solemn league. Finally, a menace was added, which, in a period of such universal excitement, was sufficient to intimidate, that the names of those should be published who should refuse to give this authentic proof of their attachment to the rights and liberty of their country. If the resolution was bold, its execution was not tardy. The articles of the league were transmitted, by circulars, to the other provinces, with invitation to the inhabitants to annex their names. Either voluntarily or out of fear, an infinite number subscribed in all the provinces, and particularly in those of New England. The citizens of Philadelphia alone discovered a repugnance to the measure; not that they felt less abhorrence for the proceedings of England, or were less attached to their privileges; but a total suspension of commerce with Great Britain, appeared to them a thing of so great importance, and so prejudicial to many industrious inhabitants of their city, that they could not but hesitate as to its adoption. They desired, therefore, to leave it for the determination of the general congress; promising to execute scrupulously, whatever might be the resolutions of that assembly.

General Gage, astonished and inflamed at the very name of league, a name so full of dread for the ears of an officer of the crown of England, issued a proclamation, declaring it to be an illegal and criminal combination, and contrary to the allegiance due to the king. But these were mere words. The people of Massachusetts published, on their part, that the declaration of the governor was of itself tyrannical; they contended, that no authority could prevent the subjects from consulting together, and forming conventions for the maintainance of their rights, in cases of oppression.

Thus the laws upon which the British ministers had rested their hopes of dividing the counsels, appeasing the tumults, securing obedience, and reestablishing tranquillity in America, were those which originated more union, greater commotions, more open revolt, and a more determined spirit of resistance. Nor should it be ima

gined, that so much agitation was excited only by men of obscure condition, or a few party leaders; on the contrary, men of all ranks engaged in the work; and among the foremost, numbers remarkable for their opulence, their authority or their talents. The landholders, especially, were exasperated more than all others, and manifested a more vehement desire to triumph over the ministers; whom they called wicked, and whom they detested so mortally.

Meanwhile, on the first of June, at mid-day, all business ceased in the custom house of Boston, and the port was shut against every vessel that offered to enter; and, on the 14th, permission to depart was refused to all that had entered before. This day was observed as a day of calamity at Williamsburg, the capital of Virginia; and as a day of general mourning in all the other cities of the continent. At Philadelphia, all business ceased, and all tradesmen, excepting the Quakers, closed their shops; the bells sounded the funeral knell. But the Bostonians excited pity; their city, lately so rich, so prosperous, so distinguished for the number and courteous character of its inhabitants, now presented, in every part, only the images of desolation and despair. The rich, in having lost the rents of their buildings, were becoming poor; the poor, deprived of employment, had fallen into indigence. Each sustained his share of the general calamity. A malignant soldiery, parading through the city, seemed also inclined to insult their miseries.

The inhabitants of the province of Massachusetts, and of all the others, came, indeed, to their succour; subscriptions went round, in Philadelphia, to procure some relief for those Bostonians, who, by the effect of the new law, were deprived of subsistence. But how inadequate were these succours, to satisfy the exigencies of such distress! Many of these unfortunate sufferers were reduced to the last extreme of penury. If the miseries, however, they experienced, were extreme, so also were the resignation and the fortitude with which they supported them. It may well be supposed, they perused with singular attention the pages of ancient and modern story, which have recorded the sufferings of the apostles of liberty, either to publish them, as they did, in a style often of virulence, and more often of emphasis, in the public journals, or to repeat them in popular assemblies, and paragon with such illustrious examples, the tribulations of the Bostonians, whose constancy they magnified with boundless encomium. They were styled the living martyrs of liberty, the generous defenders of the rights of man; they were pronounced the worthy descendants of their virtuous and heroic ancestors.

The government had persuaded itself, that, the port of Boston being shut up, the inhabitants of the neighboring towns would endeavor to avail themselves of it by drawing to their own ports the commerce hitherto transacted in that city. But things took a direction very wide of its expectations. The inhabitants of Marblehead,