CHAPTER XXXI.

THE BOSTON MASSACRE.

214. Tax on Tea. - The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, but Parliament still declared the right to tax the colonies, and the next year a new tax was imposed on tea, glass, paper, lead, and painters' colors. This act changed entirely the attitude of the colonists. The repeal of the Stamp Act had produced much better feeling, and the people had entertained the hope that Parliament,

Samuel Adams.

would not again assert the right, which she claimed, of taxing them. Now, however, there was a grea revulsion of feeling.

A

215. Its Effects. - The determination not to submit to a tax was almost the universal sentiment. board of trade was established at Boston to act independently of the colonial assemblies. The "writs of assistance" were legalized, and the New York Assembly was suspended. The colonies ceased to import taxed articles, so that the amount of receipts from the law was insignificant.

216. Troops in Boston. The king's troops were now in Boston. Cannon were planted, sentries posted, and citizens challenged. Quarrels between the people and the soldiers were frequent. On the 5th of March, 1770, a crowd of men and boys, exasperated by the presence of the redcoats, insulted the city guard.

217. Boston Mob. In the evening several hundred persons with sticks or clubs gathered about King Street (now State Street), and threatened and provoked the soldiers with abusive language, daring them to fire. The officer ordered the soldiers into the barracks. By nine o'clock the mob gathered around the sentry, who was on

guard at the Custom-House, with cries, "Kill him! kill him! Knock him down!" Captain Preston, the officer of the day, sent a corporal and six men to protect the sentry. At length the assaulting party came to close quarters with the soldiers, still continuing their abuse and daring them to fire. The soldiers. then fired upon the mob, and four persons were killed and five dangerously wounded, one of whom afterwards died.

218. The Soldiers tried. - A month later the soldiers were tried for murder, and were defended by John Adams and Josiah Quincy. Although these lawyers were stanch patriots, they felt that the killing was justifiable, and were determined that the soldiers should have justice. It was a notable trial. Captain Preston and six soldiers were acquitted, and two were convicted of manslaughter.. The sentence that they be burned in the hand was executed in open court. They were then discharged. The result of this trial was regarded as proving the integrity of Boston juries, and as clearly showing that they would give upright verdicts, even in defiance of popular opinions.

219. The Gaspee." On the 9th of June, 1772, the British armed schooner "Gaspee," commanded by Lieutenant Dudingston, ran aground upon a point in Narragansett Bay. That night eight boatloads of respectable men from Providence boarded the schooner, captured her, and burned both the vessel and its stores. The officers and crew were put on shore, and the attacking party returned to Providence. A reward of £100 from the governor, and an additional reward of £500 from the British government, for the discovery of any person engaged in the affair, as well as a reward of £500 more for the capture of the captain of the enterprise, were all without effect. In the Boston Massacre the first blood was shed by the British soldiers, but the affair of the " Gaspee" may be regarded as the real beginning of the revolutionary struggle.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY.

220. Opposition. The colonies were rapidly learning that they could co-operate with each other in their controversies with the British government. The opposition to the Tea Tax was becoming

Faneuil Hall, "the Cradle of Liberty."

resign. On November 28th, Captain

general. Threats were made against the pilots of Boston, if they should bring any vessels laden with tea into the harbor. 221. Boston at Fever Heat. Public meetings

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were held, and resolutions were passed forbidding any tea to be landed or received. The feeling was rapidly grow ing that the quarrel be tween Great Britain and the Massachusetts col

ony must come, and that it might as well take place now as at any time. On November 18th, 1773, a committee. was appointed to wait upon the consignees and request that they should resign their appointments. They refused to Hall, in the ship "Dart

mouth," came to anchor, having on board one hundred and fourteen

chests of tea.

222. Public Meeting. The next day the good people of Boston found written notices posted in all parts of the town, inviting all friends of the country to meet at nine o'clock for concerted action to prevent the landing of the tea. The meeting adjourned until the next day, when it was determined that the tea should not be landed. Faneuil Hall being too small, the assembly adjourned to the Old South Meeting-House, where

it was voted "that the tea shall not be landed, that no duty shall be paid, and that it shall be sent back in the same bottoms."

On

Faneuil Hall. This famous building, which is usually denominated "The Cradle of Liberty," was first built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil, at his own expense, and given to the town. The first story was intended for a market, and the second story was added for a town hall. The building was destroyed by fire in 1761. It was rebuilt by the town with the aid of a lottery established by the colony for that purpose. This new building was dedicated March 14, 1763, when James Otis delivered the dedicatory address. It was enlarged in 1806 to its present size, and a third story was added. "The first public oration in the hall was the funeral eulogy, delivered in honor of its donor, Peter Faneuil, March 14, 1743, by Master Lovell, of the Latin School." When Boston was occupied by the British troops in 1775-76, theatrical entertainments, particularly ridiculing the patriots, were given in its hall.

223. Meeting in the Old South. December 14th, 1773, the people of Boston and the neighboring towns met at the Old South Meeting-House and ordered the owner of the ship, Mr. Rotch, to apply immediately for clearance papers, and that the ship must sail away without landing any of its cargo. The clearance papers were refused by the collector. December 16th, 1773, the public meeting of citizens was continued, and several thousand persons were present. Josiah Quincy made a famous address, inquiring of the people if they would stand by their words with such decisive action as might be necessary. He advised them carefully to consider the issue, and to look forward to the end before entering upon their course of action. In the afternoon the question, "Will you abide by your former resolutions with respect to not suffering the tea to be landed?" was put. An affirmative answer was given unanimously. Mr. Rotch was ordered to procure a pass for his vessel. About six o'clock he informed the body that he had applied to the governor for a pass, which had been refused.

It has been the scene of many brilliant social and political events. Entertainments have been given here to distinguished men almost without number. Its walls have echoed to the eloquence of Samuel Adams, James Otis, Daniel Webster, Wendell Phillips, Charles Sumner, and others. In this hall are many interesting portraits. The largest is the great painting representing Daniel Webster addressing the United States Senate on the occasion of his celebrated reply to Hayne of South Carolina.

224. Indian War-whoop. It was voted that the meeting be dissolved. The crowd immediately ran to Griffin's Wharf. At the same time, twenty or thirty persons from the North End of the town, dressed as Indians, crossed Fort Hill, and at once boarded the tea ships. So expeditious was the proceeding that in two hours' time they had hoisted out of three vessels three hundred and forty-two chests of tea, broken them open, and discharged their contents into the salt water. The whole business was conducted in a very quiet way, with a multitude of spectators upon and around the wharf. No damage was done to the vessels or any other property, and when the work was finished the people returned to their homes in Boston and the surrounding towns.

225. Retaliatory Measures. Such a bold proceeding could not go unpunished, and retaliatory measures were at once adopted by the British government. The climax was now reached. Party lines were drawn. The patriots were termed Whigs; the royalists were called Tories. Nothing apparently could now prevent a union of the colonies. Military companies, called "minute-men," were formed. From this time on it was evident that but little was needed to throw all the colonies into open rebellion, and that a spark would kindle the flames of war.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

ENGLAND RETALIATES.

226. George the Third. King George III. was an obstinate man, arbitrary, and stubborn. He began his reign in 1760, when he was twenty-two years old. He died in 1820, after a reign of sixty years, the longest reign in the entire history of England. He was not a great statesman, and his chief characteristic was what we may call persistent wilfulness. He was now thoroughly bent on reducing the colonies to a state of submission. Lord North, his prime minThey therefore were able

ister, was also hostile to the colonies.

to secure from Parliament a series of the most severe and repressive measures.