USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > Part 28
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' Tuesday last being the anniversary of the commemora- tion of the happy deliverance of the English nation from the Popish Plot, commonly called THE POWDER PLOT, the guns at Castle William and at the batteries in town were fired at 1 o'clock ; as also on board the men of war in the harbour.
' It has long been the custom in this town on the Fifth of November for numbers of persons to exhibit on stages some pageantry, denoting their abhorrence of Popery and the horrid Plot which was to have been executed on that day in the year 1685 ; these shews of late years had been contin- ued in the evening, and we have often seen the bad effects at- tending them at such a time ; the servants and negroes would disguise themselves, and being armed with clubs would en- gage each other with great violence, whereby many came off badly wounded ; in short they carried it to such lengths that two parties were created in the town, under the appellation of North-End and South-End : but the disorders that had been committed from time to time induced several gentlemen to try a reconciliation between the two parties ; accordingly the chiefs met on the first of this instant, and conducted that af- fair in a very orderly manner ; in the evening the command- er of the South entered into a treaty with the commander of the North, and after making several overtures they recipro- cally engaged on a UNION, and the former distinctions to subside ; at the same time the chiefs with their assistants en- gaged upon their honour, no mischiefs should arise by their means, and that they would prevent any disorders on the 5th -when the day arrived the morning was all quietness-about noon the pageantry, representing the Pope, Devil, and several other effigies signifying Tyranny, Oppression, Slavery, &c. were brought on stages from the North and South, and met in King-street, where the Union was established in a very cere-
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monial manner, and having given three huzzas, they inter- changed ground, the South marched to the North, and the North to the South, parading through the streets until they met again near the Court-house : the whole then proceeded to the Tree of Liberty, under the shadow of which they refreshed themselves for a while, and then retreated to the northward, agreeable to their plan ;- they reached Copps' Hill before 6 o'clock, where they halted, and having enkindled a fire, the whole pageantry was committed to the flames and consumed : this being finished, every person was requested to retire to their respective homes-It must be noticed to the honour of all those concerned in this business that every thing was con- ducted in a most regular manner, and such order observed as could hardly be expected among a concourse of several thou- sand people -- all seemed to be joined agreeable to their prin- cipal motto Lovely Unity-the leaders, Mr. McIntosh from the South, and Mr. Swift from the North, appeared in military habits, with small canes resting on their left arms, having mu- sick in front and flank ; their assistants appeared also distin- guished with small reeds, then the respective corps followed, among whom were a great number of persons in rank : these with the spectators filled the streets ; not a club was seen among the whole, nor was any negro allowed to approach near the stages ;- after the conflagration the populace retired, and the town remained the whole night in better order than it had ever been on this occasion .- Many gentlemen seeing the af- fair so well conducted, contributed to make up a handsome purse to entertain those that carried it on .- This union. and one other* more extensive, may be looked upon as the (perhaps the only) happy effects arising from the S-p A-t.'
To relieve the merchants in some measure from the diffi- culties to which they were exposed, the custom-house officers gave to vessels destined for foreign ports a certificate, that no stamps could be procured in Boston. Trusting to this secu- rity. and perhaps willing to contest the right of parliament to impose the stamp duty before a court in England, John Hancock, esq.t despatched the first ship, the Boston Packet, Capt. Marshall, which arrived safe at London and was ad- mitted without any trouble. Some other vessels sailed in the same month of November.
In the early part of December the Sons of Liberty (so those who espoused the popular side were called, adopting the appellation given them by Col. Barre on the floor of par-
* Referring probably to an agreement not to import goods from England.
t Mr. Hancock was one of the selectnien : the year preceding he had come into posses- sion of a large estate, left to him by his uncle Thomas H. a great benefactor of the town and also of Harvard College.
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liament) received information, that there was some probability that Mr. Oliver would accept the commission to distribute stamps, notwithstanding his former resignation. He was challenged by an anonymous writer to give a decided an- swer to the question, whether it were so or not. By the fa- vour of the printer, he was permitted to reply in the same ga- zette. This was not satisfactory, and he received a note on the 16th, desiring him to appear ' to-morrow, under Liberty- Tree, at 12 o'clock, to make a publick resignation.' Accord- ingly the selectmen, with the merchants and the principal in- habitants of the town, to the amount of upwards of 2000, as- sembled at the Tree, at the time appointed. Mr. O. sent a note with ' compliments to the gentlemen assembled,' contain- ing a proposition to have the ceremony performed at the Town- house ; but this not being agreeable, he came up to the Tree and declared as follows :
Whereas a Declaration was yesterday inserted in my name and at my desire, in some of the Boston newspapers, that I would not act as distributor of the Stamps, within this Province, which declaration, I am informed, is not satisfactory :
I do hereby in the most explicit and unreserved manner declare, that I have never taken any measures, in consequence of my deputation for that purpose, to act in the office ; and that I never will, directly or indirectly, by myself or any under me, make use of the said deputation, or take any measures for enforcing the Stamp-Act in America, which is so grie- vous to the people.
Andrew Oliver.
Boston, 17 Dec. 1765.
Suffolk, ss.
Boston, Dec. 17th, 1765.
The Honourable Andrew Oliver, Esq. subscriber to the above writing, made oath to the same. (Signed) Ri. Dana, Just. Pacis.
After which three cheers were given, and then Mr. Secretary made a short speech to the following purport, viz. " That he had an utter detestation of the Stamp-Act, and would do all that lay in his power to serve this town or province; and desired that they would no longer look on him as an enemy, but as another man." After which three cheers were again given him-and Hanover Square was clear in 10 minutes.
It is by no means to be inferred, from the pertinacity with which the people of Boston pursued Mr. Oliver, to compel him to a resignation in their own way, that he was a man of vile or mean character. On the contrary, Dr. Eliot's Biogra- phy tells us, ' he was highly respectable for his piety, integ- rity, and knowledge of the affairs of the province.' But it was his misfortune to differ from the majority ; and we may gather, from the zeal with which the majority could crowd upon such a man, some notion of the height to which popular excitement had reached.
The courts of law continuing closed, a memorial was pre- sented, Dec. 18th, to the Governour in Council, from the town of Boston, urging him to exert his influence, ' that under no pretence whatever, we may be any longer deprived of this invaluable blessing.' The committee to present the memorial
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were S. Adams, John Rowe, Th. Cushing, J. Ruddock, Saml. Sewall, John Hancock, J. Henshaw, B. Kent, and Arnold Welles. At the same time, Jer. Gridley, James Otis, and John Adams, were ' applied to as counsel to appear in behalf of the town in support of said memorial.' The result of the memorial was not immediately satisfactory ; but the courts were opened shortly after.
Liberty Tree became a sort of idol. On the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1766, ' it was pruned after the best manner, agreeable to a vote passed by the true-born Sons of Liberty,' by a num- ber of carpenters appointed for the purpose, and a gentleman well skilled in these affairs as a director. So that the Tree was now become a great ornament to the street. Thursday the 20th was fixed for burning one of the stamped papers in the principal towns in every colony. In Boston, the ceremo- ny ' was conducted with great decency and good order,' and the effigies of Bute and Grenville, in full court dress, were ad- ded to the bonfire. On the 24th a vessel arrived from Ja- maica with stamped clearances. The Sons of Liberty imme- diately sent an order to one of their members 'to go and demand in their names, those marks of Creole slavery.' ' Whereupon the person to whom the above was directed, with a number of others, immediately on the receipt thereof, repaired to the vessel, and being told the captain was gone to enter at the Custom-house, they proceeded thither ; when the above warrant being shown, the said stamped clearance was delivered to them ; they then fixed it on a pole, and car- ried it to the lower end of the Court-house, where they put the pole in the stocks and exposed the paper to publick view until the time appointed for execution. At one o'clock the warrant was read with an audible voice, the execution- er then carried the guilty criminal to the centre of King- street, and with a lighted match set fire to one of the S-p- A-ts, and with that burnt the offspring of that hydra-headed monster ; while the smoke was ascending, the executioner pro- nounced the following words, viz .- " Behold the smoke as- cends to Heaven, to witness between the isle of Britain and an injured people !" Three cheers were then given, and the 'Change was clear in a few minutes, without the least disorder.'
The tone of the writers in the publick journals became more decided. In the B. Gazette, 'March 17th, we find one exclaiming, ' Since the stamp act imposed upon us is uncon- stitutional, shall we not then all as one man join in opposing it, and spill the last drop of our blood, if necessity should require, rather than live to see it take place in America !' -- This is the first intimation we have discovered, of any thing like the possibility of an appeal to arms : and the author, that his views may not be misunderstood, procceds, 'any one, af-
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LIBERTY TREE, 1774, .
CORNER OF ESSEX AND ORANGE STREETS.
The world should never forget the spot where once stood Liberty Tree, so famous in your annals. - La Fayette in Boston.
و بعد
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ter a thorough search and consideration, would, rather than lose his liberty, be bored through the centre of life with the fatal lead.'
Happily the change of ministry was then about producing a change of measures, which served to avert that crisis till a more favourable season. Information was received in Boston on the 16th of May, that the Stamp Act was repealed. It is impossible to express the joy the inhabitants in general were in, on receiving this great and glorious news. The bells were immediately set a ringing, and the cannon fired under Liberty Tree and many other parts of the town. It is men- . tioned, as ' worthy of remark, that the vessel which brought this glorious news is owned by that worthy patriot, John Hancock esq."* Monday the 19th was appointed for a day of general rejoicing on the happy occasion. The ardour of the people was so great, that, immediately after the clock struck one in the morning, the bell of Dr. Byles's church (as being the nearest to Liberty Tree) was set a ringing, which was soon answered by the bells on Christ Church, at the other end of the town. Before two, musick was heard in all the streets, the drums beat and guns fired. As soon as it grew light enough to see, Dr. Byles's steeple was hung with banners, Liberty Tree decorated with flags, and colours and pendants displayed on the tops of houses all round the town. In the evening the town was universally illuminated and shone like day : fire works were every where played off, especially on the Common : the air was filled with rockets, the ground with bee-hives and serpents. Mr. Hancock gave a grand and elegant entertainment to the genteel part of the town, and treated the populace with a pipe of Madeira wine. Mr. Otis and some other gentlemen, who lived near the com- mon, kept open house. On the common the sons of liberty had a magnificent pyramid erected, illuminated with 280 lamps. About twelve o'clock, upon a signal given and the beat of a drum, the populace retired to their respective dwellings, the lights were put out, and the town was hushed in an unusual silence. The evening following, all the gentlemen in the town contributed lanterns to illuminate Liberty Tree, till the boughs could hold no more, which made a most beautiful and splendid appearance. These well conducted rejoicings were ushered in, with a subscription for liberating all the poor per- sons in gaol for debt, by which the money was raised, and the debtors were released, to partake of the joy that smiled in every countenance.
* Otis, Cushing, Adams, and IIancock constituted the Boston delegation in 1766. Mr. H. was chosen instead of Thomas Gray, who supplied the place of Tyler, chosen into the counr cil in 1764, served also in '65, and this year resigned.
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The ministers of religion bore their part in these joyful scenes ; the sermons of Mr. Stillman of the Baptist church, Dr. Mayhew of the West, and Dr. Chauncy of the First Church were printed. That of the first was preached on the sabbath after the arrival of the news, Dr. Mayhew's on the Friday succeeding, and Dr. Chauncy's on a day of thanksgiv- ing, set apart for the purpose.
CHAPTER XLVII.
We do say then to Cæsar,
Our ancestor was that Mulmutius, which
-- Ordain'd our laws, whose use the sword of Cæsar
. Hath too much mangled ; whose repair and franchise Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed.
Cymbeline.
NOTWITHSTANDING these expressions of universal exultation, the publick mind was not entirely appeased. Gov. Bernard was suspected of having promoted the stamp act and other of- fensive measures, though he formally disavowed having had any agency in the business. The House of representatives, at the General Election, May 28, 1766, made choice of Mr. Otis of Boston for their speaker. His Excellency saw prop- er to disapprove the choice, and Mr. Cushing of Boston was elected in his stead. Samuel Adams was at the same time chosen clerk. This act of the Governour may have been the result of sound discretion ; but it served to exasperate the feelings of the House, and they retaliated by leaving out of the list of counsellors, the Lieut. Governour, the Secretary A. Oliver, Judge Peter Oliver, and the Attorney-General Trowbridge, who all had seats at the board in the preceding year. Thus the spirit of division was reciprocally fomented. On the 2d of June, a series of pieces, signed PASKALOS, was commenced in the Boston Gazette, against the Governour, in which his conduct is represented as mean, cowardly, and ut- terly unworthy of his station, and strong intimations are given that the people would be glad to see some other person in the chair.
The events of the past year were kept in remembrance by a demand from the ministry, that compensation should be made to those who had suffered by the riotous proceedings of the 14th and 26th of August. The demand was brought for- ward in an offensive form, but was eventually complied with. Another thing, which also kept alive the fears of the patriots
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was the resolve of parliament, that accompanied the repeal of the stamp act, viz. ' that Parliament had, hath, and of right ought to have full power and authority to make laws of suffi- cient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America, subject to the crown of G. B. in all cases whatever.' Against this claim, the writers of the day did not hesitate to declare that ' opposition ought to be made.'
On the 25th of November, ' a large transport ship, having on board a detachment of HI. M. Royal train of artillery bound to Quebec, after making many attempts to get up the river in vain, was obliged to put in here.' 'The Gov. made provision for them, in pursuance of the late act of parliament, the mutiny act. On the 30th of Jan. 1767, the H. of R. beg- ged to be informed, whether this had been done at the ex- pense of this government ; and on learning that it was so, re- monstrated in the strongest terms against the proceeding, as an open violation of constitutional and charter rights. On the 28th of May following, twenty-seven recruits were brought in, and the lieutenant, who had charge of them, called for quarters. The Gov. referred the matter to the Council, and they advised him to submit it to the consideration of the House, and the house ' resolved, that such provision be made for these men as has been heretofore usually made for H. M. regular troops, when occasionally in this province.'
About the last of July an unexpected change took place in the ministry, and, a short time after, the chancellor of the exchequer (Charles Townsend) moved in the H. of Commons to impose duties on tea, glass, and colours, imported from En- gland into America : he proposed also to suppress the duties on teas, that should be shipped from E. for A. and impose a duty of three pence per pound upon their introduction into the American ports. These two bills were passed without much op- position, and approved by the king. In the preamble, it was declared that the produce of the duties should be applied to de- fray the expenses of the government in America. It was also enacted that the ministry might, from this fund, grant stipends and salaries to the governours and to the judges in the colo- nies, and determine the amount of the same. The act was to take effect on the 20th of November, but, as if it was appre- hended that the new tax would be too well received by the colonists, and purposely to irritate their minds, by placing be- fore their eyes the picture of the tax-gatherers to be employ- ed in the collection of these duties, another act was passed creating a permanent administration of the customs in Amer- ica. And to crown the whole, the town of Boston was selec- ted for the seat of this new establishment.
On the 28th of October a town meeting was held, at which Mr. Otis was chosen moderator ; and a written address to the
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
inhabitants, subscribed Philo Patric, recommending economy and manufactures, being read, the town took into considera- tion the petition of a number of inhabitants, ' that some effec- tual measures might be agreed upon to promote industry, economy, and manufactures : thereby to prevent the unneces- sary importation of European commodities, which threaten the country with poverty and ruin.' Messrs. John Rowe, Wm. Greenleaf, Melatiah Bourne, Sam'l Austin, Edw. Payne, Edm. Quincy, tertius, John Ruddock, Jona. Williams, Josh. Henshaw, · Hend. Inches, Solo. Davis, Joshua Winslow, and Thos. Cushing, were appointed a committee to prepare a subscription paper, for the above object. Accordingly, they brought forward a form, in which the signers agree ' to encourage the use and consumption of all articles manufactured in any of the British Amer. colonies and more especially in this province, and not to purchase, after the 31st of Dec. next, any of certain enu- merated articles, imported from abroad ; and also strictly to adhere to the late regulation respecting funerals, and not to use any gloves, but what are manufactured here, nor procure any new garments upon such an occasion, but what shall be absolutely necessary.' Copies of these articles were direct- ed to every town in this province, and to all the other princi- pal towns in America, where they were generally approved and adopted.
In November, Wm. Burch and Henry Hulton, esqrs. two of the five commissioners of the customs, arrived in Boston .* On the 11th of Feb. 1768, the House of Representatives ad- dressed a circular to the speakers of other houses on the con- tinent, in which, among other complaints of the acts for rais- ing a revenue, they enumerate the commission of these men, as a grievance which may become dangerous to the liberty of the people. ' On the 18th of March, being the anniversa- ry of the repeal of the stamp act, and observed as a day of rejoicing, a few disorderly persons, mostly boys, assembled in the evening, paraded some of the streets, and finally repair- ed to the house of John Williams, esq. the inspector-general. Whether their design was to do him an injury or not, by his address and soft treatment of them, together with the inter- position of some of the neighbouring householders, they soon retired and dispersed without doing any mischief at all.'
An occurrence of more importance took place on Friday, the 10th of June. Towards evening the officers of the cus- toms made a seizure of a sloop, belonging to and lying at the wharf of John Hancock. The vessel was improved for the
* A writer in Sup. to B. Gaz. Dec. 28, 1767, exults that ' the trump of freedom and inde- pendence sounds again throughout this continent.'
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purpose of storing some barrels of oil, for which there was not room in the owner's stores .* One of the officers immedi- ately made a signal to H. M. ship Romney, Capt. Corner, then lying in the stream, upon which her boats were manned and armed and made towards the wharf. Several gentlemen present advised the officers not to move the sloop, as there would be no attempt allowed by the owner to rescue her out of their hands : but notwithstanding this declaration, her fast was cut away, and she carried under the guns of the Rom- ney. This provoked the people who had collected on the shore, and in the dispute, the collector (Harrison), and comp- troller, and the collector's son, were roughly used and pelted with stones. The noise brought together a mixed multitude, who followed up to the comptroller's house and broke some of his windows, but withdrew by the advice of some prudent gentlemen that interposed.
By this time they were joined by a party of sailors and vagrants, who were suspicious of an intention to impress them on board the ship. These went in search of one of the man- of war's boats, and in their way met the inspector (Irvine) : him they attacked, broke his sword, and tore his clothes ; but by some assistance he escaped to a house in King-st. No boat being ashore, between 8 and 9 o'clock they went to one of the docks, and dragged out a large pleasure boat, belong- ing to the collector : this they drew along the street, with loud huzzaing all the way into the Common, where they set fire to it and burnt it to ashes : they also broke several win- dows in the houses of the collector and inspector-general (Williams) which were nigh the Common. No other outrage was committed that night.
Several instances of impressment had occurred under ag- gravated circumstances, and one was even attempted and ex- ccuted on the Saturday following the above. These things, added to the prospect that the trade and business of the town was in a manner ruined, raised such a spirit of resentment in the people, that the commissioners and their officers, with the collector and comptroller, thought it most prudent to repair on board the Romney, as did also the officers of that ship.
On Monday the people in town were in great agitation, but lest any tumult might arise at night, a notification was issued requesting the Sons of Liberty to meet at Liberty-Hall, on Tuesday, at 10 A. M. The expectation of this meeting kept the town in peace. Early on Tuesday morn the colours were
* On the 17th of Aug. the Judge of Admiralty ' decreed the sloop Liberty, seized the 10th of June last, to be forfeited ; but the 200 barrels of oil and six barrels of tar, which were on board her when seized. were cleared.' B. Chron. Aug. 22 .- Sept. 19.
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flying on Liberty Tree, and, at the hour appointed, vast numbers of the inhabitants appeared ; but the weather being wet and uncomfortable in the street, they adjourned to Fan- euil-hall, where it was proposed to have a legal meeting called, which . was immediately ordered by the selectmen to take place at 3 o'clock. At three, the inhabitants met, but so great was the concourse, that they were obliged to adjourn to the Old South meeting-house. After very cool and delib- erate debates upon the distressed circumstances of the town, a petition to the Governour was unanimously adopted, and a committee of 21 gentlemen appointed to present it. In this petition the town took a bolder stand than any publick assem- bly here had before taken. Having commenced with a strong declaration of rights and injuries, they say,
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