The shout was re-echoed outside the walls, and the meeting broke up. Small parties of Indians were seen making their way swiftly from different quarters; there was evidently a concert of action among them, and Lendall Pitts was their leader. They went directly to the ships, opened the holds, and deliberately broke in every chest (342) of them,1 and poured the Tea into the sea. The people crowded the Docks, and when the deed was done, quietly dispersed.2

The Governor and his friends were astounded, and began to believe that this was truly a stubborn and rebellious people. Thus this plan of the Ministry was completely frustrated-and the Colonies, North and South, declined to obey the Lord's Anointed.

1 Hutchinson, vol. iii., p. 436.

2 Bradford's Hist. Boston, 1822. Gordon's Hist. Hutchinson's Hist. Ramsay's Hist. Belknap's Hist. Grahame's Hist. M. H. Coll. Traits of the Tea Party. N. Y., 1835.

CHAPTER XV.

THE BOSTON PORT-BILL.-THE "YANKEES."

WILL THEY FIGHT?—" YANKEE”. -THE PORT-BILL PASSED-GENERAL GAGE, GOVERNORBOSTON PORT CLOSED-TOWN-MEETING-VIRGINIA AND OTHER

COLONIES-TWELVE

O'CLOCK NOON, JUNE 1-MUFFLED BELLS-DISTRESS-CONTRIBUTIONS-FIVE DELEGATES TO A CONGRESS- ·OTHER DELEGATES—CARPENTERS WONT WORK FOR GAGE“SUFFOLK RESOLUTIONS”—STANDING ARMIES.

THE Ministry were now astonished and perplexed, for the eyes of Europe were upon them, and the struggle had become interesting; Lord North was ashamed to retreat, and it seemed the willful Colonies would not. So Governors Hutchinson, Tryon, and Carleton, were re-called to England, and the question was asked, "Will the Colonies Fight ?"

Hutchinson thought not. Carleton thought an army of at least ten thousand would be necessary to subdue them. Tryon thought large armies and long effort would be needed. Many said, "the Yankees are a degenerate race: they have nothing of the soldier in them."1

Few in England were prepared for the desperate resistance made to the Tea-tax in the Colonies, and hardly any persons defended Boston. The Privy Council had unhesitatingly rejected the petition of Massachusetts, that, after the exposure of their letters, Governor Hutchinson and Judge Oliver should be removed. They now (January, 1774), dismissed Dr. Franklin in disgrace from the position of Postmaster General for the Colonies.

Although all the Colonies had resisted the import of Tea,

1 The term "Yankee" was used by a simple-headed man, Jonathan Hastings-whose house the Cambridge students frequented-to express a good thing; as, a "Yankee horse," a "Yankee chap," etc. Yankee chap," etc. So he came to be called "Yankee Jon.," and the Americans, in derision, "Yankees."— Gordon.

yet as Massachusetts had been particularly active, it was determined that Boston should be made to suffer so severely, that the other Colonies would be struck with terror and dismay.

The measure hit upon, was to close the Port of Boston, so that no vessel should sail in or sail out, and thus to destroy her business and prosperity, and fill her houses with desolation, and her streets with growing grass. This Bill was passed in March, almost without opposition, and Bollan (the Massachusetts Agent), was refused a hearing.

It was followed by another act (April), which entirely changed the character of the Massachusetts Government, and gave the appointment of the Council, and all Judges and officers, to the Governor. Juries could no longer be elected by the people, and Town-meetings could only be held at the pleasure of the Governor.

The third Act was, that any person charged with any capital offense committed in aiding the Governor, should be sent to England, and should not be tried in the Colonies.

To carry out these measures for subduing Massachusetts, and through her to reach all the Colonies, General Gage, Commander-in-chief in America, was appointed Governor, and was received with parade at Boston, in May (13th), 1774. It now seemed clear to the Tories, who believed in the divine rights of George III., that the Colonies must yield.

THE PORT
OF BOSTON
CLOSED.

In the same ship which brought General Gage, came the Port Bill, which was to take effect on the 1st of June; from that day silence was to prevail on the docks, and grass was to grow in the streets of Boston. The Bill was discussed next day in Town-meeting, and the irritation and bitterness were highly increased; but neither people nor leaders seemed to be intimidated. They declared against the "Impolicy, injustice, and inhumanity of the act, and appealed to God and the world.” Town-meetings were

held elsewhere, and the patriots were at work with the newspapers and with pamphlets, to bring up the people to action. They did not despair, or cease to work. The odious bill was posted on the walls of Boston, inclosed with a broad border of black, and was spit on by the people.

When the news of the Port Bill reached Virginia, Henry, the two Lees, Jefferson, and four or five more, met privately for consultation; for they considered that Randolph, and the older members, were not alive to the pressing dangers of the time. The question was, how to arouse the minds of the people to the importance and dangers of the moment, and show the necessity of action. It was decided to appoint the 1st of June as a day of fasting and prayer, and one of the older members was enlisted to move the Resolution.1

The citizens of Charleston called a meeting to express sympathy.2

The New York Assembly, then in session, was controlled by the Tories, but Sears, and M'Dougall, and Willet, sent on assurances of support to Boston.

Connecticut appointed a Fast; and directed Captain Hurlburt to take an inventory of all cannon and military stores at the battery and town of New London.

On the 1st day of June, at twelve o'clock noon, business was suspended at Boston, never to be resumed except by force. The warehouses were closed; the harbor was deserted; and the few vessels left were dismantled. Rents fell to nothing, and property was useless; mechanics and laborers lay idle; and the city was shadowed deep in despondency.

It was a marked day in all parts of the colonies. In Virginia the people collected in their churches, and were impressed with the fact, that the tyranny Boston felt

1829.

Memoirs, etc., of Jefferson, by Thomas Peyton Randolph. Charlottesville,

2 Ramsay's United States. Philadelphia Ed., May, 1818.

might soon reach them. In Philadelphia, muffled bells tolled during the day, and most of the houses were closed. In other places the day was one of mourning.

Distress came upon them in Boston. Merchants could not pay their debts, nor could mechanics and laborers find work; yet they bore all with stern determination. As soon as their condition was known, contributions poured in from all quarters: Charleston sent rice; Marblehead, codfish; North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia, grain; New Jersey, grain; Pennsylvania, money. Sheep, beef, fish, etc., came in from neighboring towns. The sympathies of the people were quick, and the cause of Boston was the cause of all. Marblehead offered the Boston merchants the use of her wharves and warehouses, and the services of her merchants; and Salem refused to reap the harvest which Boston could not gather.

General Gage removed the Assembly from Boston to Salem. But they would neither be subdued nor alarmed. They proceeded to Resolve-that a Congress of committees from all the colonies was wise and proper, and was needed to re-establish their rights, and restore harmony between them and the mother country. Gage attempted to dissolve them, but they closed their doors, and appointed five to meet in Congress at Philadelphia, in September: these were Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, and James Bowdoin-names "tolerably well known" in the Revolution. Twelve of the "Old Thirteen" followed suit (Georgia alone excepted). Virginia sent seven of her best men; and resolved not to import any more slaves from Africa, or goods from England, and to cease to export to England, if things were not redressed.1

Governor Wentworth dissolved the Assembly of New Hampshire, but the towns held a Convention [July], and sent John Sullivan and Nathaniel Folsom delegates to the Congress.

1 Gordon's History, vol i.