was not possible that harmony could long subsist between the inhabitants of Boston, and the British troops. A slight affray took place between them on the second of March 1770; but on the night of the fifth, the enmity of the parties burst forth in violence and blood. A body of troops being ordered to disperse a number of the citizens of Boston, who were collected in Cornhill, the populace pelted them with stones; upon which the troops fired among them killed three and wounded five, two of whom died. With great difficulty, the soldiers were saved from the fury of an enraged populace. But this outrage enflamed the animosity of the Americans against Great Britain, and hastened a more important crisis. To commemorate this melancholy tragedy, an anniversary oration was instituted in Boston, and was annually pronounced by some distinguished citizen on the 5th of March, till the close of the revolution.

Of the Destruction of Tea at Boston. Although the duties laid on commodities imported into America had been taken off, except the duty on tea, yet the ministry persisted in maintaining the right to raise a revenue in the colonies; and to establish that principle, granted permission to the East India company to ship to America, a large quantity of tea, charged with the duty. This finess of the ministry did not succeed.-The Americans, determined to resist the principle of taxation in every shape, opposed the landing of the tea-in some ports they obliged the consignees to resign their employment, and compelled the ships to return to England without landing their cargoes. In Boston, the populace had less temper, and a party disguised in the dress of Indians went on board the tea ships, and threw the tea into the sea This transaction, which amounted to an open resistance of the government of Great Britain, and led to more energetic measures, on the part of that government, happened in the year 1773.

On the Measures of Parliament relating to Massachusetts. In pursuance of the ministerial-plan of reducing Massachusetts to obedience, an act of parliament was passed for regulating the government of that province;

by which the powers of the people were abridged, and the officers of government made dependent on the crown for their appointments and salaries. By another act, persons indicted for murder or other capital offence, might, if the governor should think an impartial trial could not be had in the colony, be sent to Great Britain to be tried. By another act, an attempt was made to strengthen the interest and power of the crown in America, by enlarging the province of Canada, and granting unusual privileges to the Catholics. All which measures tended only to increase the jealousy of the colonies, by developing the views of the ministry.

Of the Boston Port Bill. In 1774, the parliament, with a view to punish the refractory province of Massachusetts, and especially the inhabitants of Boston, as also to brnig them to submission, passed an act to shut the port of Boston, and to restrain all intercourse with the town by water. The government and public offices were removed to Salem, and it was expected by the ministry that Salem would be pleased with the prospect of enjoying the advantages of being the seat of government and the center of trade. But this miserable stratagem had no effect, but to irritate the inhabitants of Salem, who disdained to thrive on the ruins of Boston. These proceedings, added to the detection of some letters which had been written by the crown offcers in Boston, advising to more decisive measures against the colonies, raised a ferment in America that left little hope of a reconciliation.

Of the Committee of Correspondence. During the transactions which have been related, some of the most able and distinguished patriots in Massachusetts, who had long seen the necessity of a separation from Great Britain, but who wished, if possible, to avoid an alternative that must involve the country in a sanguinary contest, formed themselves into a committee of correspondence, for the purpose of obtaining and diffusing correct information, for uniting opinions and acting in unison with their fellow patriots in other colonies. This committee received advices regularly from their friends in Great Britain, which enabled them to be

prepared, and to prepare the public mind, for every exigency. Similar committees were established in all the other New-England colonics, and became the ground-work of their future union.

Of the arrival of General Gage, and his reception. In May 1774, General Gage arrived in Boston, with the commissions of Governor of Massachusetts, and commander in chief of the British forces. At the moment of his arrival, the people were in great agitation, at the news of the port bill; notwithstanding which, the general was received with respect and treated with politeness. Shortly after, arrived two more regiments, with artillery and military stores, indicative of the determination of the British government to reduce the colonies to submission by the force of arms.

Of the Conduct of the Colonies on this occasion. When the Americans saw, by the measures of the British government, that reconciliation was no longer to be expected, and that their rights were to be defended by an appeal to force, deploring the awful event, but confident of the justice of their cause, and the rectitude of their purposes, they set apart a day of humiliation and prayer to invoke the Supreme Being and manifest their dependence on him for support in the arduous contest. And as the port bill had put an end to the trade of Boston and thus deprived the inhabitants of the means of subsistence, the inhabitants of the colonies, opened the hand of charity, and sent liberal contributions to their relief. At the same time the committee of correspondence framed an agreement, called a solemn league and covenant, by which they determined to suspend all intercourse with Great Britain, until their chartered rights should be restored. In like manner, agreements were formed in all parts of Ameriea, neither to import nor to consume British goods.

Of the Proceedings of General Gage. Soon after General Gage arrived, he was addressed by certain gentlemen of the council, but the address containing severe reflections on his predecessor, he would not receive it. Observing the temper of the people, he began to think of measures of defence; and directed Boston neck to

be fortified. He also seized on the powder lodged in the public store at Charleston. He issued a procla mation to oppose the solemn league and covenant, pronouncing it an unlawful and traiterous combination. But all this served only to inflame and irritate the public mind, and bring his authority into contempt.

Of the origin of Provincial Congresses. General Gage had summoned the assembly of Massachusetts to convene at Salem; but on further reflection, had countermanded the summons. The counter-order was deemed illegal, and the members convened. The governor not meeting them, they organized themselves into a provincial congress, which formed a plan of defense-resolved to enroll a body of men, to be prepared for marching at a minute's notice, and therefore called minute-men-they appointed general officers-a committee of safety, to act as a kind of executive council -and took measures to collect supplies and military stores, at Worcester and Concord. After an adjournment, for a short time, they again met, determined on raising twelve thousand men-sent agents to the neighboring colonies, to request their co-operations, and committees of the New-England colonies met and agreed on a plan of operations. At the same time, measures were taken to combine all the colonies into a firm union, and for this purpose, it was agreed that delegates from the several colonies should meet in a general congress.

Of the General Congress. On the 5th of September, 1774, delegates from twelve colonies convened in Philadelphia, to deliberate on the most important ques-. tions that ever engaged the anxious solicitude of men. The delegates were appointed by the colonial legislatures; or where none existed, the appointments were made by select meetings and associations of citizens. They were men of the most distinguished character and talents, and enjoyed the public confidence. Before the meeting of the general congress, a convention of deputies from the towns in Suffolk county, in Massachusetts, had declared that no obedience was due to the late acts of the British parliament, but that those acts

ought to be rejected as the attempts of a wicked administration to enslave America. This declaration was approved by the general congress, which resolved, that if attempts should be made to carry into effect the obnoxious acts of parliament, all America ought to unite with Massachusetts in their opposition.

Of the Proceedings of the first Congress. The great council of America, solicitous to preserve peace with the parent state, but determined to be free, adopted measures which presented to the British ministry the olive branch with one hand and the sword with the other; submitting it to their choice to withdraw their unconstitutional claims, or to meet the most determined resistance. They addressed General Gage, stating the grievances of Massachusetts, and their resolution to support that province in her opposition; intreating him to forbear hostilities, and not preclude the hope of a reconciliation. They published a declaration of the rights of the colonies, one of which was an exemption from taxes imposed upon them by a legislature in which they were not represented. They however consented to submit to all the general regulations of commerce, intended for the benefit of the whole British empire. They declared several acts of parliament to be infringements of the rights of the colonies, and a repeal of them necessary to a reconciliation. They entered into an agreement to discontinue the importation of British goods; they sent a petition to the king, and addresses to the British nation, to the Canadians, and to the colonies.

Of the consequent Proceedings of Parliament. When the proceedings of the American congress were laid before parliament, lord Chatham introduced some conciliatory propositions, but they were rejected by a large ministerial majority; and a joint address of both houses to the king, declared that a rebellion actually existed in the province of Massachusetts. The houses therefore besought his Majesty to take the most effectual measures to enforce due obedience to the laws and authority of the supreme legislature; and assured him that they were determined to support him in maintaining the