nouncing all communication with those who should refuse to fign this Covenant, notwithstanding a Proclamation from General Gage, ftyling fuch agreement an unlawful, hoftile, and traitorous combination. An Address being presented to him by the Municipality of Bofton, in which the rights of the Colonies were afferted in a high and refolute tone, the Governor would not deign to hear it read to the end, declaring it to be an infult to his Majefty and his Government.

On the 25th of May, 1774, the New General Court met as ufual at Boston, when General Gage gave them notice of their removal to Salem by the late Act. The Affembly haftening the public business, in order to evade this neceffity, the Governor adjourned the Court to the 7th of June, then to meet at Salem. The firft bufinefs after this adjournment on the fubfequent meeting at Salem, was to appoint Deputies to meet those of the other Colonies in General Congrefs at Philadelphia. The Governor, having received intimation of this defign, difpatched his Secretary with the greatest precipitation to diffolve the Court: but, on his arrival, he found the doors fast locked; and knocking aloud for entrance, he was informed, that the Houfe was upon very important bufinefs, and till it was finifhed he could not be admitted. On which he read the Proclamation of Diffolution on the flairs leading to the hall of

the Affembly; but the nomination of Deputies being previously made, this was confidered as an important advantage gained against the Governor.

It was a part of the artful and malignant plan of the British Minifters in framing the Bofton Port Bill, by removing the commerce of that metropolis to Salem, and making it the feat of Government, to establish a rivalship and enmity between those two places, from which they hoped to derive mighty advantages. But the magnanimous fpirit by which the Americans were at this period univerfally actuated, difcovered itself very confpicuously in an Addrefs prefented by the Merchants and Freeholders of the Town of SaJem, to the Governor, the day fucceeding the diffolution of the General Court. "We are," say they, "moft deeply afflicted with a fenfe of our public calamities:-by fhutting up the port of Boston, fome imagine that the courfe of trade might be turned hither, and to our benefit; but nature, in the formation of our harbor, forbids our becoming rivals in commerce with that convenient mart; and were it otherwife, we must be dead to every idea of juftice, and loft to all feelings of humanity, could we indulge one thought to feize on wealth, and raife our fortunes on the ruin of our fuffering neighbors." Marblehead, a fea-port in the vicinity of Boston, vying in generofity with Salem, offered the Merchants

of

of that city the free ufe of its wharfs and ftores. The unparalleled injuftice and cruelty of this Bill were the topics of univerfal execration; it was faid to be fo conftituted, that enormous pains and penalties muft enfue, notwithstanding the most perfect obedience to its injunctions; as the Port could not be again opened but by his Majefty in Council, in confequence of a previous certificate from the Governor. Thofe charged with the most aggravated crimes are not punishable till arraigned before difinterefted Judges, heard in their own defence, and found guilty of the charge. But here a whole people are accufed, profecuted by they know not whom, proved guilty they know not how, and fentenced to inevitable ruin."

The rough drafts of the Bills for altering the Charter of Maffachusetts; for the impartial adminiftration of juftice; and another for providing quarters for troops in America, arriving about this time at Bofton, were inftantly circulated through the Continent, and filled up what was before wanting of violence and indignation in the feveral Colonies. Even thofe who were moderate, or apparently wavering, now became refolute and refentful. The people at large expreffed without reserve their conviction, that the æra was faft approaching when it would be neceffary for them to defend their rights with the

edge

edge of the fword. The Colonial Militia Laws required every Citizen to bear arms within a certain age; they were in general fond of military exercises, and abounded in excellent markfmen. They were now with great diligence employed in training and perfecting themfelves in military evolutions and manoeuvres. The found

of drums and fifes every where faluted the ear. Parents and children, husbands and lovers, the young and the old, were poffeffed by the fame martial spirit, and were fired with the fame glorious and enthufiaftic zeal for liberty. Nothing was to be feen or heard of but purchafing of arms and ammunition, cafting of balls, and the making all thofe preparations which teftify the moft immediate danger and determined refift

ance.

Soon after the arrival of General Gage, two additional regiments of foot, with a detachment of artillery and cannon, were landed at Bofton, and encamped on the Common. These troops were by degrees re-inforced by the arrival of feveral regiments from Ireland, New York, Halifax, and at length from Quebec. The town of Bofton is connected with the Continent by a narrow ifthmus of confiderable length, on which a military guard was placed, and the entrance of the neck fortified by order of Government; and fo little intercourse fubfifted between the city and the

country,

country, that the garrifon found it already difficult to procure the means of fubfiftence. With the Charter Bill, the Governor received a lift of thirty-fix Counsellors, appointed by Royal Mandamus, twelve of whom declined to ferve. The Courts of Judicature were totally fufpended, the Jurors refufing to take the oaths, and to act under the new judges and laws. In many counties the people affembled in large bodies, and took poffeffion of the Court-Houfes, and would fuffer neither judges, fheriffs, nor clerks to enter. All perfons accepting offices under the new Acts were declared enemies to their country. The Mandamus Counsellors, the Commiffioners of the Cuftoms, and all who had made themfelves particularly obnoxious by their activity in feconding the meafures of Government, were compelled to take refuge in Boston. The Seat of Government at Salem was entirely abandoned, and Government itself feemed no longer to exift.

At length the General Congrefs, on which all America had their eyes now fixed, met at Philadelphia for the first time, September 4, 1774. This Affembly confifted of fifty-one Members, delegated in fuch proportions from the different Colonies as correfponded with their varied extent and population, though each Colony had a distinct and separate vote. Amongst their first refolves they paffed an unanimous vote, that this Affembly

deeply