SKETCHES FROM HISTORY,

OR

VIEW OF THE TIMES IN 1773.

The revolutionary incidents which led to the destruction of the British tea in Boston Harbour, which have been mentioned in the preceeding pages, are principally from the relation of Hewes, one of the actors in that event.

A view of the times in seventeen hundred and seventy three, strikingly evince how circumstances, trivial in themselves, are in the order of human affairs, rendered indispensible links in the great chain of events, which connect the various fortunes, and control the destinies of nations.

Of those men who had lived a long time under the same government, and prospered by a mutual and friendly commercial intercourse, as had the British and American people, it could not be expected that they, or the citizens of any other countries, under similar circumstances, would fall to killing each other; that they would commence the work of lawless depredation and murder, without some powerful pretext. A quarrel

must precede, strong prejudices must first be excited, the angry and malignant passions must be first put in motion, to prepare men for the inhuman business of butchering each other, and of public robery.

Such passions and prejudices were engendered in a seres of dissentions between the British and Americans, relative to their respective political rights, previous to the revolution.

It will be recollected, that the British parliament a long time previous to the commencement of open hostilities between Great Britain and her American colonies, had claimed the right of taxing the latter, without their consent. Their determination to exercise such right, was announcd in positive and unequivocal terms, on the repeal of the famous stamp act, so obnoxious and repugnant to the views of the people of the then American colonies.

On the repeal of that law, it was resolved, "that parliament had, hath, and of right ought to have full power and authority, to bind the colonies and people of America, subject to the crown of Great Britian, in all cases whatsoever."

Against this claim the Americans unhesitatingly declared, opposition ought to be made.

After this resolution of parliament, in the month of November, 1766, a large transport ship, having on

board a detachment of H. M. royal train of artilery bound for Quebec, after making many attempts to get up the river, in vain, was obliged to put into Boston. The governor made provisions for them in pursuance of an act of parliament. On the 30th of January, 1767, the house of representatives begged to be informed, whether this had been done at the expense of the government; and on learning that it was, remonstrated in the strongest terms against the proceding, as an open violation of constitutional and charter rights. The governor referred the matter to the council, who advised him to submit it to the consideration of the house of representatives. They resolved that such provisions should be made for the British troops, as had been before usually made for his majesty's regular troops when occasionally in the province. The provision made by the governor, was by virtue of an act of Parliament called the mutiny act. The Bostonians were not willing that their violent and tumultuous proceedings occasioned by the usurpation of their rights, should at the will of the governor, be considered as acts of mutiny. They would not consent that their chiefmagistrate should interpose, under any pretence, an authority, which virtually violated their constitutional and chartered rights.

This visit of British troops at Boston, although occa

sioned by incidental circumstances, was an additional source of public agitation and excitement.

In July, 1767, the parliament of Great Britain, imposed duties on tea, glass and colours, imported from England into America; and by their act at the same session; suppressed the duties on tea that should be shipped from England for America, and impose, a duty of three pence per pound upon their introduction into the American ports. In the preamble to these acts it was declared, that the produce of these duties should be applied to defray the expenses of the government in America. It was also enacted at the same time, that the British ministry might from this fund, grant stipends and salaries to the governors, and to the judges in the colonies, and determine the amount of the same; and as if purposely to irritate the minds of the Bostonians, by placing before their eyes the picture of the tax-gatherers to be employed in the collection of these duties, another act was passed, creating a permanent administration of the customs in America. And to crown the whole, as says the historian of those times, Boston was selected for the seat of this new establishment.

These measures of the British government, and her attempts to carry them into effect, greatly increased the agitation of the public mind, more especially of the citi

zens of Boston, where it had already been wrought up to an extraordinary degree of excitement.

A town meeting was called, the first object of which was to take into consideration the expediency of adopting measures to promote economy, industry, and manufactures, thereby to prevent the unnecessary importation of European commodities.

At this meeting a form was presented by a committee appointed for that purpose, in which the signers agree to encourage the use and consumption of all articles manufactured in any of the British American colonies, and not to purchase after the 31st of the then next December, any of certain innumerated articles imported from abroad, and strictly to adhere to their late regulations respecting funerals, and not to use any gloves but what are manufactured here, nor procure any garments upon such occasions, but what should be absolutely nenessary. Copies of their proceedings were directed to every town in the province, and all other principal towns in America, where they were generally approved and adopted.

*

These measures of the Boston town meeting, greatly encouraged the opposition to British taxation. It was with difficulty, that persons disorderly inclined could be restrained from deeds of violence.

Snow's Hist. Boston.