They defend, in strong and manly, but decent, terms, their circular letter, and then proceed to say, "An attempt, my lord, to impress the royal mind with a jealousy of his faithful subjects, for which there are no just grounds, is a crime of the most malignant nature, as it tends to disturb and destroy that mutual confidence between the prince and the subject which is the only true basis of public happiness and security. Your lordship, upon inquiry, may find that such base and wicked attempts have been made."

After stating the inexpressible grief of the people of the province to find repeated censures falling on them, "not from ministers of state alone, but from majesty itself," and saying that there was "no evil in life which they felt more sensibly than the displeasure of their sovereign," they state their proceedings relative to the circular letter, so as to shew the propriety and regularity of their conduct on that subject, and say that "the house humbly rely on the royal clemency, that to petition his Majesty will not be deemed by him to be inconsistent with a respect to the British constitution, as settled at the revolution by William III; that to acquaint their fellow-subjects involved in the same distress, of their having so done in full hopes of success, even if they had invited the union of all America in one joint supplication, would not be discountenanced by our gracious sovereign as a measure of an inflammatory nature; that when your lordship shall in justice lay a true

state of these matters before his Majesty, he will no longer consider them as tending to create unwarrantable combinations, or excite an unjustifiable opposition to the constitutional authority of parliament; that he will then truly discern who are of that desperate faction which is continually disturbing the public tranquillity; and that, while his arm is extended for the protection of his distressed and injured subjects, he will frown upon all those who, to gratify their own passions, have dared to attempt to deceive him."

The question was then put, whether the house would rescind the resolution on which their circular letter was founded? and it passed in the negative by a majority of ninety-two to seventeen.

A letter to the governor was then prepared, stating their motives for refusing to comply with the requisition to rescind their resolution; immediately after receiving which they were prorogued, and the next day they were dissolved by proclamation.

While the opposition was thus conducted by the legislature with temperate firmness, and with the use only of legitimate means, the general irritation occasionally broke out in the town of Boston in acts of violence, denoting evidently that the body of the people, at least in that place, were prepared for much stronger measures than their representatives had pursued.

The seizure of the sloop Liberty, belonging to Mr. Hancock, by the collector and comptroller of

the

the customs, occasioned the assemblage of a tumultuous mob, who beat the officers and those who assisted them, took possession of a boat belonging to the collector, which they burnt in triumph, and patrolled the streets for a considerable length of time. The revenue officers, fearing for their safety, took refuge first on board the Romney man of war, and afterwards in Castle William. After a considerable length of time had elapsed, the governor moved the council to take into consideration some measures for restoring vigour and firmness to government. To this application the council made a reply, in which they state, "that the disorders which had happened were occasioned by the violent and unprecedented manner in which the sloop Liberty had been seized by the officers of the customs.' And the inhabitants of Boston, in a justificatory memorial, supported by affidavits, say, "the principal occasion of the late tumults arose from the haughty conduct of the commissioners and other officers appointed by them. The Romney man of war, having moored before the town, intimidated the coasting vessels bringing provisions, fire-wood, &c. committed many acts of violence and outrage, and in particular by cutting away a vessel from Mr. Hancock's wharf, and detaining her several days without any legal proceeding filed against her. This irritated the people, who patrolled the streets in a tumultuous manner, broke several windows to the value of about five pounds sterling, burnt a pleasure.

boat belonging to the collector, and then dispersed at about eleven o'clock at night.

A petition, presented to the governor by the inhabitants assembled in a town meeting,' a few days after this event, praying the removal of the Romney, after representing the grievances of which the people complained, the remonstrances which had been transmitted to parliament, and the petitions to the throne, proceeds to state that they had waited the effect of these applications with the greatest attention to the public peace, until they found themselves invaded with an armed force, seizing, impressing, and imprisoning the persons of their fellow-subjects, contrary to express acts of parliament.

Menaces, they said, had been thrown out fit only for barbarians, which already affected them in a most serious manner, and threatened them with famine. and desolation; as all navigation was obstructed, upon which alone their whole support depended, and the town was at that crisis in a situation nearly such as if war was formally declared against it.

Although the people thus justified, or rather excused, this act of violence, the legislature did not think proper to afford it their countenance. A committee of both houses appointed to inquire into the state of the province, after reprobating in their report the circumstances attending the seizure, to which they attribute the mob which was collected, declare their utter abhorrence and detestation of a procedure which they pronounced to be very criminal; and desire

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desire the governor to direct the attorney-general to prosecute all persons concerned in the riot. They also requested that a proclamation might be issued, offering a reward to any person who should make discoveries, by which the rioters or their abettors might be brought to condign punishment.

This report, however, seems to have been rather intended to save appearances, than to have produced any real effect corresponding with the sentiment it expressed. It was perfectly understood that no person would dare to inform, or even to appear as a witness in any prosecution wh ch might be instituted by the attorney general; and, as if completely to prevent further proceedings, several persons, who had been active in producing the riots, were placed on the grand jury for the succeeding term. Suits were afterwards instituted against Mr. Hancock and others, owners of the vessel and cargo; but, as it was thought unsafe to hazard the trial of them, they were never prosecuted to a final decision.

This riot, which completely demonstrated the impracticability of executing by ordinary means the obnoxious laws which government seemed determined to enforce, though it might not occasion, certainly accelerated, a measure which tended in no considerable degree to irritate still further the angry dispositions already so prevalent in Boston.

Representations had already been made by the governor to administration, stating the necessity of stationing a military force in the province for the protection

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