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contrary to their engagements, while others, not more culpable, were held up to the public as enemies to their country. The different commercial towns, likewise, watched each other with no inconsiderable degree of jealousy, and accusations were reciprocally made of infractions to a great extent of the association they had so solemnly pledged themselves to observe. Letters, purporting to be from England, were published, stating that large orders for goods had been received; and the inconvenience resulting from even the partial interruption of commerce which had taken place, and the want of those British manufactures which the inhabitants had been accustomed to use, began to be severely and extensively felt. In Rhode Island and Albany it was determined to import as usual, with the restriction only of such articles as should be subject to duty. On the remonstrances of other commercial places, especially at Boston, these resolutions were changed, and the hope was entertained that the general system on which the colonies relied for success in their opposition to the shceme of establishing the right in Britain to tax them, would still be adhered to.

These hopes were blasted by New York: that town at first determined to import as usual, with the exception only of articles subject to the duty, provided the large commercial towns of Boston and Philadelphia would accede to the proposi

These

These towns refused to depart from the nonimportation agreement, and strenuously urged their brethren of New York to persevere with them in. the glorious struggle. On receiving this answer, it was communicated to the people, and their opinion on the question of rescinding or adhering to the non-importation agreement was taken in their respective wards; when a décided majority was found in favour of importing generally, with the single exception of such articles as might be subject to duty. This determination was immediately communicated, and excited in New England and Philadelphia the most lively chagrin. monstrances against it were, however, ineffectual; and the agreement, thus openly departed from in New York, was soon universally abandoned. The association was now confined to the single article of tea.

Their re

In justification of themselves, it was alleged by the people of New York, that the towns of New England had not fairly observed their engagements, and that the merchants of Albany had been in the practice of receiving goods from Quebec.

No sufficient evidence in support of these asser tions was ever adduced: but it is certain that extreme difficulty attended a perseverance in the plan which had been adopted. Independent of the privations to which the associations were exposed, of the great loss encountered by the merchants, whose business was suspended; it was not easy to surmount

the

the obstacles which opposed themselves to a continued union, in the same measure, of rival towns jealous of the commercial prosperity of each other, and conscious that, if the agreement should be evaded by others, ruin must be the fate of those who should adhere to it,

About this time a circumstance occurred which threatened, for the moment, effects the most extensively serious. The two regiments stationed in Boston, to support, as was said, the execution of civil power and preserve the peace of the town, could not fail to be viewed by the inhabitants with very prejudiced eyes. Frequent quarrels arose between them; and at length an affray took place in the night, near the gates of their barracks, which brought out Captain Preston, the officer of the day, with a part of the main guard, between whom and some. young men blows ensued; on which they fired, and four of the people were killed.

The alarm bells were immediately rung, the drums beat to arms, and an immense multitude assembled, who, inflamed to madness by the view of the dead bodies, were with some difficulty restrained from rushing on the twenty-ninth regiment, which was then drawn up under arms in King-street. By the exertions of the lieutenant-governor, who promised that the laws should be enforced on the perpetrators of the act, and by the efforts of several individuals of respectability and influence, they were prevailed on

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to disperse, after the regiment had been marched to the barracks. Captain Preston and the soldiers who had fired were committed to prison for trial; and on the next day upwards of four thousand persons assembled at Faneuil Hall, and addressed to the lieutenant governor a message, stating it to be "the unanimous opinion of the meeting, that the inhabitants and soldiers can no longer live together in safety; that nothing can rationally be expected to restore the peace of the town, and prevent further blood and carnage, but the immediate removal of the troops; and they, therefore, most fervently prayed his honour, that his power and influence might be exerted for their instant removal."

In answer to the message, the lieutenant-governor expressed his extreme sorrow at the melancholy event which had taken place, and declared that he had taken measures to have the affair inquired into, and justice done; that the military were not under his command, but received their orders from the general at New York, which orders it was not in his power to countermand; that, on the application of the council for the removal of the troops, Colonel Dalrymple, their commanding officer, had engaged that the twenty-ninth regiment, which had been concerned in the affair, should be marched to the castle, and there placed in barracks till further orders could be received from the general; that the main guard should be removed; and the fourteenth regiment so disposed of, and laid under such re

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straint, that all occasions of future disturbance should be removed.

This answer was voted to be unsatisfactory; and a committee was immediately deputed to wait on the lieutenant-governor, and inform him that nothing less than an immediate and total removal of the troops could satisfy them.

This vote was laid before the council by Mr. Hutchinson, who had succeeded Mr. Bernard in the government of the province. The council declared themselves unanimously of opinion, "that it was absolutely necessary for his Majesty's service, the good order of the town, and the peace of the province, that the troops should be immediately removed out of the town of Boston."

This opinion and advice were made known to Colonel Dalrymple, who gave his honour that measures should be immediately taken for their removal, and that no unnecessary delay should be practised. Highly gratified with this assurance, the meeting secured the tranquillity of the town, by appointing a strong military watch, and immediately dissolved.

This transaction was very differently related by the different parties concerned in it. Mr. Gordon whose history was written when the resentments of the moment had subsided, and who appears to have carefully collected the facts of the case, states it in such a manner, as very nearly, if not entirely, to exculpate the military characters concerned in it. It would

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