order of the governor, for the reception of the troops, who took poffeffion of all the chambers, except the one appropriated for the meeting of the council. He certainly stretched his authority in feveral points; but particularly in thus acting. This ftep was an infult not only to the town, as it was a great annoyance to the gentlemen and merchants, who had been accuftomed to make the lower floor their exchange, but to the whole colony, as the representatives chamber was now poffeffed by the foldiery. After the quarters of the troops were fettled, the main guard was pofted directly oppofite to, and not twelve yards from the ftate house, with two field pieces pointed to it. It was with no fmall indignation that the people beheld the reprefentatives chamber, court-house, and Faneuil-hall-feats of freedom and justice-occupied by troops; and guards placed at the doors, and the council paffing through the guards in going to their own chamber. They refented alfo the common's being covered with tents, and alive with foldiers; their marchings and counter-marchings to relieve the guards; the town's being a perfect garrison, and the inhabitants being challenged by the fentinels, as they paffed and re-paffed. Perfons devoutly inclined, complained much of being disturbed at public worship on the fabbaths, with drums beating, and fifes playing, to which they had never been accustomed in the Maffachufetts. Quarters being obtained for the troops, the council were required to provide barrack provisions for them, agreeable to act of parliament; but refolutely declined going into any measure which might be conftrued into a fubmiffion to the faid act. The oppofition of the council to the quartering of, and providing for the troops,

was

was do encouraged and ftrengthened by Mr. James Bowdoin, who was one of them, that Mr. Hutchinson, in his letter of November 6, ascribed the whole to his management. It was thought that the peaceable landing of the troops was not what fome of the miniftry either expected or defired; and that they were in hopes, that the folly and rage of the town and colony would have led them into an hoftile oppofition, and thereby have afforded an opportunity for giving them fome naval and military correction. Under this apprehenfion, the gentleman, who delivered the firft difpatches from governor Bernard, containing the account of the troops having landed, &c. narrowly watched the countenance and conduct of the perfon who read them, and was confirmed in fuch opinion. But had he not poffeffed that opinion, it might not have been excited by what he observed. The fentiments of the military differed fo extremely from those of the Bostonians, who were unjustly viewed as rebelliously inclined, that it was not to be wondered at that they were infulted and abused, and that quarrels fhould enfue, though they did not proceed foon to a dangerous height. Undoubtedly the inhabitants could not be continually blameless: there would neceffarily be fome rafh and imprudent perfons among fuch multitudes; but the greatest rashness and imprudence lay in the fending of troops on a fervice, which could have been effectually and better executed by a naval force properly ftationed and employed. Ships of war might have poffeffed the harbour till the commiffioners could have executed their office with safety.

The committee of merchants in London paid a due attention to the memorial fent them by the merchants

and

and traders of Philadelphia, and took pains to obtain relief from the grievances therein complained of, though without effect. The department to which they applied, afforded little hopes of redrefs in a way that might put an end to the differences that had arisen between Great Britain and her American colonies. The act imposing duties on glass, paper, &c. was acknowledged to be inexpedient, but it was added, "Such has been the unjuftifiable conduct of fome in America, that the prefent juncture is not a proper season for a repeal.". Adminiftration was firmly refolved to oppose it with their utmoft ftrength, while it fhould be infifted on by threats on the part of the colonists, for in that light they confidered the steps which had been taken by them to obtain redress. It was faid, "If a proper difpofition appears in the colonies, and their merchants, in a fucceeding feffion, fhall think proper to petition parliament on the principle of inexpediency only, there is every reason to believe that no part of administration will object to the repeal." But the minifter did not declare what was the proper difpofition he expected. No fooner were the Philadelphians apprifed, by the receipt of this infor mation, that no hope remained of a repeal in that sesfion, than they unanimously entered into the very agreement, which some months before, when propofed to them, they had declined: and it was their opinion, that as the agreement had been formed on mature deliberation, the people of the province would firmly adhere

to it. Of this they gave notice to the committee of 1769. merchants in London, by letter of April 8, 1769. In April that letter, remarking upon the information they had

8.

received, they wrote-" It would become perfons in

power

power to confider, whether even the unjustifiable behaviour of those who think themselves aggrieved, will juftify a perfeverance in a matter confessed to be wrong. Certain it is, that the wifdom of government is better manifefted, its honor and authority better maintained and fupported, by correcting the errors it may have committed, than by perfifting in them, and thereby rifking the lofs of the fubjects affections. We are apprehenfive that perfons in power are greatly abused, and that the people of America have been grofsly misreprefented, otherwise the steps which they have taken to obtain redress, could never be looked upon as threats. Threats they never intended; but as all the American colonies were equally affected, it was thought that their joint petitions would have more weight; and for this end the feveral affemblies communicated their fentiments to each other. This ftep, to the inexpreffible furprise of all America, is reprefented as "a flagit ous attempt, a measure of a most dangerous and factious tendency, &c.". The diffolution of affemblies that followed, and the measures purfued to enforce the acts in America, awakened the fears, and exasperated the minds of the people to a very great degree. They therefore determined not only to defeat the intent of the acts, by refraining from the use of thofe articles on which duties were laid, but to put a stop t the importation of goods from Great Britain. This is the only threat we know of; and if this is fufficient to engage the miniftry to oppofe a repeal of the acts, we apprehend the miniftry muft, by a change of measures, endeavour to regain the affections of the people before they can be induced to alter their determination."

"The

"The Americans confider themselves as British subjects, entitled to all the rights and privileges of freemen. They think there can be no liberty without a security of property; and that there can be no property, if any can, without their confent, deprive them of the hardearned fruits of their labor. They know that they have no choice in the election of the members of parliament; and from their fituation, never can have any. Every act of parliament therefore, that is made for raising a revenue in America, is in their opinion, depriving them of their property without their confent, and confequently is an invafion of their liberty."

If then the acts cannot be repealed while the miniftry objects, and if to remove the objections the Americans must give up their fentiments, we must candidly confefs we have little hopes of a repeal ever taking place; much lefs is it to be expected, that the merchants will prefume to petition parliament on the principle of inexpediency only, when every assembly on the continent are applying for a repeal on the principle of right."

"Happy had it been for both countries if the idea of raifing taxes in America had never been started; however, if the acts complained of are repealed, and no other of the like nature are attempted hereafter, the prefent unhappy jealoufies will, we believe, quickly fubfide, and the people of both countries in a fhort time, return to their ufual good humor, confidence, and affection."

If miniftry thought that the refolves of the house of lords, the preceding December, would have put a stop to non-importation agreements and the spirited exertions