CHAP. XII.

Object of the minister in his propofition respecting the export of tea.-Alarm at Boston. - Discovery of the governor's letters to the English miniftry. - News arrives in Boston, that ships laden with tea are on their way. - Riots - Governor's proclamation is difregarded. Ships arrive at Boston. A mob throws the cargo into the sea. - Meeting of parliament. - King's message respecting the disturbances at Boston, is difcuffed in parliament. Bill for blocking up the port of Boston. The punishment of a whole community for the acts of a part, is defended by ministers. The principle and provisions of the bill are impugned by oppofition as unjust and unwife.-Precedents difcuffed.-Opposition predict, that it will drive the colonies to confederate revolt.-The bill passes into a law.Mr. Fuller's motion for repealing the duty on tea.-Mr. Burke's celebrated speech on American taxation. -Coercive plan of ministers farther developed. Bill for changing the civil government of Massachusets. - Bill for changing the administration of justice therein. Quebec bill. - Inquiry into the state of prisons. - Howard. - Supplies. - Literary property ascertained by a decision of the house of peers. - Seffion closes.-Expectations and apprehenfions from the coercive measures of the legislature.

COME now to a part of the narrative more imI portant than any which has hitherto been the fubject of this history. I have to trace the causes and the commencement of a war, which in its progress involved maritime Europe, and in its operations difplayed very frequently all the strength of the British character, in which, though the issue proved unfortunate, as the counsels were not rarely unwife, and the

1

XII.

1773.

the executive conduct not feldom dilatory and in- CHAP. decisive, yet the contest was on the whole not inglorious. The mass of British energy was unimpaired. Military ardour and enterprise, naval skill, courage, and ability, manifested themselves in all ranks. If Britain, having the whole force of her ancient foes and her recent friends and fubjects to combat, did not come off victorious, yet she was not vanquished; she indeed lost her colonies, but did not lofe her honour.

Various were the circumstances, both internal and external, in her cabinet, her fenate, her camp, and the combined efforts of her enemies, which tended to depress our country; but all did not effect a lasting humiliation. The national exertions, though far different in success from those during which Pitt had guided her councils, or Marlborough headed her troops, proved that Britain had not degenerated. Severely as the effects of the American war were immediately felt by this country, yet its distant consequences have been most dreadful to continental Europe, by rapidly accelerating that great revolution which now overwhelms so large a portion of the civilized world, and has made the chief abettors of revolt fall into destruction from the principles which that revolt cherished.

Lord North, in his propofition for exporting the teas of the company without paying duty, had a twofold object in view: to relieve the company, and to improve the revenue. The Americans, being informed of the act, viewed it only in the latter light. The associations against importing tea, were still in existence; although, except in Massachusets

bay,

Object of
in his propo-
cerning the
export of

the minifter

fition con

tea.

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1773

CHAP. bay, little regarded; and the promulgation of this _ scheme revived their spirit in the more moderate colonies, but in Massachusets it excited great rage and alarm. It was forefeen, that if the tea were once introduced and landed, it would be impoffible to prevent its fale and confumption, and thus the inhabitants would be obliged to pay the duty, notwithstanding all their efforts to oppose taxation. As tea had been clandeftinely imported even to Boston, the dealers, who were very numerous, were afraid that the trade might be taken out of their hands, and become entirely dependent on the confignees of the East India company. These, from the connection now subsisting between the company and the administration, were gentlemen who favoured government, and were of course unpopular in New England.

Alarm at Botton.

Difcovery of the go

vernors' letEnglish mi

ters to the

nifters.

There was another circumstance also, which ren dered these colonists more inimical than ever to government, and consequentiy more determined to oppofe its measures and misconstrue its intentions. Some years before this time, the governor and deputy governor of Massachusets had written confidential letters to official persons in England, containing a very unfavourable view of the state of affairs, and of the temper, dispositions, and defigns of the leaders in that province. They alleged, that a republican spirit prevailed there, which would refift the measures of Britain, however equitable; that to reduce the inhabitants to obedience, соё cion was neceffary; and that a confiderable change of the constitution and system of government was requifite, to infure the fubordination of the colony;

and

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and propofed, that the alteration should be fuch as CHẠP. would abridge their liberties. By fome means not yet difcovered, doctor Franklin, agent for the province in England, got the letters into his poffeffion. Franklin was also deputy post-master-general for America, an office which he held from the appointment of the British government; from gratitude, therefore, he might have been prefumed to be attached to his employers. Perhaps the poffeffor of the letters might, on this supposition, have shewn them to him, in order to illuftrate fome opinion respecting the conduct of the Americans; but howfoever he might have discovered them, it was to be expected that he, who must have seen their nature and tendency, would not have published papers which must necessarily embroil the governor and the colonies. Franklin, nevertheless, did make them known, by tranfmitting them to the provincial afsembly then fitting at Boston. The animofity and indignation excited by their perusal were, as the informer must have foreseen, very violent. The affembly fent a deputation to inquire whether the governor acknowledged the signatures; and the subscription being owned, they prepared a petition and remomstrance to be presented to the king, charging the governor with betraying his trust by giving partial and false information, declaring him an enemy to the colony, and praying for his removal from office., This new fource of difcord rendered the Bostonians more open to other causes. The consignees of the East India company were chiefly of the family and nearest connections of the governor VOL. II.

L

and

1

CHAP. and deputy-governor, and were thus the more ob

XII.

1773News ar

noxious to the hatred of the Bostonians.

In the month of November, intelligence was rerives at Bof- ceived that three ships laden with tea were on their

ton of the

approach of passage to Boston. Tumults, violence, and riot,

ships laden with tea.

were excited, to frighten the confignees from acting in their intended capacity. Some of the company's agents were so intimidated as to yield to this lawless violence, and to relinquish their appointments, but others refolved to difcharge their duty. Committees were appointed in different towns, to which the constituents delegated much greater powers than justly and legally they poffefsed themselves. They authorised the deputies to inspect the books of merchants, to impose tests, and to inflict punishment on those who resisted their tyrannical proceedings. These violent measures were not confined to the province of Massachusets, but extended to the other colonies; it was, however, at Boston that they proceeded to flagrant outrage. There the populace, with the imperious insolence of a democratical mob, commanded the agents to relinquish their appointments; but those gentlemen refused to deviate from engagements which justice sanctioned, and law authorised; and the rioters attacked the houses of the refractory confignees, whom they obliged to take refuge in Castle William. The governor ifssued a proclamation, commanding the civil magistrates to fuppress the riots, and protect the peaceable and well-disposed inhabitants *; but the is difregard- proclamation was disregarded and despised, and the * Stedman's Hiftory of the American War, vol. i. p. 84.