BURNING OF THE GASPEE.

179

7. About two o'clock, the next morning, the party found means to get on board the Gaspee. After sending the lieutenant, with his more valuable effects, together with the crew, on shore, they burned the schooner, with all her stores. The neutenant, in a conflict, while they were boarding the Gaspee, was wounded, but no one was otherwise injured.

8. Great pains were taken by the officers of the British government to discover and punish these offenders against the royal authority. Among other measures, a reward of five hundred pounds sterling was offered. Commissioners were also appointed to hear and try the cause No discovery, however, was made.

9. At a town-meeting in Boston, this year, a Committee was appointed to lay before the several towns in the provinces, as well as before the world, the views of the people respecting their own rights in relation to the parent country. Virginia came into the measure in the year 1773, and recommended the plan to the other colonies. Committees of Correspondence were appointed, which kept up an interchange of opinions between the colonies, and laid the basis of their final union.

CHAPTER LXXXIII.

The Tea thrown Overboard.

1. A BILL was passed by the British parliament, in 1773, allowing

them, it being only three pence, or six cents a pound.

small duty thus demanded of

7. What success had the assailants? 8 What was done by the British government? 9. What took place in Boston? Virginia? What of Committees of Correspondence? CHAP. LXXXIII.-1. What was done by the parliament in 1773?

2. Large ships were accordingly loaded with tea, and sent out to America. When they arrived, however, not a man could be found to receive the tea, or have any thing to do with it. A few chests, which some individual had brought to Philadelphia, were let down very quietly into the water by a band of persons who went slyly on board for that purpose,

3. The East India Company, confident of finding a market for their tea, reduced as it now was in its price, freighted several ships with it to the colonies, and appointed agents for its disposal. Some cargoes were sent to New York, some to Philadelphia, some to Charleston, South Carolina, and three to Boston.

4. The inhabitants of New York and Philadelphia sent the tea which came to them back to London. The people of Charleston unloaded theirs, and stored it in damp cellars, where it was soon spoiled. The Bostonians tried to send theirs back to London, but could not succeed. They would not, however, suffer it to be landed.

5. As a last resort, a town-meeting was summoned, and it was agreed to call on the governor and make a formal request to him that the ships might be sent off. But the governor paid no attention to the request. This produced a great uproar, and a man in the gallery, dressed like an Indian, shouted the cry of War! upon which the meeting was instantly dissolved.

6. The multitude then rushed toward the wharf where the tea vessels lay. Here were seventeen sea captains, carpenters, etc., dressed and painted like Indians. It was now night, and in the darkness they went on board the three vessels, and in less than two hours three hundred and forty chests were staved and emptied into the sea. When this was done, the crowd dispersed quietly to their homes.

7. An account of these disturbances reached England early in 1774, but it only incensed the government so much the more against the colonies, and made them so much the more resolute in the determination to punish them for their insolence. Boston was the first to feel their vengeance; and, in order to destroy the trade of that town, they forbade the landing of any goods in it; thus virtually placing it in a state of blockade.

8. This last act of parliament was called the Boston Port Bill. It took effect June 1st. Its passage was a most unpropitious event. Not only in Boston, but throughout the country, there was a general burst. of indignation. Town-meetings were held and fasts appointed; and a

2. Give an account of the reception of the tea in America. 3. What of the East India Company? 4. What was done with the tea by the different towns? 5. What of a townmeeting in Boston? 6. What was done by certain persons in disguise? 7. What was done by the British government? 8. What of the Boston port bill? The League and Covenant

MEETING OF THE FIRST CONGRESS.

181

"League and Covenant," as it was called, not to trade any more with England, was signed by immense numbers of the citizens.

9. General Gage, who had, in the spring of the year, been appointed governor of Massachusetts, issued his proclamation against the league, declaring it to be treasonable; but the Bostonians only said, in reply, that his proclamation was treason, and that all who refused to sign the league were enemies to their country.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

The first Congress meet at Philadelphia in 1774.

1. WHEN the legislature of Massachusetts met at Salem, in June of this year, 1774, a meeting of committees, or delegates, from the several colonies was proposed, and delegates on the part of Massachusetts were selected. The other colonies fell in with the measure, and it was gradually adopted, and delegates appointed from New Hampshire to Georgia.

2. This meeting of delegates, or First General Congress of the colonies, was opened September 4, 1774, at Philadelphia. Committees, or delegates, were present from eleven of the colonies. Those from North Carolina did not arrive till the 14th. They chose Peyton Randolph president, and Charles Thompson secretary. They also determined that, in their proceedings, each colony should be entitled to one vote only.

3. The proceedings of this Congress were distinguished for great boldness, decision, and determination. A Declaration of Rights was soon agreed upon. It was also resolved that no goods should be carried to Great Britain, nor any received from that country. They further agreed to send a Petition to the king, an Address to the British people, and a Memorial to the inhabitants of Canada.

4. The congress was in session eight weeks. Before it was dissolved, another congress was proposed to be held at the same place on the 10th of the following May, "unless a redress of their grievances should be previously obtained;" to which meeting, or congress, all the colonies were advised to appoint delegates as soon as possible.

9. What of Governor Gage?

CHAP. LXXXIV.-1. What was done at Salem? What measure was adopted? 2 What was done in September, 1774? From how many colonies were delegates present at this first General Congress? 3. What can you say of the proceedings of this con gress? 4. How long was this congress in session? What was proposed?

5. Concerning the proceedings of the first congress of the united colonies, which have been alluded to, we have the testimony of Mr. Pitt himself, the British minister, who had read their memorial, address, and petition, and who would not be apt to speak too highly of their character. It is as follows:

6. "I must declare and avow that in all my reading and study. and it has been my favorite study-I have read Thucydides and have studied and admired the master states of the world-that for solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, under such complication of circumstances, no nation or body of men can stand ir preference to the General Congress at Philadelphia.”

CHAPTER LXXXV.

The rising Spirit of Liberty.- The Boston Boys.-General Gage.

1. WHILE the king's troops remained in Boston, it was curious to watch the influence of their presence on the young. The boys of the city soon caught the spirit of opposition which burned in the bosoms of their fathers, as will appear in the following anecdote:

2. The boys of Boston were, in the winter, in the habi✩ of building, for amusement, little hills of snow, and sliding them into the pond on the common. The English soldiers, merely to provoke them, beat down these snow hills. The boys rebuilt them. On returning to them after school, however, they found them beaten down again.

3. Several of the boys now waited upon the British captain and informed him of the conduct of his soldiers. But the captain only made light of it; the soldiers perceiving this, became more troublesome to the boys than they were before.

4. At last they called a meeting of the largest boys, and sent them to General Gage, the commander-in-chief. He asked why so many children had called upon him. "We come, sir," said the tallest boy, "to demand satisfaction." "What!" said the general, “have your fathers been teaching you rebellion, and sent you to exhibit it here?'

5. "Nobody sent us, sir," answered the boy, while his cheek red dened and his eye flashed. "We have never injured or insulted your troops; but they have trodden down our snow hills, and broken the ice on our skating-ground. We complained, and they called us young

5, 6. What was Pitt's opinion of the first congress held at Philadelphia? CHAP. LXXXV.-1. Were the boys of Boston influenced by the feelings of their athers? 2-6. Relate the anecdote of the boys and the English soldiers.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

183

rebels, and told us to help ourselves if we could. We told the captain of this, and he laughed at us. Yesterday our works were destroyed the third time, and we will bear it no longer."

6. General Gage looked at them a moment in silent admiration, and then said to an officer at his side, "The very children here draw in a love of liberty with the air they breathe. You may go, my brave boys; and be assured, if my troops trouble you again, they shall be punished."

CHAPTER LXXXVI.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.-Preparations for War.-The Massachusetts Provincial Congress.-Similar Assemblies in other Colonies.-Dr. Franklin removed from the office of Postmaster-General.

1. THAT period in our history which is called the American Revolu

BRITISH GENERAL.

tion, is generally regarded as beginning with the Battle of Lexington, in which, for the first time, the people openly met and resisted the British troops. This occurred in April, 1775, and the war thus begun was not finally terminated till the peace of September, 1783. During this long period of more than eight years, the colonies were compelled to suffer all the trials and miseries inflicted by a bloody contest with Great Britain, the mother country, now become as vindictive as she was powerful. We shal find this portion of our his tory full of the most remark able and interesting events.

2. The symptoms of rebellion became so apparent in the

CHAP. LXXXVI.-1. What is generally regarded as the beginning of the American Rev. lution? When did the battle of Lexington take place? How long did the Revolutionary war continue? What shall we find the history of the Revolutionary war to be?