1765. toll until evening. The body of quakers, with a part of the church of England and of the baptists, seemed inclined to submit to the stamp act; but great pains were taken to engage the Dutch and the lower class of people in the opposition; and Mr. Hughes, the stamp master, found it necessary at length to resign.

Maryland,

Virginia,

Canada,
Halifax,

W. India islands.

Nonimportation a

In Maryland, Mr. Hood, the stamp distributor for that colony, to avoid resigning his office, fled to New York; but he was constrained by a number of freemen to sign a paper, declaring his absolute and final resignation.

In Virginia, Mr. George Mercer, distributor of stamps for that colony, arriving at Williamsburg in the evening, was immediately urged to resign; and, the next day, he so handsomely declined acting in his office, that he received the acclamations of the people. At night, the town was illuminated; the bells were rung; and festivity expressed the universal joy.

Canada and Halifax submitted to the act.

In the West India islands, the proceedings were various. The people of St. Christopher obliged the distributor and his deputy to resign. Barbadoes submitted to the act. Jamaica cleared out with stamps, but Kingston without them.

The New York merchants, the more effectually to obtain a greements. repeal of the stamp act, resolved to direct their correspondents to ship no more goods until it should be repealed; and that they would not sell on commission any goods, which should be shipped from Great Britain, after the 1st of January, unless on condition of such repeal. The merchants and traders of Philadelphia and of Boston, imitating the spirited and patriotic conduct of New York, entered into similar nonimportation agreements; and the example was followed by the merchants of all those colonies which had ventured openly to oppose the stamp act.1 By the 1st of November, when the act was to take effect, not a sheet of stamped paper was to be had throughout the colonies of New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, or the two Carolinas.

Associa

tions and

On the 25th of December, mutual agreements, concessions, and resolutions associations were concluded between "the sons of liberty of the against the colony of New York on the one part, and the sons of liberty of stamp act; the colony of Connecticut on the other part;" in which, after professions of allegiance to the king, and attachment to the royal person and family, and agreeing to protect and defend each other in the peaceable, full, and just enjoyment of their inherent and

1 The effect of these nonimportation agreements was felt in England, and doubtless contributed to the repeal of the stamp act. The exports from Great Britain to America were less in 1766 than in 1765. In those two years, the exports from Britain to the colonies were less than the imports by £880,811. Colonial Tracts in Library of Harvard College.

1765.

relief;

accustomed rights as subjects of their respective colonies, they proceed to take notice of the obnoxious act, which they treat as not promulgated, and not to be regarded but for resistance. "Whereas a certain pamphlet has appeared in America in the form of an act of parliament, called and known by the name of the Stamp-Act, but has never been legally published or introduced, neither can it, as it would immediately deprive them of the most invaluable part of the British constitution, namely, the trial by juries, and the most just mode of taxation in the world, that is, of taxing themselves, rights that every British subject becomes heir to as soon as born: For the preservation of which, and every part of the British constitution, they do reciprocally resolve and determine to march with the utmost dispatch, at their own proper costs and expence, on the first proper notice,-to the relief of those that for mutual shall, are, or may be in danger from the stamp-act, or its promoters and abettors, or any thing relative to it, on account of any thing that may have been in opposition to its obtaining." After recommending mutual vigilance towards those who may be the most likely to introduce the use of stamped papers, to the total subversion of the British constitution and American liberty, and agreeing that they will, to the utmost of their power, by all just ways and means, endeavour to bring all such betrayers of their country to the most condign punishment; they resolve, "to defend the liberty of the press, in their respective colonies, from for defence all unlawful violations and impediments whatever, on account of ty of the the said act, as the only means, under divine Providence, of press. preserving their lives, liberties, and fortunes; and finally, that they will, to the utmost of their power, endeavour to bring about, accomplish, and perfect the like association with all the colonies on the continent, for the like salutary purposes and no other."

of the liber.

union pro

The proposal of uniting with New York and Connecticut was Continental accepted by the sons of liberty at Boston, who proposed to posed; commence a continental union. This proposal was immediately circular letencouraged by circular letters sent by them into the New Eng- ters sent to land colonies, and sent by those of New York as far as South the coloCarolina.

nies.

out stamps.

Although, by the resignation of the stamp officers, the colonists Business were laid under a legal inability for doing business according to done withparliamentary laws; yet they adventured to do it, and risked the consequences. Vessels sailed from ports, as before; and the courts of justice, though suspended awhile in most of the colonies, at length proceeded to business without stamps.1

1 Gordon, i. Lett. 3. Belknap, N. Hamp. ii. 322—330. Minot, ii. c. 7, 8. Hewatt, ii. c. 11. Adams, N. Eng. 243-251. Pres. Adams, Lett. 1. Warren, Amer. Rev. i. 31. Amer. Museum, vol. iv. The Journal of the Stamp act congress, reprinted from an official copy, is in the 2d volume of Niles's Register.

1765.

the rates of postage.

The British parliament passed an act, establishing the rates of postage of letters between London and the British dominions Act fixing in America. The preamble of this act states the security and improvement of correspondence throughout his majesty's dominions as a matter of great concernment, and highly necessary for the preservation and extension of trade and commerce; subjoining, "that by the late treaty of peace, several communications have been opened, and new posts established in several parts of his majesty's dominions in America, for which the rates of postage cannot, under the present laws, be properly ascertained."I

Adams's Dissertation on

Feudal

Law.

A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law, written by John Adams, was published this year. Though it appeared Canon and without a name, it has all the characteristic marks of its now well known author. It shows such a profound knowledge of his subject, and such a consummate acquaintance with the history and characters of the fathers of New England; it breathes such a fervid spirit of liberty, and invincible hatred to tyranny; it glows with so pure and unquenchable love of his country; it presents so just a view of its present injuries, and so ominous a prospect of its future dangers, and so admirably prepares his countrymen to resist the one, and to meet the other; that it may never be forgotten. A work of such intrinsic merit, and of such powerful influence, composed at this crisis, claims a record among the political occurrences of the time.

The writer, referring to the attempts of "the great," in all ages, to wrest from the populace, as they are contemptuously called, the knowledge of their rights and wrongs, and their power to assert the former or redress the latter, proceeds, in his own nervous style, "I say Rights, for such they have undoubtedly, antecedent to all earthly government-Rights, that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws-Rights, derived from the great Legislator of the universe. From the time of the Reformation, to the first settlement of America, knowledge gradually spread in Europe, but especially in England; and in proportion as that increased and spread among the people, ecclesiastial and civil tyranny, which I use as synonimous expressions for the canon and feudal laws, seem to have lost their strength and weight. The people grew more and more sensible

1 Annual Register. The previous rates of postage had been established by an act of 9 Anne; which, so far as it respected America, was now repealed. After the 10th of October, the rates of inland postage in America were to be, for any distance not exceeding 60 miles, for every single letter 4d. and all others in proportion; for upwards of 60 and not exceeding 100 miles, every single letter 6d.; for upwards of 100 and not exceeding 200 miles, every single letter 8d. and for upwards of 200 and not exceeding 100 miles further, for every such further distance every single letter 2d. and others in proportion.

of the wrong that was done them, by these systems; more and 1765. more impatient under it; and determined at all hazards to rid themselves of it; till at last, under the execrable race of the Stuarts, the struggle between the people and the confederacy aforesaid of temporal and spiritual tyranny, became formidable, violent, and bloody. It was this great struggle that peopled America. It was not religion alone-but it was a love of universal liberty, and an hatred, a dread, an horror of the infernal confederacy before described, that projected, conducted, and accomplished the settlement of America. It was a resolution formed by a sensible people, I mean the Puritans, almost in despair. They had become intelligent in general, and many of them learned. They at last resolved to fly to the wilderness for refuge. After their arrival here, they began their settlement, and formed their plan both of ecclesiastial and civil government, in direct opposition to the canon and feudal law. The leading men among them, both of the clergy and laity, were men of sense and learning: To many of them the historians, orators, poets, and philosophers of Greece and Rome were quite familiar; and some of them have left libraries that are still in being, consisting chiefly of volumes, in which the wisdom of the most enlightened ages and nations is deposited.Let us take it for granted, that the same great spirit, which once gave Cæsar so warm a reception; which denounced hostilities against John, till Magna Charta was signed; which severed the head of Charles the first from his body, and drove James the second from his kingdom; the same great spirit (may heaven preserve it till the earth shall be no more) which seated the great grandfather of his present most gracious majesty on the throne of Britain, is still alive, and active, and warm in England; and that the same spirit in America, instead of provoking the inhabitants of that country, will endear us to them for ever. This spirit, however, without knowledge, would be little better than brutal rage. Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore the means of knowledge."

The writer calls upon every order and degree among the people to rouse their attention and animate their resolution. "Let us study the law of nature; search into the spirit of the British constitution; read the histories of ancient ages; contemplate the great examples of Greece and Rome; set before us the conduct of our own British ancestors, who have defended for us the inherent rights of mankind against foreign and domestic tyrants and usurpers, against arbitrary kings and cruel priests, in short against the gates of earth and hell. Let us read and recollect and impress upon our souls the views and ends of our own more immediate forefathers in exchanging their native country for a dreary, inhospitable wilderness. . . . Recollect the civil

1765. and religious principles and hopes and expectations which constantly supported and carried them through all hardships, with patience and resignation. Let us recollect, it was liberty, the hope of liberty for themselves and us and ours, which conquered all discouragements, dangers, and trials.-In such researches as these let us all in our several departments cheerfully engage; but especially the proper patrons and supporters of law, learning, and religion." The patriot, in the conclusion of his dissertation, says, no one of any feeling, born and educated in this once happy country, can consider the numerous distresses, usurpations, that we have reason to fear are meditating for ourselves, our children, our neighbours, in short for all our countrymen and all their posterity, without the utmost agonies of heart, and many

Indian con

gress at Mobile.

Cherokees.

Population of S. Caro

lina, Charlestown, and

Boston.

Pittsburg.

tears.

A general congress of Indians was held, this year, at Mobile, at which were present George Johnstone, governor of West Florida, and the head men and warriors of the Chactaw and Chickasaw nations; and a tariff of trade was settled on every material article, in the most public and solemn manner, to the great satisfaction of the Indians.1

The Cherokees could at this time scarcely bring 2000 men to the field.2

The white inhabitants of South Carolina were 40,000; the negroes and persons of colour, 90,0003 The white inhabitants of Charlestown, the capital of that colony, amounted to between 5000 and 6000; and the negroes, to between 7000 and 8000.1 Boston contained 1676 houses; 2069 families, and 15,520 souls.5

6

The town of Pittsburg was laid out, on the plan of Philadelphia, upon the east bank of the Monongahela. West Housac, Williams- in Massachusetts, was incorporated by the name of Williamstown.7

town.

Professor

ship founded.

A professorship of the Hebrew and other oriental languages was founded in Harvard College, on the donation of Thomas. Hancock, and Stephen Sewall was inducted the first professor.8

1 Adair, 366. The tariff was chiefly "according to the Muskohge standard." 2 Hewatt, ii. 280.

3 Drayton, S. Car. 103.

4 Hewatt, ii. 291. The province of South Carolina was now in a very flourishing state, and its prosperity continued until the war of the revolution. In the half century from 1725 to 1775 the inhabitants of that province were increased sevenfold. Ramsay, Hist. S. Car. i. 123.

5 Stiles, MS. This account, which Dr. Stiles" received from the Secretary's office," was the result of enumeration. See TABLES.

6 Niles, Register, vi. 208. Alcedo, T. Art. PITTSBURG.

7 Pemberton, MS. Chron.

8 Ibid. See 1764. Art. HANCOCK.