nouncing all communication with those who should refuse to fign this Covenant, notwithstanding a Proclamation from General Gage, styling such agreement an unlawful, hoftile, and traitorous combination. An Address being presented to him by the Municipality of Boston, in which the rights of the Colonies were afferted in a high and refolute tone, the Governor would not deign to hear it read to the end, declaring it to be an insult to his Majesty and his Government.

On the 25th of May, 1774, the New General Court met as usual at Boston, when General Gage gave them notice of their removal to Salem by the late Act. The Affembly haftening the public business, in order to evade this neceffity, the Governor adjourned the Court to the 7th of June, then to meet at Salem. The first business after this adjournment on the subsequent meeting at Salem, was to appoint Deputies to meet those of the other Colonies in General Congress at Philadelphia. The Governor, having received intimation of this design, dispatched his Secretary with the greatest precipitation to diffolve the Court: but, on his arrival, he found the doors fast locked; and knocking aloud for entrance, he was informed, that the House was upon very important business, and till it was finished he could not be admitted. On which he read the Proclamation of Diffolution on the ftairs leading to the hall of the the Affembly; but the nomination of Deputies being previoufly made, this was confidered as an important advantage gained against the Governor.

It was a part of the artful and malignant plan of the British Minifters in framing the Boston Port Bill, by removing the commerce of that metropolis to Salem, and making it the feat of Government, to establish a rivalship and enmity between those two places, from which they hoped to derive mighty advantages. But the magnanimous fpirit by which the Americans were at this period universally actuated, discovered itself very confpicuoufly in an Address presented by the Merchants and Freeholders of the Town of Salem, to the Governor, the day succeeding the diffolution of the General Court. "We are," say they, " most deeply afflicted with a sense of our public calamities:-by shutting up the port of Boston, some imagine that the course of trade might be turned hither, and to our benefit; but nature, in the formation of our harbor, forbids our becoming rivals in commerce with that convenient mart; and were it otherwise, we must be dead to every idea of justice, and lost to all feelings of humanity, could we indulge one thought to seize on wealth, and raise our fortunes on the ruin of our fuffering neighbors." Marblehead, a fea-port in the vicinity of Boston, vying in generofity with Salem, offered the Merchants

of

of that city the free use of its wharfs and stores. The unparalleled injustice and cruelty of this Bill were the topics of universal execration; it was said "to be so constituted, that enormous pains and penalties must ensue, notwithstanding the most perfect obedience to its injunctions; as the Port could not be again opened but by his Majefty in Council, in consequence of a previous certificate from the Governor. Those charged with the most aggravated crimes are not punishable till arraigned before disinterested Judges, heard in their own defence, and found guilty of the charge. But here a whole people are accused, prosecuted by they know not whom, proved guilty they know not how, and sentenced to inevitable ruin."

The rough drafts of the Bills for altering the Charter of Massachusetts; for the impartial administration of justice; and another for providing quarters for troops in America, arriving about this time at Boston, were instantly circulated through the Continent, and filled up what was before wanting of violence and indignation in the several Colonies. Even those who were moderate, or apparently wavering, now became refolute and resentful. The people at large expressed without reserve their conviction, that the æra was fast approaching when it would be neceffary for them to defend their rights with the edge edge of the sword. The Colonial Militia Laws required every Citizen to bear arms within a certain age; they were in general fond of military exercises, and abounded in excellent markfmen. They were now with great diligence employed in training and perfecting themselves in military evolutions and manœuvres. The found

of drums and fifes every where faluted the ear. Parents and children, husbands and lovers, the young and the old, were poffefsed by the fame martial spirit, and were fired with the fame glorious and enthusiastic zeal for liberty. Nothing was to be seen or heard of but purchafing of arms and ammunition, cafting of balls, and the making all those preparations which testify the most immediate danger and determined refift

ance.

Soon after the arrival of General Gage, two additional regiments of foot, with a detachment of artillery and cannon, were landed at Boston, and encamped on the Common. These troops were by degrees re-inforced by the arrival of feveral regiments from Ireland, New York, Halifax, and at length from Quebec. The town of Boston is connected with the Continent by a narrow ifthmus of confiderable length, on which a military guard was placed, and the entrance of the neck fortified by order of Government; and so little intercourse subsisted between the city and the country,

country, that the garrison found it already difficult to procure the means of subsistence. With the Charter Bill, the Governor received a lift of thirty-fix Counsellors, appointed by Royal Mandamus, twelve of whom declined to serve. The Courts of Judicature were totally suspended, the Jurors refusing to take the oaths, and to act under the new judges and laws. In many counties the people affembled in large bodies, and took poffeffion of the Court-Houses, and would fuffer neither judges, sheriffs, nor clerks to enter. All persons accepting offices under the new Acts were declared enemies to their country. The Mandamus Counsellors, the Commiffioners of the Customs, and all who had made themselves particularly obnoxious by their activity in seconding the meafures of Government, were compelled to take refuge in Boston. The Seat of Government at Salem was entirely abandoned, and Government itself seemed no longer to exift.

At length the General Congrefs, on which all America had their eyes now fixed, met at Philadelphia for the first time, September 4, 1774. This Affembly confifted of fifty-one Members, delegated in such proportions from the different Colonies as corresponded with their varied extent and population, though each Colony had a diftinct and separate vote. Amongst their first refolves they paffed an unanimous vote, that this Affembly deeply