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pearance of advanced age, though only forty-five. He had been repeatedly and severely afflicted with the gout, a disease much more common in those days than it now is, while dyspepsia, if it existed at all, was not known by that name. As recollected, at this time, Gov. Hancock was nearly six feet in stature, and of thin person, stooping a little, and apparently enfeebled by disease. His manners were very gracious, of the old style of dignified complaisance. His face had been very handsome. Dress was adapted quite as much to be ornamental as useful. Gentlemen wore wigs when abroad, and, commonly, caps when at home. At this time (June, 1782), about noon, Hancock was dressed in a red velvet cap, within which was one of fine linen. The latter was turned up over the lower edge of the velvet one, two or three inches. He wore a blue damask gown, lined with silk; a white stock, a white. satin embroidered waistcoat, black satin small-clothes, white silk stockings, and red morocco slippers."

After having suffered severely for several years from gout, he died, as before stated, in October, 1793, aged fifty-six. His body lay in state at his mansion for some days, and then was interred with extraordinary demonstrations of public grief.

"How peaceful and how powerful is the grave!"

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CHAPTER VI.

JOSEPH WARREN,

TYPE OF OUR MARTIAL ELOQUENCE.

BEFORE proceeding to the main object of the present sketch, let us briefly review the circumstances which compelled our fathers to the employment of military force in the conquest of personal and national freedom.

The British cabinet attempted to tax the Colonies, under the pretence of providing for their protection, but in reality to relieve the nation from the enormous debt under which Great Britain was oppressed. In March, 1764, as a prelude to the Stamp-Act, the House of Commons resolved, "That towards further defraying the necessary expenses of protecting the Colonies, it may be necessary to charge certain stamp duties upon them;" and this resolution was followed by what was commonly called the Sugar Act, passed on the 5th of April, prefaced by the following obnoxious preamble: "Whereas it is JUST and necessary that a revenue be raised in America, for defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same; we, the commons, &c., towards raising the same, give and grant unto your Majesty, after the 29th day of September, 1764, on clay

ed sugar, indigo, and coffee, &c., &c., the sum of," &c. This measure, declared by parliament to be so just, was regarded by its subjects here as oppressive and tyrannical, and as such they treated it. It is literally true that they waged war against a preamble.

Having passed both Houses of Parliament, on the 22d of March, the Stamp-Act received the royal assent. Dr. Franklin, then in England, as agent for Pennsylvania, wrote to Charles Thompson, afterwards Secretary of Congress" The sun of liberty is set; you must light up the lamps of industry and economy." Mr. Thompson significantly replied, "That he thought other lights would be lighted up to resist these unconstitutional measures." The Colonies were immediately and deeply aroused. The pulpit, especially, in New England, labored in the patriotic cause with great zeal and effect. The fires of liberty were kindled in every vale and on every hill, spreading their heat and light from province · to province, until the conflagration embraced the whole. land.

In Virginia the cry of resistance resounded in tones of thunder. In New York, ten boxes of stamps were seized by the populace, and destroyed. In Massachusetts, the strife was sterner still, and there, under the violence of hired ruffians, the first martyrs to American liberty fell. Otis, the invincible advocate, was mutilated by the bludgeons and dirks of assassins, Gray and other worthy citizens were shot down in the streets, and, in the great battle which these and other outrages had hastened, Warren expired.

Joseph Warren was born in Roxbury, in 1774. When

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