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retaining a small establishment, a faithful black slave, Cato, being part of it-our former cook, but now coachman, whom my sister taught to read and instructed in religion, she being then about fifteen; he was some time afterwards baptised.'

The sister was, of course, Amelia. Probably Cato was baptized in England, where there would be less difficulty than in America. Julia's words might be taken to mean that the house near Roxbury had been confiscated, or that it was required for the use of the Acting Governor. But the confiscation of houses and lands had not yet begun, and that home seems to have been the private property of Governor Bernard, since he had built the greater part of it, as Julia herself says elsewhere. Her forcible expression, 'taken possession of,' was probably dictated by the remembrance of the wrench caused through parting from that pleasant spot, endeared by many recollections. Apparently the place had been let to Sir William Pepperell, who was too desirable a tenant to be postponed, and Sir Francis, having given up all idea of settling in America, had concluded the negotiation before starting for England.

There is more difficulty in understanding why Lady Bernard remained; but it must be remembered that her husband had as yet no home for her in England, and that there was evidently some domestic business to be settled before the departure of the family, which Sir Francis had not time to supervise at the last. Another important reason, indeed, must have been the health of Francis, the eldest of the family. I have no particulars of his decline, but it was probably of a nature which often rendered doubtful the possibility of moving him; while the idea of leaving him to die among strangers, or even among friends, deserted

''Reminiscences.'

2 Hale (Rev. E., D.D.), 'The Siege of Boston' (Winsor, Mem. Hist. Boston, vol. iii. ch. ii., ‘The Revolutionary Period). Dr. Hale says:‘. . . . Governor Bernard's house on Jamaica Pond, lately occupied by Sir William Pepperell.' Porter (Rev. Edward G., of the Hancock Church, Lexington), Note to ch. i. of the same volume, 'The Beginning of the Revolution.' 'Lady Bernard did not leave the estate till December 1770.' The note is by Winsor, but this statement must be erroneous.

THE NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENTS

219

by his father and mother, must have been repugnant to the feelings of both parents.

The commemoration of the Stamp Act Riots has been mentioned. A little later, further steps were taken by the popular party to produce disturbance. The principal grievances still alleged were the presence of the military and the tax upon tea. There had been considerable signs of wavering in America with regard to the non-importation agreements, which had influenced even Boston; many longed to be free from them. But these symptoms roused the irreconcilables to renewed exertions, which had the desired effect of intimidating a large number of loyalists.

Bernard, before his departure [says Hosmer], had written that the most respectable of the merchants would not hold to the nonimportation agreements, and British merchants accordingly felt encouraged to send cargoes to America. On September 4 a factor arrived in charge of a large consignment of goods. The town was expecting him; Samuel Adams, in the 'Boston Gazette,'' had prepared the public mind.' At once a meeting of merchants was held, at which the factor was 'required to send his goods back again.' At a town meeting held on the same day Samuel Adams, with others, was appointed to vindicate the town from the false representations of Bernard and other officials, and the case of those who had broken the non-importation agreements was considered. The names of four merchants were placed on the records as infamous; among those gibbeted were a son of Bernard and the two sons of Hutchinson, with whom the father was believed by the people to be in collusion. Such goods as had been landed were housed, and the key was kept by a committee of patriots. The troops meanwhile stood idle spectators, for no act could be alleged of which any Justice of the Peace would take notice, although the temper of the people was plainly hostile.'

The two sons of Hutchinson were amongst those merchants who were bullied into engaging not to import during the remainder of the year; but John Bernard appears to have been always uncompromising, and for some time he heads the list of recusants in the Boston Gazette.' The first number of that paper in my possession bears the date ' Hosmer, Samuel Adams, ch. x., The Non-Importation Agreements.'

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of Monday, January 22, 1770; but the expressions therein used imply that the persons named were old offenders. The notice is styled:

A List of the Names of those who audaciously continue to counteract the United Sentiments of the Body of Merchants thro'out North America by importing British Goods contrary to the Agreement:

John Bernard (in King Street, almost opposite Vernon's Head), James McMasters (on Treat's Wharf),

Patrick McMasters (opposite the Sign of the Lamb),

John Mein (opposite the White Horse, and in King Street), Ann & Elizabeth Cummings (opposite the Old Brick Meeting House),

All of Boston,

And Henry Barnes (trader in the town of Marlboro'),

Have, and do still continue to import Goods from London contrary to the Agreement of the Merchants. They have been requested to store their Goods upon the same Terms as the rest of the Importers have done, but absolutely refuse, by conducting in this manner.

It must evidently appear that they have preferred their own little private advantage to the welfare of America. It is therefore highly proper that the Public should know who they are that have at this critical Time sordidly detached themselves from the public interest; and as they will be deemed enemies to the Country, by all who are well-wishers to it, so those who afford them their countenance, or give them their custom, must expect to be considered in the same disagreeable light.1

But now, at the commencement of a new year, some of the merchants, who had unwillingly signed the agreement not to import until the end of 1769, began to avail themselves of their supposed freedom, and even to sell tea. The popular party loudly expressed its indignation. • The restriction, they thought, must remain in force until other merchants could import.' The Lieutenant-Governor, whose

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The Boston Gazette and Country Journal, January 22, 1770. This and many subsequent numbers of the Journal were a gift to me from the late Mr. P. O. Hutchinson, the editor of The Diary and Letters.

1 Hosmer, Samuel Adams, ch. x., 'The Non-Importation Agreements.'

THE BOSTON MASSACRE'

221

sons were specially attacked, gave way under this pressure, and condemned the practice; he subsequently regretted this concession,1 which served only to encourage the disaffected. It became daily more and more difficult to maintain any semblance of government. The forced inaction of the troops, originally brought to Boston to maintain order, rendered them the butts of a rancorous populace, and the persecution to which these unfortunate men were subjected led at last to retaliation. The catastrophe of March 1770, which is related in all histories of the time, occupies a place in Julia Bernard's Reminiscences.

While residing at this house [the Cherry House] a most appalling report reached us one morning from Boston. Some common people asserted that the soldiers in general had risen upon the townspeople, a general massacre had taken place, and the streets were running with blood. Upon more minute inquiry it turned out something different. The soldiers on guard at the Custom-house were insulted and abused by the rabble, and at last pelted with stones; the Captain and a further guard turned out; every means were used to insult them. The Captain had said, 'Don't fire'; but many calling out, 'Fire! fire!' they were at last confused, and did actually fire; four men fell, and the tumult became dreadful. The Captain and six men were conveyed to prison, where they awaited their trial under much apprehension through the vindictive spirit of the people. They were not, however, brought in guilty of murder, but at last released. Captain Preston had performed at my father's concerts, and was well known to us.

This most unfortunate event is termed by Americans 'the Boston Massacre,' but only five persons were killedthe four already mentioned and one who died of his wounds. Hosmer attributes the prevention of further bloodshed to the promptness and resolution of the Lieutenant-Governor,2 who, nevertheless, in Hawthorne's imaginative sketch entitled Edward Randolph's Portrait,' figures on this

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Hutchinson, Diary and Letters.

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2 Hosmer, Samuel Adams, ch. xi., 'The Sam Adams Regiments.'

Hawthorne (Nathaniel), Twice Told Tales: 'Legends of the Province House,' No. 2.

occasion as a melodramatic ruffian. The tragedy seems to have awakened, in the minds of irreconcilables even, a sense of the amount of provocation inflicted on the soldiers. When Captain Preston and his men were brought to trial, Jeremiah Gridley, Josiah Quincy, and John Adams, at their own desire, acted as counsel for the prisoners. Captain Preston and four of his men were acquitted; two soldiers were convicted of manslaughter, but were sentenced only to be branded on the hand.

By an entry in Governor Hutchinson's Almanac for 1770, probably in his own hand, it would seem that Lady Bernard recommended a gentleman for the office of justice. The entry runs: Charles Pelham, of Newton, a Justice, by Lady Bernard.' This is one of a series of notes to the same effect, every justice probably having to be vouched for by someone. It is the only case in which Lady Bernard's name appears. Mr. Hutchinson had perhaps paid her the compliment this year of inviting a recommendation from her.

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Julia's health seems to have suffered from the excitement and anxiety of this period, She does not mention the fact in her narrative; but some lines by her in another manuscript volume, dated June 1770,' are headed ⚫ Written in sickness.' They are in blank verse, and intended as an introduction to the character of her absent brother, Thomas, whose helpfulness must have been greatly missed at this crisis. Julia did not reach the subject, but added a few words in prose, already noticed, describing her lost brother Shute. She was then in her eleventh year.

It was apparently in the July of 1770 that Thomas Bernard received, in his absence, the degree of Master of Arts from Harvard College, in recognition of 'the progress he had already made while at the College.' The name Thomas Bernard' heads the list of M.A.s. This Com

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1 The Massachusetts Gazette and the Boston Weekly News Letter, No. 34, July 19, 1770; Baker (Rev. James), Life of Sir Thomas Bernard. The name of William Sanford Hutchinson' heads the list of B.A.s; he was also in England.

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