Grenville, the obnoxious stamp act passed in the British pärliament, by which the instruments of writing in daily use were to be null and void, unless, executed on paper or parchment stamped with a specific duty: law documents, leases, deeds and indentures, newspapers and advertisements, almanacs and pamphlets, executed and printed in America,—aki must contribute to the British treasury.

3. The bill did not pass without the decided opposition of patriots in the British legislature, who foretold the result, and who declared that, the colonies being planted by British oppression, and having assisted the mother country, the mother had no claim on the child to derive from it a revenue. The bill did not take effect until seven months after its passage; thus giving the colonists an opportunity of leisurely exami ning and viewing the subject on every side.

4. They were struck with silent consternation; but the voice of opposition was first heard in Virginia. Patrick Henry, on the 20th of May, brought into the house of burgesses in that colony, a number of resolutions, which were adopted, and which concluded with declaring, "That every individual, who, by speaking or acting, should assert or maintain that any person or body of men, except the general assembly of the province, had any right to impose taxation there, should be deemed an enemy to his majesty's colony." 5. These resolutions were immediately disseminated through the other provinces,--the tongues and the pens of well-informed men labored in the holy cause,-the fire of liberty blazed forth from the press. The assembly of Massachusetts passed a resolution in favor of a continental congress, and fixed a day for its meeting at New-York, in October. The other colonies, with the exception of four, accepted the invitation, and assembled at the appointed place. Here they agreed on a declaration of their rights. There was, however, a considerable degree of timidity evinced in this congress.-The boldest and most impressive arguments were offered by James Otis of Massachusetts.

6. The time arrived for the act to take effect; and the aversion to it was expressed in still stronger terms throughout the colonies. By a common consent, its provisions were disregarded, and business was conducted, in defiance of the parliament, as if no stamp act was in existence: associations were formed against importing British manufactures until the law should be repealed; and lawyers were prohibited from instituting any action for money due to any inhabitant of England.

7. The spirited conduct of the colonists affecting the in

terests of the British merchants, had the desired effect. Warm discussions took place in the British parliament, and the ablest speakers in both houses denied the justice of taxing the colonies. The opposition could not be withstood; and in March, 1766, the law was repealed. Simultaneously, however, with repealing this act, the British parliament passed another, declaring that the British parliament had a right to make laws binding the colonies in all cases whatever; and soon after another bill was passed, imposing in the colonies duties on glass, paper, painters' colors, and tea.

8. The fire of opposition was now rekindled with additional ardor, by the same principle, exhibited in its new form.→→ The best talents throughout the colonies were engaged, in the public prints and in pamphlets, to work up the public feeling against the arbitrary measures of the British parliament.-New associations were formed to suspend the importation of British manufactures. The Massachusetts assembly, having passed resolutions to this effect, drew forth the marked displeasure of the crown; and, on their refusal to cancel their resolutions, were dissolved."

9. In 1768, Mr. Hancock's sloop Liberty was seized at Boston, for not entering all the wines she had brought from Madeira: this inflamed the populace to a high degree of resentment. Soon afterwards, two British regiments, and some armed vessels, were sent to Boston, to assist the revenue officers. The parliament, encouraged by the expectation of quelling the refractory by their arms, continued to dissolve the opposing assemblies; but the colonies remained firm in their purposes.

10. Lord North succeeded the Duke of Grafton, as British premier in 1770; and the act was repealed imposing a duty on glass, paper, and painter's colors; but that on tea was retained. Some slight prospect of allaying the difficulties succeeded. But on the second of March an affray took place in Boston, between a private soldier and an inhabitant. This. was succeeded, in a few days afterwards, by a mob meeting a party of Britis: soldiers under arms, who were dared to fire, and who at length did fire, and killed five persons. The captain who commanded, and the troops who fired, were afterwards tried for murder, and acquitted.

11. Things continued in this mode of partial irritation until 1773, when the British East India Company were authorized to export their tea, to all places, free of duty. As this would enable them to sell that article cheaper in America, with the government exactions, than they had before sold it without them, it was confidently calculated that teas might

be extensively disposed of in the colonies. Large consignments of tea were sent to various ports, and agents appointed for its disposal.

12. The consignces, in several places, were compelled to relinquish their appointments. Popular vengeance prevented the landing at New York or Philadelphia. In Boston it was otherwise. The tea for the supply of that port was consigned to the sons and particular friends of Governor Hutchinson. The tea was landed by the strenuous exertions of the governor and consignees. But soon a party of men, dressed as Indians, boarded the tea ships, broke open the cargoes, and threw the contents into the sea.

13. Enraged against the people of Boston, the parliament resolved to take legislative vengeance on that devoted town. Disregarding the forms of the British constitution, by which none are to be punished without trial, they passed a bill, closing, in a commercial sense, its port: its custom house and trade were soon after removed to Salem. The charter of the colony was new modelled, so that the whole executive government was taken from the people, and the nomination to all important offices vested in the crown; and it was enacted, that if any person was indicted for any capital offense committed in aiding the magistrates, he might be sent to Great Britain or another colony for trial.

14. Property, liberty, and life, were thus subject to ministerial caprice. The parliament went still farther, and passed an act extending the boundaries of Canada, southward to the Ohio, westward to the Mississippi, and northward to the borders of the Hudson's Bay Company, assimilating its laws with the French, which dispensed with the trial by jury, and rendering the inhabitants passive agents in the hands of power.

QUESTIONS.

How many soldiers did the colonies furnish in the French war?

When was the British stamp act passed?

Where in the colonies was it first opposed ?

Which of the colonies proposed a continental congress to be held at New York?

When was the law repealed?

What bill was passed on the repeal of this?

What disturbances took place at Boston in 17631

What change took place on the elevation of Lord North 7

What disturbances took place in Boston in March, 17701

What took place in 17731

What resistance was made in Boston in 1773, to the British government in relation to tea?

Who was the British commander in chief in Boston at this time ?

SECTION VII.

The same subject continued.

1. THE flame was now kindled in every breast; and associations were formed, and committees of correspondence were established, which produced a unity of thought and action throughout the colonies. General Gage, the British commander in chief, arrived in Boston, in 1774, with more troops, with the avowed intention of dragooning the refractory Bostonians into compliance. A general sympathy was excited for the suffering inhabitants of Boston: addresses poured in froin all quarters; Marblehead offered to the Boston merchants the use of their wharves, and Salem refused to adopt the trade, the offer of which had been proffered as a temptation to her cupidity.

2. Affairs rapidly approached a crisis. The preparations for offense and defense, induced General Gage to fortify Boston, and to seize on the powder lodged at the arsenal at Charlestown.

3. In September, deputies from most of the colonics met in congress, at Philadelphia. These delegates approved of the conduct of the people of Massachusetts; wrote a letter to General Gage; published a declaration of rights; formed an association not to import or use British goods; sent a peti tion to the king of Great Britain; an address to the inhabitants of that kingdom; another to the inhabitants of Canada ; and another to the inhabitants of the colonies. In the begin ning of the next year, (1775,) was passed the fishery bill, by which the northern colonies were forbidden to fish on the banks of Newfoundland for a certain time. This bore hard upon the commerce of these colonies, which was in a great · measure supported by the fishery.

4. Soon after, another bill was passed, which restrained the trade of the middle and southern colonies to Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies, except under certain éonditions. These repeated acts of oppression on the part of Great Britain, alienated the affectious of America from her parent and sovereign, and produced a combined opposition to the whole system of taxation. Preparations began to be made to oppose by force the execution of these acts of parliament. The militia of the country were trained to the use of arms-great encouragement was given to the manufacture of gunpowder, and measures were taken to obtain all kinds of military stores. chas very por

5. In February, Colonel Leslie was sent with a detachment of troops from Boston, to take possession of some cannon at Salem. But the people had intelligence of the design took up the drawbridge in that town, and prevented the troops from passing, until the cannon were secured; so that the expedition failed. In April, Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn were sent with a body of troops, to destroy the military stores which had been collected at Concord, about twenty miles from Boston. At Lexington the militia were collected on a green, to oppose the incursion of the British forces. These were fired upon by the British troops, and eight nien killed on the spot.

6. The militia were dispersed, and the troops proceeded to Concord, where they destroyed a few stores. But on their return they were incessantly harassed by the Americans, who, inflamed with just resentment, fired upon them from houses and fences, and pursued them to Boston. Here was spilled the first blood in the war which severed America from the British empire. Lexington opened the first scene of the great drama, which, in its progress, exhibited the most illustrious characters and events, and closed with a revolution, equally glorious for the actors, and important in its consequences to the human race.

7. This battle roused all America. The militia collected from all quarters, and Boston was in a few days besieged by twenty thousand men. A stop was put to all intercourse be tween the town and country, and the inhabitants were reduced to great want of provisions. General Gage promised to let the people depart, if they would deliver up their arms. The people complied; but when the general had obtained their arms, he refused to let the people go.

8. In the mean time, a small number of men, under the command of Colonel Allen and Colonel Easton, without any public orders, surprised and took the British garrison at Ticonderoga without the loss of a man.

9. In June following, our troops attempted to fortify Bunker's Hill, which lies in Charlestown, and but a mile and a half from Boston. They had during the night thrown up a small breastwork, which sheltered them from the fire of the British cannon. But the next morning, the British army was sent to drive them from the hill; and landing under cover of their cannon, they set fire to Charlestown, which was consumed, and marched to attack our troops in the entrenchments.

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10. A severe engagement ensued, in which the British suf fered a very great loss, both of officers and privates. They