His daring toils, the threat'ning blasts that wait, DESTRUCTION OF TEA AT BOSTON. 1. AFTER the act of the British parliament, laying a duty on paper, glass, tea, &c. was repealed, with the exception of tea, on which the duty was continued, associations were entered into in all the colonies of North America, to discourage the use of it. The consumption was of course greatly diminished, and the tea accumulated in the English warehouses. The East India Company sought relief from government, and urged them to take off the duty on importation in America, and double the duty on exportation in England. This pro posal, which would have produced nearly the same result as to the amount of revenue received, and have obviated one serious cause of dispute, was declined. 2. The ministry, bent on levying their American duty, thought this tea the most useful article for the experiment. They calculated that this luxury, which, from long habit and extensive use, had become almost a necessary of life, would inevitably find purchasers, in spite of all private associations or patriotic agreements. In this case, as in many others, they reposed a false confidence in their estimate of human character; and forgot that some general maxims, however just in ordinary times, may be inapplicable in great emergencies, even among a people more corrupt and effeminate, than those whom they were now endeavoring to subdue. But to meet the wishes of the company, a drawback was given in England, equal to the duty which they had asked to have removed, and a guarantee against loss, in the experiment of making shipments of tea to the colonies. 3. Large shipments of tea were made to the principal ports of the continent, and a general ferment prevailed over every part of the country. It was not only determined that What proposition did the East India Company propose to obviatę the difficulty concerning tea› e tea itself should not be received, but whoever made use f this (ministerially) obnoxious herb, was regarded as an nemy to the country. The utmost vigilance was employed o prevent its being consumed by those persons, whose innoent daily comforts were thus involved in the vortex of ational contention; a rigid inquisition was every where nforced for this purpose, that on other grounds would have een both odious and absurd, but was justified by the neces ity of combating, in this familiar shape, a principle, which was shortly after to be resisted by open war. 4. Long before the ships arrived with the tea, arrangements were made to avert the threatened mischief. In many cases, the consignees were induced to decline acceptng the charge of it. Very spirited resolutions were entered nto at a public meeting of the citizens in Philadelphia, with which the consignees complied by resigning their appointnent. From that city, and from New York, it was sent back o England in the same ships that brought it. In Charleson, it was landed, and stored expressly in damp warehouses, where it was destroyed by the humidity. In Boston, it was lestined to a more violent destruction. 5. Two of the vessels, with the tea, arrived on Saturday, November 27th. A town meeting was held on Monday following, and resolutions were passed similar to those of Philadelphia, calling on the consignees, among whom were two sons of governor Hutchinson, to decline the charge of it. A vote was then passed with acclamations, "that the tea shall not be landed, that no duty shall be paid, and that it shall be sent back in the same bottoms. After this vote, Mr. Quincy, a young and eloquent advocate, and ardent patriot, with a strong perception of the events that would follow from the measure now in contemplation, and wishing to try the spirit, and to increase the energy of his fellow citizens, by setting before them, in a strong light, the consequences that might be expected from their resolves, addressed the meeting in the following terms: 6. "It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors within these walls, that must stand us in stead. The exertions of this day will call forth events, which will make a very differ What measures were adopted by the citizens of America, when large shipments of tea were made?-What was done in Philadelphia and New York?-In Charleston? ent spirit necessary for our own salvation. Whoever sug poses, that shouts and hosannas will terminate the trials the day, entertains a childish fancy. We must be gross ignorant of the importance and value of the prize for whic we contend; we must be equally ignorant of the power those combined against us; we must be blind to that malic inveteracy, and insatiable revenge, which actuate our ene mies, public and private, abroad and in our bosom, to hop that we shall end this controversy without the sharpest con flicts, to flatter ourselves that popular resolves, popula harangues, popular acclamations, and popular vapor, will van quish our foes. Let us consider the issue. Let us look to the end. Let us weigh and consider, before we advance to thos measures, which must bring on the most trying and terribl struggle this country ever saw.' 7. The vote was again submitted to the meeting, and wa again passed unanimously. A guard for the protection o the vessels was appointed, which protection included the pro tection of the public against the landing of the tea. Thi guard of twenty-five men, were respectable citizens, volum teers, and acting under the direction of the committee o correspondence. The meeting was then adjourned to the next day. When the town were again assembled, the an swer of the consigness was read-they refused the propost tion to send it back, but offered to store it. The sheriff came in, and read a proclamation from the governor, ordering the meeting to disperse, which was received with one universa hiss. Votes were passed, ordering the owners and captains of the vessels not to suffer the tea to be landed. Attempts were made, in the mean time, to negotiate, and induce the merchants, and the custom-house, to clear out the tea, and send it back. All was in vain. 8. At length, the time was expiring, when the tea could remain any longer in this situation; the patience of the inhabitants was exhausted; the anxiety and watching were too troublesome to be further endured. A meeting, according to previous notification, was held on the 15th of December at the Old South Church, when Mr. Rotch, the owner of the largest parcel of tea, attended, and after much difficulty, he was persuaded to apply to the custom-house for a clearance, and the meeting adjourned, to hear the result, till the next morning, Ten gentlemen accompanied him to the custom |