So wide was the difcontent, and fo weak the powers of government in that affembly, that thefe charges, with many others, were carried through by a majority of 82 to 12. As we have juft obferved, the article of tea continued, notwithftanding the ftrong refolutions of the colonifts, to be ftill imported into America; yet by the advantages which foreigners had in the fale of the low-priced teas, as well as the general odium attending the British teas, which, as bearing a parliamentary duty, were confidered as inftruments of flavery, the Eaft India company was thought to fuffer much by the dispute with the colonies. Thus circumftanced, the minifter in the last feffion, as fome apparent confolation to that company, for the ftrong measures which were then pursued against it by government, brought in a bill, by which they were enabled to export their teas, duty free, to all places whatfoever. In confequence of this measure, the company departed in fome degree from its eftablished mode, of difpofing of its teas by public fales to the merchants and dealers, and adopted the new fyftem, of becoming its own exporter and factor. Several fhips were accordingly freighted with teas for the different colonies by the company, where it alfo appointed agents for the difpofal of that commodity. The fuccefs of this fcheme, and any utility to be derived from it, if it did fucceed, were at the time much queftioned fome active members in that company, and one gentleman of great confideration amongst them, remonstrated against it, as rather calculated for the eftablith ment of the revenue law in America, than as a favour or service to the company. It is true, that they had then about feventeen millions of pounds of tea in their warehouses; but though this appeared an immenfe quantity to thofe who were not verfed in the ftate of the trade, it was faid, in reality, to be only equal to about two years usual confumption, and it was always intended to have a year's ftock in hand. It appears that the company was not itfelf quite fatisfied as to the utility of this measure, and accordingly confulted fome of the most eminent perfons in the tea trade upon the fubject. By fome of the moft intelligent of thefe it was reprefented, as the wildeft fcheme that could be imagined, and the moft remote from affording the relief which they wanted. That even fuppofing it attended with all the fuccefs of which it was poffibly capable, the returns would be too flow and too precarious, to fupply in any degree the company's prefent exigencies in point of cath; that on the other hand, it would be offering the greatest injury to the merchants, who were their established and never failing cuftomers; who purchased their teas at all rifks, and paid vaft fums of money at ftated times independent of them. Certain meafures were alfo proposed, relative to the holding of two public fales within given diftances of time, by which the company would not only difpofe of all its teas, but would receive, as they fuppofed, by the first payment, at the end only of five months, no less than 1,200,000 ́l. in cath: a fum fo confiderable, and to be paid in fo fhort a time, that it would probably enable them to refrain refrain from the fatal loan, which they were negociating with the public. The first measure, being a favourite with government, was adopted, notwithstanding these reafons and propofals. If fuch were the opinions formed upon this fcheme at home, it was univerfally confidered in the colonies, as calculated merely to circumvent them into a compliance with the revenue law, and thereby, open the door to an unlimited taxation. For it was eafily feen, that if the tea was once landed and in the cuftody of the confignees, no affociations, nor other measures, would be fufficient to prevent its fale and confumption; and nobody could pretend to imagine, that when taxation was eftablished in one inftance, it would reftrain itself in others. Befides that all the dealers both legal and clandeftine, who as tea is an article of fuch general confumption in America, were extremely powerful, faw their trade taken at once out of their hands. They fuppofed that it would all fall into the hands of the company's confignees, to whom they must become in a great measure dependent, if they could hope to trade at all. The Eaft Indja company by the late regulations was brought intirely under the direction of government. The confignees were of course fuch as favoured administration, and for that reafon the most unpopular people in America. Particularly at Bofton, they were of the family and neareft connections of thofe gentlemen, whofe letters, as we have obferved, had at that time kindled fuch prodigious heats and animofities among the people. It was at an unlucky time that they thought they faw a monopoly formed in favour of the most obnoxious perfons, and that too for the purpose of confirming an odious tax. The fame fpirit seemed to run like wildfire throughout the colonies, and without any apparent previous concert, it was every where determin-` ed to prevent the landing of the teas at all events. At the fame time, the Eaft India company became fo exceedingly odious to the people, that a mere oppofition to her interefts, abstracted from all other caufes, would have embarraffed any measure that was undertaken in her favour. The colonifts faid, that the was quitting her ofual line of conduct, and wantonly becoming the inftrument of giving efficacy to a law which they detefted: thereby involving them, as they affirmed, in the present dangerous dilemma, either of fubmiflion to the establishment of a precedent which they deemed fatal to their liberties, or. of bringing matters to a crifis which they dreaded, by adopting the only means that feemed left to prevent its execution. As the time approached when the arrival of the tea ships for the execution of the new plan was expected, the people affembled at different places in great bodies, and began to take fuch measures as feemed moft effectual to prevent the landing of their cargoes. The tea confignees, who had been appointed by the India company, were obliged in moft places (and in fome, at the peril of property, if not of life) to relinquith their appointments, and to enter into public engagements not to act in that capacity. Committees were appointed by the people in different towns and provinces, whom they armed with fuch fuch powers as they fuppofed themfelves enabled to beftow. They were authorized to infpect merchants books, to propofe tefts, to punish those whom they confidered as contumacious, by the dangerous profcription of declaring them enemies to their country, and of affembling the people when they thought neceffary, In a word, their powers were as indefinite, as the authority under which they acted. In the tumultuous affemblies which were frequently held upon this occafion, numberless refolutions were paffed, extremely derogatory with refpect to the authority of the fupreme legiflature. Inflammatory hand-bills, and other fedifious papers were continually publifhed; nor were the conductors of news-papers, nor the writers of various pamphlets, much more guarded in their conduct, or temperate in their manner. Even at Philadelphia, which had been fo long celebrated, for the excellency of its police and government, and the temperate manners of its inhabitants, printed papers were difperfed, warning the pilots on the river Delaware, not to conduct any of thofe tea fhips into their harbour, which were only fent out for the purpose of enflaving and poifoning all the Americans; at the fame time, giving them plainly to underftand it was expected, that they would apply their knowledge of the river, under the colour of their profeffion, in fuch a manner, as would effectually fecure their country from fo imminent a danger. At New York, in a fimilar publication, thofe fhips are faid to be loaden with the fetters which had been forged for them in Great Britain, and every vengeance is denounced aVOL. XVII. gainft all perfons, who dare in any manner contribute to the introduction of thofe chains. All the colonies feemed to have inftantly united in this point. The town of Bofton, which had been fo long obnoxious to government, was the fcene of the first outrage. Three fhips laden with tea, having arrived in that port, the captains were terrified into a conceffion, that if they were permitted by the confignees, the board of cuftoms, and the Fort of Caftle William, they would return with their cargoes to England. These promifes could not be fulfilled; the confignees refused to discharge the captains from the obligations under which they were chartered for the delivery of their cargoes; the cuftom-houfe refufed them a clearance for their return: and the governor to grant them a paffport for clearing the fort. In this flate, it was easily feen by the people of the town, that the fhips lying fo near, the teas would be landed by degrees, notwithfanding any guard they could keep, or measures taken to prevent it; and it was as well known, that if they were landed, nothing could prevent their being difpofed of, and thereby the purpose of eftablithing the monopoly and raifing a revenue fulfilled. To prevent this dreaded confequence, a number of armed men, under the Dec. 18th, difguife of Mohawk Indians, boarded the fhips, and in a few hours difcharged their whole cargoes of tea into the fea, without doing any other damage, or offering any injury to the captains or crews. It was remarkable, that the government, civil power, garrifon of Fort William, [D] 1773. 20 and armed fhips in the harbour, were totally inactive upon this occafion. Some fmaller quantities of tea met afterwards with a similar fate, at Boston, and a few other places; but in general the commiffioners for the fale of that commodity, having being obliged to relinquith their employment, and no other perfons daring to receive the cargoes which were configned to them, the mafters of the tea veffels, from these circumstances, as well as from a knowledge of danger, and the determined refolution of the people, readily complied with the terms which were prefcribed, of returning directly to England, without entangling themselves by any entry at the custom-houses. At NewYork it was indeed landed under the cannon of a man of war. But the government there were obliged to confent to its being locked up from ufe. In South Carolina fome was thrown into the river as at Bofton. Such was the iffue of this unfortunate scheme. Some difpofition to these disturbances was known pretty early; but as their utmoft extent was ftill unknown, the meeting of parliament was deferred until after the holidays. The fpeech from the throne contained nothing very ftriking. The continuance of the war Jan. 13th. on the continent was 1774. regretted; but it was obferved with fatisfaction, that other powers continued in the fame pacific difpofitions, which prevailed here; and the ufual affurances were given that all due meatures fhould be purfued, for the restoration and establishment of the general tranquillity. That in this state of foreign affairs, they would have full leifure to attend to the improvement of our internal and domeftic fituation; and to the prosecution of fuch meafures as more immediately respected the prefervation and advancement of the revenue and commerce of this kingdom. Among thefe objects, the ftate of the gold coin was particularly recommended, as well on account of its very high importance, as of the peculiar advantages which the prefent fituation of affairs afforded, of fuccessfully carrying into execution fuch meafures, as were found expedient with refpect to that great national con cern. It was obferved, that the degree of diminution with the coin had actually fuffered, and the very rapid progrefs which the mischief was daily making, were truly alarming. Much, fatisfaction was expreffed, that the evil had already been in a great measure checked by the regulations made in the laft feffion; but it was trufted that they would not top here, nor think their duty difcharged, without using their belt endeavours for putting the gold coin upon fuch a footing, as may not only compleatly remove the prefent grievance, but render the credit and commerce of the kingdom fufficiently fecure from being again expofed to the like danger. No doubt was entertained that any parts of the public fervice would efcape their attention; but, various and extenfive as these were, a felection of the most important was recommended, for immediate deliberation. No particular fupply was demanded or disclaimed; and the ufual declaration was renewed, of a hearty concurrence in every measure measure that tended to the happinefs or profperity of the people. With regard to America a profound filence was kept. The addreffes were paffed as ufual, and contained the customary acknowledgments and profeffions. As great merit had been attributed, in the speech, and acknowledged in the addreffes, to the late regulations of the gold coin, that subject became a matter of fome animadverfion. There are few matters which have more exercited the judgment of men verfed in commercial affairs of the most able political calculators, and first rate mathematicians, or in which they have differed more in opinion, than in what relates to the circulation of every kind of currency, whether in coin or in paper. It is even ftill a matter of doubt, whether the fubject has ever been thoroughly underftood, or inveftigated upon right principles. This uncertainty, in a matter of fo much importance, and fo critical in its nature, has rendered statesmen in commercial countries very cautious in all meafures that affect the circulating coin, and induces them often, rather to bear with inconveniencies, the extent of which they know, than to rifque the unknown confequences of innovation. By the act of the preceding feffion, the lofs on the diminished gold, (which amounted to an enormous fum) fell upon the immediate poffeffors, and thereby principally affected the great money holders, or bankers. It was, however, feverely felt by the public in general, and as it happened at a time, when the commercial and manufacturing part of the nation were already, from other causes, very much dif treffed, and public and private credit at a low ebb, it much increafed the general diforder and confufion, and occafioned a great clamour during the recefs. The fudden manner in which it was brought in and hurried through, at the tail of an uncommonly late feffion, contributed to render it still more unpopular; although those who cenfured miniftry without doors, did not propofe a better plan. Within the house it was not made a matter of oppofition. It was acknowledged on all fides that the most effectual measures were requifite, and had been long wanted, to prevent the fraudulent diminution of the gold coin, an enormity which had been carried to the moft dangerous excefs, but the time of the late act, with respect to the particular circunftances of the commercial and manufacturing part of the nation, and the mode of its operation, as highly oppreffive and injurious to individuals, were ftrongly objected to. It was faid, that the bankers, who are obliged to hold money for others, had received it at its nominal value, upon the public faith, and under the fanction of government; and that it was oppreflive and unjuft, that a particular body of men thus circumftanced, fhould be obliged to make good to the public the immenfe lofs which they had fuftained, not more through the iniquity of thofe who had diminished the gold, than through the reinefs of government, and the flackness of the police, in not properly enforcing the laws, until the enormity spread to fo dangerous an extent, as to be thought beyond their controul. On the other hand, the minister was well furnished with means for [0] 2 the |