The assembly at Boston as well as that of Virginia and other colonies highly approved of their conduct.

The British parliament, in order to punish the refractory spirit of the assemblies enacted 2d July 1767, that the legislative power was taken from that of New-York, till they should comply with the act of parliament for furnishing his majesty's troops with the necessaries required by that act. The taking away, in this manner, from one province, all the powers of legislation, occasioned a general ferment thoughout the whole. They now saw that their own legislative bodies might be bound to what the ministry might deem their good behaviour, by acts of parliament. About the same time, acts were, likewise passed, for imposing a duty upon paper, glass, painters' colours and tea imported into the colonies for the purpose of settling salaries on the governors, judges, &c.

'Those acts were received with greater aversion than the stamp act itself. Letters were sent from Massachusetts to all the other colonies inveighing against the injustice and tyranny of the British legislature; and affirming, that their proceedings were subversive of liberty and hostile to the rights of British subjects. The legislature of Virginia forthwith applauded them for their attention to American liberty and the other assemblies, as they had an opportunity harmonized with them. in resolves and petitions. The New-York assembly which had felt the weight of parliamentary indignation by being bereaved of the power of legislation, in the beginning of the year 1768, voted the sum wanted to the general, for the purchase of pepper, salt and vinegar, instead of passing an act conformable to the act of parliament. This vote, however, was deemed satisfactory. But when they met towards the close of the year, after having completed a petition to the king, another to the lords and a remonstrance to the house of commons, they proceeded to consider the circular letters from the assemblies of Massachusetts, and Virginia, and unanimously agreed to answer them in the most respectful manner. They then entered into some very spirited resolutions in favour of the rights of their constituents, and appointed a committee to correspond with any others of his majesty's subjects out of the colony either individually or collectively on any subject, whereby the rights or privileges of the house or its constituents might be affected. In consequence of these proceedings, the house was dissolved

On the 1st August 1769, the Boston merchants entered into a fresh non importation agreement, by which they engaged, that they would not send for or import from Great Britain, du

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ring the fall any other goods than what they had already or dered for the fall supply and that they would not send for, import or purchase from any factor any goods, wares or merchandise (articles necessary for the fisheries excepted) from Great Britain from 1st January 1769 to 1st January 1770; nor any tea, paper, glass or painters' colours, until the act imposing duties on these articles should be repealed. The merchants of this city forthwith agreed to similar resolutions and, in a very short time, there were few, if any places in the provinces where they were not adopted. The colonists could not overlook the good effects produced by the former non-importation agreement, and were earnest in playing of the same engine against the new attempts of the ministry to saddle them with the payment of taxes.

In the mean time, the parliament shewed, that it had neither sufficient vigour to compel the Americans to submit; nor sufficient liberality to yield to their remonstrances. Accordingly on the 12th April 1770, the act for repealing the duties on paper, glass and painters' colours was passed. The duty on tea was professedly continued as a mere badge of sovereignty over the colonies. It had been predicted, however, by those in the opposition that this apparent concession on the part of the ministers would have no good effect, as the Americans would never be satisfied, if any duty whatever were imposed upon them without their consent and the event fully shewed, that their prediction was well founded. It was determined by the Bostonians, that the tea should not be landed, as it was obvious, that it would be extremely difficult to prevent the sale, if the commodity should once be received on shore. This disposition was not confined to Massachusetts. In New-York, the people manifested a similar disposition and a spirit of resistance to the introduction of arbitrary power was manifested in almost every part of British America.

But previous to the disturbances occasioned by the attempt to land the tea in Boston, New-York, Philadelphia and other places, a considerable ferment arose in this city from a different cause. About the middle of January 1770, the Liberty Pole was cut down at night by the soldiers. At that time, they could have scarcely committed an act more offensive to the inhabitants, who could not endure the idea of being subject to military despotism. In order, therefore, to evince their adherence to the sacred cause, which they had espoused, they soon after erected a new liberty pole strongly secured with iron. The animosity between the inhabitants and the soldiers had arisen from the improper conduct of the assembly, who, at

their last session, had granted a supply to the king's troops quartered in the colony. This had given great umbrage and to quiet the minds of the populace, they had declared that it was the last supply they would ever grant till their grievances should be redressed; but notwithstanding this resolution, they, in the present session, voted the further sum of $5000. This greatly added to the irritation, which already existed, and the soldiers were led to consider the people as their enemies. A paper appeared, upon the occasion, addressed. "To the betrayed inhabitants of the City and Colony of New-York," under the signature of a SON OF LIBERTY, and this was pronounced by the assembly to be a false, seditious, and infamous libel. Captain Alexander, afterwards General M'Dougal, being brought before the chief justice as the publisher was on the 8th February, upon refusing to give bail, committed to prison. At the April term, a bill was found against him; but the trial was put off and he admitted to bail.

When the assembly met towards the end of the year, he was ordered before their bar and as he would not ask pardon, was committed to jail for a high contempt, and there he remained till the assembly was prorogued 25th February 1771. He was discharged from his recognizance, without trial, 27th March following, after being under bonds nearly 12 months and suffering 23 weeks actual imprisonment. This gentleman, who was a native of Scotland, had the honour of being the first sufferer for the cause of liberty after the commencement of the united efforts of the sons of America to frustrate the plans of the ministry. Instead, however, of being disgraced by his confinement, it answered a very different purpose, as during its continuance, he was daily visited by crowds of the most respectable ladies and gentlemen in the city.

But to return to the subject of the TEA. In the month of November 1773, three vessels had arrived at Boston laden with that article. It had been determined, that it should be sent back in the same vessels, which brought it, and the captains alarmed at the menaces of the people were willing to comply; but the governor having thrown difficulties in the way, the ships were obliged to remain in the harbour. The people, however, apprehensive, that the obnoxious commodity would be landed in small quantities, if the vessels should not be sent back to England, resolved to destroy it at once. For this purpose on the 16th December, a number of persons chiefly masters of vessels and ship builders disguised as Indians, repaired to the vessels and discharged the contents of 320 chests of tea into the water, the numerous spectators instead of molesting them serving as a covering party.

In this city, the people being fully determined against permit ting tea to be landed shewed themselves to be equally resolute as those in Boston. About the middle of December 1773, two ships the London captain Chalmers and the tea ship arrived at this port on the same day. The former came up directly to the wharf, and the other remained at the hook till her departure for England. The consignees came under a solemn promise, that they would neither receive nor sell the tea, as it came liable to an American duty; but captain Chalmers having ventured to bring up 17 chests on his own account, they were instantly seized and thrown into the stream. Had the tea ship been brought up to the wharf, she would most probably have been burnt, as combustibles had been provided for that purpose, by captain Sears and others. In most places, the consignees were obliged to relinquish their appointments, and to enter into engagements not to act in that capacity, in consequence of which and the vigilance of the committees, it was scarcely possible to land any tea in America.

These troubles were introductory to a general rupture between the mother country and the colonies. Parliament resolved to punish the Bostonians in an exemplary manner by compelling them to pay for the value of the tea, which had been destroyed and to shut up their port by an armed force, till their refractory spirit should be subdued. The ministers believed, that this high handed measure would intimidate not only the inhabitants of Massachusetts; but those of the other provinces. A general infatuation seems, at that time, to have pervaded not only the parliament; but the people of Great Britain at large. It was the general idea, that the Americans would not persevere in resisting the authority of the mother country, and that if they did, their resistance would be of no avail. Other laws were passed in rapid succession, which were so offensive to the colonists, as to exasperate them beyond the possibility of reconciliation.

The legislature of Massachusetts, so far from submitting to the arbitrary impositions of the ministry, declared it necessary, that a congress of delegates from all the provinces should assemble to take the general state of affairs into consideration and nominated five gentlemen as representatives on their part. The cause of Boston was espoused by the rest of the colonies and on the 4th of September 1774, the first. general congress of the American colonies assembled at Philadelphia, when Peyton Randolph, Esq. of Virginia was unanimously elected President and Charles Thompson, Esq. Secretary, an office which he held with the greatest honour, till some time after the close of the revolutionary war,

The whole number of members in this august body was 55, of whom GEORGE WASHINGTON the father of his country was one. The following are the names of the gentlemen, who represented this province James Duane, Henry Wisner, John Jay, Philip Livingston, Isaac Low, John Alsop and William Floyd, Esq. all of whom, except the venerable John Jay have for several years been consigned to the silent tomb.

As soon as this congress had been organized, they resolved, that each colony should have one vote and that their deliberations should be with closed doors. On the 17th September, they expressed their approbation of what had been done by the inhabitants of Massachusetts, exhorted them to perseverance and resolved unanimously, that contributions should be made for them in all the colonies, and continued so long as circumstances should require. On the 8th of October following, they declared, that if the late acts of parliament should be attempted to be carried into execution by force, all America ought to support the inhabitants of Massachusetts in their opposition; that if it be found absolutely necessary to remove the people of Boston into the country, all America ought to contribute towards recompensing them for the injury, which they may thereby sustain; and that every person, who should act under any commission derived from the act of parliament, changing the form of government and violating the charter, ought to be held in detestation. After having prepared a respectful petition to the king and both houses of parliament, a letter to General Gage, a declaration of their rights and addresses to their constituents, their fellow citizens in Great Britain, &c. they broke up on the 26th October 1774, and recommended that a new congress be held in May next.

The inclinations of the people were in unison with the recommendations of congress, and the people of Boston were supplied by contributions from all quarters. When winter approached, the select men of that town obliged the workmen employed in erecting the barracks to desist and the merchants of this city declared, that they would never supply any article for the benefit of men, who were sent as the enemies of their country. All hopes of a reconciliation with Great Britain seemed now at an end. The assemblies in all the colonies voted, that amunition should be procured at the general expense and it was obvious, that a civil war was about to ensue.

The assembly of New-York, which had convened in the early part of the year 1775 were backward in the general cause. They renounced all concern with the late continental