^ibv«vy of §otipt^^. 
 
 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
THE OLD FARM 
 
 AND THE NEW FARM 
 
 A POLITICAL ALLEQOMT: 
 
 FRANCIS HOPKINSON, 
 
 MEMBER OF TUE COXIINENTAL CONGRESS. 
 WITH 
 
 AN INTKODUCTION AND HISTORICAL NOTES 
 Bt BENSON J. LOSSING, 
 
 ECOND SUITION. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, 
 
 No. 770 Broadway, cor. Ninth St. 
 1864. 
 
 iVj 
 
 j/^./;./Mf 
 
^ 
 
 v^ 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1SC4. 
 
 BY ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, 
 
 m the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Sonthein District of Xc-w York. 
 
 27 6 sr 
 
 C. A. ALVUKO, I'lilN IKK. 
 
DEDICATED 
 
 THE YOUTH OF AMEEICA 
 
 A RENEWAL OF GOOD 8EED 
 
 ONCE PLANTED, SPRUNG Ur, AND GROWN INTO A TREK, 
 
 WHOSE BRANCHES ARE 
 
 NUMEROUS AND WIDE-SPREADING. 
 
This Story vr&s written by a Revolutionary Patriot, more 
 than eighty years ago. It tells, in a striking manner, of what 
 then filled the minds and hearts of all Americans. It is plain 
 English, common sense, and the honest truth. And now, while 
 some of our countrymen are tempted to hint at a separation 
 of the Union, it will do good to read here of old times, and 
 to revive the spirit of the Continental Congress and of "76. 
 Injustice led us to make common cause, and be the best of 
 friends : and heart to heart, and shoulder to shoulder, e pluri- 
 Bus UNUM, we won our Independence, and laid the foundation 
 of our prosperity. What was true then, is true now : United 
 
 WE STAND ; DIVIDED WE FALL. 
 
 May all Americans, old and young, ever keep this in mind, 
 and think, and feel, and speak, and act accordingly. 
 
J;Y 
 
 FP.A.NCI9 HOPKlMSOiJ. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The political Allegory contained in the following 
 na^es, was written in the summer of 1774, by Francis 
 llopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- 
 dependence. It was issued in a small pamphlet, by 
 John Dunlap, in Philadelphia, early in Septembt^i' <jf 
 that year, at the time when the first Continental Con- 
 gress commenced its sessions in Carpenters' Hall, in 
 that city. It was read with pleasure by the excited 
 people throughout the colonies. The author was un- 
 known, and even unsuspected, for a long time. It bore 
 such evidence of genius, that several men, eminent for 
 1* 
 
6 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 their learning and their patriotism, were suspected of 
 its paternity. 
 
 Mr. Hopkinson was one of the brightest scholars and 
 keenest wits of his day. He was a native of Phila- 
 delphia, w^here he was born on the 3d of September, 
 1738. His father was an English gentleman, of pol- 
 ished manners and a thorough education ; and his 
 mother, a woman of great refinement, was the niece of 
 the eminent Bishop of Worcester. They came from 
 England immediately after their mai-riage, and settled 
 in Philadelphia; and there Mr. Hopkinson became 
 active in puljlic life, with Dr. Franklin and others. 
 He was one of the founders of the College of Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 When Francis was fourteen years of age, his father 
 died, leaving a widow, with a large family of children. 
 Francis was the first graduate of the new college, and 
 was an honor to the institution. He chose the pro- 
 fession of law for a life vocation, and studied under 
 Benjamin Chew-, afterward the eminent Chief Justice of 
 Pennsylvania. Being fond of literary pursuits, and 
 feeling desirous to have his faculties expanded and 
 strengthened by intercourse with eminent men, he went 
 to England at the close of his law studies, and resided 
 with the Bishop' of Worcester about two years. Soon 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 after his return, in 1768, he married Miss Ann Borden, 
 the accomplished daughter of a wealthy gentleman, the 
 founder of Bordentown, New Jersey. The colonies 
 were then violently moved by political agitations, and 
 his active mind often found expression through his pen. 
 He wrote political essays for the newspapers, and sev- 
 eral small pamphlets, the most attractive of which was 
 the Pretty Story, contained in these pages. Like his 
 conversation, it abounds with fine specijtiens of imagi- 
 nation, composition, and elegant wit. IlU language was 
 ever remarkable for its great refinement ; and he was 
 never known to utter a profane word, nor an expression 
 that would make a modest lady blush. 
 
 Mr. Hopkinson did not appear in public life until the 
 Revolution had fairly commenced, when the colonies had 
 drawn the sword, cast away the scabbard, and begun 
 the War for Independence. Then he was chosen to 
 represent New Jersey in the Continental Congress. A 
 staunch patriot from the beginning, he never faltered in 
 the onward march of the revolted colonies ; and he 
 heartily advocated and signed the Declaration of In- 
 dependence. He was soon afterward commissioned a 
 Judge of Admiralty for Pennsylvania, and while acting 
 in that capacity, he wrote his witty and immortal poem, 
 entitled The Battle of the Kegs. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 When the Federal Constitution was before the people 
 for consideration, Judge Hopkinson was one of its most 
 zealous and eloquent supporters, with tongue and pen. 
 Ill 1790, President Washington appointed him a Judge 
 of the United States Court, for the district of Pemisyl- 
 vania, under the new organization of the judiciary. He 
 did not wear the ermine many months, for, on the 9th 
 of May, 1791, he was suddenly smitten with epilepsy, 
 which terminated his life in the course of a few hours. 
 
 The genius of Judge Hopkinson was versatile. He 
 was a proficient in the knowledge of music, mathe- 
 matics, mechanics, and chemistr}^ As a satirical writer 
 he had few peers; and he was in the front rank of 
 statesmen and jurists. His writings, arranged by him- 
 self, were published in three volumes, after his death, 
 and are now exceedingly rare. 
 
 In annotating the Pretty Story, respect has been 
 had to brevity and perspicuity. The explanations are 
 hints or indices, rather than full information ; yet they 
 are quite sufficient to discover, at all times, the point of 
 the Allegory, which contains, in brief outline, a history 
 of the causes that kindled the old War for Indepen- 
 dence. The reader will find it amusing and instructive. 
 
 B. J. L. 
 
 New York, November, 1856. 
 
PRETTY STORY 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE 
 
 Year of our LORD 1774, 
 
 PETER GRIEVOUS, ESQ., 
 A. B. C. D. E. 
 
 Veluti in Speculo, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA I 
 
 Printed and Sold by John Dunlap. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXIV. 
 
AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 A BOOK loiihoui a Preface is like a Face without 
 a. Nose. Let the other Features he ever so agree- 
 able and luell proportioned^ it is looked on with De- 
 testation and Horror if this material Ornament he 
 wanting. 
 
 Or rather, a Book is like a House: The grand 
 Politico is the Dedication ; the flagged Pavement is 
 an humhle Address to the Reader^ in Order to pave 
 the Way for a kind Reception of the Work; the 
 Front Door with its fluted Pillars^ Pediment^ Tri- 
 gliffs and Modillons are the Title Page -with its. ITotto, 
 Authoi'^s Name and Titles^ Date of the Year, &c. 
 The Entry is the Preface {oftentimes of a tedious 
 Length) and the several Apartments and Closets are 
 the Chapters and Sections of the Work itself. 
 
 As L am hut a clumsy Carpenter at best, L shall 
 not attempt to decorate my little Cottage with any out 
 of Door Ornaments ; hut as it ivould he inconvenient 
 and uncomfortable to have my Front Door open im- 
 mediately ijito the Apartments of my House, L have 
 made this Preface hy Way of Entry. 
 
 And now, gentle Reader, if you should think my 
 Entry too plain and simple you may set your Im- 
 
12 A^TjTHoiis Preface. 
 
 agination to worlc, and furnish it with a grand 
 Staircase, with Cornices^ Stucco and Paintings. 
 That is, you may suppose that I entered very un- 
 willingly upon this Work, being compelled to it by a 
 Chain of unforeseen Circumstances: That it was 
 written in the Midst of a great Hurry of other Busi- 
 ness, and under particular Disadva7itages of Time 
 and Place, and that it teas only intended for the 
 Inspection of a few Friends, without any Expecta- 
 tions of ever seeing it in the Press. 
 
 You may, hind Reader, go on to suppose that 
 when my Friends perused my Worh, they ivere struck 
 with the Energy of my Genius, and insisted that the 
 Public ought not to be deprived of such a Fund of 
 Amusement and Improvement through my obstinate 
 Modesty ; and that after many Solicitatio7is and 
 fowerful Persuasions I had been prevailed upon to 
 bless Mankirid with the Fruits of my Labour. 
 
 Or, if you like not this, you may suppose that the 
 following Sheets were found in the Cabinet of some 
 deceased Gentleman ; or that they wei^e dug out of an 
 ancient Ruin, or discovered in a Hermit^s Cave, or 
 dropped from the Clouds in a Hail Storm. In short 
 you may suppose just what you please. And when^ 
 by the help of Imagination, you have seasoned the 
 Preface to your Palate, you may turn over this Leaf 
 and feast upon the Body of the Work itself. 
 
THE NOBLBMAN ^IVli O illl. G-REAT PAPEK 10 HIS CHILDREK 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 QNCE upon a Time, a great While ago, 
 there Hved a certain Nobleman, who had 
 long poffeffed a very valuable Farm, and had 
 a great Number of Children and Grand- 
 children.^ 
 
 Besides the annual Profits of his Land, 
 which were very confiderable, he kept a large 
 Shop of Goods ; and being very fuccefsful in 
 2 
 
14 A Pretty Story. 
 
 Trade, he became, in Procels of Time, exceed- 
 ing rich and powerful; infomuch that all his 
 Neighbours feared and relpected him.^ 
 
 With Refped to the Management of his 
 Family, it was thought he had adopted the 
 moll perfect Mode that could be devifed, for 
 he had been at the Pains to examine the CEco- 
 nomy of all his Neighbours, and had feleded 
 from their Plans all fuch Parts as appeared to 
 be equitable and benelicial, and omitted thole 
 which from Experience were found to be in- 
 convenient. Or rather, by blending their fev- 
 eral Conllitutions together he had fo ingeniouily 
 counterbalanced the Evils of one Mode of Gov- 
 ernment with the Benefits of another, that the 
 Ad\antages were richly enjoyed, and the In- 
 conveniencies Icarcely felt. In iliort, his Fam- 
 ily was thought to be the beli: ordered of any in 
 his Neighbourhood.^ 
 
 He never exercifed any undue Authority 
 over his Children or Servants; neither indeed 
 could he opprefs them if he was lb dilpoled ; 
 
A Pretty Story. 15 
 
 tor it was particularly covenanted in his Mar- 
 riage Articles 4 that he Ihould not at any Time 
 impoie any Talks or Hardlliips whatever upon 
 his Children without the free Confent of his 
 Wife.5 
 
 Now the Curtoin in his Family was this, that 
 at the End of every feven Years his Marriage 
 became of Courfe null and void ; at which 
 Time his Children and Grandchildren met to- 
 gether and chol'e another Wife for him, whom 
 the old Gentleman was obliged to marry under 
 the fame Articles and Relbictions as before/^ If 
 his late Wife had conduded herfelf, during her 
 feven Year's Marriage, with Mildnefs, Dilcre- 
 tion and Integrity, llie was re-eleded it other- 
 wife, depofed i"^ By which Means the Children 
 had always a great Intereft in their Mother 
 in Law ; and through her, a reafonable Check 
 upon their Father's Temper. For befides that 
 he could do nothing material refpeding his 
 Children without her Approbation, llie was ible 
 Miftrefs of the Purfe Strings; and gave him 
 out, from Time to Time, luch Sums of Money 
 
l6 A Pretty Story 
 
 as llie thought neceffary for the Expences of 
 his Family.^ 
 
 Being one Day in a very extraordinary good 
 Humour, he gave his Children a Writing un- 
 der his Hand and Seal, by which he releafed 
 them from many Badges of Dependence, and 
 confirmed to them feveral very important Priv- 
 ileges. The chief were the two following, viz., 
 that none of his Children iliould be punifhed 
 for any Offence, or fuppofed Offence, until his 
 brethren had firit declared him worthy of fuch 
 Puniiliment ;9 and fecondly, he gave frefli Af- 
 furances that he would impofe no Hardfliips 
 upon them without the Confent of their 
 Mother in Law.^^ 
 
 This Writing, on account of its fingular Im- 
 portance, was called The Great Paper.^^ Af- 
 ter it was executed with the utmoft Solemnity, 
 he caufed his Chaplain^ ^ ^q publish a dire 
 Anathema againft all who Hiould attempt to 
 violate the Articles of the Great Paper, in the 
 Words following. 
 
A Pretty Story. 17 
 
 * " In the Name of the Father, Son and 
 " Holy Ghost, Amen ! Whereas our Lord and 
 "Mailer, to the Honour of God and for the 
 "common Profit of this Farm hath granted, 
 " for him and his Heirs forever, thefe Articles 
 " above written : I, his Chaplain and fpiritual 
 "Pallor of all this Farm, do admonilh the 
 " People of the Farm Once, Twice, and Thrice : 
 " Because that Shortnefs will not fufFer fo much 
 " Delay as to give Knowledge to the People of 
 " these Prefents in Writing ; I therefore enjoyn 
 " all Perfons, of what Eftate foever they be, that 
 " they and every of them, as much as in them 
 "is, fhall uphold and maintain thefe Articles 
 " granted by our Lord and Mafter in all Points. 
 " And all thofe that in any Point do refilf , or 
 "break, or in any Manner hereafter procure, 
 " counfel or any Ways affent to refill or break 
 " thefe Ordinances, or go about it by Word or 
 " Deed, openly or privately, by any Manner ot 
 
 * This is a true and genuine Denunciation 
 copied from the Archives of the Family. 
 2* 
 
l8 A Pretty Story. 
 
 " Pretence or Colour: I the aforelaid Chaplain, 
 " by my Authority, do excommunicate and ac- 
 " curfe, and from the Body of our Lord Jefus 
 " Chriil, and from all the Company of Heaven, 
 "and from all the Sacraments of the holy 
 "Church do fequeikr and exclude.'^'^ 
 
COMMENCIN& SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 CHAP. 11. 
 
 XJOW it came to pafs that this Nobleman 
 had, by fome Means or other, obtained a 
 Right to an immenle Tract of wild unculti- 
 vated Country at a vail Diiknce from his Man- 
 fion Houie.^ But he fet little ftore by this Ac- 
 quiiition, as it yielded him on Profit ; nor was 
 it likely to do fo, being not only difficult of Ac- 
 cefs on Account of the Diilance, but was also 
 overrun with innumerable wild Beafts very 
 
20 A Pretty Story. 
 
 fierce and favage ; fo that it would be ex- 
 tremely dangerous to attempt .akmg PoffelTion 
 of it. 
 
 In Procefs of Time, however, fome of his 
 Children, more ilout and enterpriling than the 
 reft, requefted Leave of their Father to go and 
 fettle on this diftant Trad of Land.^ Leave 
 was readily obtained ; but before they fet out 
 certain Agreements were ftipulated between 
 them — the principal were — The old Gentleman, 
 on his Part, engaged to proted and defend the 
 Adventurers in their new Settlements ; to allift 
 them in chacing away the wild Beafts, and to 
 extend to them all the Benefits of the Govern- 
 ment under which they were born : Affuring 
 them that although they iliould be removed lo 
 far from his Prefence they fliould neverthelefs 
 be confidered as the Children of his Family, 
 and treated accordingly. At the fame Time 
 he gave each of them a Bond for the faith- 
 ful performance of thefe Promifes ; in which, 
 among other Things, it was covenanted that 
 they (hould, each of them in their feveral Fam- 
 
A Pretty Story. 21 
 
 ilies, have a Liberty of making fuch Rules and 
 Regulations for their own good Government 
 as they (liould find convenient ; provided thefe 
 Rules and Regulations iliould not contradift or 
 be inconfillent with the general Iknding Orders 
 eitabliflied in his Farm.^ 
 
 In Return for thefe Favours he infifted that 
 they, on their Parts, (liould at all Times ac- 
 knowledge him to be their Father ; that they 
 fliould not deal with their Neighbours without 
 his Leave, but fend to his Shop only for fuch 
 Merchandize as they (liould want.^ But in 
 Order to enable them to pay for fuch Goods as 
 they (liould purchafe, they were permitted to 
 fell the Produce of their Lands to certain of his 
 Neighbours.^ 
 
 These Preliminaries being duly adjufted, our 
 Adventurers bid Adieu to the Comforts and 
 Conveniencies of their Fathers Houfe, and fet 
 off on their Journey.^ Many and great were 
 the Difficulties they encountered on their Way : 
 but many more and much greater had they to 
 
22 A Pretty Story. 
 
 combat on their Arrival in the new Country. 
 Here they found Nothing but wild Nature. 
 Mountains over-grown with inaccelTible Foliage, 
 and Plains fteeped in ilagnated Waters. Their 
 Ears are no longer attentive to the repeated 
 Strokes of indutlrious Labour and the bufy 
 Hum of Men; inftead of thefe, the roaring 
 Tempeft and inceffant Howlings of Beafts of 
 Prey fill their minds with Horror and Difmay. 
 The needful Comforts of Life are no longer in 
 their Power — no friendly Roof to flielter them 
 from inclement Skies ; no Fortrefs to protect 
 them from furrounding Dangers. Unaccui- 
 tomed as they were to Hardfliips like thefe, 
 fome were cut off by Sicknefs and Difeafe, and 
 others fnatched away by the Hands of Bar- 
 barity.^ They began, however, with great Per- 
 feverance, to clear the Land of encumbering 
 Rubbiili, and the Woods refound with the 
 Strokes of Labour ; they drain the Waters 
 from the fedged Morafs, and pour the Sun 
 Beams on the reeking Soil ; they are forced to 
 exercife all the powers of Induftry and (Eco- 
 nomy for bare Subfiiience, and like their firfl 
 
 I 
 
A Pretty Story. 23 
 
 Parent, when driven from Paradife, to earn 
 their Bread with the Sweat of their Brows. In 
 this Work they were frequently interrupted by 
 the Incurfions of the wild Beaits, againft whom 
 they defended themfelves with heroic Prowefs 
 and Magnanimity. 
 
 After fome Time, however, by Dint of in- 
 defatigable Perfeverance, they found themfelves 
 comfortably fettled in this new Farm ; and had 
 the delightful Profped of vast Tracts of Land 
 waving with luxuriant Harvefts, and perfuming 
 the Air with delicious Fruits, which before had 
 been a dreary Wildernefs, unfit for the Habita- 
 tion of Men.''^ 
 
 In the mean Time they kept up a conftant 
 Correfpondence with their Father's Family, and 
 at a great Expenfe provided Waggons, Horfes 
 and Drivers to bring from his Shop fuch Goods 
 and Merchandize as they wanted, for which 
 they paid out of the Produce of their Lands.9 
 
.m^^ ®^. 
 
 PAYING TRIBOTE TO THE KOBLBMANS WIFE 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 "M'OW the new Settlers had adopted a Mode 
 of Government in their feveral Families 
 limilar to that their Father had eltabliilied in 
 the old Farm ; in taking a new Wife at the 
 End of certain Periods of Time ; which Wife 
 was chofen for them by their Children, and 
 without whofe Confent they could do nothing 
 material in die Condud of their Affairs.- len- 
 der thefe Circumilances thev thrived exceed- 
 
A Pretty Story. 25 
 
 ingly, and became very numerous ; living in 
 great Harmony amongll themlelves, and in 
 conilitutional Obedience to their Father and 
 his Wife. 
 
 Notwithstanding their I'uccefsful Progrefs, 
 howeser, they were frequently annoyed by the 
 wild Beads, which were not yet expelled the 
 Country ; and were moreover troubled by Ibme 
 of their Neighbours, who wanted to drive them 
 off the Land, and take PoffefTion of it them- 
 felves.2 
 
 To airill: them in thefe Difficulties, and pro- 
 tect them from Danger, the old Nobleman fent 
 over feveral of his Servants, who with the Help 
 of the new Settlers drove away their Enemies. 
 But then he required that they fhould reim- 
 burfe him tor the Expence and Trouble he 
 was at in their Behalf; this they did with great 
 Cheerfulnefs, by applying from Time to Time 
 t(j their refpedive Wives, who always com- 
 manded their Caili.^ 
 
 Thus did Matters go on for a confiderable 
 
26 A Pretty Story. 
 
 Time, to their mutual Happinefs and Benefit. 
 But now the Nobleman's Wife began to call 
 an avaricious Eye upon the iievv Seltleri; fin- 
 ing to herfelf, if by the natural Consequence of 
 their Intercourfe with us my Wealth and Power 
 are fo much increafed, how much more would 
 they accumulate if I can perfuade them that all 
 they have belonged to us, and therefore I may 
 at any Time demand from them fuch Part of 
 their Earnings as I pleale.^ At the fame Time 
 (he was fully lenlible of the Promifes and 
 agreements her Hufband^ had made when they 
 left the old Farm, and of the Tenor and Pur- 
 port of the Great Paper.^ She therefore thought 
 it neceffary to proceed with great Caution and 
 Art, and endeavoured to gain her Point by im- 
 perceptible Steps. 
 
 In Order to this, (lie firil iflued an Edid 
 fetting forth. That whereas the Tailors of her 
 Family were greatly injured by the People 
 of the new Farm, inafmuch as they prefumed 
 to make their own Clothes whereby the said 
 Tailors were deprived of the Benefit of th'^ir 
 
A Pretty Story. 27 
 
 Cuilom ; it was therefore ordained that for the 
 future the new Settlers fliould not be permitted 
 to have amongll; them any Shears or Sciffars 
 larger than a certain fixed fize. In Confe- 
 quence of this, our Adventurers were com- 
 pelled to have their Clothes made by their 
 Father's Tailors : But out of Regard to the old 
 GentleiTian, they patiently fubmitted to this 
 Grievance.7 
 
 Encouraged by this Succefs, (lie proceeded 
 in her Plan. Obferving that the new Settlers 
 were very fond of a particular Kind of Cyder 
 w^hich they purchafed of a Neighbour, who 
 was in Friendfliip with their Father (the Ap- 
 ples proper for making this Cyder not growing 
 on their own Farm) flie publiflied another 
 Edid, obliging them to pay her a certain 
 Stipend for every Barrel of Cyder ufed in their 
 Families I To this likewife they fubmitted: 
 Not yet feeing the Scope of her Defigns 
 againil them.^ 
 
 After this Manner (lie proceeded, impofing 
 
28 A Pretty Story. 
 
 Taxes upon them on various Pretences, and 
 receiving the Fruits of their Indullry with both 
 Hands. Moreover (lie perl'uaded her Hufband 
 to fend amongll: them from Time to Time a 
 Number of the moil lazy and ufelefs of his 
 Servants, under the fpecious Pretext of defend- 
 ing them in their Settlements, and of aflifting 
 to deftroy the wild Beafts ; but in Fad to rid 
 his own Houfe of their Company, not having 
 Employment for them ; and at the fame Time 
 to be a Watch and a Check upon the People 
 of the new Farm. 9 
 
 It was likewife ordered that thefe ProteQors. 
 as they were called, fliould be fupplied with 
 Bread and Butter cut in a particular Form : 
 But the Head of one of the Families refufed 
 to comply with this Order. He engaged to 
 give the Guefts, thus forced upon him, Bread 
 and Butter fufficient ; but infifted that his 
 Wife should have the liberty of cutting it in 
 what fliape flie pleafed.^" 
 
 This put the old Nobleman ii.cO a violent 
 
A Pretty Story. ig 
 
 PafTion, infomuch that he had his Son's Wife 
 put into Gaol for prefuming to cut her Loaf 
 otherwife than as had been directed.^ ^ 
 3* 
 
THH 81S WABU I.O 
 
 NS THE WIPBB LIPS 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 AS the old Gentleman advanced in Years 
 he began to negled the Affairs of his 
 Family, leaving them chiefly to the Manage- 
 ment of his Steward.^ Now the Steward had 
 debauched his Wife, and by that Means gained 
 an entire Ascendency over her. She no longer 
 deliberated what would moft benefit either the 
 old Farm or the new ; but faid and did what- 
 ever the Steward pleafed. Nay fo much was 
 
A Pretty Story. oi 
 
 llie influenced by him that llie could neither 
 
 utter Ay or No but as he direded. For he 
 
 had cunningly perfuaded her that it was very 
 
 falliionable for Women to wear Padlocks on 
 
 their Lips, and that he was lure they would 
 
 become her exceedingly. He therefore fallened 
 
 a Padlock to each Corner of her Mouth ; when 
 
 the one was open, ilie could only fay Ay; and 
 
 when the other was loofed, could only cry No. 
 
 He took Care to keep the Keys of thefe Locks 
 
 himfelf : fo that her Will became entirely fub- 
 
 ject to his Power.2 
 
 Now the old Lady and the Steward had fet 
 themfelves againft the People of the new Farm; 
 and began to devife Ways and Means to im- 
 poverilli and diitrefs them.^ 
 
 They prevailed on the Nobleman to fign an 
 Edid againft the new Settlers, in which it was 
 declared that it was their Duty as Children to 
 pay iomething towards the fupplying their 
 Fathers Table with Provifions, and to the fup- 
 porting the Dignity of his Family; for that 
 
32 A Pretty Story. 
 
 Purpofe it was ordained that all their Spoons, 
 Knives and Forks, Plates and Porringers, (liould 
 be marked with a certain Mark, by Officers 
 appointed for that End; for which marking 
 they were to pay a certain Stipend : And that 
 they Ihould not, under fevere Penalties, pre- 
 fume to make ufe of any Spoon, Knife or 
 Fork, Plate or Porringer, before it had been 
 fo marked, and the faid Stipend paid to the 
 Officer.4 
 
 " The Inhabitants of the new Farm began to 
 fee that their Father's Affedions were alienated 
 from them ; and that their Mother was but a 
 bafe Mother in Law debauched by their Enemy 
 the Steward. They were thrown into great 
 Confufion and Diilrefs. They wrote the mod 
 fupplicating Letters to the old Gentleman, in 
 which they acknowledged him to be their 
 Father in Terms of the greateit Refped and 
 Affedion — they recounted to him the Hard- 
 fhips and Difficulties they had suffered in fet- 
 tling his new Farm ; and pointed out the great 
 Addition of Wealth and Power his Family had 
 
A Pretty Story. oo 
 
 acquired by the Improvement of that Wilder- 
 nels ; and fliowed him that all the Fruits of 
 their Labours muil in the natural Courfe of 
 Things unite, in the long Run, in his Money 
 Box. They alio, in humble Terms, reminded 
 h.m ot his Promifes and Engagements on 
 their leaving Home, and of the Bonds he had 
 given them; of the Solemnity and Importance 
 of the Great Paper with the Curfe annexed. 
 Ihey acknowledged that he ought to be reim- 
 burfed the Expences he was at on their Ac- 
 count, and that it was their Duty to affill in 
 Supporting the Dignity of his Family. All 
 this they declared they were ready and willing 
 to do; but requelted that they might do it 
 agreeable to the Purport of the Great Paper 
 by applying to their feveral Wives for the 
 Keys of their Money Boxes and furniflaing 
 him from thence ; and not be subjetl to the 
 Tyranny and Caprice of an avaricious Mother 
 ■n Law, whom they had never cholen, and of a 
 Steward who was dieir declared Enemy.s 
 
 Some of thefb Letters were intercepted by ' 
 
34 A Pretty Story 
 
 the Steward ; others were delivered to the old 
 Gentleman, who w^as at the fame Time per- 
 fuaded to take no Notice of them ; but, on 
 the Contrary, to infill: the more ftrenuoufly 
 upon the Right his Wife claimed of marking 
 their Spoons, Knives and Forks, Plates and 
 Porringers.^ 
 
 The new Settlers, obferving how Matters 
 were conducted in their Father's Family be- 
 came exceedingly diftrefled and mortified. 
 They met together and agreed one and all 
 that they would no longer lubmit to the ar- 
 bitrary Impolitions of their Mother in Law, 
 and their Enemy the Steward. They deter- 
 mined to pay no Manner of Regard to the 
 new Decree, conlidering it as a Violation of the 
 Great Paper. Rut to go on and eat their Rroth 
 and Pudding as ufuaL The Cooks alfo and 
 Rutlers ferved up their Spoons, Knives and 
 Forks, Plates and Porringers, without having 
 them marked by the new Officers.7 
 
 The Nobleman at length thought fit to re- 
 
A Pretty Story. or 
 
 verfe the Order which had been made refpett- 
 ■ng the Spoons, Knives and Forks, Plates and 
 Porringers of the new Settlers.s But he did 
 this with a very ill Grace : For he, at the fame 
 Time avowed and declared that he and his 
 Wife had a Right to mark all their Furniture 
 if they pleafbd, from the Silver Tankard dowi^ 
 to the very Chamber Pieces : That as he was 
 their Father he had an abfolute Controul over 
 them, and that their Liberties, Lives and Prop- 
 erties were at the entire Dilpofal of him and 
 his Wife:9 That it was not fit that he who 
 was allowed to be Omniprefbnt, Immortal, and 
 incapable of Error,'" lliould be confined by the 
 Shackles of the Great Paper; or obliged to 
 tulhl the Bonds he had given them, which he 
 averred he had a Right to cancel whenever he 
 pleaf'ed." 
 
 His Wiffe alfo became intoxicated with 
 Vanity. The Steward had told her that flie 
 was an omnipotent Goddefs, and ought to be 
 worlTi.pped as f uch : That it was the Height 
 of Impudence and Difobedience in the new 
 
gb A Pretty Story. 
 
 Settlers to diipute her Authority, which, with 
 Refped to them, was unhmited : That as they 
 had removed from their Father's Family, they 
 had forfeited all Pretenlions to be conlidered 
 as his Children, and loit the Privileges of the 
 Great Paper : That, therefore, llie might look 
 on them only as Tenants at Will upon her 
 Hufband's Farm, and exad from them what 
 Rent (lie pleafed.^=^ 
 
 All this was perfedly agreeable to Madam, 
 who admitted this new Dodrine in its full 
 Sense. '^ 
 
 The People of the new Farm however took 
 little Notice of thefe pompous Declarations. 
 They were glad the marking Decree was re- 
 veried, and were in Hopes that Things would 
 gradually fettle into their former Channel.'^ 
 
,.--0 ^=:_r 
 
 NON-tMPORTATlON AGREEMENTS 
 
 CHAR V. 
 
 TN the mean Time the new Settlers increafed 
 exceedingly, and as they increafed, their 
 DeaUngs at their Father's Shop were propor- 
 tionably enlarged.^ 
 
 It is true they fuffered fome Inconveniencies 
 
 from the Proteftors that had been lent amongil 
 
 them, who became very troublefome in their 
 
 Houi'^s: They feduced their Daughters; in- 
 
 4 
 
38 A Pretty Story. 
 
 troduced Riot and Intemperance into their 
 Families, and derided and infulted the Orders 
 and Regulations they had made for their own 
 good Government.^ Moreover the old Noble- 
 man had fent amongil them a great Number 
 of Thieves, Ravifliers and Murderers, who did 
 a great deal of Mifchief by practiling thofe 
 Crimes for which they had been baniflied the 
 old Farm.^ But they bore thefe Grievances 
 with as much Patience as could be expeded ; 
 not chooling to trouble their aged Father w4th 
 Complaints, unlefs in Cafes of important Ne- 
 ceflity. 
 
 Now the Steward continued to hate the new 
 Settlers with exceeding great Hatred, and de- 
 termined to renew his Attack upon their Peace 
 and Happinefs. He artfully iniinuated to the 
 old Gentleman and his foolilli Wife, that it was 
 very mean and unbecoming in them to receive 
 the Contributions of the People of the new 
 Farm, towards fupporting the Dignity of his 
 Family, through the Hands of their respective 
 Wives : That upon this Footing it would be 
 
A Pretty Story. q<i^ 
 
 in their Power to refufe his Requilitions when- 
 ever they iliould be thought to be unreafonable, 
 of which they would pretend to be Judges 
 themfelves; and that it was high Time they 
 (liould be compelled to acknowledge his arbi- 
 trary Power, and his Wife's Omnipotence. 
 
 For this Purpofe, another Decree was pre- 
 pared and publiflied, ordering that the new 
 Settlers iliould pay a certain Stipend upon par- 
 ticular Goods, which they were not allowed to 
 purchafe any where but at their Father's Shop ; 
 and that this Stipend fliould not be deemed an 
 Advance upon the original Price of the Goods, 
 but be paid on their arrival at the new Farm, 
 for the exprefs Purpofe of fupporting the Dig- 
 nity of the old Gentleman's Family, and of 
 defraying the Expences he affeded to afford 
 them.4 
 
 This new Decree gave our Adventurers the 
 utmoll; Unealinefs. They faw that the Steward 
 and their Mother in Law were determined to 
 opprefs and enflave them. They again met 
 
40 A Pretty Story. 
 
 together and wrote to their Father, as before, 
 the moR humble and perfualive Letters ; but to 
 Kttle Purpofe : A deaf Ear was turned to all 
 their Remonllrances ; and their dutiful Requeib 
 treated with Contempt.^ 
 
 Finding this moderate and decent Condud 
 brought them no Relief, they had Recourfe to 
 another Expedient. They bound themielves 
 in a folemn Engagement not to deal any more 
 at their Father's Shop until this unconllitutional 
 Decree fliould be reverfed ; which they declared 
 to be a Violation of the Great Paper.^ 
 
 This Agreement was fo ftrictly adhered to, 
 that in a few Months the Clerks and Appren- 
 tices in the old Gentleman's Shop began to 
 make a fad Outcry. They declared that their 
 Mailer's Trade was declining exceedingly, and 
 that his Wife and Steward would, by their mif- 
 chievious Machinations, ruin the whole Farm : 
 They forthwith fliarpened their Pens and at- 
 tacked the Steward, and even the old Lady 
 herfelf with great Severity. Inibmuch that it 
 
A Pretty Story. 41 
 
 was thought proper to withdraw this Attempt 
 hkewiie upon the Rights and Liberties of the 
 new Settlers. One Part only of the new De- 
 cree remained unreverfed — viz. the Tax upon 
 Water Gruel.^ 
 
 Now there were certain Men on the old 
 Farm, who had obtained from the Nobleman 
 an exclufive Right of felling Water Gruel.^ 
 Vast Quantities of this Gruel were vended 
 amongft the new Settlers ; for it became very 
 fafliionable for them to ufe it in their Families 
 in great Abundance. They did not however 
 trouble themfelves much about the Tax on 
 Water Gruel: They were well pleafed with 
 the Reverfal of the other Parts of the Decree, 
 and confidering Gruel as not abfolutely necef- 
 fary to the Comfort of Life, they were deter- 
 mined to endeavour to do without it, and by 
 that Means avoid the remaining effeds of the 
 new Decree.9 
 
 The Steward found his Defigns once more 
 fruftrated ; but was not difcouraged by this Dif- 
 4* 
 
4.2 A Pretty Story. 
 
 appointment. He formed another Scheme fo 
 artfully contrived that he thought himfelf fure 
 of Succefs. He fent for the Perfons who had 
 the fole Right of vending Water Gruel, and 
 after reminding them of the Obligations they 
 were under to the Nobleman and his Wife for 
 their exclufive Privilege, he defired that they 
 would fend iundry Waggon Loads of Gruel to 
 the new Farm, promifmg that the accuilomed 
 Duty which they paid for their exclulive Right 
 lliould be taken off from all the Gruel they 
 fliould fend amongft the new Settlers : And 
 that in Cafe their Cargoes lliould come to any 
 Damage, he would take Care that the Lois 
 fhould be repaired out of the old Gentleman's 
 Coffers.^° 
 
 The Gruel Merchants readily confented to 
 this Propofal, knowing that if their Cargoes 
 were fold, they would reap conliderable Profits ; 
 and if they failed, the Steward was to make 
 good the Damage. On the other hand the 
 Steward concluded that the new Settlers could 
 not refill purchafing the Gruel to which they 
 
A Pretty Story. ^ 43 
 
 had been fo long accuftomed ; and if they did 
 purchaie it when fubjeft to the Tax aforefaid, 
 this would be an avowed acknowledgment on 
 their Parts that their Father and his Wife had 
 a Right to break through the Tenor of the 
 Great Paper, and to lay on them what Impofi- 
 tions they pleafed, without the Confent of their 
 refpedive Wives." 
 
 But the new Settlers were well aware of this 
 Decoy. They faw clearly that the Gruel was 
 not fent to accommodate, but to enflave them ; 
 and that if they fuffered any Part of it to be 
 fold amongtl them, it would be deemed a Sub- 
 miffion to the affumed Omnipotence of the 
 Great Madam.^^ 
 
DESTROTINO THE WATER GRDICI. GA8KB, 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 QN the Arrival of the Water Gruel, the 
 People of the new Farm were again thrown 
 into great Alarms and Confufions. Some of 
 them would not fuffer the Waggons to be un- 
 loaded at all, but fent them immediately back 
 to the Gruel Merchants : Others permitted the 
 Waggons to unload, but would not touch the 
 hateful Commodity; fo that it lay neglected 
 about their Roads and Highways until it grew 
 
A Pretty Story. 45 
 
 four and fpoiled.^ But one of the new Settlers, 
 whofe Name was Jack,^ either from a keener 
 Senfe of the Injuries attempted againll him, or 
 from the Neceflity of his Situation, which was 
 fuch that he could not fend back the Gruel be- 
 caufe of a Number of Mercenaries whom his 
 Father had ftationed before his Houfe to watch 
 and be a Check upon his Condud : He, I fay, 
 being almoil: driven to Defpair, fell to Work, 
 and with great Zeal ilove to Pieces the Cafks 
 of Gruel, which had been fent him, and utterly 
 demoliflied the whole Cargoe.^ 
 
 These Proceedings were loon known at the 
 old Farm. Great and terrible was the uproar 
 there. The old Gentleman fell into great 
 Wrath, declaring that his abfent Children meant 
 to throw off all Dependence upon him, and to 
 become altogether dif obedient. His Wife alfo 
 tore the Padlocks from her Lips, and raved and 
 ftormed like a Billingfgate. The Steward loft 
 all Patience and Moderation, fwearing moft 
 profanely that he would leave no Stone un- 
 turned 'till he had humbled the Settlers of the 
 
46 A Pretty Story. 
 
 new Farm at his Feet, and caufed their Father 
 to trample on their necks. Moreover the Gruel 
 Merchants roared and bellowed for the Lofs of 
 their Gruel; and the Clerks and Apprentices 
 were in the utmoil Confternation left the People 
 of the new Farm fliould again agree to have 
 no Dealings with their Father's Shop — Ven- 
 geance was immediately fet on Foot, particu- 
 larly againft Jack. With him they determined 
 to begin ; hoping that by making an Example 
 of him they fliould fo terrify the other Families 
 of the new Settlers, that they would all fubmit 
 to the Dehgns of the Steward, and the Omni- 
 potence of the old Lady.^ 
 
 A VERY large Padlock was, accordingly, pre- 
 pared to be faftened upon Jack's great gate; 
 the Key of which was to be given to the old 
 Gentleman ; who was not to open it again until 
 he had paid for the Gruel he had fpilt, and re- 
 figned all Claim to the Privileges of the Great 
 Paper : Nor then neither unlefs he thought 
 ht.^ Secondly, a Decree was made to new 
 model the Regulations and (Economy of Jack's 
 
A Pretty Story. 47 
 
 Family in fuch Manner that they might for 
 the Future be more lubjed to the Will of the 
 Steward.^ And, thirdly, a large Gallows was 
 ereded before the Manfion Houfe in the old 
 Farm, and an Order made that if any of Jack's 
 Children or Servants (liould be fufpeded of 
 Mifbehaviour, they fliould not be convided or 
 acquitted by the Confent of their Brethren, 
 agreeable to the Purport of the Great Paper^ 
 but be tied Neck and Heels and dragged to 
 the Gallows at the Manfion Houfe, and there 
 be hanged without MercyJ 
 
 No fooner did tidings of this undue Severity 
 reach the new Farm, but the People were al- 
 moin ready to defpair. They were altogether 
 at a Lofs how to ad, or by what Means they 
 fliould avert the Vengeance to which they were 
 doomed : But the old Lady and Steward foon 
 determined the Matter; for the Padlock was 
 fent over, and without Ceremony faftened upon 
 Jack's great Gate. They did not wait to know 
 whether he would pay for the Gruel or not, or 
 make the required Acknowledgments; nor 
 
48 A Pretty Story. 
 
 give him the leait Opportunity to make his 
 Defence — The great Gate was locked, and the 
 Key given to the old Nobleman, as had been 
 determined.^ 
 
 Poor Jack found himfelf in a moil deplora- 
 ble Condition. The great Inlet to his Farm 
 was entirely blocked up, i'o that he could 
 neither carry out the Produce of his Land for 
 Sale, nor receive from abroad the Neceffaries 
 for his Family.9 
 
 But this was not all — His Father, along with 
 the Padlock aforefaid, had fent an Overfeer to 
 hedor and domineer over him and his Family; 
 and to endeavour to break his Spirit by exer- 
 cihng every poffible Severity : For which Pur- 
 pofe he was attended by a great Number of 
 Mercenaries, and armed with more than com- 
 mon Authorities.'^ 
 
 On his firil: arrival in Jack's Family he was 
 received with confiderable Relped, becaufe he 
 was the Delegate of their aged Father : For, 
 
A Pretty Story. 49 
 
 notwithftanding all that had paft, the People 
 of the new Settlements loved and revered the 
 old Gentleman with a truly filial Attachment ; 
 attributing his unkindnefs entirely to the In- 
 trigues of their Enemy the Steward. But this 
 fair Weather did not lail long. The new 
 Overieer took the firil Opportunity of ihowing 
 that he had no Intentions of living in Harmony 
 and Friendlliip with the Family. Some of 
 Jack's DomelHcks had put on their Sunday 
 Clothes, and attended the Overfeer in the great 
 Parlour, in Order to pay him their Compli- 
 ments on his Arrival, and to requeil: his Affill- 
 ance in reconciling them to their Father : But 
 he rudely flopped them iliort, in the Midil: of 
 their Speech ; called them a Parcel of difobe- 
 dient Scoundrels, and bid them go about their 
 Bufinefs. So faying, he turned upon his Heel, 
 and with great Contempt left the Room.^^ 
 
aANUiNu BOPPl.iSa 
 
 CHAP. VIL 
 
 "^OW Jack and his Family finding them- 
 I'elves opprefled, infulted and tyrannised 
 over in the moft cruel and arbitrary Manner, 
 advifed with their Brethren what Meafures 
 fliould be adopted to relieve them from their 
 intolerable Grievances. Their Brethren, one 
 and all, united in fympathifing with their Af- 
 flictions ; they advifed them to bear their Suf- 
 ferings with Fortitude for a Time, alluring them 
 
A Pretty Story. 5) 
 
 that they looked on the Punilliments and In- 
 fults laid upon them with the lame Indignation 
 as if they had been inflided on themielves, and 
 that they would ftand by and fupport them to 
 the lait. But, above all, eameiUy recommended 
 it to them to be firm and ileady in the Cause of 
 Liberty and Jultice, and never acknowledge 
 the Omnipotence of their Mother in Law ; nor 
 yield to the Machinations of their Enemy the 
 Steward.^ 
 
 In the mean Time, left Jack's Family (liould 
 fuffer for Want of Neceflaries, their great Gate 
 being faft locked, liberal and very generous 
 Contributions w^ere railed among the feveral 
 Families of the new Settlements, for their 
 prefent Relief. This feafbnable Bounty was 
 handed to Jack over the Garden Wall — All 
 Accefs to the Front of his Houfe being iliut 
 up.2 
 
 Now the Overfeer obferved that the Children 
 and Domefticks of Jack's Family had frequent 
 Meetings and Confultations together : Some- 
 
52 A Pretty Story. 
 
 times in the Garret, and fometimes in the Sta- 
 ble : Underftanding, likewife, that an Agree- 
 ment not to deal in their Fathers Shop, until 
 their Grievances fliould be redreffed, was much 
 talked of amongll: them, he wrote a thundering 
 Prohibition, much like a Pope's Bull,^ which 
 he cauied to be paited up in every Room in 
 the Houfe : In which he declared and protelted 
 that thele Meetings were treafbnable, traiterous 
 and rebellious ; contrary to the Dignity ot theii 
 Father, and inconlilknt with the Omnipotence 
 of their Mother in Law : Denouncing alfb 
 terrible Punifliments againif any two of the 
 Family who fliould from thenceforth be feen 
 whifpering together, and ifridly forbidding the 
 Domefficks to hold any more Meetings in the 
 Garret or Stable.^ 
 
 These harili and unconftitutional Proceed- 
 ings irritated Jack and the other inhabitants of 
 the new Farm to fuch a Degree that ^ ''* " ^^ * 
 
 Ccetera del' in it, ^ 
 
KDITOR'S NOTES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ^ The Nobleman is the king of Great Britain ; the valuable 
 farm is his kingdom, and his children and (/rand children are 
 his subjects. 
 
 "^ AVhen Agricola, in the year of our Lord, 85, completed 
 the Roman conquest of Britain, the people were semi-barba- 
 rians, and for more than a thousand years they made very 
 Httle progress in commerce. It was not until it had flour- 
 ished a long time in the countries bordering on the Mediter- 
 ranean Sea, that the English people discovered its value. 
 When, at length, they engaged in it, they prosecuted it with 
 energy, soon outstripped their continental neighbors, and by 
 its means they acquired both enormous wealth and immense 
 political power. The British nation is yet the chief power in 
 Europe, respected alike for its moral and hitellcctual great- 
 ness, and for its material strength. 
 
 ^ The British Constitution is an abstract of the collective 
 wisdom of many generations in the science of government. 
 The foundation of the common law of England, is the code 
 
54 editor's notes. 
 
 of Alfred, compiled chiefly from existing laws, in the year 
 1005. Stephen gave the people a charter of general liberties 
 in 1136, and this was contirmed by Henry the Second in 
 1154 and 1175. New laws have been incorporated with the 
 old, from time to time ; and for about a thousand j^ears the 
 people of Great Britain have had rights and privileges in- 
 alienable. These were promulgated by the Great Charter 
 given in 1215 and confirmed in 1216. The British Constitu- 
 tion is the perfect mode here referred to. 
 
 ^ The necessary acts of Parliament which determine the 
 succession to the throne, and the solemn covenants entered 
 into between the sovereign and the people, at the coronation, 
 are the marriage articles here mentioned. 
 
 ^ The icife of the Nobleman is the British Parliament, to 
 which the sovereign is amenable in acts and person. The 
 word is from the French Parler la meiit, — to speak one's 
 mind, — and indicates the right of the members of that assem- 
 bly to speak freely upon all matters relating to the common • 
 wealth. This title was given after the Norman conquest of 
 Britain, in the year 10G6. The Saxons called it Witenage 
 3Iote, — that is, the Great Mote, meeting or Assembly. Par- 
 liament possesses supreme power in making and repealing 
 laws, and in all acts pertaining to the government of the 
 realm. It is composed of the hereditary House of Lords, 
 and the elective House of Commons. The government ex- 
 hibits three estates, so called, namely. King, Lords and 
 Commons. 
 
 ® Members of the House of Commons are elected every 
 seven years ; and when the newly chosen members take their 
 
editor's notes. 55 
 
 scats, they utter a solemn oath to support the British Con- 
 stitution. This is the Marriage with the King. In 160-1, 
 the period of each parhament's duration was fixed at three 
 years. In 1710, the ''Septennial Act" was passed, and the 
 " Triennial Act'' of 1694 was repealed. Since then there has 
 been no change. The " Chartists" of our day demand an- 
 nual parliaments. Under the ''Septennial Act" of 1716, the 
 sovereign has power to shorten the duration of parliament, 
 by dissolution. Because the parliament, elected in 1830, 
 declined to pass the first reform bill, AVilliam the Fourth 
 dissolved it in April, 1831. 
 
 ' The people, at their elections, may choose new represent- 
 atives, if they please, or may re-elect the old ones. In this 
 way the IJi/'e may be retained or deposed, at the end of 
 seven years. 
 
 ^ The Sovereign has no power to levy taxes, without the 
 consent of Parliament. Nor can he compel men to serve in 
 civil or military capacities, by his own will. As early as the 
 reign of Edward the First, this matter was settled by a 
 special act of Parliament. Edward commanded some of his 
 nobles to serve in an expedition against the French King. 
 The Earl Marshal of his realm refused obedience, unless the 
 King would go in person. "You shall go without me," said 
 Edward. The Earl replied, "I am not so bound, and will 
 not take that journey without you." The King, in a rage, 
 swore that he should "either go or hang." "And I swear," 
 said the Earl, "that I will neither go nor hang." And he did 
 not. Parliament soon afterward passed the act called De 
 Talluijio non concidendo, which affirms the absolute power 
 of that body in providing money, men, and other things for 
 
5() EDITOR S NOTES. 
 
 the public use. The usurpation of this power by the Sov- 
 ereign, at different times, has produced popular commotions. 
 It cost Charles the First his head. 
 
 ® This refers to Trial by Jury. It was known as early as 
 the Saxon Heptarchy, or the government of England by 
 seven kings, formed in the year 455. It was incorporated 
 into Alfred's code, and is considered as the great bulwark of 
 the people's liberty. 
 
 " The Supremacy of Parliament, mentioned in Note 8. 
 
 " The " Great Paper," is the Magna Charta or Great 
 Charter of English liberties, which was extorted from King 
 John by a large number of Barons. It was a body of laws 
 already in use, the letter and spirit of which had been grossly 
 violated by John. The Barons took arms to enforce this 
 sacred possession, and John reluctantly signed the Great 
 Charter, at Runnymede, near Windsor, in June, 1215. In 
 this act the supreme power of Parliament was acknowl- 
 edged, for the Charter was submitted to that body for con- 
 firmation. (See the picture at the head of this chapter.) 
 
 ^^ Robert, Archbishop of Canterbury, was then the Primate, 
 or Chiel Ecclesiastic of England. 
 
 '^ This was put forth in 121G, at the command of Henry 
 the Third. It was ordered that the Charter should be read 
 by all Archbishops and Bishops, in the cathedral churches, 
 twice a year, and "upon reading thereof in every of their 
 parish churches," they were openly to denounce, by this 
 oath, all that should do any thing conti-ary to the lettei and 
 spirit of the Charter. 
 
editor's X0TE9. ^^ 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ^ The British possessions, by right of discovery, in North 
 America, are here meant. 
 
 2 This refers to the various individuals and companies who 
 obtained Charters from the King for making settlements in 
 America. 
 
 ' In all the Charters it v^-as covenanted expressly or by 
 implication, that while the settlers should enjoy all the rights 
 guaranteed by the Great Charter, they were to acknowledge 
 the supremacy of the King and Parliament, and be governed 
 by British laws. 
 
 * From the first, the British Government coveted the 
 monopoly of all the gain that might be derived from settle- 
 ments in the New World. Specifications for that purpose 
 were made in the Charters. And afterward, when the 
 colonies began to flourish and germs of commerce appeared, 
 the parent government unwisely attempted to control their 
 trade, and make it subservient to the gain of the people of 
 Great Britain. Out of restrictions imposed upon the industry 
 of the colonies, by successive Acts of Parliament, grew much 
 ill-feeling. 
 
 « The colonists were allowed to export some of their prod, 
 ucts to the French, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch West 
 Indies. 
 
 « The various expeditions for the purpose of settlements in 
 America, are here alluded to. 
 
5» EDITOR S NOTES. 
 
 ' The first adventurers suffered severely from disease, pri- 
 vations, and often from the hostilities of the Indians. One 
 ha.lf of the first emigrants to Virginia, in 1607, perished in 
 the course of a few weeks. Of five hundred left by Smith, 
 in Virginia, in 1609, only sixty remained- at the end of six 
 months. A little later, three hundred and fifty white people 
 were massacred by the Indians, within an hour ; and in the 
 course of a few days, eighty plantations were reduced to 
 eight. Within a little more than three months, forty of the 
 one hundred people who landed at Plymouth in 1620, were in 
 their graves. These illustrations might be multiplied. 
 
 ^ Within the period of a little more than a century, flour- 
 ishing English colonies were making the wilderness blossom 
 like a garden^ all along the Atlantic from the St. Croix in the 
 north-east, to the St. Mary's in the south, a distance of more 
 than a thousand miles. 
 
 ® Feeble commercial efforts were made early in New Eng- 
 land. In 1636, a vessel of thirty tons made a voyage from 
 thence to the West Indies ; and not long afterward American 
 vessels were seen in the ports of Great Britain. 
 
 CHAPTER m. 
 
 ^ These wives were the Colonial Legislatures. The several 
 Colonial Governments were modelled after that of Great 
 Britain, and their laws were all made in conformity to the 
 British Constitution. The right to dissolve these Legisla- 
 tures rested in the Royal Governors, in imitation of the right 
 of the King to dissolve Parliament. 
 
editor's notes. 59 
 
 ^ The wild beasts were the Indians, and their neighbors 
 were the French in Canada and the Spaniards in Florida. 
 
 ^ British troops were sent over, at various periods, to as- 
 sist the colonists against their neighbors on the north and 
 south, and the Indians all around them. The expenses of 
 expeditions got up for the purpose were generally paid by 
 the respective colonies, taxes for raising the money being 
 levied by the "wives," — the Colonial Assemblies, — and of 
 course cheerfully paid by the people. At one time during 
 the French and Indian war, the people of Massachusetts paid 
 a tax on real estate, equal, in many instances, to two-thirds 
 of the income of the tax-payer. In Massachusetts alone, at 
 that time, public and private aiU'ances, for the common good, 
 amounted to more than a million of dollars. 
 
 * The assumption, theoretically and practically, of the right 
 of the British Government to tax the colonies without their con- 
 sent was the chief cause which produced the war for Independ- 
 ence. The colonies had no representatives in the Imperial 
 Parliament, and they planted the foot of opposition upon the 
 firm political postulate, that taxation, without kepresenta- 
 
 TION, IS TYRANNY. 
 
 ^ The King, in whose name all covenants are made. 
 
 ^ Magna Charta. 
 
 "" This refers to the various restrictions imposed upon the 
 industry of the colonists, fi'om time to time, by Acts of Par- 
 liament. The Navigation Act of 1G51, forbade all importa- 
 tions into England except in English ships, or those be- 
 longing to English colonies. Another Act, in 1660, forbade 
 
60 editor's notes. 
 
 the colonists sending any sugar, tobacco, pitch, and other 
 American productions, into any port of Europe except of the 
 dominions of England. Early in the eighteenth century, 
 domestic manufactures had greatly increased among the 
 colonists, and quite a profitable intercolonial trade was in 
 progress. The cupidity of the English Government sought 
 to repress these industrial operations. The exportation of 
 hats and other commodities from one colony to another was 
 prohibited. All manufactories of iron and steel were pro- 
 nounced "nuisances" to be immediately abated; hatters 
 were allowed to have only two apprentices at one time, and 
 the Carolinians were forbidden to cut down the pine trees 
 of their vast forests and convert their wood into staves and 
 their juices into turpentine and tar. Brigantines and small 
 sloops had commenced voyages from Massachusetts and 
 Pennsyhania, to exchange the products of those provinces 
 for rum, sugar, wine, and silks, with the West India mer- 
 chants. To repress this commerce, the importation into the 
 colonies of those West India productions were burdened with 
 exorbitant duties. And thus, in many ways, Great Britain 
 sought to compel the colonists to trade only with its people ; 
 to pursue agriculture, and to purchase what they needed of 
 British manufacturers. The colonies became very good cus- 
 tomers. From 1738 to 1748, the average value of exports 
 from Great Britain to the American colonies, was almost 
 three and a quarter millions of dollars annually. 
 
 ® Heavy duties were laid upon rum imported from the 
 West Indies, and upon wines from other countries. These 
 composed the cider alluded to. At about the same time, 
 (1763,) the Earl of Bute, George the Third's first prime min- 
 ister, imposed a heavy tax upon cider used in England, to be 
 
editor's notes. 61 
 
 paid by the first purchaser. It pi-oduced much excitement 
 and opposition. The amount of tax was reduced, and the 
 payment shifted to the shoulders of the producer.. This did 
 not alter the case as a grievance, and many who had orchards, 
 declared they would let their apples rot on the trees, before 
 they would make them into cider, under such excise regula- 
 tions. There had not been such excitement in England 
 since the famous tax measures of Sir Robert Walpole thirty 
 years before. 
 
 ' At the conclusion of the French and Indian war in 1763, 
 quite a great number of British troops were left in xVmerica, 
 and others were sent over from time to time, ostensibly to 
 assist in keeping the French and Indians at ba}^, but really 
 to enforce revenue laws and to repress the democratic prin- 
 ciple, ever3avhere manifested. The imperial treasury had 
 been completely exhausted by the late war, and ministers 
 had resolved to replenish it in part by indirectly taxing the 
 colonies. The troops were to be instrumental in accomplish- 
 ing the measure. Much ill feeling was produced, and in the 
 Declaration of Independence it was alleged as a serious 
 charge against the King, that "He has kept among us, in 
 times of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our 
 Legislatures." 
 
 ^° The colonists were required to make partial provision 
 for the troops quartered among them. New York and Mas- 
 sachusetts refused to give them food and shelter. Parliament 
 then passed the Mutiny Act, as it was called, which provided 
 that British troops sent hither, should be provided, by the 
 colonists, with quarters, beer, salt, and vinegar. These stipu- 
 
62 editor's notes. 
 
 lations were the orders for cutting the bread and butter in a 
 particular form. 
 
 " The Assembly of New York was the head of one of the 
 families, who refused compliance. The Act empowered any 
 officer, on obtaining a warrant, to enter any house in search 
 of deserters. This privilege might be greatly abused, and 
 the Briton's boast that " every man's house is his castle," not 
 to be violated, would no longer be tenable. The Assembly 
 steadily refused to make provision for the troops, and as a 
 punishment for this contumacy, Parliament, in 1707, passed 
 an act, "prohibiting the Governor, Council and Assembly of 
 New York passing any legislative act, for any purpose what- 
 ever." This was putting the soii^s wife into gaol for presum- 
 ing to cut her loaf otherwise than she had been directed. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 power in the government. 
 
 ^ On the accession of George the Third, and for many 
 years afterward, the King and Parliament were completely 
 controlled by the Ministry. They originated all governmental 
 schemes, and the elected representatives of the people, with 
 .a few exceptions, seemed to have all the thinking done for 
 them, while they went through the formality of a vote, only 
 to give legality to ministerial measures. They seemed to 
 have the privilege of only sa3nng Aye and No, as the Minis- 
 try directed. 
 
 * The colonists were flourishing, and tlie British treasury 
 
EDITOU'S NOTES. 03 
 
 was empty, at the commencement of the reign of George the 
 Third. These appeared sufficient reasons for taxing the 
 colonists. They were wilhng to be taxed, but only by tlieir 
 own Assemblies. The pride of the ]\Iinistry and Parliament 
 would not allow this, and for more than ten years, or until 
 the breaking out of the war for independence, in 1775, the 
 British government, blind to justice and its own interests, / 
 seemed intent upon distressing the Americans. 
 
 * This is in allusion to the famous "Stamp Act" of 17G5, 
 which declared that no legal instrument of writing should be 
 valid in the colonies, unless it bore a government stamp, for 
 which a specific sum had been paid. These stamps were 
 upon blue paper, bearing the British arms and an impression 
 of the price. These were to be affixed to the various instru- 
 ments of writing, and promised to produce quite a large in- 
 come. But the Americans, perceiving it to be taxation in 
 another form, resolved not to submit. The "Stamp Act" ' 
 became a law by receiving the signature of the King in the 
 Spring of 1705. 
 
 ' The passage of the "Stamp Act" produced great excite- 
 ment in the colonies. The people saw in it real oppression, 
 and they resolved to meet and discuss the matter. Delegates, 
 appointed in several colonies, met in the cit)^ of New York in 
 October 1765, less than a month before the law was to go 
 into eflect. They continued in session fourteen days, and in 
 three well-written documents they expressed their loyalty, 
 and their willingness to be taxed by their own Legislatures ; 
 set forth their grievances ; asserted their rights under the 
 British Constitution, and petitioned the King and Parliament 
 for justice. They confidently appealed to the Constitution, — 
 
(>4 
 
 EDITOR S NOTES. 
 
 the Great Paper, — and while they declared their loyalty they 
 claimed their constitutional privileges, with sturdy pertinacity. 
 
 ^ George the Third was a weak but not a wicked man. 
 He was sometimes obstinate, but, lacking the qualifications 
 of a statesman, he (unwisely for himself) yielded his own 
 opinions to those of his chosen advisers. These, perhaps 
 both blind and wicked, resolved to enforce the "Stamp Act," 
 with all the power of the government. The}' asserted the 
 supremacy of Parliament ; and the King, though kindly dis- 
 posed towards his American subjects, was persuaded to ac- 
 quiesce in coercive measures. 
 
 ' The Americans were firm. The proceedings of the 
 Stamp Act Congress were applauded by all of the Colonial 
 Assemblies in defiance of the frowns of the royal governors ; 
 and the people of America were as firmly united, in heart 
 and purpose, then, as they were after the Declaration of In- 
 dependence more than ten years later. The first of Novem- 
 ber, when the act was to go into effect, w^as observed as a 
 day of fasting and mourning. There were funeral proces- 
 sions and bells tolling funeral knells. The courts were 
 closed, all business was suspended, and gloom prevailed. 
 The lull in the storm was brief The great heart of the 
 public, just now so quiet, suddenl}^ palpitated with full force, 
 aroused by firm and spontaneous resolves to be free. Rebel- 
 lion was in every heart, and dwelt on many a lip. JMobs 
 assailed the dwellings of officials ; merchants entered into 
 agreements not to import any more goods from Great Britain 
 while that act was a law, and domestic manufactures were 
 commenced in every family, tlie wealthy vjdng with the 
 middling classes in self-denial. Soon a respectful but firm 
 
EDITOR S NOTES. 
 
 65 
 
 protest went over the Atlantic to the ears of the British 
 ministry, — the wicked Slorord, — and it was seconded there 
 by the merchants and manufacturers, whose American trade 
 was prostrated. The voice, thus made potential, was heard 
 and heeded in high places, wdiilc the Americans, conscious 
 of right, utterly disregarded the act, and ate their broth cmd 
 pudding as usual. 
 
 ^ Ministers became alarmed and found it expedient to re- 
 trace their steps. Winiam Pitt, England's greatest Com- 
 moner, was now in Parliament as a champion of the American 
 people. Edmund Burke was also there, on the same side, and 
 now first astonished the public by his brilHant oratory in his 
 advocacy of the rights of the Americans. They both earnestly 
 urged the repeal of the Stamp Act, and in March, 1766, that 
 measure was effected, to the great joy of the business men 
 of Great Britain, and the whole of the American people. 
 
 ^ Jealous of the honor of Great Britain, and doubtful of 
 the passage of the repeal act without a salvo for that honor, 
 Pitt appended to it an act which declared that Parliament 
 possessed the power "to bind the colonies in all cases what- 
 soever." After the excess of their joy had abated, the 
 colonists perceived in this Declaratory Act, an egg of tyranny, 
 ftnd were both incensed and alarmed. They perceived that 
 Parliament had conceded nothing of its high assumption, 
 and they naturally anticipated the development of other 
 schemes to enslave them. 
 
 '" The King can never die, and the King can do no wrong, 
 have ever been maxims of British law. The first is based 
 upon the fact that the throne is always filled ; and the latter 
 6* 
 
66 edttor's notes. 
 
 upon the assumption that so excellent a person as the King 
 ought to be, will not do wrong, and also that he does nothing 
 without his ministers. 
 
 " The British Sovereign has sometimes been bold enough 
 to assert, by implication at least, like the French King, '' I am 
 the State ;" but thus far Magna Charta and the Parliament 
 have controlled the throne, and alwa^'s will. 
 
 ^^ Such doctrines were put forth by Lord North, who mis- 
 governed Great Britain during the whole of our war for in- 
 dependence. He was a zealous advocate of the omnipotence 
 of Parliament, whether its decrees were right or wrong ; and 
 long before the good King could be persuaded to speak of the 
 Americans as rebels. North had boldly proclaimed them such. 
 He regarded them as out of the pale of British protection, 
 because they had dared to question the justice of British 
 rule ; and he was disposed to treat them as tenants at will. 
 
 ^^ Parliament, by its votes on subjects respecting its om- 
 nipotence, exhibited its perfect agreement with the Prime 
 Minister. 
 
 " Encouraged by the success of their firmness in opposing 
 the Stamp Act, the Americans paid ver}^ little attention to 
 the Declaratory Act, and they pressed forward in the path 
 of their prosperity until ministers commenced working the 
 engine of oppression, anew. 
 
editor's notes, 67 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ^ For several months after the repeal of the Stamp Act, the 
 Americans enjoyed the repose born of fond hope of justice in 
 the future. They renewed their trade Avith Great Britain, 
 and all ill feeling subsided. 
 
 ^ In many ways the troops quartered among the people 
 were a verj^ great annoyance. They were licentious, set bad 
 examples for the young men, and by their insolence kept 
 alive the hatred of the people, and fanned the flame of re- 
 bellion. 
 
 ^ New and unnecessary offices were created, and bad men, 
 who left their country for their country's good, often, were 
 appointed to fill them. Among others came insolent Com- 
 missioners of Customs, who mistook the temper of the people, 
 and greatly increased the public irritation. 
 
 * Soon after fresh troops were sent to America to enforce 
 obnoxious laws, new taxation schemes were laid before Par- 
 liament, by the Ministry. In June, 1767, a duty was levied 
 upon tea, glass, painters' colors, etc., imported into the 
 colonies ; and in July another bill, establishing a Board of 
 Trade in the colonies independent of colonial legislation, and 
 creating resident Commissioners of Customs, to enforce the 
 revenue laws, was passed. Then came another for punish- 
 ing the contumacious New York Assembly. 
 
 ^ Again the greatest excitement prevailed throughout the 
 colonies. The Colonial Assemblies boldly protested. Peti- 
 
08 EDITOU*'s NOTES. 
 
 tions to the King, and remonstrances to Parliament, were 
 sent. Pjrmphlets and newspapers were filled with inflam- 
 matory appeals, defining the rights of the people as British 
 subjects, and urging them to united resistance of these direct 
 blows at popular liberty. Early in 1708, almost every Colonial 
 Assembly had expressed the opinion that Parliament had no 
 right to tax the Americans without their consent. The Min- 
 istry, blind and wicked still, turned a deaf ear to petitions 
 and remonstrances, and treated the most respectful words 
 with utter contempt. 
 
 ^ Non-importation leagues, so powerful against the Stamp 
 Act, were now renewed. 
 
 ^ The refusal of the colonies to import from Great Britain, 
 agahi bore heavily upon the British merchants and manuftic- 
 turers, for the Americans had become their most important 
 customers. Again there was a loud clamor raised against the 
 Ministry and the majority in Parliament, and after a strug- 
 gle for almost three years, the Ministry and their sup- 
 porters were compelled to yield. The duty upon all but tea, 
 was taken off, and that was i-etained merely to assert the 
 right of Parliament to levy such duty. This was the Water 
 Gruel. 
 
 ® These were the members of the English East India Com- 
 pany. That association w^as formed and chartered in the 
 year 1600, for the purpose of carrying on a trade between 
 England and the countries lying east of the Cape of Good 
 Hope. It was this company, w'hen it had become rich, and 
 very powerful in the East, that gave to Great Britain the 
 foundation of its mighty empire in the East Indies, which 
 now comprises the whole of llindostan from Cape Comorin 
 
editor's notes. 09 
 
 to the Himalaya Mountains, with a population of more than 
 one hundred and twenty millions of souls. This company 
 was a vast monopoly, and had the exclusive right of selling 
 tea. 
 
 ^ The colonists, feeling that they could very well dispense 
 with the luxury of tea, entered generally into leagues not to 
 use it. It was a small privation for the consumers, but the 
 East India Company felt the loss of their customers here, 
 severely. 
 
 '° Early in 1773, a new thought upon taxation entered the 
 brain of Lord North. The East India Company had then 
 more than seventeen millions of pounds of tea in their London 
 warehouses, and feeling the loss of their American customers, 
 they petitioned Parliament to take off the import duty of 
 three pence per pound upon all sent to America. The com- 
 pany agreed to pay more than an equal amount, in export 
 duty, to the government. Here was a good opportunity for 
 the government to be just, wise, and concihatory. The stupid 
 ministry refused, because it might be considered submission 
 to "rebellious subjects;" and misapprehending the real 
 question at issue, North introduced a bill into Parliament, 
 allowing the company to send their tea free of export duty, 
 supposing the Americans would purchase it at the cheaper 
 rates. This concession to a conmiercial monopoly, while 
 spurning the just appeals of a great people, moved by a noble 
 principle, only created contempt and indignation throughout 
 the colonies. 
 
 " The East India Company, as blind as Ministers, regarded 
 the American market as now open for their tea, and soon af- 
 ter the passage of the bill, in May, 1773, several large ships, 
 
/U EDITOR S NOTES. 
 
 laden with the obnoxious plant, Avere on their way across the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 '^ Intelligence of the new movement reached America 
 before the arrival of any of the tea ships. The people saw 
 clearly that submission to this almost nominal tax, was as 
 much an acknowledgment of the assumed right of Parlia- 
 ment to levy it as if it was tenfold greater, and they resolved 
 to resist the tyranny in every form! 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ^ In most of the seaboard towns where consignments of 
 tea had been made, the people resolved, at public meetings, 
 that it should not even be landed. The ships which arrived 
 at New York and Philadelphia were sent back to England 
 with their cargoes. At Charleston it was landed, but was 
 not allowed to be sold ; and at Annapolis quite a great quan- 
 tity was destroyed. 
 
 ■^ Massachusetts is here called Jack. 
 
 ^ The people of Boston held several meetings, warned the 
 consignees that the tea should not be landed, and prepared 
 for prompt action on its arrival. These meetings were led 
 by the best men in Boston. Two vessels came, and were 
 moored at Griffin's wharf. On the afternoon of December 16, 
 ITTo, a large meeting upon the subject was held in Faneuil 
 Hall. It was now ascertained that Governor Hutchinson and 
 his friends had resolved that the tea should be landed, in defi- 
 ance of the public feeling. Twilight approached, and candles 
 
EDITOR S NOTES. 71 
 
 were about to be lighted, when one or two persons in the 
 gallery, disguised as Mohawk Indians, gave a war-whoop. It 
 was answered from without. The Assembly was immediately 
 broken up, and a large number of persons rushed toward the 
 wharf where the tea-ships were moored. About sixty per- 
 sons, some of them in Indian disguise, boarded th« vessels, 
 tore open the hatches, and in the course of two hours, three 
 hundred and forty-two chests, containing the proscribed 
 article, were broken open, and their contents cast into the 
 waters of Boston harbor. The 3Iercencin'e,s alluded to in the 
 text, were the Governor and numerous officials, who resided 
 in Boston. 
 
 ■* The destruction of the tea at Boston produced a powerful 
 sensation throughout the British realm. While the American 
 colonies, and even Canada, Nova Scotia, and the West Indies, 
 sympathized with the Bostonians and could not censure 
 them, the exasperated government adopted retaliatory 
 measures, notwithstanding a promise was given to the 
 East India Company, that full payment should be made for 
 all losses they sustained. The ministerial party in Parlia- 
 ment were very violent in their denunciations ; and one 
 member, after declaring that the people of Boston "ought to 
 have their town knocked about their ears," uttered the senti- 
 ment of the old Roman orators when they wished to excite 
 the people against the Carthagenians, — " Delenda est Car- 
 thago," — C(irth(i(/e must be destroyed,'''' 
 
 " Parliament, by enactment, on the 7th of March, 1774-, 
 ordered the port of Boston to be closed against all commer- 
 cial transactions whatever, and the removal of the custom- 
 house, courts of justice, and other offices, to Salem. This 
 was the padlock on Jack^s (/ate. The act, known as the 
 
72 editor's notes. 
 
 Boston Port Bill, also provided, that when the Bostonians 
 should fully submit, the King should have power to open 
 the port. 
 
 ^ Soon after the passage of the Port ]Jill, another act was 
 passed for "better regulating the Government of Massachu- 
 setts Bay." It was equivalent to a total subversion of the 
 ancient charter, inasmuch as it took from the people, and 
 placed in the hands of the governor, the nonn'nation of all 
 military, executive, and judicial officers, and gave to the 
 crown the appointment of counsellors and judges of the 
 Supreme Court. 
 
 ^ On the 21st of April, 1774, another retaliatory act was 
 passed. It provided for the trial in England of persons in 
 the service of the crown, in the colonies, M'ho might be 
 charged with nuu'der, thus taking the matter from colonial 
 juries. This was denounced in Parliament, as " encovn-age- 
 ment to military insolence already so insupportable." At the 
 same time provision was made for conveying to England, for 
 trial and punishment, such persons in the Massachusetts 
 colony as should be charged with treason to the government. 
 This was denounced as tyranny, and luiconstitutional to the 
 last degree. Earlier than this [I7()i)j Parliament, by resolu- 
 lion, prayed the King to revive a long obsolete statute of 
 Henry the Eighth, by which the governor of any colony 
 might arrest, and send to England for trial, any person 
 charged with treason. 
 
 ® When the news of these oppressive measures reached 
 America, the people were exceedingl}^ indignant. Boston 
 was clearly doomed to destruction. The inhabitants of 
 Salem patriotically refused the privilege of having the custom 
 
editor's notes. "^S 
 
 honse and courts of justice there ; and those of Marblehead 
 fifteen miles distant, offered the free use of their harbor and 
 wharves to the merchants of Boston. The padlock came. 
 On the first of June, 17Y4, the Boston Port Bill went mto 
 operation, and all business was suspended in the doomed 
 city. Jack's gate was locked. 
 
 « The inhabitants of Boston were in a very unhappy condi- 
 tion Martial law prevailed. General Gage, then the royal 
 ruler there resolved to stop all intercourse between the city 
 and countrV; and fearing the indignation of the people he 
 commenced fortifying the neck of land which connects Bos- 
 ton with the main. There was a complete embargo, and dis- 
 tress prevailed in the city. 
 
 ^" For tiie avowed purpose of enforcing the oppressive 
 laws General Gage, the commander-in-chief of the British 
 army in America, was appointed Governor of Massachusetts ; 
 and at the time specified for the Port Bill to go into opera- 
 tion, he had quite a great nmnber of troops m Boston. 
 
 " Gao-e went to Boston attended only by his staff. A 
 laro-e concourse of people received him with respect, for they 
 were unwilling to prejudge him ; and, moreover, he was the 
 representative of the King, toward whom, in the midst ot all 
 their excitement, the colonists felt and expressed the warmest 
 loyalty Few, at that time, entertained an idea of political 
 independence of Great Britain. The magistrates and others 
 entertained the General at a public dinner, and that night an 
 effio-y of the obnoxious Governor Hutchinson was burned m 
 front of John Hancock's mansion. But Gage was commis- 
 sioned to execute harsh measures, and he at once informed 
 the people that he should carry out the commands of Parlia- 
 7 
 
74 editor's notes. 
 
 merit to the fullest extent. He soon became an odious tyrant 
 in the eyes of the inhabitants, for he turned from them with 
 contempt and threatened them with punishment for insolence. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ' The people of Boston suffered terribly, yet they were 
 firm. They received encouragement, sympathy, and substan- 
 tial aid, from all quarters. The Colonial Assemblies exhorted 
 them to perseverance, and the people, in primary assem- 
 blages, conjured them not to falter in their opposition to the 
 monstrous assumptions of Parliament. 
 
 ^ Grain, provisions, money, and clothing, were sent to the 
 people of Boston, from every province ; and the city of Lon- 
 don, in its corporate capacity, subscribed one hundred and 
 fifty thousand dollars in aid of the suffering inhabitants of 
 the doomed town. 
 
 ^ This is the title of Special Edicts issued by the Pope of 
 Rome. They are written on parchment, and have a great 
 seal attached, made of wax, lead, silver, or gold. The name 
 is derived from the seal, hiilla. On one side are the heads 
 of Peter and Paul, and on the other the name of the reigning 
 Pope, and the year of his pontificate. The seal of the cele- 
 brated Golden Bull of the Emperor Charles the Fourth was 
 made of gold. That Bull became the fundamental law of the 
 German Empire, at the Diet of Nuremberg, a. d. 1500. 
 
 * The patriot leaders were not dismayed. On the day after 
 the arrival of Gage, a large meeting was held in Faneuil Hall, 
 
editor's notes. 75 
 
 over wliich Samuel Adams presided. From it went forth, to 
 all the colonics, a proposition to relinquish all intercourse 
 with Great Britain until the Port Bill should be repealed. 
 And when Gage had transferred the government offices to 
 Salem, and called a meeting of the General Court, or Legis- 
 lature, there, the opposition leaders held various meetings to 
 consult upon a course of action. When the General Court 
 opened, the various measures they had matured were boldly 
 laid before that body. On being informed of these proceed- 
 ings, Gage sent his Secretary to dissolve the Assembly, but 
 he found the door locked, and the key was in Samuel Adams's 
 pocket. The patriots then signed a non-importation league, 
 and appointed a committee to send a copy to all the Colonial 
 Assemblies, with a recommendation to adopt it. Gage was 
 irritated by their boldness, and issued a strong proclamation, 
 denouncing the proceedings of the Assembly as seditious, 
 and ordering the magistrates to apprehend and bring to trial 
 all who should sign it. Pie also forbade all secret meetings, 
 or public assemblies. This proclamation was posted every- 
 where, but the people laughed at it, defied the pliant magis- 
 trates, and signed the league by thousands. The press, on 
 the side of freedom, was equally bold, and Gage was bur- 
 lesqued. As a specimen of the manner in which the patriots 
 bearded the lion, the following extract from a published 
 poetical paraphrase of one of Gage's proclamations, is given : 
 
 'Tom Gage's Proclamation, 
 Or blnstering Demonstration, 
 (Eeplete with Defauiation) 
 Threatening Devastation 
 And speedy Jiigulation 
 Of tiie New Englisli Niition, 
 Who shall his pious ways shun. 
 
70 editor's notes. 
 
 Til us graciously the war I wage, 
 As wituesseth my hand,— 
 
 TOM GAGE. 
 " By command of Mother Carey, 
 
 Thomas Fluckkk, Secretary." 
 
 It may interest the reader to know that General Henry 
 Knox, the commander of the artillery during the Revolution, 
 married Lucy, daughter of Thomas Flucker. 
 
 ^ " The rest is wanting." Here, upon the threshold of the 
 that great Revolution which resulted in the independence of 
 thirteen British colonies in America, the writer closed his 
 allegory. The Pretty Stoky ended just as the Gkeat Drama 
 commenced. The author had then seen only the gradual 
 uplifting of the curtain ; and he little suspected that he 
 should become one of the chief actors in the momentous 
 scenes of that drama. It closed brilliantly. A great nation 
 was born; and to-day the Wife (Congress) of the Son is 
 as potent as the Wife (Parliament) of the old Nobleman. 
 They are generally good friends, because it is their interest 
 to be so, and it is to be hoped that their friendship will 
 exist fbrever. They are eminently worthy of each other's 
 love. They should forget the strifes of the past, and wisely 
 and nobly cherish and cultivate a fraternal feeling. Esto 
 perpctua ! 
 
 THE END. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 011 782 213 8 
 
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