move the troops from Boston, as necessarily preparative to the restoration of peace."

"I wish not, my Lords," said he, "to lose a day in this urgent, pressing crisis. One hour now lost in allaying the ferment in America, may produce years of calamity. I contend not for indulgence, but justice, to America. I shall ever contend, that the Americans justly owe obedience to the legislature of Great Britain in a limited degree. They owe us obedience to our ordinary trade and navigation; but let the line be skilfully drawn between the subjects of these ordinances, and their private internal property.* Let the sacredness of their property remain inviolate. Let it be taxable only by their own consent, given in their provincial assemblies. Else it will cease to be property.

"The victory can never be obtained by exertions. Our force would be most disproportionably exerted against a brave, generous, and united people, with arms in their hands, and courage in their hearts. Three millions of people, the genuine descendants of a valiant and pious ancestry, driven to those deserts by the narrow maxims of superstitious tyranny, cannot be conquered. And is the spirit of tyrannous persecution never to be repealed? Are the brave sons of those brave forefathers to inherit their sufferings, as they have inherited their virtues ?

"The Bostonians have been condemned unheard, [alluding to the Boston Port Bill, as a punishment for destroying the East India Company's teas.] The indiscriminating hand of vengeance has lumped together innocent and guilty, with all the formalities of hostilities,

* Internal taxes were the bone of contention. - Franklin.

and reduced to beggary and indigence thirty thousand inhabitants.

"The glorious spirit of whiggism animates three millions in America, who prefer poverty with liberty, to gilded chains and sordid affluence, and who will die in defence of their rights, as men, as freemen. Every motive of justice and of policy, of dignity and of freedom, urges you to allay the ferment in America, by a removal of your troops from Boston, by a repeal of your acts of Parliament, and by demonstrations of an amiable disposition towards your Colonies. On the other hand, every danger and every hazard impend, to deter you from perseverance in your present ruinous measures. Foreign war hanging over your head by a single thread; France and Spain watching your conduct, and waiting for the maturity of your errors, with a vigilant eye to America, and the temper of our colonists," &c.

In this manner spake this great, this honest statesman, but his voice was not attended to; and they persevered in what his lordship calls, with great propriety, their ruinous measures.

Hostilities were commenced, (April 19,) by a detachment of the British troops, ordered from Boston by Governor-General Gage; and, having advanced to Lexington, about twelve miles from the capital, on seeing a company of militia parading there, they fired on them while dispersing, killed eight of them, and wounded many others. They then proceeded to Concord, to destroy some provincial military stores; but being opposed by the country militia, they returned to Boston with much difficulty, and not without the loss of two hundred and seventy-three killed, wounded, and missing. At this time the American war commenced, and the country mili

tia invested Boston, where the British troops were quartered.

The Bostonians delivered up their fire-arms, by agreement with the Governor, as a condition of their removing into the country. The Governor failed in some part of the agreement, to their injury.* Boston now became the King's garrison.

News of the battle at Lexington was brought to Rowley the same day; and Captain Thomas Mighill, with his company of minute men, immediately left for Boston, and marched as far as Newell's tavern in Lynn, where they halted a short time for refreshment and rest, and, after another rapid march, arrived in Cambridge early in the forenoon of the 20th; and after remaining five days they returned home. Captain Edward Payson, with his company of militia, arrived in Cambridge the same day, and after remaining three days returned home.

Massachusetts Provincial Congress renounced (May 5) General Gage as their Governor, and disclaimed paying obedience to his acts or proclamations. His jurisdiction was now confined within the walls of the capital.

The town of Rowley order their selectmen, (May 8,) to provide a blanket for each soldier who may enlist into the service of the Province.

They also appointed Colonel Daniel Spofford, Dr. Nathaniel Cogswell, Samuel Harriman, and Samuel Northend, a committee of correspondence.

And they further voted, That they would not comply with the request of General Gage, in electing a person to represent the town in the Great and General Court, to be holden at Boston.

* See declaration made by Provincial Congress, July 6, 1775.

May 29. The town made choice of Nathaniel Mighill, Esq., to represent this town in the Provincial Congress, to be holden at the meeting-house in Watertown, the 31st instant.

They also voted, That the town will comply with the several resolves of the Provincial Congress, which have been laid before them and duly considered; and that the committee of correspondence appointed by the town on 8th instant, be authorized to see that said resolves are duly regarded and executed.

Nathaniel Mighill, Esq., was chosen (July 11) by the town, to represent them in the Great and General Court to be holden at Watertown, the 19th instant.

1776, March 19. The town appointed Colonel Daniel Spofford, Captain Joseph Scott, Captain Richard Thurston, Nathaniel Tenney, Captain William Stickney, Jonathan Harriman, Deacon Moses Chaplin, Doctor Nathaniel Cogswell, and Ephraim Pickard, a committee of safety.

John Jewett, Timothy Jackman, Jeremiah Searle, Samuel Pickard, and Isaac Smith, were chosen and sworn, (April 17,) to number the inhabitants of the town, agreeably to an order of Court.

The town voted, (May 22,) That if the Honorable Congress shall, for the safety of the Colonies, declare them independent of Great Britain, that we, the inhabitants of the town of Rowley, do solemnly engage, that with our lives and fortunes we will support them in the

measure.

The town voted, (July 23,) to raise the sum of £400, to be paid as bounty to the men who have been, or may be, raised or enlisted in this town to serve in the present unhappy war. And Thomas Lancaster, town treasurer,

was ordered to hire said sum, and to pay over the same to the officers in this town employed in raising men for said war, to be by them paid out to the men raised, under the direction of Nathaniel Mighill, Solomon Nelson, Jr., Moses Chaplin, Timothy Jackman, Jeremiah Jewett, Jeremiah Searle, and Stephen Jewett, a committee for the purpose. And the said committee were directed to determine what term of service in the war shall constitute a soldier's turn, and how much money the town shall pay, in addition to the encouragement given by the General Court of this Colony, to each soldier who serves his term in the war.

September 10. One fifth part of the militia of the State were ordered to march immediately to New York; one fourth part of the residue to be equipped, and ready to march at a moment's warning.

At a town meeting held October 4, it was voted, That this town do give their consent, that the present House of Representatives of this State of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, together with the Council, if they consent in one body with the House, and by equal voice, should consult, agree on, and enact such a constitution and form of government for this State, as the said House of Representatives and Council, (as aforesaid,) on the fullest and most mature deliberation, shall judge will most conduce to the safety, peace, and happiness of the State, in all after successions and generations.

Voted, That the said constitution or form of government be made public, for the inspection and perusal of the inhabitants of the State, before the ratification thereof by the Assembly.

Voted, That a certified copy of the foregoing votes be transmitted to the Secretary of this State.