chusetts colonists, headed by Samuel Adams, demanded that the tea-laden vessels in the port of Boston return to England. The demand not being complied with, a party of men, about fifty in number, disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians, took forcible possession of the vessels one night, and, tearing open the hatches, emptied the contents of three hundred and forty-two chests into the sea.

This act of the BOSTON TEA PARTY, as it was called, was liberally applauded throughout America. In England it was looked upon as riot and lawlessness, and awakened much anger. The Prime Minister, now LORD NORTH, determined to humble the Massachusetts colony, and show its people how all-powerful a government can be. The BOSTON PORT BILL (1774),

Committees of Correspondence. The necessity of concerted action on the part of the colonies was for some time realized. The first step to this end was taken when young DABNEY CARR, a member of the Virginia Assembly, proposed in that body the organization of a committee to correspond with like committees of other colonies upon matters pertaining to the general welfare (March, 1773). The measure was supported by Patrick Henry and RICHARD HENRY LEE, and speedily met with favor in the other colonies. A system of inter-colonial committees of correspondence was therefore instituted, and the colonies were brought into close communication with each other. Thenceforth they were to act with unanimity. Massachusetts had already a similar plan in operation among her cities and towns.

closing up the port of Boston; the REGULATING ACT, annulling the charter of Massachusetts and destroying its free government; and acts providing for the quartering of soldiers in Boston, and prohibiting the trial in Massachusetts of any revenue officer, soldier or magistrate, for murder, were passed (1774). Thus was it that the northern colony was singled out to bear the brunt of English anger.

But sympathy for suffering Boston poured in from all sides. Marblehead offered her wharves free of charge to the Boston merchants. Provisions and supplies in great abundance were sent overland from all colonies, even so remote a colony as South

Carolina making contribu-
tions. Warm words of en-
couragement went up from.
Virginia. Washington offered
to equip, at his own expense,
one thousand men and march
to the relief of Boston if neces-
sary.
"An attack upon
Massachusetts," said Henry,
"is an attack upon Virginia.
A day was set apart for fasting
and prayer, to invoke the Al-
mighty to avert the impending
calamity to civil liberty.

QUESTIONS.

What do you know of the character

The First Continental Congress.

An impulse was felt to come together for solemn consultation. Virginia directed her Committee of Correspondence to propose a general Congress of the colonies (May 27, 1774). This FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS assembled at Philadelphia, in Carpenter's Hall (September 5, 1774). It was composed of the most eminent men the colonies produced, and, in average of ability and intelligence, had never yet been equaled by any representative gather ing of which anything is known. PEYTON RANDOLPH of Virginia was chosen president. The deliberations of this body resulted in an agreement to have no intercourse with England until all offensive acts were repealed; in the issuance of addresses to the king, to the British people, and to the colonies, setting forth formally colonial grievances; and in the recommendation that another congress assemble in May following.

of George III? To whom was the pending contest important besides to Americans? What steps marked the progress of events to a crisis? What do you know of the battle of Alamance? How did the colonists meet the removal of all duties except that on tea? What shrewd plan was devised? Why? To what ports was tea shipped? What do you know of the Boston Tea Party? How was it regarded in America? In England? What acts were passed to humble Massachusetts? What do you know of the organization of committees of correspondence? What effect had these committees upon the colonies? How did the other colonies show sympathy for Massachusetts? What do you know of the First Continental Congress?

PREPARATORY NOTES.

TO CHAPTERS IV AND V.

Geography.-Upon a map of Massachusetts note the position of: Boston. Concord. Lexington. What direction from Boston is Lexington? What States border Massachusetts? Where are the Green Mountains? What direction from Boston is Ticonderoga, N. Y.? Note the nearness of Cambridge to Boston. Note upon a map of Maine the Kennebec River. Chaudiere. Where is Halifax? Note upon a map of South Carolina the position of Charleston. How would a vessel sail from Boston to Charleston ?

Definition of Words.-Ensue, memorable, munitions, apprised, collision, disperse, concentrate, preside, assume, jurisdiction, unanimous, unerring, undisciplined, efficiency, allegiance, intercept, abet, inalienable, absolve, immunities, virtual, pronounced, concur, spurn, redress, precipitate, sovereignty, drafted, abolish.

PARALLEL READINGS.

REFERENCE.-Irving's "Life of Washington," Winsor's “Hand book of the Revolution," Lossing's "Field Book of the Revolution," Ramsey's "History of the American Revolu tion," Jefferson's “Declaration of Independence,” Wilcox's “ Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence" (Magazine of American History, January, 1889).

GENERAL.-Cooper's “Lionel Lincoln" (fiction), Longfellow's "Paul Revere" (poem), Coffin's "Boys of '76," Holmes' "Lexington" (poem), “Echoes of Bunker Hill" (Harper's Magazine, July, 1875), Hale's "Life of Washington," Cutter's "Life of Israel Putnam," Lawrence's "America in 1776" (Harper's First Century of the Republic), Lanier's "Battle of Lexington" (poem).

TOPICAL.-"Minute Men," "Paul Revere," "General Gage," "Lexington, Battle of,” "Boston, Siege of," "Israel Putnam," "Ethan Allen," ""Bunker Hill, Battle of," "Richard Montgomery," Boston, Evacuation of," Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence," "John Rutledge," "Virginia Bill of Rights," "Richard Henry Lee," "Thomas Jefferson," "Declaration of Independence."

CHAPTER IV.

Armed Resistance.

The people of Massachusetts resisted by force the operation of the Regulating Act. It was clearly foreseen that an armed conflict was about to ensue. Preparations went rapidly forward. Henry's memorable utterance, "Liberty or Death," became the watchword. Men armed and organized themselves in bodies, and took oath to be ready at a minute's warning. Stores and munitions of war were collected at various points. Apprised of these preparations, GENERAL GAGE, the military governor of Massachusetts, hastened to fortify the peninsula-neck of Boston.

A collision with the English troops soon took place. Determined to destroy some stores that were collected at Concord, near Boston, General Gage dispatched an expedition. The road to Concord lay through the little town of Lexington. At five o'clock in the morning the British forces

entered this town and found opposed to them a company of

Paul Revere.

Gage endeavored to keep his Concord expedition a secret from the colonists, but the movements of the British were closely watched. The expedition set out in the night, but signal lights, hung in the tower of Christ Church, warned of their departure, and PAUL REVERE, waiting upon the other side, with his horse all bridled and saddled, set out immediately upon beholding the lights and gave timely warning of British approach.

one hundred and thirty "minute men" under CAPTAIN PARKER. They were ordered to diperse by MAJOR PITCAIRN of the British, and, not complying, fire was opened that compelled them to retreat (April 19, 1775). Seven of the minute men were killed.

The British went on to Concord, but much of the stores had been removed or successfully concealed, and little of the purpose of the expedition was accomplished. Meanwhile the country was aroused, and men from surrounding towns poured in with astonishing rapidity. The British, while searching the town, were attacked and compelled to retreat. The march back was one long struggle. The Americans, posting themselves along the road, poured volley after volley into the passing British. Thoroughly exhausted, and barely escaping capture, the expedition finally reached Boston after losing two hundred and seventy-three men.

Now, indeed, was the country aroused. Men from all the New England colonies concentrated rapidly about Boston. JOHN STARK came from New Hampshire, NATHANIEL