diately manned and armed, and made towards the wharf; several gentlemen prefent advifed the officers not to move her, as there would be no attempt allowed by the owner to refcue her out of their hands; but notwithstanding this declaration, her faft was cut away, and the car.ied under the guns of the Romney. This conduct provoked the people who had collected on the fhore, and in the difpute the colle&tor, the comptroller of his majefty's customs, and the collector's fon, were roughly used, and pelted with ftones, none of them much hurt: the noife brought together a mixed multitude, who followed up to the comptroller's houfe, and broke a few squares of glass, but withdrew by the advice of fome prudent gentlemen that interpofed; they were joined by a number of failors, and vagrant perfons who were fufpicious of an intention to put them on board the fhip: these went in fearch for one of the man of war's boats, in their way met with the infpector of exports and imports, him they attacked, broke his fword, and tore his cloaths, but, by fome affiftance he, with difficulty, efcaped to a house in King-ftreet: no boat being on shore, about ten o'clock they went to one of the docks, and dragged out a large pleasure-boat belonging to the collector; this they drew along the treet with loud huzzaing all the way, into the common, where they fet fire to it, and burnt it to aihes; they also broke feveral windows of the houses of the collector and infpector-general, which were nigh the common: no other outrage was committed that night. There were fome occurrences refpecting the officers of the Romney, preceding this affair, which raised the refentment of the populace. On the Sunday evening before, a prefs-gang went on board a vefel just arrived from Glasgow, and which came to an anchor off the long wharf; the impreft men took an opportunity, while the man of war's men were furling the fails for them, and got into the fhip's boat and rowed afhore; it being after fun-fet, feveral people had affembled on the wharf in the cool of the day, who made way for the men to run up; the prefs-gang, as foon as they could get to their boat, purfued them, crying out, Stop deferters; but no heed being given thereto, an officer on the wharf refented it, which raised a clamour, and prevented the gang from landing. A few days after, a young man who had ferved an apprenticeship in this town, was impreffed out of an inward-bound fhip; application was made to the captain (who, it is faid, promifed not to detain any inhabitant of these provinces) and he engaged to deliver him up if an able-bodied man was brought in his room; fuch an one was procured for three or four guineas, but, upon his being carried on board the Romney, was refused, as the officers of the hip had been infulted in the above affair; many things were faid to the perfon who went to get the young man releafed, reflecting on the town, and not without fome threats. The day following a man was taken out of an eaftern veffel by an armed fchooner that was bound to Halifax thefe tranfactions, with a prospect of the trade and business of this and the other towns being in a manner ruined, raifed such a spirit of refentment in the people, that the board of commiffioners, (thofe of them who arrived last November from England) and their other officers, together with the collector and comptroller for this port, as allo the officers of the Romney, thought it molt prudent to repair on board the fhip. : On Monday the people in town were in great agitation; but left any tumult might arife at night, the confequences whereof would be very prejudicial, a notification was pofted up in divers parts of the town, requesting the fons of liherty to meet at Liberty Hall on Tuesday the 14th, at ten o'clock in the forenoon; the expectation of this meeting kept kept the town in peace: early on Tuesday morning the colours were flying on Liberty-Tree; and, at the hour appointed, vaft numbers of the inhabitants appeared at and near the hall; but the weather being wet and uncomfortable in the street, they adjourned to Faneuil Hall; where it was propofed to have a legal meeting called; accordingly a warrant was iffued by the felect men to the conftables to warn meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town at three o'clock; and feveral gentlemen were nominated to prepare a draft of fome matters proper to lay before them. At three o'clock the inhabitants met, but fo great was the concourfe, that they were obliged to adjourn from Faneuil Hall to the old South Meeting-house. It has been reported that the floop was feized, because no permit for lading was taken out at the Custom-house, before the oil was put on board; others report, that it was for breach of the acts of trade in her laft voyage, which was from Madeira; but which of the reports is right, we are not able to inform the public. The following advertisements appeared in the Bofton Gazette. Bofton, June 20. We are authorized to inform the public, That Capt. CORNER, commander of his majefty's fhip Romney, in cafe he fhould want any more men, will not take any belonging to, or married in the province, nor any employed in the trade along fhore, or to the neighbouring colonies. And we are further authorized to affure the public, That the man preffed from Mr. Waterman, is difmiffed. At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Boston, on Tuesday the 14th inftant; prefent a larger number than ever was known on any occafion. After very cool and deliberate debates upon the diftreffed circumstances of the town, and the prefent critical fituation of their affairs, it was unanimously voted, That a committee fhould wait on the governor of the province, with the following petition, viz. Province of the Majachufett's Bay. To his Excellency Francis Bernard, Efq; governor and commander in That your petitioners confider the British conflitution as the basis of their fafety and happiness. By that, is eftablished, no man shall be governed by laws, nor taxed but by himself, or reprefentative, legally and fairly chofen, and to which he does not give his own confent. In open violation of thefe fundamental rights of Britons, laws and taxes are impofed on us, to which we not only have not given our confent, but agaiaft which we most firmly have remonftrated. Dutiful petitions have been preferred to our moji gracious Sovereign, which (though to the great confternation of the people, we now learn bave been cruelly and infidiously prevented reaching the royal prefence) we have waited to receive a gracious anfwer to, with the greatest attention to the public peace, until we find ourselves invaded with an armed force, seizing, impressing, and imprisoning the persons of our fellow-fubjects, contrary to express acts of parliament. Menaces have been thrown out, fit only for barbarians, which already affect us in the most fenfible manner, and threaten us with famine and defolation, as all navigation is obstructed, upon which alone our whole fupport depends; and the town is at this crifis in a fituation nearly fuch, as if war was formally declared against it. To contend with our parent ftate, is in our idea the most shocking and dreadful extremity; but tamely to relinquish the only fecurity we and our pofterity pofterity retain of the enjoyment of our lives, and properties, without one fruggle, is fo bumiliating and bafe, that we cannot jupport the reflection. We apprehend, Sir, that it is at your option, in your power, and we would hope in your inclination, to prevent this diftreifed, and juffly incenfed people, from effecting too much, and from the shame and reproach of attempting too little. As the board of cuftoms have thought fit, of their own motion, to relinquifh the exercife of their commiffion here, and as we cannot but hope, that, being convinced of the impropriety and injuftice, of the appointment of a board, with fuch enormous powers, and the inevitable dejtruction which would enfue from the exercise of their office, will never reaffume it. We flatter ourselves, your Excellency will, in tenderness to this people, ufe the best means in your power to remove the other grievance we jo justly complain of, and iffue your immediate order to the commander of his majefly's fhip Romney, to remove from this harbour, till we shall be ascertained of the fuccefs of our applications. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, &c. At the fame time the town directed their committee to prepare a letter to Dennis.de Berdt, Efq; in London, fetting forth the conduct of the commiffioners and officers of the customs, and the officers of his majefty's fhip Romney, relating to a feizure made the preceding Friday, as well as the behaviour of fome of the inhabitants the evening following, in an impartial manner, fnpported by affidavits, to prevent the ill impreffions that may be made by a mifrepresentation; and then adjourned to the next day. At the adjournment on Wednesday the 15th, the committee appointed to prefent the town's petition to the governor, reported from his Excel. lency the following anfwer, viz. Gentlemen, MY Fice and fiation make me a very incompetent judge of the rights you claim against acts of parliament; and therefore it would be to no purpose for me to exprefs my opinion thereupon: All I can say is, that I shall not knowingly infringe any of your rights and privileges, but shall religiously maintain all those which are committed to me as a fervant of the king. In regard to the impreffing men for the fervice of the king in his ships of war, it is practifed in Great Britain, and all other his majesty's dominions, and therefore I cannot difpute it in this part of them. But I fhall ufe my utmost endeavours to get it regulated fo, as to avoid all the inconveniences to this town which you are apprehensive of; and, from the knowledge I have of Capt. Corner, I bave no doubt of my fucceeding therein. I cannot pretend to enter into a dispute between you and your parent fta e; I defire to be a faithful fervant in regard to both; and I shall think myself most highly bo noured, if I can be in the lowest degree an inftrument in preferving a perfect conciliation between them. I can affure you, that if it was as much in my power as it is in my will, it would always be preferved. I am obliged by all kinds of duty, by my general inftructions, and by his majefty's Special orders, to protect, aid and affift the commissioners of the cuftoms (appointed under the great feal of Great Britain, in pursuance of acts of parliament) and their offi cers in their perfons and offices. And whether they shall or shall not relinquish the exercife of their commiffion, I must not fail to give them all the protection and assistance in my pocver. If in fo doing I shall give offence, I shall be forry for it. But I shall never regret the doing my duty. I have no command over his majesty's foips, and therefore cannot ifjue fuch orders as you defire, nor indeed any order to the commander of bis majesty's fhip Romney. And it would be highly improper for me to make a requifition to him to remove from the barbour, when I know he is ftationed here by a fuperior officer, and cannot remove hence but by his order. FEANCIS BARNARD. The The committee at the fame time reported the draft of a letter to Mr. de Berdt, which was read and unanimously accepted; and the committee were directed to forward the fame, together with such affidavits as they fhould obtain, by the first veffel. At this adjournment the town appointed another committee to prepare inftructions for their reprefentatives, at this alarming crifis; and further adjourned to Friday the 17th, at three o'clock. of On Friday the town met by adjournment, and received the report their committee, and unanimously voted the following inftructions to their representatives, viz. To the Hon. James Otis, and Thomas Cufhing, Efqrs; Mr. Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, Efq; Gentlemen, A FTER the repeal of the late American ftamp-act, we were happy in the pleafing profpect of a restoration of that tranquillity and unanimity among ourfelves, and that harmony and affection between our parent country and us, which had generally fubfifted before that deteftable act: But with the utmoft grief and concern, we find that we flattered ourselves too foon, and that the root of bitterness is still alive.--The principle on which that act was founded continues in full force, and a revenue is ftill demanded from America. We have the mortification to obferve one act of parliament after another, paffed for the express purpose of raising a revenue from us; to see our money continually collecting from us, without our confent, by an authority in the conftitution, of which we have no fhare, and over which we have no kind of influence or controul; to fee the little circulating cash that remained among us for the fupport of our trade, from time to time tranfmitted to a diftant country, never to return, or what, in our estimation, is worse, if poffible, appropriated to the maintenance of fwarms of officers and penfioners in idleness and luxury, whofe example has a tendency to corrupt our morals, and whofe arbitrary dispositions will trample on our rights. Under all thefe misfortunes and afflictions, however, it is our fixed resolution to maintain our loyalty and duty to our moft gracious fovereign, a reverence and due fubordination to the British parliament, as the fupreme legislative in all cafes of neceflity, for the prefervation of the whole empire, and our cordial and fincere affection for our parent country; and to use our utmoft endeavour for the prefervation of the peace and order among ourfelves, waiting with anxious expectation for a favourable answer to the petitions and folicitations of this continent, for relief; at the fame time, it is our unalterable refolution, at all times, to affert and vindicate our dear and invaluable rights and liberties, at the utmoft hazard of our lives and fortunes; and we have a full and rational confidence that no defigns formed against them will ever profper. That fuch defigns have been formed, and are ftill in being, we have reafon to apprehend. A multitude of placemen and penfioners, and an enormous train of underlings and dependants, all novel in this country, we have feen already. Their imperious tempers, their rafh, inconfiderate and weak behaviour, are well known. In this fituation of affairs, feveral armed veffels, and among the reft his majesty's fhip of war the Romney, have appeared in our harbour, and the laft, as we believe, by the express application of the board of commiffioners, with defign to overawe and terrify the inhabitants of this town into base compliances, and unlimited fubmiffion, has been anchored within a cable's length of the wharfs. But But, paffing by other irregularities, we are affured, that the laft alarming a& of that ship, viz. the violent, and, in our opinion, illegal feizure of a veffel lying at a wharf, and cutting off her fafts, and removing her with an armed force in an hoftile manner. under the protection of the king's fhips, without any probable cause of seizure thet we know of, or indeed any cause that has yet been made known no libel or profecution whatever having yet been instituted against her, was, by the exprefs order, or request in writing, of the board of commiffioners to the commander of that ship.---In addition to all this, we are continually alarmed with rumours and reports of new revenue acts to be paffed, new importations of officers and penfioners to fuck the life-blood of the body politic while it is ftreaming from the veins; fresh arrival of ships of war to be a fill feverer restraint upon our trade; and the arrival of a military force to dragoon us into paffive obedience; orders and requifitions tranfmitted to New York, Halifax, and to England, for regiments and troops to preferve the public peace. Under the diftreffes arifing from this ftate of things, with the highest confidence in your integrity, abilities and fortitude, you will exert yourselves, gentlemen, on this occafion, that nothing be left undone that may conduce to our relief; and in particular we recommend it to your confideration and difcretion, in the first place, to endeavour that impreffes of all kinds may, if possible, be prevented. There is an act of parliament in being, which has never been repealed, for the encouragement of the trade to America; we mean by the 6 Ann. chap. 37. fect. 9. it is enacted, That no mariner or other person who ball ferve on board, or be retained to ferve on board any privateer, or trading fhip or vessel that fhall be employed in any part of America; nor any mariner, or other perfon, being on fhore in any part thereof, fhall be liable to be imprefed, or taken away by any officer or officers, of or belonging to any of her majefty's fhips f war, impowered by the lord bigh admiral, or any other perfon whatsoever, unless such mariner fhail have before deferted from fuch fhip of war belonging to her majesty, at any time after the 14th day of February, 1707, upon pain that any officer or officers so impreffing or taking "away, or caufing to be impreffed or taken away, any mariner or other perfon, contrary to the tenor and true meaning of this a&t, fhall forfeit to the mafter, or owner or owners of any fuch fhip or weffel, Twenty Pounds for every man he or they shall fo imprefs or take, to be recovered, with full cofts of fuit, in any part of her majesty's dominions. So that any impreffes of any mariner, from any veffel whatever, appears to be in direct violation of an act of parliament. In the next place, 'tis our defire that you enquire and use your endeavours to promote a parliamentary enquiry for the authors and propagators of fuch alarming rumours and reports as we have mentioned before, and whether the commiffioners, or any other perfons whatfoever, have really wrote or folicited for troops to be fent here from New York, Halifax, England, or elsewhere, and for what end; and that you forward, if you think it expedient, in the houfe of reprefentatives, refolutions, that every such person who shall folicit or promote the importation of troops at this time, is an enemy to this town and province, and a disturber of the peace and good order of both. Then the Meeting was diffolved. For the Narrative of fome late extraordinary Proceedings at Tortuga, fee page 87, Το |