Activity of Committees of Correspondence, 212 Publishment of the Hutchinson letters, 213 Franklin removed from his position as superintendent of American post-offices, 214 1774. General Gage entered Boston as Governor, 215 Sympathy of Rhode Island for Boston; East Greenwich the first to open a subscription, 215 Hopkins and Ward elected delegates to Congress, 216 1774. Congress met in Philadelphia; adopted a declaration of rights; recommended the formation of an American Association, 217 Distribution of arms, 218 Exportation of sheep stopped; manufacture of fire-arms begun, 219 Tea burnt at Providence, 219 Troops started for Boston, 219 Army of Observation formed with Nathanael Greene, commander, 220 Rhode Island troops on Jamaica Plains, 221 Articles of war passed, 221 Capture of a British vessel by Captain Abraham Whipple, 221 Rhode Island Navy founded, 222 William Goddard's postal system went into operation, 222 Colony put upon a war footing, 223 Bristol bombarded and the coast of Rhode Island plundered, 224 Part of the debt of Rhode Island assumed by Congress as a war debt, 225 Rhode Island in the expedition against Quebec, 226 Depredation of the British squadron, 226 Battle on Prudence Island, 227 Evacuation of Boston, 228 Death of Samuel Ward, 228 The Assembly of Rhode Island renounced their allegiance to the British Crown, 228 CHAPTER XXV. RHODE ISLAND BLOCKADED.--DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE INDORSED BY THE ASSEMBLY.-- NEW TROOPS RAISED.--FRENCH ALLIANCE.--UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE BRITISH FROM RHODE ISLAND. Islands and waters of Rhode Island taken possession of by the British, 229 Quota of Rhode Island, 230 Inoculation introduced, 231 Treatment of Tories, 231 Declaration of Independence indorsed by the Assembly, 232