[39] “A few hours would have placed the tea under the protection of the admiral at the castle.”—_Idem_, 487. [40] See note 1 under this Ballad. [41] “A quarter before six Rotch appeared ... relating that the governor had refused him a pass.... Samuel Adams rose and gave the word: ‘This meeting can do nothing more to save the country.’ On the instant, a shout was heard at the porch.... A body of men ... disguised as Indians, ... encouraged by ... others, repaired to Griffin’s wharf, posted guards to prevent the intrusion of spies, ... and in about three hours, three hundred and forty chests of tea, being the whole quantity ... were emptied into the bay without ... injury to other property.”—_Idem_, pp. 486, 487. [42] “The people around ... were ... still.... After the work was done, the town became as still and calm as if it had been holy time.”—_Idem._ [43] “The next morning the Committee of Correspondence ... sent Paul Revere, as express with the information to New York and Philadelphia.”—_Idem._ [44] “The ministry had chosen the most effectual measures to unite the colonies.... Old jealousies were removed, and perfect harmony subsisted between all.”—_Idem_, p. 488. THE CROWN’S FIGHT AGAINST THE TOWN’S RIGHT. LEXINGTON, APRIL 19, 1775. “A galloping horse is coming[1] Across the field!—do you mark?”— We woke and flew to the window, We peer’d away in the dark. The cloud-black night was bringing The stir of a storm to fear. What flash’d and clash’d!—who brought it?— “I, I!” cried Paul Revere.[1] “The British are off for Concord[1] To seize the colony’s arms! And Dawes[1] and I stole over The river and over the farms.” “Wait, wait,” we cried, “a moment; You trust our lead awhile! A cross-cut here to the highway Will save you more than a mile!” “Come quick!” said Paul. “Their plan is To bear the arms away, And store them safe in Boston Before the break of day.” “Yet wait you, Paul, and, waiting, Tell how does Boston fare?” “Alas,” he sigh’d, “no telling How many will breakfast there. “You know that, since the Port-Bill[2] Laid up our merchant-fleet, We had starved, unless the farmers[3] Had sent us food to eat. “To stop this, chains of pickets Are strung on Boston Neck; Our bay is black with frigates, And all our trade they check. “And thus they vow to treat us, Till, humbled by their might, We hold no courts nor meetings,[4] And yield each charter’d right. “Ay, ay, and let our leaders, For serving us too well, Be borne in chains to Britain,[5] To fill some dungeon-cell. “The men who call’d our Congress[6] They swear to seize to-day.— High time to rouse the country! High time to save the prey!”