Squash into the deep descended, Cursed weed of China's coast; Thus at once our fears were ended; British rights shall ne'er be lost. Captains! once more hoist your streamers, Spread your sails, and plough the wave; Tell your masters they were dreamers, When they thought to cheat the brave. News of the insurrection was received in England with the greatest indignation, and measures of reprisal were at once undertaken. No ships were to be allowed to enter the port of Boston until the rebellious town should have repaid the East India Company for the loss of its tea; the charter of Massachusetts was annulled and her free government destroyed; and General Gage was sent over with four regiments to take possession of the town. HOW WE BECAME A NATION [April 15, 1774] When George the King would punish folk Who dared resist his angry will-- Resist him with their hearts of oak That neither King nor Council broke-- He told Lord North to mend his quill, And sent his Parliament a Bill. The Boston Port Bill was the thing He flourished in his royal hand; A subtle lash with scorpion sting, Across the seas he made it swing, And with its cruel thong he planned To quell the disobedient land. His minions heard it sing, and bare The port of Boston felt his wrath; They let no ship cast anchor there, They summoned Hunger and Despair,-- And curses in an aftermath Followed their desolating path. No coal might enter there, nor wood, Nor Holland flax, nor silk from France; No drugs for dying pangs, no food For any mother's little brood. "Now," said the King, "we have our chance, We'll lead the haughty knaves a dance." No other flags lit up the bay, Like full-blown blossoms in the air, Than where the British war-ships lay; The wharves were idle; all the day The idle men, grown gaunt and spare, Saw trouble, pall-like, everywhere. Then in across the meadow land, From lonely farm and hunter's tent, From fertile field and fallow strand, Pouring it out with lavish hand, The neighboring burghs their bounty sent, And laughed at King and Parliament. To bring them succor, Marblehead Joyous her deep-sea fishing sought. Her trees, with ringing stroke and tread, Old many-rivered Newbury sped, And Groton in her granaries wrought, And generous flocks old Windham brought. Rice from the Carolinas came, Iron from Pennsylvania's forge, And, with a spirit all aflame, Tobacco-leaf and corn and game The Midlands sent; and in his gorge The Colonies defied King George! And Hartford hung, in black array, Her town-house, and at half-mast there The flags flowed, and the bells all day Tolled heavily; and far away In great Virginia's solemn air The House of Burgesses held prayer.