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Tea Leaves: Being a Collection of Letters and Documents relating to; the shipment of Tea to the American Colonies in the year; 1773, by the East India Tea Company. (With an introduction,; notes, and biographical notices of the Boston Tea Party) — John Shaqi

History

Tea Leaves: Being a Collection of Letters and Documents relating to; the shipment of Tea to the American Colonies in the year; 1773, by the East India Tea Company. (With an introduction,; notes, and biographical notices of the Boston Tea Party)

Name: Tea Leaves: Being a Collection of Letters and Documents relating to; the shipment of Tea to the American Colonies in the year; 1773, by the East India Tea Company. (With an introduction,; notes, and biographical notices of the Boston Tea Party)
Author: Drake, Francis S. (Francis Samuel)

Drake, Francis S. (Francis Samuel)

Boston Tea Party, 1773; Tea tax (American colonies)

"It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors within
    these walls that must stand us in stead. The exertions of
    this day will call forth the events which will make a very
    different spirit necessary for our salvation. Whoever
    supposes that shouts and hosannas will terminate the trials
    of the day, entertains a childish fancy. We must be grossly
    ignorant of the importance and value of the prize for which
    we contend; we must be equally ignorant of the power of
    those who have combined against us; we must be blind to that
    malice, inveteracy and insatiable revenge which actuates our
    enemies, public and private, abroad and in our bosom, to
    hope that we shall end this controversy without the
    sharpest, the sharpest conflicts; to flatter ourselves that
    popular resolves, popular harangues, popular acclamations,
    and popular vapor will vanquish our foes. Let us consider
    the issue. Let us look to the end. Let us weigh and
    consider before we advance to those measures which must
    bring on the most trying and terrific struggle this country
    ever saw."

But the time for weighing and considering the business in hand had
passed. Time pressed and decisive action alone remained. "Now that the
hand is at the plough," it was said, "there must be no looking back."

At half-past four it was unanimously voted that the tea should not be
landed. An effort was now made to dissolve the meeting, but it was
continued at the request of some of those present from the country, who
wished to hear the result of Rotch's application to the governor.

It was an unusual time of the year to be at a country seat, but Governor
Hutchinson was found at his Milton residence by Rotch, who renewed his
request for a pass. Questioned by the governor as to the intentions of
the people, Rotch replied that they only intended to force the tea back
to England, but that there might be some who desired that the vessel
might go down the harbor and be brought to by a shot from the castle,
that it might be said that the people had done everything in their power
to send the tea back. "Catching at this straw, with the instinct of a
drowning man," Hutchinson offered Rotch a letter to Admiral Montagu,
commending ship and goods to his protection, if Rotch would agree to
have his ship haul out into the stream, but he replied that none were
willing to assist him in doing this, and that the attempt would subject
him to the ill will of the people. Hutchinson then sternly repeated his
refusal of a pass,[18] as it would have been "a direct countenancing and
encouraging the violation of the acts of trade." Thus closed the last
opportunity for concession.

[Illustration: Signature, John Rowe

"Who knows how tea will mingle with salt water?"--JOHN ROWE. _Old South
Church, Boston, Dec. 16, 1773._]

Tea Leaves: Being a Collection of Letters and Documents relating to; the shipment of Tea to the American Colonies in the year; 1773, by the East India Tea Company. (With an introduction,; notes, and biographical notices of the Boston Tea Party)

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