The Bay State Monthly — Volume 1, No. 4, April, 1884Various
History
The Bay State Monthly — Volume 1, No. 4, April, 1884
Various
Massachusetts -- Periodicals; New England -- Periodicals
Rotch was directed to protest in form, and then apply to the Governor
for a Pass by the Castle; Mr. Rotch executed his commission with
fidelity, but a pass could not be obtained, his Excellency excusing
himself in his refusal that he should not make the precedent of granting
a pass till a clearance was obtained, which was indeed a fallacy, as it
had been usual with him in ordinary cases,--Mr. Rotch returning in the
evening reported as above; the Body then voted his conduct to be
satisfactory, and recommending order and regularity to the People,
dissolved. Previous to the dissolution, a number of Persons, supposed to
be the Aboriginal Natives from their complection, approaching near the
door of the assembly, gave the War Whoop, which was answered by a few in
the galleries of the house where the assembly was convened; silence was
commanded, and prudent and peaceable deportment again enjoined. The
Savages repaired to the ships which entertained the pestilential Teas,
and had began their ravage previous to the dissolution of the
meeting--they apply themselves to the destruction of the commodity in
earnest, and in the space of about two hours broke up 342 chests and
discharged their contents into the sea. A watch, as I am informed, was
stationed to prevent embezzlement and not a single ounce of Teas was
suffered to be purloined by the populace. One or two persons being
detected in endeavouring to pocket a small quantity were stripped of
their acquisitions and very roughly handled. It is worthy remark that,
although a considerable quantity of goods of different kinds were still
remaining on board the vessels, no injury was sustained; such attention
to private property was observed that a small padlock belonging to the
Captain of one of the ships being broke another was procured and sent to
him. I cannot but express my admiration of the conduct of this People.
Uninfluenced by party or any other attachment, I presume I shall not be
suspected of misrepresentation. The East India Company must console
themselves with this reflection, that if they have suffered, the
prejudice they sustaine does not arise from enmity to them. A fatal
necessity has rendered this catstrophe inevitable--the landing the tea
would have been fatal, as it would have saddled the colonies with a duty
imposed without their consent, and which no power on earth can effect.
Their strength and numbers, spirit and illumination, render the
experiment dangerous, the defeat certain: The Consignees must attribute
to themselves the loss of the property of the East India Company: had
they seasonably quieted the minds of the people by a resignation, all
had been well; the customhouse, and the man who disgraces Majesty by
representing him, acting in confederacy with the inveterate enemies of
America, stupidly opposed every measure concerted to return the
Teas.--That Americans may defeat every attempt to enslave them, is the
warmest wish of my heart. I shall return home doubly fortified in my
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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