But before that petition reached England the revolution had broken out. The Boston Port bill had been passed, which enacted that no kind of merchandise should any longer be shipped or landed at the wharves of Boston. The custom house was removed to Salem, but the people of that town refused the honor conferred on them by the tyrant who ruled the destinies of England and the colonies. The inhabitants of Marblehead offered the free use of their warehouses to the merchants of Boston. The Colonial Assembly stood by the people. Then England passed an act of parliament annuling the charter of Massachusetts. The people were declared rebels, and the governor was ordered to send to England for trial all persons who should resist the royal officers. A colonial congress was called to assemble at Philadelphia. Eleven colonies were represented, and it was unanimously agreed to sustain Massachusetts in her conflict with parliament. An address was sent to King George, another to the English nation, and a third to the people of Canada. As soon as England received the addresses an order was made by which the governor was directed to reduce the colonists by force. So we see that England took the initiative in the war which was to deprive her of her richest colonies. A fleet and an army of ten thousand men were sent to America to aid in the work of subjugation. Gov. Gage seized Boston Neck and fortified it. The military stores in the arsenals of Cambridge and Charlestown were conveyed to Boston, and the general assembly was ordered to disband. Instead of accepting their dismissal, the members resolved themselves into a provincial congress, and voted to equip an army of twelve thousand men to defend the colony. As soon as the people of Boston learned the intentions of the governor, they concealed their ammunition in carts of rubbish and conveyed it to Concord, sixteen miles away. The wrath of the governor was especially directed against Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were looked upon as the leaders of the rebellion. An expedition was sent against Concord, and eight hundred men marched toward the town. But the people of Boston were not to be taken by surprise. Bells were rung and cannon fired, and the citizens were informed of the expedition. Joseph Warren--all honor to him--had dispatched Paul Revere and William Dawes to ride with all speed to Concord and Lexington and rouse the whole country to resistance. A company of one hundred and thirty Minute Men assembled on Lexington Common and awaited the approach of the enemy, but after staying some hours they dispersed. At five o'clock in the morning the English appeared, led by the notorious Pitcairn. The Minute Men had gone back to their homes, tired of waiting; but seventy, led by Capt. Parker, were roused and reached the common before the enemy. Pitcairn rode up to them and exclaimed: "Disperse, you villains! Throw down your arms, ye rebels, and disperse!"