that case the said petitions be fairly engrossed, that they sign them in behalf of the house, and forward them, with duplicates, to _Barlow Trecothick_ and _John Wentworth_, esqrs. who are appointed special agents for the house, and are empowered and desired to present the said petitions, &c.” The committee wrote to these agents on December the sixth, and concluded with saying, “We in this province have not been so boisterous and irregular as some others, not because we are insensible of our distresses, but because we though the present method most likely to obtain relief.” The _Virginia_ resolves having had their full operation, and the spirits of the people being highly inflamed, the colonial disturbances break out upon the following occasion. Messrs. _John Avery_, jun. _Thomas Crafts_, _John Smith_, _Henry Welles_, _Thomas Chace_, _Stephen Cleverly_, _Henry Bass_, and _Benjamin Edes_, to manifest their abhorrence and detestation of those persons who they supposed were endeavouring to subvert the British constitution to enslave the colonies, and to alienate the affections of his majesty’s most faithful subjects in America, provide and hang out early in the morning of August the fourteenth, upon the limb of a large old elm, toward the entrance of Boston, over the most public street, two effigies, one of which by the labels appear to be designed for the stamp officer; the other is a jack boot, with a head and horns peeping out of the top. Not only the usual passengers pass under it, but the report spreads, and draws great numbers from every part of the town and the neighbouring country. The affair is left to take its own course; an enthusiastic spirit diffuses itself through the body of the spectators. In the evening the pageantry is cut down, and carried in funeral procession, the populace shouting, _liberty and property for ever_, _no stamps_, &c. &c. They direct their way to a new building, lately erected by Mr. _Oliver_, which they pull down, falsely supposing it to be designed for the tsamp office. They go on to his house, before which they behead his effigy, breaking at the same time all the windows next the street. They then repair to Fort Hill, on the ascent of which stands his house, where they burn his effigy. After this they return to attack his premises; and many of they with clubs, staves, &c. go to work on the garden, fences, barns, &c. Mr. Oliver had prudently retired, leaving a few friends behind to keep possession of the dwelling: these committed some slight indiscretions, the populace are so enraged, that they force themselves into the lower part of it, break the windows and destroy the furniture. They disperse about midnight. The next day [August 15.] Mr. Oliver, fearful of what may otherwise happen declares that he has written to England, and resigned. The mob assemble again at night: and, after some expressions of joy for the resignation, proceed to the lieutenant-governor’s, Mr.