Others said, “Had punishment been only threatened, had it been in our option whether we would submit or suffer, the reason for complaint would have been less. But without previous warning in the proposal of any terms that might have prevented the coming of evil upon us, it is inflicted with ineffable vengeance; so that should we servilely submit to all required, we must notwithstanding suffer almost total ruin. The conditions upon which alone our sufferings are to be removed, far from being fixed with precision, are so loose and indeterminate, that a governor may perpetuate them during his political existence, the king in council not being enabled to open the port without his certificate. The wharfs and landing places at Boston, which are the property of numerous individuals, are, as to the use of them, wherein only their value consists, wrested out of their hands and put into the king’s, to be disposed of at his pleasure. Two wharfs indeed are to be opened again, when his majesty shall think proper; but the residue are for ever interdicted the exercise of commerce.” The rough drafts of the bills, “for the better regulating of the government of the Massachusetts-Bay;” and “for the impartial administration of justice in it,” as well as of that “for quartering the troops in America,” upon their arrival at Boston, were instantly circulated through the continent, and filled up whatever was before wanting, of violence and indignation in most of the colonies. Even those who were moderate, or seemed wavering, now became resolute and resentful. Nothing was to be heard of but meetings and resolutions. Liberal contributions for the relief of the distressed Bostonions were every where recommended, and soon practised. Numberless letters were written from districts, towns, and provinces, to the people of Boston, in which, besides every expression of sympathy and tenderness, they were commended for their past conduct, and strongly exhorted to a perseverance in that virtue which had brought on their sufferings. It was in vain that the friends of government attended a town-meeting, and attempted to pass resolutions for the payment of the tea, and for dissolving the committee of correspondence; they found themselves lost in a prodigious majority, and had no other resource than drawing up a protest against the proceedings of that body. The Boston committee of correspondence apprehended themselves so fixed in the good opinion of the public, that they ventured to frame and publish an agreement, entitled, _A solemn league and covenant_.