It is evident the Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution did not quail at the thought of sacrificing their lives upon the altar of LIBERTY. By the British and Tories the Declaration of Independence was called the death warrant of the signers. Had the first open opposers of the crown fallen into the hands of the royalists their lives would have been terminated in a summary manner. Among these was James Otis who was born at Barnstable, Mass. in 1725. He graduated at Harvard College when but eighteen years of age. He read law with Mr. Gridley--settled in Plymouth and became one of the most brilliant lights of the profession. He was an uncompromising and fearless opposer of British wrongs--an able and unwavering advocate of American rights. In 1761 he appeared before the judges of the Supreme Court in defence of the people against the writs of assistance. His logic, eloquence and boldness astonished all who heard him. He insulated the people with patriotic fire that all the powers of mother Britain could never extinguish. Among others he was listened to by John Adams who often remarked--"Independence was then and there born." By the patriots of that day he was called the originator of the Revolution. He was the first man who placed his name to a bold and vigorous pamphlet which he wrote and published--exposing the innovations of the British ministry upon the chartered rights of the Colonies. He was threatened with arrest which only roused him to more vigilant action in defence of human rights. He was a member of the Congress that convened in New York in 1765. During that year he wrote his "Rights of the Colonies Vindicated"--which was a masterly production and published in London. He was of a warm temperament--impulsive--if hard pressed was sometimes harsh in his language. He was lashed severely by the ministerial organs which caused him to publish pungent strictures upon the conduct of several of the crown officers. Soon after these appeared he was attacked in a public room by a band of British ruffians led on by custom house commissioner Robinson, who nearly took his life. This occurred on the 5th of September 1769. So much was he injured that his reason soon fled for ever. He may appropriately be called the first mover and the first martyr of the American Revolution. He obtained a judgment of $20,000 against Robinson for the base assault and on receiving a written apology relinquished it. His towering mental powers broke rapidly until he became a mental wreck. The repeated blows upon his head had permanently deranged his brain. Occasional lucid flashes would pass over his mind like brilliant meteors and pass as quickly away. He had often expressed a wish that he might be killed by lightning. That desire was granted on the 23d day of May 1783 while leaning on his cane at the door of Mr. Osgood. His body was taken to Boston and buried with every mark of respect attended by an unprecedented concourse of sympathizing freemen.