order it, nor dissent from it. And Colonel Dalrymple, who commanded the troops, sent both of the regiments to Castle William. Thus the matter ended without further notice.

5th Q'y. The General, not long from his command by leave, and still holding it, made no objection to return to his duty, but was averse to taking the Government of the Massachusetts Bay. He desired at length, that a much larger force than four weak regiments might be sent out, and the Town of Boston be declared in rebellion, without which his hands would be tied up. He was encouraged in the last by one of the greatest lawyers in the kingdom, who said in his presence, that the Boston Port Bill was unjustifiable, unless enacted against a people actually in rebellion.

6th Q'y. The instructions were consistent with the laws of the constitution. The rioters who destroyed the Tea, were to be prosecuted, according to the forms of law, and what is worthy of remark, is, that of the thousands concerned in that riot, or who were spectators of it, only one witness could be procured to give testimony against them, and that one conditionally, that the delinquents should be tried in England.

7th Qy. The fullest information was transmitted home of the certainty of an universal revolt; and a body of twenty thousand men was required to begin the war. It cannot be said that copies of any letters, containing such information, were sent back to the faction; but they received such good, full, and expeditious intelligence of all matters transacting in England, that every thing is to be suspected.

8th Qy. The General did not know that the Secretary of State carried on a secret correspondence with Cushing, during the year 1774. Has heard that a letter from him, had been found in Cushing's house; but neither heard the contents or date of it.

9th Qy. It was very apparent, that the people in the Colonies were instigated by persons in Britain, who sent them the earliest and best intelligence. A letter from Bristol, to Doctor Cooper, signed with a fictitious name, was intercepted, encouraging them to take arms, and giving

assurance of a rising in England, the moment blood should be shed in America. An instance of the intelligence sent them is, that on the arrival of two vessels at Marblehead, on the 8th of April, 1775, an unusual hurry and commotion was perceived among the disaffected. It being on a Sunday morning, Doctor Cooper, a notorious rebel, was officiating in his meeting-house, and on notice given him, pretended sudden sickness, went home and sent to another clergyman to do his duty in the evening. He with every other chief of the faction left Boston before night, and never returned to it. The cause, at the time unknown, was discovered on the 14th of said month, when a vessel arrived with government despatches, which contained directions to seize the persons of certain notorious rebels. It was too late. They had received timely notice of their danger, and were fled.

The letters found in Cushing's house, were shown to General Howe. Very few, and those of little consequence, were produced, till he had taken the command. DM -, can give the best account of them.

10th Qy. Intelligence was sent from several parts of the country, that something of moment was in agitation; the leaders busily employed, and the militia preparing their arms. A gentleman in the town received repeated messages from a particular friend, entreating him to leave the Town, with his family, that they might be safe from danger; and that gentleman communicated the affair to the Governor, requesting him, at the same time, not to despise the intelligence he gave, as his friend was acquainted with the most. secret intentions of the rebels. Precautions were immediately taken to defeat the design, at which the faction in the town showed disappointment; and some were overheard talking about it, and to say, it must now be given up. No other evidence can be given of the design of the malcontents to surprise and massacre the troops.

In the beginning of 1775, there were about three thousand men in Boston. More arrived between July and November.

DESTRUCTION OF THE TEA,

IN THE HARBOR OF BOSTON, DECEMBER 16, 1773.

THE three following Letters have been transcribed from the originals. Dr. Franklin and Arthur Lee were Agents for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in London, at the time the Letters were written.

The account of Dr. Williamson's Examination before the King's Council, has likewise been copied from a paper in his own handwriting. He was a passenger in the first ship which arrived in England from Boston, after the destruction of the tea. JARED SPARKS.

June 12, 1856.

DEAR SIR,

DR. COOPER TO DR. FRANKLIN.

Boston, December 17th, 1773.

I missed the opportunity of sending you the above, and am now to give you an account of what has since. happened among us.

Upon information that the tea, with the American duty upon it, was certainly shipped, and might soon be expected, we heard of an opposition forming in New York and Philadelphia, and measures concerted there to induce the resignation of the consignees. Our patriots determined to second their brethren in the other Colonies, and appointed a meeting of the people, at Liberty Tree, at noon-day, to receive the resignation of the consignees for this Province. But they chose not to appear, upon this intimation, at that place. A committee was then chosen to wait on them at the store, where all the consignees were met, to know if they would resign this commission. A great part of the body, without a vote for it, accompanied the committee. The answer was rough and peremptory, "No resignation."

Soon after, the Governor called a council, and the consignees petitioned that the tea, upon its arrival, might be under their protection. The council declined having anything to do with it. A town meeting was legally called, and a respectable committee chosen, who repeatedly attempted to obtain the almost universally desired resignation, but without effect. The consignees insisted upon landing the tea, though they conceded to store it, till they could hear from their, constituents. We soon were informed, that the consignees at New York and Philadelphia behaved in a soothing manner to the people, and, upon being assured that the tea was still dutied there, declared, without reserve, that they would not have the least share in executing a commission so disagreeable to their fellowcitizens.

About this time a number of people assembled in the evening, before Mr. Clark's house, from which a musket or pistol was fired upon them, without any damages, and they, in return, broke his windows and retired. Soon after, the consignees, who consulted with the Governor, &c., in every step, returned to the castle, in imitation of the commissioners, and, with similar views and hopes, no doubt, where they have remained ever since, except Mr. Joshua Winslow, who lately arrived from Nova Scotia, and lives at Marshfield.

Upon the arrival of the tea, an assembly of the people was called-it proved as large as any ever known here—of which Mr. Hancock was moderator. Great numbers from the neighboring towns united in it, and, indeed, the people in the country have all along been equally zealous with their brethren in Boston, in this common cause; and there is now established a correspondence and union between them, never known before. The moderator and people were strongly desirous of preserving the tea untouched, for the East-India Company. They labored this point with undissembled ardor, and great patience. They considered, however, that landing the tea would insure the duty, that it might be smuggled from the castle, and that the price of tea, higher among us than to the southward, would be almost an invincible temptation to this. They insisted, therefore, that it should go back in the same bottoms. They urged this

upon the consignees with great earnestness, from an apprehension that the tea, in the present temper of the Province, would not be safe; but in vain; they could not be persuaded to further concessions than before. The master and owner were then called, who, seeing the irresistible torrent, engaged that the tea should return as it came. Two other vessels, freighted with it, arrived, and the same engagement was made for them.

There we thought the matter would have ended. But the Governor, consignees, revenue officers, &c., raised obstacles to this measure, and seemed to choose that the tea should be destroyed, and the exasperation of both countries heightened. Another assembly of the people was called, of which a country gentleman was moderator. The owner of the ship first arrived, appeared before them, and pleaded that if they held him to his engagement to carry the tea back, he should be ruined for want of clearances, &c. He was desired by the people to apply to the custom-house for a clearance, which he did, and was refused. He was then desired to wait on the Governor at Milton, for a pass at the castle, which was also refused.

The people waited for his return till dark, last evening. As soon as the Governor's refusal was known, the assembly was dissolved. Just before the dissolution, two or three hundred persons, in dress and appearance like Indians, passed by the Old South meeting-house, where the assembly was held, gave a war-whoop, and hastened to the wharf, where all the tea ships lay, and demanding the tea, which was given up to them without the least resistance, they soon emptied all the chests into the harbor, to the amount of about three hundred and forty. This was done without injury to any other property or to any man's person. interloper, indeed, who had found means to fill his pockets with tea, upon being discovered, was stripped of his booty and his clothes together, and sent home naked. A remarkable instance of order and justice among savages. When they had done their business, they silently departed, and the town has been remarkably quiet ever since.

An

This was done last evening, and had it been deferred a few hours longer, the tea, it was supposed, would have been taken under the protection of the admiral, at the castle.