Whatever may be the reputation of Boston in history, there is one circumstance at least, to be remarked through the whole revolutionary ferment, for which it is perhaps in vain to seek a parallel in the annals of any other country; and which, whereever cruelty shall be execrated as the greatest of crimes, and mercy and humanity honoured, as the highest marks of civilization, will be admired and remembered. The struggle against oppression, while the hand of the British government was immediately upon the town, may be said to have begun with the stamp act, in 1765, and continued till the evacuation by the English army in 1776. During this peri

towards him, and repeated the former question, "Scipio, what do you want?" "I want a new coat, massa." It now flashed over the doctor's mind, that there was something of repetition in this dialogue. "Why, have I not told you before, to ask Mrs. Chauncy to give you a coat? get away.” “Yes, massa, but I no want a black coat." "Not want a black coat! and why not?" "Why, massa, I 'fraid to tell you, but I don't want a black coat." "What's the reason you don't want a black coat? tell me directly." "O! massa, I don't want a black coat, but I 'fraid to tell the reason, you so passionate!" "You rascal! will you tell me the reason?" "O! massa, I'm sure you be angry." "If I had my cane, you villain, I'd break your bones: will you tell me what you mean?" "I'fraid to tell you, massa, I know you be angry." The doctor's impatience was now highly irritated, and Scipio perceiving, by his glance at the tongs, that he might find a substitute for the cane, and that he was sufficiently excited, said, “Well, massa, you make me tell, but I know you be angry.---I 'fraid, massa, if I wear another black coat, Dr. Cooper ask me to preach for him!" This unexpected termination realized the negro's calculation; his irritated master burst into a laugh: "Go, you rascal, get my bat and cane, and tell Mrs. Chauncy, she may give you a coat of any colour; a red one, if you choose." Away went the negro to his mistress, and the doctor to tell the story to his friend, Dr. Cooper.

A negro whose principles were in favour of the administration, met one day with Edes, the printer of the Boston Gazette, which was entirely devoted to the patriotic cause, and enquired of him, what was the news? the printer told him there was nothing new. "Well, if you've nothing new, massa Edes. I s'pose you print the same dam old lie over again.”

od, there happened many occasions of great excite ment; the vexations on commerce were numerous and irritating; a military force stationed within the walls, at one time consisting of only a few companies, increased at others, till it out numbered the male inhabitants of the city; the most obnoxious and violent of the ministerial partizans, whether natives or others, collected on this spot, against which they were covertly soliciting and stimulating the vengeance of the mother country; the civil and military officers frequently goading the citizens with menaces and insults, and the soldiers, in one case, firing upon and killing several persons; yet notwithstanding all these circumstances, in spite of all the exasperation of the times, and all the rashness that may be supposed incidental to a populous democracy; throughout this whole period of ferment and revolution, not a single human life was taken by the inhabitants either by assassination, popular tumult, or public execution.*

*See Appendix.

Chapter XXIX.

Proceedings of General Gage-History of the two pieces of artillery called the "Hancock and Adams”—Approach of hostilities— Anecdotes—General Warren-Battle of Bunker Hill—Colonel

Prescott.

tion

AFTER General Gage assumed the government of the province, the military aspect of the administragrew daily more predominant; and he, more accustomed to the duties of military than of civil life, occupied himself more particularly with cares of the former description, while the people had, by their proceedings in self-defence, nearly divested him of all agency in the latter department. At the close of 1774, and in the early part of 1775, he began to take into his possession, all the arms and military stores belonging to individuals and the public. These measures, which led to the commencement of hostilities, occasioned a transaction in Boston, which is worthy of being recorded.

In November, 1766, the General Court ordered four brass cannon to be purchased for the use of the artillery companies in Boston. Two of these guns, which were three-pounders, were kept in a gun house that stood opposite the Mall, at the corner of West street. A school house was the next building, and a yard inclosed with a high fence was common to both. Major Paddock* who then commanded

Major Adino Paddock was a coach maker, a reputable citizen and decided loyalist: he left Boston with the British army, and was subsequently rewarded

the company, having been heard to express his intention of surrendering these guns to the British army, a few individuals resolved to secure for the country a property which belonged to it, and which, in the present emergency, had an importance very disproportionate to its intrinsic value.

Having concerted their plan, the party passed through the school house into the gun house, and were able to open the doors which were upon the yard, by a small crevice, through which they raised the bar that secured them. The moment for the execution of the project was that of the roll call, when the sentinel who was stationed at one door of the building, would be less likely to hear their operations. The guns were taken off their carriages. carried into the school room, and placed in a large box under the master's desk, in which wood was kept. Immediately after the roll call, a lieutenant and sergeant came into the gun house to look at the cannon, previously to removing them. A young man* who had assisted in their removal, remained by the building, and followed the officer in, as an innocent spectator. When the carriages were found without the guns, the sergeant exclaimed "By G-, they're

by the government of Guernsey. There is one circumstance that may cause him to be remembered in Boston, when his share in the politics of the day will be forgotten. The row of elm trees in front of the Granary burying ground, was planted by him.

*Samuel Gore, Esq., from whom this narration was received. The persons who aided, were Messrs. Balch, Gridley, Whiston, and two or three more. The schoolmaster, who of course knew the whole transaction, was Master Holbrook.

gone ! I'll be d-d if these fellows won't steal the teeth out of your head, while you're keeping guard.” They then began to search the building for them, and afterwards the yard; and when they came to the gate that opened into the street, the officer observed, that they could not have passed that way, because a cobweb across the opening was not broken. They went next into the school house, which they examined all over, except the box, on which the master placed his foot, which was lame; and the officer, with true courtesy, on that account excused him from rising. Some boys were present, but not one lisped a word. The officers went back to the gun room, when their volunteer attendant, in kind sympathy for their embarrassment, suggested to them, that perhaps they had been carried into Mr. Greenleaf's (now the Washington) garden, opposite. On this, the sergeant took him by the collar, gave him a push, and said “it was very likely that he was one of the d-d rebels who helped to get them off, and that he had better make himself scarce!" This was too near a guess to make it worth while to wait for a second hint, and he left them. They soon after retired in vexation.

The guns remained in that box for a fortnight, and many of the boys were acquainted with the fact, but not one of them betrayed the secret. At the end of that time, the persons who had withdrawn them, came in the evening with a large trunk on a wheelbarrow; the guns were put into it and carried up to Whiston's blacksmith's shop at the South-end, and