this matter, in conjunction with others, but as a committee of correspondence, &c. (in which name and capacity you have accosted us) we absolutely deny your jurisdiction and authority. By the records of this town it appears, that you were chosen 'to communicate and correspond with the town of Boston and other towns;' and in this business we would not interfere or molest you. But we apprehend that your constituents had no more idea or suspicion of your interfering in these matters, (as a committee of correspondence,) than they had of your regulating or altering their creed, or their catechism. And it appears to us that you have just the same right to meddle with the one as the other, or indeed, to determine any civil, religious, or military matter, that has or may arise within our town.This partial and extra-judicial way of proceeding, we appprehend, will have a tendency to promote parties and divisions, (which have already too long harrassed and convulsed this once peaceful town,) rather than that harmony and concord, so necessary to the welfare of all societies. 'But should we admit your right of acting as a committee of correspondence, we cannot suppose so great an absurdity as the counteracting your own vote and determination, without some sufficient reason. You must remember, that these matters were fairly discussed and settled by the gentlemen of the town in general, and the members of this club, and that by and with the consent, approbation, and vote of a majority of the now members of your committee. For at a meeting of a large and respectable number of the gentlemen of this town with the club at Old Colony Hall, on the sixth day of January last, for the very purposes of adjusting and settling the matters relative to the celebration of the ensuing anniversary, among whom were a major part of your committee, it was unanimously voted, 'that the club should write to the Rev. Mr. Turner, and request him to preach a sermon on the next 22d of December, &c.'-In consequence of which, the club wrote to Mr. Turner, and afterwards received his answer in the affirmative, (directed to the club,) as may also appear by our record. At the same meeting it was also moved and agreed to, that as the club were the original institutors, it was most proper for them to have the direction of the minute or lesser matters relative to the celebration. We are now, and always have been, ready and willing to concur with any measure which may conduce to the harmonious and agreeable celebration of this anniversary, in commemoration of the landing of our forefathers in this place. We think it ought to be, and we hope it ever will be, kept and observed by the gentlemen of this town, county, and colony socially, and like a band of brethren,-nor would we contend for trifles or punctilios. But your plan and proceedtings, without advising with or consulting the other gentlemen of the town, or the club, appear to us so great an invasion of the liberty and privileges of the gentlemen of the town of Plymouth, and the Old Colony Club, that we cannot approve or comply with the same. E Dec. 1st, 1773.' December 8. At a meeting of Old Colony Club, Voted, that the club, together with such gentlemen as please to join them from this or the neighboring towns, will dine together at Mr. Witherell's, upon the ensuing anniversary, and that the clerk of this club send a copy of this vote to the Rev. Mr. Turner and inform him that the club expect the pleasure of his company on that day. Voted, that the club and their friends will spend the anniversary evening at the hall. Voted, that the Rev. Mr. Bacon, and the Rev. Mr. Robbins, and all the social club, be invited to dine and spend the evenring, as also such other gentlemen of the clergy as may be in town. The reader cannot fail of being impressed with a sense of gratitude for the valuable reminiscences transmitted by the Old Colony Club; and it is a matter of regret that its existence had not been protracted to a later period but unfortunately, some of the members were attached to the royal interest, and it was deemed expedient that the club should be dissolved. This society possessed a library and museum. Of the respectable members not one now survives. Among their invited guests at various times we notice the following distinguished names, of high standing in the political and fashionable world. John Adams, Robert T. Paine, Daniel Leonard, Col. Thomas Oliver, Richard Leachmur, Nathan Cushing, Peleg Wadsworth, William Sever,* Benjamin Kent, Gen. John Winslow, and Dr. Charles Stockbridge. * Hon. William Sever resided in Kingston, and died in 1809, aged 79 years. This gentlemen ought to be held in remembrance, as a man of high standing in society. He was, in principle, a staunch whig, and our country was benefited by his influence and example during the revolution. The late Fresident Adams once spoke of him as the "salt of the earth." The Rev. Dr. Dwight, in his Journal of travels, in that part which relates to the Old Colony, observes that "Mr. Sever was the most respectable and worthy character he 1770.-Non-intercourse with Great Britain.-A large proportion of the respectable merchants of Boston came into a nonintercourse agreement against Great Britain, and sent circular letters to this and other towns for their co-operation. The town voted, March 26th, that they will contribute all in their power to support them in their laudable purpose of repelling tyranny and oppression; and voted the thanks of the town to the town of Boston for the firm and spirited opposition which they have made to the tyrannical attempts of the British government to enslave our country, and that we will at all times assist them in such vigorous and constitutional measures as they shall adopt for the preservation of our common rights. Voted also, that we will encourage and support the non-intercourse agreement, and will encourage frugality, industry, and the manufactures of our country, discouraging the use of foreign superfluities, particularly the article of foreign tea. A committee of inspection was chosen to inquire, from time to time, if any person should directly or indirectly contravene the above measures. Should any one be detected in importing goods, or of purchasing of those who import, their names are to be published in the newspapers, and to be reported to the next town-meeting. It was at this period that Governor Hutchinson, and his adherents, represented the party in opposition to British measures as only an uneasy factious few in Boston, while the body of the people were quite contented. It is stated in the histories of the war, by both Gordon, and Mrs. Warren, and copied into Marshall's life of Washington, that James Warren, Esq., and Samuel Adams, Esq., while at Plymouth, originated the famous committee of correspondence in the several towns of the colony, but Samuel A. Wells, Esq. of Boston, assures me that, from the most thorough investigation, he has ascertained that General Warren had no share whatever in originating those committees, but that Samuel Adams was the original proposer, and is alone entitled to the honor. I have also been assured by Z. Bartlett, Esq. that Mr. Samuel Cole, late of this town, informed him that he first suggested the idea of committee of correspondence to Mr. had known." He was, for many years, Judge of Probate for the county of Plymouth. But I venerated him the more on account of the remarkable similarity in his person and appearance to General Washington. The resemblance in erect form and in dignity of manners, was so peculiarly striking, that the comparison was almost perfect, and my interviews with him brought to my mind the most delightful recollections. Stephen Sampson, and that they conversed with General Warren on the subject, who communicated with Mr. Samuel Adams, and the scheme, being approved by them, was immediately adopted. 1772.-It appears by the town records, that, at a legal meeting of the town, November 24th, 1772, the petition of Mr. Thomas Jackson and one hundred other inhabitants was read, setting forth the alarming situation of our country in consequence of the tyrannical measures of the British Parliament, and praying that the town would take the subject into consideration. It was thereon voted to choose a standing committee of correspondence and communication, who shall freely, from time to time, communicate and correspond with the town of Boston, and any other town on the subject of our present difficulties, and of the measures proper to be taken on the occasion, they to apply to the selectmen to call a town-meeting, on any emergency, to consider of any intelligence of importance they may receive, and to act and do what further they may then think proper. The following persons were then chosen to compose the committee. James Warren, Elkanah Watson, John Torrey, William Watson, Stephen Sampson, Thomas Lothrop, Samuel Cole. Nathaniel Torrey, Ephraim Cobb, Thomas Mayhew, Dr. William Thomas, Thomas Jackson, The petition above mentioned enumerated, among their grievances, the violation of our rights and the repeated attacks made on our constitution, in taxation without our consent, extension of admiralty jurisdiction, with the quartering of soldiers in the town of Boston, the lawless insolence and murders they have committed, with the contemptuous and unconstitutional treatment of our General Court from time to time, making the Governor independent of the people, and many other illegal acts, from the memorable era of the stamp act. * 1773. December.-Parliament having passed an act enabling the East India Company in London to export their teas to America, subject to an unconstitutional tax or tribute, the town resolved, that the dangerous nature and tendency of importing proposed, subject to a tax upon us without our consent, is alarming, and ought to be opposed. And further, that the persons to whom the said India company have consigned their teas as * Alluding to the massacre of 5th of March, 1770. tea which they propose to send to Boston, have, by their endeavoring to accept of and execute their commission, forfeited that protection every good citizen is entitled to, and exposed themselves and their abettors to the indignation and resentment of all good citizens. That it is an affront to the common sense of mankind, and to the majesty of the people, who are, under God, the source from which is derived all power and majesty in every community, to assert, that any meeting of the people to concert measures for their common security and happiness on every extraordinary and alarming occasion, is either unlawful or irregular, since no legislature could be supposed to establish rules of conduct in such cases as no man could ever suppose would take place in a free and good government. That the late meetings of a very large and respectable body of the inhabitants of Boston and other towns, and their determination at said meetings relative to the importation and reshipping of any teas that have or may be sent here subject to a duty on importation, were both necessary and laudable, and highly deserving the gratitude of all who are interested in, or wish the prosperity of, America. It was voted that we are in duty and gratitude bound not only to acknowledge our obligations to the body who composed that meeting, for that noble, generous, and spirited conduct in the common cause, but also to aid and support them in carrying their votes and resolves into execution; and we will, at the hazard of our lives and fortunes, exert our whole force to defend them against the violence and wickedness of all our common enemies. It appeared to be the firm determination of the inhabitants of this town, that so long as a compulsory tone was assumed by the parent country, so long the tone of defiance ought to be maintained by the patriotic people of the Provinces. For oppression will make a wise man mad.' On Monday, 13th December, at the adjournment of the town meeting, Edward Winslow and others presented a protest against the resolves and proceedings of the last meeting, but the town voted not to have it read. 1774.-The inhabitants of the town, animated by the glorious spirit of liberty which pervaded the Province, and mindful of the precious relic of our forefathers, resolved to consecrate the rock on which they landed to the shrine of liberty. Col. Theophilus Cotton, and a large number of the inhabitants assembled, with about 20 yoke of oxen, for the purpose of its removal. The rock was elevated from its bed by means of large screws; and in attempting to mount it on the carriage, it split asunder, without any violence. As no one had observed a flaw, the circumstance occasioned some surprise. It is not strange that |