fupported it; for they expected a repeal of the duty on cyder; and obtained it in April. It has been faid, that had not the ministry bartered the stamp-act against the repeal of the cyder duty, they would not have fucceeded*. This however must be a falfe charge, if the former marked paragraph is ftrictly true. During the debate," the trading intereft of the empire, crammed into the lobbies of the houfe of commons, with a trembling and anxious expectation, and waited, almost to a winter's return of light, their fate from the refolution of the house. When, at length, that had determined in their favor, and the doors thrown open, showed them the figure of their deliverer, in the well earned triumph of his important victory, from the whole of that grave multitude there arose an involuntary burft of gratitude and transport. They jumped upon him, like children on a long abfent father. They clung about him as captives about their redeemer. All England joined in his applaufe. Nor did he seem infenfible to the beft of all earthly rewards, the love and admiration of his fellow citizens. Hope elevated and joy brightened his creft †.”

The miniftry had certainly great difficulties to encounter: the principal originated in the colonies, and were caufed by the intemperate proceedings of the various ranks of men within them. "Their violence awakened the honor of parliament, especially after Mr. Pitt's speech, and thereby involved every friend of the repeal into the imputation of betraying its dignity. This is fo true, that the act could not have been repealed, had not men's minds been in fome measure fa+ Mr. Burke's fpeech. tisfied

Political Memoirs, printed 1783.

19.

tisfied with the declaration of right." All the Scotch members, fave two, voted against the repeal. Mr. Bollan, who informed lieutenant governor Hutchinfon of it by letter, omitted mentioning the names of the gentlemen.

The bill having paffed the house of commons, went up to the house of lords. Lords Bute and Strange publicly declared, that his majefty's wifh was not for a repeal. The marquis of Rockingham and Lord Shelburne went together to the king, and told what was reported. They were informed, that his majefty had expreffed his defire that it fhould be enforced; but if it could not be done peaceably and without bloodshed, it was his fincere defire and intention, that it should be totally repealed. The dukes of York and Cumberland, the lords of the bed-chamber, and the officers of the household, were for carrying fire and fword to America. Moft of the bench of bishops joined them. Instead of afcribing that to a fanguinary difpofition, to which their profeffion was opposed; let it be imputed to the painful profpect of being hindered eventually, from eftablishing the English hierarchy within the American colonics. There were in the house of lords, proxies included, for the repeal 105, against it 71.

Mar. On Wednesday, March the nineteenth, his majefty went to the house of peers, and paffed the bill for repealing the American ftamp-act; as alfo that for fe curing the dependency of the colonies on the British crown. On this occafion the American merchants

*The London merchants letter to John Hancock efq; and others, dated February 28.

made a most numerous appearance, to exprefs their gratitude and joy; fhips in the river difplayed their colours; houses at night were illuminated all over the city, and every decent and orderly method was observed, to demonftrate the just sense they entertained of his majesty's goodness, and the wisdom of parliament, in conciliating the minds of the people on this critical occafion. An exprefs was dispatched immediately to Falmouth, with letters to the different provinces, acquainting them with the news of the repeal; that fo their fears might vanish, and give place to joy and exultation.

LETTER IV.

Roxbury, April 14, 1773.

R. Samuel Adams's name will occur frequently in

MR.

the course of our correfpondence; be it noted 1765. therefore, that the first time of his being returned for Sept. Boston, and ferving as a reprefentative, was upon an 27 election occafioned by the death of Oxenbridge Thacher efq. The deceased belonged to the band of patriots; but when he happened to think differently from Mr. Otis jun. in the houfe of affembly, the latter treated him in fo overbearing and indecent a manner, that he was obliged at times to call upon the fpeaker to interpofe and protect him. The ftate of affairs required a particular

1766.

ticular attention to the political fentiments of the perfon who fhould be chofen. The inhabitants, in fixing upon Mr. S. Adams, made choice of a member, wha was zealously attached to the rights of the Maffachufetts in particular, and the colonies in general; and but little to his own perfonal interests. He was well qualified to fecond Mr. Otis, and learned in time to serve his own public views by the influence of the other. He was foon noticed by the house, chofen, and continued their clerk from year to year, by which means he had the cuftody of their papers; and of thefe he knew how to make an advantage for political purposes. He was frequently upon important committees, and acquired great afcendency, by difcovering a readiness to acquiefce in the proposals and amendments of others, while the end aimed at by them, did not eventually fruftrate his leading defigns. He showed a pliableness and complaifance in these smaller matters, which enabled him in the iffue to carry thofe of much greater confequence; and there were many favorite points, which the fons of liberty in the Massachusetts meant to carry, even though the ftamp-act should be repealed.

Mr. Pitt's declaration against the parliament's right to impose internal taxes, and his faying I am glad America has refifted, were feized with eagerness by the popular leaders in the colonies. They praised and idolized him for the fame, without regarding what he had declared, in favor of the authority of parliament in all cafes of external taxation, and for enforcing all laws for that purpufe, and notwithstanding his having faid, "If obedience be refufed, I would not fuffer a horfe-nail to be made in the plantations." Their fpirits were elated,

and they took encouragement from his declaration, to fortify themselves in their own fentiments upon American liberty.

It is impoffible to exprefs or describe the extraordinary joy, with which the body of the Americans received the news of the repeal, though the power of the viceadmiralty courts remained unabridged, and the declaratory act was added. The latter was confidered by fome, as paffed merely to fave appearances, while contemned by others, whose wisdom would have been more evident, had they repreffed their contempt, whatever was their opinion. In regard to the former," the judges of the vice-admiralty courts in the colonies had had affigned them, by acts of parliament, a jurisdiction for the recovery of penalties upon the laws of revenue and trade, without juries for near a century paft *." Had a prudent and moderate temper taken poffeffion of all parties at this period, it had been happy; but they were fo much heated in fome colonies, as to be determined upon oppofing each other.

When the choice of members for Boston, to reprefent the town in the next general court, was approaching, Mr. John Rowe, a merchant, who had been active on the fide of liberty, in matters of trade, was thought of by fome influential perfons. Mr. Samuel Adams artfully nominated a different one, by asking with his eyes looking to Mr. Hancock's house, "Is there not another John, that may do better?" The hint took. Mr. John Hancock's uncle was dead, and had left him a very confiderable fortune. Mr. Samuel Adams judged, that the fortune would give credit and fupport to the cause of The lords proteft against the repeal of the ftamp-act.

liberty;