1712]

PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURE.

187

had even vied with the Dutch in pushing out into the frozen seas of the north in search of whales. At first they confined their efforts to the smaller kinds; but in 1712, one of the adventurous whalemen of Nantucket met, far out at sea, one of the largest species, and after a terrible battle succeeded in bringing it into port. Thus was a new impulse given to the whale fishery in New England.

267. Agriculture, however, was the main reliance of the great body of the people. The richness of the primeval soil well repaid the husbandman for his labor. Maize, tobacco, and the potato were extensively cultivated in the sunny fields. of Virginia and the adjacent colonies. Rice and indigo were raised abundantly in South Carolina. Cotton received attention in the south, and began to be spun and woven. Fifteen years before the Revolution, the wife of Washington kept sixteen spinning-wheels running, and wore the fabrics made in her house under her own direction. The people of North Carolina lived in ease and plenty, relying much on hunting and fishing. Maize, tar, and turpentine were the principal products of their domain. In the north, foreign as well as native grains and vegetables were everywhere raised. Barley was cultivated in New England from the time of its first settlement. Gosnold sowed it in Martha's Vineyard in 1602.

268. Travelling facilities at the time we are speaking of were exceedingly limited. Railroads, steamboats, and even stage-coaches were unknown. Passengers were conveyed from point to point on the coast in small sloops navigated by a man and a boy. They engaged to run from New York to Philadelphia in three days, unless in passing through the Narrows they were driven too far out to sea, in which case the voyage might take a week or more. New Jersey was crossed by land in wagons, which started twice a week from

by the colonists in commercial matters? How was a new impulse given to the whalefishery in New England? 267. What was the main reliance of the colonists? What was the general character of the soil? What were raised throughout the south? What, particularly in South Carolina? What is said of cotton? What is said of the wife of Washington? How did the people of North Carolina live? What were their principal products? What were raised in the north? Where was barley cultivated? 268. What is said of travelling facilities at this time? How were passengers carried from point to

New York. In 1765, a new line was established, consisting of wagons without springs. The next year, a third line started, which promised to make the journey from New York to Philadelphia in two days; from this unprecedented speed its vehicles were called "flying machines". The first stage-coach in America commenced running in 1772 from Boston to Providence, taking two days to go that distance.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

269. THE people of America were descendants of men who nad fled from oppression, and braved the hardships of the wilderness for the blessings of civil and religious liberty. They had endured incredible sufferings, and through their own unaided industry had at last prospered and grown strong. When poor and feeble, they had been neglected by the mother country; as soon as they became worth governing, Britain had sent them governors; and now that they were growing rich, she sought to increase her revenue by taxing them. A pretext was not wanting. Heavy expenses had been incurred by the home government for the protec tion of the colonies in the French and Indian war; and these, it was claimed, should be reimbursed. The commanders sent over had been generally incompetent, and much of their success was due to the colonial troops and officers who served under them; yet the Americans would not have objected to contributing their share, had they been allowed a voice in laying the tax or directing how it should be appropriated. Having no representatives in Parliament, however, they

point on the coast? How long did it take to make the passage from New York to Philadelphia? Give an account of the different lines that ran across New Jersey. When did the first stage-coach in America commence running? On what route? How long did it take to make the journey?

269. From whom were the people of America descended? How were they treated by the mother country? What pretext was assigned for taxing them? Why did the Americans object to contributing their share of the expense? How had the ministers

1760]

WRITS OF ASSISTANCE.

189

claimed that Parliament had no right to tax them. The ministers of George II. had not only asserted the right, but exercised it by laying duties on various imported articles. The question was freely discussed throughout America, and everywhere a unanimous voice rose from the people that taxation without representation was unjust and intolerable. The law imposing the obnoxious duties was declared unconstitutional and oppressive. In New England it was constantly evaded by secretly conveying the taxable articles ashore and concealing them from the collectors. To put a stop to this practice, on the accession of George III. in 1760, edicts were issued commanding all sheriffs and constables to aid the collectors, when called upon, in breaking open and searching cellars, houses, or vessels, that were suspected of containing concealed goods.

Salem was the first place at which it was attempted to enforce this law. The inhabitants denied the right of officers to force their dwellings, and the Supreme Court directed that the question should be argued at Boston. The people were represented by James O'-tis, an eloquent and able lawyer, who had been Advocate-general for the crown, but resigned his office rather than enforce an unconstitutional law. Otis' speech on this question produced a thrilling effect on the vast concourse that heard it. It was the ablest defence of popular rights yet put forth, and confirmed the patriots of Massachusetts in their resolution to resist even by force of

arms.

270. At the south, too, the same spirit was rife. In Virginia, the Church of England was established by law, and its ministers had been voted an annual salary of 16,000 pounds of tobacco each. In 1758, a year of scarcity, with the view of relieving the people, it was enacted by the colonial legislature that the salaries of the clergy, as well as other public

of George II. exercised this alleged right? What position was maintained by the colonists ? How was the law imposing the offensive duties evaded? What was done on the accession of George III.? Where was the first attempt made to enforce this law? What position did the people of Salem take? Where was the question argued ? Who poke in behalf of the people? What was the effect of Otis' speech? 270. Where else was the same spirit rife? What difficulty had arisen between the clergy and the peo

dues, might be paid in cash, each pound of tobacco being rated at two pence, which was below its real value. The clergy resisted, and the king refused to sign the act. Several years passed, and in 1763 the clergy brought a suit for damages. The cause of the people was in the hands of Patrick Henry.

This distinguished man was born in Virginia, in 1736. A lover of nature, he had preferred rural pleasures and solitary forest rambles to his books, and had grown up with a mind strong but not cultivated, and an education varied rather than profound. He had tried mercantile pursuits and farming without success, and at last, turning his attention to the law, was licensed after six weeks' study. He had reached the age of twenty-seven without distinction; and now he stood in the old Hanover court-house, before the most learned of the colony, the triumphant clergy smiling at his awkwardness, and many an anxious eye bent on him in the crowded audience.

The commencement of his speech made little impression; but as the young orator warmed with his subject, his eye lighted up with genius, his figure became erect, his expression grand, his action bold, his voice commanding, his words impassioned, his arguments irresistible. Men looked at each other in surprise, then fascinated drank in with eyes and ears, in deathlike silence, the eloquence of the gifted speaker. The clergy shrank in alarm from his scathing sarcasm; and the jury, under the spell of his glowing appeals, returned a verdict of one penny damages. The people shouted with delight at their unexpected triumph, and bore their gallant champion from the court-house on their shoulders.

271. Meanwhile the British ministry, no longer guided by the liberal counsels of Pitt, pushed through Parliament a bill, which laid an impost on wines, increased the duty on sugar, and provided for the more rigid enforcement of the

ple? In 1763, what did the clergy do? Who pleaded the cause of the people? Give a sketch of the previous history of Patrick Henry. How old was he at this time? Give an account of his triumph in Hanover court-house. What verdict was returned? How did the people reward their champion ? 271. What injudicious bill was next passed by

1765]

PASSAGE OF THE STAMP ACT.

191

regulations for collecting the revenue. Even before the passage of this bill was announced, the principle it involved was condemned in the strongest terms in a town-meeting at Boston. Samuel Adams, a stout-hearted patriot, who had already proved that taxation and representation were inseparable, protested in the name of the people against the assumption by Parliament of powers fatal to liberty and inconsistent with the rights to which every Briton was born. X27. In 1765, the famous Stamp Act was passed. It had long been contemplated by the enemies of America, but no British statesman up to this time had ventured to urge its passage. According to its provisions, no deed, bond, note, lease, contract, or other legal document, was valid, without a stamp, costing, according to the nature of the instrument, from 3 pence to £6. Every newspaper, pamphlet, almanac, &c., was also required to bear a stamp, costing from a halfpenny to 4 pence; and on each advertisement they contained a duty of two shillings was imposed. The passage of this act seemed to sound the knell of freedom in America. "The sun of liberty is set,” wrote Franklin to Charles Thompson, the future secretary of Congress; "the Americans must light the lamps of industry and economy." "Be assured," was his friend's answer, "we shall light torches of a very different character." Such was the general feeling of the colonists-war, rather than submission to injustice.

The House of Burgesses of Virginia was in session when the news arrived. Odious as the measure was, there was danger in opposing it, and no one dared to introduce the subject. Patrick Henry was the youngest member. After waiting in vain for older men to lead the way, he hastily drew up on the blank leaf of an old law-book five resolutions, which in strong terms asserted the rights of the colonies and denied the authority of Parliament to impose taxes upon them. The reading of these resolutions produced unbounded Parliament? Before the news arrived, where was the principle it involved strongly ondemned? What did Samuel Adams do? 272. In 1765, what act was passed? What was the substance of the Stamp Act? On its enactment, what did Franklin write to one of his friends? What was his friend's reply? What was the general feeling throughout the colonies? What body was in session when the news arrived? State what took

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