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at length into the subject of the meeting, and treated briefly the question of parliamentary supremacy; urging that it was impossible for parliament to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever, without violating rights belonging to the people as men, as Christians, and as subjects, or without destroying the foundation of its own constitution. They said it was an unspeakable satisfaction that so many towns, and so many "gentlemen of figure in other colonies," had indorsed the November movement. "It adds a dignity to our proceedings," are their words, "that the House of Representatives, when called upon by the governor to bear their testimony against them, saw reason to declare that they had not discovered that the principles advanced by the town of Boston were unwarrantable by the constitution." An expression of this feeling-that the town was acting in harmony with all friends of the cause-is frequently seen.

The proceedings of the November town-meeting were sent by the Boston committee to leading Whigs of Virginia and other colonies.1 Meantime the burning of the "Gaspee," in Rhode Island, occasioned fresh legislation by parliament affecting personal rights. When the Virginia assembly came together, in March, Dabney Carr moved the memorable resolutions that formed a colonial committee of correspondence for that colony, and invited all the assemblies on the continent to join them. This

1 The report was sent to Franklin, who had it printed in London, and wrote a preface for this edition, in which he said it was "not the production of a private writer, but the unanimous act of a large American city." Sparks ("Works of Franklin," iv. 381) says of this report, "It was the boldest exposition of American grievances which had hitherto been made public, and was drawn up with as much ability as freedom."

was another great step. It was the organization of a national party. It filled the hearts of the Boston patriots with joy. "The reception of the truly patriotic resolves," Samuel Adams wrote to Richard Henry Lee, "of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, gladden the hearts of all who are friends of liberty. Our committee of correspondence had a special meeting on the occasion, and determined to circulate immediately printed copies of them in every town in the province.1 . . . I am desired by them to assure you of their veneration for your most ancient colony, and their unfeigned esteem for the gentlemen of your committee. . . . I hope you will have the hearty concurrence of every assembly on the continent." And the patriot gave an assurance of the hearty co-operation of Massachusetts. Hutchinson, when he saw the action of Virginia, abandoned the futile claim of having thwarted the patriots; urged that their triumph would be greater than ever, if their doings were allowed to pass unnoticed by the ministry; said

1 The "Boston Gazette," May 17, 1773, has a letter by the Woburn committee, addressed to the Boston committee, which shows the manner in which the action of Virginia was responded to by the towns. Woburn is about ten miles

from Boston: :

"WOBURN, April 24, 1778.

"GENTLEMEN,-We have just received your letter, dated the 9th inst., wherein are contained not only the spirited proceedings of the town of Boston of the 8th of March last, but an extract of the noble and patriotic resolves of the Honorable House of Burgesses in Virginia, which, in our esteem, are worthy the imitation of every house of general assembly on this continent; and may they all follow the example which that virtuous province hath set, whose name was given to it in honor of a virgin!

"We are with respect, gentlemen, your obedient and humble servants,

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that something should be done, though he was at a loss to say what it should be; and endeavored to rouse his party to decisive action. He complained that, after the delivery of his last address, the Government was deserted, and alleged that a dozen of the best men on his side had left the general court when it was in their power to have given affairs a turn in favor of the Tory cause.

While engaged in the labors of the committee, and doubtless sharing the general joy, Warren's home became a house of mourning by the death of his wife. She left four children. The "Boston Gazette" (May 3, 1773) has the following notice and tribute:

"On Tuesday last, Mrs. Elizabeth Warren, the amiable and virtuous consort of Dr. Joseph Warren, in the twenty-sixth year of her age. Her remains were decently interred last Friday afternoon.

"If fading lilies, when they droop and die,

Robbed of each charm that pleased the gazing eye,

With sad regret the grieving mind inspire,

What then when virtue's brightest lamps expire?

Ethereal spirits see the system's right,

But mortal minds demand a clearer sight.
In spite of reason's philosophic art,

A tear must fall to indicate the heart.

Could reason's force disarm the tyrant foe,

Or calm the mind that feels the fatal blow,
No clouded thought had discomposed the mind
Of him whom Heaven ordained her dearest friend.
Good sense and modesty with virtue crowned
A sober mind, when fortune smiled or frowned;
So keen a feeling for a friend distressed,
She could not bear to see a worm oppressed.
These virtues fallen enhance the scene of woe,
Swell the big drops that scarce confinement know,
And force them down in copious showers to flow.
But know, thou tyrant, Death, thy force is spent,
Thine arm is weakened, and thy bow unbent.
Secured from insults from your grisly train
Of marshalled slaves t' inflict disease and pain,

She rides triumphant in the aërial course,
To land at pleasure's inexhausted Source.
Celestial Genii, line the heavenly way,

And guard her passage to the realms of day."

The "Massachusetts Gazette" of May 20, 1773, has

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Quisnam novit eam, gemitusque negare profundos
Posset? permagni est criminis ille reus." - D*****.

About this time, Samuel Adams was requested to name one or more persons for membership of the London "Society for Supporting the Bill of Rights," the main object of which was the preservation of the English constitution as it had been established at the Revolution. In reply, Adams wrote to Arthur Lee, a member, as follows: "I can with the greatest integrity nominate my two worthy and intimate friends, John Adams and Joseph Warren, Esqs.; the one eminent in the profession of law, and the other equally so in that of physic; both of them men of an unblemished moral character, and zealous advocates of the common rights of mankind."

At the election of representatives in May, Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and William Phillips, received nearly all the votes; the largest number being four hundred and eighteen, and the lowest being only five less. The committee chosen by the town to prepare the customary instructions to them consisted of Warren as the chairman, Benjamin Church, Joseph Greenleaf, Nathaniel Appleton, and William Cooper. The draft probably was by War

ren.

It regarded the unanimity of the election, at the important juncture, as evidence of the confidence which the people reposed in the ability of these patriots and their inflexible attachment to constitutional rights; and of the general conviction that they would vigorously oppose encroachments on their ancient privileges, and never betray their constituents by surrendering the powers "of framing laws and taxes for the people to any usurper under heaven." These terms indicate the ardent character of this paper. It was quite elaborate. It dwelt on political grievances, and claimed that the privileges and powers of the commons of the colony as to legislation were as uncontrollable within the colony as were the commons of England within the realm, but that both were subject "to the revision of the king." It closed by warmly commending the plan proposed by "the noble, patriotic sister colony of Virginia," with the most sanguine expectation, that a union of counsels and conduct among the colonies, by the smiles of Heaven, would assuredly fix their rights on a solid basis.

The legislature, which met in May, promptly responded to the union action of Virginia, by choosing a legislative committee of correspondence. It was soon announced, that Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire had joined in this action; and it was said (June 14) in the press,

"The day, the important day, is come, of old
By our prophetic ancestors foretold," -

of a union of the colonies. Under this couplet, which heads an article, is the following: "Things are mov

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