could fill his sheet with acts of Government, come into by the town, the Cadet Company, and the clubs, remarking, "We have no sort of companies but which look upon it they have a right to do something or other in public affairs." A Tory writer, in tracing the origin of the popular movement in Boston, says, "Garrets were crowded with patriots; mechanics and lawyers, porters and clergymen, huddled promiscur ously into them; their decisions were oracular; and from thence they poured out their midnight reveries. They soon determined to form an independent empire." 2

Warren's influence in the clubs is noticed by Dr. Eliot, in his biographical sketch, and by Paul Revere, in his well-known military narrative; and his zeal in promoting public meetings is seen in a relation in the Diary of John Adams, who writes, of 1768: "I was solicited to go to the town-meetings, and harangue there. My friend, Dr. Warren, most frequently urged me to do this. My answer to him always was, "That way madness lies.' The symptoms of our great friend Otis, at that time, suggested to Warren a sufficient comment on those words, at which he always smiled, and said it was true."

Warren is named in the proceedings of a townmeeting that was held in March, when he was appointed a member of a committee to prepare a letter of thanks to the author of "The Farmer's Letters." The town recognized the service rendered by the farmer, John Dickinson, in his "most seasonable, sensible, loyal, and vigorous vindication of the rights and liberties of America;" and promised "warmly to

1 Letter, June 7, 1768.

2 News Letter, Jan. 11, 1776.

recommend and industriously to promote that union among the several colonies, which is so indispensably necessary for the security of the whole." The farmer, in a reply, complimented "the rank of Boston," the wisdom of her counsels, and the spirit of her conduct.

Warren appeared before the public as a popular leader in a memorable town-meeting, that was occasioned by the proceedings of the new commissioners of the customs. This board consisted of Charles Paxton, Henry Hulton, William Burch, John Robinson, and John Temple. Not much is said of Hulton or Burch, who were simply placemen; Robinson is remembered by a savage assault on James Otis; Temple, who was not in favor of the creation of the board, incurred the enmity of the other members, by disapproving of some of its doings; Paxton, its ruling spirit, was a bland, courtier-like, greedy partisan, who was very obnoxious to the people. The members were appointed to reside in Boston, and to superintend the collection of the revenue on the line of coast extending from Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico. They held their first board in Mr. Deblois's great room, in Hanover Street, and soon surpassed Bernard in misrepresentations of the designs of the patriots.

The revenue was duly paid; and the members had not been injured, though Burch had been frightened by a collection of boys and others about his house: yet they asserted that their persons were in danger of violence from a mob, and that British sovereignty was threatened with an insurrection of the colonies. They would ask the governor what support he could give them in case of an insurrection. "I answer," Ber

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nard says (March 3, 1768), "none at all. They desire me to apply to the general for troops. I tell them I cannot do it; for I am directed to consult the council about requiring troops, and they will never advise it, let the case be ever so desperate. Indeed, I no more dare apply for troops than the council dare advise me to it. Ever since I have perceived that the wickedness of some and the folly of others will, in the end, bring troops here, I have conducted myself so as to be able to say, and swear to it, if the Sons of Liberty shall require it, that I have never applied for troops; and therefore, my Lord, I beg that nothing I now write may be considered such an application." The commissioners were very desirous to have a British force stationed in the town. About a fortnight ago," Hutchinson writes (March 28, 1768), "I was in consultation with the commissioners. They were very desirous the governor should for a RIf he had done it, by some means or other it would have transpired; and there is no saying to what lengths the people would have gone in their resentment." The commissioners carried themselves so arrogantly in collecting a revenue which was held to be oppressive, that their conduct excited odium in Boston, and elicited censure in England. They were, Samuel Adams said, extremely disgustful to the people, were neglected by men of fortune and character, and were viewed, in general, in no better light than the late stamp commissioners. Expressions of the public feeling are seen in the vote of the Independent Cadets, to the effect that they would not escort the governor, on the day of the election of councillors, if the commissioners were invited to dine with

the governor and council; and also by the vote of the town, refusing the royal governor the use of Faneuil Hall to dine in, unless the commissioners were excluded.1

The commissioners, soon after the consultation just named, obtained a naval force in Boston harbor, by misrepresenting what occurred on the 18th of March, which was the anniversary of the repeal of the Stamp Act, and was celebrated as a holiday. There were, at daylight, hanging on Liberty Tree, effigies of Commissioner Paxton and Inspector Williams, - the last being a cabinet-maker, had a glue-pot by his side; but the popular leaders soon had these removed. During the day, cannon were discharged in the principal streets; public-spirited citizens decorated their residences with flags, and received their friends; a very respectable company had a festive season at the British Coffee House, where one of the toasts was, "The Boston Gazette' and the worthy members of the house who vindicated the freedom

of the press: " in the evening, sailors and appren

tices went through the streets, giving hearty huzzas; and as they passed by the Province House, where Bernard lived, he said they disturbed him and his family by their noise. At ten o'clock, a Whig report says, "The town was quiet, without there having been riot or rumpus; and the whole conduct of the day was a complete exhibition of a decent and rational

1 May 4, 1768. Upon a motion made and seconded, voted, that the selectmen be directed to refuse the use of Faneuil Hall to His Excellency, the governor, and council, on the ensuing election-day, unless it shall be ascertained that the commissioners of the board of customs, or their attendants, are not to be invited to dine there on said day. The town almost unanimously, on the 23d of May, refused to reconsider this vote. - Boston Records.

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The commissioners officially represented, that the mob certainly intended, on this day, to oblige them to resign their commissions under Liberty Tree; that the governor and magistrates had not the least authority in the town; and they made a demand on Commodore Hood, who was at Halifax, for immediate aid to secure the revenue and save the honor of the Government. The moment," this officer says, "application was made to me by the commissioners for assistance from the king's ships, I ordered the 'Romney,' of fifty guns, to Boston, -a lucky event for those gentlemen, as she proved an asylum to them in a time of need; and from time to time I continued to throw in additional force, till they said no more was wanted." 2 Two tenders accompanied the "Romney." Hyperion (Josiah Quincy, jun.) said, in the "Gazette," that the Tories had threatened the defenders of America with halters, fire, and fagots; but there was nothing more serious than threats, or more authentic than rumors, until this appearance of the Romney” and her tenders. As they lay in the harbor, a press-gang from them seized several Massachusetts citizens; a practice, which, though defended even later by Junius, was repudiated in the colonies as a relic of barbarism.

1 The "Boston Post Boy" of March 21 had only the following as to this celebration: "Friday last, being the anniversary of the repeal of the Stamp Act, a number of gentlemen met on the occasion, and dined together at the Bunch of Grapes and British Coffee House in this town." And "The Chronicle," Tory, says the anniversary "was celebrated by a large company, who met at the British Coffee House and Colonel Ingersoll's, in King Street. A numerous body of the people assembled in the evening, and attempted to kindle a bonfire, but were prevented by a number of gentlemen, who at length persuaded them to retire peaceably."

2 Grenville Papers," iv. 362.