personally guarded both vessel and cargo in safety till the next morning. On the 29th, A. M., the Comptroller of the Customs informed me that these mariners had got drums, and were assembling thoughtless people to destroy the tea and sloop. At the same time I received a letter, No. 1, a copy herewith enclosed, from the consignee, desiring my aid and assistance to take possession of the sloop and cargo. Hereupon I directed the Sheriff instantly to summon the Council and every Magistrate and peace officer to meet me forthwith on the wharf, where the vessel lay, determining to disperse any riotous attempts, and order the vessel to the Castle; while I was going out on this my duty: a messenger came to tell me that some Magistrates and two of the Council, Mr. Warner and Mr. Rindge, who happened to be in the way, hearing the noise, had repaired to the place, and, with many other freeholders, silenced the drums, and prevailed on the people to disperse, without any outrage. At this time I received a second letter, No. 2, herewith, from the consignee, to the same purport as the first. I lost no time in writing an order to Captain Cochran, immediately to take possession, defend, protect, and safely deliver the said vessel and cargo to the merchant, or to his orders; and the Sheriff, John Parker, Esq., to take command of the Castle in his absence, as will appear fully by the enclosure, No. 3. In the evening, about half past six, observing the wind to be contrary, I despatched a second order to Captain Cochran, still to continue in the orders of the morning, as by the enclosure, No. 4. Those orders were directly carried into effect, with a prudence and firmness that does honour to both the officers. On the 30th the owner of the sloop, the master, and the supercargo to whose care the consignee committed the tea, came on board, with proper Custom House clearances, and authority from the consignee. Captain Cochran examined the twenty-seven chests of tea, found them perfectly safe, and in good order, desired the three last mentioned persons to examine the same, which they did, and, then received both vessel and cargo into their possession, forthwith sailed for Halifax. Mr. Parker, the Sheriff and Captain Cochran, returned to their respective duties, and have made return of their doings on my orders, as in the enclosures, No. 5 and 6. During these transactions, viz., on the evening of the 27th, and morning of the 28th, I told the Collector and Comptroller, also the consignee, that if they wanted any aid or assistance, or were apprehensive of danger, I was ready, whenever they would apply to me, and would not only issue orders, but would in person defend them; that I was confident the magistrates and freeholders would not desert me: but they would not apply, declaring they then apprehended no danger.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A VERY RESPECTABLE GENTLEMAN IN LONDON, TO A CORRESPONDENT IN PHILADELPHIA.

London, July 5, 1774.

The present state of political affairs furnishes nothing less disagreeable than my last informed. The Quebec Bill, we apprehend, will produce the most distressing jealousies among the Protestant inhabitants of that country, and indeed of all America. With us the staunchest friends to Hanoverian succession have not scrupled publickly to pronounce it the most daring stretch of the prerogative of the Crown, and the most sinful violation of the rights of a free people, that the annals of Britain, or any other Nation in the world, register. Enclosed you have the address and petition of the Lord Mayor, Alderman and Commons of this city to his Majesty, which is considered one of the grandest and most spirited addresses ever handed to a Throne, insomuch that many hundreds of them, elegantly framed and glazed, have been purchased as household pictures by the nobility, gentry, &c., to transmit to future ages the virtue, sincerity, and honest boldness of so respectable a body of men. The coin of prophecies is now become current here, and we have too much reason to fear, that some presage, of dreadful import, will, ere long, be realized Very much, all, indeed, depends on the hardihood and publick virtue of the Americans. If the brave Bostonians maintain theirs, at this trying juncture, all will be well; for their conduct will furnish a criterion whereby to regulate Government here, in a judgment of the success of the iniquitous measures they purpose adopting throughout the Continent. It is strongly imagined that many presses, I mean printing presses, in the Colonies, are at present fettered in golden chains, sent over by the Ministry for that purpose. One or two to the Northward of you have been publickly mentioned, but as a little time must discover the truth or falsity of this suspicion, I shall forbear entering into particulars. The publick prints from your city, as well as those from Virginia, are in admired request with all ranks of people, except the tools of despotism; but should the Ministry succeed in the enterprises they have already undertaken, with respect to the Colonies, you will assuredly be robbed of that darling privilege the freedom of the press; for effecting which, a scheme, I am well informed, is now agitating in the Cabinet, upon a new plan, lately hatched by a certain Lord, whose name is always opposite to the sun in its meridian, and who has publickly declared, that he is determined strenuously to oppose the meridian of your glory in the Western world.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM DEPUTY GOVERNOR PENN TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Philadelphia, July 5, 1774.

MY LORD: In my last, of the 31st of May, I bad the honour to inform your Lordship of my expectation that a petition would be presented to me for calling the Assembly. I have since received such a petition, and herewith transmit you a copy of it, as also of my answer. In consequence of my refusal to call the Assembly, "there was a general meeting of the people of this city and county, which, I am informed, was not so full as might have been expected on such an occasion,

Their proceedings I am only acquainted with by the newspapers, one of which I send your Lordship, which contains the transactions of the day. The general temper of the people, as well here as in other parts of America, is very warm. They look upon the chastisement of tie people of Boston to be purposely rigorous, and held up byway of intimidation to all America; and, in short, that Boston is suffering in the common cause. Their delinquency in destroying the East India Company's tea, is lost in the attention given to what is here called, the too severe punishment of shutting up the port, altering the Constitution, and making an Act, as they term it, screening the officers and soldiers shedding American blood. The plan which seems to be universally adopted is the procuring a general Congress, in order to state the rights, and represent the grievances of America to the Throne; and to agree upon such measures as may be thought most likely to relieve Boston, and restore harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies.

The measures generally talked of is the non-importation and non-exportation from and to England. Some are for making it general, and others for limiting it, but all for associating against the use of East India goods of every kind, except saltpetre and spices. In the mean time, as great numbers of people will be reduced to absolute indigence for want of their usual employment, collections are making here, and in all other parts of America, for their relief.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GOVERNOUR GAGE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Salem, July 5, 1774.

MY LORD: Since my letter, No. 3, of the 26th ultimo, a number of the better sort of people attended a town meeting at Boston, with design to make a push to pay for the tea, and annihilate the Committee of Correspondence, but they were out voted by a great majority of the lower class. The minority drew up a Protest, which I transmit your lordship from a newspaper.

The above Committee, hid sent a circular letter through the Province, accompanied with a paper called a League and Covenant, of so pernicious a tendency, that I judged it proper, without loss of time, to publish a Proclamation to prevent the ill effect of it as much as possible. I enclose your Lordship a copy of the Proclamation, together with printed copies of the letter and covenant, and also part of the newspaper containing as much of the proceedings of