Chapter 27:
Charles Townshend Usurps the lead in Government— Chatham's Administration continued.October, 1766—January, 1767.
the people of Massachusetts lulled themselvesChap. XXVII.} 1766. Oct. |
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into the belief that they were ‘restored once more’ to the secure enjoyment ‘of their rights and liberties.’
But their secret enemies, some from a lust of power, and others from an inordinate love of money,1 still restlessly combined to obtain an American army and an American tribute, representing them in numerous letters as necessary for the enforcement of the Navigation Acts, and even for the existence of Government.
When the soldiers stationed in New-York had, in the night2 of the tenth of August, cut down the flagstaff of the citizens, the General reported the ensuing quarrel as a proof of ‘anarchy and confusion,’ and the requisiteness of troops for the support of ‘the laws.’3 Yet the New-York Association of the Sons of Liberty had been dissolved; and all efforts to keep up ‘its glorious spirit,’ were subor
1 Candidus [Samuel Adams], in Boston Gazette, 9 Sept. 1771.
2 Holt's Gazette, 1232; 14 Aug. 1766, and 1233, 21 Aug. 1766. Dunlap's History of New-York, i. 433; Isaac Q. Leake's Life of John Lamb, 36.
3 General Gage to Secretary Richmond, 26 Aug. 1766.
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1859.
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