George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

‘ [331] will not cancel more than thirty years laborious

Chap. XLIII.} 1770. Jan.

and disinterested services in support of government.’ He looked to his Council; and they would take no part in breaking up the system of non-importation. He called in all the justices who lived within fifteen miles; and they thought it not incumbent on them to interrupt the proceedings. He sent the sheriff into the adjourned meeting of the merchants with a letter to the moderator, requiring them in his Majesty's name to disperse; and the meeting, of which justices of peace, selectmen, representatives, constables and other officers made a part, sent him an answer, that their Assembly was warranted by law. He saw that the answer was in Hancock's handwriting,¹ and he treasured up the autograph to be produced one day, when Hancock should be put on trial.

The news from Boston spread through the country. ‘It is hard,’ said Trumbull, now Governor of Connecticut, ‘to break connections with our mother country; but when she strives to enslave us, the strictest union must be dissolved.’² And as he looked through the world, he exclaimed: ‘The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, and the multitude of the isles be glad thereof; the accomplishment of some notable prophecies is at hand.’³

‘If the people of New-York are more restrained,’ wrote Hutchinson, ‘it is owing to the form of government of their city.’⁴ Their Liberty Pole had stood safely in the Park for nearly three years. The