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

[416] defeat the choice of Samuel Adams as Representative.

Chap. XLVII.} 1772. May.

The effort failed; he had more than twice and a half as many votes as his opponent,¹ and the malice of his enemies rendered him still dearer to the people.

The Legislature was for the fourth year, convened

June.

at Cambridge; but the Governor had grown weary of his pretensions, and with a very ill grace, against his declared purpose, adjourned the session to the accustomed House in Boston. The long altercation on that subject subsided; but the system of British supremacy was sure to produce new collisions.

Inhabitants of Providence, in Rhode Island, had in the last March, complained to the Deputy Governor of the conduct of Lieutenant Dudingston, Commander of the Gaspee, who obstructed their vessels and boats, without showing any evidence of his authority. Hopkins, the Chief Justice, on being consulted, gave the opinion, ‘that any person who should come into the Colony and exercise any authority by force of arms, without showing his commission to the Governor, and if a Custom House officer, without being sworn into his office, was guilty of a trespass, if not piracy.’ The Governor, therefore, sent a sheriff on board the Gaspee, to ascertain by what orders the Lieutenant acted; and Dudingston referred the subject to the Admiral.

The Admiral answered from Boston: ‘The Lieutenant, Sir, has done his duty. I shall give the King's officers directions, that they send every man taken in molesting them to me. As sure as the people of Newport attempt to rescue any vessel, and any of them ² ’