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

‘ [427] King of Great Britain, and assure him (unless their

Chap. XLVIII.} 1772. Oct.

Liberties are immediately restored whole and entire), they will form an independent Commonwealth, after the example of the Dutch Provinces; and offer a free trade to all nations. Should any one Province begin the example, the other Provinces will follow; and Great Britain must comply with our demands, or sink under the united force of the French and Spaniards. This is the plan that wisdom and Providence point out to preserve our rights, and this alone.’¹

Towards executing that design Adams moved with calm and undivided purpose; conducting public measures with a caution that left no step to be retraced. The attendance at Faneuil Hall was not great² the town only raised a Committee to inquire of the Governor, if the Judges of the Province had become the stipendiaries of the Crown; after which it adjourned for two days. ‘This country,’ said Samuel Adams, in the interval, ‘must shake off its intolerable burdens at all events; every day strengthens our oppressors, and weakens us; if each town would declare its sense, our enemies could not divide us;’³ and he urged on Elbridge Gerry of Marblehead, to convoke the citizens of that port.

As the Governor refused to answer the inquiry of the town, they next asked that he would allow the General Assembly to meet on the day to which it had been prorogued.

A determined spirit began to show itself in the

Nov.