The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON, June 20, 1768.

Officers of the Customs for this Port, made a Seizure of a Sloop belonging to and lying at the Wharf of John Hancock, Esq; which Vessel was improved as a Store to put some Barrels of Oil on board, there being no room in the Owner's Store on the Wharf: After the Officers took Possession of the Sloop, one of them made a Signal to his Majesty's Ship Romney, then lying off in the Harbour, whereupon the Boats belonging to the said Ship, were immediately manned and armed, and made towards the Wharf: Several Gentlemen present advised the Officers not to move her, as there would be no Attempt allowed by the Owner to rescue her out of their Hands; but notwithstanding this Declaration her Fast was cut away, and she carried under the Guns of the Romney:

This Conduct provoked the People who had collected on the Shore, and in the Dispute, the Collector, the Comptroller of his Majesty's Customs, and the Collector's Son, were roughly used, and pelted with Stones, none of them much hurt:

The Noise brought together a mix'd Multitude who followed up to the Comptroller's House, & broke some of his Windows, but withdrew by the Advice of some prudent Gentlemen that interposed; they were joined by a number of Sailors, and vagrant Persons who were suspicious of an Intention to put them on board the Ship,--these went in search for one of the Man of War's Boats, in their way met with the Inspector of Exports and Imports, him they attacked, broke his Sword, and tore his Cloaths; but by some Assistance he with difficulty escaped into a House in King Street:--No Boat being ashore, between 8 & 9 o'Clock they went to one of the Docks, and dragged out a large Pleasure Boat belonging to the Collector, this they drew along the Street, with loud huzzaing all the way, into the Common, where they set Fire to it, and burnt it to Ashes: they also broke several Windows of the Houses of the Collector and Inspector-General, which were nigh the Common:

No other Outrage was committed that Night.

There were some Occurrences respecting the Officers of the Romney, preceding this Affair, that raised the Resentment of the Populace; but which, we hear, since the Conference which his Excellency the Governor and a Committee from the Honorable Council, had with the Captain of the Man of War, on Thursday last, are all amicably settled; and the Captain has given all the satisfaction that could be expected. However, before this Conference, there appeared such a prospect of the Trade and Business of this and the other Towns being in a manner ruin'd, as raised such a Clamour with the People, that the Board of Commissioners (those of them who arrived here last November from England) and their Officers, together with the Collector and Comptroller for this Port, thought it most prudent to repair on board the Romney, where they have ever since remained.

On Monday the People in Town were in great agitation: but lest any tumult might arise at Night, the Consequences whereof would be very prejudicial, a Notification was posted up in divers parts of the Town, requesting the Sons of Liberty to meet at Liberty-Hall the next Day at ten o'Clock in the Forenoon: the expectation of this Meeting kept the Town in Peace, accordingly at the Hour appointed, vast Numbers of the Inhabitants appeared at and near the Hall: but the Weather being Wet and uncomfortable in the Street, they adjourned to Faneuil-Hall; where it was proposed to have a legal Meeting called; accordingly a Warrant was issued by the Selectmen to the Constables to Warn a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town, at Three o'Clock: At which time the Inhabitants met, consisting of a larger Number than was ever known on any Occasion: and after very cool and deliberate Debates upon the distress'd circumstances of the Town, and the present critical Situation of their Affairs, it was unanimously voted, that a Committee wait on his Excellency the Governor of the Province, with the following Petition, viz.

Province of the Massachusetts-Bay.

To his Excellency Francis Bernard, Esquire,
Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over said Province, and Vice-Admiral of the same.

The Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in Town Meeting legally assembled,

Humbly shew,

THAT, your Petitioners consider the British Constitution as the basis of their Safety and Happiness. By that, is established, no man shall be governed by laws, nor taxed but by himself, or representative, legally and fairly chosen, and to which he does not give his own consent. In open violation of these fundamental rights of Britons, laws and taxes are imposed on us, to which we not only have not given our consent, but against which we have most firmly remonstrated'--Dutiful petitions have been preferred to our most gracious Sovereign, which (tho' to the great consternation of the people, we now learn, have been cruelly and industriously prevented reaching the Royal Presence) we have waited to receive a gracious answer to, with the greatest attention to the public peace, until we find ourselves invaded with an armed force, seizing, impressing and imprisoning the persons of our fellow-subjects, contrary to express Acts of parliament.

Menaces have been thrown out, fit only for Barbarians, which already affect us in the most sensible manner, and threaten us with famine and desolation, as all navigation is obstructed, upon which alone our whole support depends, and the town is at this crisis in a situation, nearly such, as if war was formally declared against it.

To contend with our parent state, is in our idea the most shocking and dreadful extremity; but tamely to relinquish the only security we and our posterity retain of the enjoyment of our lives and properties, without one struggle, is so humiliating and base, that we cannot support the reflection: We apprehend, Sir! that it is at your option, in your power, and we would hope in your inclination, to prevent this distressed, and justly incensed people, from effecting too much, & from the shame & reproach of attempting too little.

As the Board of Customs, have thought fit, of their own motion, to relinquish the exercise of their commission here, and as we cannot but hope, that, being convinced of the impropriety and injustice of the appointment of a Board, with such enormous powers, & the inevitable destruction which would ensue from the exercise of their office, will never re-assume it. We flatter ourselves, your Excellency will in tenderness to this people, use the best means in your power, to remove the other grievances, we so justly complain of, and issue your immediate order, to the commander of his Majesty's ship Romney, to remove from this harbour, till we shall be ascertained of the success of our applications.

And your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, &c.

At the same Time the Town directed their Committee to prepare a Letter to Dennis DeBerdt Esq; in London, setting forth the Conduct of the Commissioners and Officers of the Customs, and the Officers of his Majesty's Ship Romney, relating to a Seizure made the preceding Friday, as well as the Behavior of some of the Inhabitants in the Evening following, in an impartial Manner, supported by Affidavits, to prevent the ill Impressions that may be made, by a Misrepresentation; and then adjourned to the next Day.

At the Adjournment on Wednesday the 15th, the Committee appointed to present the Town's Petition to the Governor, reported from his Excellency the following Answer, viz.

Gentlemen,

My office and station make me a very incompetent judge of the rights you claim against acts of parliament: and therefore it would be to no purpose for me to express my opinion thereupon.

All I can say is, that I shall not knowingly infringe any of your rights and privileges, but shall religiously maintain all those which are committed to me as a servant of the King.

In regard to the impressing men for the service of the King in his ships of war, it is practiced in Great-Britain, and all other his Majesty's dominions, and therefore I cannot dispute it in this part of them. But I shall use my utmost endeavours to get it regulated so as to avoid all the inconveniencies to this town which you are apprehensive of: and from the knowledge I have of Capt. Corner, I have no doubt of my succeeding therein.

I cannot pretend to enter into any dispute between you and your parent state: I desire to be a faithful servant in regard to both; and I shall think myself most highly honored, if I can be in the lowest degree an instrument in preserving a perfect conciliation between them. I can assure you that if it was as much in power as it is in my will it would always be preserved.

I am obliged by all kinds of duty, by my general instructions, and by his Majesty's special orders to protect, aid and assist the Commissioners of the Customs (appointed under the great seal of GREAT-BRITAIN, in pursuance of an Act of parliament) and their officers in their persons and offices. And whether they shall or shall not relinquish the exercise of their commission, I must not fail to give them all the protection, aid and assistance in my power. If in so doing I shall give offence, I shall be sorry for it. But I shall never regret the doing my duty.

I have no command over his Majesty's ship. and therefore cannot issue such orders as you desire, nor indeed any order to the commander of his Majesty's ship the Romney. And it would be highly improper for me to make a requisition to him to remove from this harbour, when I know he is stationed here by a superior officer, & cannot remove from hence but by his orders.

FRANCIS BERNARD.

At this Adjournment the Town appointed another Committee to prepare Instructions for their Representatives, at this alarming Crisis; and further adjourned to Friday the 17th, at 4 o'Clock.

On Friday the Town met by Adjournment, and received the Report of their Committee, and unanimously voted the following Instructions to their Representatives, viz.

To the Hon. James Otis, and Thomas Cushing,
Esq'rs, Mr. Samuel Adams, and John Hancock Esq;

GENTLEMEN,

AFTER the Repeal of the late American Stamp-Act, we were happy in the pleasing prospect of a restoration of that tranquility and unanimity among ourselves, and that harmony and affection between our parent country & us, which had generally subsisted before that detestable Act.

But with the utmost grief and concern, we find that we flattered ourselves too soon, and that the root of bitterness is yet alive --The principle on which that Act was founded continues in full force, & a revenue is still demanded from America.

We have the mortification to observe one Act of Parliament after another passed for the express purpose of raising a revenue from us; to see our money continually collecting from us without our consent, by an authority in the constitution of which we have no share, and over which we have no kind of influence or controul; to see the little circulating cash that remained among us for the support of our trade, from time to time transmitted to a distant country, never to return, or what in our estimation is worse, if possible, appropriated to the maintenance of swarms of Officers and Pensioners in idleness and luxury, whose example has a tendency to corrupt our morals, and whose arbitrary dispositions will trample on our rights.

Under all these misfortunes and afflictions, however, it is our fixed resolution to maintain our loyalty and duty to our most gracious Sovereign, a reverence and due subordination to the British Parliament, as the supreme legislature in all cases of necessity, for the preservation of the whole Empire, and our cordial and sincere affection of our parent country; and to use our utmost endeavors for the preservation of peace and order among ourselves, waiting with anxious expectation, for a favorable answer to the petitions and solicitations of this continent, for relief.--At the same time, it is our unalterable resolution, at all times, to assert and vindicate our dear and invaluable rights and liberties, at the utmost hazard of our lives and fortunes. and we have a full and rational confidence that no designs formed against them will ever prosper.

That such designs have been formed and are still in being we have reason to apprehend. A multitude of Place-men and Pensioners, and an enormous train of Underlings and Dependants, all novel in this country, we have seen already.

Their imperious tempers, their rash, inconsiderate and weak behaviour, are well known.

In this situation of affairs, several armed vessels, and among the rest, his Majesty's ship of war the Romney, have appeared in our harbour, and the last, as we believe, by the express application of the board of Commissioners, with design to overawe and terrify the inhabitants of this town into base compliances and unlimited submission, has been anchored within a cable's length of the wharves

But passing over other irregularities, we are assured that the last alarming Act of that ship, viz. the violent, and in our opinion illegal seizure of a vessel lying at a wharf, and cutting of her fasts & removing her with an armed force in hostile manner under the protection of the King's ship, without any probable cause of seizure that we know of, or indeed any cause that has yet been made known; no libel or prosecution whatever having yet been instituted against her, was by the express order, or request in writing of the Board of Commissioners to the commander of that ship.

In addition to all this, we are continually alarmed with rumours and reports of new revenue Acts to be passed, new importations of Officers &
Pensioners to suck the life-blood of the body politic while it is streaming from the veins; fresh arrival of ships of war to be a still severer restraint upon our trade; and the arrival of a military force to dragoon us into passive obedience; orders and requisitions transmitted to New-York, Halifax & to England, for regiments and troops to preserve the public peace.

Under the distresses arising from this state of things, with the highest confidence in your integrity, abilities and fortitude, you will exert yourselves Gentlemen, on this occasion, that nothing be left undone that may conduce to our relief; and in particular we recommend it to your consideration and discretion, in the first place, to endeavour that impresses of all kinds may if possible be prevented. There is an Act of Parliament in being, which has never been repealed, for the encouragement of the trade to America. We mean the 6 Ann. Chap. xxxvii. Sect. 9. where it is enacted, "That no Mariner, or other Person who shall serve on board, or be retained to serve on board any Privateer, or trading Ship or Vessel, that shall be employed in any Part of America, nor any Mariner, or other Person, being on shore in any part thereof, shall be liable to be impressed or taken away by any Officer or Officers of, or belonging to any of her Majesty's Ships of War, impowered by the Lord High Admiral, or any other Person whatsoever, unless such Person shall have before deserted from such Ship of War, belonging to her Majesty, at any Time after the 14th of February 1707, upon Pain that any Officer or Officers of impressing or taking away, or causing to be impressed or taken away, any Mariner or other Person, contrary to the Tenor and true Meaning of this Act, Shall forfeit to the Master, or Owner or Owners of any such Ship or Vessel, Twenty Pounds for every Man, he or they shall so impress or take, to be recovered with full Costs of Suit, in any of her Majesty's Dominions." So that any impresses of any Mariner, from any vessel whatever, appears to be in direct violation of an Act of Parliament. In the next place, 'tis our desire that you inquire and use your endeavors to promote a parliamentary enquiry for the authors and propagators of such alarming rumours and reports as we have mentioned before; and whether the Commissioners or any other persons whatever have really wrote or solicited for troops to be sent here from New York, Halifax, England or elsewhere, and for what end, and that you forward, if you think it expedient, in the House of Representatives, resolutions that every such person who shall solicit or promote the importation of troops at this time, is an enemy to this town and province, and a disturber of the peace and good order of both.

Then the Meeting Was dissolved.