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The Diary and Letters of His Excellency Thomas Hutchinson (1883)
The Diary and Letters of His Excellency Thomas Hutchinson - 1883 Author:Thomas Hutchinson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. " However, a few months had great effect that way [removing prejudices], when another affair was brought on which raised the flame higher than eve... more »r it had been. " A large quantity of Tea, subject to a duty of 3d. per lb., by advice of Ministry, was shipped to the Colonies, and 600 chests of it was ordered to Boston. It was soon resolved by the people that this duty should not be paid." Those who are familiar with American history have had enough of the Tea riots, and most persons might feel that sufficient had been said upon the subject to satisfy most appetites; but there are several letters in the editor's hands which may contain something new, and as they have never yet been given to the public, to withhold them would be a fault. The following is the original, bound up in the first volume of the three folios with blue leather backs, written from Milton to one of his sons—probably the eldest, who had taken refuge in the Castle. " Milton, 30 Nov., 1773. " My Dear Son, " Hall, arriving on Sunday, caused one of the old sort of Meetings of Town and Country the next day, where they resolved, in Doctor Sewall's Meeting House, that the tea should be shipped back, and that no duty should be paid, and 25 were appointed as a guard upon the ship last night, Hancock and Adams being two of the guard. The gentlemen, except your uncle Clarke, all went to the Castle about 3 o'clock yesterday. The L. G. writes me that the Meeting was desired by Mr Clarke's friends, to be adjourned until this morning, in order to some proposals. I hope they will not comply with such a monstrous demand. I have just sent Talbot to Town with a Declaration to be read by the Sheriff, if they will give him leave. This may possibly cause me to take my lodgings at the Castle also. I was in town...« less