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Page 53
Grandfather went on to tell the proceedings of the despotic king and
ministry of England, after the repeal of the Stamp Act. They could not
bear to think, that their right to tax America should be disputed by the
people. In the year 1767, therefore, they caused Parliament to pass an
act for laying a duty on tea, and some other articles that were in
general use. Nobody could now buy a pound of tea, without paying a tax
to King George. This scheme was pretty craftily contrived; for the women
of America were very fond of tea, and did not like to give up the use of
it.
But the people were as much opposed to this new act of Parliament, as
they had been to the Stamp Act. England, however, was determined that
they should submit. In order to compel their obedience, two regiments,
consisting of more than seven hundred British soldiers, were sent to
Boston. They arrived in September, 1768, and were landed on Long Wharf.
Thence they marched to the Common, with loaded muskets, fixed bayonets,
and great pomp and parade. So now, at last, the free town of Boston was
guarded and over-awed by red-coats, as it had been in the days of old
Sir Edmund Andros.
In the month of November, more regiments arrived. There were now four
thousand troops in Boston. The Common was whitened with their tents.
Some of the soldiers were lodged in Faneuil Hall, which the inhabitants
looked upon as a consecrated place, because it had been the scene of a
great many meetings in favor of liberty. One regiment was placed in the
town house, which we now call the Old State House. The lower floor of
this edifice had hitherto been used by the merchants as an exchange. In
the upper stories were the chambers of the judges, the representatives,
and the governor's council. The venerable counsellors could not assemble
to consult about the welfare of the province, without being challenged
by sentinels, and passing among the bayonets of the British soldiers.
Sentinels, likewise, were posted at the lodgings of the officers, in
many parts of the town. When the inhabitants approached, they were
greeted by the sharp question--"Who goes there?" while the rattle of the
soldier's musket was heard, as he presented it against their breasts.
There was no quiet, even on the Sabbath day. The pious descendants of
the Puritans were shocked by the uproar of military music, the drum,
fife, and bugle, drowning the holy organ peal and the voices of the
singers. It would appear as if the British took every method to insult
the feelings of the people.
"Grandfather," cried Charley, impatiently, "the people did not go to
fighting half soon enough! These British red-coats ought to have been
driven back to their vessels, the very moment they landed on Long
Wharf."
"Many a hot-headed young man said the same as you do, Charley," answered
Grandfather. "But the elder and wiser people saw that the time was not
yet come. Meanwhile, let us take another peep at our old chair."
"Ah, it drooped its head, I know," said Charley, "when it saw how the
province was disgraced. Its old Puritan friends never would have borne
such doings."
"The chair," proceeded Grandfather, "was now continually occupied by
some of the high tories, as the king's friends were called, who
frequented the British Coffee House. Officers of the custom-house, too,
which stood on the opposite side of King Street, often sat in the chair,
wagging their tongues against John Hancock."
"Why against him?" asked Charley.
"Because he was a great merchant, and contended against paying duties to
the king," said Grandfather.
"Well, frequently, no doubt, the officers of the British regiments, when
not on duty, used to fling themselves into the arms of our venerable
chair. Fancy one of them, a red nosed captain, in his scarlet uniform,
playing with the hilt of his sword, and making a circle of his brother
officers merry with ridiculous jokes at the expense of the poor Yankees.
And perhaps he would call for a bottle of wine, or a steaming bowl of
punch, and drink confusion to all rebels."
"Our grave old chair must have been scandalized at such scenes,"
observed Laurence. "The chair that had been the Lady Arbella's, and
which the holy Apostle Eliot had consecrated."
"It certainly was little less than sacrilege," replied Grandfather; "but
the time was coming, when even the churches, where hallowed pastors had
long preached the word of God, were to be torn down or desecrated by the
British troops. Some years passed, however, before such things were
done."
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