103 



ninety, found ample space in the court room, which was fifty 

 feet lon^i" and thirty feet wide. The Assembly organized ; 

 John Hancock was chosen chairman and Benjamin Lin- 

 coln, clerk. A committee was then appointed to consider 



the governor's proclamation, and to consult on measures 

 to be adopted, and the Assembly again adjourned. On 

 Friday, Ihe 7th of October, the committee reported four 

 resolutions, concluding with the declaration that the 

 grievances which they set forth were such as "in all good 

 governments," had "been considered among the greatest 

 reasons for convening a Parliament or Assembly," and 

 that the proclamation was further proof of the necessity 

 of "most vigorous and immediate exertions for preserv- 

 ing the freedom and constitution" of the province. The 

 resolutions were immediately adopted. Having thus sol- 

 emnly renounced the authority of Parliament, and af- 

 firmed the fundamental right of the people to institute a 

 government, when, in their judgment the regular admin- 

 istration had overstepped the limits of the constitution, 

 they adjourned to more comfortable quarters at Concord, 

 to meet on the following Tuesday. Here they continued 

 their sittings, with a few weeks' intermission, until the 

 10th of December. At Concord they organized the Con- 

 gress by raising Hancock to the presidency, and made 

 Lincoln their secretary. Their progress toward practical 

 independence was now sure and speedy. Before the end 

 of October, all constables and collectors of taxes had 

 submitted to their order to withhold payment from Har- 

 rison Gray, the province treasurer, and to return their 

 collections to Henry Gardner, who soon after was ap- 

 pointed receiver general ; and with closed doors and 

 under a solemn pledge of secrecy, they had resolved 

 upon the momentous subject of "the most proper time" 

 to procure arms and ammunition by unanimously adopt- 



