70 THE SEA. 



they could no longer submit, and that they therefore added to and fanned the discontent 

 prevailing in America. In view of such facts the action of the home Government is nearly 

 inexplicable. 



When the intelligence of the destruction of the tea reached England, although it 

 was obvious that the opposition which had been shown was common to all the colonies, 

 it was determined to make an example of Boston. " It was reckoned that a partial blow 

 might be dealt to America with much greater severity than could be prudently exacted 

 in more extensive punishment; and it was, doubtless, expected that the Americans in 

 general, without being provoked by personal suffering, would be struck with terror by the 

 rigour inflicted on a city so long renowned as the bulwark of their liberties. Without 

 even the decent formality of requiring the inhabitants of Boston to exculpate themselves, 

 but definitely assuming their guilt in conformity with the despatches of a governor who 

 was notoriously at enmity with them, the Ministers introduced into Parliament a bill for 

 suspending the trade and closing the harbour of Boston during the pleasure of the king. 

 They declared that the duration of this severity would depend entirely upon the conduct 

 of the objects of it; for it would doubtless be relaxed as soon as the people of Boston 

 should make compensation for the tea that had been destroyed, and otherwise satisfy the 

 king of their sincere purpose to render due submission to his Government." The bill 

 encountered little or no opposition in Parliament, a few members only contending that 

 milder measures should be tried. It is impossible to imagine such an occasion to-day. 

 Think of the ports of Sydney or Melbourne, for example, being closed to all trade and 

 commerce from outside, and hundreds of vessels prevented from unloading or loading there, 

 because of irritation prevailing among the Australians, entirely produced by unwise legis- 

 lation, and unjust taxation on the part of the mother country. Yet this is what was done 

 with our American colonies little more than a hundred years ago. 



Mark what followed. On the arrival of the first copy of the Boston Port Bill a town 

 meeting was convened in that city, and it was recommended, " That all commercial inter- 

 course whatever with Britain and the West Indies should be renounced by the American 

 States till the repeal of the Act." At Philadelphia a liberal subscription was made for 

 the relief of such of the poorer inhabitants of Boston whose livelihood had been ruined by 

 this arbitrary proceeding. The Virginian House of Burgesses appointed the date on 

 which the operation of the Act was to commence as a day of fasting, humiliation, and 

 prayer. 



On the 1st of June, 1774, the operation of the Boston Port Bill commenced. All the 

 commercial business of the capital of Massachusetts was concluded at noon, and the 

 harbour of this flourishing port was closed till the gathering storm of the Revolution was 

 to re-open it. "At Williamsburgh, in Virginia, the day was devoutly consecrated to the 

 religious exercises which had been recommended by the Assembly. At Philadelphia it was 

 solemnised by a great majority of the population with every testimonial of public grief; 

 all the inhabitants, except the Quakers, shut up their houses; and after divine service a 

 deep and ominous silence reigned through the city. In other parts of America it was also 

 observed as a day of mourning; and the sentiments thus widely awakened were kept alive 

 and exasperated by the distress to which the inhabitants of Boston were reduced from the 



