76 HISTORY OF THE 



Or, why should I be obliged to part with my lands at 

 the speculators' pi'ices, such as he or they could make 

 money on, and I be deprived of them? Am I not as 

 well entitled to the profits, being the real owner, as 

 he, a speculator? 



ISTow, if I am not reasonable in my conclusions, and 

 fail to advance honest opinions, then condemn me and 

 my lands too; but my convictions will remain the same, 

 believing that I stand upon the immutable and eternal 

 laws of justice and right. 



Can the city of Boston, which you so ably represent, 

 afford to do less than to be governed by the same great 

 principles, and fully authorize her officials to do unto 

 others as they would expect others to do unto them? 

 How would you or any member of your board like it 

 if you were forced to part with your treasures and then 

 be subject to the uncertainties of law for redress? 



Respectfully and cordially yours, 



Samuel E. Sawyer. 



To show the indignation and sense of wrong felt by 

 another member of the same fiimily in regard to their 

 unjust treatment, I have taken the liberty to subjoin a 

 letter written by a son of one of the oldest and most 

 prominent families in Boston. 



