78 HISTOKY OF THE 



gle half acre of adjoining- orchard remaining in the 

 family. Can the ii'ony of injustice go further? 



It was the pride of the English law that undei- it the 

 rights of ihe individual subject were so sacred that not 

 even the sovereign could invade them with impunity. 

 It has been the pride of our form of government that 

 this heritage from the law of the mother countiy is de- 

 veloped, and rendered more secure in our freer institu- 

 tions. The fi-eedom of the individual citizen, thesacred- 

 ness of his person and property, lie at the foundation of 

 a constitulional government by the people. 



We have l)een taught these fundamental truihs from 

 our childhood. The unfortunate and victimized owners 

 of West Koxbury Park lands surely had the right to 

 suppose that their public officials would not disregard 

 them. The result has shoAvn the incorrectness of that 

 supposition. 



In my judgment, a most pernicious precedent has been 

 established; one fraught with evil for the future, and 

 which may yet return to plague and torment its authors. 



Wishing you the fullest measure of success in your 

 endeavor to partially rectify the injustice and injury in- 

 tlicted upon yourself and your property, I am 

 Very truly yours, 



IIouACE B. Saegent, Je. 



The following adaptation on Bruce's Address to his 

 Army, was written on the spur of the moment, while 

 filled with the impulse of righteous indignation, and is 

 given here, not for its merits as a literary production, 

 but as a part of the history of the case: 



