the British crown; at the same time it proves that they knew that they had personal and chartered rights, which they were determined at all hazards to defend and sustain.

The "stamp act" was soon repealed, and the colonies. had now no further cause to disavow their allegiance for a few years; they might distrust the faith of their foreign rulers, yet their present demands were complied with, and they became uncomplaining subjects of his gracious majesty George III. Indeed, so faithful were they in their submission to his rule that they invariably spoke of the mother-country as "blessed England," and strove to efface from their memories the wrongs they had received, and to live in peace with the land from whence their fathers

came.

Yet all their hopes were destined to disappointment, as events soon proved. In less than eight years from the opposition to the stamp act, just noticed, the town received a circular from a Committee of Correspondence in Boston, setting forth new grievances, to which the people of Shirley responded in the following paper, communicated to their friends in the State metropolis:

"The unanimous proceedings of the inhabitants of the District of Shirley, being legally assembled upon adjournment, January the 11, 1773.

"Having received from the metropolis of this Province, their votes and proceedings at the late town meeting, and having taken the same into consideration, we are of the opinion that our rights are properly stated by their committee, and that they are infringed in those instances mentioned by them; and we are fully persuaded, if the Judges of the Superior Court of this Province have their salaries from the king,-from whose substitutes their appointment originates, and without whose consent (let them hold the scales of justice ever so uneven) they cannot be removed,— that our liberties are greatly infringed thereby, and that we shall have no better chance for justice, no better

security of life and property, than the people have in the most despotic government under heaven.

"We, therefore, with due deference to the opinion of our fellow-electors, do express to our representative our desire that he use the utmost influence, that the judges of the superior court of this province be placed upon a constitutional basis, and their salaries be raised to such a sum as will support them in a manner suitable to their dignity. And we would further say that it is our fixed determination to join with the people through the colonies, and of this Province in particular, manfully and constitutionally to oppose every stride of despotism and tyranny, and that we will not sit down easy and contented until our rights and liberties are restored to us, and we enjoy them as at the beginning.

"Voted, the above be entered upon the records of the District, and an authenticated copy thereof be sent by the District Clerk to the Committee of Correspondence of Boston, and another to James Prescott, Esq., our repre

sentative.

"Voted, also, that our grateful acknowledgments are due to the inhabitants of the town of Boston, for their vigilance upon this and many other occasions of like

nature.

"JOHN LONGLEY, Dis. Clerk."

This missive seems pervaded by a more belligerent spirit than the former; and proves a waning confidence of the people in "the best of kings." Indeed, the belief came to be entertained that he had left the position of paternal governor-if he had ever held such position—and had assumed that of slave master.

This opinion received further confirmation by the passage of the act on tea, by the British Parliament. The fact of this oppressive act was communicated to the selectmen of Shirley in a letter from the Committee of Correspondence, of the town of Boston, dated Nov. 23, 1773.

The letter was responded to by the citizens of Shirley in the passage of the following resolutions-unanimously voted at the town-meeting in March, 1774.

"Ist. Voted, that we will neither buy, nor sell, nor drink, (nor suffer it to be drunk in any of our families,) any tea that is subject to an American duty.

"2d. Voted, that we will stand ready to unite with our brethren through the Colonies, in every proper measure to retrieve our liberties, and to establish them upon such a firm basis that it will be out of the power, at least of our present enemies, to wrest them out of our hands.

"3d. Voted, that the thanks of the District be, and hereby are, given to the town of Boston, and to the towns in that vicinity, for every rational and proper measure they have pursued in order to prevent our inestimable rights and privileges being torn from us by the artifice and cunning of our enemies,-who are endeavoring to rob us of the fruits of our honest industry, that they may riot in idleness and luxury themselves.

"4th. Voted, that the District enter the above votes on the district book of records, and transmit an attested copy of the above votes to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston.

"A true record of the votes of the District of Shirley, or the inhabitants thereof.

"Attest, OBADIAH SAWTELL, District Clerk.”

The sympathy, thus repeatedly expressed, with the inhabitants of Boston was soon confirmed by deeds. After the passage of the "Boston Port Bill," a town-meeting was warned to be holden January 18th, 1775, at which it was "Voted, that we make some provision for the suffering poor in Boston and Charlestown, on account of the Boston Port Bill, so called, and that the same be done by subscription. Francis Harris, John Ivory and Obadiah Sawtell were chosen a committee to receive the donations of said district for said poor, and ordered to forward said donations to Boston or Charlestown as soon as may be."

At this meeting the yoke of allegiance to the mother country was completely thrown off, by a vote to withhold the "Province Tax" for the support of his majesty's government. It was also voted, to abide by the "association of the Grand American Congress, held at Philadelphia in October, 1774. The action of the town, in this relation, is here transcribed from its records:

"We, the subscribers, having seen the association drawn up by the Grand American Continental Congress, respecting the non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation of goods, &c., signed by the delegates of this and the delegates of other colonies of this continent, and having attentively considered of the same, do hereby approve thereof, and of every part of it; and, in order to make the same association our own personal act, do, by these presents, under the sacred ties of virtue, honor, and the love of our country, firmly agree and associate, fully and completely, to observe and keep all and every article and clause in said association contained, in respect to exportation, importation, and non-consumption, according to the true intent, meaning and letter of our said delegates ;— and will duly inform and give notice of every exception and contravention of said agreement, as far as we are able; and that we will, so far as we can, encourage and promote a general union herein;-as witness our hands, this 18th day of January, A. D. 1775."

At the same meeting at which this paper was read and approved, we find a record of the following additional and, in some respects, extraordinary proceeding :

"At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the District of Shirley, held on the 18th of January, A. D. 1775, Resolved and voted, that the above draught of an association is approved of, and that the same be entered in the District book of records, and that the same be signed by the several inhabitants of said district, and that the committee of correspondence see that the same is done; or inform the district, at their next district meeting, of every person

who shall delay or refuse to sign the same, so that the district may take such further order thereon as they may think proper.

"Attest, OBADIAH SAWTELL, District Clerk."

This hearty and unanimous response to the proceedings of the First Continental Congress proved that the patriotism of Shirley was without any alloy of toryism in the "time that tried men's souls." And it is undoubtedly true that such decision, adhered to by the yeomanry of the country, encouraged the early formal separation of the colonies from the mother land, and gave nerve to the daring of the council, and to the valor of the battle-field.

These were some of the precursors of the greatest event that ever graced the page of American history; an event that not only secured the independence of the United States, but has also proved a source of valuable instruction to every government in the old world.

The pledges that were made by the people of Shirley were nobly redeemed. When the tidings of the Lexington battle reached the town every man, old enough to bear arms, volunteered his services and marched to Cambridge, but seven! And these either by age or infirmities or the situation of their families-were prevented from joining the expedition. One of them, William Longley,—already known to the readers of this history as "Old Will, the miller," though bent down with age, and supporting himself with two staves, wished to join the company; and when reminded of his infirmity, he replied, "True, I cannot handle a musket, yet I will fight the red-coats with my two canes ;"-at the same time brandishing those formidable weapons as though his words were not to be received as fiction. These movements were unmistakable evidence of the patriotism of the actors, and of the reliableness of their declarations.

Volunteers went from time to time, and for periods of indefinite length, as militia-men, before the opening of the memorable campaign of 1777. At the commencement of