Wesley Corpus

11. Soon after, it being thought reasonable, that every part of the British empire should furnish its share of the general expense, the English Parliament laid a small duty on the tea imported into America. Again a violent outcry arose, and was studiously propagated through all the provinces It was no less diligently spread throughout England. And as they judged the time was now come to advance a little further, the leading men, both at home and abroad, began more and more confidently to assert, “that the English had no right to tax the American colonies.” The assertors of this new position in England strongly exhorted those in America to withstand what they were pleased to call this “illegal, unconstitutional oppression.” Thus encouraged, the Bostonians, under the auspices of Mr. Hancock, (whose interest was particularly at stake,) scorning to do any thing secretly, paraded the town at noon-day with colours flying, and bravely threw the English tea into the sea. This was the first plain overt act of rebellion, not of a few, but of the town of Boston. Reparation of the wrong was demanded; but it was not obtained. Till it should be obtained, the Parliament ordered Boston harbour to be shut up. 12. But things were not yet ripe for an open rupture: Therefore the Americans still gave the Government good words. They professed their loyalty, their great regard for the King, and their desire of obeying all his legal commands. But all this time they were using all possible art and diligence to blacken, first the Ministry, after a time the Parliament too, and then the King himself. Of this I had a clear and particular account from a friend in Pennsylvania, who then observed a storm rising in the north, and moving on toward the southern colonies. And it moved on apace. A new supreme power, called a Congress, appeared. It openly assumed the reins of government, exercised all the rights of sovereignty, burst all the bands, and totally disclaimed the authority both of King and Parliament. 13. But still the Americans talked of allegiance, and said they desired nothing but the liberty of Englishmen. Many in England cordially believed them; I myself for one.