freely, from a popular and patriotic work of the day, whose author is not given. They urge a petition to the King, in hopes of success, as the Earl of Hillsborough had then been dismissed from the ministry and a nobleman friendly to the colonies succeeded him. They, at the same time, recommended an intercourse with the other colonies "as we are embarked in a common cause." "In fine, when we reflect upon the evils our forefathers underwent in the settlement of this country, the dangers to which they stood continually exposed from an insidious and blood thirsty foe, and the blood and treasure they expended, we think ourselves justly entitled to all the calamities an envious despot can heap upon us, should we tamely and pusillanimously suffer the execution of them," (the laws respecting the colonies.) "It would be despising the bounties of our creator; an infamous prostitution of ourselves, and a total disregard to posterity."

We do not feel at liberty, in the space allotted us, to make extracts from all the resolutions which were passed by the inhabitants of this town for there was not a year elapsed, in which they did not express a sense of their grievances, and that with a degree of determination, constantly gaining strength and boldness, as the struggle progressed. We cannot forbear adding a few more extracts, to those we have already given.

In 1773, the town again chose Thomas Denny their Representative, and, among other instructions to him, recommend a standing committee of correspondence, as suggested by the House of Burgesses of Virginia, and enjoin upon him an effort to put an end to slavery and the slave trade in this province. In December, of the same year, they expressed their feelings upon the continued encroachments of the Crown, and denounced the levy of duties on imported articles, pledging themselves to oppose, to the utmost of their power, and at the hazard of their lives, any imposition unconstitutionally laid upon them. They, at the same time, resolved that they would not use any tea, "while loaded with a tribute, contrary to their consent," and that, whoever shall use "that destructive herb," shall be deemed inimical to his country, as endeavoring to counteract the doings of those, who were zealous for its wellfare. A resolution of thanks to Boston, was voted. A committee of fourteen was appointed, to examine as to the use of tea in town, and to report the names of those who made use of it. And a copy of these resolutions was sent to the committee of correspondence in Boston.

In May, 1774, after the harbor of Boston had been blocked up, by order of the British Parliament, a circular letter was received from Boston, to which the town immediately replied, expressing a spirit of becoming indignation at such an act of tyranny, and assured the Bostonians of the readiness of the people of this town to stand by them in their distress. "The cause," say they, "is interesting to all America, and all America must be convinced of this great truth, that by uniting, we shall stand."

The Court of Sessions of this county, this year, had made an address to the Governor, in which they reflected, with great severity, upon the conduct of the friends of liberty, calling their meetings, mutinous and tumultuous. This, immediately, in July, brought the inhabitants of this town together, and in a series of spirited resolutions, they expressed the feelings which that address had excited. They lamented the melancholy state of affairs, and, after stating that "their meeting was not holden riotously, tumultuously, and seditiously, but soberly and seriously, as men, as freemen, and as christians," they recapitulated their rights under the charters of Charles, and William and Mary, "to the end that posterity may know what our claims are, and to what struggles we are called in defence of them." They then resolved, "that any power that shall attempt to nullify, or destroy said charter, in the whole, or in part, put, itself into a state of war with the Province :" that they would, "even to the risque of their lives and fortunes, support and maintain the execution of the laws of this Province, as established by the charter and Legislature thereof:" that they would not purchase any goods imported from England, after the 31st of August, then next, nor purchase of any importer, any goods, until the harbor of Boston be opened and the tea duty taken off :" and that "it is the duty of all of the age of discretion, to inform themselves of their rights as men, as members of society, and by the English constitution." In addition to these, which are but a part of a series of the resolutions then passed, they deny the assertions contained in the address of the Court,and condemn, it in the strongest terms. A covenant not to purchase goods imported from England, had, before this time, been signed by many in town, and a committee was appointed to present this covenant to all persons who had not already signed it. This, it will be recollected, was in July, 1774 in September, of the same year, the town met, and voted, to mount their cannon, and directed the selectmen to attend to all those not provided with fire arms. They also voted, that all differences between individuals should be settled by reference.

The General Court was ordered to be convened at Salem, in October of the same year, and Thomas Denny was again chosen to represent this town. He was instructed to refuse to be sworn by any person, except such as might be appointed according to the charter; and by no means to be sworn by the Lieutenant Governor, “who has taken the oaths as counsellor by mandamus from the King:" nor to act with the council appointed by mandamus: and that he should refuse to adjourn to Boston while garrisoned by troops: if any thing impeded their acting at Salem, he was directed to repair to Concord, and join the Provincial Congress, to be convened there on the second Tuesday of October. At a subsequent meeting, they concluded not to send any other member to the Congress than Col. Denny, and in their instructions to him, in that capacity, they directed him to endeavor to have the militia put upon the most respectable footing: to provide cannon for each town; "for we know not, say they, how soon we may be called to action:" that the Treasury be removed from Boston; to enquire why Boston neck and common is entrenched, and to cause the fortifications to be demolished; that the daily loss sustained by that town be estimated, and that the non-consumption covenant be religiously observed; a proper intercourse kept up with the other colonies, and Canada, and Nova Scotia, in order to unite them. He is also directed, "to endeavor that those contumacious persons who have endeavored to subvert the government, by being sworn, and acting as counsellors by mandamus, be apprehended, and held to trial;" and that a day of thanksgiving and prayer be set apart to God, for his goodness the past year in discovering the machinations of their enemies, and for the bounties of his Providence. Col. Denny attended this Congress, but was taken sick at Cambridge, where it was sitting, returned to Leicester, and Col. Joseph Henshaw was chosen to supply his place. In the same year, in November, the town procured one barrel of powder, and four hundred weight of balls, for their cannon, and appointed a committee "to supply those who might be called to march in defence of their rights, with provisions."* In December, a committee was chosen, to carry into ef

Resolutions, expressing the feelings that then actuated every class, were formed, to aid the general cause. At a meeting of the Blacksmiths of the County of Worcester, holden at Worcester, on the 8th of November, 1774, at which Ross Wyman was chairman, and Timothy Bigelow was clerk, they resolved not to work for any persons whom they esteemed enemies to their country, from and after the first day of the next December. These were the tories, counsellors by mandamus who had not resigned, every one who publicly addressed Gov. Hutchinson at his departure from the province, and

fect the resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, the only law givers they then acknowledged. This committee consisted of Col. Joseph Henshaw, Hezekiah Ward, Esq. Capt. Jonathan Newhall, Joseph Sargent, Seth Washburn, Samuel Denny, Thomas Newhall, and Samuel Green. The town appointed men to manage their cannon, and voted to have a contribution taken up, for the benefit of the poor in the town of Boston. The Provincial Congress had recommended to the several towns, to withhold the amount of their annual taxes from Harrison Gray, who was the State Treasurer under the royal government, before the commencement of the difficulties in the colonies, and was still Treasurer; and that they should pay them over to Henry Gardiner, Esq. of Stow, as the Treasurer for the province. With this recommendation,the town complied, and directed the amount of their taxes to be paid accordingly. The militia of the town were called together, and a company of minute men drafted, who were to be ready to march whenever occasion required, at the shortest notice. Each soldier signed articles of enlistment, prepared by a committee of the town. This company was put under the command of Capt. Seth Washburn.

Col. Joseph Henshaw was again chosen representative to the Provincial Congress, in 1775, and urgently enjoined to procure that body to assume the powers of government, to prevent that anarchy and ruin with which the state was threatened. This was, indeed, a dark and trying hour. The arm of civil power had been unnerved. The same acts that resisted the tyranny of the mother government, annihilated the salutary restraint of those laws which had been enacted, for there was no power to execute them. It seemed as if the land was to become a prey to the abandoned and unprincipled. But there was found to be a redeeming power in the land; a power before which the wicked trembled, and the every person exercising authority to carry into execution any of the oppressive acts of Parliament. It was particularly resolved, that they would do no work for Timothy Ruggles, of Hardwick, John Murray, of Rutland, and James Putnam, of Worcester, Esq'rs. nor for any one in their employment. They also refused to work for all who had not signed the " non-consumption covenant," as it was called, and not only these, but every one, who should work for, or be employed by these interdicted persons. And in addition to their own resolutions, which they printed, they called upon all denominations of artificers to form similar associations and agreements. To these resolutions the names of forty three were affixed, among which was that of Seth Washburn, from Leicester.

Mr. Gardiner was, afterwards, the first State Treasurer under the constitution of 1780.

strong bowed; the force of public and patriotic feeling was sufficient to check all disorders. At the meeting, in December, 1774, the town voted to aid the civil officers in arresting and securing riotous and disorderly persons, thus giving to the officers of justice the aid of public opinion, the most powerful of all supports.

In January succeeding, (1775) the town voted a bounty to each minute man, and, if called to march, (as they express an opinion they will be, before May then next,) to be allowed "the province pay," and they provided them all with ball pouches. All who were engaged in the province service were exempt from taxation, and yet, amidst all these fearful notes of preparation, though an attempt was made to suspend the schools and repairs to the highways, the town refused to suspend them. For the first six months of the year, they were represented in the Provincial Congress, by Deac. Oliver Watson, of Spencer, (then forming a district of Leicester, for the purposes of representation): for the remainder of the year, they were represented by Hezekiah Ward, Esq. In 1776, they chose Seth Washburn, to represent them in the General Assembly, and instructed him, by no means to consent to stopping the passage into Boston harbor, as had been proposed by the former Assembly, to prevent the enemy again coming into port, because it would tend to ruin the trade of Boston entirely. For some time before the declaration of Independence, by the Congress of 1776, had been made, the policy of that measure had been freely discussed, and advocated, or condemned, according to the hopes and wishes of the disputants. A meeting was had, in May, 1776, the 22d day of the month, in this town, for the express purpose of seeing if the town would uphold Congress in declaring the colonies independent of Great Britain, when they unanimously voted "that in case the Hon. the Continental Congress should declare the colonies independent of Great Britain, they would support said Congress in effectuating such a measure at the risque of their lives and fortunes." And when, in July, this declaration was received, it was read, agreeably to the order of Council, in church, by the minister, the first Lord's day after receiving it, and was recorded, in a fair legible hand, at full length, in the records of the town. The Hon. Joseph Allen, now of Worcester, was then their clerk. He had taken an active part in all the transactions of the day; and, if we mistake not, some of the most spirited and interesting papers upon the records of the town were the production of his pen.

*

* We regret that we are not able to trace each of these to their proper