Part 2

[12] About 1762 “a fund of two thousand pounds was subscribed to a society which the legislature of Massachusetts had authorized for promoting knowledge among the Indians; but the king interposed his negative, and reserved the red man for the Anglican form of worship.”—_Idem._, vol. iv., ch. 18, p. 430. In 1765 “In North Carolina ... the legislature were even persuaded ... to make provision for the support of the Church of England.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 13, p. 271. “For New York, the Lords of Trade refused to the Presbyterians any immunities but such as might be derived from the British Law of Toleration.”—_Idem._, vol. vi., ch. 29, p. 84. “O poor New England, there is a deep plot against both your civil and religious liberties, and they will be lost.”—Whitfield in 1764, _Idem._, vol. v., ch. 10, p. 193.

[13] In Jan., 1750 ... “Mayhew summoned ... defensive war against ‘tyranny and priestcraft.’ ... He preached resistance.”—_Idem._, vol. iv., ch. 3, p. 60. In Aug., 1765, “Choosing as his text ... Ye have been called to liberty ... he preached fervently in behalf of civil and religious freedom.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 16, p. 312.

[14] “The act seemed sure to enforce itself. Unless stamps were used, marriages would be null, notes of hand valueless, ships at sea prizes to the first captors, suits at law impossible, transfers of real estate invalid, inheritances unclaimable.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 11, pp. 251-2.

[15] “The publishers of newspapers ... were ... called upon to stand the brunt in braving the penalties of the act.... Timothy Green ... publisher of the _New London Gazette_ ... fearlessly defended his country’s rights.... On Friday the first day of November, his journal came forth without stamps.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 19, pp. 352-3.

[16] Speaking of Samuel Adams in 1764, “On his motion and in his words, Boston ... asserted ... ‘If taxes are laid upon us ... without our having a legal representation ... are we not reduced ... to the miserable state of tributary slaves?’”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 10, p. 197.

[17] “The strength of the people in America” in 1748 “consisted also in the exclusive right of its assemblies to levy and to appropriate colonial taxes ... in America, the rapacity of the governors made it expedient to preserve their dependence for their salaries on annual grants.”—_Idem._, vol. iv., ch. 1, p. 19.

[18] See note 27.

[19] March, 1763, “it became lawful ... for each ... armed vessel to stop and examine and, in case of suspicion, to seize each merchant ship approaching the colonies, while avarice was stimulated by hope of large emoluments to make as many seizures ... as possible.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 5, p. 92.

[20] “The penalties and forfeitures for breach of the revenue laws were to be decided in courts of Vice-Admiralty, without the interposition of a jury, by a single judge, who had no support whatever but in his share of the profits of his own condemnations.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 12, p. 268.

[21] “The first American ship that ventured to sea with a rich cargo and without stamped papers was owned by the Boston merchant, John Hancock.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 20, p. 374.

[22] “The merchants of New York, ... unanimously bound themselves to send no new orders for goods or merchandise; to countermand all former orders; and not even to receive goods on commission unless the Stamp Act be repealed.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 19, pp. 351-2.

[23] “Isaac Sears, the self-constituted, and for ten years the recognized, head of the people of New York.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 355.

[24] “The colonists could not export the chief products of their industry ... to any place but Great Britain ... nor might any foreign ship enter any colonial harbor.... In all other respects Great Britain was not only the sole market for the products of America, but the only storehouse for its supplies.... That the country which was the home of the beaver might not manufacture its own hats, no man ... could be a hatter or a journeyman at the trade unless he had served an apprenticeship of seven years. No hatter might employ ... more than two apprentices. America abounded in iron ores ... slitting mills, steel furnaces, and plating forges ... were prohibited.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 12, pp. 265-7.

[25] “‘We will none of us import British goods,’ said the traders in the towns.... North Carolina set up looms ... and South Carolina was ready to follow.... ‘We will have homespun markets of linen and woollens,’ passed from mouth to mouth.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 14, p. 288.

[26] “New England and Pennsylvania had imported nearly one half as much as usual. New York alone had been perfectly true to its engagements,”—the state of things in 1770.—_Idem._, vol. vi., ch. 44, p. 365.

[27] “The fourteenth of August,” 1765, “saw the effigy of Oliver,” Boston’s stamp agent, “tricked out with emblems of Bute and Grenville, ... prepared by Boston mechanics, true-born Sons of Liberty, Benjamin Edes, the printer, ... Thomas Chase, a fiery hater of kings.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 16, p. 310. “Just after dark an ‘amazing’ multitude ... made a funeral pyre for his effigy.... So the considerate self-seeker ... gave it under his own hand that he would not serve as stamp officer.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 16, pp. 310-12.

[28] “Everywhere, ... of themselves, or at the instance of the people, amidst shouts and the ringing of bells and the firing of cannon, or ... with rage changing into courtesy on the ... submission of the stamp-master, ... the officers resigned. There remained not one person duly commissioned to distribute stamps.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 351.

[29] “‘I am resolved to have the stamps distributed,’ wrote Colden.... On the thirty-first of October, Colden and all the royal governors took the oath to carry the stamp-act punctually into effect.... The governor of Rhode Island stood alone in his patriotic refusal.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 350.

[30] “The SONS OF LIBERTY ... organized at this time throughout the colonies.”—_Lossing’s Pic. Field Bk. of the Rev._, vol. ii., p. 787. “The association in New York had a correspondent ... in London, ... from whom they ... regularly received intelligence of the movements of the ministry.”—_Idem._, note.

[31] “Friday, the first morning of November,” 1765, “broke upon a people unanimously resolved to nullify the Stamp Act. From New Hampshire to the far south the day was introduced by the tolling of muffled bells, ... a eulogy was pronounced on liberty and its knell sounded, and then again the note changed as if she were restored to life.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 352.

[32] “In New York the whole city rose up as one man.... The sailors came from their shipping; the people flocked in ... by thousands.”—_Idem._, p. 355.

[33] “The leader of the popular tumult was Isaac Sears.”—_Idem._

[34] “‘I will cram the stamps down their throats with the end of my sword,’ cried the braggart James, Major of Artillery, ... ‘will drive them all out of town.’”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 17, p. 332.

[35] “The arbitrary invasion of private rights ... by the illegal and usurped authority of a military chief was the great result of the campaign. The frontier had been left open to the French; but the ... example had been given ... of quartering troops in the principal towns at the expense of the inhabitants.”—_Idem._, vol. iv., ch. 10, p. 241.

[36] “Washington had left the service on account of a regulation by which the colonial officers were made to rank under those of the regular army.... Urged by General Braddock to accompany him, he consented to do so ... as a volunteer.... Through the stubbornness of that general, his contempt of the Indians, and the cowardice of many of his regular troops, an army of thirteen hundred men was half destroyed. Braddock fell, and the whole duty of distributing orders devolved upon the youthful colonel.”—_Lossing’s Pic. Field Book of the Rev._, vol. ii., pp. 477-9.

[37] “The King in council ... having thus invited a conflict with France by instructions necessarily involving war, ... neither troops, nor money, nor ships of war were sent over.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. iv., ch. 4, p. 102. “_They protected by YOUR arms?_ They have nobly taken up arms in your defence ... for the defence of a country whose frontier was drenched in blood, while its interior parts yielded all its little savings to your emolument.”—Barré debating on the Stamp Act in the House of Commons.—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 11, p. 240.

[38] “Colden himself retired within the fort.... He would have fired on the people, but was menaced with being hanged.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 355.

[39] “Colden pleaded his oath ... that ... the Act should be observed, ... the contempt into which the government would fall by concession.”—_Idem._, p. 357. “In Connecticut, Dyer ... entreated Fitch (the governor) not to take an oath ... contrary to that of the governor to maintain the rights of the colonies.”—_Idem._, p. 351.

[40] “Isaac Sears and others, leaders of the Sons of Liberty, who had issued strict orders forbidding injury to private property, endeavored to restrain the mob.”—_Lossing’s Pic. Field Book of the Rev._, vol. ii., p. 788.

[41] “A party of volunteers sacked the house occupied by James, and bore off the colors of the royal regiments.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 356.

[42] “In the evening a vast torchlight procession carrying, ... two images, one of the governor; the other of the devil, ... broke open the governor’s coach-house, took out his chariot, carried the images upon it, ... to burn them with his own carriages and sleighs before his own eyes on the Bowling Green.”—_Idem._

[43] “He has bound himself,” they cried, “to be the chief murderer of our rights.” “He was a rebel in Scotland, a Jacobite.” “He is an enemy to his king, to his country, and mankind.”—_Idem._ “In the opinion of ... Colden ... the democratic or popular part of the American Constitution was too strong.... His remedies were a perpetual revenue, fixed salaries, and an hereditary council of priviledged landholders.”—_Idem._, vol. iv., ch. 16, p. 371.

[44] “The council questioned” (_i.e._, the colony’s council) “his authority to distribute the stamps, and unanimously advised him to declare that he would do nothing in relation to them, but await the arrival of the new governor, and his declaration to that effect ... was immediately published. But the confidence of the people was shaken.”—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 356.

[45] “‘We will have the stamp papers,’ cried Sears to the multitude, ‘within four and twenty hours,’”—_Idem._

[46] “Colden invited Kenedy to receive them on board of the Coventry.... Gage being appealed to, avowed his belief that a fire from the fort would be the ... commencement of civil war.”—_Idem._, 356-7.

[47] “Colden, perceiving further resistance ... unavailing, ordered the stamps to be delivered to the Mayor (Cruger) and Common Council, the former giving a receipt for the same, and the corporation agreeing to pay for all the stamps that should be destroyed or lost. This was satisfactory to the people.”—_Lossing’s Pic. Field Book_, vol. ii., p. 789.

[48] “In all the streets were heard the shouts of Liberty, Property, and no Stamps.”—_Bancroft’s U. S._, vol. v., ch. 19, p. 357.

[49] “The press continued its activity.”—_Idem._

[50] “I rejoice that America has resisted.”—William Pitt in the House of Commons.—_Idem._, vol. v., ch. 21, p. 391.

[51] “On ... the joyful intelligence of the repeal of the Stamp Act ... the city was filled with delight. Bells rang ... cannon roared ... the Sons of Liberty drank twenty-eight ‘loyal and constitutional toasts.’”—_Lossing’s Pic. Field Book of the Rev._, vol. ii., p. 789.

THE LAST CRUISE OF THE GASPEE.

1772.

One windy day in March,[1] Ghost-white against the gray, A cruiser fleet, through snow and sleet, Made Narraganset Bay.

There were smugglers in the bay, And smugglers on the shore; But loyal still to the royal will Ten times as many more,—

Ten times as many more, Though every smuggler there But thrived because of England’s laws[2] And taxes none could bear.

Yet the cruiser’s captain drawl’d, The while he quaft his ale, “These islands low are full you know, Of fellows fled from jail,

“Of Puritans fled from law And kings they curse and fear. Aha!” he laugh’d, “our loyal craft Has brought the Cavalier!

“Our guns will speak in tones To make the whole bay ring; And teach to each within their reach The reverence due the king.

“Their ships upon the bay Shall heed our cannon’s call, And dip their flags,[3] or sail in rags, And yield us bounties all.[4]

“Their sheep upon the shore, A royal tax will be.[4] No lack of food or kindling wood Is here,” quoth he, “for me!”

There were smugglers in the bay, And smugglers on the shore; This craft, I ken, a band of men Ten times as lawless bore.

Our sheriff[5] went and warn’d Their captain, o’er and o’er, To keep in sight the bounds of right, And not to plunder more.

The captain waved his hand, Said he: “The fleet has made A vow devout to carry out The English ‘Acts of Trade.’”[6]

Judge Hopkins[7] wrote him then: “Our men demand their due.” “I write because you break our laws,” Wrote Governor Wanton[7] too.

The captain bade them go To Boston with their plea; “Not his affair; the admiral[7] there Had sent the ship to sea.”

And then he turn’d away. One heard him mutter near: “I think I see the one they fee[8] Ship back his bounties here.”

The judge and governor wrote The admiral, who but swore His fleet would hang[9] the island gang, If they should vex him more.

“The navy[10] know their trade,” His clerk to Wanton wrote; “In mere pretence and insolence[11] You board the sovereign’s[12] boat.”

Wrote Wanton: “We shall ask The throne[13] to judge your note; And every time you hint of crime,[13] Shall board the sovereign’s boat.

“The English crown should serve The English people’s cause, And honor those, nor make them foes, Who stand by English laws.”

But months and months went on. The cruiser fired away. None plied an oar, lived near the shore, But feared to be her prey.[4]

Cried Captain Lindsey[14] then: “This outrage none should bide! Rhode Island grit must yet outwit, And trip the scoundrel’s pride.

“He knows my packet here, And where I sail, and why; And if he will may sink me, still His guns will I defy.

“If down we go, the law, Will float to stand upon; If that go too, this case is through; But, Britain, more anon!”

So high his flag[15] he flew; And wide his jib he spread. The cruiser fired; her crew grew tired, Her captain wroth and red.

“All hands aloft!” he cried; “All sail!” and at the words, The masts were fill’d with sailors drill’d To climb and cling like birds.

Wide flew each flapping sheet, And sagg’d and bagg’d the gale, And cloud-like lash’d the waves that dash’d As if they felt a flail.

When off of Nauquit[16] Point, Shrewd Lindsey knew his ground; He steer’d afar, and clear’d the bar; And then the ship swung round.[16]

Up toss’d her canvas high; And dipp’d, as round she ran, The saucy way that seems to say Now catch me if you can.

The cruiser’s captain look’d, And mouth’d an awful oath: “Now catch I not, let fire and shot Or bottom catch us both.

“Mind not the bar,” he cried, “Straight on! With depth to spare,[15] The tide is high, and, sailing by, We head them off up there.”

Deep plow’d the cruiser’s prow The broken waves below, So bows a bull whose pride is full To toss a stubborn foe.

She plung’d and reel’d and roll’d. Ah, better had she tack’d! The water flew the bulwark through. The mainmast bent and crack’d.

The wind, it whistled there; The boatswain whistled here. The captain swore; the mainsail tore; The jib had ript its gear.

A flood was on the deck. The crew were floundering round. Then, clean and chill, and safe and still, The cruiser lay aground.[15]

When Lindsey saw her fate, So loudly cheer’d his men, The hostile crew, that heard them, flew To man their guns again.

But Lindsey kept his course— He now could do no more— And told ere night the cruiser’s plight To those he met on shore.[17]

“There stays the ship,” said he, “Till lifted by the tide.” “Till Providence shall lift her thence,” John Brown,[17] his friend, replied.

And Providence, at dusk, Was routed out to greet The drumming fierce of Daniel Pierce[18] Who cried in every street:

“The cruiser lies aground! High tide at three[18] o’clock! Who care to go and meet her so, Come all to Fenner’s[19] dock!”

They came to Fenner’s dock; And found, awaiting there, Eight[19] yawls, that Brown[19] had lent the town, In Captain Whipple’s[19] care.

The crews that mann’d the yawls Had muffled[19] every oar; And they, and men who join’d them then,[20] All told, were sixty-four.[21]

Their arms were pick’d with care From all their friends could loan; And all the yawls, for cannon balls, Were stock’d with paving-stone.[22]

They battled wind and tide, Three hours[23] amid the gloom. The midnight pass’d.[23] They saw, at last, The cruiser’s bulwarks loom.

“Who comes?” her watch call’d out. “Who comes!” her captain cried. Then swift alarm’d, in tones that arm’d, Her crew that toward him hied.

“Move off!” her captain roar’d, His pistol aiming well; Then fired[23]—alack! fire answer’d back; He started, stagger’d, fell.

And then, as dark and fierce As tidal waves, where fleets Are whelm’d and whirl’d and downward hurl’d Till death their deed completes,

Our men, at Whipple’s[19] cry, “Up, up!” clear’d every check; And dash’d and leapt and slash’d and swept Across the cruiser’s deck.

But hold!—her men were gone. Ours held the deck alone; Their work had done, nor fired a gun; The cruiser’s crew had flown.[24]

“Surrender here!” rang out; And out the cabin glanced At first a few, then all the crew; Then one and all advanced.

“First know,” said Whipple then, “That here you sail no more; And next prepare your yawls to bear Yourselves and yours ashore.”[25]

The sailors went and came, They came with bags and coats. They call’d their roll, and said the whole They own’d was in their boats.

Meantime our men themselves[26] The captain’s wound had dress’d; And row’d him, sore but safe, ashore With all that he possess’d.[27]

“All hands embark!” rang out; And all the yawls were full; Save one whose crew had more to do While off the rest should pull.

This crew the cruiser fired,[28] Till smoke, well under way, Flew up the mast as white and fast As e’er, of old, the spray.

Then swiftly they embark’d, And swiftly they withdrew; As flash’d the fire, and, streaming higher, The red flag redder flew.

The cruiser burn’d in state, Until she burst at last[28] With every ball she bore and all Her powder in the blast.

It fill’d the heaven above, But not to heaven was given: A wounded cloud roar’d long and loud; Then back the whole was driven.

When all was o’er, there seem’d Faint sparks to fill the place— “There comes,” said one, “the morning sun; A new day dawns apace!”

It dawn’d for these, at least; When soon they hove in sight Of pier on pier pack’d full to cheer Those heroes of the night.

But hist! the cheers were check’d. “Keep mum!” the murmur spread; The crown, to get these men, had set A price on every head.

“Five hundred dollars down,[29] For him who tells of one,” Was first proclaim’d: but no one named A man who aught had done.

“Five thousand,”[30] then were pledged, “To know who took the lead; And half as much to know of such As join’d him in the deed.”

The King’s commission,[31] last, Sat half a year or more; But not a word it ever heard About the sixty-four.

Forgotten were they then? They might have pass’d by day, Without a wink to make you think, Or hint that it was they.

But, when the night had come; And door and blind were lock’d, And window fast, and blew the blast Till all the chimney rock’d;

When, safe from eyes and ears, In homes where all were true, The way those men were feasted then A king, full well, might rue.

And when the board was bare; And round the roaring fire, The nuts were crack’d and cider smack’d Till tooth and tongue would tire;

When each his tale would tell About that ship and night, And still the way he dodg’d, each day, The British spy and spite;

The boys who husk’d the corn Would forward bend, and spring, And draw the ears, like swords, with cheers, To make the rafters ring!

The host who stirr’d the fire Would stab it through and through: You might have thought the flames he brought Had burn’d a cruiser too.

The girls would fancy then It was the cruiser flared; And round the walls would aim like balls The apples red they pared.

“To arms!” would cry the men; And each a maid purloin; While mother’s yarn would snap, and darn The dance that all would join.

Ah, so we hush’d the tale! Yet spies that nigh would roam Could not decoy the smallest boy To tell what pass’d at home.

We hush’d it, till the hush Became our countersign To save from those we knew were foes, And make our men combine.

We hush’d it, till we learn’d That thousands would be free, And long’d to know which way to go And when the call would be.

We hush’d it, till we heard What Concord had to bear; Then shouted loud, a mighty crowd, “Our heroes lead us there!”

FOOTNOTES

[1] She first appeared in ... Narraganset Bay in March, 1772, ... to prevent infraction of the revenue laws, and to put a stop to ... illicit trade.—_Lossing’s Pic. Field Book of the Rev._, vol. ii., ch. 3, p. 60.

[2] See “Our First Break with the British,” notes 5, 19, 20, 24.

[3] “Often fired ... to compel their masters to take down their colors in its presence—a haughty marine Gesler.”—_Idem._, p. 61.

[4] “Plundered the islands of sheep and hogs, cut down trees, fired at market boats, detained vessels without any colorable pretext, and made illegal seizures of goods of which the recovery cost more than they were worth.”—_Bancroft’s Hist. U. S._, vol. vi., ch. 47, p. 417.

[5] “The Governor, ... sent a sheriff on board the Gaspee.”—_Idem._

[6] See _Idem._, vol. iv., ch. 8. Also “Our First Break with the British,” Note 19.

[7] “Hopkins, the Chief Justice, ... gave the opinion that any person who should ... exercise any authority by force of arms without showing his commission to the governor ... guilty of a trespass if not piracy.”—_Idem._, vol. vi., ch. 47, p. 416. “The governor, therefore, sent ... to ascertain by what orders the lieutenant acted; and Duddington referred the subject to the admiral.”—_Idem._

[8] See “Our First Break with the British,” Note 20.

[9] “As sure as the people of Newport attempt to rescue any vessel, ... I will hang them as pirates.”—_Idem._, p. 417.