Rotch was directed to protest in form, and then apply
to the Governor for a Pass by the Castle; Mr. Rotch
executed his commission with fidelity, but a pass
could not be obtained, his Excellency excusing himself
in his refusal that he should not make the precedent
of granting a pass till a clearance was obtained,
which was indeed a fallacy, as it had been usual with
him in ordinary cases,—Mr. Rotch returning
in the evening reported as above; the Body then voted
his conduct to be satisfactory, and recommending order
and regularity to the People, dissolved. Previous
to the dissolution, a number of Persons, supposed to
be the Aboriginal Natives from their complection, approaching
near the door of the assembly, gave the War Whoop,
which was answered by a few in the galleries of the
house where the assembly was convened; silence was
commanded, and prudent and peaceable deportment again
enjoined. The Savages repaired to the ships which
entertained the pestilential Teas, and had began their
ravage previous to the dissolution of the meeting—they
apply themselves to the destruction of the commodity
in earnest, and in the space of about two hours broke
up 342 chests and discharged their contents into the
sea. A watch, as I am informed, was stationed
to prevent embezzlement and not a single ounce of Teas
was suffered to be purloined by the populace.
One or two persons being detected in endeavouring
to pocket a small quantity were stripped of their
acquisitions and very roughly handled. It is worthy
remark that, although a considerable quantity of goods
of different kinds were still remaining on board the
vessels, no injury was sustained; such attention to
private property was observed that a small padlock
belonging to the Captain of one of the ships being
broke another was procured and sent to him. I
cannot but express my admiration of the conduct of
this People. Uninfluenced by party or any other
attachment, I presume I shall not be suspected of
misrepresentation. The East India Company must
console themselves with this reflection, that if they
have suffered, the prejudice they sustaine does not
arise from enmity to them. A fatal necessity
has rendered this catstrophe inevitable—the
landing the tea would have been fatal, as it would
have saddled the colonies with a duty imposed without
their consent, and which no power on earth can effect.
Their strength and numbers, spirit and illumination,
render the experiment dangerous, the defeat certain:
The Consignees must attribute to themselves the loss
of the property of the East India Company: had
they seasonably quieted the minds of the people by
a resignation, all had been well; the customhouse,
and the man who disgraces Majesty by representing
him, acting in confederacy with the inveterate enemies
of America, stupidly opposed every measure concerted
to return the Teas.—That Americans may
defeat every attempt to enslave them, is the warmest
wish of my heart. I shall return home doubly fortified
in my resolution to prevent that deprecrated calamity,
the landing the teas in Rhode Island, and console
myself with the happiest assurance that my brethren
have not less virtue, less resolution, than their neighbours.