It was well known to the British Government who the chief agitator was, and when General Gage arrived in Boston in May, Seventeen Hundred Seventy-four, his first work was an attempt to buy off Samuel Adams.  With Adams out of the way, England might have adopted a policy of conciliation and kept America for her very own—­yes, to the point of moving the home government here and saving the snug little island as a colony, for both in wealth and in population America has now far surpassed England.

But Adams was not for sale.  His reply to Gage sounds like a scrap from Cromwell:  “I trust I have long since made my peace with the King of Kings.  No personal consideration shall induce me to abandon the Righteous Cause of my Country.”

Gage having refused to recognize the thirteen Counselors appointed by the people, the General Court of Massachusetts, in secret session, appointed five delegates to attend the Congress of Colonies at Philadelphia.  Of course Samuel Adams was one of these delegates; and to John Adams, another delegate, are we indebted for a minute description of that most momentous meeting.

A room in the State House had been offered the delegates, but with commendable modesty they accepted the offer of the Carpenters’ Company to use their hall.

And so there they convened on the fifth day of September, Seventeen Hundred Seventy-four, having met by appointment, and walked over from the City Tavern in a body.  Forty-four men were present—­not a large gathering, but they had come hundreds of miles, and several of them had been months on the journey.

They were a sturdy lot; and madam!  I think it would have been worth while to have looked in upon them.  There were several coonskin caps in evidence; also lace and frills and velvet brought from England—­but plainness to severity was the rule.  Few of these men had ever been away from their own Colonies before, few had ever met any members of the Congress save their own colleagues.  They represented civilizations of very different degrees.  Each stood a bit in awe of all the rest.  Several of the Colonies had been in conflict with the others.

Meeting new men in those days, when even the stagecoach was a passing show worth going miles to see, was an event.  There was awkwardness and nervousness on the swarthy faces; firm mouths twitched, and big, bony hands sought for places of concealment.

The meeting had been called for September First, but was postponed for five days awaiting the arrival of belated delegates who had been detained by floods.  Even then, delegates from North Carolina had not arrived, and Georgia not having thought it worth while to send any, eleven Colonies only were represented.  Each delegation naturally kept together, as men will who have a fighting history and a pioneer ancestry.

It was a serious, solemn business, and these men were not given to levity in any event.  When they were seated, there was a moment of silence so tense it could be heard.  Every chance movement of a foot on the uncarpeted floor sent an echo through the room.