e arrival of the tea ships might be soon
expected, such measures were adopted as seemed most likely to prevent
the landing of their cargoes. The tea consignees appointed by the East
India Company were in several places compelled to relinquish their
appointments, and no others could be found hardy enough to act in their
stead. The pilots in the River Delaware were warned not to conduct any
of the tea ships into their harbour. In New York, popular vengeance was
denounced against all who would contribute in any measure to forward the
views of the East India Company. The captains of the New York and
Philadelphia ships, being apprised of the resolution of the people, and
fearing the consequence of landing a commodity charged with an odious
duty, in violation of their declared public sentiments, concluded to
return directly to Great Britain without making any entry at the
Custom-house.

"It was otherwise in Massachusetts. The tea ships designed for the
supply of Boston were consigned to the sons, cousins, and particular
friends of Governor Hutchinson. When they were called upon to resign,
they answered that 'it was out of their power.' The Collector refused to
give a clearance unless the vessels were discharged of dutiable
articles. The Governor refused to give a pass for the vessels unless
properly qualified for the Custom-house. The Governor likewise requested
Admiral Montague to guard the passages out of the harbour, and gave
orders to suffer no vessels, coasters excepted, to pass the fortress
from the town without a pass signed by himself. From a combination of
these circumstances the return of the tea vessels from Boston was
rendered impossible. The inhabitants then had no option but to prevent
the landing of the tea, to suffer it to be landed and depend on the
unanimity of the people not to purchase it; to destroy the tea, or to
suffer a deep-laid scheme against their sacred liberties to take effect.
The first would have required incessant watching, by night as well as by
day, for a period of time the duration of which no one could compute.
The second would have been visionary to childishness, by suspending the
liberties of a growing country on the self-denial and discretion of
every tea-drinker in the province. They viewed the tea as the vehicle of
an unconstitutional tax, and as inseparably associated with it. To avoid
the one, they resolved to destroy the other. About seventeen persons,
dressed as Indians, repaired t