o the tea ships, broke open 342 chests of
tea, and, without doing any other damage, discharged their contents into
the water.

"Thus, by the inflexibility of the Governor, the issue of this business
was different at Boston from what it was elsewhere. The whole cargoes of
tea were returned from New York and Philadelphia; that which was sent to
Charleston was landed and stored, but not offered for sale. Mr.
Hutchinson had repeatedly urged Government to be firm and persevering.
He could not, therefore, consistently with his honour, depart from a
line of conduct he had so often and so strongly recommended to his
superiors. He also believed that the inhabitants would not dare to
perfect their engagements, and flattered himself that they would desist
when the critical moment arrived.

"Admitting the rectitude of the American claims of exemption from
parliamentary taxation, the destruction of the tea by the Bostonians was
warranted by the great law of self-preservation; for it was not possible
for them by any other means to discharge the duty they owed to their
country.

"The event of this business was very different from what had been
expected in England. The colonists acted with so much union and system,
that there was not a single chest of any of the cargoes sent out by the
East India Company sold for their benefit."[319]

The Rev. Dr. Holmes, in his Annals of America, says:

"The crisis now approached when the colonies were to decide whether they
would submit to be taxed by the British Parliament, or practically
support their own principles and meet the consequences. One sentiment
seems to have pervaded the entire continent. The new Ministerial plan
was universally considered as a direct attack on the liberties of the
colonists, which it was the duty of all to oppose. A violent ferment was
everywhere excited; the Corresponding Committees were extremely active;
and it was very generally declared that whoever should, directly or
indirectly, countenance this dangerous invasion of their rights, is an
enemy to his country. The East India Company, confident of finding a
market for their tea, reduced as it now was in its price, freighted
several ships to the colonies with that article, and appointed agents
for the disposal of it. Some cargoes were sent to New York, some to
Philadelphia, some to Charleston (South Carolina), and three to Boston.
The inhabitants of New York and Philadelphia sent the ships back to
London, 'and