hode Island, yet the British Ministry determined to establish the
newly-asserted parliamentary power in America by making an example of
Massachusetts and of the port of Boston. There was the appointed seat of
the English Board of Commissioners of Customs, attended by a _posse_ of
officers whose haughtiness and taunts and threats contributed not a
little to irritate those with whom they had intercourse.

Three circumstances occurred which tended to increase the popular
irritation, and hasten the approaching crisis--the seizure and detention
of a sloop, the stationing of soldiers in the city, and pressing of
seamen contrary to law.

As to the seizure of the vessel, accounts differ. Dr. Holmes, in his
Annals, says:

"The laws of trade had been hitherto greatly eluded, but the
Commissioners of the Customs were now determined that they should be
executed. On the arrival of the sloop _Liberty_, laden with wines from
Madeira, belonging to Mr. John Hancock, an eminent merchant of Boston,
the tidesman, Thomas Kirk, went on board, and was followed by Captain
Marshall, who was in Mr. Hancock's employ. On Kirk's refusing several
proposals made to him, Marshall with five or six others confined him
below three hours, during which time the wine was taken out. The master
entered some pipes next morning; but the sloop was seized for a false
entry, and removed from the wharf under the guns of the _Romney_
man-of-war. The removal of the sloop was highly resented, as implying
apprehension of a rescue, and every method was taken to interrupt the
officers in the execution of their business; and many persons determined
to be revenged. A mob was soon collected; and Mr. Harrison, the
collector, Mr. Hallowell, the comptroller, Mr. Irving, the inspector of
imports and exports, and a son of the collector, very narrowly escaped
with their lives. The mob proceeded to the houses of the collector and
comptroller, and having broken their windows, and those of the
inspector-general, they next took and dragged the collector's (pleasure)
boat through the town and burned it on the common. These outrages
induced the Custom-house officers to take refuge, first on board the
_Romney_ man-of-war and afterwards in Castle William."[305]

On the other hand, Dr. Franklin states the affair as follows:

"On the 10th of June a seizure was made of a sloop fastened to the
wharf, by an armed force, and the seizure carried by violence to the
man-of-war. That this sei