practically for
life. John Adams passed to greater usefulness as envoy to France, first
minister to Great Britain, and finally as Washington's successor as
President. But to a student of Boston itself the mind dwells most
willingly on Samuel Adams, "the man of the town meeting," who roused the
rebellion, guided it skilfully, served usefully in many public
capacities, and became governor after Hancock's death. His statue stands
to-day in the square named after him, not far from the Old South and the
old Town House, and within sight of Faneuil Hall.

But we trespass beyond the period of this history. When Howe sailed
away, Boston's share in the Revolution was practically ended. No attempt
was made to retake the town, for there could be no profit in gaining
what could not be held. In the remaining years of the war the town had
no more serious duty than fitting out ships of war and privateers, and
of entertaining the officers of the French fleet. But Boston had earned
its rest. For nearly sixteen years the town had stood as the spokesman
for liberty, the leader of revolt. In bringing the country safely
through a critical period, the services of Boston were essential.

FOOTNOTES:

[158] Trevelyan, in concluding that Washington disapproved of this
attack by Putnam, is apparently misled by General Heath's curious habit
of referring to himself in his Memoirs as "Our General." It was Heath
who opposed the project. Against Howe's flimsy defences on the Back Bay,
if weakened of defenders, Putnam might well have prevailed, especially
in a night attack. They were, wrote Edward Bangs, "ill-constructed, and
designed for little but to frighten us." James Warren, who reported on
these works, found them to be very weak. See Frothingham's "Siege," 329.

[159] Frothingham's "Siege," 311.

[160] Eldad Taylor to his wife, Watertown, March 18, 1776.

[161] "Writings," iii, 343.

[162] For this correspondence, see Newell's "Diary," or "Washington's
Writings," iii, 531-533.

[163] It cannot have been more than eleven days.

[164] Frothingham's "Siege," 310.

[165] See concerning these men and their commander the interesting
monograph by Charles H. Walcott: "Sir Archibald Campbell of Inverneil,
sometime Prisoner of War in the Jail at Concord, Massachusetts."
Privately printed.

[166] "The Writings of Washington," iii, 531.

[167] Sabine's "Loyalists," 217.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Siege of Boston, by All